By Farai D Hove| The People’s President Nelson Chamisa yesterday called for a national transitional authority in which he will be president for 2 years before handing over to the Zanu PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa to take over for the remaining two, as he said.

Speaking at Mkoba in Gweru yesterday, Chamisa said, “we need a transitional authority were Mnangagwa will rule for two years and I will also rule for the same number of years.”

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A Zimbabwe National Army soldier and a Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit officer on Friday night opened fire at the Beitbridge Border Post towards a cross-border transporter’s vehicle, sending the public and other border officials scurrying for cover.

Although no one was injured, the soldier, only identified as Gwaze, shot twice at the vehicle as it was passing the Customs and Excise Last Man Point near the Vehicle Inspection Office as it headed towards the exit for northbound gate.

A policeman who was at the exit gate said bullets cracked and sparked on the tarmac as Gwaze fired from an AK 47 assault rifle aiming at tyres of the trailer towed by the vehicle as the driver, now known to be Gumbo Chiweshe, proceeded to the exit gate.

“We took cover as he shot oblivious of the danger posed to people in the direction of the car he was firing at,” said the policeman.

“He must have fired seven times with the last two as he emerged from the VID gate shouting ‘stop him’ to surprised policemen manning the gate. One policeman fired two shots towards the car which had driven past.”

Gwaze and another soldier ceased firing after failing to stop the vehicle, said the policeman, and the two went back picking some objects, which must have been spent cartridges..

It has since been established the two shot at vehicle number AEJ 8714 which had gone through and been cleared by the Customs and Excise Department and authorised out, a process signed for by security guards deployed at the Malume Section of the border post.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele did not deny nor confirm the incident, but referred The Standard to his national boss Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, who was yet to get the report.

Zimbabwe National Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore had not responded to questions sent to him in the morning and his mobile phone went unanswered. — Standard

Correspondent|CHATUNGA Bellarmine Mugabe and South African hip hop star Ricky Rick challenged Zimbabwean authorities on Saturday after flying into Harare dressed in military fatigues.

Chatunga is the youngest son of former President Robert Mugabe.

The duo’s ‘stunt’ came the same day that former Sunday Mail editor Edmund Kudzayi appeared in court for being in possession of a camouflage umbrella.

Chatunga and Ricky Rick touched down at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport where they were received by socialite and businessman, Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure.

The laws of Zimbabwe criminalises the wearing of camouflage by civilians.

Section 32 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act outlaws the possession and wearing of “any camouflage uniform.”

It defines camouflage uniform as “any article of wearing apparel made of material carrying military-style camouflage markings.”

Ricky Rick was due to perform at Ginimbi’s Club Sankayi in Harare on Saturday night.

By Paul Nyathi|ZANU-PF has won both Ward 15 in Beitbridge East, and Ward 25 in Matobo North in the by-elections held on Saturday.

The results are as follows:

Beitbridge East Ward15 by-election

Rabson Mbedzi, Zanu PF: 638
Victor Moyo, MDC Alliance: 54
Rejected votes – 6
Matobo North Ward 25:

Sibonginkosi Dube, Zanu PF: 483
Sibanda Elkanah, MDC Alliance: 121
Rejected Votes- 3

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government looks to be lining up opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’s uncle Peter to be the fall guy after the Zanu PF leader angrily blasted an unnamed official for allegedly withholding fuel meant for farmers involved in the government’s much-hyped Command Agriculture programme.

In an unrestrained tirade, Mnangagwa attacked the “leader of the programme” at a Mwenezi Zanu PF rally last weekend for allegedly undercutting his efforts to shore up the economy through his Command Agriculture scheme, which is now beset by huge problems.

Initially, the attacks were widely seen as targeted at Kuda Tagwirei whose company Sakunda Holdings was appointed by the government in 2016 to be the main driver of Command Agriculture.

But Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services ministry permanent secretary Nick Mangwana claimed the 76-year-old leader was in fact referring to Peter Chamisa, a provincial officer for the Agriculture Extension Services (Agritex) who is related to the 41-year-old leader of the largest Zimbabwean opposition party.

“Masvingo leadership informed the president that he held on to fuel coupons and refused to distribute them, only distributing them after the fuel price review when the fuel companies were now discounting them,” Mangwana said referring to Redan Petroleum (Private) Limited’s decision to debase the value of coupons bought before the January 12 increase in the price of fuel.

“They also informed the president (prior to the Mwenezi rally) that he was giving Command Livestock animals to civil servants who had no land instead of the target beneficiaries.”

A career civil servant, government officials claimed Chamisa was attempting to sabotage Command Agriculture as part of the opposition leader’s “kudira jecha” agenda.

Chamisa has frantically denied the claims, saying he has never been involved in politics, but said he has been working his whole life quietly and diligently behind the scenes at Agritex to get agriculture moving.

“His Excellency was referring to …Chamisa, the provincial Agritex officer-Masvingo,” Mangwana told the Daily News in a blistering statement.

Chamisa staunchly denied attempting to sabotage the Command Agriculture programme, and said he found the accusations against him incredibly disturbing.

“I am just hearing it also. We handle fuel when it comes and we distribute it to farmers, the coupons.

“Right now, we are just preparing information at our system, I cannot comment about that. I am sure you know even the Head of State commented on it, so for me it’s a bit sub-judice and too sensitive as of now,” Chamisa told the Daily News.

Asked if the distribution efficiency has been good, he said:

“Yah, it’s done in districts, maybe you should confirm with the districts.

“Districts are the ones that identify the beneficiaries, we just process for them. We collect from Harare then give to districts who in turn give to farmers.”

Asked why he thought he was being singled out for vindictive treatment, Chamisa said: “We are trying to find out (as well) because probably people don’t have enough information. So, people are throwing speculation around.”

He declined to comment if he was related to the opposition leader.

Chamisa has served government his whole life.

He has worked in Agritex in several provinces, including Mashonaland Central, Midlands and now Masvingo as provincial officer.

Zanu PF provincial chairperson Ezra Chadzamira raged about Peter in an interview with the Daily News, alleging many Masvingo farmers had vented about his disloyalty and also fumed that Chamisa’s uncle was sabotaging Command Agriculture.

“Command fuel was held at Agritex offices by an officer called Peter Chamisa. He released the fuel when it was rebased from 20-litre coupon to eight litre coupons. That’s when he released it to the farmers,” Chadzamira told the Daily News.

Asked why they thought Chamisa did that, Chadzamira, who is also the Masvingo West Zanu PF Member of Parliament retorted: “That we don’t know. I am telling you that fuel came to him but he was saying it didn’t come. He then released fuel when it reduced the quantity from 20 to 8-litre coupons, that’s when fuel started going to farmers. So, he sabotaged the Command Agriculture through that.”

Asked if the Zanu PF leadership engaged Chamisa on the inordinate delay in the release of fuel, Chadzamira said: “Isn’t it his job? Do you want us to move across all departments in the province checking if people are doing their jobs? We saw it when people started asking, following up on their fuel, and they were told its not there, and then all of a sudden, the fuel was availed.

“He was also involved in shady deals with Command Livestock. Some civil servants benefited from the Command Livestock, getting cattle when they did not have farms.

“We discovered that when we went to Mwenenzi to launch Command Livestock where the farmers and chiefs complained bitterly that you come here to give cattle to civil servants when we the owners of this area have nothing.” — DailyNews

Correspondent|Minister of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi, has claimed that number of people who died under the President Mnangagwa’s New Dispensation is far smaller than those killed during Gukurahundi or the 2008 political violence when former president Robert Mugabe was in charge.

Mutodi was responding to media reports that Mugabe on his 95th birthday ceremony on Saturday blasted President Mnangagwa for sending soldiers to kill protesters.

He said: “We have noted some words of repentance by former President Mugabe saying army must protect not kill. True that a few have lost lives in running battles with the police but that can not compare with Gukurahundi or the 2008 violence when he was at the helm.”

General elections were held in Zimbabwe on 29 March 2008 to elect the President and Parliament.

After the recount and the verification of the results, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced on 2 May, after over 4 weeks of awaiting results, that Tsvangirai won 47.9% of the vote and Mugabe 43.2%, necessitating a run-off, which was to be held on 27 June 2008.

Despite Tsvangirai’s continuing claims to have won a first round majority, he decided to participate in the second round. The period following the first round was marked by political violence.

ZANU-PF and the MDC each blamed the other’s supporters for perpetrating the violence; Western governments and prominent Western organisations blamed ZANU-PF for the violence.

Tsvangirai pulled out of the race and fled to Botswana, claiming as many as 300 of his supporters had been killed. Thousands others were displaced into safer cities of neighbouring countries.

By Own Correspondent| Government will from today start vaccinating people from nine selected suburbs in Harare against typhoid.

The development follows the continued diagnosis of sporadic cases of the water borne disease.

At least 325 000 people from Mbare, Mufakose, Budiriro, Glen View, Kuwadzana, Hatcliffe, Hopley and Dzivarasekwa are expected to be vaccinated.–StaMedia

By Own Correspondent| Addressing delegates at his Gweru Thank You rally on Saturday, MDC president Nelson Chamisa emphasised the importance of dialogue in unlocking the country’s political stalemate.

Said Chamisa:

“Political dialogue is a necessity to unlock the political stalemate in the country. That is the agenda we have for this country. We are saying (President) Mnangagwa give us signals of sincerity. We don’t want to see soldiers on the roadblocks, they should go to the barracks where they belong and in the event we are invaded they take up arms and defend the country. We want dialogue in the country.”

Watch the video below for this and more:

By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa will officiate and address the Zanu-PF Youth League’s Presidential Solidarity March and rally set for March 2 2019 in Harare.

The rally was postponed following the death of national hero Callistus Ndlovu. The march which was set for last Saturday will be held under the theme #EDwillNeverWalkAlone.

In a statement Youth League’s political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu confirmed Mnangagwa will address a rally after the march.

Said Tsenengamu

Due to the burial of the late national hero Cde Callistus Ndlovu which then coincided with our grand Presidential Solidarity Rally, we now wish to advise all our members across Zimbabwe and in the diaspora that the Presidential Solidarity Rally will now be held on Saturday the 2nd of March 2019 in Harare where the President Cde ED Mnangagwa will be the guest of honour.-StayeMedia

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Jane Mlambo| MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa has explained why he has absconded two dialogue meetings called by President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying the letter he got stated that it was a meeting of losing candidates and not the winner.

Chamisa told a rally in Gweru that Mnangagwa’s letter to him clearly stated that it was a meeting of losing candidates.

“Tsamba yakazouya ichiti I am inviting losing Presidential candidates ndikati henaro, iwe wakaruza sanganai ikoko,” said Chamisa to thunderous applause from his thousands of supporters.

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Mwonzora announces: Mnangagwa is saying Mnangagwa is saying I am failing to rule because you poured Jecha pic.twitter.com/z9e69jPMOP

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 24, 2019

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PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ON THE 23 FEBRUARY LOCAL AUTHORITY BY-ELECTIONS

Harare – 24 February 2019 – As part of its comprehensive efforts to observe the local authority by-elections in Beitbridge East Ward 15, Chitungwiza South Ward 24 and Matobo North Ward 25, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) trained and deployed 17 election observers to every polling station in the three wards. The by-elections are the first to be held in 2019.

This Preliminary Statement is based on reports from the observers who comprised of static observers based at polling stations and collation centres as well as mobile observer teams who were roving around the Wards. The political environment within which the three by-elections were held was generally peaceful and calm without reports of any major incidents.

Observation methodology
The findings and recommendations of this preliminary statement are made in reference to the Electoral Laws of Zimbabwe, the Revised Southern African Development Community (SADC) Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections as well as other regional and African election guidelines and principles.

Set up and opening of Polling Stations
Observers reported that all polling stations were set up on time and in accordance with the laid down ZEC procedures in a manner that ensures secrecy of the vote. ZESN observers also reported that polling stations were equipped with special booths to cater for persons with disabilities particularly those in wheelchairs. All polling stations were reported to have opened on time with all requisite voting materials such as ballot boxes, ballot papers, voter’s rolls, indelible marker ink and official ZEC stamps.

Voting Process and Procedures
Observer reports show that the voting process in the three by-elections proceeded smoothly at all polling stations with laid down voting procedures such as checking voters’ names against the voters’ roll and examining voters’ finger for indelible duly followed. At all polling stations in the three wards, all voters had a finger marked with indelible ink before voting and ballot papers stamped with the ZEC stamp before being issued. In addition, at polling stations in the three wards, voters were required to present identification before voting with those having defaced or invalid identification such as drivers’ licences being turned away.

Political environment
ZESN observed that the political environment on Election Day was largely calm. However an incident was reported at Unit M Creche in Chitungwiza where it was alleged that supporters of ZANU PF and MDC Alliance argued over suspicions of vote buying close to the polling station. The situation was diffused by the riot police before any violent clashes transpired. There were no major incidents reported in the other two local authority by-elections.

Turned away, redirected voters
ZESN noted a significant number of turned away voters at polling stations for various reasons including turning up at the wrong polling stations, not being registered to vote in the ward and having improper identification. Voters who turned up at wrong polling stations were redirected to their appropriate stations. For instance, in Chitungwiza at St Aidain’s AA polling station, 54 voters had been redirected to other polling stations as at 16:00 hours. At Seke 3 BB 86 people had been redirected to other polling stations and 5 turned away at 18:00 hours. In Matobo North Ward 25, at Matobo Research as at 16:00 hours, 8 people had been turned away for not being registered to vote. In addition, at Seke 3 some voters from neighbouring Ward 18 were turned away upon presenting themselves to vote. The voters indicated that they had voted at the school during the 30 July harmonised election hence the assumption they were eligible to vote.

Assisted voters
ZESN observed instances of assisted voters due to illiteracy, old age and visual impairments. Most voters who were assisted to vote did not bring relatives or friends to assist them resulting in the presiding officers and election officers rendering the assistance. For instance, at Dumba School in Beitbridge 26 were assisted to vote of which 21 were Female and 5 Male.

Political Party Agents
Political Parties and candidates are allowed to have one election agent inside the polling station and an additional agent stationed within the vicinity of the polling station. However, in Chitungwiza South Ward 24, of the four contesting parties only ZANU PF and the MDC Alliance comprehensively deployed election agents. ZESN reiterates its call for political parties to deploy election agents to enable them to observe and authoritatively comment on electoral processes.

Counting and results management
In the three by-elections, ZESN observers were permitted to observe counting at all polling stations. ZESN observed that closing and counting procedures were duly followed including checking the seals on ballot boxes, requesting election agents to sign V11 forms and posting results outside polling stations.

Election Results
ZANU PF won the Beitbridge East Ward 15 and Matobo North Ward 25 local authority by-elections and the MDC Alliance won the Chitungwiza South Ward 24 seat. Below are the complete results for each Ward

Recommendations

1. Contesting political parties and candidates must endeavour to comprehensively deploy party agents in elections to enable them to authoritatively monitor and make informed assessments of the electoral process.
2. There is need for continuous civic and voter education in between elections by ZEC and CSOs in order to reduce numbers of turned away voters.
3. ZEC should devise mechanisms of clearly marking out polling stations to reduce the number of redirected voters.
4. There is need to put in place mechanisms to reduce instances of assisted voters and put administrative reform measures to help improve people with disabilities and assisted voters’ access to a secret ballot.
5. ZESN urges political parties to field more female candidates and youths as contestants in elections to ensure that there is equal gender and youth representation in leadership positions.

WATCH VIDEO…

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Jane Mlambo| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is expected to address thousands of party supporters in Gweru, his first major rally in 2019.

The rally is also the first since the party announced dates for its next elective congress which is set for the 24th to the 26th of May.

Chamisa is expected to tackle the national dialogue issue which has been a major talking point in the country and will explain to party supporters why he has absconded two meetings called by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

ZimEye will continue to give you live updates of the rally. Keep following us for more.

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC Alliance’s Yotam Chagwa won Saturday’s Chitungwiza Ward 24 by-election.

The election was a close race between the major contestants, MDC Alliance and ZANU PF.

Below are the results:

• MDC Alliance: 1 059
• ZANU PF: 993
• MDC-T: 29
• NCA: 3
• Votes Rejected: 9

By Own Correspondent| Deposed Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe who celebrated his 95th birthday at a private ceremony at his home in Harare on Saturday has warned his predecessors who are at the helm of power to stop killing civilians.

Speaking in vernacular language, the former Zimbabwean president said if a leader enjoys bloodbath and seeing dead bodies, the time would come when the people would rejoice at the news of their deaths.

Said Mugabe:

“Tiri kunzwa kuti kune mitumbi nemitumbi yevanhu vakauraiwa nemasoja, ndiyani achavafushunura? meaning we hear that there are loads and loads of dead bodies murdered by the soldiers, who will exhume these bodies?

He who is obsessed with seeing dead bodies everyday will see that the people will clamour to see his corpse one day. I say to soldiers, stop killing people!”

POLICE in Bulawayo are investigating a case of sudden death where a man was reported dead following a beer binge with friends in North End suburb.

Mr Zulu Maseko (42) who resided at Matopo Research Station in Matobo was allegedly last seen drinking beer throughout the day on Tuesday in North End suburb with Melani Moyo, Gugulethu Maseko and Isaac Gonyora. It is alleged that he collapsed and died at around 5am on Wednesday.

Bulawayo Metropolitan police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango said investigations were underway. She said it is alleged that Maseko who was employed at Matopo Hills Lodge, had not complained of any ailments prior to his death.

“At around 9pm, Maseko and Gonyara left the now deceased in the company of Moyo at his residence and he was not complaining of any ailments. It is alleged that at around 5am, Maseko said he was feeling hot and went outside the house where he collapsed,” said Chief Insp Simango.

She said an ambulance was summoned and the ambulance crew pronounced him dead upon their arrival. A report was made to police who then attended the scene and the body was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals Mortuary for post-mortem.

Police appealed to anyone who may have information on what may have happened to the deceased to contact their nearest police station. Last Tuesday, a man from Filabusi was also found dead following a beer binge with friends. Police launched investigations into the case of suspected murder.

In another matter, police in Matabeleland South are investigating a case of sudden death where a woman (59) from Plumtree died after attending a party. Mrs Ellah Ngwenya of Ntunungwe Village, in Bhidi area, was found dead the following morning after attending a birthday party within the village.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident.

“We are investigating a case of sudden death where a 59-year-old woman was found dead after attending a birthday party within her village. She allegedly ate cake in the afternoon and was later served with tea and bread, among all other guests. At around 7pm, the now deceased left for her home in the company of grandchildren and upon arrival, went straight to bed,” he said.

Police said it is alleged the now deceased had not complained of any pains or ailments at the time when she retired to bed.

When her grandchildren went to see her the following morning, they realised that she was not responding and alerted neighbours. Neighbours noted that the woman was dead and they reported the matter to the police who attended the scene.

The body was also taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post-mortem.

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police has amended its recruitment policy that will see the age one can be accepted at Constable level reduced from 30 to 22 years, while a pass in a Science subject at O-level is now compulsory.

In addition, one has to have passed five subjects in not more than two sittings including Mathematics, English Language and Science. Before the changes, minimum entry requirements into ZRP at Constable level included being aged between 18 and 30, and having five Ordinary Level passes (Grade C or better) in not more than three sittings, with English Language and Mathematics being compulsory.

Chief police spokesperson Commissioner Charity Charamba said applicants who were on the waiting list had been done away with.

“As stated in the statement, there are no recruitments and there is no waiting list. What we have done is we have amended our policy, which will see the recruitment of an elite and capable officer. Once recruitment begins we will advertise in both the print and broadcast media,” she said.

Comm Charamba said the process would be inclusive of a vetting process that would weed out any criminal elements with intent to join the force to perform criminal activities under the guise of the law.

“Applicants should also have a good, clean background with no criminal record,” read part of the statement.

She said applicants would then go through a rigorous selection process.

“The ZRP wishes to express appreciation and gratitude to all applicants who had shown interest in the service and were on the waiting list,” she said.

State Media

A messy fight has erupted in Nyanga over the Sanyanga chieftainship which is supposed to be resuscitated after it was abolished 67 years ago by the white colonial regime.

The clash emerged after the Manicaland Provincial Assembly of Chiefs chose Edward Sanyanga as the heir amidst a raging dispute over his suitability.

Manicaland Provincial Administrator Mr Edgar Seenza wrote to the Sanyanga family on January 31, 2019 confirming that Edward was recommended by the Provincial Assembly of Chiefs as Chief Sanyanga.

The Sanyanga chieftainship covers the Nyanga area where the Nyangani Mountain is located.

This sacred mountain is where some international tourists allegedly disappeared for disrespecting the traditional values of the area.

Historical researches say the last chief of Nyanga was Shumbamhini who was killed by the white settlers in 1905 after which Headman Magwendere reigned over the area until 1951.

Chief Shumbamhini who was the seventh chief of the Nyanga area was allegedly poisoned and then beheaded before his head was taken to Germany.

The Sanyanga clan raised a host of grievances against Edward whom they allege is not of their blood but belonged to the Matsungo clan.

In part the document which was submitted to Mr Seenza reads, “Edward is not of the Simboti totem. This is a crucial requirement for one to qualify as chief under the Sanyanga clan. His family name — Sanyanga — is an adopted one as his father was raised by a stepfather who was a Sanyanga.

“This is because his paternal grandfather, a Matsungo of the Shumba Mutasa totem, divorced his grandmother who went away with a son and later married into the Sanyanga family of the Simboti totem.

“This is the reason why he said the first house in the chieftainship which he is trying to fraudulently create is Matsungo. There is no Matsungo of the Simboti totem but a Shumba Mutasa. Therefore, Edward does not qualify to be a chief as he is not one of us. He should be grateful that we raised him in our clan and it ends there.”

The Sanyanga Clan is demanding that the Manicaland Provincial Assembly of Chiefs re-look into the chieftainship issue and give them a platform to fully explain the matter.

They claim that the chair of the Provincial Assembly of Chiefs, Chief Makumbe was allegedly biased towards Edward.

A series of meetings which were held in Nyanga for the past years failed to yield positive results as Chief Makumbe allegedly turned a deaf ear to the grievances raised by the Sanyanga family.

“The Sanyanga clan expresses reservations at the manner in which Chief Makumbe handled the meeting to install Chief Sanyanga at the Nyanga District Administrator’s offices on May 15, 2018. Chief Makumbe was clearly biased against the Sanyanga clan members represented by over 100 people in favour of a small group led by Chief Tangwena’s village head Edward Sanyanga,” reads part of the grievances.

Contacted for comment, Chief Makumbe confirmed that there was a long-running dispute over the Sanyanga chieftainship.

“There has always been a fight and the Sanyanga people are very temperamental. However, I have not received any official complaints regarding the Sanyanga chieftainship. There is nothing on my desk,” he said.

Chief Makumbe explained that there was an acute shortage of resources to deal with the matters related to resuscitation of chieftainships.

“Government has not budgeted for new chiefs; when resources permit, we will look into at the outstanding issue.”

Chief Makumbe told The Sunday Mail that the Manicaland Provincial Assembly of Chiefs investigated the Sanyanga chieftainship and realized that Edward was the first to submit his paperwork for the resuscitation of the chieftaincy.

However, the Sanyanga clan tells a different story.

State Media

At least 86 percent of the targeted girls between 10 and 15 years have been vaccinated under the ongoing HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccination programme, which ends in May this year.

Essentially, HPV vaccines prevent infection by certain types of human papilloma virus, which is the major cause of cervical cancer in women.

Director of epidemiology and disease control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Portia Manangazira told The Sunday Mail last week that Government was confident of vaccinating the targeted 900 000 girls within the next three months.

“The mop-up campaign targeted 900 000 girls and so far we have achieved 86 percent coverage. And by the end of the campaign, we would have reached the targeted number,” said Dr Manangazira.

She said Government was particularly targeting those between the ages of 10 and 15 as they were not sexually active.

In addition, the vaccines that were secured with the support of Gavi (the vaccine alliance) were specifically for the identified age groups.

Gavi is an international organisation that brings together the public and private sector to create equal access to new and underused vaccines for children in developing countries.

“We had to come up with the correct age that would meet with the requirements of the vaccine that was provided by Gavi, which states that the girls should not be sexually active,” she said.

Schools have been the most efficient and resourceful to carry out the campaign, she added, and in future the programme will be part of schools’ health programmes.

From 2020, vaccinations will target Grade Five girls only.

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death among Zimbabwean women, accounting for 15 percent of all cancer cases reported by the Zimbabwe Cancer Registry in 2012.

The 2010 Zimbabwe HPV and Related Cancers Summary Report says it is responsible for 1 286 deaths annually, with 2 587 new cases and 1 772 deaths projected by 2025.

HPV affects the skin and body’s moist membrane linings, mainly genitalia, mouth and throat.

Continued exposure to HPV 16 and 18 through intercourse could lead to pre-cancerous lesions that later develop into cancer if untreated.

Other HPV types are, however, harmless, often clearing without medical intervention.

In 2014, the World Health Organisation played a key role in the Health and Child Care Ministry’s HPV vaccination pilot programme, which targeted over 4 000 girls from Marondera and Beitbridge.

State Media

Former Cabinet Minister Walter Mzembi has put his palatial Harare mansion on the market for a princely $2 million amid speculation the 55-year-old politician is finalising moves to flee the country to avoid possible imprisonment on corruption charges, weekend state media reports.

One of the four real estate companies engaged to sell the house, Kennan Properties, last week confirmed that the imposing residence in the high-income suburb of Vainona is valued at US$800 000, which translates to around $2 million at the official RTGS exchange rate prevailing last Friday.

Renowned estate agents Pam Golding Properties, Bard Real Estate and Sky Ryan Properties have also listed the house for sale.

Described by property dealers as the quintessence of luxury, the double-storey house features six air-conditioned bedrooms (all en suite), two lounges, a bar, separate cigar and whisky lounge, gymnasium, sauna, office, five lock-up garages and a swimming pool on the façade.

The master bedroom is a mini-house as it has its own television lounge and a walk-in closet.

“A majestic and breathtaking Mediterranean double-storey home. This perfect home is nothing but pure luxury with columns, staircases, special ceiling treatments and built-ins,” said Kennan Properties on its website.

So grand is the mansion that a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) news crew member could not help but marvel at it during a televised poolside interview with Mzembi in the aftermath of former President Robert Mugabe’s resignation in 2017.

Mzembi is facing prosecution for corruption and criminal abuse of office during his tenure as Minister of Tourism and Hospitality industry.

He is alleged to have stolen or illegally disposed of Government property worth $1,6 million, some of which was donated to Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries church leader Walter Magaya.

Mzembi failed appear in court on January 28 to answer to the charges, with his lawyer Mr Job Sikhala telling the court that his client could not stand trial as he was receiving treatment for colon cancer in South Africa.

On February 3, Mzembi was widely rumoured to have died but his associates immediately dispelled the report by circulating a video on social media showing an apparently healthy Mzembi working from an office.

The location of the office was, however, not disclosed.

On the same day, Mzembi gave an interview to South African online publication eTurbonews rubbishing claims that he had died.

“I am talking to you from heaven but this wasn’t funny. My daughter in Europe was woken by this news and called me in panic,” said Mzembi.

State prosecutor Mr Brian Vito sought Mzembi’s arrest contending that the suave but litigation-weary politician was feigning illness.

Sources said efforts by Mzembi to sell some of immovable assets could be part of a scheme to skip bail as he fears incarceration.

“He might want to claim political persecution but he has a clear case of corruption which might lead to his imprisonment. This may be the reason why he is selling his assets and spending most of his time in Johannesburg where he has set up base,” said one source.

The source said Mzembi was working flat out to acquire South African citizenship for which he might qualify through his maternal grandmother who is of Sotho origin.

His adult children with his first wife are living in Europe and he is known to go by the name John Maleti in some Johannesburg circles.

Mzembi could not be reached on his local mobile phone number to comment on the issue, and Mr Sikhala yesterday professed ignorance on his whereabouts.

“I last spoke to him a couple of weeks ago and I am not sure where he is. I will check for you but he should be at his house here in Harare,” said Mr Sikhala.

He said as the legal counsel he was also not aware that his client was disposing of some assets.

“I am hearing this for the first time. Let me do some investigations,” said Mr Sikhala.

Mzembi served for eight years as Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry before he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in October 2017, a position he held for less than a month before Mr Mugabe stepped down.

He was credited for successfully organising the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) assembly, which Zimbabwe co-hosted with Zambia in 2013, but it later emerged that he might have abused some of the resources meant for the event.

This resulted in his arrest in January last year.

State Media

By Own Correspondent| Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya has cinfirmed that bank balances for both RTGS dollars and FCA Nostros will remain the same and government will not raid anyone’s foreign currency account.

Last year the RBZ advised banks to separate foreign currency accounts and RTGS money.

Under the stewardship of former Governor Dr Gideon Gono, the RBZ was accused of raiding foreign currency from exporters’ accounts, but Dr Mangudya has assured account holders that all forms of money were safe in the bank, adding that there would be no changes in bank balances despite the recently announced changes through the monetary policy.

Said Mangudya:

“We have never raided anyone’s nostro account, our records can testify and we will not do so going forward.”

He said although banks agreed to start trading the RTGS dollars as $2,50 to US$1, going forward the rate will be determined on a daily basis by market forces.

“The bank rate will determine the rate on the market. We will arrange foreign lines of credit since demand will be greater than the supply of foreign currency. We need to cloud seed the market with foreign currency,

For the foreign currency dealer this is your opportunity to open formal bureau de changes and trade formally. We only have one Zimbabwe and should work together. The parallel market (street) rate is way too high because there is a risk premium, you can go to jail for 10 years.

We delayed presenting the monetary policy because we wanted to analyse all submissions from all sectors of the economy so that we speak to everyone, nothing else. Bulk of money in Zimbabwe is seating on the RTGS platform. We only have $437 million of bond notes.”-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga yesterday evening jetted back home from India, where he had gone to seek medical treatment.

Deputy Chief Secretary (Presidential Communications) to the President and Cabinet George Charamba said VP Chiwenga has “fully recovered and was raring to go”.

Said Charamba:

“The Vice President returned this evening after a successful treatment. He has fully recovered and is raring to go.”

Farai Dziva|The teenager who brutally killed his sister last week has said he was overtaken by emotions.

The teenager told the police he did not have the intention to kill his sister but he overreacted because of extreme provocation.

The teenager brutally killed his sister for allegedly refusing to prepare food for him.

According to Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula, Valentine Chimedza (18) brutally killed his sister Rutendo Matanga (16) following a heated dispute over food. The incident happened in Ziware Village under Chief Charumbira in Masvingo last Saturday.

” The incident happened last Saturday when the two siblings’ mother Zadziso Mavenyengwa had gone to Chiredzi to visit relatives.

Valentine ordered Rutendo to give him something to eat and the latter indicated that she had not prepared anything.

This then incensed Valentine and the two began to exchange blows. Valentine took a hoe handle and struck Rutendo on the head and all over her body.

Rutendo died as a result of the attack.Valentine has since been arrested, ” said Mazula.

By A Correspondent| President Robert Mugabe, the former head of state has told ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa he is wrong by surviving on killing people.

Speaking at his birthday celebration, Mugabe reportedly told Mnangawga he is not God.

Below were written excepts of Mugabe’s speech published by National Patriotic Front Spokesman Jealousy Mawarire who attended the 95 year old’s birthday celebration.

Below is Mawarire’s narration of Mugabe’s speech:

2) Speaking in Shona & English (code mixing) he said “Vamwe vanofunga hukuru hunoreva kuponda vanhu, handizvo!” (Some believe being a leader entails murdering people, that’s not it.

(3) “Vana vaNkomo, vaMuzenda, nevanwe vakaenda handizvo zvatakasikira masoja. Masoja haatungamirire politics.” (Mr Nkomo, Mr Muzenda and I did not create the army to kill people. The army does not lead politics)

(4) “Ko zvino tinonzwa kunemakuva nemakuva evanhu akafa vachiurawa nemasoja, vachafushunhurwa nani?” (Now we hear there are countless graves of people killed by the army, who is going to unearth or exhume those bodies?)

(5) “Zvamurikuita [zvekuuraya vanhu] izvi zvichakudzokerai, mangwana, mangwana, chaiwo”. (What you are doing [killing people] is going to catch-up with you very very soon.Just tommorrow, it would have caught up with you)

(6) “Anoda kuona mutumbi wevanhu everyday, achazoona kuti vanhu vachazoda kuona mutumbi wake iye. Ndinoti kumasoja stop killing people! “(He who is obsessed with seeing corpses everyday will soon realize that people would clamour to see his corpse 1 day. I say to soldiers stop killing people!)

(7) “I say to soldiers be followers of the people u want to lead, you are not even qualified to lead them. Take your places in recognition that u r not trained to lead but to follow the people, to protect them”

8) “Iwe uri pamusoro uri kuda kuzvirumbidza? (U who is on top, you brag?) You are not God ED (Mnangagwa). Today you are at the top, tomorrow u will be at the bottom. Zvizive izvozvo (know that). God has his own way of punishing rogues and cruel people.”

(9) “You can’t do without seeing dead bodies? Uri munhu akaita sei anopona nendufu?” (What kind of a person are you? You feed on death? )

(10) “No! no! no! to soldiers being leaders of the people? Get the soldiers to their rightful place.”

(11) “Hatimbotaura zvekunyara, zvekutya kwete.(We will not shy away or be afraid to talk, no!) Let’s be frank with each other.”

(12)”Hatingati vanhu varambe vachingorohwa musoro. (We can’t continue with pple being bashed on the head.) So I say to you, get your lessons correct. Let’s create an environ where our pple are happy, not what’s happening now.”

(13) “Vanhu ngavade masoja not vamatye” (People should love their army, they should not fear the army.)

(14) “This is not the environment we wanted to create navaMsika nanavaNkomo. Tinoda kuti vanhu vafare.” (This is not the environment we wanted to create with Mr Msika and Mr Nkomo [late VPs], we wanted people to be happy “.

(15) “Tinoda kuti vanhu vaone nyika senyika yavakarwira kwete yakarwirwa nevamwe vasiri ivo. Kwete yakarwirwsa nemasoja chete.” We want people to see the country as the one they fought for, not one that was fought for by soldiers alone)

(16) “Ndiri kukuudzai (I am telling you) straight forward. I dont care what will happen to me”

(17) “Ndoda kutenda kunyange vandirikutuka ivava, tinovatenda nokuuya kuzoterera” (I want to thank even those I am chiding, we thank them for coming to listen).

(18) “We are one pple in Zimbabwe. Tinosungirwa kubatwa nevatungamiri sevanhu vaMwari kwete sezvikara zvemusango. (Leaders are bound to treat us like God’s people, not beasts of the forest)

(19) “When we started our struggle we had principles and those principles have been abandoned.”

Correspondent|GOGO Mungoshi, the mother of the recently deceased prolific Zimbabwean top author Charles Lovemore Mungoshi, has died.

Her death comes exactly seven days after the death of her son, Charles, who passed on on 16 February following a decade-long fight against a neurological condition.

Mungoshi, who died aged 71, was buried on Tuesday.

Funeral arrangements for the late Gogo Mungoshi are yet to be released, but family sources confirmed her death. —

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman, George Charamba says Mnangagwa’s deputy, Gen Constantino Chiwenga is back from India.

Charamba said Chiwenga has fully recovered. Charamba, quoted by the state media, said:

“The Vice President returned this evening after a successful treatment. He has fully recovered and is raring to go.”

The report said, Chiwenga was accompanied by his wife, Mary, and Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro.

Correspondent| Song and dance bellowed from the Blue Roof mansion in the usually quiet upmarket Borrowdale suburb, as hundreds of invited guests on Saturday attended the birthday party for former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.

The guests were celebrating the former statesman’s 95th birthday at a private ceremony at his lavish Harare home. The event was held under the theme “a living legend”.

There were strictly no children allowed at the function, which had a black and gold dress code.

Mugabe’s children organised the birthday party, which was strictly by invite.

His eldest daughter, Bona, and son-in law, Simba Chikore, were the main organisers. Bona is said to have put the guest list together.

Notable among the guests was Gideon Gono, the former central bank governor and the Mugabe’s personal banker.

Family members, among them his wife, Grace, wished the 95-year-old Mugabe a long life.

During a short speech at the event, Grace said she would stand by her husband until the very end.

Mugabe, in his speech, criticised the heavy-handedness of the military against citizens under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

“Some people think that being a leader means killing people and beating people, but that is not the way. Even the fallen heroes would not approve of that,” said Mugabe.

“We are hearing there are graves that have been created by the army when they kill people. It is not the task of the army to lead the people with guns. Let us not be killers of our own people,” he added.

Human rights groups said 17 people died last month from protests that broke out linked to a fuel price hike.

Mugabe said the actions of the leaders would soon come back to haunt them.

“Soldiers should take their rightful place and fight when the situation demands. They should be protectors of people and I am not scared to say it,” said Mugabe.

Guests were served an array of local and foreign delicacies by chefs hired for the event.

The menu included sirloin, pig on the spit, grilled chicken and salads, along with a range of desserts.

The party was scheduled to go up until late into the night, having kicked off at 2pm.

A $1 BILLION Chinese deal to resuscitate the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Ziscosteel) is facing collapse after government changed its shareholding offer to Zhang Li, the president of Guangzhou R&FA, NewsDay Weekender has learnt.

The Chinese billionaire, who is into real estate development, had until last month been pushing to start work on the collapsed steel giant.

But early this month, according to sources, the investors started to pack their bags after they failed to agree on the shareholding structure.

“At first, the Chinese guy was offered 100%, but then it later changed to something like 48%. The Chinese team did not like the new deal,” a source from the Industry ministry

said.

Industry minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu was not answering his phone yesterday.

In January last year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised that Ziscosteel and Shabani Mashaba Mines would begin operations within his first 100 days.

However, no activity has yet started at the two entities, which used to provide thousands of jobs and other downstream benefits into the economy at their peak.

Ziscosteel, which at its peak had a

5 000-strong workforce, officially closed its doors in 2016 and laid off its remaining workers without terminal benefits.

Most of its infrastructure, equipment and spares have either been vandalised or looted over the years of the company’s redundancy.

In 2006, Indian firm Global Steel Holdings Limited courted Ziscosteel and was to inject $400 million in a rehabilitate, operate and transfer arrangement.

In 2011, Essar Africa Holdings’ bid to take over in a deal worth $750 million also hit a brickwall due to bickering in the then inclusive government.

“Already, equipment which was being assembled on site has been dismantled and there is no hope for the revival of the mine in the near future,” another source said.

Ziscosteel’s revival is expected to trigger growth in Hwange Colliery Company Limited, National Railways of Zimbabwe and other companies.

NewsDay

Correspondent|supporter of the Movement for Democratic Change has warned party leader Nelson Chamisa that the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front could hijack the coming MDC elective congress because “rumours” say 3 000 ZANU-PF youths have obtained MDC party cards.

The national council of the MDC yesterday set 24-26 May as the dates it will hold its party congress to elect a new leadership and map the way forward.

Chamisa today said he expects 7 000 delegates to attend the congress which would see a rebranding of the party.

“MDC CONGRESS 24-26 May 2019.7000 delegates expected.. Taking the MDC to a wholly NEW level. It’s not about positions but a new propositional value, organisational & leadership culture recasting, new strategies and tactics, deeper ideological and values and rebranding,” he tweeted.

One of his followers going by the name EG tweeted: “Morning my president. Remour has it over 3000 zanu pf youth are now in position of mdc membership cards. Muchenjere kucongress uko.”

Chamisa seemed to be acknowledging problem as he responded: “Takasvinurira nyaya iyi!”

It was not clear whether this was a genuine threat or just a way of trying to show that nothing stands in the way of Chamisa apart from ZANU-PF.

Although some of his supporters have been campaigning that Chamisa should not be opposed for the presidential post, sources say that the party’s old guard feel that though popular Chamisa is destroying the party.

They argue that he has gotten rid of all the people that are potential threats to his leadership and has brought in loyalists including those from parties that broke away from the MDC during Morgan Tsvangirai’s era.

The old guard is reported to be behind Elias Mudzuri who has been booed at most of the recent gatherings by Chamisa’s supporters.

The old guard also believes that Chamisa is dictatorial and does not listen to advice and this could be detrimental to the party’s prospects in 2023.

ZANU-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned that his party could reverse the urban support that the MDC currently enjoys by the time the country gets to the 2023 elections.

A technical fault on a plane that was supposed to fly Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has delayed his return after undergoing medical treatment in India, a senior government official has said.

Deputy Chief Secretary responsible for Presidential Communications, George Charamba said Chiwenga was now on his way and was fit.

He said his plane could not take off on Friday because of poor lighting.

“What I can say is he is fine now and when he touches down, expect a chubby Vice President,” Chiwenga said.

Charamba said Chiwenga was now on his way but could not give details on when he will touch down at the Robert Mugabe International Airport.

The Times of India reported on Friday that the aircraft which was supposed to transport Chiwenga and his delegation back home developed a snag at IGI Airport on Friday just before the plane was supposed to take off.

Quoting sources, the newspaper said the Boeing 737 (A6-RJX) taxied out at 7 pm for taking off.

However, soon afterwards it developed a snag and had to return to the terminal at 7:45 pm.

The vice president was in India for treatment for a yet undisclosed ailment

BULAWAYO – The honouring of the late former Cabinet minister Callistus Ndlovu as a national hero has left the Dumiso Dabengwa-led Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu) seething with anger — as it sees him as “a sellout”, the Daily News can report.

Ndlovu — who was the ruling Zanu PF’s Bulawayo provincial chairperson — collapsed and died at the age of 83 in South Africa on Wednesday last week, where he was being treated for pancreatic cancer.

He will be buried at the National Heroes Acre in Harare today, having defected to Zanu PF in 1984, at the height of the brutal crackdown against PF Zapu members by the country’s security forces around the time.

This was just before PF Zapu, which was led by the revered late former vice president Joshua Nkomo, entered into a peace accord with ousted former president Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF — following the Gukurahundi atrocities of the early 1980s in which an estimated 20 000 innocent people, mainly in Matabeleland and the Midlands, were killed by the security forces.

Thirty-five years after Ndlovu’s controversial defection from PF Zapu, including calling the party a “dead donkey” at the time, Dabengwa’s organisation said bluntly yesterday that the fallen politician did not deserve to be ranked among the “genuine heroes” of the country.

“We do commiserate with the Ndlovu family on the death of their loved one. I also knew him personally, but Ndlovu’s declared hero status is a nonevent to Zapu.

“We recognise the remaining sell-outs in Zanu PF on the account of the 1987 Unity Accord that was signed to end the Gukurahundi genocide on Zapu and Ndebele speaking people.

“The lesser sell-outs are those who, after being arm-twisted to join Zanu PF in 1987, developed cold feet when Zapu pulled out in 2009.

“But Ndlovu does not belong to this category of spineless former cadres. He belongs to the real sell-out clique of Zapu members who abandoned their kith and kin right at the peak of the Gukurahundi genocide,” Zapu spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa told the Daily News yesterday.

“So, and in a nutshell, his hero status is nothing more than Zanu PF’s celebration and rewarding of mediocrity and loyalty — in the same manner they have rewarded corruption and looting.

“Mediocrity as seen on Ndlovu as a nationalist politician and leader with zero contribution to the development of the country and its people, and lack of loyalty as seen by his ditching of his people during the genocide to go and dine with the perpetrating murderers,” Maphosa added.

He also said Ndlovu’s 1984 jibe, that Zapu was a dead donkey, was at the time tantamount to “celebrating the annihilation of the innocent Ndebele people by security forces at the height of Gukurahundi”.

The jibe was never forgotten nor forgiven by many people in the region, which saw Ndlovu being booed routinely during public appearances.

As a result, the late minister was always under pressure to defend himself against the “dead donkey” statement — which he, at one point, said had been misinterpreted by irresponsible journalists.

“First of all, I believe that one would expect an average person to be intelligent enough to know the difference between a metaphor and a statement of fact.

“And if someone thinks that a metaphor is exactly the same as a matter of fact, then that person lives in cuckoo land.

“For starters, I never said PF Zapu was a dead donkey. The statement which I made speaking in Kalanga at a rally in Plumtree was that if anybody thought PF Zapu was going to win the election that year, that person was actually failing to see reality.

“It is a worthless effort if someone is to translate it, as some hired journalists decided to do and made an issue out of nothing,” Ndlovu said then in an attempt to explain the issue away.

An estimated 20 000 people are said to have been killed in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces when the government deployed the North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade to the two regions, to fight an insurrection.

Unity Day was subsequently set up to commemorate the Unity Accord which was later signed between PF Zapu and Zanu PF on December 22, 1987, and which ended hostilities between the two parties.

Own Correspondent|VICE President Constantino Chiwenga’s chartered plane is a specialised flying hospital, it has been revealed.

The aircraft which Chiwenga chartered reportedly cost US$500 000 to India and back to Zimbabwe. The plane is a Boeing 737-700 owned by Royal Jets of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The plane has an Intensive Care Unit which can take up to three ICU patients, and also has a specialised health team on board.

Among other services that it offers, Royal Jet says on its website: “Our medical flight team includes experts in the fields of cardiology, paediatrics, neonatal and intensive care, and is supported by the most advanced medical technology, according to a report by ZimLive.

“The dedicated Medevac fleet includes a fully customisable Boeing Business Jets, capable of reaching even the most distant destinations.”

Yesterday, the Boeing 737 A6-RJX was preparing to take off for Zimbabwe at the Indira Ghandi International Airport (IGIA) when it developed a snag.

“It taxied off at 7PM for take off to Zimbabwe. However, immediately afterwards it developed a mechanical snag and returned back to the terminal at 7.45 PM.

“The non-scheduled flight was operating with a call sign RO-J005. The Boeing 737-700 is over two decades old,” the Times of India said in a report.

Chiwenga is with his wife Mary as well as senior government officials.

He has been in India since 9 February receiving medical attention. He was whisked away after his health deteriorated.

https://youtu.be/Ou0IklxBQHs

By Own Correspondent| Former Sunday Mail editor who has in the past been hauled by the state being accused of penning damning articles under the pseudo name Baba Jukwa has been granted $100 bail.

Edmund Kudzayi, was on Friday arrested for carrying a camouflage umbrella and detained at Borrowdale police station before appearing before a Harare magistrate Edwin Marecha today (Saturday).

He was remanded out of custody to March 8 2019 with no reporting conditions

Kudzayi, was charged with contravening section 32 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act after he was found with a camouflage umbrella.

He was represented by Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

Said Kudzayi on twitter shortly after he was granted bail:

By Own Correspondent| A 41 year old Shamva woman drank poison and died after she was caught red-handed having an adulterous relationship with a married man.

Sources who spoke to a local publication said the woman committed suicide after she could not handle the shame brought by her adulterous affair.

Despite the fact that Danai Mandebvu, of Chitsa village under Chief Bushu, had received forgiveness from her husband Never Kanyemba (58) for the affair, she committed suicide by drinking poison.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the incident and said:

“I can confirm a sudden death by poisoning in Shamva, where a married woman decided to take her life after she was caught indulging in se_x with another man in the bush by her husband.

We urge members of the public to desist from acts of infidelity and, above all, to respect their lives because we only live once. One should not risk committing suicide. Instead, they should seek counselling.”

Danai’s boyfriend in the adulterous affair, Simbarashe Chakanyuka (33) is reported to have paid a beast as compensation to Danai’s husband as compensation for the affair.Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has said his party is determined to make Zimbabwe great again as was the case during the Mutapa and Great Zimbabwe empires.

Responding to a tweet, Chamisa appreciated the successes in trade and commerce during the Great Zimbabwe and Mutapa states era.

He said:

By Own Correspondent|Genius Kadungure was on Friday back in court for the continuation of his $22 million tax evasion case.

Kadungure, who was represented by Jonathan Samkange appeared before Harare regional magistrate Vongai Guuriro.

Prosecutor Shephered Makonde told the court that investigations have been completed.

He said a trial date will be issued for Kadungure on March 21. Between February 2009 and May 2016, Kadungure allegedly made misrepresentations to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) that his company Pioneer Gases made total sales of $2 777 678,13 although the total was $9 092 951,51.

It was alleged that Kadungure made the misrepresentation to avoid paying tax and Zimra was prejudiced of $417 940, 58.

Between January 2010 and December 2015, Kadungure did not declare sales made by his Pioneer Gases amounting to $9 092 951.51 and concealed assets valued at $1 191 713.45.

By Own Correspondent| Former finance minister Tendai Biti has advised firms to take government to court over the export retention scheme.

Biti said the firms should sue government over the export retention scheme which he argued is unconstitutional as it violates Section 305 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

He said Government had not liberalised the economy since it had retained control of foreign currency.

Advised Biti:

“Dishonesty number two is that there are still maintaining the export retention scheme. That means that huge exporters like Zimplats, the mining houses, tobacco farmers they still have their foreign currency being taken by the Government. But surely if you have liberalised then you must allow those companies to keep their foreign currency so that the excess will go on the auction market so that people can buy including the Government.

But you cannot retain control and then at the same time pretend that you have liberalised. You have not liberalised. Once you liberalise, liberalise both the supply and the demand. So you can’t liberalise demand-auction but supply-the exporters; you are taking their money, you are nationalising their money. And I hope that the big companies the Zimplats of this world will for the first time have the courage to go to their lawyers and approach the High Court, approach the Constitutional Court because this abnormality should not continue.

As I have said before the RBZ’s retention of export earnings is unconstitutional because any money collected should go to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, should go to Parliament for accountability. Therefore Parliament should distribute it in the budget in terms of Section 305 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. So the Constitution is being broken.”

By Own Correspondent| Opposition political parties that participated in the 2018 July harmonised elections met on Friday at State House and formed four thematic committees as the first step towards a national dialogue to the challenges facing the country.

A report by the state media claimed that more than 20 parties attended the meeting, which was initiated by Zanu pf leader and President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Chairman of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) Justice Selo Nare chaired the meeting.

Said Justice Nare:

“The whole point was to establish thematic committees. The parties came up with four thematic committees. The first one is the committee on transitional framework to design the structure, composition, and operational modality for the dialogue.

The second was the committee on agenda-setting, to come up with the issues to constitute the agenda for the dialogue process.

The third committee will deal with the identification of the convenor and moderator of the dialogue. The fourth committee is the implementation and evaluation committee to assess the extent to which the dialogue framework is serving its purpose and recommend necessary remedial measures. That was the major thing of the day.”-StateMedia

OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is reportedly seeking to meet South African President Cyril Ramaphosa when he arrives in Harare for a State visit on March 12, NewsDay has learnt.

MDC insiders said Chamisa, who late last year claimed he had written to Ramaphosa seeking his intervention in Harare’s developing political crisis, will take advantage of the South African leader’s impending State visit to “door-step him” into a meeting.

“He is working out a plan to approach Ramaphosa for a meeting. It’s highly unlikely because Ramaphosa is coming here to meet (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa in his capacity as leader of Zimbabwe and specifically for business. The other thing is Ramaphosa has already taken a position and it’s almost a waste of time to think he will shift,” a top MDC source said on condition of anonymity.

Ramaphosa’s International Relations minister Lindiwe Sisulu, in announcing the visit, said South Africa was demanding the unconditional removal of sanctions against Harare to “allow development and reforms”.

Sisulu was echoing Ramaphosa’s stance made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, recently at which the South African leader said the world needed to give Mnangagwa’s administration a chance to implement its reforms and development agenda.

Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda seemed to confirm an attempt to talk to Ramaphosa will be made.

“President Chamisa has the utmost respect for His Excellency, The Right Honourable President Ramaphosa. He has communicated with regional leaders at every turn and will continue to take every opportunity to engage with the region and especially the South African President His Excellency Ramaphosa,” he said.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko was not available for comment.

South Africa’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mphakama Mbete, said he was not aware of Chamisa’s planned meeting with Ramaphosa.

“I have not been made aware of their (MDC) wish (to meet Ramaphosa). I can’t speak on behalf of my President regarding this issue,” he said.

Chamisa, Sibanda added, is concerned about the political, economic and social implosion that is worsening in the country, “and hopes that regional engagement would concentrate efforts on solving the problems that are within Zimbabwe’s control”.

“We surely can rebuild our country by dealing with the scourge of corruption, the inhumanity of human rights abuses, the indignity of a militarised State and the indecency of electoral impropriety,” the opposition leader’s spokesperson said.

“The president (Chamisa) will, with due respect, not engage in any diplomatic work using public media. If there are or were to be any communication with President Ramaphosa on his visit to Zimbabwe, the publicisation of the same would be subject to diplomatic protocols.

“President Chamisa always wants to balance public interest and support the work of the media with the need to respect diplomacy.”

Chamisa late last month rejected Mnangagwa’s call for a meeting to discuss the framework for possible dialogue among political actors in the country, instead demanding the release of activists arrested following deadly protests in January.

He has also demanded a neutral convener for such an indaba.

Other losing presidential candidates attended Mnangagwa’s meeting.

By Own Correspondent| Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba has dispelled reports alleging that the Zimbabwe Republic Police is recruiting.

Said Charamba in a statement:

AMENDMENT OF ZRP RECRUITMENT POLICY

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is currently inundated with enquiries on recruitment and some false messages are even circulating on social media platforms purporting that the organisation will soon embark on a recruitment drive.

The police wishes therefore to advise members of the public and those who had conducted interviews and had been put on the waiting list that the recruitment policy has been amended with immediate effect. Potential police recruits are now required to be aged between 18-22 years old and be in possession of a minimum of 5 Ordinary level passes which include Mathematics, English Language and Science attained in not more than two (2) sittings. In addition the applicants should have a good background with no criminal record and then go through the whole police internal selection process.

In light of this new recruitment policy, all police applicants on the waiting list have been dispensed with and will no longer be considered for any recruitment in the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

Members of the public are therefore advised that future recruitment exercises will be advertised in both the print and electronic media when the need arises. Potential applicants will thus be invited to contact relevant recruitment offices whenever there is a pending exercise.

Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Republic Police wishes to express appreciation and gratitude to all applicants who had shown an interest in the service and were on the waiting list.

By Own Correspondent| A senior Zapu official has revealed that the party’s leader Dumiso Dabengwa is still in South Africa where he is receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

Party spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa who told a local publication that Dabengwa is expected to undergo an operation soon.

He added that Dabengwa’s surgical operation had to be deferred from January owing to complications.

Said Maphosa:

We are here with Dr Dabengwa. He has been in South Africa for some time now. He is recovering from an ailment that I will, however, not be able to disclose for now. There was a bit of complication around the operation and the doctors advised that the operation that he (Dabengwa) was supposed to undergo in January be deferred to another date they will advise at a later stage. Once he is certified as okay, he will come back home and take over from where he left.-ZimbabweIndependent

By Own Correspondent| According to a state media report, China has pledged to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation ties with Zimbabwe.

Chinese Acting Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhao Baogang told the ZBC News on the sidelines of a farewell dinner for a Zanu PF Central Committee and youth members to China that the Asian nation is interested in forging more strategic partnerships with Zimbabwe.

He said:

“We shall continue to explore more in terms of relationships with Zimbabwe so that we can all benefit and increase economic ties.”

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC said its members of parliament Charlton Hwende (Kuwadzana East), Joanah Mamombe (Harare West), and Godfrey Sithole (Chitungwiza North), who have been absent from Parliament, are not on the run and had nothing to do with shutdown protests last month.

The statement by MDC followed reports that the three had not been attending Parliament due to the clampdown by security agents on opposition supporters and legislators.

Several MDC MPs have been arrested and appeared in court for allegedly inciting the fuel protests.

MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Hwende was in Namibia when the January demonstrations took place and was not on the run for any offences.

He also said Mamombe had been out attending educational programmes as she is a post-graduate student. Mafume said Mamombe has been absent in Parliament because she had to travel to attend block release programmes out of the country. He however, said he had not yet ascertained the absence of Sithole.-Newsday