By Own Correspondent- Legislators here have called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to avail details regarding why the armed forces were deployed in the country considering that their actions are impacting negatively on the image of the country globally.

Innocent Gonese, the MDC Parliamentary Chief Whip said members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces had no capacity to implement policing activities hence the current scenario where they continued violating citizens’ rights and projecting the country negatively globally.

Said Gonese:

“In terms of Section 119, it is very clear that this august institution is given the responsibility to ensure that the provisions of our Constitution are upheld.  It is also incumbent upon us as the duly elected representatives, the voice of the voiceless, to ensure that all agencies and all institutions of Government abide by the provisions of the Constitution and for reasons which I am going to adumbrate, it is very clear that there have been some very gravy violations of the provisions of our Constitution and in this regard Madam Speaker, I also want to make reference to the provisions of Section 213 and 214 of our Constitution…… Zimbabwe is under the spotlight and I am talking about violations of the Constitution.

The Leader of the House is very aware and cognisant of the issues that I am going to mention. In terms of Section 213 on deployment of Defence Forces, yes there is a provision which allows for that deployment but there is the political accountability which is clearly set out in terms of our Constitution. In terms of that political accountability, it was incumbent upon the Head of State to cause Parliament to be informed promptly. The deployment of Defence Forces, if it happened on the instructions of the Head of State; it took place on the 14^th of January 2019 and the Head of State is enjoined by the provisions of Section 214 to promptly inform Parliament. Parliament should have been called, for the Head of State to give us appropriate details of the reasons for the deployment of the armed forces. It is very important Madam Speaker.

I have already said Zimbabwe is getting negative publicity. Zimbabwe is on the spotlight because of the activities of members of the Defence Forces who do not have any responsibility to carry out policing duties. As a result it was critical for us as representatives of the people to be informed and an appropriate detail of why the Defence Forces had to be deployed. That has not happened. As an institution, we must act collectively.

By Own Correspondent- Parliamentarians here are set to join the nation in the National Clean up Campaign launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year.

Mnangagwa declared the first Friday of every month national clean up day urging citizens to dedicate an hour between 0900- 1000hrs to cleaning up their environs for cleaner cities.

Said the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Tsitsi Gezi:

I also wish to inform the House that all Hon. Members are invited to participate in the National Clean-up Campaign on Friday, 1^st February, 2019 from 0900 hours to 1000 hours.  Parliament is expected to clean the streets adjacent to its building, namely; Nelson Mandela Avenue and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, between 2^nd and 3^rd Streets.  Members interested in participating are requested to meet in the Parliament Car Park on Friday, 1^st February, at 0800 hours. 

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Individual Consultant EOI 01/2019 – Consultancy Services for the Graphic Art and Infographics: edit, design and layout of print materials

The Government of Zimbabwe has received grants from the African Development Bank Group towards the cost of Strengthening Institutions of Transparency and Accountability (SITA) Project. The Government of Zimbabwe intends to apply part of the agreed amount for these grants to payments under the contract for consultancy services for the Graphic Art and Infographics: Edit, Design and Layout of Print Materials.

The overall objective of the assignment is to review, edit, design and layout as necessary all documents required for print.

The services included under this project are: (i) Review and edit as necessary all documents required for print; (ii) Conceptualize and execute creative graphic design and layout work for materials outlined in the ToRs; (iii) Produce print ready materials of high quality for printing;  (iv) Provide technical assistance for the development and production of high quality print materials;  (v) Develop appropriate creative style, concept and design of documents and programme communication materials; and  (vi) Fully responsible for an assignment from start to completion and meeting deadlines without sub-contracting. The estimated working days is 30 days.

In this regard, Parliament of Zimbabwe invites eligible individual consultants to indicate interest in providing the above required services. Interested consultants must send CVs that provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services.

Required minimum qualifications, skills and experience for the consultancy include:

1. Experienced Graduates of visual arts, graphic design and multimedia production with at least five years’ relevant experience;
2. Excellent communication and evidence-based report writing skills.
3. Ability to review documents, interpret information and synthesize information and present it in a creative manner
4. Excellent skills in data visualization and experience in info-graphic designing
5. Ability to design using various design software packages

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s “Rules and Procedures for the use of Consultants” September 2010, revised July 2012, which is available on the Bank’s website at http://www.afdb.org.

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours 08:00 hours to 16:30hours. Expressions of interest must be delivered to the below address or by email by 7 February 2019 at 10:00hours local Zimbabwe time (GMT + 2 hours) and mention “Expression of Interest for Graphic Art and Infographics: edit, design and layout of print materials”

The Programmes Coordinator

Attn: The Procurement Officer Programmes Coordination Unit

Parliament of Zimbabwe

Cnr. Third Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue

P. O Box CY 298

CausewayHarareZimbabwe

E-mail: [email protected]

By Own Correspondent- Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi has revealed that youths who harricaded roads during #Shutdown Zimbabwe were behind the beating up people in communities.B

Ziyambi said this after MDC Alliance legislators yesterday quizzed him in the National Assembly on why government turned a blind eye on the heinous acts of brutality perpetrated by soldiers in Harare, Bulawayo and other parts of the country.

Harare East MP Tendai Biti (MDC Alliance) asked: “The Zimbabwean Constitution obliges government to respect the principles of rule of law. In line with the events which took place in our country, is it now government policy that it allows gross attacks and abuse of human rights that include denial of legal access to those in custody, does mass trials, displaces people, destruction of people’s homes and murders of our people?”

“Government is committed to rule of law and the events the MP has chronicled are of concern to government as there were attacks on innocent people, attacks on people’s businesses and people going about doing their business when the so-called protesters barricaded roads and prevented people from doing day-to-day activities,” Ziyambi said.

MDC Alliance legislator Paurina Mpariwa (Proportional Representation [PR]) asked Ziyambi if there was a state of emergency in the country or a curfew because people in high-density suburbs were not allowed to move around after 6pm.

Mpariwa also asked Ziyambi to explain why the incarcerated MDC Alliance MPs were not allowed visitors.

“There is no state of emergency in the country. What has been happening is that the demonstrators that have been denying workers their rights to go to work have been moving around beating up people in communities. They would barricade roads and order people to pay them so that they can pass through. The Home Affairs ministry has only ensured that police do patrols.”-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| A High Court Judge Justice Chitapi has ended the detention of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) President Obert Masaraure and Kumbirai Magorimbo after granting them $500 bail each.

Justice Chitapi ordered the duo not to circulate information on social media and not to address any public or political gatherings.

Masaraure was abducted on Friday 18 January by alleged state agents at his Harare home before he resurfaced at Harare central police station where he was charged with treason or “Subverting a constitutionally elected government”.

The Apex Council, umbrella body for all government employees and teachers union are at loggerheads over the next course of action in light of continued deadlock with their employer who appear not keen to increase their salaries to match their demands.

Commenting in the Newsday yesterday, Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) said teachers would go on strike starting next week.

Their position is against what the Apex Council which shelved the industrial action to give room for dialogue.

Cecilia Alexander, the Apex Council boss said going on strike at the moment was risky as their action would be hijacked by political parties.

Zimta chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said teachers would go on strike starting next week and than no amount of intimidation would be tolerated.

“What our colleagues are doing is rubbish. Its shows that they are not membership driven when it comes to labour issues, instead, serve their selfish interest. We are going on strike starting February 5 and we have followed the law,” Ndlovu said.

PTUZ Secretary General, Raymond Majongwe said they were accused of being agents of “opposition and some donors” who are fuelling destabilisation in the country.

“We are talking about incapacitation here. We are talking about not being able to send our children to school because we do not have money. But we are ashamed that some of our members are busy talking the intelligence language of government, it is bad,” Majongwe said.

By Own Correspondent| Former Home Affairs Minister and G40 kingpin Ignatius Chombo has been sentenced to five days in prison if he fails to pay a $30 fine for defaulting court on Wednesday.

The ruling was handed down by Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya.

Chombo on Wednesday failed to appear in court to answer to different charges that he was facing because he had gone to South Africa for medical reasons.

His lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku accepted that his client’s absence was due to negligence and he pleaded:

The accused person was in default unwillingly but it was due to the negligence of his lawyers who did not check the records.

The accused was in South Africa on an appointment with his doctors. From the previous record, he was given his passport back to go to South African for medical attention.

Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa revoked the arrest warrant issued against Chombo but ordered that the accused return his passport to the clerk of court.

Chombo was remanded to 1 February 2019. He is facing charges including criminal abuse of office.

Read Also:

By Own Correspondent- Government has unveiled a $60 million housing facility for civil servants as part of its efforts to improve their welfare and provide non-monetary incentives for its workers.

Officiating at the National Building Society (NBS) and Public Service Commission Memorandum of Agreement signing ceremony, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Dr Sekai Nzenza said government valued the welfare of its workers.

She revealed that contrary to previous administrations, the President Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration was shifting away from the traditional focus on salaries only to include other non-monetary benefits that are critical in the enhancement of livelihoods.

Chairperson of the Apex Council, Cecilia Alexander said they appreciate the strides being made by the government to improve conditions of service for its employees.

Early this year, the government promised to cushion its workers through non-monetary incentives.-StateMedia

By Farai D Hove| The disgraced Thokozani Khupe spokesperson, Linda Masarira yesterday released a cut, chop and edit audio recording which patchy file she claimed proves that Crisis Coalition director, Mr Rashid Mahiya has “confirmed” that the MDC was training a militia in Zambia.

But in the very same clip a Mahiya voice soundalike is heard emphasising these are all lies and the brutal regime will look to create scapegoats for their lies. Below is a transcript of the patch Masarira released to ZNC news and broadcast yesterday-

Masarira: ” the training in Zambia yaitaura kuti Chamisa akasahwina tirikufanirwa ku defender vote. Tirikufanirwa kudai. I have got a recording of that thing. Of ma operations arikufanirwa kuitwa achisiyiwa pasina kana trace.”

Mahiya soundalike: Aaah.

But manje you know now you’re putting people at risk.

Masarira: But inini ndini wekutukwa ndichishorwa ndichikanganisirwa image yangu.

Mahiya voice soundalike: “you know what, you’re putting people at risk.”

Mahiya voice soundalike: You’re actually putting people at risk. At the mercy of the regime…

Masarira: Ya, ehee. Saka ivo ka. No Rashid [INTERRUPTING MAHIYA]. You have to be a fair intermediator here.

Whitle side(sic) Ostallos into line. They have to stop their attacks against me. And put a stop to insulting me.

Mahiya soundalike: I will talk to them. But

[INTERRUPTED ]

I have been respecting them for a very long time. But ivo they do not reciprocate.

—————–

SUDDEN CHANGE TONE OF VOICE.

Mahiya soundalike:

There are some things that can be connoted. And this here, with this regime that we are dealing with here akomana ka. The brutality and the way that they are looking for scapegoats, handiti ka. For all these things that are happening. If you what, and if you still believe the things that you believed in before, haaa this lie…”

By Own Correspondent- A police officer and his two accomplices from Guruve have been hauled to court for allegedly killing a mentally-challenged man.

Tenwiro Chitaura (58), stationed at Guruve Police Station and his alleged accomplices William Muzhenje (62) and Elifas Muzhenje (55), were not asked to plead when they appeared before a regional magistrate Shingirai Mutiro facing murder charges. The trio were remanded in custody to February 5.

It is the State case that on December 22 last year, the now deceased Ronaki Mupogo (27) developed a mental problem and was brought to his rural home in Mudindo by a relative.

At around 10pm on the same day, Mupogo slipped out of Chiyangwa village into a nearby Chitauro village, wearing only a pair of shorts.

He arrived at William Muzenje’s homestead and later fled as dogs chased after him.

William teamed up with Elifas and chased after Mupogo, who they caught and brought to Chitauro’s homestead where they handcuffed and beat him up.

They later surrendered Mupogo at Mudhindo Police Base, manned by one Constable Joram.

Joram allegedly assaulted Mupogo, but released him without charge.

Mupogo died on arrival at his homestead. According to court papers, the trio, in their defence, accused Joram of killing Mupogo.

Carson Kundiona prosecuted.-Newsday

Thursday, 31 January 2019

His Excellency, E.D. Mnangagwa

President of Zimbabwe

Office of the President

Samora Michel Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe

REQUEST FOR A FORMAL MEETING IN HARARE NEXT WEEK

Dear President Mnangagwa,

I have taken note of the statement issued on 29 January by your Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, the Honourable Monica Mutsvangwa.

As chairperson of the Southern African Partnership for Democratic Change, which represents opposition parties from the SADC region, I have a duty to speak up on behalf of our member parties, and to speak out against any injustice in the region. The disturbing reports of beatings, arrests and other threats to hard-won democratic freedoms in Zimbabwe compels me to act.

The stability of Zimbabwe is critical to the stability of our region. The protection of democratic rights in Zimbabwe is critical to the advancement of democracy throughout the region. But more importantly, the safety and wellbeing of the people of Zimbabwe matters deeply to all of us, because we are one people here in Southern Africa. They are our brothers and sisters.

In the light of the fast deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, I intend to head up a SAPDC fact-finding mission there as soon as possible, which would include a meeting with your government. Please indicate a date and time next week which best suits your schedule.

Our fundamental interest is to uphold and protect the principles of democracy in the region. The violence against civilians, the shut-down of the Internet and the detention of activists and opponents are thoroughly undemocratic acts. We cannot stand by and watch as Zimbabwean citizens are subjected to these abuses and killings.

In the absence of any meaningful intervention by either my own government or regional African bodies such as SADC and the AU, I have no choice but to intervene in an effort to help find a peaceful resolution.

We want to see Zimbabwe restored to calm and stability, and to see her people safe from violence and intimidation. We want to see a free Zimbabwean press, and we want to see your streets free from soldiers and guns. We want to see the return of all the individual rights enshrined in your Constitution.

I trust that you will see the value in such an engagement with your government, and that you will honour your minister’s commitment to meet with anyone seeking a solution to this crisis, as expressed in her statement.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Mmusi Maimane MP

Leader of the Official Opposition in South Africa

Chairperson of the Southern African Partnership for Democratic Change

By Own Correspondent- Patron of the Zimbabwe Amalgamated Churches Council, Jimayi Muduvuri has taken the sanctions fight regionally after he appeared on South African news channel CNBC on Wednesday.

Muduvuri called on the United States of America to remove the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe claiming that the sanctions, code-named ZIDERA, had a negative impact on the generality of the people of Zimbabwe.

Claimed Muduvuri, who is said to be a close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa:

As you know ZIDERA has blocked all lines of credit and this affects the government and the private sector.

We are being placed as a high-risk country and this scares away investors. If you limit access and movement of money in and out of a country it impacts on the country’s ability to trade.

Re-engagement of previously hostile nations is the way to go and the President has been executing that mission, sanctions must fall so that we can have access to lines of credit.

Church organisations in the country have also called for the removal of the economic sanctions imposed several years ago for alleged human rights violations perpetrated by the government of Zimbabwe.-Mail and Telegraph

By Own Correspondent| MDC-T faction leader Thokozani Khupe revealed on Wednesday that her party is willing to engage with all stakeholders without any preconditions, in order to move the country forward.

Khupe said she had no problems engaging in dialogue with “everybody” including MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa.

Said Khupe:

We want to bring everybody together, we want an all-inclusive dialogue which is not going to leave anyone behind.

… for me, it is not about power, it is about moving this country forward.

It is about the 15 million people in this country and not individuals. We must run away from personalizing issues.

By Own Correspondent| A pastor, Rev Kenneth Mtata,  who is the general secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has rejected an appointment to be part of ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisory council.

Rev Mtata revealed that he is unable to accept the appointment because of other commitments.

Mnangagwa had named Mtata among his 26 member Presidential Advisory Council on Wednesday evening.

The advisory council is meant to advise Mnangagwa and government on a wide range of sectoral issues. In a letter Mtata said his current position as ZCC general secretary would limit effective functioning in Mnangagwa’s advisory council.

By Own Correspondent| A Rusape man who fatally struck his wife with a hoe for denying him conjugal rights before evading arrest by hiding in a cave for 3 years has been jailed 25 years.

Lameck Manyanga (28) of Inyati Mine in Madindi Village killed his wife Tendai Mufaranyuri and burnt her body was found guilty of murder when he appeared before Mutare High Court judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera.

He told the court that he had no intention of killing her, but the incident happened during a heated argument.

Mr Jonathan Chingwinyiso, representing the State, had it that on December 9, 2014 at Inyati Mine, Manyanga had a domestic dispute with his wife. The two exchanged harsh words which ended with Tendai calling her husband a stupid man who survived on “piece jobs”.

She also said his mother was a witch.

Manyanga left for work and upon his return, his wife is said to have denied him conjugal rights.

In anger, he armed himself with a hoe which he used to attack his wife.

After killing his wife, Manyanga wrote a suicide note before torching the hut where his wife’s lifeless body was lying. He then went to hide in a cave where he stayed for three years until another villager, Tafadzwa Mhlanga, spotted him sometime in October 2017.

Manyanga is said to have emerged from the cave wielding an iron bar, threatening to attack anyone who  would dare approach him.

He was later arrested and taken to court

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s newly appointed Presidential Advisory Committee has been described as yet another wild goose chase that will not turn tables and improve his government’s standing.

Posting on Twitter, @LynneMudonhi said the PAC would not be able to do what technocrats appointed in Mnangagwa’s government failed to do.

If you believe 26-Member of the Presidential Advisory Council will help change the status quo & possibly heal the ailing economy… UNOPENGA! MUKA UBIKE DORO uti MIDZIMU YANDIRASHA AAAA!This is another Wild Goose Chase!What technocrats could not do this bunch of whatever CAN'T! pic.twitter.com/gV9EXTylZP

— LynneM ??? (@LynneStactia) January 31, 2019

Democratic Alliance (DA) Leader and Chairperson of the Southern African Partnership for Democratic Change (SAPDC), Mmusi Maimane, will pay a visit to the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Pretoria, to handover a formal letter addressed to the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

This is ahead of Maimane’s planned visit to Harare, Zimbabwe next week.

Maimane will be joined by DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Stevens Mokgalapa.

Fastjet Zimbabwe confirms that this evening’s flights FN8445 from Harare to Bulawayo, and FN 8446 from Bulawayo to Harare have been canceled due to unserviceable runway lights at Bulawayo Airport.

Fastjet has offered affected customers the opportunity to travel on other flights to and from Harare-Bulawayo, and an extra return flight is planned for tomorrow.

Fastjet recognizes that while circumstances beyond their control have resulted in the canceled flights; they remain committed to assisting affected customers by rebooking them onto other flights.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) Secretary General could be one of the people currently caught between a rock and a hard place.

The militant trade unionist who has over the years fought for the rights of teachers is often accused of sympathizing with the ruling Zanu PF and this was worsened by his recent meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to discuss the challenges his constituency faces in the country.

The recent violent protests that followed a Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union organised stay away appeared to have shifted focus with the ruling party and government accusing him of working with the opposition to effect a regime change in Zimbabwe.

Posting on Twitter, Majongwe highlighted his current predicament on being labelled and aligned to both the ruling party and the main opposition MDC.

https://twitter.com/RMajongwe/status/1090662560490291200

Internal Zimbabwean police documents passed to the Guardian suggest the army has been responsible for murder, rape and armed robbery during the ongoing brutal crackdown in the southern African country.

In more than a dozen investigation reports shared with the Guardian by police officials frustrated at the apparent impunity of the military, a series of alleged attacks are described, including two murders and the rape of a 15-year-old girl.

Police investigators wrote that all the acts were committed by men wearing army “uniforms” or “camouflage” – a style of wording allowing the police to avoid making direct accusations against the powerful military.

Officially, the Zimbabwe Republic police, the national police force, has blamed the violence on criminal “rogue elements” who have stolen army uniforms, and said the charges of widespread abuses by security and the armed forces have been fabricated. But in most cases described in the documents seen by the Guardian, the assailants carried automatic weapons, which few people other than soldiers and police possess.

At least 12 people are thought to have died when security forces opened fire on civilians during a three-day shutdown called by unions after a fuel price rise this month. One police officer is believed to have been killed. The death toll is expected to rise.Advertisement

The violence is the worst in Zimbabwe for at least a decade and has dashed any remaining hopes that the end of the 37-year rule of the autocratic leader Robert Mugabe 14 months ago would lead to significant political reform.

The leak of the documents suggests increasing tensions between the military and people within civilian law enforcement agencies.

One report, filed by police in Glenview in the capital, Harare, on 14 January, describes how a Toyota driven by two men, including a 29-year-old named as Trymore Nachiwe, was blocked by a pickup truck without number plates or other identification. Men in civilian dress and some wearing ZimbabweNational Army uniforms then got out of the pickup armed with stones, iron bars, machetes and teargas canisters, the report says.

They smashed the Toyota’s windows and ordered Nachiwe and his friend to lie down by the roadside, where they were punched and kicked repeatedly. Nachiwe managed to reach his home but died in hospital after seeking medical attention the following day.

Another report details the murder – apparently by security forces – of Kudakwashe Rixon, a 22-year-old, who was seized by uniformed men at a bus terminal in central Harare on Sunday.

The report, filed at Harare Central police station on 27 January, said Rixon had been driven with others to a remote “bushy area” where they were beaten with wooden clubs, whips made with metal wire and iron rods. Rixon managed to get home, where relatives tried to care for him but he died on arrival at Harare hospital a day later.

A third report describes how a 15-year-old in the town of Chitungwiza, outside Harare, was forced into a park by three men wearing army camouflage and carrying rifles and made to lie on a concrete table where she was raped.

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Responding to earlier reports of violence, the country’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, promised that wrongdoers within the security forces would be held accountable. On Monday, he said he was “appalled” by a Sky News report showing security forces beating a handcuffed man.

The army has been responsible for a series of brutal crackdowns since Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980, and played a key role in the ousting of Mugabe. Soldiers shot dead six civilians in Harare days after Mnangagwa won contested elections last year, and have deployed in strength in cities in recent weeks.

The reports also describe the alleged theft from homes and businesses of items including iPhones, computers, televisions, and even an electric iron. Twelve cans of beer were stolen in an attack on a bar.

Among dozens of reports of robbery are incidents in which groups of men wearing army uniforms and carrying automatic weapons arrived in unidentified vehicles, forced their way into homes through threats and then looted property worth up to $8,000.

In one incident, an eight-year-old was threatened with a handgun to force his parents to reveal their savings. In another, a man was stopped while walking home and beaten with whips. His wallet containing $235 was taken. In a shopping centre in Glenview, cash was taken from the till, along with telephones and drinks.

The documents – which apply only to Harare – do not give a comprehensive view of the extent of the violence associated with the crackdown, which took place across the country. Police were so stretched during the worst of the unrest and violence between 15 and 20 January that no or few reports were filed during this period.

Many crimes committed by security forces have not been reported to police because victims are often fearful of detention or further violence.

Courts are currently processing about 1,000 detainees, largely picked up in a series of sweeps by security forces through poor neighbourhoods in and around Harare, as well as other cities, since the unrest began.

Hundreds of activists, opposition politicians and civil society leaders are still in hiding. It now appears very unlikely that Mnangagwa will achieve his stated aim of ending Zimbabwe’s pariah status to unlock the massive financial aid necessary to avert total economic collapse.

This suggests basic commodities such as food, fuel and medicine will remain scarce and increasingly expensive, making further protests likely.

Authorities in Zimbabwe will face new pressure in coming days, as hundreds of thousands of civil servants prepare to strike after rejecting a government package to boost their income.

‘A hungry man is an angry man’ – fear and despair stalk streets of Harare

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Courts are struggling to process the huge number of detainees, who are being kept in overcrowded cells and prisons. New “fast track” trials have involved up to 60 accused being represented by five lawyers appearing at courts to face charges that could lead to lengthy prison sentences. Seven people have now been charged with subversion, an unprecedented number.

On Tuesday hundreds of lawyers marched through Harare to protest against the continued deployment of the military and the new judicial procedures.

“Where people have committed crimes, please deal with them in accordance with the international law [and] follow due process,” Beatrice Mtetwa, a leading human rights lawyer, said.

Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, said the authorities were trying to divert blame from economic failings.

CHOPPIES chief executive officer Mr Ramachandran Ottapathu has withdrawn fraud and extortion charges levelled against former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s son, Siqokoqela and his wife Nomagugu.

The Mphokos were accused of hijacking the Choppies retail business and “looting” more than $80 000 worth of cash and goods. Siqokoqela, who was a shareholder in the retail business and a non-executive director, was alleged to have abused his power to “loot” $50 000 in cash realised from sales at different supermarkets and replacing it with transfers.

Nomagugu allegedly bulldozed various Choppies outlets in Bulawayo and demanding cash.

She allegedly ordered 15 Choppies Supermarket managers in Bulawayo to unlawfully dispense more than $30 000 cash from their POS machines after threatening them with either deportation or dismissal.

She is facing 49 counts of extortion while her husband has 170 counts of fraud. The matter is still pending before the courts and both of them are out of custody on $200 bail each.

In his affidavit tendered before the court signed on January 18, 2019, Mr Ramachandran said after discussions with the Mphokos, the complainants resolved to withdraw the charges against the Mphokos.

“I represent all the complainants in the matter of State versus Nomagugu Mphoko under CRB Byo 2431/18 and Siqokoqela Mphoko under CRB Byo 2567/18. After some representation and discussions between the complainants and accused persons, the complainants no longer wish to pursue their criminal complaints against the accused persons, and as such, a resolution to withdraw the pending criminal charges has been made. I confirm that this resolution has been made with full appreciation of the consequences thereof and there has not been any undue influence on the complainants,” he stated.

Siqokoqela will appear in court on March 5 while his wife’s case was postponed to February 14 pending a response from the State on Mr Ottapathu’s decision to withdraw the charges.

Prosecutors have acknowledged receipt of the withdrawn affidavit from the complainants and are expected to respond in due course.

The Mphokos have since exited Choppies Supermarkets after offering to be bought out of the company to end a protracted ownership wrangle.

State Media

Founder of the Econet Group and billionaire Mr Strive Masiyiwa has been appointed to the board of trustees of the National Geographic Society.

The National Geographic Society is an impact-driven global non-profit organisation based in Washington, DC.

The announcement of his selection was made by Mr Jean Case, chairman of the Society’s board of trustees, and Ms Tracy R Wolstencroft, the organisation’s president and chief executive officer.

“We are delighted to welcome Strive to the National Geographic Society board of trustees,” said Mr Case. “An impact-driven non-profit like the Society requires leadership that reflects the complex interdependent world in which we live.

“With his significant international business, entrepreneurial and philanthropic experience, Strive will provide the global perspective and expertise we need to achieve our mission.”

Mr Masiyiwa’s Econet Group is a telecommunications, media and technology company with operations and investments in 29 countries.

Mr Masiyiwa currently serves on the board of Unilever, the transnational consumer goods company, as well as the global advisory boards of the Council on Foreign Relations and Stanford University.

In 2013, the United Nations and the World Bank named him to the advisory board of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative.

In addition, he is a trustee of the Asia Society; a member of the Committee on Conscience of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum; and was part of the Founders Circle of the Carbon War Room, an initiative created by Sir Richard Branson to promote market-based, low-carbon energy solutions to combat climate change.

Mr Masiyiwa has also built a legacy of extensive philanthropic work across Africa. He is chairman of the board of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, which is working to improve food security and income levels for 30 million farming households by 2021.

Committed to the next generation of African entrepreneurs, Mr Masiyiwa mentors young people from across the continent on his Facebook page, reaching out to more than 3,5 million followers. He and his wife, Tsitsi, also founded the Higher Life Foundation, which has supported the education of more than 250 000 orphaned and vulnerable children in Africa over the past two decades.

“Strive’s profound knowledge of Africa will be extremely valuable as we partner with local scientists, conservation professionals and government officials to safeguard some of the earth’s last wild places such as Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, the sub-Saharan Okavango River Basin and Benin’s Pendjari National Park,” said Ms Wolstencroft.

“As the National Geographic Society looks toward helping to conserve 30 percent of the planet by 2030, Strive’s insights will be critical to our success.”

By signing the Giving Pledge, Mr Masiyiwa and his wife have publicly declared that they will donate at least half of their assets to charitable causes.

In recognition of the global reach of Masiyiwa’s work, Fortune magazine named him to its list of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders” in 2014 and 2017.

State Media

President Mnangagwa has established a 26-member Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) to advise and assist him in formulating key economic policies and strategies that advance Vision 2030. Vision 2030 entails making Zimbabwe an upper middle-income country with gross national income (GNI) per capita of between $3,896 and $12,055, according to the World Bank’s technical calculations, implying high standards of living for citizens.

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

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda yesterday said the council will act as the President’s “sounding board” on key economic reforms, issues and initiatives.

This, he said, was in line with the “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra and the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (STP).

“It will be recalled that Vision 2030 is predicated on attracting domestic and foreign direct investment and on transforming Zimbabwe into a business-friendly investment destination with a stable and supportive macro-economic environment,” said Dr Sibanda.

“His Excellency the President and his Government will need well-canvassed ideas, proposals and strategies to realise the vision.”

Dr Sibanda said the PAC, which is voluntary and serves at the pleasure of the President, has 17 terms of reference.

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

“(It is supposed) to proffer ideas and suggestions on key reforms and measures needed to improve the investment and business climate in the country for economic recovery and growth,” he said.

“It must contribute towards policies and measures, short medium and long term, for the growth of the economy. On the strength of the country’s resources, to suggest best strategies for leveraging them to best national advantage; to advise and develop strategies for making Zimbabwe a modern, industrialised and food-secure, higher middle income by 2030; to input into policies and strategies for inclusive and balanced growth in line with the policy on decentralisation and devolution and to advise on the integration of science, technology, research and innovation in the economy.”

Dr Sibanda said the advisory council should provide infrastructural strategies and investments meant to transform the country into a land-linked regional logistical and trading hub.

“The PAC should also advise on developing sector by sector strategic value-chains for the economy which are linked to international markets,” he said.

“It is supposed to advise on national energy development strategy which makes Zimbabwe competitive; to suggest blue prints for regulatory frameworks and institutions for a modern, market-driven, business-friendly economy; to advise on strategies for building strong and gainful global partnerships as well as maximising on Zimbabwe’s bilateral and multilateral relations and to proffer ideas of building a Sovereign Wealth Fund and to ensure that national growth and development strategies are built on environmental safeguards for future generations.”

Dr Sibanda said the advisory council was mandated with organising interactions between the President, local and international businesses.

On rules of engagement, Dr Sibanda said the PAC should have quarterly brainstorming or feedback meetings with the President and ad hoc meetings as and when necessary.

He said the advisory council, which should be non-partisan, must proffer honest and sincere advise, declaring own interests whenever necessary.

“The Presidential Advisory Council should respect rules of confidentiality and trust and refrain from abusing proximity for unlawful and unethical ends. Members should ensure that all advisory content generated and produced by PAC are a property of His Excellency the President who assumes automatic copy right,” said Dr Sibanda.

He said PAC members will hold office for the duration of the President’s term in office.

“The President will chair PAC meetings which are also attended by his Vice Presidents and by any other invitees, including ministers and officials,” he said.

“PAC may, with the concurrence of the President, invite experts for presentations. PAC will be serviced by a Secretariat which is based in the Office of the President and Cabinet.”

He said Government will fund operations of the advisory council with members drawing some honorarium although the expectation is that their services are voluntary.

PAC members include Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries immediate past president Mr Busisa Moyo, former Delta chief executive Mr Joe Mutizwa, Sakunda Holdings chief executive owner Mr Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) president Divine Ndhlukula (business); economist and banker Zondo Sakala, Agribank chief executive Mr Somkhosi Malaba and Africa Next chief executive Mr Lewis Musasike (financial services); Dr Norbert Mugwagwa and physician Dr Godfrey Sikipa (health and social protection); Remigius Makumbe, Simbarashe Mangwende (infrastructure).

Other members are Dr Lindiwe Sibanda (agriculture); Natalie Jabangwe (ICT); Mr Aenias Chuma, Ms Elisa Ravengai, seasoned lawyer Mr Edwin Manikai (governance and human rights); Professors Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo and Robson Mafoti (education).

The tourism sector will be represented by renowned businessman Mr Herbert Nkala while the communication and media management will be represented by AMH owner Trevor Ncube.

The civic society will be represented by Janah Ncube while Dr Shingi Munyeza and Zimbabwe Council of Churches secretary general Dr Kenneth Mtata will stand for faith based organisations.

The minorities will be represented by CABS managing director Mr Simon Hammond and CBZ Holdings chairman Mr Richard Wilde.

PAC coordination will be done Mr Mfaro Moyo, who brings experience from Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

State Media

By Own Correspondent- Zanu PF Spokesman, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo said the Politburo recommended that government, law enforcement agents and the judiciary should take stern measures against perpetrators and organisers of the recent violence which rocked the nation following the announcement of fuel price hikes by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Khaya Moyo said this soon after a politburo meeting held at the party headquarters in Harare Wednesday and said his party had received reports on the recent violence, the end of year Zanu PF people’s conference, discipline in the party, state of security and the commissariat.

Said Khaya Moyo:

“The President said all party organs are mandated to work out action plans and performance management plans will be implemented to evaluate the programmes. Pertaining to the recent violence, the Politburo took a strong stance requiring that government, law enforcement agencies and the legislative institutions should take stern corrective measures against the perpetrators of that violence which was organised by the MDC Alliance, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, non-governmental organisations and their allies to avoid further recurrence of such incidents.”-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on party cadres to work hard in unity and esnure the implementation of the December 2018 National People’s Conference held in Esigodini.

Mnangagwa emphasised the importance of unity in the party and government saying every department should be visible in its mandate throughout the structures of the party.

He said this while addressing the party’s Politburo meeting at the Zanu PF headquarters in Harare held on Wednesday.

Zanu PF Spokesman, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo, who addressed the media after the meeting, said the Politburo got reports on the recent violence, the end of year Zanu PF people’s conference, discipline in the party, state of security and the commissariat.

Said Khaya Moyo:

“The President said all party organs are mandated to work out action plans and performance management plans will be implemented to evaluate the programmes. Pertaining to the recent violence, the Politburo took a strong stance requiring that government, law enforcement agencies and the legislative institutions should take stern corrective measures against the perpetrators of that violence which was organised by the MDC Alliance, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, non-governmental organisations and their allies to avoid further recurrence of such incidents.”-StateMedia

By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has set up a Presidential Advisory Council PAC, which will help in Advising on how to run the country.

A list of persons appointed to the Council was leaked to ZimEye.com and eventually to social media platforms on Wednesday evening.

Highly reliable sources confirmed that the list is genuine though some of the members on the list had asked Mnangagwa never to get their names into public raising fears that they may withdraw from the set up.

Here’s are the contents of the leaked pages of the document:

Members of Presidential Advisory Council The following have been appointed Presidential Advisory Council members:

• Busisa Moyo;
• Divine Ndhlukula;
• Joe Mutizwa;
• Zondo Sakala;
• Lewis Maxwell Musasike;
• Dr Norbert Mugwagwa;
• Dr Godfrey Sikipa;
• Remigius Makumbe;
• Simbarashe Mangwengwende; •
• Dr Lindiwe Sibanda;
• Aenias Chuma;
• Edwin Manikai;
• Sam Malaba;
• Professor Kuzvinetsa Nzvimbo;
• Natalie Jabangwe;
• Trevor Ncube;
• Janah Ncube;
• Dr Shingi Munyeza;
• Dr Kenneth Mtata;
• Simon Hammond
• Richard Wilde;
• Kudakwashe Tagwirei;
• Prof. Robson Mafoti;
• Mfaro Moyo.

Tenure of Office

PAC members are appointed by His Excellency the President based on experience, expertise, leadership, contacts and standing in society. They should be non-partisan and will serve at the pleasure of the President. Unless indicated otherwise or through voluntary resignation, a PAC member…

By Own Correspondent| A Harare magistrates court here has issued a warrant of arrest for former Zanj Pf cabinet minister Ignatius Chombo.

The warrant comes after Chombo failed to appear in court today.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

Watch the video below for this and more.

More than 5 years after the effective date of the constitution, the government has disregarded the obligation to establish an independent complains mechanism set out in section 210 of the constitution.

Two years ago a Constitutional application was made to demand its establishment yet judgment is yet to be passed. Events of the past two weeks justify the calls for its establishment and vindicates its provision in the constitution.

The lies by Charity Charamba are also an indictment, a revelation that the halfhearted attempt to provide a military and police contacts to report violations is not only unlawful but will not work.

More than two times the ZRP has changed its position pertaining a report on Sky News in which three members of the security forces are seen assaulting an unarmed civilian with his cuffed behind his back.

The first response was to dismiss the report as biased and fabricated, then came a shocking spin in which the police lied that the video used in the report was from 2016.

With the lie short lived and exposed due to 2018 plates on Mercedes appearing in the footage, the police changed its position and indicated that one of the people involved in the violation had instead been arrested.

The MDC is wary of a government which for all intents and purposes listens to defend itself rather than understand what is really going on. 

We are therefore suspicious of the version of the arrest of the so-called suspended Constable especially with no mention of the other two who were in uniform.

They were supposed to be charged first for outsourcing torture on a citizen if the suspension narrative is anything to go by.

When reports are made the responsibility of the police is to investigate not deny, otherwise that is only characteristic of the mafia. The police in its statement has proved to be dishonest therefore cannot be trusted with handling law and order.

The MDC is concerned about the rights of Zimbabweans especially where violations are being perpetrated by members of the security forces and the police’s default position is that “nothing like that happened.”

This is a loud call for the urgent establishment of the independent complains mechanism set out in section 210 of the constitution.

Members of the security forces have violated fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens against the provisions of section 208 of the constitution which dictates their conduct. 

The people of Zimbabwe have to be afforded an opportunity to seek redress.

Behold the New. Change that Delivers!

Hon Bekithemba Mpofu
Deputy National Spokesperson

By Own Correspondent| In an interview with a local radio station Wednesday morning, Presidential spokesperson, George Charamba said that the government will shut down the internet again if there are “disturbances” in the country. 

Charamba argued that it’s standard practice all over the world to switch off internet connectivity when there are serious disturbances in the country.

Said Mnangagwa:

As a matter of fact, it’s a standard practice that whenever you have very serious civil disturbances in any country or an attack of a terrorist nature – we saw it recently in the UK – those services are suspended. Only for the duration of the disturbances. In our case, it was even more compelling because we then discovered that the internet was being used to coordinate those demonstrations unnecessarily. If it was a weapon of choice by the demonstrators, we had to make sure that that weapon of choice was denied them.

The internet is always live all the time and so it becomes a tool for coordinating for those trying to cause chaos and mayhem in society. So yes it will be suspended. It was suspended and it will be suspended in the future.

The Zimbabwe government shut down the internet on two occasions in the week of the demonstrations and blocked access to social media for close to a week. It was only ordered by the courts to restore access when activists approached the High Court.-CapitalkFM

By Own Correspondent| The identity of the plainclothes policeman who is captured live on camera beating up a handcuffed man in the SkyNews video has been unmasked.

The man is called Constable Makumire and he is a constable.

Zimbabwe Republic Police Chief Spokesperson, Commissioner Charity Charamba told journalists that Makumire is already on suspension and was on police duty when he committed the office.

“Number 066913F Constable Makumire was suspended from performing active police duties in September 2018 and is on bail for contravening section 113 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chgapter 9:23 ‘Theft’ (four counts). ZRP Harare Central Crime Register 2632 – 5/09/18 and Rotten Row Court Record Book Number 11418/19 refer,”

Police said they are looking for the others in the video.

SOUTH African pharmaceutical group Adcock Ingram says it is assessing the viability of its continued presence in Zimbabwe, given the country’s deteriorating economic environment.

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)-listed company has interests in flagging Bulawayo-based pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor, Datlabs through a wholly owned subsidiary, Pharmalabs (Jersey).

“Operations in Zimbabwe remain unpredictable and investment may be required in the short to medium-term to recapitalise its facilities,” part of the statement accompanying the group’s results read.

“Consequently, the board is assessing the viability of the group’s continued presence in that country.”

Zimbabwe had begun to see renewed interest from foreign investors since long-time President Robert Mugabe was removed from power by a military coup in November 2017, but the tide seems to have turned, as the new administration under Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed to break from the past.

Mnangagwa’s government has come under fire for failing to address the country’s economy, which has taken a turn for the worst since he came to power.

Adcock Ingram revealed that turnover in its enterprises in Zimbabwe and Kenya collectively increased by 7,5% to R222,6 million ($16,28 million) compared to R207,1 million ($15,14 million) achieved in 2017, to register a trading profit of R18,3 million ($1,34 million).

“The positive performance is attributable in Zimbabwe to a significant improvement in demand for the top brands following improved stock availability, while the improvement in the Kenyan operation is due to strict management focus by the OTC Division from South Africa,” the company said.

Datlabs produces brands such as Cafemol, Panado, Solphyllex and Lanolene Milk under licence, but has been facing serious competition from imports, mainly from the Asian bloc.

Recently, Datlabs chief executive Todd Moyo told State media that the company required at least $4,5 million to upgrade plant and equipment.

The company also has plans to upgrade its Large Volume Parenterals plant, which would cut the firm’s import requirements.

NewsDay

PRESS STATEMENT ON VENDOR RELOCATION BY HIS WORSHIP HARARE MAYOR COUNCILLOR HERBERT THOMAS GOMBA AT TOWN HOUSE

29 JANUARY 2019

In the spirit and desire to accord the informal sector decent trading spaces Harare City Council is allocating additional trading spaces and reviving old and disused markets through the rerouting of mass bus transit system through the approved markets.

Bus terminuses at the old markets are being revived.

We therefore call on all informal sector members doing business at undesignated sites to approach their district offices for allocation.

To complement our efforts we are inviting stakeholders with capacity to construct temporary and permanent vending infrastructure at designated sites to approach council for space allocation.

All such engagements should be done through the Town Clerk’s office at Town House before close of business on Wednesday next week.

Council supports legal vending and has an obligation to avail sheltered spaces and where capacity is constrained, council has authority to seek partners for assistance.

All members of the informal sector who have been trading at undesignated and were moved from the illegal sites are advised to visit their nearest district offices for space allocation.

Relevant District Officers have been advised to attend to all space inquiries.

Taking up space at approved trading sites will eliminate the demolition of illegal structures and loss of investments.

Informal traders are advised to deal with council officials and help us eliminate the presence of space barons – who only take our money and do not invest in the provision of the trading spaces or their maintenance.

Business models will be discussed with the shortlisted stakeholders or partners.

By Own Correspondent| The leader of South Africa’s main opposition political party Mmusi Maimane of the Democratic Alliance is set to visit Zimbabwe this week.

Maimane is expected to see MDC president Nelson Chamisa and vice national chairperson Tendai Biti.

Maimane is seeking to gather support for a regional intervention in Zimbabwe.

Said Maimane hile addressing the media:

“I will pay a working visit to Zimbabwe this week. I will meet with the current opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, and former Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, Tendai Biti, among others.

The purpose of this visit is to seek practical solutions to the ongoing crisis and garner support across the region for much-needed intervention in Zimbabwe.

Widespread civilian suppression, military-led violence, and bloodshed have ensued, as (President) Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF government has implemented what can only be described as a dictator-like military clampdown on citizens, which has to date claimed the lives of at least 12 people.

Zimbabweans are fleeing their country, as we are told by border officials that over 130,000 people crossed the Zimbabwean/SA border in a single day in mid-January. The situation is dire.

There has been no advocacy for the citizens, no justice for the deceased, and no protection of civil liberties for those who are currently detained.-TheEastAfrican

By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa’ spokesperson, George Charamba has claimed that MDC leader Nelson Chamisa needs dialogue more than the government does considering he is a mere opposition leader.

Chamisa is on record callimng for dialogue accusing the Zanu Pf leader, Mnangagwa of snubbing calls for dialogue to resolve the country’s economic and socio political crisis.

However, Charamba said that Chamisa needs dialogue to save his political career since the issue of legitimacy was settled by the people during the 2018 harmonised polls.

While speaking on state-owned radio, CapiTalkFM, Charamba said;

One of the leaders of the opposition, still insists that his interlocutor (Mnangagwa) is illegitimate. He needs the dialogue more acutely than everyone else.

Let’s accept the verdict of the people. He (Chamisa) must acknowledge that ED is the president and that he is the leader of an opposition party.

By Own Correspondent| South Africa’s African National Congress’s (ANC) elections head Fikile Mbalula said it is in the interest of their country for Zimbabwe’s economy to flourish considering the number of people that have migrated to his nation due to the economic crisis in Zimbabwe.

Mbalula said that South Africa has to assist Zimbabwe to find a solution to the challenges that the country is facing so that  Zimbabweans living in South Africa go back home.

Speaking to journalists in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Mbalula said:

Zimbabweans are here because there is no employment in Zimbabwe, so the economy of Zimbabwe must flourish. It is in our interest.

If Zimbabwe flourishes, Zimbabweans will go to Zimbabwe and work for their country. There is no employment there, they come to our country looking for opportunities.

Mmusi Maimane [the DA leader] is saying there must be sanctions on Zimbabwe. He supports undemocratic means and we are not supporting that. We are working with Zimbabweans to find a solution to their challenges.

Petrol is R45 a litre in Zimbabwe – what world is that? It is our neighbour next door. When the people of Lesotho, Swaziland or Botswana are suffering, they will come to our South Africa so we have got to work with these countries in our neighbours to ensure that we bring prosperity in their countries.

Zimbabwe is facing an economic crisis that has been ongoing for close to two decades. However, things have turned for the worse since former President Mugabe was pushed out of power by the military in 2017. This has resulted in an exodus of thousands of Zimbabweans, most of them trekking down to South Africa.

THE Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) website crashed on Wednesday, after failing to handle a huge spike in traffic generated through endless online queries by Ordinary Level students who are trying to access their November 2018 results released on Tuesday.

In a statement released on Tuesday, ZIMSEC said: “We are pleased to announce that, beginning with the November 2018 Ordinary Level Examinations.

“Results will be accessible to Candidates and authorised personnel online. This will be done through the ZIMSEC website: www.zimsec.co.zw.

“Instructions on how to access the Results Panel are available on the ZIMSEC Examination Portal page. A circular to this effect has been sent out to all concerned institutions. The ZIMSEC Examination Panel can be accessed from any electronic device that supports the Internet.”

Results on the Portal are in view-only mode, therefore, they cannot be printed.

The Results Slip which can only be collected by the candidates from their respective Examination Centres is the official document of ZIMSEC results.

However, candidates trying to check their results on the ZIMSEC website on Wednesday were welcomed by an error message that read:

The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to maintenance downtime or capacity problems. Please try again later.

The November 2018 Ordinary Level exams were the first to be written under the controversial new curriculum introduced by former Minister of Education Lazarus Dokora in 2016.

Correspondent|Speaking in a radio interview this morning, presidential spokesperson George Charamba said that the Shutdown Zimbabwe situation is not the main reason President Mnangagwa came back to the country.

He said the main reason was the British, Germans and French were not going to Davos so there was no point in attending. Charamba said Zimbabwe crisis was a “residual” reason.

He pointed out 3 things:

When we left Harare we had targeted 3 critical delegations Germans, French and the British. The 3 aborted the trip to Davos and it was unnecessary to go to Davos.

The success of the trip so far had far exceeded our expectations and the president was anxious to get back home to start implementing needs of the deals with the Belarusians.

A residual issue of unrest back home was not a big issue as the situation had stabilized. Vice President Chiwenga even advised the Mnangagwa to continue his trip to Davos.

Former deputy prime minister of Zimbabwe, Professor Arthur Mutambara, whose country is in an economic meltdown, has told a British audience that the mooted “ever closer African Union” was “despicable” and instead suggested that a “United States of Africa” would be more beneficial to Africans.

Speaking at the Oxford Union Debate Society, University of Oxford in the UK, Mutambara said: “I stand before you in unequivocal and vicious opposition to the proposition that says: ‘This House would embrace an ever closer African Union’.

“For a start, we need the United States of Africa – a country – and not a union of sovereign states. We need to abolish national sovereignty and embrace continental sovereignty.”

“We must pull our individual national sovereignties into one indivisible and all-inclusive Pan-African sovereignty. In order to leverage Africa’s 1.2 billion people, massive natural resource base and potential $2.3 trillion GDP we need to operate as one country and not a union of sovereign states.”

Mutambara made his remarks on Thursday, 24 January 2019, amid mounting international criticism of Zimbabwe’s government which used the amy to put down protests sparked by astronomical fuel hikes.

-IOL

Chalton Hwende, a Member of Parliament for Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance, is in Namibia amidst reports in his home country that he is wanted by police in connection with recent protests in which about 12 people died.

Hwende, the Deputy Treasurer of the MDC-Alliance that lost a presidential election in Zimbabwe late last year, is in the country and has asked Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Sebastian Ndeitunga for protection. According to media reports in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Republic Police have launched a manhunt for at least 27 MDC-Alliance officials and activists, including their civil society partners, for allegedly organising #Shutdown Zimbabwe protests which later turned violent.

Although it is suggested in some circles especially in Zimbabwe that Hwende is in hiding in Namibia, his Namibian lawyer Norman Tjombe said the opposition MP is in the country to visit his relatives during the period which the Zimbabwean parliament is in recess. He is due to return to Zimbabwe in early February 2019, Tjombe said in a letter to Ndeitunga.

According to media reports in Zimbabwe, suspects on the police wanted list include, activist Promise Mkhwananzi, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) chairperson Rashid Mahiya, Hwende and party spokesperson Jacob Mafume. 
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was quoted saying they wanted ‘to interview’ these people with regards to the violent disturbances.

Tjombe’s letter to Ndeitunga, dated yesterday, said Hwende needed protection against unlawful abduction and the possible rendition to Zimbabwe at the hands of Zimbabwean Central Intelligence (ZCI).

“Should our client not be afforded the necessary protection, our client will not hesitate to approach the High Court of Namibia on an urgent basis for appropriate order, including an interdict,” reads Tjombe’s letter.

Tjombe said, as publicly known, Zimbabwe maintains the death penalty for offence such as treason, which is another reason that Hwende feared returning to Zimbabwe, especially at the time of the brutal security clampdown in response to the protest of the fuel increases. 

“In the course of January 2019, our client was informed, through reliable sources, that members of the Zimbabwean intelligence agency, namely the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), travelled to Namibia to abduct and rendition him (Hwende) to Zimbabwe where he is apparently wanted for treason, incitement to commit public violence and other charges,” further reads the letter.

 “According to the information, the members of the CIO already arrived in Namibia on or before 28 January 2019,” added the letter.

Yesterday former Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Itai Dickson Mafios was convicted of inciting people in Bindura to join the violent MDC Alliance-led protests, The Herald reported. He was to be sentenced later in the day.

-New Era

Former Moderator of the Church of Scotlandand current convenor of its World Mission Council, the Very Rev Dr John Chalmerssaid their church is ‘deeply disturbed’ by a brutal crackdown being waged against civil protesters in Zimbabwe.

In a proclamation, the Rev said it is time the chaos-torn country restore order and pay particular attention to the voices of its pregnable people.

‘We are deeply disturbed by the reports coming out of Zimbabwe and strongly endorse this statement issued by the Council of Churches in Zambia and other civil groups. It is time to restore order and to allow the voices of the most vulnerable to be heard,’ said Rev Chalmers. 

The Church of Scotland urged the Scottish and UK Governments to respond to a call for help from the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ).

In an open letter for help, the CCZ, itself a partner church of the Church of Scotland said it was ‘disheartening’ that the international community was not doing more to help stem the violence in its neighbouring country.

‘Civil society in Zambia remains deeply concerned with the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe and the reported human rights violations against citizens of the state,’ 

it said.

‘The onus lies with President Mnangagwa to be all inclusive in finding a lasting solution to the many challenges that the country faces. It is disheartening to note that the terrible situation in Zimbabwe has not garnered the desired response, both regionally and internationally.

As civil society activists, we cannot sit idle while our neighbours are being beaten, arrested, detained and killed.

‘Zimbabwe deserves better from its leaders and the international community,’

wrote the CCZ.

Africa and Caribbean Secretary for the Church of Scotland, Jennie Chinembiri, said the World Mission Council also received a ‘disturbing and saddening’ report. The account of the situation was from another partner Church, the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, in which it said there was a ‘warlike feeling in the air’.

‘Perhaps the most shocking effect of the demonstrations and riots is the government’s reaction of shutting down the internet and social media sites for all,’ the Church said.

The Calvinist Church called for prayer as it admitted it was struggling to minister to its members in the face of the violence.

‘One of the hardest things for us ministers is how to minister to people at this time?

How to preach a message of hope in the face of the seeming hopelessness of our country? How to preach a message of comfort without sounding like ‘peace where there is no peace’? And how to help the people lament without leaving them in despair? Please do continue to hold us up in prayer,’ 

wrote the church.

Zimbabwe recently experienced a grim phase when an alarming number of its citizens were killed or assaulted. It was an effort by the state security to calm down commotion caused by the citizens. They had taken it to the streets to protest a steep increase in fuel prices that made its petrol the world’s most expensive.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forumsaid the clampdowns by the state security left twelve people dead, seventy-eight with gunshot wounds, two-hundred-and-forty-two with dog bites and 466+ people arrested and detained.

The abuses have not calmed despite President Mnangagwa denouncing the violence as “unacceptable” and “not the Zimbabwean way”. Members of the police and the military have of late reportedly accused of continuing to carry out arbitrary beatings, rapes, and abductions.

The government accuses the opposition of kindling up trouble and the army said uniformed perpetrators of abuses are “bogus elements” out to tarnish its image.

Intimidated residents in the working-class suburbs of Harare and Bulawayo are locking themselves in at night.

“We have received very disturbing reports of a number of cases of women allegedly raped by members of security forces. Beatings, harassment and other abuses, have continued after Mnangagwa’s return and there are no clear actions from the government to hold accountable those committing the abuses,”

said Dewa Mavhinga, Southern Africa director for Human Rights Watch.

Vendors in the city centre were being routinely rounded up by the military, beaten and dumped at police stations, another human rights lawyer Doug Coltart said.

Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba, however, said their units have received no reports of rape.

Dozens of civil society leaders, opposition figures and activists have gone into hiding, fearing for their lives, with some of them being arrested, detained and abducted, Amnesty International said in a statement. It noted reported rapes, “lethal force” against protesters and the targeting of health workers who treat victims.

“Children as young as 11 years old have been detained on frivolous charges,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty’s southern Africa director. “The authorities must immediately stop this merciless crackdown.”

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said arrests of suspected protesters continued, with many denied bail.

South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane has since threatened to jet into Zimbabwe to compile a human rights abuse dossier against President Mnangagwa and hand it over to the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

Maimane on Monday said efforts to pressure South African President and SADC chair Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in the Zimbabwean crisis had not yielded results, hence the decision to refer Pres. Mnangagwa’s gross human rights abuses to the ICC and the UN.

“President Ramaphosa is mistaken to focus solely on the economic situation in Zimbabwe, while turning a blind eye to the dictator-like military clampdown on citizens, which has, to date, claimed the lives of at least 12 people.

Despite concerted pressure from the DA, President Ramaphosa and his government have failed to show leadership and intervene in what has now become a humanitarian crisis. It is vital that stability is restored in Zimbabwe and in the Southern African Development Community region,” he said.

The continued merciless crackdown of citizens by state security has since been cited as a major threat to efforts to bring President Mnangagwa and opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to the negotiating table to resolve the current political and economic logjam.

-Hallelujahmag

By Own Correspondent| Presidential spokesperson, George Charamba said that government reacted in the “very very forceful way” it did because there was an attempt to “redraw” the elections results from 2018.

Charamba said this during an interview with a local radio station, CapitalkFM and he was asked about why the military and police reacted with such heavy-handedness on Zimbabweans following the recent protests

Said Charamba: “Don’t ever get into a situation where you equate demonstration with violence or equate demonstrations with challenging the authority of the state. Because once that happens we are drifting in uncharted territory where only the fittest survive, and then you can’t allow that kind of a situation to happen.  So yes government will use a set of mix of measures which are appropriate to the situation.

“And given those symbolic gestures by way of attacking police stations trying to wrestle arms of war, we knew basically that we were dealing with a determined demonstrator who was out to, as it were, redraw the results of the July 30 elections. And what once that happens, it means the state will have to react in a very very forceful way.”

By Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba has said that the peace is a priority ahead of the internet for investors.

Charamba had been asked by an interviewer during a program with CapitalkFM, “Do you not believe that its counter-intuitive for a nation that is desperate not only for foreign investment but has a serious need for an image overhaul? ”

He responded:

On Friday we met a Belgian investor who said “Mr. President, I don’t put my money in a country which is unstable, where law and order is not assured. I look at the authority of the state – can it secure my investments. I look at the judiciary – can it arbitrate in the event of difficulties. I look at the general work environment and say can my works work and go back home to come again. So really, lets not over dramatise false arguments, to think that investors come here for internet. They have better internet services in their own countries.

The interviewer interjected, “But they need them here when they come for business”.

Charamba responded.

Yes they do, but above all they need peace. And that’s the primary consideration. After all, why are we trading peace for internet?

The Zimbabwe government shut down the internet on two occasions in the week of the demonstrations, and blocked access to social media for close to a week. It was only ordered by the courts to restore access when activists approached the High Court.-CapitalkFM

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa said the “terror” reaction to protests by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration makes former President Robert Mugabe look like a baby.

Chamisa said Zimbabweans have seen an increase in the Mugabe type of terror despite the fact that the former strongman has been out of power for 14 months now. Said Chamisa:

This is now 14 months after Mr. Mugabe exiting the political stand, but what we are seeing is actually an escalation, not only of the Mugabe type of terror, but we are actually seeing something that makes Mugabe look like a baby in terms of terrorism. At night, people are no longer enjoying their freedoms, they are dragged out of their places of joy and entertainment, restaurants… (and) being beaten up.

Correspondent|SOUTH Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane says he will visit Zimbabwe this week to seek solutions to the ongoing crisis.

“I will pay a working visit to Zimbabwe this week. I will meet with current opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, and former Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, Tendai Biti, among others,” Mr Maimane said on Monday.

“The purpose of this visit is to seek practical solutions to the ongoing crisis, and garner support across the region for much-needed intervention in Zimbabwe.”

Mr Maimane hopes to garner support across the region for intervention in Zimbabwean, which is facing its worst economic crisis since attaining independence in 1980.

His visit will be a test of the Zimbabwe government which has attacked him and described his comments on Zimbabwe as rubbish.

Among other things, the opposition leaders expect to discuss the DA’s intention to approach the United Nations (UN), the International Criminal Court (ICC) and parliament over what the party terms a political and humanitarian crisis.

“Widespread civilian suppression, military-led violence, and bloodshed have ensued, as (President) Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF government has implemented what can only be described as a dictator-like military clampdown on citizens, which has to date claimed the lives of at least 12 people,” said Mr Maimane

Earlier this month, Zimbabweans took to the streets, sparking a brutal crackdown by the country’s security forces.

Mr Maimane revealed that DA was on the verge of writing to the office of the prosecutor of the ICC to request an investigation into the conduct of the government of Zimbabwe as per Article 15 of the Rome Statute.

He added that the party would formally request the intervention of the UN Human Rights Council and an urgent joint meeting of the South African parliament’s portfolio committees on home affairs, international relations and cooperation, police and defence and military veterans to deliberate on the political and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.

Currently detained

DA will also request the national assembly to urgently debate the impact of the violence by Zimbabwean government on South Africa.

“Zimbabweans are fleeing their country, as we are told by border officials that over 130,000 people crossed the Zimbabwean/SA border in a single day in mid-January. The situation is dire,” said Mr Maimane.

He said despite the humanitarian crisis, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC government had “sat on its hands and watched on, employing its ‘quiet diplomacy’ policy”.

“There has been no advocacy for the citizens, no justice for the deceased, and no protection of civil liberties for those who are currently detained,” concluded Mr Maimane.

The Zimbabwe Government and the ruling Zanu-PF party yesterday dismissed as hugwash posturing the utterances by South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mr Mmusi Maimane who threatened to compile a human rights abuse dossier against President Mnangagwa for the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Human Rights Council.

“We have nothing to do with the DA, absolutely nothing. We have a relationship with ANC of South Africa, that is why we were meeting with them even today (yesterday). We never met with DA. We do not even know what they stand for. Who are they?” ZANU- PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo is quoted by the State media saying.

“You can rest assured that what they are saying is hogwash but we are not members of the ICC at all and we have no relationship with them.”

By Own Correspondent| A street vendor from Harare who claims that she voted for Zanu-PF in the July 2018 harmonised polls, said she regrets the ouster of the former President Robert Mugabe.

Said the vendor in an interview with a local publication:

We want to be free, “open for business”. But there’s no business. Many bigs shops are closed. We can’t even become prostitutes because prostitution doesn’t pay much. I can’t prostitute yourself for 50 cents, what will I buy? Nothing! We want the president to tell us what to do. We want a marketplace [to use to sell our things ] for which we can pay at the City Council.

We also want them to give us back Mugabe. He was better. We were better off. I have spent 37 years in Zimbabwe under the Mugabe rule. I never needed to run from the police for vending. Tsunami (Murambatsvina) came but we continued selling. Murambatsvina would target illegal residential areas and not vendors. Kombis would keep moving. Last week there was no movement of public transport, we spent our days at home. What do they want us to do? How shall we survive in a country in which we voted and won?-BusStopTv

By Own Correspondent| Speaking to the media in Harare on Tuesday, Zimsec chairperson Eddie Mwenje said candidates can now view their results through a recently introduced online portal.

The online option will be through the Zimsec website www.zimsec.co.zw and instructions on how to access the results are available on the Zimsec examinations portal page.

Alternatively students can collect the results from their respective centres.

By Own Correspondent| Former Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central Chairperson who is also brother to former cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Dickson Mafios was sentenced to 2 years behind bars for inciting violence in Bindura.

However, 10 months of his sentence were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within five years.

Mafios will serve an effective 14 months in prison. Mafios, who was represented by Graciano Manyurureni made a plea for community service on medical grounds and the plea was considered in the suspended sentence.

Prosecutor Carol Mupazviriwo told the court that on the 15th of this month, Mafios arrived  at Club 10, Chiwaridzo Shopping Centre and challenged people to stand up, burn and destroy property in solidarity with Harare and proceed with a total shutdown. Mafios allegedly made demeaning remarks about President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ascendancy.

In his defence, Mafios said he retired from politics, arguing that the allegations were a fabrication by former colleagues meant to settle political scores. However, the court found Mafios guilty considering his convenience to the place of the offence and found out that the remarks resonated with events which prevailed in other parts of Zimbabwe.

The court also took into consideration that Mafios is not a first offender.t.-StateMedia

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said members of the security forces are not above the law and urged victims of brutality to report to the police for justice to take its course.

Hundreds of people have reportedly been brutalised by soldiers and police officers during the crackdown on recent protests, while several women also revealed falling victim to rape.

Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, police spokesperson Commissioner Charity Charamba said any abuse should be reported to the law enforcement agents, with a view to arresting perpetrators and gathering evidence to initiate interventions so that victims receive medical care.

“Without being discriminatory, we are alive to the fact that women and children suffer the brunt of any conflict the world over, hence our call for all those who might have been affected to come forth. We reiterate that all cases reported to us will be handled in a professional manner which accords victims full protection of the law and privacy,” she said.

Charamba said police did not condone any unlawful conduct by security forces.

She said women who were living in fear of stigma or mistrust should be bold enough to approach the police.

“Some victims may be scared to report for one reason or the other. It might be fear of reprisals, stigma or mistrust but we are saying if such heinous acts are allowed to go unresolved, they have lasting traumatic implications on the victims,” Charamba said.

“The law is clear; for each and every offence, there should be redress or a penalty, hence our passionate appeal to members of the public to report.”

Musasa Project director Netty Musanhu said there was need for women to report any abuse against them and her organisation stood ready to facilitate and assist the victims.

“It should never be allowed to happen again. We have had a lot of cases of gender-based violence in this country and if we allow the situation in every chaos for women to be violated and it goes unnoticed or unreported, we are creating a society that is characterised by chaos,” she said.

Adult Rape Clinic manager Rudo Mashingaidze said there was need for rape victims to come forward and get assisted with pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease interventions.

Over a dozen women in Harare last week claimed they were raped by members of the security forces and in many cases without protection, sometimes in the presence of their families, as punishment for participating in the recent mass protests.

Police have arrested and suspended a police officer who was filmed assaulting a handcuffed civilian along Chiremba Road in Epworth.

They are also now looking for other members of the security services involved in the attack of civilians during the recent crackdown on opposition supporters.

Charamba said one Constable Makumire had been arrested for assault and described him as one of the “rogue elements” within the security services as he committed the offence while on suspension for theft.

“Constable Makumire is seen in the video clad in civilian attire with a satchel strapped on his back, assaulting the victim. The member was not on official duty during the time of the offence as he is on suspension,” she said.

“Earlier reports had indicated that the video was shot in 2016. However, upon further clarification from (the) investigating team it was established that the video was actually shot on Saturday 26 January, 2019. Investigations are widening to account for the remaining members of the security services captured in the video.”

-Newsday

Zimbabwean lawyer and author, Petina Gappah has been appointed to a three-member panel expected to adjudicate a dispute between the Russian Federation and United States of America.

Breaking the news on her Facebook page, Gappah said she is honored to serve on this panel which includes Ambassadors of Uruguay and Pakistan.

READ PETINA GAPPAH FULL TEXT ON HER APPOINTMENT BELOW…

It’s now official, so I can share it here. The Director-General of the World Trade Organization has appointed me to a three-member panel to adjudicate a dispute between the Russian Federation and the United States of America. It is a huge, billion-dollar dispute, part of an ongoing and increasingly fractious trade conflict between the two countries.

The actions taken by the Trump administration have raised significant interest; not only have other WTO Members complained about the same issues and established their own panels, no less than 21 WTO Members have registered as third parties in our panel, among them major trading parties like China, India, Japan, Brazil and the European Union.

It is a real honor to serve on this panel with my co-panelists, Ambassador Ehlers of Uruguay, our chair, and Ambassador Shah of Pakistan. Panelists serve in a part time capacity, working from wherever they are based and traveling to Geneva as needed for meetings and hearings.

So this fits nicely with other things I am doing, winding up my work on ZIDA, which is now before parliament, and starting my book tour.

I am delighted to be returning to service at the WTO. It feels like coming back home. But this time, as an adult.

MDC-Alliance vice president Morgan Komichi’s bid for freedom from charges of contravening the Electoral Act after he staged a sideshow during the announcement of Presidential election results at the National Results Centre last year, hit a snag yesterday after his application for discharge was thrown out.

In dismissing the application, magistrate Ms Ruramai Chitumbura ruled that Komichi had a case to answer and should be put to his defence.

She said the State led by Mr Michael Reza had managed to prove a prima facie case against him.

“In this case, the announcement of results had commenced and ZEC had taken a break before announcing the rest of the results,” said Ms Chitumbura.

“It, therefore, means that the proceedings had not yet ended and the accused had, therefore, interrupted, disturbed or disrupted proceedings.”

Komichi, through his lawyer Mr Obey Shava, had made an application for discharge at the close of the State case, arguing that the State had failed to prove a prima facie case against him.

In response, Mr Reza opposed the application for lack of merit. He argued that Komichi had a case to answer and should be put to his defence.

After hearing submissions from both parties, the court concurred with the State and dismissed Komichi’s application.

The matter was remanded to February 6 for continuation of trial. Allegations are that on August 2, Komichi was at Harare International Conference Centre waiting for the announcement of the results of the July 30 polls by ZEC.

During a break, Komichi went to the podium reserved for ZEC commissioners and announced that MDC-Alliance was disputing the election results, it is alleged.

The ZANU PF government has said security forces will remain firmly on the ground “to ensure that peace and sanity prevails across the country” following threats of another round of citizen protests.

In separate interviews, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema and Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa assured Zimbabweans that they were secure.

“The security forces have always remained on high alert and firmly on the ground,” said Minister Mathema. “We are ready for anybody (hooligans) and the law will take its course. My ministry and the ZRP will do their best to maintain the law.

“We don’t make the laws, but we enforce them and everybody should operate within the confines of the law. Look at the nonsense they recently did, destroying property, killing people and burning cars.”

Minister Mathema said Government will not fold its hands and watch lawlessness taking place in the country.

He said they were aware of some people who wanted to illegally exhume remains of the dead and use them to demonstrate in the country.

Minister Mathema warned such people that they would be arrested and would face the full wrath of the law.

“This is uncultural, they will be arrested,” he said.

In a separate interview, Minister Mutsvangwa said there was no need to continue calling for a stay-away and those that were doing so were the country’s detractors who wanted to divide the people.

“As I have been alluding earlier on, the Government’s position is to guarantee security of the people,” she said. “Those that continue to call for the stayaways are detractors who want to incite our people.

“The people should know that the peace we are enjoying is not a free gift and we should continue safeguarding it. Zimbabweans are peace-loving people and we should come together. There is no need for stayaways.”

State Media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is under withering pressure to immediately withdraw troops deployed across large swathes of urban areas following protests over fuel price hikes.

This comes as soldiers are being accused of viciously beating up residents in high density suburbs and continuing to carry out attacks on selected targets.

The crackdown has largely targeted high density suburbs in the capital Harare and the second city of Bulawayo in what is being seen as a bid to instil fear in communities, imposing their control over the ghettos and as a form of punishment, rights groups have said.

National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (Nango) — a non-party political, non-profit making organisation and non-denominational coordinating body of over 1 000 NGOs in Zimbabwe — pleaded with government to remove the soldiers saying their heavy-handedness has led to injuries, deaths and in some cases rape.

Soldiers and police have allegedly raped and sexually assaulted dozens of women and girls in a campaign to punish urban communities for the fuel hike protests that turned violent — acts that constitute crimes against humanity.

“We are still concerned with the continued presence of soldiers within communities and demand that soldiers immediately go back to the barracks and police play their role of protecting and serving citizens,” Nango said.

Mnangagwa, who was forced to cut short his crucial visit to Europe and central Asia to drum up investment to attend to the festering crisis back home, has denounced the continuing violence as absolutely “unacceptable”.

He tweeted that violence or misconduct by the country’s security forces is unacceptable and a betrayal of the “new Zimbabwe”, and shall be investigated.

Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema said the rights violations are being probed.

Nango slammed what it called “the use of the army in fighting political battles”, suggesting that soldiers should stick to protecting civilians.

“In the same vein, we condemn the law enforcement agents that exude a semblance of being political. Law enforcement agents should at all times stick to their constitutional mandate. We therefore demand that political parties should refrain from giving instructions to enforcement agents,” Nango added.

Nango also condemned the wanton attacks and abductions of civilians and has demanded an immediate end to abuses to ensure citizens’ security.

Innocent members of the public allegedly suffered injuries from assaults with sharp objects, booted feet, batons, sjamboks and tarmac abrasions as the security forces were hunting down protesters.

State rights body Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), significantly, has also castigated use of the military in the repression.

“It is therefore disturbing to note that the deployment of the army in quelling civilian disturbances leads to loss of life and serious bodily injuries and other human rights violations, yet the government continues to make such deployments,” ZHRC commissioner Sheila Hillary Matindike said.

Amnesty International on Friday called on Zimbabwean authorities to act swiftly to ensure security forces are held to account for ongoing brutal human rights violations, including rape, torture, beatings and killings of civilians.

“The onslaught by the security forces in Zimbabwe has seen people killed, arbitrarily arrested, abducted, reportedly raped and jailed on suspicion of taking part in the protests. Children as young as 11 years old have also been charged,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s regional director for Southern Africa.

“The Zimbabwean authorities must immediately halt their menacing threats towards civil society leaders, activists, opposition leaders and suspected organisers of protests. The authorities must ensure that those who violated and continue to violate human rights face justice.”

This comes as the international community has called on government to put a stop to the crackdown which has seen soldiers sexually assaulting women in some parts of Harare.

The British State minister for Africa at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Harriet Baldwin has expressed her disgust over the rape reports and has called on Mnangagwa to investigate the issue.

“I’m sickened at reports that Zimbabwe’s security forces have raped civilians during their violent crackdowns. Sexual violence is an atrocity and who is commanding these forces? The UK urges Mnangagwa to ensure these perpetrators are brought to justice,” Baldwin said.

Nelson Chamisa’s opposition MDC Alliance said in a statement last weekend it was shocked by the surge in allegations of State-sponsored rape cases and harassment of the victims.

“Some of the women who were interviewed were followed, brutalised and arrested,” Bekithemba Mpofu, the MDC deputy national spokesperson, said.

— DailyNews

Political analyst, David Moore, says Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s credibility is diminishing – as tensions continue to rise over inflation rates and a hike in fuel prices.

Violent protests erupted earlier this month following a massive hike in fuel prices.

Economists say Zimbabwe’s inflation rate has hit 290% – the second highest in the world after Venezuela. Inflation is being driven mostly by the shortage of foreign currency.

Moore says government has allocated buses for people to travel in – after the price of fuel skyrocketed, which resulted in the halting of other transport services.

“Mnangagwa was supported to a large extent by many when they got rid of Mugabe but that respect diminished very quickly when demonstrations came out in January and at least 12 people were killed. We are seeing more and more reports of soldiers looting, raping. Today, you get on buses which are run by the army as the prices were going up for the kombis there. Now they have control of these buses and charging cheaper rates. People are put on them like the military does and the buses don’t really know where to go; so it takes hours where you want to go.”

-SABC

Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has slammed Prosecutor-General (PG) Kumbirai Hodzi after he alleged legal practitioners dominate the list of corrupt officials, suggesting the allegations are exaggerated and disparaging in nature.

who was on Wednesday sworn in as the substantive PG, said in an interview with State media that the most heinous corruption is emanating from the legal practitioners.

The LSZ denied the corruption allegations, and said Hodzi never raised the issue with them even though he has been in office for months.

“Is the PG not convicting these lawyers before investigations are concluded? It is disconcerting that Hodzi having been in this office for six months in an acting capacity never saw the wisdom in bringing such serious allegations to the attention of the Law Society Council.

“One would wonder why these lawyers who are alleged to be corrupt are not being prosecuted, especially when the PG seemingly suggests that he is armed with incriminating evidence against these lawyers,” LSZ said in a statement. 

-Daily News

A 45-year-old Mutare man has been arraigned in a Mutare magistrates’ court for allegedly raping his seven-year-old niece.

Jonathan Chirwa, 45, of Dangamvura, was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Perseverance Makala.

He was remanded in custody to February 4 and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

Chirwa is being charged with rape as defined by section 65 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23.

According to State papers, Chirwa allegedly raped his niece on January 4 and the crime was discovered two days later due to a drastic change in her behaviour.

He allegedly interrupted her play by inviting her into his house where he raped her once.

Chirwa threatened to assault the Grade One child if she reported the abuse.

On January 6, her mother confronted the minor as she had begun exhibiting a completely different personality during which she disclosed the abuse.

She was taken to Dangamvura police where the matter was reported, leading to Chirwa’s arrest. The girl was medically examined and the medical report will be used as evidence during trial.

-Daily News

29 January 2019

The behaviour of some honourables is surely dishonourable. Some rogue Mps have joined the band wagon of blaming teachers who have done so well with so little in Zimbabwe.

Most outstanding is Chegutu West, D. Nduna who threated explusion of all incapacitated teachers in his constituency. He has since been joined in the educational vandalism crusade by Mangwe Mp O. Mguni whose vitriolic attacks on Mangwe teachers and DSI leave a lot to be desired.

He has come out blazing, ignorantly though, that Mangwe DSI must report to him the situation in Mangwe District rather than reporting to his immediate provincial bosses in Gwanda.

Such ignorance baffles logic and common sense, more so coming from an Mp. Worse still the Mp wrongly sites section 299 as the basis for his claim that he should get reports from DSI and as a basis for condemning incapacitated Mangwe teachers. We humbly remind the Mp that section 299 is on parliamentary oversight of state revenue and expenditure.

By no means does that give him priviledge to get professional reports from the DSI . Dear Hon Mguni, be guided accordingly. Rather your responsibility is to lobby for a better budgetary allocation to Education in line with the Dakar Agreenent of 2000 in which above 22% of the total budget must be allocated to education.

Please note that our 2018 Grade 7, ‘O’ level and ‘A’ level pass rates increased nationally and even in Mangwe district. As Ptuz we are tired of the so few ignorant people attacking so many teachers for doing so much with so little.

Teachers are workers and not slaves and have families to look after, children to pay fees for yet their salaries are just pathetic. Hands off teachers Hon Mguni, and be professional in your relations with teachers and Ministry officials.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed. We dont eat you threats.

Viva status restoration viva
Viva Ptuz viva

Venceremos

Dr Takavafira M. Zhou

MDC President Nelson Chamisa has refused to accept that Zanu PF candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa won the July 30 elections saying he doesn’t believe in lies.

Asked to comment on Zanu PF insistence that the opposition leader recognizes Mnangagwa before any national dialogue can start, Chamisa said he doesn’t want to lie and will not endorse a sham election.

Read full statement below…

I President Nelson Chamisa’s statement to the press
29 January 2019

Introduction

The situation in the country has reached crisis levels. The country is currently mired in a multi-layered political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis. Added to this is the latest onslaught by the State to kill, torment and harass innocent Zimbabweans in a tragic move that only goes to show that contrary to the much-vaunted mantra, this is not in any way the second Republic but a heinous continuation of the brutal first regime post-independence in 1980.

Several organizations including the Catholic bishops have produced reports on the current disturbances.
While the August 1 violence that emanated from yet another stolen plebiscite saw the callous murder of seven innocent Zimbabweans, 12 more people have been brutally killed in a State orgy of violence in recent weeks pointing to a massive crisis that needs be stemmed before it degenerates into an outright genocide against innocent Zimbabweans.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, in line with its constitutional mandate, has since pronounced itself on the recent violence and held the State liable. At this rate, the situation in the country can only get worse unless and until there is urgent intervention to avert the Zimbabwe crisis.

The events in context

Our sympathies are with Zimbabweans who have in the past weeks experienced a throwback t the darkest days of Rhodesia or incarnated an apartheid Zimbabwe where armed personnel descended on communities, indiscriminately dragging men and women, boys and girls out of the privacy of their own homes to brutalize them without cause.

We reiterate the importance of peace and non-violence. This is a cardinal principle which has always been the foundation of our glorious movement.

The events and protests over the past weeks were self-evidently triggered by an ill-thought announcement of fuel price increases made by Mr. Mnangagwa.

This came hard on the heels of the 2 October levy on e-transactions which adversely affected the people. This resulted in citizens being vulnerable, feeling betrayed and undermined by anti-people policies and anti-poor measures.

The people of Zimbabwe are therefore facing an existential threat. Zimbabweans need a country where dignity, security and opportunity are guaranteed as an absolute entitlement.

Hardship knows no party and therefore the challenges facing Zimbabweans are neither MDC now Zanu PF. For that reason, all State institutions must perform their constitutional duties to serve and secure not to destroy and threaten.

Our army and police must protect and not terrorize. No citizen must feel vulnerable on account of excesses in the behaviors and conduct of the State. Citizens must be free.

The government must not be feared. No single Zimbabwean must walk in the country or go sleep scared of being harassed or brutalized by the State.

No Zimbabwean must be embarrassed in communities or before their own families. No Zimbabwean must be killed by the government. No Zimbabwean must get injured or maimed on account of holding a different opinion.

Over the past few weeks, many Zimbabweans have been subjected to human rights abuses, violation of fundamental freedoms, crimes against humanity and internal displacements. Many have been subjected to dehumanizing and life threatening brutality and injuries.

This raises serious questions about our values and morals as a nation. The sanctity of human life is not being honoured.

The culture of violence dates back to the 1980s and 1990s where traumatic State orchestrated episodes of gratuitous violence was visited upon the citizens.

I know many of you have an eye witness account and personal stories to tell about what has happened.
We note with serious concern the attempted arson of the MDC national headquarters and the on-going annihilation of the MDC structures and leadership.

There has been a serious attempt to decimate the MDC as evidenced by the targeting of its leadership including elected Honourable Members of Parliament and councilors as the regime moves to hold the people’s party liable for what in essence were the actions of an angry citizenry demanding that government finds a lasting solution to the burgeoning political and economic crisis.

The response of the State has been brutal; deploying armed soldiers to kill and maim and targeting some citizens who had retreated to their homes by indiscriminately assaulting them. Others in areas such as Epworth have reportedly been raped by agents of the State while those picked by the State have been denied bail by the State, pointing to a deliberate ploy to cow and intimidate the citizenry in this de-facto state of emergency.

There has been a sustained vilification and attack of the MDC, a legitimate political party especially by government leaders and the State media. The blanket curtailment of basic freedoms in the country has led to a situation in Bulawayo where the party failed to hold its primary elections to select a candidate in preparation for the by-elections in Cowdray Park.

There is fear and trepidation across the country as agents of the state continue to cow the nation, randomly targeting innocent Zimbabweans and assaulting them.

The human rights situation in the country has simply reached a crisis level.

The human rights violation statistics

It has been difficult to collate figures and specific names due to circumstances of emergency in the country where more than 12 people have reportedly been killed in the past one-and-half weeks.

Some of the 12 casualties include Kelvin Tinashe Choto (22) of Unit A, Chitungwiza, Abraham Nyapokoto (35) of Mbare, Trymore Nachiwe (22) of Glen View, Solomon Nyaruwa (49)of Marondera who was buried in Chimanimani, Thandiwe Ncube, of Epworth, andTinashe Kaitano of Kadoma, Tafadzwa Katare (22) of Kuwadzana and Kudakwashe Kapandamurongo (22) of Mbare. There have been killings of a police officer in Bulawayo and other innocent citizens in Sizinda and other areas.

There have been 844 reported human violations and 78 gun-shot injuries, according to the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO forum even though the figures keep rising every day.

At the last count there were well over 1 000 arbitrary detentions in Harare, 28 in Mashonaland central, 41 in Midlands South, 395 in Bulawayo, 138 in Chitungwiza and 53 in Manicaland while the figures continue rising while the figures for other areas are still being captured.

More than fourteen women were allegedly raped by armed people in Harare South and Epworth. Some of our elected councilors who were arrested include Elvis Ruzani and Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, Simbarashe Nyahuye and Charles Ngenya in Marondera, Epworth ward 5 councillor, Elias Sithole and Kadoma councilor Michael Gore.

Just today and a few days ago, there have been property demolitions in Chitungwiza and Mbare targeting hard working Zimbabweans who are trying to eke an honest living.

Civic bodies indicate that more injuries are being recorded on a daily basis especially at night.
The MDC is still compiling a comprehensive list of its supporters who were being harassed and were caught in the crossfire as the government mounts a crackdown on a legitimate political movement.

Also arrested were Honourable Members of Parliament including Hons’ Amos Chibaya, Settlement Chikwinya, Livingstone Chimina, Rosemary Nyathi and Lloyd Mukapiko while about 43 MPs have either been harassed or are being harassed with their lives in serious danger. Members of the party’s staff have also been targeted with some being assaulted.

Regrettably, the State is in denial. Instead of showing accountability and taking responsibility, some in the State have manufactured a list and catalogue of falsehoods, scapegoats, excuses, justifications and convoluted explanations. It is necessary and urgent for us to plot a way out of the current crisis which has led to a far worse humanitarian crisis with devastating consequences.

The State has alleged that protesters who exercised their section 59 constitutional right to protest peacefully engaged in violence, looting and destruction of property. But tellingly, protesters accused of violence, looting and destruction of property are being routinely charged with treason and/or seeking to overthrow a constitutional government. The difference is between day and night.

People are accused of one thing but they are charged of another. This is absurd. The desperate and embattled authorities want to eat their cake and keep it at the same time. This must stop.

The Nature of the Crisis

The crisis in Zimbabwe is a crisis of governance. It is a crisis of leadership which is inherently political in nature and character but manifesting itself economically. The political crisis draws its roots from a toxic political environment and a perennially flawed electoral process.

It is trite that authority to govern derives from the people. It is the people who confer legitimacy upon a government. They do so through free, fair and credible elections. Unfortunately, for years, our flawed electoral system has failed to deliver legitimacy to govern. Consequently our beautiful nation has remained stuck in the Dark Age, isolated and ostracized. The fabric of politics has been characterised by suspicion, fragmentation, deep division, palpable mistrust, accusation and counter-accusation.

Our governance foundations are ruined. Our leadership roots are rotten. Our base of values is shaken. In this regard, we have held out a hand of dialogue but it has been spurned and disrespected by our counterparts in Zanu PF.

It is not because we are desperate in pursuit of power. It is not because we covert the seat of authority. It is because we care for our beautiful country and the ordinary loving people of Zimbabwe whose plight grows with each day that passes.

The economic effects of a stolen election, disputed election result and political instability are evident for all to see. To heal the economy, we must heal our politics. To fix our economy, we must repair our political fabric and moral fibre ringing about a revolution of values and culture to respect the sanctity of human life and the dignity of humanity. Without doubt, the political crisis has also had catastrophic social effects, leaving the weakest and most vulnerable members of our society falling on hard times.

Indeed, great danger lies ahead on both the economic and the social front. Here, we speak of the aged, the disabled, the women, the children, the orphaned, pensioners and all those on the margins of the mainstream of the economy including the many vulnerable young men and women so unemployed.

Way Forward

To all fellow Zimbabweans, we in the MDC respect and emphasise the constitutional principle that authority to govern derives from the people. This is in terms of the Constitution which forms the foundation of the social contract between government and the people. The people must never live in fear of their government. They must stand firm in defense of their rights, freedoms and the Constitution.

The government must respect and honour the people because without them there is no authority to govern.
To the State, there must be a cessation of lawlessness and break down of the rule of law. Lawlessness must be reversed. There must be affirmation, respect and observance of the Constitution. We must re-establish and re-entrench civilian police mandate to keep peace, law and order, taking our troops off the streets and the villages.

Zimbabwe needs an urgent return to and restoration of constitutional rule, civilian administration and the rule of law, harassment of prisoners of conscience and release of political prisoners.

Equally, our security services’ constitutional role in defending the country is unreservedly acknowledged. The role of our security must be performed professionally and in accordance with the law. There is no room for impunity and immunity.

Individuals who are violating human rights are contravening the Constitution and international treaties and conventions on human rights. They also are doing intolerable damage to the reputation of these key national institutions of both the police and the army negating the citizens confidence in the same.
Many have been abducted whose whereabouts remain unknown. Some have been tortured and raped. Internal displacements and damages to properties and homes in the high density areas have become rampant.

Beatings have become a daily diet, with assaults being a routine dose. The challenge is that the full extent of these atrocities remains unknown. It is crucially important that there be a neutral, fact-finding mechanism process which is multilateral and judicial so as to determine the full extent of the atrocities that have been committed against the people.

The notion that the very authorities alleged to be responsible for the atrocities should also audit the extent of these atrocities is unacceptable. It is irrational and inhuman to expect perpetrators to audit victims. It is equally irrational to expect the perpetrators to hold themselves accountable. The human rights situation now obtaining in Zimbabwe requires the appointment of a special UN rapporteur on Zimbabwe to ensure accountability.

To our brothers and sisters in the SADC region, we say this is the time to stand with the peace-loving people of Zimbabwe. This not the time to see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil, burying heads in the sand while a human rights crisis escalates into inordinate levels.

How many people must die or be killed before a firm and principled stance against atrocities being committed in the country is taken. How much blood must flow on the streets before the eye and hand of the region is drawn to this dire situation.

Our concern is that in spite of the letters and communication we have sent to SADC and the AU, they have remained mum in light of a precarious human rights situation in the country and an onslaught on a legitimate political movement in the country.

We urge SADC and the AU to show solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe by stopping this heinous onslaught on the country’s citizenry and facilitate dialogue to resolve the political stalemate I the country. Lives have been needlessly lost while innocent Zimbabweans have either been needlessly assaulted or are seeking refuge in the mountains for their safety.

We urge urgent action to be taken in Zimbabwe to deal with the economic crisis, the humanitarian situation and the critical matter of a government that has become a grievous danger to the citizens. In a situation where party leaders and innocent members of parliament are being targeted, no one is safe.
We call for the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission to institute a healing process that involves compensation, psycho-social support and rehabilitation of State sponsored violence.

We call for the world to turn and train its eyes on Zimbabwe and to empathize with the innocent citizens undergoing a brutal onslaught with no prospect of respite on their plight. We urge the world, particularly our own SADC and the AU, to stand with the people of Zimbabwe and not with the Zimbabwe leadership.

On our part, we shall not despair.
The people are sovereign and ultimately, the people shall govern.

By Own Correspondent|Addressing journalists at Morgan Tsvangirai House in Harare, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa dismissed President Mnangagwa’s condition for dialogue.

Senior Government officials have said Mnangagwa is willing to engage MDC president Nelson Chamisa on any issue except that of legitimacy.

However Chamisa said legitimacy is a point of dialogue and the people have been having dialogue with Mnangagwa’s administration through violence.

Said Chamisa:

I am not a liar, I will not acknowledge lies. I have said I will not recognise what is not recognisable. There has to be talks, we are ready to talk but we are going to talk about that issue (legitimacy) as a first issue, it is a dialoguing point. Let us agree on that issue, why are you putting conditionalities and why do you want Mr Chamisa to acknowledge you. If you allege that you won the election, why do you want the endorsement of an individual so please tell them to be serious. It is important for the nation to dialogue but I can tell you there has not been any dialogue. If anything, the dialogue that has been there between the citizens and the state is the dialogue of violence.

By Own Correspondent| Former Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central Chairperson, Dickson Mafios was sentenced 2 years in prison for inciting violence in Bindura.

A Bindura magistrate however suspended 10 months of the sentence on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within five years.

Mafios will serve an effective 14 months in prison.

Mafios, who was represented by Graciano Manyurureni made a plea for community service on medical grounds and the plea was considered in the suspended sentence.

Prosecutor Carol Mupazviriwo told the court that on the 15th of this month, Mafios arrived  at Club 10, Chiwaridzo Shopping Centre and challenged people to stand up, burn and destroy property in solidarity with Harare and proceed with a total shutdown.

Mafios allegedly made demeaning remarks about President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ascendancy. In his defence, Mafios said he retired from politics, arguing that the allegations were a fabrication by former colleagues meant to settle political scores.

However, the court found Mafios guilty considering his convenience to the place of the offence and found out that the remarks resonated with events which prevailed in other parts of Zimbabwe. The court also took into consideration that Mafios is not a first offender.-StateMedia

Correspondent|The Zimbabwe Republic police has announced that it has managed to locate the police officer who was caught on camera by Sky News abusing a citizen.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has made inroads into a case of assault by security agents , involving a handcuffed person along Chiremba road, Harare as seen in a video clip by Sky News,” police spokesperson Charity Charamba said.

“Number 066913FConstable Makumire was suspended form performing active police duties in September 2018 and is on bail over four counts of theft.

“He has been arrested and is assisting police with investigations into the current case.”

On Monday President Emmerson Mnangagwa reacted angrily to the video clip and said the behaviour by security forces is not consistent with the new dispensation.

“I was appalled by today’s Sky News report.” Mnangagwa said. “That is not the Zimbabwean way. I have instructed that the individuals behind this be arrested and encourage all those impacted to contact the authorities and file an official complaint.” Mnangagwa said on Monday.

The video by Sky News shows a man in grey being bundled into a private taxi van, then dragged out by a policeman. Several policemen set upon him as he sat handcuffed on the ground.

A man in a blue police uniform delivered a series of blows with all his strength. The victim looked bewildered as his attacker tried to hold his head up.

Police had earlier rubbished the video clip as a 2016 incident.

 The ongoing savage crackdown by the military against innocent civilians — including killings, rape, torture and horrendous beatings of law-abiding citizens — has become a full-blown international human rights crisis for President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government, the Daily News on Sunday can report.

Such is the extent of the global public relations disaster that now confronts Zimbabwe’s so-called new dispensation — as a result of the dreadful conduct of the country’s security forces over the past two weeks — that even hitherto friendly powers such as Britain are now turning against Zimbabwe.

And from the United States of America to Germany, China and South Africa, the only coverage being given to Zimbabwe these days in those countries’ mainstream media only relates to the brutal clampdown by authorities against dissenting voices.

Similarly, churches and global human rights organisations are churning out statement after statement on the military’s atrocities in the country, meaning that Zimbabwe once again finds itself in the position which obtained in the last two decades of former president Robert Mugabe’s ruinous rule — as a pariah among the global family of nations.

Not surprisingly, the United Kingdom is planning to take Zimbabwe’s ongoing human rights abuses to all relevant multilateral forums — including the United Nations — Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said last week.

“We all celebrated the demise of the Mugabe regime, feeling and hoping that a new chapter of Zimbabwean history was commencing. We are very concerned about the disproportionate response of the security forces to the recent protests,” British minister of State in the Foreign Office, Mark Field, added.

On its part, Amnesty International has called on authorities to reign in the security forces, and to see to it that they are held to account for the ongoing brutal human rights violations.

“At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more injured by the security forces since protests began on 14 January.

“Up to 700 people, including minors, have been detained after being arrested on trumped-up charges or brought before courts in hearings that do not meet fair trial standards. Hundreds have been denied bail,” Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s regional director for southern Africa, said at the weekend.

“The onslaught by the security forces has seen people killed, arbitrarily arrested, abducted, reportedly raped and jailed on suspicion of taking part in protests. 
Children as young as 11 years old have been detained on frivolous charges.

“The Zimbabwean authorities must immediately halt their menacing threats towards civil society leaders, activists, opposition leaders, and suspected organisers of protests.

“The authorities must ensure that those who violated and continue to violate human rights face justice,” Muchena added.

He said Amnesty International had documented a systematic pattern of human rights violations, including restrictions on public assembly, excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests, and the recent Internet shutdowns by authorities.

“A Zimbabwe that is prosperous and based on the rule of law will never be built by brutalising dissent. The authorities must immediately stop this merciless crackdown on activists, civil society leaders, and others who are guilty of nothing more than exercising their right to freedom of expression.

“President Mnangagwa has called on all Zimbabweans to come together during this difficult moment. That must include respecting human rights,” Muchena said.

On its part, the military has denied that its members are responsible for the killings, rape and beatings — saying the perpetrators of these atrocities are “bogus 
elements” working to sully the image of security forces.

“The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has noted with concern allegations of misconduct and acts of violence … The actions of these bogus elements have subsequently put the image of the organisation into disrepute,” it said this week.

However, local churches and rights groups have disputed this rebuttal and also challenged the government to act to bring justice to the victims of the violence, which they say has reached “epidemic levels.”

In a rare rebuke of the government, the founder and senior pastor of Celebration Church, Tom Deuschle, said it was heart-breaking that dozens of victims of sexual violence in this conflict were children.

“I spoke to one of Zimbabwe’s fine nurse counsellors yesterday. Stories of more than 23 children she had treated— all brutalised physically + sexually during recent political upheaval.

“They all identified police as perpetrators! Unacceptable! Cannot be swept under the carpet,” the respected cleric wrote on Twitter.

Last week, the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe also issued a withering criticism of the government, saying it should end the rights abuses in the country by the military.

“We, the Bishops of the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe, have observed with increasing concern and alarm the state of our Zimbabwean nation from the time of the military-assisted political change that took place in November 2017, to the total shutdown of Zimbabwe’s major cities and rural trading centres that began on Monday, 14 January 2019.

“We witnessed with sadness and concern the dissipation of hope for a united nation and a promising future when our politicians failed to harness the palpable oneness and goodwill prevailing among Zimbabweans across the political divide during and immediately after the political events of November 2017.

“Government’s heavy-handed and intolerant handling of dissent and expression of rights by … the dissatisfied population resulted in injury and death to innocent ordinary people,” the bishops said in their letter sent to the Vatican last week.

Meanwhile, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that the government had launched probes into the alleged abuses by security forces.

“Everything will be investigated and no stone will be left unturned. We need peace to prevail,” she said.

Police also said they were separately investigating all accusations made against their officers and urged people to report “without fear” all those who had perpetrated the violence.

“The ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage wishes to acknowledge reports of alleged rape, sexual abuse and assaults that have been perpetrated by security forces during the recent operation.

“So far, the police have received one such report from St Mary’s, Chitungwiza, and the case is already under investigation.

“We take these rape allegations very seriously and investigations will be instituted immediately once complainants file reports with the police.

“Let me assure all Zimbabweans that … government takes an exception to anyone who perpetrates any form of crime, especially rape perpetrated against women and children,” Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema said at the weekend.

Human rights groups said it was “shocking “ that brutal acts of sexual and gender-based violence continued to be perpetrated even after Mnangagwa had promised to take action.

“Men in army uniforms allegedly raped three Form One girls today in Old Phumula, Bulawayo, & 11 men in army uniforms ordered people at Bhangu shops in Mpopoma, Bulawayo to close their shops & go indoors … no reasons given for directive,” Human Rights Watch director for southern Africa , Dewa Mavhinga said on Twitter.

-Daily News