By Paul Nyathi|The Minister of State For National Security Owen Ncube has confirmed revelations made by ZimEye.com on Monday evening that some people were killed during the protests that erupted across Zimbabwe on Monday after the government more than doubled fuel pump prices.

In a statement captured by state media,
Minister Ncube said,“regrettably, this has resulted in the loss of life and property including injury to police officers and members of the public. We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”

The Minister however did not mention how many people lost their lives in the protests. Sources close to ZimEye.com indicated on Monday evening that at least three people including a school child were killed.

Two of the people are said to have died of gunshot wounds while a lower grade pupil was killed during a stampede as learners fled from a Mabvuku primary school when police unleashed teargas into the learning institution.

Minister Ncube said more than 200 people have been arrested in connection with the violence while the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (Zadhr) confirmed that at least eighteen people were attended to by their doctors with gunshot injuries and other varied injuries.

The doctors have, meanwhile, put out a notice to say its members are available to provide support for those ‘affected by demonstrations’ .

The statements said:

ZADHR Doctors are on standby to provide medical care to those affected by the demonstrations taking place across the country.

Our HOTLINE NUMBER is 0777604610. Kindly SMS, WhatsApp or call if in need of urgent medical attention.

Media Statement|Over the past few weeks, Government has closely monitored activities of a coalition of non-governmental organisations in the country, especially in and around Harare.

It has become obvious that there is deliberate plan to undermine and challenge the prevailing constitutional order born out of the 2018 July 30 Harmonised Elections which were democratic, free and fair, and which were subsequently upheld by the highest court of the land.

This brazenly unconstitutional plan which has sought financial support from some regime change organisations based in America and Germany among other countries represents a serious threat to our consolidating democracy, to the rule of law in our country, and to the authority of Government and the State.

Government is under no illusion as to the intentions and import of this plan which is being partly orchestrated by through the social media.

While Sections 58 and 59 of our Constitution grant freedom of assembly and association, and the right to demonstrate and petition, these rights do not sanction the subversion of the constitutional order and the rule of law.

Furthermore, they do not condone any activities designed and calculated to impede or stop broad socio-economic activity in the country, including challenging the right and entitlement of the rest of the citizenry to a normal, lawful, safe, secure and productive daily life.

Should that happen, the State, through the Government of the day, is mandated to step in with appropriate firmness, and on the strength of a mix of lawful instruments at its disposal, to protect and restore law and order in the Republic for the benefit of the ordinary citizenry.

This is the more so when intelligence available to Government clearly point to a foreign hand bent on aiding and abetting such chaos.

Government is aware of the involvement of non-citizens in the orchestration of this futile exercise.

Government will not hesitate to take action against such persons by withdrawing their visas, deporting them and declaring them persona non grata.

Government thus wishes to make it known to all those who have been conspiring to subvert peace, law and order in the country that it will respond appropriately. Both these unlawful meetings and treasonable liaisons with foreign organisations must stop forthwith.

In respect of political “NGOs” currently grouped as the so-called Zimbabwe Civil Society Convergence (ZCSC), and which have been meeting at the Crisis in Zimbabwe Offices and elsewhere, Government sternly warns them against overstepping their mandates, and against overplaying their hand.

They were never registered to operate as a disguised political force in the country, or to be a substitute for the popular will of the Zimbabwean people by wielding the power to revise outcomes of the Harmonised Elections of July 30, let alone by abridging the tenure of that democratic outcome.

Zimbabwe is an open system allowing for direct political competition in accordance with set rules and schedules.

What Government will not allow or countenance is the pursuit of politics disguised as non-governmental work, or politics using NGOs as some Trojan horse.

Equally, Government will not allow or tolerate the abuse of the social media and social media platforms in the name of freedom of, access to, information.

Government fully recognises the place and role of the Opposition in our body-politic.

However, Government will not accept a situation where opposition parties disguise themselves as NGOs or as civic groups both to secure condonation for unlawful acts such as sponsoring civil unrest, and to avoid abiding by and submitting to given electoral outcomes which did not favour them.

Rules of democracy and elections bid all actors to submit to ballot outcomes and, more importantly, to strictly follow and abide by the national electoral calendar.

Lastly, government wishes to remind trade union leaders that the cause of the worker can never be advanced through subversive political activities.

Such an association is sure to ill-serve their well-meaning membership which expects and deserves a clean and honest leadership that avoids dabbling in opposition politics.

N. Mangwana

Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.

Correspondent|Minister of State for National Security Owen Ncube says that the State has activated all its security organs to deal with citizens protests that kicked off in Harare and Bulawayo on Monday and may spread to other centres in the country in the days to follow.

State Media reports indicate that by Monday night over 200 unruly elements had been arrested in connection with the uncoordinated violence which saw the burning up of a police station, a tollgate and other forms of destruction of public and private property.

Government claims that the protest was planned and co-ordinated through social media which appears to have since been shut down in the country. According to Minister Ncube, the opposition MDC and Civil Society have been behind the protests.

“The prevailing security situation in the country is a culmination of a well orchestrated series of events by the MDC Alliance working in cahoots with NGOs, civic society, youth organisations, pressure groups and individuals,” said Minister Ncube.

“Regrettably, this has resulted in the loss of life and property, including injury to police officers and members of the public. We express our deepest condolences to the bereaving families. Full investigations are underway.”

According to the media, Minister Ncube said Government was aware of meetings organised by the Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe from December 3 to 7 last year to foment disturbances in the country.

“These meetings were coordinated by Crisis Coalition and some identified foreign agents,” he said.

“There were other meetings such as the one held on 11th January 2019 in Belvedere, whose agenda was to plan for the disturbance of peace and render the country ungovernable,” he said.

“Pursuant to the nefarious agenda, the MDC Alliance activated its notorious terror groups which include the so-called Democratic Resistance Committees and the para-military Vanguard.”

Minister Ncube said yesterday’s events were instructive in two ways.

“They come against the background where His Excellency the President Cde Mnangagwa is out of the country and they are intended to undermine (kudira jecha) the ongoing re-engagement efforts of the President to market Zimbabwe at high level fora such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,” he said.

“The events of the past 24 hours have been characterised by a well-coordinated criminal behaviour, destructive and violent pattern which included the barricading of roads, harassment of innocent members of the public, burning of cars, disruption of children’s lessons in schools, forced closure of business entities, attempts to overrun police posts, destruction of property, unlawful possession and discharging of firearms in public, attacking tollgates and robbing them of cash as well as looting of shops,” said Minister Ncube.

“In short, this was terrorism and total breakdown of rule of law and order which had nothing to do with the constitutional right of citizens to demonstrate peacefully as enshrined in Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”

Minister Ncube said Government had activated all security organs to restore law and order and protect life and property.

“Government is appealing to members of the public to cooperate with the security institutions,” he said.

“Government is aware of the ring leaders, their modus operandi and their funders,” he said.

“Our security arms are now firmly on the ground tracking the criminals. They will be apprehended to face the full wrath of the law. In the meantime, security forces have arrested more than 200 individuals who were involved in these disturbances.

“Government urges members of the public to go about their normal day to day activities without fear as their security is guaranteed.”

Minister Ncube expressed deep condolences to bereaving families and said investigations were underway.

Source: State Media

Media Statement|Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) stands in solidarity with Zimbabweans demonstrating against the continued economic meltdown and the government’s failure to address the situation.

It is our firm view that the demonstrations are genuine actions from ordinary citizens reeling from the effects of the country’s economic crisis.

The government’s failure to arrest the country’s economic meltdown is quite apparent and what has worsened the situation is the fact that government continues to implement policies that continue to impact negatively on the lives of the majority of citizens most of whom are living far below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL).

CiZC reiterates that comments from government officials insinuating that the demonstrations are meant to effect regime change are quite unfortunate.

We condemn in the strongest of terms the heavy-handed approach by government in dealing with the demonstrators.

The move by the government to deploy armed police and soldiers against citizens exercising their democratic right to protests should be condemned in the strongest of terms.

In a move reminiscent of the August 1, 2018 incident during which soldiers killed 7 civilians in Harare, lives were lost while several people were injured when the army and police fired at civilians today, January 14, 2019.

It is quite evident that the government has resorted to military tactics in dealing with innocent civilians whose grievances are genuine. In this regard, we reiterate our demand for de-militarization of the Zimbabwean state and a return to constitutional order.

Government must never resort to military tactics when citizens protest against its failure to deliver. Such an approach will serve to worsen the current crisis in the country while further alienating the country from the international community.

We are concerned that the current economic meltdown has impacted negatively on human rights in Zimbabwe and in the process, leading to unnecessary loss of lives, arbitrary arrests and persecution of opposition activists and human rights defenders.

We further reiterate our call for a multi stakeholder national dialogue as a way of dealing with the crisis bedeviling Zimbabwe.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition will continue to appeal for regional, continental as well as international support over the Zimbabwean issue.

We further urge Zimbabweans to remain peaceful and resolute while exercising their constitutional right to demonstrate.

By Paul Nyathi|ZimEye.com has been inundated with calls from Zimbabweans claiming that they are failing to access social media platforms WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook as from midnight on Monday.

While most people contacted by ZimEye.com in the early hours of Tuesday morning confirmed that they were failing to access their social media sites only a couple claimed they were accessing the sites.

The possible blackout of social media follows a message which circulated on the social media on Monday indicating that government was threatening to block access to the social media sites on claims that the media was being used to mobilise citizens to rise against the government.

On Monday, thousands of Zimbabweans in the major cities took to the streets in spontaneous uncoordinated protests against a fuel price increase which was effected on Sunday. At the same time the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions had called for a three day stay away from work calling on government to consider paying workers in United States Dollars.

ZimEye.com is following up the matter…

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By Own Correspondent| MDC faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe has condemned the violence which rocked parts of Harare today in the national shutdown arguing that Zimbabweans should give Zanu Pf leader Emmerson Mnangagwa a chance to turn around the economy.

MDC spokesperson Linda  Masarira said there is no quick fix to the elections since the country’s woes date back to more than two decades ago.

Said Masarira in a statement:

Zimbabwe’s socio-economic challenges are deeply rooted and they date back to more than two decades ago. There’s not going to be a quick-fix solution to our myriad of economic challenges.

The economy has been in the intensive care unit ( ICU) for more than two decades and surely one can’t expect an ICU patient to simply walk out of the ICU ward and go straight home without passing through the high dependency unit (HDU) ward, then the general ward and ultimately, discharge from hospital.

In all sincerity, ED should be given a chance and put on strict terms to turn around the economy or else he gets booted out of power in the next elections.

Now, let’s not even pretend that the MDC Alliance has got the magic formula to turn around the socio-economic fortunes of Zimbabwe overnight, They simply don’t have what it takes to do that.

You just have to take a look at the dilapidated condition of Harvest House to appreciate that its occupants have got absolutely no clue as how Zimbabwe’s comatose economy can be turned around. When it comes to demonstrations, Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe guarantees the right to demonstrate and to present petitions, but these rights must be exercised peacefully.

Looting of shops and supermarkets is not a peaceful demonstration, its theft and illegal. Section 59 of the supreme law of the land, the constitution of Zimbabwe doesn’t guarantee the right to engage in violence, banditry and terrorism.

The ZRP should ensure that all culprits who were involved in the violence eruptions today are arrested.

It is very easy to destroy and very expensive to build. Conflict must be resolved through dialogue and not violence.

The MDC-T condemns the violent protests and any form of violence that occurred today. We express our heart felt condolences to all the families that lost their loved ones today.

It has been always good to do good, as a party, the MDc-T urges every Zimbabwean citizen to know and understand that we live once and let us not let political ambitions or affiliations cost the most precious gift that every human being always pray for LIIFE.

Let us put life and safety first as we exercise our constitutional right to protest and demonstrate.

We pray that God Himself will console those who have lost their loved ones in this process as well as touching them with his healing hand. MDC-T wishes all those innocent people who became victims of the violent protests and those who got injured in the process of exercising their rights peacefully a speedy recovery.

FROM THE OFFICE of the
SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION &
PUBLICITY

Linda Masarira

Paul Nyathi|Regional cross-border buses operators plying routes into Zimbabwe have withdrawn service to and from the country due to the tense situation prevailing in the country.

In a statement on Monday evening, the International Cross-Border Traders Association said:

As the International Cross-Border Traders Association we have withdrawn all Cross-Border Buses. There will be no loading of buses till further notice.

Regards
Denis Juru
ICTA President

By Paul Nyathi|Late evening reports from ZimEye.com sources around the country indicate that heavily armed members of the Zimbabwe National Army have been deployed into volatile areas in Bulawayo, Harare and other major centres in the country.

Witnesses indicate that soldiers took full charge of security in Harare, Bulawayo and Chitungwiza late evening and immediately began clearing the city centres and forcing the few open shops to close.

According to the witnesses three highly armed military trucks were seen headed to Chitungwiza where a police station was reportedly under siege from protesters.

In Mabvuku high density suburb, where the protesting emanated from, a huge battalion of soldiers is reported to be taking charge forcing innocent citizens to clean all the mess that was left over after the protesting.

Zimbabweans went on a massive protest against a fuel price increase effected by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday.

The strike also follows days of unrest over the government’s failure to pay civil servants better rates and also failing to deal with the economic woes bedevilling the country.

By Paul Nyathi| Confirmed reports from highly reliable sources claim that the MDC Headquarters in Harare’s CBD have been set on fire as of late Monday night.

The building popularly known as Harvest House and recently renamed Morgan Tsvangirai House is reported to have gone up in flames shortly after 10 pm.

According to the sources a Ford Ranger vehicle with no registration plates was spotted leaving the area at high speed before flames erupted from the building.

ZimEye.com is following up the matter and specific details will be provided as soon as they become available.

By Own Correspondent| In their 8 O’ clock news bulletin Monday, the state broadcaster ZBC said the MDC Alliance was behind today’s protest which saw citizens destroying property nationally.

The national broadcaster said today’s national shutdown was orchestrated by civil society organisations and opposition MDC revealing that the security sector was in full force to arrest perpetrators of today’s violence and looting.

The ZBC  said the violence which occured today was carefully planned and the MDC was behind this adding that the MDC national secretary Lovemore Chinoputsa is on record calling on all youths to join the national shutdown.-State media

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By Paul Nyathi|Unconfirmed reports indicate that at least three people amongst them a lower grade school child may have died during the citizens protests that took place in the country today.

The Voice of America reports that a lower grade child is reported to have died in a stampede after police fired teargas into a primary school in Mabvuku high density suburb of Harare.

Further reports claim that two of the four people confirmed to have been shot at by the police may also have died from the gunshot wounds.

Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights confirmed that at least eighteen people with varied levels of injuries including gun shot wounds and wounds from massive beatings were attended to by doctors within their circles.

The doctors heavily castigated police for using live ammunition to deal with unarmed protesters.

Police have not been willing to comment on the allegations that people died in the protests.

Several properties including a tollgate, police station and police vehicles and some private properties whose value is yet to be determined were destroyed during the protests.

By Paul Nyathi|The Zimbabwe Republic Police and the national broadcaster the ZBC have belittled the nearly countrywide protests on the continuous economic woes the country is going through.

In a ZBC report at the end of a day in which state media had been silent on the protests that rocked the country, the police described the events as having been effected by a few rowdy individuals.

“Police warn perpetrators of violence
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has warned perpetrators of violence that the law will take its course.

This comes after disturbances which saw rowdy elements blocking roads and causing chaos in Harare,” reported the ZBC without mentioning events like the burning of a police station in Harare and a tollgate om the Harare Masvingo Road.

At least four people were confirmed as having been shot and injured by police using live ammunition.

Speaking to the ZBC, ZRP Spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said they have deployed police officers on the ground to monitor the situation.

Senior Assistant Commissioner Charamba added that they will arrest anyone found on the wrong side of the law as the police have video footage of people who were engaging in looting and other unlawful activities.

By Own Correspondent| Following reports that several people have been shot during the  national shutdown today, the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has revealed that the organisation is on standby to provide medical care to those affected by the demonstrations.

Unconfirmed reports claim that at least 12 people have been shot in Epworth, Chitungwiza, Mabvuku, Kuwadzana and Glen Norah.

Said the ZADHR in a statement:

Urgent Notice!

ZADHR Doctors are on standby to provide medical care to those affected by the demonstrationstaking place across the country.

Our Hotline numbers is 0777 604 610. Kindly SMS, whatsapp or call if in urgent need of medical attention.

Urgent Notice!!!

ZADHR Doctors are on standby to provide medical care to those affected by the demonstrations taking place across the country.

Our HOTLINE NUMBER is 0777604610. Kindly SMS, WhatsApp or call if in need of urgent medical attention.

— ZADHR_DrsHumanRights (@ZadhrDoctors) January 14, 2019

By Paul Nyathi|message to President Emmerson Mnangagwa from Patrick Zhuwao:

Here is your letter telling you that you are being thrown under the bus.

Bvuma zvipere. https://t.co/JIrcn5MZHk

Here is your letter telling you that you are being thrown under the bus.

It should now be obvious that you have been set up.

The issues affecting you now are the result of your legendary duplicity.

People are no longer fooled by your lies.

Bvuma zvipere. pic.twitter.com/JIrcn5MZHk

— Patrick Zhuwao (@PatrickZhuwao) January 14, 2019

The usually quiet Zimbabwean city of Bulawayo was turned into a mixture of teargas, black smoke from burning tyres and chanting of struggle songs on Monday as residents joined in protests over the latest fuel hike.

“Into oyenzayo siyayizonda” – which loosely translates to “we hate what you are doing” – was the battle cry among protesters who took to the streets to express their displeasure at the worsening economic environment in South Africa’s northern neighbour.

The protest was unmistakably directed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has been at the helm since November 2017 after his ousting of Robert Mugabe.

A fuel hike announced by Mnangagwa on Saturday, a day before he left for Russia, was the final straw for most protesters. Fuel prices more than doubled overnight.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), which had for years been relegated to the back bench of politics, appeared to have found a new lease of life on Sunday. The union’s president, Peter Mutasa, called for a three-day stayaway – to last until Wednesday – in protest over the fuel hike.

While most citizens heeded ZCTU’s call only midway through the morning, Bulawayo residents appear to have enjoyed a head-start, responding almost immediately.

On Sunday night in Mpopoma, youth in the poor township barricaded roads leading to the city centre with rocks and burning tyres. As early as 7am, most roads leading from the townships to the city centre were on lockdown.

This common thread has raised speculation among the country’s security structures of some co-ordination, organisation and planning by the protesters.

Mnangagwa, to pre-empt street protests on Saturday, issued a threat to the “certain elements” which he said were bent on taking advantage of the fuel shortages to “cause and sponsor unrest and instability” in the country.

Police appeared overwhelmed by the protesters, whose march first began in townships but quickly reached the city centre. The water cannons and teargas appeared to be no deterrent. When police threw teargas canisters at protesters, they just picked them up and hurled them back at the police.

A crew of journalists hired a taxi in an attempt to move into the heart of demonstrations in the city centre, but the protesters who toyi-toyied threw missiles at them — afraid that their faces would be photographed and used later to track them down by authorities.

Other innocent passersby who got entangled in the protests said they were concerned with their violent nature, a deviation from the peaceful call which had been made.

Along Masiyephambili Drive, which links most high-density suburbs with the city centre, overwhelmed and outnumbered police began to retreat from their position by midday.

“We can’t guarantee your safety. The people are angry. We are going back to the station because they outnumber us,” a police officer told journalists.

In the CBD, most businesses closed down, turning the city centre into a ghost town on what normally is a very busy day. At hotels, security conducted careful searches of people going inside. Most service stations around the city were also closed.

A hardware store owner said he shut shop because he supported the stayaway.

“But the way it is turning out to be, I made the right decision because there are some unruly elements now looting,” he said.

There have been widespread reports of looting by some of the protesters. At an OK supermarket at Entumbane complex, some protesters attempted to break in. Just a few metres away, a police car lay razed to the ground by fire.

A police officer conceded that he had not seen anything like this in all his years in the police service.

“The spirit of protest was not there in this city and arguably even in Harare. The November 2017 military intervention, coupled with the constitutional court ruling last year that declared that people have a right to demonstrate, gave the masses courage. Under Mugabe no one dared do this. His removal broke the chains,” he said.

Times Live

Correspondent|THE November 2018 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Advanced Level results are out and candidates can start collecting them from their respective centres starting tomorrow.

Zimsec board chairman, Professor Eddie Mwenje, made the announcement at a press briefing this afternoon.

“On behalf of The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Board and Management it gives me pleasure to advise the nation of the release of the November 2018 ZIMSEC Advanced Level Examination results,” he said.

Prof Mwenje said the candidates recorded a 81.9 percent pass rate.

By Paul Nyathi|Skyline Tollgate on the Harare Masvingo Highway has been burnt down by protestors.

Correspondent|A WOMAN has been shot in Epworth near the police station as she was walking home from work as the protests against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s fuel price increase continue sliding into outright violence.

By Own Correspondent| Four people were reportedly shot and injured in Epworth, Harare for taking part in today’s protests against the government.

According to a NewsDay report, 8 people have been arrested for taking part in the protests and the police are reported to be moving from house to house smashing in doors in order to arrest the people inside.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU), various groups and individuals have called for a three day stay away after President Emmerson Mnangagwa hiked the price of fuel by over 140 per cent.

Several businesses which had initially opened in the morning have closed shop after a Choppies shop was looted.

In Chitungwiza, schools have also closed for the day amid unconfirmed reports that teachers were assaulted by security details for not taking heed of the stay away.

Parents were asked to come and collect their children way before school ended.

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC has called on citizens to demonstrate peacefully revealing that the party is in solidarity with peaceful citizen action nationally.

Said MDC National Spokesperson Jacob Mafume:

The MDC is in solidarity with peaceful citizen action across the country today.

We urge citizens to remain peaceful and exercise restraint even when provoked by undemocratic forces and repressive apparatus.

We have noted violent attacks by Zanu PF, these must be isolated from the people’s struggle.

Citizens’ demands are clear- this is a demonstration against bad decisions and an attempt to worsen the plight of the people.

In short, this is a struggle to live well, live long and live happy.

We urge citizens to convince those who may not be participating through superior logic,no force must be used in other words, their rights must be respected.

We also urge law enforcement not to provoke people exercising their Constitutional rights.

They are not a danger to national security but just citizens raising genuine concerns.

The MDC and it’s entire leadership is in solidarity with the masses and hope a lasting solution to the crisis.

Behold the New. Change that Delivers!

Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

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LIVE UPDATES AROUND ZIMBABWE: AS SABC REPORTS 2 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHOT, SOME TERRIFIED SCHOOL KIDS HAVE TOLD HOW SOLDIERS ALLEGEDLY BEAT TEACHERS TELLING THEM TO JOIN THE STRIKE | ZIMEYE IS INVESTIGATING OTHER REPORTS OF GUNFIRE |

By Paul Nyathi|Heavily armed soldiers have descended the streets of Bulawayo as protestors against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s economic turmoil and the recent hike in the price of fuel by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The armed soldiers were spotted patrolling Bulawayo’s streets as the situation got very tense in the city.

It is yet to be established if the soldiers have been deployed onto the streets to restore order especially in light of what happened on August 1, 2008, when the military shot and killed at least 6 protestors and passers-by in Harare.

Earlier on the police were being pelted by stones in Bulawayo.

Bulawayo has had the more intense of demonstrations today as protesters in Harare appeared subdued by riot police.

Commuters were stranded in Zimbabwe’s two main cities on Monday as angry protesters reacting to the weekend more than doubling of fuel prices, burned tyres and used rocks to barricade roads and blocked buses from carrying passengers.

Residents in Epworth, a poor suburb east of the capital Harare, on Monday woke up to find boulders blocking roads leading to the city centre.

“It’s tense since early morning,” Nhamo Tembo, a resident told media.

“Roads are blocked with huge stones and there are angry people preventing commuter buses from carrying passengers. People are just stranded,” he said.

In the city of Bulawayo, demonstrators attacked minibuses heading to the city centre and used burning tyres and stones to block the main routes into town while some schools were turning away pupils fearing for their safety.

In Mabvuku highdensity suburbs in Harare, protesters turned rowdy and looted a grocery supermarket Choppies.

More to follow…

Correspondent|In Harare, there are reports of police clashing with protesting crowds in Mabvuku, Kuwadzana and Chitungwiza.

Protesters are burning tyres and barricading roads, and police are responding by deploying teargas and water.

Armed police are patrolling many parts of Harare.

In Chitungwiza, protesters are marching along Seke Road, near Chikwanha Shopping Centre.

A number of schools have not opened, with some reports that pupils were turned back.

Army helicopters are reportedly hovering over Harare.

In Bulawayo, the situation is reportedly tense in the city centre, with reports that protesters are marching in the streets. Police are firing teargas.

Below are some of the images we have received.

The usually busy Harare-Bulawayo Road is empty. Pic by Keith Ncube

The usually busy Harare-Bulawayo Road is empty

By Paul Nyathi|Troubled ruling ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa left the capital this morning for a relatively hopeless 4-nation visit of Eastern Europe allegedly to deepen and strengthen economic cooperation between Zimbabwe and those countries.

Mnangagwa left the country on fire as citizens went on sporadic protests against his 143% fuel price hike effected over the weekend.

Mnangagwa is being accompanied by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando, nomadic Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Retired Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Dr John Mangudya and Deputy Chief Secretary in the President’s Office responsible for communication George Charamba and other senior government officials in a huge entourage that does not reflect the austerity measures that they have been calling for.

From the eastern countries, Mnangagwa will proceed to the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland for his second appearance at the world economic stage.

Chiwenga is the Acting President.

By Paul Nyathi|Citizen Protestors in the City of Bulawayo have taken over control of the Central Business District in a protest against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s failing governance.

What started off like another calm day in the City of Bulawayo quickly turned volatile when a group of protestors gathered at Magetsini Bus Stop in Emakhandeni High Density suburb and ordered people going to work out of the taxis.

The taxis were quickly hijacked by the protestors who stormed the CBD singing “Mnangagwa int’oyenzayo siyazonda” meaning “Mnangagwa we hate what you are doing.”

“Protestors have officially invaded the CBD as of a few minutes ago and they are attacking all opened shops and businesses telling people to move out and go back home,” said a ZimEye.com witness at the scene.

Meanwhile, police have responded by firing shots of teargas as a warning to the protestors. The number of protesting citizens is growing as more shops close for business.

Schools have also begun sending children back home in fear that the protests may generate to full scale riots that may affect the children. Some teachers have been seen immediately joining the protestors.

ZimEye.com is watching the situation as it develops.

11am

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The Zimbabwe Republic Police has deployed officers in all residential areas, shopping centres and the Central Business District to conduct patrols, surveillance and stop and search following some social media articles agitating Zimbabweans to engage in violence and unsanctioned demonstrations.

In a statement yesterday, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema implored Zimbabweans to disregard the social media posts.

“My ministry assures all peace loving citizens and visitors that the Zimbabwe Republic Police has deployed officers in all residential, shopping centres and CBD to conduct patrols, surveillance, stop and search and in the process account for unruly elements who may try to disturb the tranquil environment which is prevailing in the country,” he said.

“May I urge Zimbabweans to continue undertaking their various social and economic activities as usual. Members of the public should feel free to access services from various entities without any hindrance.”

In the same vein, said Minister Mathema, transport operators should continue to offer services to potential passengers as stipulated in their Road Service Permits and Route Authorities.

He urged drivers to report any acts of intimidation and incitement to commit violence to the police for swift action to be taken.

“My ministry has implored security agencies to take action on some rogue groups who are circulating old photo-shopped videos and pictures of purported violence and demonstrations on the pretext that this is taking place in Zimbabwe,” said Minister Mathema.

“The Commissioner-General of Police has put the Zimbabwe Republic Police on high alert and will ensure that the law is applied without fear or favour on anyone who incites or engages in any form of violence and unsanctioned gathering.”

The Zanu-PF Youth League also issued a stern warning against opposition elements bent on causing chaos in the country.

Addressing a Press conference yesterday, Youth League national deputy secretary Lewis Matutu said: “We will not allow the opposition to push us into a corner, we know they have promised to destroy cars and infrastructure, so we say to them this is not going to help anyone, it is either them or us, no one is going to be helped by demonstrations.

“This is not a church, obviously we will not sit down and watch them destroy us, causing anarchy and violence in Zimbabwe. That is not going to happen.”

Matutu said people should not be misled by the opposition.

“So, those people who are going to be very unfortunate to be misled we would like to say to them at the end of the day after you would have been abused and used to cause violence in town, at the end of the day you will go back to your homes,” he said.

“These demonstrations are not going to provide these basic commodities to you. Our appeal is not to the MDC, but to the general public as they are the ones who my then be caught unaware of the consequences, so we say to them do not be misled or abused.”

State Media

NATIONAL Political Commissar of the Zanu PF Youth League Godfrey Tsenengamu has warned those who want to demonstrate against Government to seek more positive alternatives to improving the economy

“We are not going to fold our hands, we will meet blow by blow if the need arises. This (country) is not a church, we will not sit down and watch them causing anarchy. This is not going to happen. If they start, they must be ready for the consequences,” Tsenengamu told journalists at the ZANU-PF headquaurters on Sunday.

“Our position is very clear; we will not allow the opposition to put us in the corner. We are humans and we might at one time be forced to react,” Zanu PF national youth commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu said.

The MDC youths have threatened to protest this week against the economic meltdown characterised by shortages of basic commodities and price hikes.

The party’s previous protests in Harare have attracted a lot of participants.

MDC youth secretary-general Denford Ngadziore yesterday scoffed at the Zanu PF threats, saying no amount of intimidation would stop the wheels of change.

“Demonstration is our constitutional right. We don’t budge to those threats. These are the same youths who demonstrated against (former President) Robert Mugabe because they knew it was their democratic right. I treat their utterances as empty threats,” Ngadziore said.

Deputy Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi also said that Zimbabweans should brace for a surge in prices after the government hiked fuel prices on Saturday night.

Mutodi also warned Zimbabweans not to go into the streets in protest against the fuel price increases as the government will not hesitate to use force to put down such kind of demonstrations.

Wrote Mutodi: “New fuel prices will stamp out arbitrage in the fuel sector and normalize fuel supply but Zimbabweans must brace for commodity price volatility emanating from the fuel price shock.

“Volatility will be temporary before goods prices normalise.

“Faced with high fuel costs, clever people know what to do and here are some tips: Avoid fuel guzzler, reduce fleet, cancel unnecessary trips and use bicycles where possible to save BIG. Do not protest in the street you can lose a limb in skirmishes.”

Tsenengamu warned that the MDC should know that protests have not helped anything in the history of Zimbabwe.

Zanu PF deputy youth secretary Lewis Mathuthu said they recently met and resolved not to tolerate opposition attempts to revolt against government.

He defended Mnangagwa’s recent fuel price hike, saying it was long overdue.

“I am very happy that the price of fuel has finally been pegged up to standard in terms of what other countries are doing. A lot of fuel was going out of the country. A lot of our fuel was going to Mozambique, South Africa and DRC,” Mathuthu alleged.

He also warned manufactures and retailers against raising prices of commodities, saying they were already exorbitant.

“We do not expect the prices of other commodities to go up because they are already exorbitant and it was only fuel that was very low and government was carrying the burden of subsidising fuel using foreign currency, something that we don’t have,” he said.

NewsDay

By Paul Nyathi| Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi – the second top ranking government spokesperson – has told Zimbabweans to park their cars and use bicycles if they can not afford the high fuel charges introduced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the weekend.

In a widely condemned Twitter post on Sunday, Mutodi also issued a chilling threat on Zimbabweans contemplating to protest in the streets against Mnangagwa’s economic failures, warning they may “lose a limb”.

Faced with high fuel costs, clever people know what to do & here are some tips: Avoid fuel guzzler, reduce fleet, cancel unnecessary trips & use bicycles where possible to save BIG. Do not protest in the street you can lose a limp in skirmishes.

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

Transport operators and businesses were reviewing their prices upwards on Sunday after Mnangagwa said his government raised the price of petrol to $3,31, up from $1,38, while diesel will now sell for $3,11 per litre up from $1,32.

Mnangagwa said the shock increase, which would make fuel unaffordable for many Zimbabweans, would address a “persistent shortfall in the fuel market attributable to the increased fuel usage in the economy and compounded by rampant illegal currency and fuel trading activities.”

“Faced with high fuel costs, clever people know what to do and here are some tips: Avoid fuel guzzler, reduce fleet, cancel unnecessary trips and use bicycles where possible to save BIG. Do not protest in the street you can lose a limp (sic) in skirmishes,” Mutodi said on Twitter.

Mutodi’s warning that Zimbabweans will “lose limbs” appeared designed to harvest the fear induced by the August 1 street shooting of 35 opposition activists by the military in central Harare during protests against delays in announcing results of the Presidential Election held on July 30 last year.

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa on Saturday said he was ready to “lead and stand ready to play a key role in finding a lasting solution,” but has not outlined what his party intends to do to bring the pressure to bear on the Zanu PF government which he has refused to recognise since the disputed election.

Russian state media has ignored Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.

By A Correspondent| As ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa flew to Russia last night, it emerged that the last time his name was mentioned in the Russian community, was back in August 2018.

This came despite celebratory articles in the ZANU PF state media at the weekend claiming Putin would meet Mnangagwa this week.

The absence of even a single mention of the man whose claim to presidency is a number-less court verdict by Chief Justice Luke Malaba made Mnangagwa (whose administration has destroyed Russian businesses), appear lower than a Zimbabwean civilian.

As reflected in database print-outs, Mnangagwa was last mentioned in the Russian community back in August, on the 26th, 48 hours after Luke Malaba’s controversial constitutional court verdict. The last time when his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga attempted to see President Putin in Moscow, he was bunked by the premier.

Despite boasting of visiting Moscow in August 2018, when he hoped to meet President Vladimir Putin, Chiwenga has been blighted by the Russian media and the last mention of him was back in December 2017 soon after removing Robert Mugabe. (BELOW WERE SOME OF THE DATABASE PRINT OUTS)

Chiwenga had hoped to get a media moment with President Putin where he would present a special nation-to-nation message. There was also a claim in the ZANU-PF state media that Chiwenga would meet Russian investors. But there was none at all visible, and furthermore no citing or media mention anywhere in Russia of Chiwenga. ZANU PF has gained a bad reputation in Russia of violating contracts granted to that country’s citizens. One of the contracts reneged by ZANU PF is a government to government mining business established in 1995 called DTZ.

Following the clear blackout, ZimEye.com in August had a conversation with one of the editors of the Russian television station, RT. The English speaking female was grilled on why Chiwenga’s visit was totally ignored by her station.

During the entire discourse, she refused to explain reasons why there was no mention of Chiwenga’s visit to that country.

“I am sorry but we can’t help you,” she said.

“I can’t help you,” she continued.

When pressed on why she could not explain or at least point to their failure to cover Chiwenga’s visit, she was non committal even to the point of refusing to reveal their running diary of President Putin’s itinerary.

The only person Chiwenga met was Russia’s Defence Minister General Sergei Shoigu, at the 2018 edition of International Army Games. The two met just before they visited the Zimbabwean stand at the House of Friendship before they proceeded to the VIP pavilion to see the final event — the tank biathlon. That was back in August and ever since then, there has been no mention of Chiwenga anywhere in the Russian media. (BELOW WERE SOME OF THE DATABASE PRINT OUTS)

• Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in as Zimbabwe’s next president

  

  26 August 2018 | 12:51 GMT GMT

• Zimbabwe court dismisses opposition bid to annul presidential election results

  24 August 2018 | 14:55 GMT GMT

• Zimbabwe opposition’s challenge to Mnangagwa’s election will be heard on August 22

  16 August 2018 | 14:25 GMT GMT

• President Mnangagwa calls for unity in Zimbabwe, rival Chamisa questions election result

  03 August 2018 | 10:47 GMT GMT
• At least 3 killed in Zimbabwe post-election violence

By Own Correspondent|| MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe has opened up about her life revealing that she is a single mother of three children.

The veteran opposition leader revealed that she was born on November 18, 1963, at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo.

Below are excerpts from the interview:

I am a proud single mother of three children, twin boys and a girl. Two lawyers and an accountant.

Having dual roles has never been easy. Our children have grown up without enjoying being with us because we spend most of our time doing political work than attending to our families. This is so because as a leader you automatically seize to be a mother of your children and you become a mother to everyone.

Khupe revealed that she wanted to be a soldier in order to defend the country from its enemies;

:€I wanted to be a soldier because I wanted to defend my country from enemies. I then became a politician where I have spent almost half of my life fighting for equal opportunities for all, and I will continue to fight for equal opportunities until every Zimbabwean has a better life.”

She castigated leaders who do engage in violence to stay in power. Said Khupe;

Leaders come and go, we must all understand that we will have this leader now and tomorrow it will be another leader. The problem that we have is that we have power hungry people who don’t want to respect their own constitution, people who want to usurp power through violence, through unconstitutional means, through discrimination.

This is the poison that we have with other political leaders. In life, you must learn to wait for your time to come and stop fast-tracking yourself into a leadership position through unprocedural means. This bad behaviour must not be allowed to continue.-DailyNews

By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe’s largest trade union, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on its members nationwide to join in a mass stay way.

The organisation revealed that the job action will start at midnight on Sunday and will be ongoing indefinitely.

ZCTU announced the stay away on it’s Twitter page.

Read the statement:

“After wide consultations, the ZCTU General Council resolved to call for a nationwide STAY AWAY with effect from midnight today following the insensitive and provocative increase of fuel price by the President of Zimbabwe.

Workers have been facing serious hardships as a result of the general astronomical price increases since last year against stagnant salaries. The fuel increase added more misery to the suffering working class of Zimbabwe both in formal and informal sectors.

The action will be embarked on an incremental basis and include other forms of actions that will be advised in due course.

There is nothing else pushing the workers besides the starvation and hardships afflicting every working-class household. Think about your family and do the right thing.”

By Own Correspondent| Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has promised to forfeit the purchase of condition of service vehicles for all ministers, saying he will instead use the money to purchase a fleet of new ambulances for public health facilities.

Government has 21 Cabinet Ministers, 14 Deputy Ministers and nine Ministers of State.

Cabinet Ministers were usually given an executive car and two off-road vehicles as part of their condition of service.

Deputy Ministers were given an executive car and one off-roader.

During a town hall meeting organised by Global Shapers Community Harare on Friday, Ncube said:

“By the way, our strategy for showing how we are using resources also shows in the way we are making savings.

I have said to all the ministers, my colleagues and all the Members of Parliament, that we shouldn’t have these fancy cars.

We have not authorised the purchase of a car for a minister in Zimbabwe. None! I have said to them, you know I need the money to buy ambulances, I need ambulances and that is what I am going to buy with the savings from the cars for the ministers; that is what I am going to do.

So we are very serious about this austerity, about walking the talk, about meeting the people of Zimbabwe halfway, about using their 2 percent taxes properly.

The 2 percent tax is not about paying to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, it’s about us giving back to the people what they contributed in the first place and covering the areas where we think we can create the right type of goods for everyone to benefit from.”-StateMedia

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By Own Correspondent| Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema has revealed that the Zimbabwe Republic Police is out in full force to deal with unruly elements seeking to disturb the peace and tranquility in the nation following social media calls for mass protests.

Mathema also warned the public to disregard social media posts calling on citizens to engage in civil disobedience adding that the ZRP has deployed officers in all residential, shopping centres and central business districts to conduct patrols, surveillance, stop and search and in the process account for all unruly elements bent on disturbing the peaceful environment in Zimbabwe.

Said Mathema:

“May I urge Zimbabweans to continue undertaking their various social and economic activities as usual. Members of the public should feel free to access services from various entities without any hindrances.

In the same vein, transport operators should continue to offer services to potential passengers as stipulated in their road services permits and route authorities.

Public service vehicles drivers should report any acts of intimidation and incitement to commit violence to the police for swift action to be taken.”-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| Zanu PF’s Youth wing has welcomed the upward review of the price of fuel announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last night adding that the review was long overdue.

The party’s Deputy Secretary, Lewis Mathuthu told journalists at the party headquarters on Sunday that the new fuel prices announced by Mnangagwa sets Zimbabwe’s fuel prices at par with the rest of the SADC region.

Mathuthu said Zimbabwe will no longer be taken advantage of by other countries that were hoarding fuel from the country because it was cheaper.

National Political Commissar of the Zanu PF Youth League Godfrey Tsenengamu warned those who want to demonstrate against Government to seek more positive alternatives to improving the economy.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema has warned the public to disregard social media posts calling on people to engage in demonstrations.

Mathema said the ZRP has deployed officers in all residential, shopping centres and central business districts to conduct patrols, surveillance, stop and search and in the process account for all unruly elements who may try to disturb the tranquil environment which is prevailing in the country.

Said Mathema:

“May I urge Zimbabweans to continue undertaking their various social and economic activities as usual. Members of the public should feel free to access services from various entities without any hindrances.

In the same vein, transport operators should continue to offer services to potential passengers as stipulated in their road services permits and route authorities.

Public service vehicles drivers should report any acts of intimidation and incitement to commit violence to the police for swift action to be taken.”-StateMedia

We as ZIM EFF and on behalf of the majority of our people and together with the poor, downtrodden and disposed people of Zimbabwe today declare that we are real victims of Zanu PF’s mismanagement of our country which has resulted in the collapse of the economy.

Many of us ordinary people have lost livelihoods. We are no longer able to put food on the table for our children – the shops are running empty of basic commodities, we are no longer able to get life saving medicines for the sick children and for everyone in the country – the healthcare system has collapsed, our children are no longer able to go to school – the education system has collapsed, the transport system had collapsed because there is no fuel.

Fuel price hikes with all of this and others serious problems the country has been plunged into by this incompetent government , we see evidently clear that there is crisis of political leadership in the country.

The situation in our country has reached proportions of a national disaster. We therefore call upon the government to declare the whole country a national disaster due to the collapse of the state and its primary role of governing.

We believe that declaring a national disaster will open up emergency and critical dialogue amongst all political parties, other stakeholders to address with urgency the unfolding national disaster.

Since Zanu Pf government has lost the control of the economy the high risk for the nation is that the government may soon lose the control of the people. If that were to happen the country will be plunged into a point of no return. Heed this warning.

We believe that Zanu PF alone has no capacity to fix the current problems. It is our firm and considered belief that we need to come together as Zimbabweans and come up with an urgent national plan to save the country.

We as ZIM EFF are very much aware that there is a crisis of intelligent thinking within those in government therefore what is required now is a radical national plan involving others parties outside government.

We propose the following five point plan:
1. Government to declare an economic national disaster throughout the country. This will allow creation of an urgent national plan to save the country.
2. Government to nationalise procurement of basic commodities in the short term – basic commodities like medical supplies, food supplies, fuel etc.
3. Government to freeze all foreign trips by government officials to save the much needed foreign currency.
4. Government to scrap off bond notes (fake money) and replace it with hard currency so that everyone in the country can be paid with real money.
5. Urgent national dialogue meeting to be convened , chaired by a national religious leader of high standing or UN rep , this urgent meeting to come up with a national plan to save the country thereby saving human life . Zimbabweans to discuss an urgent national plan to save the country.

We as ZIM EFF believe that we need to come together as Zimbabweans and solve the crisis urgently. We further understand and have a right of freedom of expression and given the situation we will mobilise together with other progressive fighters in the country to force the government to listen to the people.

As ZIM EFF, we call upon all the fighters throughout the country to mobilise and get ready to take up a radical peaceful revolution to the government.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE TO SAVE THE PEOPLE!

Issued by Zim EFF Media Relations

THE Deputy Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi has said that Zimbabweans should brace for a surge in prices after the government hiked fuel prices on Saturday night.

Mutodi also warned Zimbabweans not to go into the streets in protest against the fuel price increases as the government will not hesitate to use force to put down such kind of demonstrations.

Wrote Mutodi: “New fuel prices will stamp out arbitrage in the fuel sector and normalize fuel supply but Zimbabweans must brace for commodity price volatility emanating from the fuel price shock.

“Volatility will be temporary before goods prices normalise.

“Faced with high fuel costs, clever people know what to do and here are some tips: Avoid fuel guzzler, reduce fleet, cancel unnecessary trips and use bicycles where possible to save BIG. Do not protest in the street you can lose a limp in skirmishes.”

“Faced with high fuel costs, clever people know what to do & here are some tips: Avoid fuel guzzler, reduce fleet, cancel unnecessary trips & use bicycles where possible to save BIG. Do not protest in the street you can lose a limp in skirmishes,” he said.

Mutodi’s threats dovetail with what President Mnangagwa said Saturday evening.

Announcing the new high fuel prices at State House, President Mnangagwa warned: “Government is aware of attempts by certain elements bent on taking advantage of the current fuel shortages to cause and sponsor unrest and instability in the country.

“Such politically motivated activities will not be tolerated. To curb continued misuse of fuel in the country, Government, through relevant Departments which include its security structures, have started on a comprehensive audit of all fuel draw-downs with a view to establishing points of leakages.”

Zimbabweans reacted with outrage Sunday to a sharp rise in fuel prices announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a move to improve supplies as the country struggles with its worst gasoline shortages in a decade.

After years of international isolation, Zimbabwe’s economy has been in decline for more than a decade with cash shortages, high unemployment and a recent scarcity of basic staples like bread and cooking oil.

In a televised address late Saturday, Mnangagwa said prices of petrol and diesel would more than double to tackle a shortfall caused by increased demand and “rampant” illegal trading.

Mnangagwa, who took over from longtime leader Robert Mugabe and won a disputed election last July, also announced a package of measures to help state workers after strikes by doctors and teachers over poor pay.

He said from midnight Saturday, petrol prices would rise from $1.24 a litre to $3.31 (2.89 euros) and diesel from $1.36 a litre to $3.11.

But many Zimbabweans criticised the move, worrying a knock-on spike in other costs would worsen an already difficult economic situation and trigger protests and strikes.

“I am not a politician and neither am I an economist but you don’t need a rocket scientist to tell you that we are now headed for the worst following the fuel price madness,” said William Masuku, 32, a car dealer in Bulawayo, the country’s second largest city.

Victor Nyoni, head of a local business body, said the fuel prices would push up the cost of other goods. Businesses are likely to pass on the higher transport costs to the consumer.

– Government ‘against the people’ –

The president’s announcement came after fuel shortages which began in October last year worsened in recent weeks with motorists sometimes spending nights in fuel pump queues that stretch for kilometres.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) said the government had demonstrated a lack of empathy for the already-overburdened poor.

“The government has officially declared its anti-worker, anti-poor and anti-people ideological position,” it said. “Workers’ salaries have been reduced to nothing and our suffering elevated to another level.”

Nelson Chamisa, who heads the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said the situation was “descending into a humanitarian crisis”.

Evan Mawarire, a cleric and activist who led the 2016 anti-government protests that shut down major cities, said: “You have cornered us and you leave us no choice. It’s time to mobilise every person who truly loves Zimbabwe.”

“Those in government may not admit it but they know in their hearts that they have failed,” said Edmore Phiri, a tired-looking motorist who had just spent a second night in a petrol queue in Avondale suburb.

“We are not going anywhere with these piecemeal solutions that are not solutions.

“You can´t have a country where people sleep in cars for days for a commodity that should be readily available.”

Mnangagwa, who has pledged to revive the moribund economy, blamed the shortfall on increased fuel usage “compounded by rampant illegal currency and fuel trading activities”.

The government claims fuel prices were lower than in other regional countries, saying some foreigners were taking advantage and buying fuel in bulk for resale elsewhere.

Mnangagwa said the new measures were aimed at curbing a burgeoning speculative parallel market in which fuel was being sold at five times the official price.

“It’s going to reduce demand for fuel because it’s now a bit expensive and that will deal with speculative demand if it was there,” said economist Godfrey Mugano.

Mnangagwa also warned the government would deal harshly with those “bent on taking advantage of the current fuel shortages to cause and sponsor unrest and instability in the country”.

Government doctors went on a 40-day strike in early December, demanding salaries in US dollars and improved working conditions, while teachers’ unions called a strike this week for better pay but their calls went largely unheeded.

Although Mnangagwa announced a package of measures “to cushion government workers”, he gave few details.

Despite the price hike, diplomats and tourists would be able to access cheaper fuel at certain pumping stations.

“The intention is to create a constant supply of fuel for diplomats and tourists to manage the country’s image,” said Mugano.

“Those designated fuel stations will be able to restock easily from the sales they make in US dollars.”

– Correspondent

Correspondent|FORMER Masvingo Provincial Minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has called on the National People’s Party (NPP) president Joice Mujuru to dissolve her party and join the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC.

Bhasikiti is a former member of the ruling ZANU-PF as well as the Zimbabwe People First (ZPF), which was led by Mujuru, before she left to form the splinter NPP.

Mujuru and Bhasikiti, a former Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister, are both former members of the ruling Zanu PF party.

The former vice president, along with a coterie of her backers, including Bhasikiti, Ray Kaukonde, Dzikamai Mavhaire, Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo, among others, were shown the door by former president Robert Mugabe in 2014.

Mujuru and her cabal were expelled on allegations of seeking to topple Mugabe from power.

Her dismissal saw 15 ministers being dropped from Mugabe’s Cabinet, in a serious carnage that threatened to break the party.

Bhasikiti and Mavhaire are now members of the MDC, while Mutasa has since been readmitted into Zanu PF.

Mujuru, who has gone into hibernation since the July 30, 2018 harmonised elections, has been deserted by a number of her supporters, who have either joined the MDC or Zanu PF.

In a Twitter post, Bhasikiti said Mujuru must join the MDC in order to fulfill her dream for change in the country.

“I still believe…Mujuru should honour not only those she caused to be sacked from ZPF but also the masses which supported her to see change in Zimbabwe, by joining hands with the MDC as the change agent…,” Bhasikiti said.

Mujuru made waves after forming the ZPF, some months after leaving Zanu PF.

Observers believed she had a chance to create a formidable force in the country’s political space.

However, a few months after its formation, ZPF split because of irreconcilable differences between its founders.

Mutasa and Gumbo were among those who clung to the party’s name and offices while Mujuru moved on to form the NPP. Mutasa was to later dump the ZPF after being readmitted into the ruling party late last year.

Before their sacking in 2014, Mutasa was the party’s secretary for administration while Gumbo was its spokesperson. Both were members of the party’s politburo.

Correspondent|CHATUNGA Bellarmine, last born of former Zimbabwean strongman Robert Mugabe, has vented his anger against Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor John Panonetsa Mangudya saying they are cheating Zimbabweans through the bond notes and the RTGS system.

Chatunga says that he does not keep and use the two pseudo currencies introduced by his own father Mugabe in 2016.

He labelled them as sh*t saying he does not want to get cheated by the two men, Ncube and Mangudya, who are running Zimbabwe’s fiscal and monetary policy directions.

Writing on social media site Twitter, Chatunga said; “I don’t keep those sh*t bond notes I have none so-called RTGs accounts I’m not a fool to be cheated by Mthuli and Panonetsa.”

https://twitter.com/bellagushungo/status/1084006557619232772?s=19

A few days ago, Chatunga, who rarely ventures into politics but is famous for partying like tomorrow, fired another potshot at Minister Mthuli Ncube.

Chatunga recently accused the Minister of living an extravagant lifestyle by staying at the five-star Meikles Hotel since he was appointed into the government, even as he preached austerity to the nation.

https://twitter.com/bellagushungo/status/1082935249867288576?s=19

ZANU-PF vehemently denied that Mthuli Ncube is parked at a hotel.

Chatunga, 22, has been the more vocal of the Mugabes since the family was jettisoned from the pedestal of power by a military coup in November 2017.

Recently, Chatunga stood toe to toe with ZANU-PF Chairperson and Minister of Defence Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.

This was after Muchinguri said, “Former President President Mugabe “worked with his enemies” the United States to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe.

“All along I suspect he was a sell-out, it’s coming out now. The sanctions by the United States , it was him who wanted the people to continue to suffer. He was working with his enemies,” Muchinguri-Kashiri said.

But Chatunga who does not like unnecessary criticism of his father thought Muchinguri was offside.

“I don’t comment on politics usually because that’s not my field but l find it very funny and very laughable some people saying our Father begged for sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe,” said Chatunga on his social blog.

“When it comes to our Father he loves his country and he has continued to say he will remain in the country because he is a patriot person and everyone knows it.

“A great Pan Africanist who’s history doesn’t need to be explained. So you can’t allege President Robert Mugabe asked for sanctions from the west thats hilarious,” he added.