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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Functions of Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission

 (Section 255 of the Constitution)

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has the following functions —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Person Specifications

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Clerk of Parliament

Parliament of Zimbabwe

Parliament Building

Cnr. K. Nkurumah Avenue and Third Street

P.O. Box CY 298

Causeway

Harare

Email: [email protected]

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

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

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

CNRG sent their condolences and regret over the fatality.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Thank you @edmnangagwa for giving me an opportunity to recruit and create MDC structures in prison" Amos Chibaya pic.twitter.com/ZrwGrxZjsc

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 14, 2019

https://youtu.be/8N1Weq8OCk0

"Ndotenda chihurumemde chaMnangagwa chakandiendesa kuHwahwa kundoisa ma structures:
Chibaya LIVE https://t.co/eTOfpIvkbd pic.twitter.com/GZ3o6ljvkx

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) February 14, 2019

WATCH VIDEO BELOW…

WATCH VIDEO BELOW…

https://youtu.be/8N1Weq8OCk0

 

 

"Ndotenda chihurumemde chaMnangagwa chakandiendesa kuHwahwa kundoisa ma structures:
Chibaya LIVE https://t.co/eTOfpIvkbd pic.twitter.com/GZ3o6ljvkx

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) February 14, 2019

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa is reported to be unhappy that the family of the late Morgan Tsvangirai has invited President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the memorial service for the late founding leader of the MDC.

The memorial service had been initially scheduled for Thursday, the anniversary of Tsvangirai’s death, but has been moved to early May.

The opposition is unhappy that Mnangagwa has been invited at a time when government forces have been accused of perpetrating human rights violations against citizens following protests over the price of fuel.

Tsvangirai’s family insisted that everyone should come because Morgan Tsvangirai was a man of the people.

The former Prime Minister’s brother, Manase Tsvangirai told the Daily News,

“This was a man of the people and we cannot exclude anyone. Those who are able to come should. The net has been cast wide to enable everyone to come because he was a national leader.”

MDC Spokesperson Jacob Mafume said that it is “unthinkable that the likes of Mnangagwa whose government is killing Tsvangirai’s people” has been invited. Said Mafume,

“….Before the death of Tsvangirai, he went to a great extent trying to show that he understood what our leader stood for, but the events of the past weeks have turned such suggestions around.

“They (ED and the government) unleashed evil with hell proportions, where they have tortured, maimed and raped people. This is a betrayal and a negation of what Tsvangirai stood for.

Tsvangirai must be turning in his grave at the regression that has occurred in the past few weeks. We, however, remain committed to the path that he set and we sincerely hope that freedom shall take root in Zimbabwe, sooner rather than later.

Daily News

Jane Mlambo| Members of parliament were yesterday treated to free drama when Norton legislator Temba Mliswa and his Chegutu West counterpart Dexter Nduna resumed their fight that started on Tuesday during a transport committee meeting.

Mliswa who continued to hurl insults at Nduna did not spare the Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi whom he accused of killing the justice system by protecting murderers.

“You are killing the justice system. Ndimi murikuprotector ma murderer. Ziyambi futi une Human Rights Report unonzi unofanira kuinvestigetwa iwewe – We are intimidated every day.

“He is a useless Minister of Justice. Shumba, you are in Human Rights Commission to be investigated on Hurungwe issues. You know that. Ndinokuregerera. You are mentioned in the Human Rights Commission Report to be investigated as Minister of Justice. You are not exemplary.”

Mliswa was later chucked from the house for disorderly conduct.

Paul Nyathi|Commuters from Chitungwiza and some parts of Harare report that the popular government run ZUPCO buses did not service their areas as much as they have been doing raising fears that the service maybe on its way out.

Residents in Seke area of Chitungwiza claimed that only one or two of previously almost five buses serviced their area on Thursday morning leaving several of them stranded.

According to information from Kuwadzana residents, there were no buses in their area and kombis were charging $1.50 a trip into town compared to the $1 that the ZUPCO buses charge.

The newly appointed UN ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Bishow Parajuli has presented his credentials to President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare this Thursday.

Mr Parajuli, who has been serving as the UNDP Resident Coordinator, has been elevated to become Resident Coordinator for all UN agencies working in Zimbabwe.

He was accompanied to State House for the presentation ceremony by several UN agencies representatives – UNPFPA representative Dr Esther Muia, ILO director Ms Hopolang Phororo, UNICEF representative Dr Mohamed Ayoya, World Food Programme country director and representative Mr Eddie Rowe, UNHCR representative Mr Robert Tibagwa, UNESCO Regional Director and Representative Professor Hubert Gijzen, WHO representative Dr Alex Gasasira and UN Women representative Ms Delphine Serumaga.       

The head of RCO Ms Kanako Mabuchi and the UK communications specialist in the Resident Coordinator’s Office Mr Sirak Gerehiwot were also present.

Mr Parajuli now reports directly to the UN Secretary General Mr Antonio Guterres following reforms in the world body.

His elevation was with effect from the first of January this year following exchange of letters between President Mnangagwa and the Secretary General.

The promotion means Mr Parajuli now has ambassadorial powers where he no longer presents credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs but to the head of state.

-State Media

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ELIZABETH TSVANGIRAI IN PICTURES

• 

• 

• 

38 artisanal miners are feared dead following flooding of shafts at two mines in Battlefields near Kadoma.

34 of the miners went underground at Silver Moon Mine and another four at Cricket Mine in Muzvezve constituency last night before the mines were flooded.

Police Spokesman for Mashonaland West Province, Inspector Clemence Mabweazara said civil protection teams are being activated with heavy duty pumps required to drain the water from the mines.

He also said water levels in the two mines shafts are still rising, raising fears the 38 miners could have drowned.

According to Mashonaland West Provincial Administrator, Cecilia Chitiyo, RioZim has provided one pump while a request has also been made with Zimplats to provide rescue services.

Ms Chitiyo said many pumps and generators are needed before operations to search for survivors and bodies may begin.

-State Media

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PHARMACIES have come under fire for continuing to use a three-tier pricing system which has placed medicines beyond the reach of many people.

A short survey conducted by The Chronicle yesterday showed that some pharmacies demand forex or bond in cash only for certain medicines.

People with plastic money are made to pay more than those with bond and the prices are discounted for forex users.

Government has previously condemned the practice.

Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Ndlovu recently said: “We have noted with concern a proliferation in the number of companies and businesses engaging in preferential currency practices. This is not only against the spirit of fairness, but it is also an illegal practice.

Government is very clear that this practice is unacceptable and has to stop forthwith and if not, the law will take its course.”

Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe president, Mr Portifa Mwendera, said members are charging in foreign currency because they are not getting adequate forex from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

He said 90 percent of all medication is imported.

Mr Mwendera said the remaining 10 percent of the medicines were being sourced locally but local manufacturers are also demanding forex saying they need it to buy inputs from outside the country.

“Our greatest challenge is that 90 percent of our products are imported and the locally produced medication has a forex component. We haven’t received any forex allocation from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe since October 23 last year when we received just a million dollars,” he said.

“This is in an environment where we need about $4 million weekly to be trading optimally so this means the industry is forced to raise USD through sales.”
Mr Mwendera said pharmaceuticals owe foreign suppliers about US$20 million for medicines that have already been delivered.

Contacted for comment, Community Working Group on Health director Mr Itai Rusike said the move by pharmacies was a violation of people’s right to health as enshrined in the Constitution.

“The few pharmacies that are still accepting bond notes or RTGS have since increased their prices which are beyond the reach of ordinary Zimbabweans. This comes at a time when 90 percent of Zimbabweans do not have medical aid insurance cover which means some with chronic illnesses have not been taking their medication since the introduction of the three tier pricing system due to the very high costs of medicines,” said Mr Rusike.

He said if the situation is not addressed, many people were at risk of developing serious health complications after failing to access medicines.

“Some patients are now resorting to taking cheaper alternative drugs from the unregulated black markets thereby risking their lives. Government should therefore prioritise allocation of foreign currency to the pharmaceutical companies to enable them to import the required medicines. In the medium to long-term, the Government needs to capacitate the local pharmaceutical manufacturing companies such as Caps, Varichem and Datlabs to make sure that the country does not rely on expensive imports,” said Mr Rusike.

State Media

To my dear husband Morgan

It’s been a year since God called you after a courageous 2-year cancer battle. Reliving this day brings grief and sorrow that I felt when you battled your last few months. We tried everything we could travel all over the world because I wanted you to be healthy again.

I thought we would spend the rest of our lives together and achieve our dreams together, but Heaven called you too soon. We sometimes encountered problems like every normal couple but making up and solving our issues was just magical.

To the world, you were a great politician and humanitarian but to me, you were more than that; you were my best friend. Being married to you was a privilege and I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to share your dreams, hopes, friendship, love and much more. You were the most patient person I have ever encountered. At times when I would get upset, you stayed calm when I got worried you always reaffirmed that things would be ok.

Your passion, thoughtfulness and love for others astounded me. You always put others’ needs and happiness above your own. Morgan, you were the most amazing generous selfless man I have ever known. You were a hero to everyone who knew you. You gave hope to many.

You were a man of the people. There aren’t enough words to fully paint a picture of how great of a person you were to me and the world but I believe your work and passion still remains a testament of your tireless devotion to a better nation and world for everyone.

I miss your voice, laughter and humour; but above all, I miss that well of wisdom, knowledge and love I continually drew from.

Today I smile because I know you loved me till the day you went away.

I miss you so much

Your loving wife Elizabeth

Rest In Peace until the resurrection of those who sleep in Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15).

By Own Correspondent- Speaking during a panel discussion at the 6th CEOs Africa Round Table meeting in Victoria Falls yesterday, Advocate Jacob Mudenda lamented the quality of the current crop of parliamentarians.

He was responding to concerns about lack of capacity by Parliament to address issues such as budget deficit.

Mudenda said in 2014 he produced a book on economic literacy for Members of Parliament and organised a training workshop which was adjourned prematurely after the majority of Parliamentarians failed to grasp issues.

Said Mudenda:

I’m worried about the level of politicians that come to Parliament. There are few who can articulate issues in Parliament. If you look at different portfolio committees we involve politicians from different political persuasions but sometimes we don’t have quality in terms of personnel and economic literacy in Parliament.

A Lupane based police officer, recently landed himself in trouble when he allegedly urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to hand over power to MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa.

The officer, Taison Hove, is said to have made the remarks on January 3, 2019 while drinking beer with other patrons at Countryside Bar in Lupane.

According to the court papers, Hove is alleged to have made the remarks when an unidentified man passed by the bar wearing a Zanu PF T Shirt with Mnangagwa’s picture.

It is the State’s allegation that Hove made a comment saying Zanu PF T Shirts must not be worn by people at business centres but only when going to the fields. Hove is also alleged to have further commented that Mnangagwa has failed the country and as such should hand over power to Chamisa.

Hove was later taken for disciplinary hearing by his employer but when he challenged his arrest through an application for referral of his matter to the Constitutional Court, his application was dismissed.

This prompted him to file a current application for review at the High Court challenging his employer’s disciplinary hearing.

-Agencies

Correspondent|SHARP divisions have emerged among rival teachers’ unions in Zimbabwe, amid accusations that the two largest teachers’ bodies which called off last week’s planned strike have sold out the labour struggle.
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTRUZ) has accused the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) of selling out the labour struggle by buckling under pressure from the employer before their demands had been met.

In a statement released on Monday, ARTUZ said: “The wheels of inevitability have finally delivered the dreaded, but expected reality, sister unions have jumped ship. Our battle for a living wage, which we began in earnest with a 275km salary caravan from Mutare to Harare — followed up with a salary camp at (Finance) minister Mthuli [Ncube]’s office and capped with a historic job action have been compromised. The so-called big unions stepped in and gave false hope to the teachers, yet the intention was to rock the ship, which was gathering momentum.”
But PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said they called off the strike because thousands of their members, who had heeded the call and stayed away, would have lost their February salaries.

“The purpose of a trade union is to advance the interests of members and defend any gains made. Having advanced the interests of our members in a spirited two–days turn-up a week, one-day turn-up and four days stayaway, the employer targeted our entrenched hardcore fighters for decimation. The strategy was simply to withhold their February salaries.

“As much as we could have appealed to the courts against such a move, the wheels of justice do not turn so fast in Zimbabwe. One of the reasons for suspending the industrial action was in order to protect our hardcore members, who were in their trenches and were about to be sprayed with poison gas,” he said.

Zhou said another reason for calling off the strike was that members were being intimidated by State security agents and war veterans.

“Another reason for the suspension of the industrial action was the total invasion of schools by rogue youths, war veterans, security forces, councillors, among others, and the threats and systematic targets of teachers. This posed serious threats to educators in their residential areas outside schools. The decision to suspend the industrial action was painful, but worth taking to protect all members who heeded to the stayaway call,” he said.

The PTUZ leader also lamented the fact that some teachers did not heed the call to go on strike and continued reporting for duty, saying that weakened the industrial action.

“Such a protective measure (to call off the strike) would not have been important had all teachers given heed to the stayaway. Trade unionism is about collective security by acting as a group. I could personally not envision the enjoyment of cowards at the suffering of real cadres,” said Zhou.

Opposition MDC legislator and former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has assured Chief Executive Officers attending a CEO Africa Roundtable summit in Victoria Falls that a lot of things are happening behind closed doors with regards to the Zimbabwean crisis which he said is now a burden to other regional countries.

“I think that a lot of things are happening behind closed doors, that I can assure you, within SADC. I think that you should not be misled by prima facie appearances of condonation by the leadership of SADC,” said Biti.

“You must also remember that SADC member states have been bearing a lot of weight arising from Zimbabwe’s failure. You have a situation where you have three million Zimbabweans in South Africa as we speak, to a larger extent that South Africa has been subsidising Zimbabwe as we speak.”

Biti said the regional economy was suffering as a result of the presence of Zimbabweans fleeing a crisis at home.

He said countries such as South Africa were now faced with a strain on their social services as a result of Zimbabwean immigrants in that country.

“I think that out of their own selfish interests, they (SADC leaders) will move (to act) on Zimbabwe because the crisis is putting a premium on their country. South Africa has been doddering on a 1% gross domestic product (GDP) growth and I think after solving the Zimbabwean situation, South Africa’s economy could grow to about 2 or 3% of its GDP,” he said.

International pressure on Zimbabwe’s major political players, Zanu PF and MDC to urgently come to the negotiating table to unlock the political logjam continues to grow with the United States (US) adding its voice, saying the talks should be mediated by a neutral arbiter.

This comes amid reports that representatives of the two parties were already in Switzerland attending a peace-building workshop aimed at facilitating the dialogue process.

MDC’s chief of staff Sesil Zvidzai told NewsDay from Basel that the workshop was meant to enable them to share notes with representatives of other countries.

“We are looking at case studies in areas like Syria, the Tunisian situation and how it turned out after the Arab Spring and many other examples,” Zvidzai said.

“Although this is not specifically for Zimbabwe, the experience that we are getting here is helpful in the sense that people must dialogue. This is about what is good for us as a country.”

But Zanu PF national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said he was unaware of the workshop or any party representative seconded to that gathering.

Some of the delegates to the workshop, which started this week, were drawn from church, government and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC).

In a statement on Tuesday, US State Department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino said only a national dialogue could solve problems bedevilling Zimbabwe.

“The US calls on all sides to come together immediately in a national dialogue process that must be credible, inclusive and mediated by a neutral third party,” Palladino said.

“In order for such a dialogue to succeed, the government of Zimbabwe should end its excessive violence and intimidation, immediately release the civil society activists, who have been arbitrarily detained and hold security force members responsible for human rights violations and abuses accountable.”

The US said the sanctions on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government would only be lifted after he has implemented significant political and economic reforms in line with his inauguration speech.

“We also reiterate our call for the government of Zimbabwe to enact promised political and economic reforms,” the statement read.

President Donald Trump’s government also blamed Mnangagwa for using excessive force on civilians.

“US remains seriously concerned about excessive force by the government of Zimbabwe security forces since January 14, which has resulted in at least 13 deaths, 600 victims of violence, torture or rape and more than 1 000 arrests,” the statement read.

Mnangagwa has since denied that his government was behind the killings and challenged affected families to provide evidence of the attrocities.

Recently, Mnangagwa invited to State House all the presidential candidates that participated in last year’s harmonised elections to map up the framework for the proposed dialogue.

Although MDC leader Nelson Chamisa boycotted Mnangagwa’s indaba, the opposition leader later attended a prayer breakfast meeting organised by the church, which was snubbed by the Zanu PF leader.

Zimbabwe Council of Churches secretary-general, Kenneth Mtata, said the Swiss workshop was part of capacity-building for different actors involved in the dialogue process.
He said after the prayer breakfast meeting held in Harare, they were confident of bringing the two protagonists together.

“The next steps would be to make a debriefing process with different key stakeholders, including the President who must get first-hand information of the whole process with whom we will share information of how the process must unfold going forward so that it is effective and inclusive to produce expected results that enhance national peace, justice and prosperity for all Zimbabweans,” Mtata said.

“After this, we will move on to define issues regarding mandate. There are many possibilities of convening national dialogue.”

He said they will likely have a broader consultative forum, which will lead them to a stage of finding suitable conveners of the dialogue.

Mtata also said they hope to have Parliament’s buy-in so as to have a legally binding mandate.

He said the convening process and convening team will then set up the framework for national dialogue with the scope of the dialogue and different levels of participation and the implementation plan.

“The national dialogue has begun, but has not yet been formalised. The President has launched the dialogue with political parties and we think that what is required now is to converge all the processes into the all-encompassing national dialogue,” he said.

Mtata said the process must have long-lasting solutions for the country, adding that they were not in any way discouraged by negativities.

“We are not discouraged by those who are trying to throw in spanners in the works. There are those with negative views of this whole process and, therefore, will invent some stories and work with some conspiracy theories,” he said.

-Newsday

FEAR of treason charges and a possible counter-coup that then Justice minister Happyton Bonyongwe tried to set up around now Agriculture minister Retired Chief Air Marshal Perrance Shiri spurred delicate negotiations following the military coup that toppled former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017.

Minutes that made up discussions in cliff-hanger meetings held between Mugabe, at the time under house arrest, and military generals led by then Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander General Constantino Chiwenga between November 15 and 16, 2017 expose the intricacies of the coup plot.

The coup came after then Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa had been summarily fired from both government and ruling Zanu PF party, prompting him to flee to South Africa for security reasons.

Mnangagwa had been sacked by Mugabe on November 6 as the situation in the country deteriorated, forcing Chiwenga out of the closet to declare that the military was ready to “step in” to restore sanity.

The then ZDF statement was made on November 13 before the coup moved into full swing late on the 14th.

The mediation team comprised of Roman Catholic cleric Father Fidelis Mukonori, Mugabe’s then spokesperson George Charamba, who acted as secretary during the negotiations as well as Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda.

The team also included then Public Service Commission chairperson Mariyawanda Nzuwa and former Foreign Affairs ministry secretary Joey Bimha as well as Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) deputy director-general Aaron Nhepera.

The minutes signed by Mukonori, Charamba and Nhepera, reveal that Mugabe could have been hoodwinked during the intricate negotiations. It is also revealed that Bonyongwe, who had just been appointed Justice minister by Mugabe tried to set up a counter-force to stop the coup.

“The President was informed about mounting tension and concern within the command element triggered by a mobile communication message attributed to the new Minister of Justice, and former director-general of the Central Intelligence Organisation, Rtd General Bonyongwe, to Air Marshall Perrance Shiri who is in Dubai on official business allegedly urging him to fly back to join in efforts towards a counter-operation whose backbone would be the police force commanded by Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri.

“It was drawn to the President’s attention that Commissioner Chihuri had not attended the inaugural Wednesday (November 15) meeting after which he did not turn up for the rest,” the minutes read in part. Chihuri has since then never made a public appearance, while Bonyongwe has since recoiled into private life.

It is revealed that in the subsequent meetings with Mugabe, basically a sitting duck following the bloodless military takeover, the then Zanu PF leader was told of anxiety over the actions of the police force.

“Instances of friction between the military and the Zimbabwe Republic Police were also drawn to the President’s attention, culminating in what appeared to be a withdrawal of the police force from policing duties at least in Harare.

“The President was informed that the command element had made it clear that a counter-force against their operation would constitute an escalation, which was bound to lead to a bloody outcome,” documents show. Bonyongwe, according to the minutes, was trying to craft a law that would have had Chiwenga and his co-conspirators charged with treason.

Since then the police have never recaptured public trust and the authority it commanded during Mugabe’s reign with the army a constant feature during operations. The growing influence of the military has raised fears among critics given the bloody shooting on August 1 last year last month — the two incidences which have left over 20 people dead and dozens with gunshot wounds.

While Mnangagwa, on his return, admitted that he had been in constant touch with the country’s security leadership, Mugabe was apparently told that reports that Chiwenga had met the then former Vice-President were fabricated.

“The mediation team was able to provide facts that dispelled claims that Chiwenga had made a diversion and stop-over in South Africa en-route to Zimbabwe from China in order to meet with dismissed former Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his team thought to include Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa and Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, Ambassador Isaac Moyo.

“More importantly, the mediating team told the President that the operation by the command element was not calculated at top leadership change in the party and country, a process which had to be left to the party running in a fair, clean and just way and which had to be superintended by the President himself without undue influence,” the report shows.

Mutsvangwa, the chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association, a key figure in Mugabe’s fall, was to be appointed special adviser to Mnangagwa, while Moyo now heads the CIO. — NewsDay

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education chairperson, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga yesterday complained that MPs from across the political divide were abusing her and threatened to surrender the leadership of the committee if the situation does not change.

The committee has 18 members, all of them from Zanu PF after the MDC Alliance snubbed it.

“The MDC Alliance MPs shunned joining the Education Committee because of the differences over our party president Thokozani Khupe and their party president Nelson Chamisa, and so they snubbed the committee,” Misihairabwi-Mushonga said.

But, there were reports that Misihairabwi Mushonga was also a loner in her committee dominated by Zanu PF MPs, who, whenever there is a ruling party caucus meeting, the MPs prioritised their political party programmes.

For example, Zanu PF yesterday called for a party caucus meeting at 8.30 am when the Education Committee was supposed to meet at 9.00 am to receive oral evidence on education issues.

Misihairabwi-Mushonga said the abuse began when she insisted that some MPs from Zanu PF must be excused from the party caucus so that they could attend to Parliament business.

A heated argument over the issue ensued in the Education Committee’s social media WhatsApp group, resulting in Misihairabwi-Mushonga feeling abused.

“I did receive abusive messages, and some of them even suggested that I became chairperson through the benevolence of Zanu PF. I got the position through merit and not through the benevolence of Zanu PF. If they feel that it is Zanu PF’s position then they can take it back,” she said, adding that she will move a point of privilege with the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda over the issue.

NewsDay

POLICE have arrested a group of 10 armed robbers who have been terrorizing citizens and targeting bus passengers across the country.

One suspect was shot in a shoot out between the law enforcement authority and the suspected armed robbers and 10 others were nabbed in Chinhoyi and Chegutu.

ZRP Chief Spokesperson, Commissioner Charity Charamba said they are still hunting for five other suspected armed robbers and assured Zimbabweans that all the criminals will be brought to book.

“The gang was using degrading and dehumanizing ways and they would undress victims and bundle them up before stashing them in their gate away vehicles,” said Commissioner Charamba.

She added that they are is still investigating the Brooklyn bus robbery case, which occurred along the Bulawayo – Beitbridge road and another robbery case of more than US$23 000 in Milton Park, Harare, among other cases.

The arrested suspects are believed to have kidnapped and robbed some police officers in Chegutu.

The court has issued a warrant of further detention for the suspects and they will appear in court on Friday.

— ZBC

Correspondent|Lawyers and rights campaigners say the UK government has been working with Zimbabwean authorities to deport asylum seekers who might be wanted back home for activism.

Asylum lawyers and charities told The Guardian on Tuesday that the Home Office (interior ministry) has accelerated deportation of Zimbabwean nationals since Emmerson Mnangagwa rose to power in the African country in November 2017.

They said the ministry had sought to accelerate removals process for refused asylum seekers, many of whom have been in the UK for over a decade.

Zimbabweans waiting for their asylum application to be processed in the UK have reportedly been invited for interviews in the Home Office over the past months only to encounter Zimbabwean government officials waiting to interview them.

A female asylum seeker said a Zimbabwean official who spoke her native language, Shona, had told her in the ministry that her name was on a list of thousands of Zimbabwean nationals that the UK government wanted to remove from the country.

Reports on Monday showed that police had detained two Zimbabwean asylum seekers before transferring them to a Home Office detention center.

They said authorities were preparing to deport the two individuals to Zimbabwe within days despite statements proving that they could face prosecution back home because of their anti-government activity.

One of the asylum seekers, identified as Victor Mujakachi, who has been in the UK since 2003 to complete his post-graduate education, is wanted back in Zimbabwe for making critical comments online about the government. UK authorities have turned down Mujakachi’s asylum application three times.

UK authorities have repeatedly been accused of ignoring the rights if asylum seekers amid reports that government is desperately seeking to reduce the number of migrants in the country.

Source:Guardian

HON. T. MLISWA:  I rise on a point of privilege Madam Speaker.  Madam Speaker, a very good afternoon to you.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Good afternoon.

HON. MLISWA:  Madam Speaker, I rise to register my displeasure and to equally seek guidance from you as the Chair on how far Members of Parliament can go in enjoying the privileges and immunities that are there.  The reason why I am saying so is that I am under threat by Hon. Ndunaafter he confessed that he has killed many people – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.]  – whilst he has killed many people, he equally has threatened to kill me.  So, I want to understand whether this is how Parliament and Parliamentarians must act.  My life is under threat, not only is it under threat – [AN HON. MEMBER: Wawakatuka ndiani?] – [AN HON. MEMBER: Nyarara iwe.] – Madam Speaker, you know who is making noise, can you be firm…

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Order, order!  Have you finished Hon. Mliswa?

HON. MLISWA: Madam Speaker – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections] – Muchataura zvenyu, nenyaya dzenyu dzekudanana nevakadzi vepa Parliament – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.]

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Mliswa, go ahead.  Order, Order, Hon. Mliswa, may you approach the Chair.

Hon. Mliswa approached the Chair.

HON. MLISWA: Thank you Madam Speaker.  The remarks by Hon. Nduna of killing people in a country which is under scrutiny for violence, especially allegations that there are ex-defence forces people who were in civilians who were armed who killed people. Is it not the likes of Hon. Nduna because the police and the army are exonerated – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]

HON. NDUNA: I object. Ndichitukwa here.

HON. T. MLISWA: The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Hon.  Emmerson Mnangagwa is busy going around the world defending these issues which have caused disharmony and disunity in the country and we have an Hon. Member – the police and the army has been accused yet the answer lies in Hon. Nduna who has said that he has killed people.

Madam Speaker Ma’am, we have had a lot of people killed in this country and the state security agents have been accused, yet the answer is very clear. Itai Dzamara is one of them who went missing and we now do not know whether he was killed by Hon. Nduna or not –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]

THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, may you approach the Chair.

Hon. Mliswa having approached the Chair.

HON. T. MLISWA: Parliament of Zimbabwe is a sacred institution. Parliament of Zimbabwe cannot have murderers in it. It is important…

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa I have heard your concerns. May I make a ruling, please. You are now debating.

HON. T. MLISWA: I am talking about an issue which is of my concern and my family in terms of life. You have not been threatened. I have been threatened of being killed. I have been threatened of being killed by Hon. Nduna and I am worried looking at him that the danger that is on me is so much. This is not a joke. We cannot take it as a joke.  We come to Parliament to represent people and not to be threatened by people. We do not come here to be threatened by people. This is an issue you must take this seriously because it has a lot to do with the democracy of the people of Zimbabwe and freedom of association.  This is an issue that you must listen to and make a ruling in the end.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, yesterday you were here but you did not state your case.

HON. T. MLISWA: I was not here yesterday. I can raise a point of privilege anytime.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Is it because of the cameras?

HON. T. MLISWA: I am addressing the issue of being threatened, what more do you want me to address? It cannot be sensitive. This Parliament has nothing to do with Party. We do not want you, Madam Speaker to be supporting your Party members. We might as well turn it into a ZANU PF Parliament. Listen to me I have an issue which affected me and I must discuss it. I can raise an issue of privilege anytime. There must be a Privileges Committee set up to investigate that. The evidence is there, unlike our Committee where the evidence is in the paper. The evidence is on video – Hon Nduna said it. I want a Privileges Committee set up to investigate that for the integrity of Parliament.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: May you approach the Chair.

HON. T. MLISWA: I have been approaching the Chair. You cannot whip me. You cannot keep whipping me. I have been approaching the Chair how many times Madam Speaker? Let me finish and then you can make a ruling. If you want to chuck me out, you can chuck me out but the issue will not end. I will limit myself to the issues. How many times have I been there? Our lives are under threat by that man. He is still in Parliament and you allow him to be in Parliament. He is a murderer. You kill people you do not know. Vave kukumukira manje vanhu vacho wakutaura chokwadi wega. Wazviona wave kurotomoka. Munhu haauraiwe, munhu haauraiwe. Wakupenga manje. Mari dzeZinara uchiba usingabhadhare.

Madam Speaker, you tell me the same thing when I come there that I must not talk about it. That is what you said to me. I must speak. These are serious issues. We are being threatened. He is constantly threatening anyone. Gun trotting in Chegutu, you also did the same with guns.

Hon. Nduna having stood up

Do not go away you murderer, you murderer come back, come back you murderer. You are a murderer come back. Self-confessed murderer

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI):  I think you are now losing the plot. This is no longer an honourable House.

HON. T. MLISWA: You are killing the justice system. Ndimi murikuprotector ma murderer. Ziyambi futi une Human Rights Report unonzi unofanira kuinvestigetwa iwewe – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – We are intimidated every day. I need to finish. He is a useless Minister of Justice. Shumba, you are in Human Rights Commission to be investigated on Hurungwe issues. You know that. Ndinokuregerera. You are mentioned in the Human Rights Commission Report to be investigated as Minister of Justice. You are not exemplary.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, leave the House.

HON. T. MLISWA: Uda kuita chii? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –  Uku kuMash West hausi kutonga, unotonga chii?Iwe wakauraya Vanhu kuHurungwe – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –You are a useless Chairman – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Leave the House!

Hon. Mliswa was escorted out of the Chamber by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Members. Hon. Zwizwai, may you sit down. I have heard what Hon. Mliswa said. I will study the matter and make a ruling because the issues are in the courts as we speak – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – That is my ruling Hon. Gonese. Please, may you sit down?

HON. GONESE: Madam Speaker, I rise on a matter of privilege which affects us as Members of Parliament. As Members of Parliament Madam Speaker, we have got a situation which occurred in the presence of Parliament. That situation affects all of us and we are very concerned because of what transpired. Fortunately, even those who were not there were able to see from a video which was circulating all the events. So, we are very clear in terms of what we heard and it is important for us to be made to understand because in your ruling if I understood you correctly, you have indicated that the matter is under the courts but I believe that is a different issue Madam Speaker. What has happened is that there was a summons which was issued seeking damages for defamation. That is not the subject matter which we are talking about. The subject matter which has been taken to court relates to a civil suit seeking damages. What we are concerned with is a situation where threats were made to a Member of Parliament …

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: This is why I said I am going to study the matter…

HON. GONESE: We just need clarity because it appears to me that the facts seem to be clear.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Gonese, I am aware of what transpired and I am going to study the matter and make a ruling.

HON. GONESE: The reason why we got confused Madam Speaker is, you made reference to something under the courts …

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please may you sit down, I am going to study the matter and make a ruling.

HON. GONESE: I am going to sit down but I just wanted you to have the import of what you are saying. Before I resume my sit Madam Speaker, I was going to suggest that a ruling be made to refer the matter to the Committee of Standing Rules and Orders. They need to study the matter because it is prima facie; it appears to be clear and my understanding is that when a matter is clear, it is referred to the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders. This is what I thought should be your course of action.

Zanu PF youth league national commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu has claimed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule was ordained by God a long time ago and that those harbouring ambitions of taking over should relax.

Addressing district youth chairpersons drawn from Mashonaland East province in Marondera on Tuesday, Tsenengamu said Mnangagwa’s ascendency to power was prophesied by the late apostolic sect leader, Aaron Mhukuta, popularly known as Mudzidzi Wimbo.

“To some of us, who belong to the apostolic sect, it was prophesied years ago by Majinesta (Wimbo) that Mnangagwa will lead this nation. It was said, the nation will be led by one with the name of an angel and after that someone by the name Dambudzo will rule this country. Leadership comes from God. If you want to rule, ask yourself if you are loved by God,” he said.

Former First Lady Grace Mugabe last year also described Mnangagwa as a God-given leader during the funeral of her mother Idah Marufu.

The youth league is currently organising a solidarity march for Mnangagwa earmarked for next week.

Speaking during the same meeting, Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial youth chairperson, Kelvin Mutsvairo, came out guns blazing, warning party legislators sabotaging youth meetings.

“We are aware of our MPs who are not supporting party programmes by the youths. They should know that they are in those positions because of us. We will make sure that these MPs, who are sabotaging party business, be recalled,” said Mutsvairo.

Zanu PF MPs in the province have been urged to secure buses in their constituencies to transport party youths to Harare for the solidarity march dubbed #EDWillNeverWalkAlone.

NewsDay

Twenty-three illegal miners died on Tuesday evening when interlinked shafts and tunnels at two mines in Battlefields were flooded after the collapse of a dam wall due to heavy rains received in the area.

The dam wall reportedly collapsed around 11pm on Tuesday night, flooding shafts at the RioZim-owned Cricket Mine and another one owned by a Mr Baxter.

The two mines have three linked shafts said to be 30 metres deep with 20 metre-wide tunnels.

There are, however, fears that more miners could have perished in the disaster, while reports also indicated that the water levels in the shafts and tunnels were rising.

Mashonaland West provincial administrator Mrs Cecilia Chitiyo yesterday confirmed the incident.

She said the local Civil Protection Unit (CPU) had been activated to offer assistance.

“We are waiting for more information from the people on the ground and the local CPU is on standby to offer assistance as soon as the disaster is confirmed,” she said.

Mrs Chitiyo also travelled to Kadoma last night to meet the local CPU.

“We urgently need to mobilise more pumps. As many as we can because the water levels are continuously rising from beneath and we are not sure if the miners had reached an aquifer below,” she said.

Mhondoro-Ngezi district administrator Mrs Fortunate Muzulu, who visited the two mines yesterday afternoon, said chances of rescuing any survivors were very slim.

“The names of people believed to have been trapped has reached 23, with 19 reportedly trapped at the RioZim-owned mine with another four from the other mine,” she said.

Mrs Mazulu said more artisanal miners could have been trapped underground.

The illegal miners, she said, entered the shafts and tunnels under the cover of darkness without the knowledge of mine owners and disappeared early in the morning.

She said rescue operations were also difficult since the shafts were flooded to the surface.

State Media

Paul Nyathi|Independent Norton legislator Temba Mliswa was on Wednesday ejected from the National Assembly after he refused to be silenced by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly on raising to the house death threats issued on him by ZANU PF Chegutu West legislator Dexter Nduna.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Tsitsi Gezi on two occasions invited Mliswa to the chair in order to stop him from speaking on the matter. On a third attempt Mliswa refused to move forward to the chair resulting in him being ejected from the house.

“I have been approaching the Chair. You cannot whip me. You cannot keep whipping me. I have been approaching the Chair how many times Madam Speaker? Let me finish and then you can make a ruling. If you want to chuck me out, you can chuck me out but the issue will not end. I will limit myself to the issues. How many times have I been there? Our lives are under threat by that man. He is still in Parliament and you allow him to be in Parliament. He is a murderer. You kill people you do not know,” Mliswa said.

Mliswa rose on a point of privilege at the start of the day’s proceedings and complained that there was need for Parliament to launch an investigation against Nduna whom he said had confessed to have murdered several people and was going to kill him too.

“Madam Speaker, I rise to register my displeasure and to equally seek guidance from you as the Chair on how far Members of Parliament can go in enjoying the privileges and immunities that are there.  The reason why I am saying so is that I am under threat by Hon. Nduna after he confessed that he has killed many people, whilst he has killed many people, he equally has threatened to kill me.”

Mliswa further alleged that Nduna may have been responsible for the murder of missing activist Itai Dzamara.

“Madam Speaker Ma’am, we have had a lot of people killed in this country and the state security agents have been accused, myet the answer is very clear. Itai Dzamara is one of them who went missing and we now do not know whether he was killed by Hon. Nduna or not,”

He refused to take back his seat after Gezi, who was presiding over the sitting, told him that he would want to study his submission before making a ruling.

Paul Nyathi|The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has finally ordered for the arrest of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya for tax evasion going up to $22 million.

The move by the police to summon Magaya follows a lifestyle audit done on him and his church dealings by ZIMRA, after suspicion that he had been under-declaring his earnings.

Records pulled up showed that Magaya is paid $40,000 per month, and his wife, Tendai, $15,500.

During the period January 2013 and December 2017, Magaya got a total $2,4 million, while his wife Tendai collected $950,000 or about $15,500 monthly.

This was revealed as PHD board member for finance Nelson Tawanda Marimo appeared before a Harare magistrate charged with four counts of Income Tax Act violations.

Police spokesperson Commission Charity Charamba confirmed police were investigating Magaya.

“He has been summoned for an interview,” she said. “Police are eager to interview him on allegations of tax evasion.”

Comm Charamba declined to give finer details of the case.

Zimra Commissioner General Ms Faith Mazani’s assistant, Mr John Chakasikwa, confirmed that they were after Magaya over the tax issue.

He said the matter was being handled by the Criminal Investigations Division (Commercials Crime Division).

“We are working with the police and the National Prosecuting Authority on the matter,” said Chakasikwa. “At this point, the NPA has the information you require.”

Zimra recently issued a garnish order against Magaya’s church accounts held with a local bank and wants the self-styled prophet to settle the arrears.
This followed the tax collector’s raid at Magaya’s church at least twice last year, in a bid to audit his earnings and other business interests that include a hotel owned by the church, a tile manufacturing factory and a farming concern.

Zimra has been seeking clarity on how high-rollers fund their lifestyles and whether or not they were paying what they should in taxes.

Zimra wants Magaya to explain what type of business he is into, properties he owns and how much tax he is paying.

Magaya has been under public eye for funding national soccer teams, with Zimra inquisitive about the source of the funds and if he was tax compliant.

Apart from funding football, Zimra wants to know the source of funds for Magaya’s gestures.

If Magaya is arrested he will be the second high profile prophet to be arrested for financial dealings in as many weeks following the arrest of South African based prophet Shepard Bushiri.

City of Harare has remembered the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai who succumbed to cancer of the colon on the 14th of February last year.

In its message, City of Harare said the late Tsvangirai was a fighter for democracy whose contribution to democracy will always be cherished.

pic.twitter.com/GtqoCeLZCR

— City of Harare (@cohsunshinecity) February 13, 2019

By Own Correspondent| Independent legislator for Norton Temba Mliswa has described as useless Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi adding that he was contributing immensely to the collapse of the justice system in the country.

Mliswa took a dig at Ziyambi in parliament Wednesday where he said the Justice minister was not an exemplary individual who was in the habit of protecting murderers.

He said:

You are killing the justice system. Ndimi murikuprotector ma murderer. Ziyambi futi une Human Rights Report unonzi unofanira kuinvestigetwa iwewe. We are intimidated every day. I need to finish. He is a useless Minister of Justice. Shumba, you are in Human Rights Commission to be investigated on Hurungwe issues. You know that. Ndinokuregerera. You are mentioned in the Human Rights Commission Report to be investigated as Minister of Justice. You are not exemplary

Below is the full text of Mliswa’s statement during Wednesday’s parliamentary proceedings:

HON. T. MLISWA:  I rise on a point of privilege Madam Speaker.  Madam Speaker, a very good afternoon to you.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Good afternoon.

HON. MLISWA:  Madam Speaker, I rise to register my displeasure and to equally seek guidance from you as the Chair on how far Members of Parliament can go in enjoying the privileges and immunities that are there.  The reason why I am saying so is that I am under threat by Hon. Nduna after he confessed that he has killed many people, whilst he has killed many people, he equally has threatened to kill me.

So, I want to understand whether this is how Parliament and Parliamentarians must act.  My life is under threat, not only is it under threat – [AN HON. MEMBER: Wawakatuka ndiani? ] – [AN HON. MEMBER:  Nyarara iwe.] – Madam Speaker, you know who is making noise, can you be firm…

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Order, order!  Have you finished Hon. Mliswa?

HON. MLISWA: Madam Speaker – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections] – Muchataura zvenyu, nenyaya dzenyu dzekudanana nevakadzi vepa Parliament – [HON. MEMBERS:  Inaudible interjections.]

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Mliswa, go ahead.  Order, Order, Hon. Mliswa, may you approach the Chair.

Hon. Mliswa approached the Chair.

HON. MLISWA: Thank you Madam Speaker.  The remarks by Hon. Nduna of killing people in a country which is under scrutiny for violence, especially allegations that there are ex-defence forces people who were in civilians who were armed who killed people. Is it not the likes of Hon. Nduna because the police and the army are exonerated – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]

HON. NDUNA: I object. Ndichitukwa here.

HON. T. MLISWA: The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Hon.  Emmerson Mnangagwa is busy going around the world defending these issues which have caused disharmony and disunity in the country and we have an Hon. Member – the police and the army has been accused yet the answer lies in Hon. Nduna who has said that he has killed people.

Madam Speaker Ma’am, we have had a lot of people killed in this country and the state security agents have been accused, myet the answer is very clear. Itai Dzamara is one of them who went missing and we now do not know whether he was killed by Hon. Nduna or not – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]

THE HON DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, may you approach the Chair.

Hon. Mliswa having approached the Chair.

HON. T. MLISWA: Parliament of Zimbabwe is a sacred institution. Parliament of Zimbabwe cannot have murderers in it. It is important…

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa I have heard your concerns. May I make a ruling please. You are now debating.

HON. T. MLISWA: I am talking about an issue which is of my concern and my family in terms of life. You have not been threatened. I have been threatened of being killed. I have been threatened of being killed by Hon. Nduna and I am worried looking at him that the danger that is on me is so much. This is not a joke. We cannot take it as a joke.  We come to Parliament to represent people and not to be threatened by people. We do not come here to be threatened by people.

This is an issue you must take this seriously because it has a lot to do with the democracy of the people of Zimbabwe and freedom of association.  This is an issue that you must listen to and make a ruling in the end.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, yesterday you were here but you did not state your case.

HON. T. MLISWA: I was not here yesterday. I can raise a point of privilege anytime.

 THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Is it because of the cameras?

HON. T. MLISWA: I am addressing the issue of being threatened, what more do you want me to address? It cannot be sensitive. This Parliament has nothing to do with Party. We do not want you, Madam Speaker to be supporting your Party members. We might as well turn it into a ZANU PF Parliament. Listen to me I have an issue which affected me and I must discuss it. I can raise an issue of privilege anytime.

There must be a Privileges Committee set up to investigate that. The evidence is there, unlike our Committee where the evidence is in the paper. The evidence is on video – Hon Nduna said it. I want a Privileges Committee set up to investigate that for the integrity of Parliament.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: May you approach the Chair.

HON. T. MLISWA: I have been approaching the Chair. You cannot whip me. You cannot keep whipping me. I have been approaching the Chair how many times Madam Speaker? Let me finish and then you can make a ruling. If you want to chuck me out, you can chuck me out but the issue will not end. I will limit myself to the issues. How many times have I been there? Our lives are under threat by that man. He is still in Parliament and you allow him to be in Parliament. He is a murderer. You kill people you do not know. Vave kukumukira manje vanhu vacho wakutaura chokwadi wega. Wazviona wave kurotomoka. Munhu haauraiwe, munhu haauraiwe. Wakupenga manje. Mari dzeZinara uchiba usingabhadhare.

Madam Speaker, you tell me the same thing when I come there that I must not talk about it. That is what you said to me. I must speak. These are serious issues. We are being threatened. He is constantly threatening anyone. Gun trotting in Chegutu, you also did the same with guns.

Hon. Nduna having stood up.

Do not go away you murderer, you murderer come back, come back you murderer. You are a murderer come back. Self confessed murderer.

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (HON. ZIYAMBI):  I think you are now losing the plot. This is no longer an honourable House.

HON. T. MLISWA: You are killing the justice system. Ndimi murikuprotector ma murderer. Ziyambi futi une Human Rights Report unonzi unofanira kuinvestigetwa iwewe. We are intimidated every day. I need to finish. He is a useless Minister of Justice. Shumba, you are in Human Rights Commission to be investigated on Hurungwe issues. You know that. Ndinokuregerera. You are mentioned in the Human Rights Commission Report to be investigated as Minister of Justice. You are not exemplary.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, leave the House.

HON. T. MLISWA: Uda kuita chii? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –  Uku kuMash West hausi kutonga, unotonga chii?Iwe wakauraya Vanhu kuHurungwe – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –You are a useless Chairman – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.

City of Harare has backed off from its plans to set up surveillance drones to monitor litter and potholes following an outcry from residents who felt the facility will be abused to spy on their private life.

Posting on Twitter today City of Harare said they have abandoned the plan following wide concerns by people.

We have no immediate plans to deploy use of drones for municipal services in Harare. Earlier communication on the subject was meant to gather public feeling and it has emerged that the use of the technology is not widely welcome by stakeholders.

— City of Harare (@cohsunshinecity) February 13, 2019

By Own Correspondent| A Marondera magistrate has sentenced a Beatrice man who was caught wearing a Zimbabwe National Army uniform in Marondera to an effective six months in prison.

The man, 24-year-old Tatenda Donald Chiwa of Plot 199 Beatrice who is on record claiming that he was given the army uniform at Zanu pf headquarters and whose photograph clad in army uniform and in handcuffs went viral was sentenced to 12 months in prison by Magistrate Ignatius Mhene who suspended the other six months on condition he does not commit a similar offence.

Although he pleaded not guilty to the charges of impersonating by illegally putting on an army uniform Chiwa was found guilty after he failed to prove that he is an attested member of the ZNA.

According to the state led by public prosecutor Marvelous Muchacha, on February 6 at around midday some soldiers who were on patrol in Dombotombo Marondera met the accused who was clad in an army uniform and believed he was one of them.

However, upon interviewing him the patrolling soldiers found out that Chiwa was not a member of the ZNA.

He was subsequently arrested and police recovered camouflage trousers, black combat boots, camouflage jacket, camouflage sunhat and green belt which were all used as exhibit.-StateMedia      

By Own Correspondent|Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environment and Tourism has revealed plans to summon the Minister of Environment Prisca Mupfumira over the continued destruction of wetlands in Harare.

Committee’s chairperson Concillia Chinanzvavana said that the Minister has to answer questions on development projects being done in the city that have negatively impacted water availability.

Said Chinanzvavana:

The minister of Environment should come to Parliament and provide evidence over the rampant destruction of wetlands we are seeing in many parts of Harare.

We have noticed that areas such as Borrowdale, Glen Lorne and Eastlea have developments on areas that are protected at law.

Correspondent|ZANU PF Bulawayo province has unanimously agreed that they will formally request National Hero Status for their late chairperson, Prof Calistus Dingiswayo Ndlovu.

Prof Ndlovu, 83, died at Netcare Pinehaven Hospital for Pancreatic Cancer in South Africa where he had been hopitalised.

The cancer had spread from the pancreas to his liver. He had begun chemotherapy on 8 February 2019.

In an emergency meeting that was convened at the Zanu-PF provincial offices in Bulawayo this afternoon, the party agreed that the late chairman deserved the highest honour in the land.

Former Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Angeline Masuku said the party had suffered a great loss as Prof Ndlovu worked tirelessly for the party and needed to give him a sendoff he deserves.

“There is no other befitting status that can be given to him than that of a National Hero Status,” she said.

The party said all his documents on work he did for the party, government and the nation at large were in order.

“The time I was in Zambia he was already active in politics and all programmes were being managed by him. Some people gave up along the way during the liberation struggle but he was consistently and was there till the final steps. There was no gap in his participation throughout his life,” said Masuku.

David Ndlovu a member of the Central Committee who seconded Masuku in proposing that the late chairman being declared a National hero said, he participated in the armed struggle from the time he was a youth.

“He stood for us from the time he was a youth in politics and he was there pre and post-independence, he never gave up on the fight and is true that he was a consistent and persistent cadre. He deserves a national hero status,” he said.

Provincial Secretary for administration, Eliphas Mashaba said Prof Ndlovu was a man who they tapped knowledge and wisdom from, guiding the province till his death.

“The chairman brought normalcy to the province, he integrated us all in the party, we are at a loss of words, it is a dark day for us,” he said.

Prof Ndlovu was born on 9 February 1936.

He attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1965 at the University of South Africa and proceeded to do a Masters in History in 1969 at New York University and finally a Ph.D. in History in 1973 at the State University of New York.

He held various portfolios in the government. He also sat on various boards and was awarded freedom of the city in Minnepolis in 1972.

Mourners are gathered at number 3 Fletcher Avenue in Khumalo, Bulawayo.

— SundayMail

Correspondent|Latest news coming in from local media houses is that the health condition of vice President Constantino Chiwenga has deteriorated.

Chiwenga, who was flown to India last week, had been reported as having trouble eating, but new reports say the condition has further deteriorated.

The VP, who once revealed battling skin cancer, was last Thursday rushed to a South African hospital in Cape Town amid claims he was in “terrible shape”.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba could not be reached to confirm the latest development while Information Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi said the matter was beyond his purview.

“It’s not within our purview. Get in touch with Charamba,” said Mutodi.

He appeared on state media this week vehemently denying claims of ailment while blasting social media gloating over his failing health.

Former first daughter Bona Mugabe’s husband Simba Chikore has been accused of being violent and allegedly detained a subordinate for two hours.

A Harare court has ruled that there will be an inspection in loco at the Robert Mugabe Airport offices to try and corroborate the conflicting evidence led by State witnesses and the Former Presidents son-in-law, Simba Chikore.

This comes after the State witness in Simba Chikore’s matter, a former Human Resources manager with the airline gave contradicting evidence as to the setup of the offices with the deatils given by the complainant, Bertha Zakeyo.

Chikore’s lawyer Jonathan Samukange applied for an inspection in loco in an attempt to prove to the court that the State witnesses are doctoring evidence in an attempt to nail the former airline boss.

Harare Magistrate Victoria Mashamba granted the application and the inspection will be conducted on February 19. After an intense cross-examination of the State witness by Samukange, it became evident that he was fabricating stories against Chikore out of bitterness for his improptu termination of contract with the airline as he told the court that he was angry for being fired from his position.

Chikore is facing charges of unlawful detention. He allegedly had Zimbabwe Airways legal head Bertha Zakeyo detained for two hours at the airline’s offices in June last year. Chikore is jointly charged with Safeguard security guard Simbarashe Mutimbe.

The two are out on $30 bail.

Morning post

THE Meteorological Services Department (MSD) says that heavy rains are expected in most parts of the country starting on Wednesday, 13 February extending to Saturday, 16 February.

Some areas are expected to receive rainfall in excess of 50 millimetres in just 24 hours.

A statement released by the MSD says: “In some places on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 February, parts of Manicaland, Matabeleland South, Masvingo Provinces, as well as southern areas of Midlands Province are forecast to receive heavier rains in excess of 50mm in 24 hours.

“Thereafter, the rains should steadily ease off giving way to bright and showery conditions in most areas, and localized heavier falls in places.

“Where possible, move from such areas. Try to avoid being caught outdoors or on the road during heavy storms, more so at night when flood dangers are more difficult to perceive.”

The Department will continue monitoring the conditions and update the public accordingly.

The public is also being requested to provide feedback or information on disasters.

By Nomusa Garikai| In the words of Immanuel Kant who said ‘by a lie, a man consumes his own dignity,’ it has become apparent that the MDC Alliance and its apologists, this time led by Tendai Biti have become shameless and taken where they left after last month’s events in their sustained campaign to derail and discredit the government’s continuing macro economic reforms which are already bearing fruit,” commented Nick Mangwana.

What is amusing here is that Nick Mangwana should be calling Tendai Biti an apologist and a desperate man when he is Zanu PF’s Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services – read Zanu PF’s apologist, liar and worse. A case of the pot calling the kettle black.

“Mr Biti claimed on his Twitter handle that the government is this week introducing the local currency, sending the whole economy into a panic mode with regards to the future of their current holdings of various currencies,” continue Mangwana

“The government’s economic policy direction is clearly contained in the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) which articulates comprehensive, time specific and achievable plans of action to set the Zimbabwean economy on a growth trajectory in line with vision 2030 of an upper middle – income country.”

Actually I would like to take this discussion to a new level, the level Zanu PF has completely stifled, the level apologists like Mangwana and even the egotistic and pompous Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube was never ever venture to trade. Instead of discussing the economic merits or otherwise of when the new local currency will introduce or that of the TSP in delivery prosperity in 2030; I want to discuss the political dimension.

a) The ordinary Zimbabweans out there had no meaningful say in any of Zanu PF’s economic policies and programmes. Zanu PF rigs elections denying the people any meaningful vote and then imposes whatever economic policies it sees fit. The best the regime has ever allowed the ordinary Zimbabweans to do is to comment on policies, etc. but don’t touch.

b) Ordinary Zimbabweans have no meaningful say in when, how, etc. any of these economic policies and programmes are implemented. Protest against worsening economic hardship has been ruthlessly silenced. The ruling elite have gone to town in their praise of Zimbabweans’ “resilience”. Whilst the ruling elite have been travelling to SA, Singapore, etc. for their health care needs, for example, because the nation’s health care services has all but collapsed. The ruling elite expect the ordinary people to just suffer and die quietly; all in the name of resilience!

c) Worst of all, not even one ordinary Zimbabweans will have a meaningful say even if any or all of these policies and programmes are a complete failure. Indeed that is exactly what has happen; Zimbabwe started as a middle income nation in 1980 and after 20 years or so of criminal waste of human and material resource under this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship the country had sunk to its present position of being the poorest country in African.

d) By the late 1990s most Zimbabweans were painfully aware that whilst Zanu PF kept promising mass economic prosperity the regime was delivering mass economic poverty. People realised the need for democratic changes to restore their democratic right to a meaningful vote. People risked life and limb to elect Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends on the ticket they will bring about the democratic changes the nation was dying for. After 19 years on the political stage MDC leaders have failed to bring about even one meaningful democratic change. Not one!

e) Now will the national economy in total economic meltdown, with unemployment rate a dizzying 90%, 3 out of 4 Zimbabweans living on US$1.00 or less a day, etc. it is clear Zimbabwe cannot afford the luxury of assuming Zanu PF’s new currency, the TSP, etc. will work. All economic policies and programmes must be subjected to all manner of scrutiny at their formative stage and implementation. All Zimbabweans must be afforded a meaningful say in a free, fair and credible elections in who governs the country and hence what policies are implemented.

f) Zanu PF does not have the mandate of the people to govern since last July’s elections were NOT free, fair and credible. It is nonsensical and a waste of time to discuss Zanu PF’s economic policies and programmes when Zanu PF imposed itself and its policies on the nation and the nation cannot hold the regime to account regardless what happens!

Ever since the 30 July 2018 elections, Zimbabwe does not have a legitimate government because the elections were flawed and illegal.

“Major shortcomings in the pre-election environment impacted on the free expression of the will of electors, state resources were misused in favour of the incumbent and coverage by state media was heavily biased in favour of the ruling party,” EU Election Observers Mission stated in its final report.

“Further, the electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability.

“Finally, the restrictions on political freedoms, the excessive use of force by security forces and abuses of human rights in the post-election period undermined the corresponding positive aspects during the pre-election campaign. As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”

Both Zanu PF and MDC Alliance have each claimed to have won the elections but that is just nonsense. Neither party can say who was on the voters’ roll, who voted, how many times etc. because no verified voters’ roll was ever realised although it is a legal requirement.

As the EU report rightly pointed out, some of the irregularities favoured the ruling party Zanu PF; still it will be foolish to award MDC Alliance electoral victory by default. The opposition had the chance to demand the release of verified voters’ roll, for example, but chose to participate regardless, out of greed. It should be noted that MDC Alliance leaders had the golden opportunity during the 2008 GNU to implement the democratic reforms to stop Zanu PF rigging elections but failed to implement even one reforms out of greed.

To would be wrong to award the opposition victory and reward they for their greed and incompetence. By the same token it would be wrong to allow Zanu PF to remain in power and reward the regime for blatantly denying the people their right to a meaningful vote..

After 38 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and murderous tyranny Zimbabwe has the chance for a clean break. We need to implement the democratic reforms designed to dismantle the de facto one-party dictatorship and replace it with a democratic system of government. All we need to do is appoint an interim administration, in place of the illegitimate Zanu PF regime, tasked to implement the reforms.

It is right and proper that Zimbabweans should forget the economic dimension of Zanu PF’s policies and programmes and focus on the political one – we demand a meaningful say in where we are going as a nation and not to be led by the nose like a bull! We demand free, fair and credible elections now and not next time!

At least 23 illegal gold miners are feared dead after being trapped in shafts at two mines in Battlefields, Kadoma following heavy rains that led to the collapse of a dam wall last night.

The miners were reportedly trapped since 11pm last night at the RioZim-owned Cricket Mine and another one owned by a Mr Baxter.

The mines have three linked shafts said to be 30 metres deep and have 20 metre-wide tunnels.

RioZim spokesperson Mr Wilson Gwatiringa said he was on his way to the accident site to assess the situation and will issue a statement.

— State Media

“I’m shocked that they want to send me back to a place where all those terrible things are happening. I won’t be able to walk out of the airport terminal without being interrogated by the police. There will be brutal beatings. I won’t be spared,” says Victor Mujakachi, who faces deportation from the UK.

Mujakachi, who claimed asylum in the UK after a warrant was issued for his arrest in Zimbabwe due to anti-government blog posts, said he would ‘not be spared’ after the Home Office issued him with removal notice.

Zimbabwean asylum seekers who were forced to attend meetings with officials from their home country have been threatened with removal, in a move believed to be part of an agreement to “repatriate” thousands of failed asylum seekers to the country.

At least two people who arrived in the UK after fleeing political persecution in Zimbabwe were detained and issued with 72-hour removal notices while signing on with the Home Office at Vulcan House immigration reporting centre in Sheffield on Monday.

It comes after the two men, along with an unknown number of other Zimbabwean asylum seekers, were asked “distressing” questions by Zimbabwean embassy officials in “re-documentation interviews” which took place on 4 December.

Lawyers believe these interviews formed part of an agreement between the British and Zimbabwean governments for the UK to “repatriate” 2,500 Zimbabwean nationals in return for aid money. The Home Office did not deny the allegations.

Other Zimbabwean nationals who attended the interviews in December have been ordered to attend Home Office meetings in the coming week, and said they were “terrified” that the government was also planning to remove them.

It comes after more than 1,000 people were arrested and many brutally beaten during demonstrations in the Zimbabwean capital Harare last month following a widespread breakdown of public order linked to food and fuel shortages.

One of the men issued with a removal notice is Victor Mujakachi, who initially came to the UK on a student visa in 2003. He sought asylum when a warrant was issued for his arrest in Zimbabwe after he wrote blog posts hostile to the government.

Mr Mujakachi, 58, said that in his re-documentation interview in December, embassy officials had asked for more information about him and his relatives in a bid to confirm his identity – which he found “highly suspicious”. He added that he “would not be spared” by the Zimbabwean authorities.

Mr Mujakachi with his grandson in the UK
Speaking from Vulcan House on Monday, he said: “I’m shocked that they want to send me back to a place where all those terrible things are happening. I’ve been vocal about the atrocities through my Twitter feeds and on YouTube. I will definitely stand out.

“I won’t be able to walk out of the airport terminal without being interrogated by the police. There will be brutal beatings.

“There was recently a debate in the House of Commons condemning the brutality and heavy-handedness of the Zimbabwean army and the police. They’ve condemned it. Do they think a mere condemnation by words is going to stop what’s happening?

“Every government has a right to control immigration within its borders, but with this government it’s ideologically driven. They look at soft targets, and I am a soft target.

Mr Mujakachi’s son, Simba, who was also ordered to sign on with the Home Office on Monday, but was not detained like his father, said he believed that if his father was removed to Zimbabwe, he would be “killed straight away”.

“I don’t know how they can pull a move like this, working with the Zimbabwean government. It doesn’t make sense with what’s going on in Zimbabwe. It’s cruelty,” he said.

“I think he’s going to get killed straight away. They will take him from the airport straight away and we will never hear about him again. We know how this government runs. A lot of people have been taken recently and no one knows where they are.

“I haven’t eaten since I went and my dad got taken. I’ve been struggling to eat. I’m worried about my dad. I’m worried about me. I don’t know why I was let out yesterday, but I’m sure that sooner or later they will take me.”

Mr Mujakachi’s solicitor, Kathryn Hodder, who is seeking to submit an injunction to prevent his removal, said she believed the alleged agreement between the Home Office and Zimbabwean officials could be acting in breach of UK immigration rules, which prohibit “actors of persecution” being directly informed that an application for asylum has been made.

She added: “Before, they couldn’t remove Zimbabweans because there was no agreement with the government. So no one from Zimbabwe could be removed unless they got a passport.

“But it looks like this government wants aid from the UK, so it’s just part of politics – we’ll give you money if you take back your people.

“Victor didn’t have a passport, and now he’s got travel documents from the Zimbabwean government. The embassy representative had a big file and said he knew everything about him. It’s not good if they government knows about him even before he’s removed.”

Sheffield councillor Jackie Drayton, who accompanied Mr Mujakachi to sign on at Vulcan House, where he was detained, said it was “awful” that he was facing removal, saying: “He didn’t come prepared to not go home. It’s so sudden and shocking.

“Victor is somebody who has been threatened by the government. And he’s very active about the things going on at the moment. Yes, Mugabe is not in power now, but there’s no doubt people in his government are still I power, and it’s not a safe place for people.”

Marian Machekanyanga, another Zimbabwean national who was also forced to attend a re-documentation interview in December, and has been ordered to sign on next week, said she was “terrified” that she would have the same fate as Mr Mujakachi.

Marianne Machekanyanga fled political persecution in Zimbabwe in 2002 after campaigning against President Robert Mugabe’s government (Stuart Crosthwaite)
The 54-year-old, who has been in the UK for 16 years after fleeing political persecution for her opposition to the government, said: “I was in tears when I received the letter. I’m very scared. I know that they are going to take me. People are being killed by the regime. I’m even more scared than last time.”

It was widely reported by the Zimbabwean media in February that the then British ambassador to Zimbabwe, Catriona Laing, had told Kembo Mohadi, Zimbabwe’s deputy president, that the UK intended to deport illegal Zimbabweans to the country.

Mr Mohadi reportedly responded by saying the Zimbabwean government had no problem taking back its nationals but it needed to check them to ensure they were truly Zimbabweans.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection.

“Where a decision has been made that a person does not require international protection, removal is only enforced when we and the courts conclude that it is safe to do so, with a safe route of return.” — TheZimbabwean

Own Correspondent|The International Monetary Fund, IMF has revealed that finally Zimbabwe has cleared all its outstanding debts.

Director of Communication with the International Monetary Fund, Gerry Rice revealed this in a question posed to him about the recent reports of Zimbabwe’s indebtedness to the Fund.

Despite the clearance of the arrears Zimbabwe still owes says $687 million to the African Development Bank, $1.4 billion to the World Bank, $322 million to the European investment bank.

Mr Rice said “We have talked quite a bit about Zimbabwe here in the past but just to answer the question, and I’ve said it before here, that Zimbabwe has cleared, indeed, its arrears to the IMF.

He says “ I think that’s the word I would want to stress, is the “peacefully” and, you know, try to develop policies that will stabilize the economy and promote sustainable and inclusive growth and it’s clearly a very difficult situation there in Zimbabwe and we recognize that”.

A report released by the African Department of the IMF last week reveals that Zimbabwe’s expenditure is way above that of its counterpart and not effective.

The report proposes that the South African country cut wages for its top civil servant by 5 percent.

It also wants the country to limit the transfer of State Owned Enterprises, rationalize agricultural input schemes and address issues with regards to grain subsidies.

Jane Mlambo| Movement for Democratic Change has secured police clearance for the inaugural Morgan Tsvangirai Memorial Lecture which will be held at the Harare Showgrounds tomorrow, the day the late founding leader died last year.

According to Party Deputy Treasurer Charlton Hwende, the Memorial lecture will proceed after the Harare Provincial executive led by Eric Murai got a police clearance.

The late Dr. Morgen Richard Tsvangirai memorial lecture was cleared by police and will be held tomorrow at the Harare Show Grounds at 1000 hours.
Everyone is invited to attend this important event.
Hon. E. Murai
Chairman
Harare Province pic.twitter.com/vkzvRN47NR

— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) February 13, 2019

Tsvangirai succumbed to cancer of the colon last year and was buried in his Humanikwa, Buhera home.

Earlier on, police banned an organised march in honor of the iconic leader.

There was drama in parliament today as war between Norton member of parliament Temba Mliswa and Chegutu West legislator Dexter Nduna raged on, prompting the deputy  speaker  Tsitsi Gezi to chuck off Mliswa from the August House.

Before the commencement of the question and answer session, Mliswa took to the podium charging that he fears for his life following murder threats by Nduna.

The two exchanged words on Monday during a parliamentary committee on Mining and Mines portfolio meeting with Nduna warning Mliswa to be careful when dealing with him as he has killed a lot of people before.

When Mliswa stood up, he called Nduna a murderer whom parliament must investigate following his admission to have committed murder.

“Waakupenga manje , wazvionaka kuti munhu haauraiwe. You murderer come here. You are a murderer. Come here,” fumed Mliswa.

Mliswa’s rants at Nduna was supported by opposition legislators while those from Zanu PF labelled the Norton legislator a ‘thief.’

As the situation got nastier and Gezi failing to restrain the outspoken Mliswa, Energy and Power Development, Joram Gumbo stood up to calm the charging legislator, but to no avail.

The speaker had no option but to chuck off the former Mliswa from the August house to save parliamentary business.

Mliswa and Nduna caused a stir on Monday when they were captured on video trading insults with the former Hurungwe west legislator accusing his Chegutu counterpart of stealing $11 million from the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (ZINARA). On the other hand, Nduna warned Mliswa to be careful in dealing with him as he has a known record of killing people.

This attracted mixed feelings on social media with people demanding the arrest of Nduna whom they said had openly revealed his crimes.

-263Chat

Paul Nyathi|ZANU-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson Callistus Ndlovu has died.

Ndlovu died on Wednesday in South Africa where he was receiving treatment.

The party’s provincial secretary for administration Elifasi Mashaba confirmed Ndlovu’s death.

The party has called for an emergency meeting at its Davies Hall provincial offices where more details will be announced.

More details to follow…..

THE Nelson Chamisa-led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Wednesday welcomed the US government’s call for “a neutral third party” to preside over dialogue between Zimbabwe’s political rivals.

The US issued a strong statement on Tuesday, in which it condemned the violence that broke out last month and the heavy-handed response from security forces that followed.

Deputy government spokesperson Robert Palladino said the US wants soldiers accused of rape and torture during the crackdown to be tried for their crimes.

“The US remains seriously concerned about the excessive use of force by government of Zimbabwe security forces since January 14, which has resulted in at least 13 deaths, 600 victims of violence, torture or rape, and more than 1,000 arrests,” he said in a statement.

“The US calls on all sides to come together immediately in national dialogue. The dialogue process must be credible, inclusive and mediated by a neutral third party.

“In order for such a dialogue to succeed, the government of Zimbabwe should end its excessive violence and intimidation, immediately release the civil society activists who have been arbitrarily detained, and hold security force members responsible for human rights violations and abuses accountable.”

Palladino’s statement came a day after Namibian president Hage Geingob, the chairperson the Southern African Development Community (SADC), weighed in on Monday with support for president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

SADC’s response angered civic society groups and the MDC for failing to censure Mnangagwa for deploying the army.

This is the second time in six months that the army has been deployed onto the streets to quell protests. It was first deployed on August 1 last year, two days after elections were held. This marred the election outcome and resulted in six deaths and 35 injuries, according to the findings of a commission of inquiry led by former SA president Kgalema Motlanthe.

MDC national spokesperson Jacob Mafume told media that pressure on Mnangagwa from the international community, in this case from the US, was necessary for Zimbabwe’s government to be held accountable.

“The US’s articulation of a dialogue process and what is needed to bring peace to Zimbabwe is very clear and more pointed. We do believe that it is incumbent upon the international community to know that the statistics that are coming out are of actual people who have been harmed, killed and are suffering. That has to stop and we need to have a conducive environment for dialogue,” said Mafume.

The hardline stance taken by the US is likely to scupper Mnangagwa’s drive to court support from the West, after years of isolation.

At an African Union (AU) summit held over the weekend, foreign affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo put on a brave face amid the government’s growing isolation from Western countries since the army-led crackdown last month.

Moyo insisted that the “re-engagement process” would proceed as initially planned, despite the hostility.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube is expected to travel to Washington next month and engage with US lawmakers to lift the sanctions imposed since 2001. But his trip is likely to be overshadowed by the concerns that the US has raised over the human rights situation in the country.

Ncube estimated that Zimbabwe has lost 80 lines of credit as a result of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act and the US-imposed sanctions. — TimesLIVE

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

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) February 13, 2019

Own Correspondent|MDC-T national spokesperson Linda Masarira has hit out at the United States of America’s call for democracy in other countries, saying it is not sincere.

Below is the full thread of her comments on Twitter:

Who appointed America to police the world? Who polices America and holds them to account for the human rights violations in America? They pretend to like “US” yet they are wolves in sheep’s clothing, pretending to be democrats whilst amplifying their own agenda.

The ZIDERA thing is being viewed by the majority as targeted sanctions, yet in actual fact, they are real sanctions, because it carries OFAC AND AGOA which are sanctions are for finances and travel bans respectively.

Conditions by the USA that caused the introduction of sanctions in Zimbabwe and which Zimbabwe must oblige by as at the inception of the introduction of the evil sanctions are;

1)Restoration of the rule of law ( including respect of ownership and title to the property, which is land)

2) Election or pre-election conditions
3) commitment to equitable, legal and transparent land reform (consistent with agreements reached at the International Donors’ Conference on Land Reform and Resettlement of 1998)
4) fulfilment of agreement of ending the war in DRC

5) military and national police subordination to civilian government
Let us start with number 5, the reason why it was a condition that Zimbabwe should withdraw its troops in DRC was that America had some interests there. She was funding the rebels because she wanted mineral resources in DRC including diamonds. With the assistance of Zimbabwe military, Kabila’s military was very strong such that the rebels could not stand a chance.

The reason why the Americans and their British counterparts wanted Zimbabwe to stick with the 1998 agreement on land reform was and still is to give back the whites the land they stole from us because they value land knowing that wealth is in the land.

The only time I supported Mugabe was on his stubborn stance on land reform. We can not allow only 6000 minority whites to own 51% of land while more than 13 million natives own less than 49%. Mugabe was good that he amended the constitution that if colonies failed to compensate for the land they forcibly took from native Zimbabweans, the government would reclaim it without compensation. As evil, as he was he managed to take the land and give it to native Zimbabweans which didn’t go down well with the white supremacists.

Do you know in September 2018 America fined CBZ bank $3.8b for doing a transaction on behalf of ZB bank, which is listed on the sanctions list? What it means is, America wanted to sweep all our fiscal budget such that we suffer more, ie OFAC (Office of Financial Assets Control).

The reason why these white supremacists want to be given back their farms is that they know that underground wealth such as minerals is hidden underground in their farms. We should come out clear as a nation, as to what we want, what we support or not to support.

ZIDERA is causing so much suffering to the masses in Zimbabwe The land reform program should stand and be supported by the government. It should benefit all Zimbabweans regardless of political party affiliation Efforts should be made to empower Zimbabweans to fully utilize our land.

By Own Correspondent- In a statement Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo, said the recent votes of no confidence and dismissal of party members has the potential of destabilising the party.

This follows news of votes of no confidence in the party’s youth leaders Pupurai Togarepi, his deputy Lewis Matutu and three other executive members.

Mary Mliswa who is sister to Independent legislator for Norton Temba Mliswa was also booted out of the party’s Mashonaland West structures.

Khaya Moyo however said any action that is taken against members must be done in line with party regulations.

He said:

The party notes with concern that disciplinary processes are being raised against party members without following proper procedures as set out in the party Constitution. Most recently, votes of no confidence were moved against some officials of the party National Youth Executive and there are reports of similar actions being initiated in some provinces.

These developments have greater potential of fomenting disunity in the party and should stop forthwith. Previously, disunity forces under the G40 cabal used votes of no confidence to purge party members perceived to be against their destabilisation agenda.

Summary dismissal of party officials through votes of no confidence should only be occasioned in extra ordinary circumstances and can only be passed upon the following grounds: gross incompetence and/or dereliction of duty, gross, misconduct, disloyalty and treachery.

By Own Correspondent- An illegal money changer from Bulawayo lost a BMW vehicle and R80 000, US$5 000 and $8 000 bond to three gun-wielding men clad in balaclavas.

The suspects pounced on Joseph Karimazondo (34) on Monday at about 9 PM while he was in the company of his younger brother and his two friends outside a flat at the corner of Connaught Avenue and Fife Street.

The victim managed to disarm the robber who was wielding a gun and he escaped on foot.

His accomplices sped off in Karimazondo’s BMW that had his money and other valuables.

The suspects are reported to have dumped the car near the United College of Education and the vehicle has since been recovered.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango yesterday confirmed the incident.

“We are investigating an armed robbery which occurred at some flats near the city center. The victim who is an illegal money changer lost R80 000, US$5 000 and $8 000 bonds. We strongly appeal to members of the public to avoid traveling around with large sums of money as this makes them targets for criminals,” she said.

Chief Insp Simango said members of the public who might have information that could lead to the arrest of the culprits should come forward.

A source close to the victim said Karimazondo was attacked near his home.

“Bra Joe was driving from the City Centre to his home before meeting his friends who were hanging out in a Volvo near a flat where he lives. When he saw the two friends, he parked his car and joined them leaving his brother in his silver BMW car,” said the source.

“While they were still chatting in the car, three men clad in balaclavas pounced on them. The three started pelting them with stones. One of the accused produced a gun and pointed it at Karimazondo’s friend who was in the driver’s seat and threatened to shoot him. In all this, the robbers did not even make any demands.”

Karimazondo and his friends thought the suspects were carrying a fake gun, the source said, prompting the trio to fight back.

The source said one of the men attacked Karimazondo’s brother who was still in the BMW, ejecting him from the car. The other robbers escaped in the car, leaving their accomplice who then fled on foot.

The source said Karimazondo, his brother and friends suffered minor injuries.

They took the gun they had confiscated from the robbers to the police and reported the matter.

THE ZANU-PF Chegutu West Member of the House of Assembly Dexter Nduna has apologised for what he said in Parliament during a heated argument with independent Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa.

During this week’s Monday heated debate in Parliament, Nduna threatened Mliswa with death and boasted that he had killed countless numbers of people some of whom he did not even know.

Nduna has now said he did not mean what he said but spoke in a fit of rage.

He claimed that because it was a fight and therefore, there is no formula to conduct a fight.

On the dismissal of Mliswa’s sister, Mary, from her role as Mashonaland West provincial treasurer, Nduna said she was demoted because of her links with the former G40 cabal.

He cited some of the G40 elements who were in good books with Mary, likes of Shadrack Mashayamombe, Reuben Marumahoko and Saviour Kasukuwere.

Mary was also accused of being a proxy for Temba Mliswa in controlling the province.

Nduna claimed that Mliswa had control over the whole of the ZANU PF Mashonaland West province through his sister.

He further claimed that the fight in Parliament resulted from Mliswa’s anger that his sister had been flushed out of ZANU PF.

— PindulaNews

Jane Mlambo| Former MDC Alliance Spokesperson, Obert Gutu has found a rare ally in Deputy Information minister Energy Mutodi who equated the powerful opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to Angolan and Mozambican rebel fronters Jonas Savimbi and Alphonse Dhlakama.

Posting on Twitter today, Mutodi accused Chamisa of confusing the international community and causing anarchy in the country while swearing the firebrand opposition leader will not rule Zimbabwe.

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

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) February 13, 2019

Twitter users however reminded Mutodi that Chamisa was not seeking to rule the country but leading.

I also agree with you that Chamisa will never rule Zimbabwe because at this stage our country doesn't need a ruler but it need a legitimate leader….

Chamisa will definitely lead Zimbabwe.

We need leaders #Godisinit

— Chairman Mbolaz (@ChairmanThePlug) February 13, 2019

Correspondent|A University of Zimbabwe girl is claiming $600 which she lent her ex boyfriend while they were still dating in July last year.

Karen Manyama dragged her former lover Shepard Marekani to court demanding the $600 debt after they ended their affair.

“I gave him the money because he wanted to fix his car, which had broken down. He had said that he would return my money as soon as possible,” she said.

Karen further explained that after she started demanding her money, her ex-boyfriend dumped her this emotionally stressed her into claiming back the money.

“I honestly wasn’t expecting him to break up with me after all the money he was owing me.

“I ended up claiming it for my own benefit since we had broken up,” she said.

In response, Shepard clarified that there was no specific date which the money was supposed to be paid since they borrowed each other in good terms.

“There was no date of when payment was to be made so she must not claim the money whenever she feels like it,” he said.

The case is still pending.

By Own Correspondent- Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa has revealed that government has proposed to repeal the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act in a move aimed at deepening the country’s democratic processes and related approved principles.

Addressing journalists soon after a cabinet meeting at Munhumutapa offices in Harare Tuesday, Mutsvangwa said the proposed move thus gives rise to the introduction of three separate bills namely the Access to Information Bill, the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill and the Protection of Personal Information or Data Protection Bill.

She said:

Cabinet proposed principles for the repeal of the AIPPA presented by the Information minister. The principles give rise to the introduction of three separate bills namely the Access to Information Bill the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill and the Protection of Personal Information or Data Protection Bill. However, at today’s meeting, only the principles for the Bill to introduce the Zimbabwe Media Commission were considered.

Cabinet noted that the proposed amendment is in fulfilment of the requirement to align the country’s laws to the Constitution and deepen the country’s democratic processes and accordingly approved principles.

By Own Correspondent| The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Tuesday allegedly refused to prosecute a team of security agents that allegedly robbed a Mbare shabeen owner of over $28 000 during the ShutDownZim protests.

The 10-member team of robbers is made up of police officers, Military Intelligence and Central Intelligence Organisation operatives.

The security officials conspired to rob a Shabeen on Mangende Street in Mbare on February 8 while armed with assault rifles.

Eight members of the gang are Pride Ziwenga, Wilson Masvayamwando, and Admire Gasva (all Military Intelligence); Matthews Tshuma, Fidel Marume and Simbarashe Bwititi (all CIO); Henry Banda (PISI) and Dennis Muroyiwa (ZRP Law and Order).

An unconfirmed report reported that eight of the gang members were let go after the NPA told police investigators to bring a full docket.

According to the police, the group robbed the shebeen’s owner of $28 000 bond notes and $100 before driving away in a white Nissan MP300 with registration number AEA 4471, a white Nissan MP300 without registration plates and a Datsun Go without registration plates.

It was established that the vehicles used during the robbery belonged to the CIO.

POLICE have reportedly declined to approve the opposition MDC’s application to stage a peaceful march in honour of the party’s late founding leader and former Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai, a fiery former trade unionist, who during his heydays kept the Zanu PF government on its toes, died last year after losing a two-year-long battle with colon cancer.

The march, according to MDC officials, had tentatively been pencilled for tomorrow to coincide with the date he passed on last year before receiving a State-assisted burial at his rural home in Buhera.

Party insiders told NewsDay yesterday that there were sharp disagreements over how to go about commemorating the late party leader, with some pushing for a peaceful march, while others wanted an indoor memorial service.

“Some want to continue with confrontation with the government, but others want a more level-headed and pragmatic approach, which probably is what Tsvangirai would have wanted. The idea of proposing a march is basically by those who want to stoke tensions, which is wrong,” a top MDC executive said.

“Tsvangirai wanted a united country and in his last days, advocated for an end to the crisis than to seek and perpetuate it for selfish reasons. The family is not happy with the idea of using Tsvangirai’s name to further political ends.”

Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume confirmed police in Harare had indicated they would not sanction the proposed march.

“Police have verbally indicated to us that they will not approve the march. We will wait for their written communication before we decide on the course of action or exercise our rights,” he said.

“Our firm understanding is that police have no right to ban or approve the exercise of such a right, they can only facilitate.”

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi referred questions to his boss Commissioner Charity Charamba, whose mobile phone went unanswered.

The former Prime Minister’s brother, Manase, said there were various activities lined up, but ruled out a march as one of them.

“No, we are not organising a march or demonstration. There will be speeches to remember him maybe at a closed venue and likely his daughter (Vimbai, Glen View South MP) will organise a rally. We will support her as a family,” Manase said.

Last month, protests organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) against fuel price hikes turned into an orgy of violence before the army moved in and fired live ammunition, killing at least 17 people, while over 80 others sustained gunshot wounds.

As secretary-general of the ZCTU during his trade unionism days, Tsvangirai led the formation of the MDC in 1999, presenting the first formidable challenge to Zanu PF’s stranglehold on power and almost dislodged the ruling party.

The late veteran trade unionist made a political career anchored on successful protests against a litany of government policies demanding a widening of the democratic space.

He is credited with taming Zanu PF excesses, in the process laying the foundation for political tolerance in Zimbabwe.

-Newsday

Correspondent|Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander General Philip Valerio Sibanda has banned ZDF officers from marrying non commissioned members according to a memo posted by exiled former Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo on Twitter.

In a document posted by Moyo, ZDF officers are banned from marrying non commissioned members under the Fraternisation Policy which took effect on 1 February 2019. The policy gives those already married to each other, six months to comply or be discharged.

Below is the tweet and memo.

General Philip Valerio Sibanda has banned #ZDF officers & non commissioned members from marrying each other under a new #ZDF "Fraternisation Policy" which took effect on 1 February 2019. The policy gives those already married to each other, six months to comply! pic.twitter.com/KdGHZyBUeq

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) February 12, 2019

By Own Correspondent| Reports from Botswana indicate that 5 people, one of whom is suspected to be a 2 year old minor died in a Seabelo bus accident that occurred along the A1 Road near Tropic of Capricorn around 6am on Tuesday morning.

According to the Botswana Daily News, local police head Superintendent Kgosienalerona Sechoni of Mahalapye said that the accident involved two buses, one of which was Zimbabwe bound and the other heading to Francistown.

His colleague on the Francistown bound bus reportedly assumed that the bus that he was trailing was in motion, only to realise when it was too late that the bus was stationery and as such crashed on it. The driver lost control after knocking against the rear of the other bus and drove through the bush.

The police said that initial reports indicated that the driver of the bus going to Zimbabwe had pulled off the road.

The deceased are three women, a man and boy suspected to be aged two years, according to Botswana police.-Botswana Daily News

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Cabinet has approved the repeal of the unpopular Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and tabled at least three Bills to replace the law that regulated the operations of the media.

Briefing journalists in Harare after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the Act would be replaced by the proposed Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill, Data/Information Protection Bill, Freedom of Information and the Broadcasting Services Act Amendment Bill.

“Cabinet noted that the (ZMC Bill) principles were in fulfilment of the new dispensation thrust and in fulfilment of the alignment of the laws to the new Constitution and deepening of our democratic space,” she said.

According to Mutsvangwa, the proposed laws to replace AIPPA will be tabled at the next Cabinet meeting for interrogation and then sent to the Attorney-General’s Office for drafting before being introduced to Parliament for debate and possible adoption.

She also said Cabinet discussed a proposed amendment to the Police Act with a view to change the criteria for promoting senior officers.

Mutsvangwa, who sat next to Primary and Secondary Education minister Paul Mavima, said Cabinet also resolved not to increase the Zimbabwe School Examination Council (Zimsec) examination fees for Ordinary and Advanced Level this year.

Cabinet also received briefings on Mnangagwa’s recent trip to the Africa Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

-Newsday

Media Statement By MDC|The military government has removed any doubt of its cruelty and lack of remorse when its front man Emmerson Mnangagwa appeared in a disgusting interview of France24.

He displayed a clear misunderstanding of basics in Criminal Justice, he certainly does not qualify to lead Criminal Justice reform.

Not suprising that the years he served as Minister of Justice were wasted. No laws were aligned to the constitution. Instead, he was at the centre of taking away progressive clauses through dubious amendments.

Just like his old days of Gukurahundi and the 1st of August killings, in the interview, Mnangagwa was in denial, lied with a straight face and said hollow statements.

Mnangagwa in 1983 professed ignorance about Gukurahundi “I have never witnessed that, I have never heard about it except to read it from the press. I have never heard any complaint of that nature“

Yet reports including the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace revealed that more than 20 000 people had been butchered by the ruthless, Korea-trained, 5th Brigade which, on record, he had briefed the press on the trainers.

Thousands of deaths later and decades later he has failed to at least pronounce a word of apology.

He has not apologized for the 1 August killings. Neither has he taken responsibility even after reading out a report which squarely finds him guilty.

In fact before the Mothlante Commission, he had confessed ignorance of deployment of army.

The MDC finds his interview to be a continuation of his denial tactics, the kind which is unacceptable especially in a space relating to State sponsored deaths and rape.

His desire to see where the deceased were buried is shocking when the funerals were even screened live on international news channels.

President Chamisa attended some of these funerals.

Postmortem results confirmed that the deceased had died of bullet wounds, others after sustaining fatal blows from the indiscriminate assaults on innocent citizens.

The denial is a clear sign of arrogance, ruthlessness, cruelty- the very traits embedded in the Zanu PF DNA.

We also know that they are conflicted because evidence placed in court records by one of the killers is to the effect that Zanu PF had given guns to untrained thugs who killed people in cold blood.

The MDC also notes that Mnangagwa misunderstands the need to protect victims of rape.

His interview does not make it better, he trivializes the whole state instigated violence that took place in January, insisting that women were not raped because only one report was made to the police.

We in the MDC have argued then as we do now that only the Independent Complains Mechanism set out in section 210 of the Constitution has the lawful and reasonable grounding to investigate these issues.

Mnangagwa cannot keep hiding behind the so called regime change agenda statements of NGOs and the MDC when the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission made factual findings on the violations.

It is a constitutional commission not an NGO.

Mnangagwa is certainly bad for Zimbabwe. His leadership is in bad taste, his lying has reached astronomical levels and his arrogance keeps friend of Zimbabwe away.

Zimbabwe can only heal and move forward when the truth is told. We challenge Mnangagwa to do the honorable thing, and allow the will of the people to prevail.

Behold the New. Change that delivers

Hon. Dr. Bekithemba Mpofu
MDC National Deputy Spokesperson