Top medical practitioner Marilena Pesaresi, who was stationed at All Souls Mission Hospital (Luisa Guidotti Hospital), has died.

She was 85.

Pesaresi died on December 29 in Rome, Italy.

She is famed for helping patients at the Catholic-run All Souls Mission Hospital in Mutoko East and was one of the doctors who sent a number of heart patients to Italy for life-saving surgery.

Yesterday, Catholics and villagers held a mass in honour of the late doctor, whom they described as one of the best doctors as well as a community caregiver.

Former Mutoko East legislator Ricky Mawere Mubvumbi said Pesaresi’s death was a blow to the community.

“We are all devastated by the demise of the community queen. She respected all people regardless of their standing in society. Most beneficiaries were those who went for heart surgery to Italy and most of them are still surviving. She also sourced goods for orphans and other vulnerable members of the community,” he said.

In a condolence message, the Luisa Guidotti Hospital board said the Mutoko community had lost a dedicated caregiver.

“We have learnt of the death of Dr Pesaresi with a deep sense of loss, grief and pain. The death has come as a body blow to the community that Dr Pesaresi selflessly served and loved dearly in Mutoko during her God-given ministry. A light has gone out of our lives, but our happy memories of the lives she saved and people she cured will remain,” the message read.

Erita Kujeka, from Bwanya village, said: “She [Pesaresi] started a programme for heart patients and a lot of them were sent to Italy for surgery. She helped orphans and the less-privileged giving them food handouts and sending them to school.”

MDC deputy president Elias Mudzuri has implored Parliament to hold President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to account over the deteriorating economic situation in the country.

In his New Year message, Mudzuri said the prevailing situation, where people sleep in fuel queues, have no cash and the country having no currency, apart from the ever-rising cost of living, was not acceptable.

“Having no designated currency, sleeping in fuel queues, and a shortage of foreign currency is unacceptable. The government must be taken to task and Parliament must seek an agenda to hold the government to account,” he said.

“With schools opening against the high cost of living, how do you resource well to ensure that the education system delivers when parents have no viable income? The government must be held to account and as legislators, we have a collective role to play to make this country work again.”

The country is battling an economic crisis characterised by shortage of foreign currency, hyperinflation, and shortages of fuel, among other commodities.

The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC last year staged several protests over the deteriorating situation, yet the nation remained on a cliff edge.

Doctors have been on strike for over a month and rural teachers have threatened to go on strike next week when schools re-open.

Mudzuri said there was need for the country’s leadership to embrace change and model it to the collective aspirations as the people.

“That is the most viable route for this nation. Leadership is about delivering socio-economic and political goods to the people,” he said.

Mudzuri called for unity among Zimbabweans and urged the youth to take the lead in rebuilding the country.

“To the youths, Zimbabwe is for you. Lead it from the front, it’s your everyday job to do so. The country needs a people-driven leadership. We are the people,” he said.

“Let us come forth and rebuild our nation for a better future for all. The toxic politics of hate and violence will only takes us backwards as a country. Zimbabwe is for every Zimbabwean, regardless of race, tribe or social standing. Democracy derives all its strength from the rule of law and respect for other people’s rights.

“Race or tribe should have no space in 2019. We are Zimbabweans together. Differences in skin colour, language or ideology are only, but a bonus because they build us. Our differences must never come between us. Hate speech and violence do not build our country. They must, therefore, remain in 2018.”

NewsDay

Correspondent|BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) voted twice the best run local authority in the country, is technically insolvent, with town clerk Christopher Dube attributing the situation to the country’s unforgiving harsh economic climate.

This comes after Bulawayo mayor Solomon Mguni warned that council would have no choice, but to further increase rates to hedge against the rising cost of services and goods.

Mguni also warned that BCC would be forced to introduce a supplementary budget to ensure efficient services, arguing galloping inflation had already eroded the yet to the approved 2019 budget.

Dube said the local authority now had more creditors than debtors.

“We are technically insolvent. We now have more creditors than debtors. That is the situation we are in right now as the local authority. I do not have figures off-hand, but the last time I checked, we owe our creditors over $200 million against $188 million we are owed by debtors,” Dube said yesterday.

Government has maintained a 1:1 exchange rate parity between the local bond note and the United States dollar, but a fall in value of the former has triggered a jump in prices of goods and services, and Dube said the local authority had not been spared.

As a stop-gap measure to raise the much-needed capital, BCC has already started implementing a 50% debt cancellation policy targeting those settling outstanding debts in foreign currency.

The council is also selling housing stands in forex.

Dube said the BCC maintains the government 1:1 rate when dealing with the United States dollar and the bond note, EcoCash or real time gross settlement (RTGS) so as not to fault the government on the exchange rate.

Analysts have said government must re-dollarise the economy to deal with the unfolding currency crisis.

“Given what is happening in our economy, I think the administration needs to accept re-dollarisation and avoid a series of ligations over bond/RTGS balances that may lose their value. I think they must issue Treasury Bills (TB’s) or some other kind of mechanism,” commentator Liberty Bhebhe argued.

“These TBs or whatever facility should mature over different time periods. In order to protect ordinary citizens, TBs should be for balances over 10 000 for individual accounts and on a sliding scale for business. This will protect RTGS bank balances and ordinary people’s savings.”

Correspondent|Zanu PF stalwart and safari operator, Headman Sibanda is seeking $91 036 compensation from NMB Bank Limited for damages incurred when his property was attached and sold by the bank over a debt he had already settled.

Sibanda, a shareholder and Inyala Safaris director, filed summons against NMB Bank at the Bulawayo High Court last week.

“Plaintiff’s claim … are for an order for payment of $77 846, being damages representing the value of plaintiff’s Toyota Hilux double-cab sold by the defendant through … (lawyers) and the Messenger of Court …,” the summons read.

“An order for payment of $9 690 damages … for four plate gas stove, 1kg gas cylinder, 420-litre CCP fridge, 290-litre Capri fridge, three-piece lounge suite, three side table and a seven-piece dining room suite, sold by the defendant through … the Messenger of Court without any legal basis after payment of money due by the plaintiff through Inyala Safaris.”

Sibanda stated that his Toyota Hilux was sold for $7 700, a sale he says was illegal as he had fully paid back the debt.

He is also demanding $3 500 for a wooden piano that was damaged when the property was attached by the Messenger of Court.

Sibanda prayed for payment of interest at the prescribed rate from date of issue of summons to date of full payment, including costs of suit.

He said despite demand, the bank refused, failed or neglected to pay. NMB bank is yet to respond to the summons.

LISTED conglomerate Meikles Limited has challenged the sale of its shareholding in its subsidiaries Meikles Hospitality and Tanganda Tea Company in a High Court-sanctioned auction conducted on Christmas Eve.

The auction was conducted to settle a $1,5 million debt owed to a local consultancy firm Widefree Investments (Core Solutions).

Meikles Hospitality has interests in Meikles Hotel as well as its building, the Victoria Falls Hotel, and shareholding in Mentor Africa Limited, a company which owns The Cape Grace Hotel in South Africa.

Tanganda owns vast tea estates in the eastern highlands.

Independent estimates value the companies at between $58 million and $60 million.

LM Auctioneers conducted the sale and Murray Lynton-Edwards was declared the highest bidder, purchasing both properties for approximately $2,7 million.

In court papers seen by NewsDay, company secretary Thabani Mpofu argues that the sale was improperly conducted and that the property was sold for an unreasonably low price.

He also contends that the property was sold for more than the amount required to satisfy the debt, and that the property was not valuated prior to the sale.

“It is interesting to point out at this stage that if one is to read between the lines, the intention of the auctioneers and the first respondent was to conduct a public auction as if it was a private treaty, as the creditors’ own people were to bid for the shares had it not been for the presence of the second respondent,” the challenge reads.

“This was clearly an attempt at fraudulently disposing the shares and changing the shareholding as aforementioned. This was clearly an attempt at committing a criminal offence, something which the applicant shall follow up with the Zimbabwe Republic Police Fraud Squad for the charge of attempted fraud in terms of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.”

NewsDay

ABOUT 1 800 households in Binga are expected to benefit from a $500 000 emergency food assistance programme funded by the Canadian government through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a global non-profit making organisation.

The project, which is a response to drought-related food insecurity in Zimbabwe, will provide emergency food handouts to the identified households for four months.

MCC, which was allocated $469 833, is part of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, which is a partnership of 15 church and church-based agencies that work together to end global hunger.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank, with the support of the Canadian government, provide food assistance to people experiencing humanitarian crises around the world.

The project comes at a time Zimbabwe is facing another climate change-induced drought. Government is on record saying the country faces another El Niño-induced drought in the 2018-2019 rainy season.

Economic challenges are also expected to have direct and indirect impacts on livelihoods and food security in the country.

The regional bloc, Southern African Development Community, last year warned members to brace for another season of normal to below-normal rainfall, amid indications that the region would again be affected by the El Niño weather pattern.

A SECURITY guard from Beitbridge has been slapped with a 24-month jail sentence for escaping from custody, including encouraging a murder suspect to flee from police custody.

Kelvin Mlauzi (39) of Dulibadzimo pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to aid a murder suspect to escape from detention and escaping from police custody when he appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Goodswill Mavenge.

The magistrate convicted and sentenced him to 24 months in jail for both counts. Six months of the sentence were conditionally suspended for five years.

According to the prosecutor, Munyonga Kuvarega, Mlauzi was arrested for assault on November 5 last year and was detained in the same cell with Steven Chasaya, a murder suspect.

While in the holding cell, Mlauzi requested that constable Tawanda Lampson Mapa bring him a water bottle he had left in the charge office.

The court heard that Mlauzi then encouraged Chasaya to escape from lawful custody before using a strip from the water bottle to remove Chasaya’s leg irons.

At around 7pm, Mlauzi heard the holding cells gate being opened and urged Chasaya to escape from custody with him, but he refused.

The convict escaped from the cell with the leg irons concealed under his T-shirt, as Mapa was leading two more suspects into the cells.

NewsDay

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has described the striking doctors at public health institutions as hypocrites who are lying under oath.

Addressing government officials during a visit to Kanyemba in Mashonaland Central on Thursday, Chiwenga said it was inhuman for professionals like doctors to withdraw their services to force government to improve their working conditions.

He hailed doctors at Kanyemba’s Chapoto Clinic for soldiering on dispite working under difficult conditions.

“I am glad that no staff at Chapoto Clinic here in Kanyemba withdrew their services. We are not saying, you don’t feel the pain, but you soldiered on by not striking,” Chiwenga said.

“When you withdraw your service, that is a breach of the Hippocratic Oath, because when you withdraw your services, you are not fixing government but the people that you serve,” he said.

Chiwenga has been in charge of negotiations with doctors, who downed tools a month ago demanding improved working conditions, but the talks collapsed as the medical professionals insisted on being paid in United States dollars.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa early this week had to cut short his leave to address the deteriorating situation in the heath sector as more health officials have downed tools in solidarity with the striking doctors.

After the briefing, Chiwenga addressed a rally at Chapoto Business Centre where he implored community members to unite and fight poverty.

“As Zanu PF, we would like to say Happy New Year; we also want to thank you for voting for us in the just-ended elections. We came here to check on the progress we made since our campaign time,” Chiwenga said.

“The President (Mnangagwa) is on leave and I was with him yesterday (Wednesday) and he gave you a Christmas box of 90 tonnes of grain. He said he will come to commission the floating bridge (across the Zambezi River linking Zambia and Zimbabwe).”

He said Kanyemba would be a city by 2023.

NewsDay

Correspondent|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa got his hands dirty cleaning up streets around Fife Avenue Shops in Harare.

The President joined staff members from State House in the inaugural clean up day.

They cleaned from Chancellor Street, went down to Borrowdale Road before turning into Chitepo Street in the capital.

Staffers from Metbank and the Premier Medical Aid Society also participated in the national clean up along several streets in Harare CBD.

“This morning I joined other State House staff members in the inaugural national clean-up day,” said Mnangagwa on his Facebook page.

“This important initiative will take place on the first Friday of each month, and I encourage everyone to join us next time,” he said.

Terrence Mawawa|MDC deputy chairperson Tendai Biti has said Zimbabweans cannot continue to suffer under the clueless Zanu PF leadership.

“What a dog’s breakfast,a real bizarre comedy of errors.The #regime nicodemously “de-dollarized “by levying certain duties in US$ in
its fuzzy 2019 budget .Companies are following suit to protect same against the #BondUS $ fiction.The regime then cries foul.

One more year of doddering under #Zanu misrule is a year too long.We have to provide the leadership.We press for dialogue.We push for convergence on a common Zim #vision .We push for #Reload . The return to #legitimacy , #economicrecovery & #democracy .A new Zimbabwe is possible,” wrote Biti on twitter.

Correspondent|A Zimbabwean woman was on Wednesday arrested at the Robert Mugabe International Airport while trying to smuggle drugs worth US$30 000 from India.

The woman, who was aboard an Ethiopian Airways plane, was searched by detectives from CID drugs and Narcotics Harare, and found in possession of 18 x 500-gram tins containing ephedrine.

The 33-year-old woman, identified as Judith Munemo was arrested after a tip-off by some unknown persons. She was subsequently charged with contravening the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act.

Munemo pleaded guilty to the charges when she appeared before Harare magistrate Learnmore Mapiye. She begged for the court’s mercy:

“I plead guilty to the charges. I did not know what I was doing was unlawful. It was out of ignorance, but I badly needed to raise money for my livelihood.”

“I was going to hand over the drug to someone and I was only going to get $US2 000 after it was sold.”

In mid-December, another Zimbabwean woman was arrested at a Ghana airport with a stash of drugs.

The Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) of Ghana has arrested 30 year old Cynthia Lichonjaat the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) for trafficking illicit drug.

She was arrested when she disembarked from Ethiopian Airways flight No. ET 921.

Ms. Lichonja was accosted while going through arrival formalities.

A search in her checked-in luggage in her presence led to the discovery of Seven (7) parcels of brownish powdery substances suspected to be narcotics, concealed in false compartments of the suitcase.

The substance when tested proved positive for Speedball, a narcotic substance with a weight of 7.5kg.

The suspect admitted that the suitcase was given to her by one Ms. Patience, her childhood friend in Zimbabwe to be sent to an unknown person in Accra, adding that Ms. Patience bought her the ticket to enable her travel to Accra.

In April 2018, another Zimbabwean woman was nabbed at an Indian airport acting as a drug mule.

Betty Rame was caught at the Delhi airport with close to three kilograms of party drugs earlier this week. Security officials said the woman was carrying drugs worth Rs. 15 crore which she was trying to smuggle to Manila in Philippines via Goa.

Here is how it unfolded. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials got a tip-off from the Narcotics Control Bureau about a foreign woman carrying drugs on Monday.

On the same evening, Betty Rame, a Zimbabwe citizen, reached the departure terminal of the Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 8:30 to catch a flight to Goa.

Just as she was about to enter the airport from Gate 3, a security official stopped her.

Betty Rame was then frisked and made to give her baggage for checking. When the officers passed her suitcase through the X-BIS machine, officials spotted an image which looked suspicious.

On lifting it, it seemed unusually heavy.

Terrence Mawawa|The controversial Reconstruction Act is being used as a repressive tool to silence perceived enemies of the Zanu PF regime, Zimbabwean businessman Mutumwa Mawere has said.

Mawere also related how he was tormented by Zanu PF bigwigs as they sought to grab Shabanie and Mashava Mines.

“Just look at the Delta and Econet models as well as the challenges imposed by a fascist forex regime.
If u challenge the system, Recon Act can be the remedy,” Mawere argued.

“U may ask like @matinyarare how
come Econet can thrive in an opaque system?You have been asking why the voice of biz is silent on the Recon Act. You can understand that Delta a beneficiary of a fascist&socialist forex regime has hardly any incentive2rock the boat. The RBZ as usual has committed2robbing exporters like SMM was.”

“Is Delta a net exporter? If not, what has made the company afloat? Ask yourself why they would not see evil in the Recon Act. By helping Delta to get forex as far back as 2003,I was
accused of externalization. Did u hear Delta coming to my rescue? Instead Schweppes was a victim.

Are you sure after the agreement assuring Delta that forex diversions will come its way, Delta is not blinded by the harvest that must yield dividends? Zim is only good as long as govt grace visits the player. Remember Gono was a master at
this.”

Own Correspondent|The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association ZHDA, has refuted claims by the state owned Herald Newspaper that striking junior doctors have agreed to call off their 34 day industrial action after meeting with the First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa.

In an official tweet, the Association says that it is yet to consult with all its members country wide to decide on the way forward on submissions made by the First Lady.

The delegation that went to meet First Lady today is yet to give feedback to our membership. Awaiting this much anticipated feedback, lets not speculate the outcome, because concessions are made after nationwide consultations with members. We hope the negotiations are fruitful!

— ZHDA (@ZHDAofficial) January 4, 2019

The Herald published a breaking news story claiming that the doctors had agreed to go back to work after commitments to have their grievances sorted by the First Lady.

Amongst the most thorny demands by the doctors is to be paid in US Dollars.

Below is Econet boss, Strive Masiyiwa’s latest sack of jecha on the exiled prof Jonathan Moyo’s reputation:

1. I owned Zimbabwe’s largest daily independent newspaper. It was bombed with explosives when he was Minister of Information. He had threatened me and boasted about it earlier

2. When I re-opened the newspaper, he introduced the harshest media laws and shut it down permanently

3. Prior to the closure of the paper, he arrested journalists almost every week.

4. He sent thugs to the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe to force the resignation of the entire bench. The thugs jumped on the benches and mocked judges.

5. He was part of a decision to lock up Senior Executives who were locked up in leg irons because I was accused of financing the opposition and free press in the country.

6. Jonathan Moyo organized farm invasions, theft of elections and violence against the opposition. He regularly called for my arrest and harm.

VIDEOS LOADING BELOW….

"The issue here ladies and gentlemen is an issue of betrayal of our liberation struggle…" https://t.co/7apyvnfNtb pic.twitter.com/vxSz3XjhWx

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 4, 2019

THE panicky government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly put its security arms on high alert as part of measures to clamp down on leaders of opposition parties, non-governmental organisations and labour unions ahead of next week’s mass protests over the deteriorating economic situation in the country, NewsDay has learnt.

Well-placed government sources have revealed that the country’s security apparatus has been put on high alert to deal with the impending strikes that could pose a serious threat to Mnangagwa’s rule.

The security fears were amplified by threats of crippling demonstrations by teachers, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) as well as the opposition MDC, beginning next week.

According to sources, Mnangagwa fears the protests, mainly involving underpaid civil servants, could be hijacked by his political rivals to effect regime change.

“The security agents are on high alert. There is fear that the proposed protests by teachers, ZCTU and the opposition may force things off hand, especially coming at a time when schools open and parents cannot afford to pay the hiked fees and uniforms,” a source told NewsDay.

“There was a meeting this week by the Joint Operations Command, and one of the major issues was to call on President Mnangagwa to address the deteriorating economic situation in the country to avoid a security crisis. The demonstrations will be met with force from government.”

Mnangagwa is still battling to contain a month-long strike by public hospital doctors, who want to be paid in United States dollar-denominated salaries, among other grievances.

He was forced to abort his annual leave early this week to help his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, deal with the matter.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba on Wednesday warned opposition parties and non-governmental organisations to stay out of the impasse between government and the striking doctors.

Mnangagwa last year repeatedly warned the opposition MDC, whose protests have attracted huge crowds, of abusing the democratic space provided by his government, adding he would soon run out of patience.

Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema yesterday, however, professed ignorance on the planned clampdown on protesters.
“I am hearing this issue from you. What do you want government to do? To have them in prison? I don’t know what you are talking about,”Mathema said.

But MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said his party was not deterred by State threats of a clampdown on opposition leaders.
“It is clear that their own incompetence, inefficiency and cluelessness have become a danger to themselves. They are running away from their shadow,” Mafume said.

“The people of Zimbabwe have a right to protest and express themselves using constitutional means. We are not deterred. We know they have demons of war and like Legion, they will find pigs to possess and fall off the cliff of dictatorship. We remain committed to representing the interests of the people within the confines of the Constitution.”

ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo also vowed to go ahead with the planned protests.

“We want to make it clear that we are not afraid of them. We are ready for them. We know they have been doing this for years so that they could retain power,” he said.

“We are aware that hospitals are waiting for us after being beaten by the police. We are aware that the prisons are waiting for us because this rogue regime, without due care for its citizens, is going to arrest us for exercising our rights”

Added Moyo: “Let it be known that they can kill us, fight us and do all sorts of things, but the economy will not change because of that. Government should direct its energy towards the economy and not unarmed civilians.”

Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said no amount of threats would deter them.
“We are going ahead; no one is going to stop us. Even if we are going to stay at home, there are worse horrors at home than at [Finance minister] Mthuli Ncube’s office.

We will be looking at our children who can’t go to school because we don’t have school fees, and that there is no food and money,” Masaraure said.

“Even those who want to go to work will be unable to (do so) because they don’t have money.”

-Newsday

In a surprising twist, the Officer in Charge at Milton Park Police Station has told Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition’s (CiZC) lawyers that plain clothed police officers who visited CiZC offices yesterday, January 3 2019, were only making a ‘courtesy call.’

The Officer in Charge had initially expressed ignorance over the matter following inquiries by lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

He later called in to say that he had been alerted of the visit by his subordinates and that it was a ‘courtesy call’.

FOREIGN Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo on Thursday appeared at a State House function in a healthy and jovial mood, sending Zimbabweans across the political divide into a frenzied buzz as they congratulated him on his good health.

His one tweet yesterday triggered an avalanche of good health wishes from Zimbabweans worldwide,as his last tweet had been a rather jaded 29 November photo of him recovering from a couch at home.

“UK and Northern Ireland Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Melanie Robinson presents her credentials to President Mnangagwa,” is all that Minister Moyo posted, to wild delirium.

#StateHouseBrief

UK and Northern Ireland Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Melanie Robinson presents her credentials to President Mnangagwa @Michellehakata @HChikwanha @TafadzwaMugwadi @nickmangwana @caesarzvayi @JoramNyathi @UKinZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/tIzrZEDu4X pic.twitter.com/qiptiISdIg

— SB Moyo (@MinisterSBMoyo) January 3, 2019

One Patricia Chinyoka said: “Welcome back Minister, glad you’ve recovered. Even though I’m not pro Zanu PF, I wish you well.”

“Thank you God bless you,” SB Moyo responded. But he could not respond to all other messages of goodwill which immediately began popping into the timeline.

But of course, there was bound to be something like this: “Welcome back @MinisterSBMoyo I wish you good health so that you will enjoy life during Chamisa’ s leadership, not the kind of command Leadership being proffered by Mr Chiwenga. Please I know you are a dignified man who can tell him the truth. Mentor him on +leadership styles. “

Affectionately known as SB, Minister Moyo had an emergency surgery at a Harare hospital for a kidney-related ailment, before being flown to South Africa. When he came back, he took time off social media streets and the public glare as he recovered from home.

He did not see much of his office since being inaugurated as Foreign Affairs Minister in September last year.

The medical condition also forced ‘General Bae’ to miss the crucial United Nations General Assembly meeting in the United States, where Zimbabwe was represented by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The retired lieutenant general became an instant celebrity when he announced live on State television in the 2017 November’s military intervention which led to the popular ouster from power of former long-ruling leader, Robert Mugabe.

This saw the affable and articulate former senior military officer, virtually an unkown quantity in Zimbabwean politics before the coup, earning the monicker “General Bae” or “the people’s soldier” among his admirers.

During the military operation of November 2017, SB Moyo was labelled the only credible source of politcal developments during those five days that gripped the whole world on happenings behind Zimbabwe’s political curtain.

“Let’s wait for the address by Major-General Sibusiso Moyo, everything else is fake news,” was a common statement across Zimbabwe, as social media rumours competed for space with genuine updates on the unfolding events.

The Major-General also went to pay tribute to the hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans who filled the streets of Harare on a Saturday in a solidarity march lauding the huge crowds for their discipline throughout the march.

“Ndauya kuzotenda nerutsigiro rwenyu rwamaita kumauto enyu eZimbabwe. Rambai makadaro nerutsigiro irworwo. Mauto enyu navanhu zvakafanana, saka tinotenda chaizvo nezvamaita nhasi.

“Nyaya yamaratidza yediscipline, kuzvibata nekuterera kwaratidza nyika yese kuti vanhu vemuZimbabwe vakafunda.”

Many were demanding to get into State House and have a “taste of the guavas in the orchard” after a march to the perimeter of the Number 1 residence during the march and it was tough for members of the ZDF to stop the onslaught.

But one humble word from Major-General Sibusiso Moyo and people went home in smiles.

“Zvichemo zvenyu tazvinzwa, mukati umu hamuchapinda . . . chidzokerai kumba,” he said and people were on their way.

His own father described him as follows: “Sibusiso, tachiwona, chichangozvagwa, chakanga chakasimba – chakanaka, chichingonwekurira chisinga nyanyo chema kana kuita dambudziko sevamwe vekutanga asi ichi chaingoratidzika kusmile-a chakasimba muviri wacho.

“Tichimuwona ari chanana akatifadza saka takamupa zita – Ropafadzo muchishona ndozvarinoreva zita rake Ropafadzo, muchiNdebele Sibusiso”

May mercy, goodness and good health follow ‘General Bae’ forever more!

Source Zoom zim written by Felix Chiroro.

PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance Ministries leader Walter Magaya says he has intensified research on his controversial HIV and Aids herbal remedy, Aguma, as he awaits government to test the drug’s suitability for public use.

Addressing journalists on New Year’s Eve, Magaya said after the decision to subject his Aguma herb to clinical trials through the Health ministry, he undertook a separate “further study and examination of the herb to ensure its effectiveness to cure HIV and Aids”.

“2018 has been a tremendous year for us as a ministry because we undertook very important projects such as the establishment of the marble factory and undertook a serious life-changing health study, which we are now waiting for our government to verify and approve,” he said.

“We did not rest after announcing the Aguma herb. Instead, we continued to do further research while we wait for the government to do theirs. They are yet to come and start; I don’t know why?”

The PHD Ministries leader, who commands a large following at his church, torched a storm late last year when he prematurely announced that he had found a herbal cure for HIV and Aids before seeking government clearance, leading to his arrest.

He was subsequently charged with contravening section 40(1) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act, which criminalises the distribution of unapproved medicines and misleading advertisement of such.

Government alleged that Magaya’s herb had not been tested by authorities for human use, implying he had no right to announce such a development without State approval.

Magaya said despite government’s slow pace in conducting research on the herb, he was not deterred in pursuing his vision of finding a cure for HIV and Aids.

Health minister Obadiah Moyo could not be reached for comment, as his mobile phone went unanswered.

NewsDay

Correspondent|THE Government has suspended leave for chief executive officers and directors at public health institutions.

In a letter addressed to chief executive officers yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Gerald Gwinji said the suspension of leave was a necessary move in efforts to bring sanity to the health sector.

“As you’re aware of the challenges currently faced by our health system, particularly central hospitals, it has become necessary that all senior managers in the health service be available to assist in dealing with the situation.

“In view of the above, all types of leave for directors and chief executive officers are hereby suspended with immediate effect. May you kindly make sure that all directors who are on leave report for duty immediately,” said Dr Gwinji.

He added that all affected members will be compensated their leave days once the situation normalises.

Government hospitals have been in a critical state since doctors embarked on strike at the beginning of last month demanding to be paid their salaries in US dollars and better working conditions.

The doctors ignored an ultimatum by the Labour Court to return to work after it ruled the industrial action illegal because they offer an essential service.

– state media

POLICE have launched a manhunt for gun toting robbers who pounced on passengers in a Beitbridge- bound bus from Masvingo on Monday and got away with R10 900, $2 225 (bonds) and cellphones.

The three robbers got onto the bus pretending to be ordinary passengers and when the bus had travelled some distance, one of the robbers shot at the driver’s window and ordered him to stop. The trio then demanded money and cellphones from the terrified passengers who were on board the Reg Step Bus.

National police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the incident yesterday, saying the criminals are still at large and nothing has been recovered yet.

“Travellers aboard a Beitbridge-bound bus were robbed on December 31, 2018, at about 4.30PM. One of the passengers approached the driver near Madhamuli turn-off at the 274km peg along Masvingo-Beitbridge highway and drew a pistol before firing at the driver’s window.

“He ordered the driver to stop and together with his two accomplices, who were also passengers in the same bus, they instructed the passengers to look down and moved collecting cash and cellphones from the passengers,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

She said total cash stolen was R10 900 and $2 225 (bonds) and nothing has been recovered. She urged bus crews to be more careful and make sure they record identity particulars of their passengers

“This is the second time that armed criminals have targeted buses in December 2018. Bus crews need to be very alert and employ mechanisms of obtaining identities of persons boarding their buses.

“Police are hunting for these criminals and I would like to appeal to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the robbers to contact any nearest police station,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

Cross border traders travelling from different parts of the country to South Africa are being targeted by robbers who know they will be carrying cash to buy goods in the neighbouring country.

On December 16, last year, one person was killed while three others were injured when a Smart bus they were travelling in was attacked by two armed robbers, 10km before Beitbridge town.

Sometime back three buses, Intercape, Intercity and Mzansi carrying Zimbabwean passengers were robbed at gunpoint along the Musina -Johannesburg highway in a space of two days.

Two years ago a robber was shot dead after his weapon discharged as he wrestled with a Zimbabwean passenger, who had refused to hand over cash during a robbery in a Mzansi Tours bus that had stopped at a fuel station in Musina on its way to Johannesburg.

One of the hijackers later shot the passenger on the shoulder as they fled from the scene with R22 100, $80 and cellphones.

State Media

Correspondent|ZIMBABWE’S leading beer and soft drinks manufacturer Delta Corporation Limited was Thursday forced to abandon its plans to start charging its products in US dollars following immense pressure by government.

The company announced the development in a joint statement with central bank governor John Mangudya Thursday.

“Delta withdraws the notice of selling its products exclusively in foreign currency in the spirit of multicurrency framework,” read the short statement.

The top brewer on Wednesday sent panic waves within both government corridors and the local retail market when it announced it shall, beginning this Thursday, start charging all its products in the more stable US dollars.

The privately owned firm cited the need to acquire the much needed forex in order to keep its operations moving in the wake of a forex crunch that has seen the company failing to meet customers’ orders.

Delta said it was not privileged with central bank facilitated access to forex like other sectors and had also refrained from the acquisition of hard currency from the black market.

Attempts to peg its products in forex elicited fervent reactions from government which described the move as ill-thought and illegal.

But in what looks like an audaciously solicited change of heart, Delta Corporation chief executive officer, Pearson Gowero said the notice has been withdrawn in the “spirit of multicurrency framework”.

This follows a meeting convened by Acting Vice President Constantino Chiwenga with the company as well as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe at government’s Munhumutapa offices Thursday.

“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will endeavour to provide foreign currency required to ensure that Delta continues on the current basis,” said the statement.

In attempts to remedy a crisis that has seen prices escalate while coupled with a prolonged strike action by public hospital doctors, Chiwenga, who is substantive VP, has threatened to pull the plug on perceived anti-government forces.

When Delta announced it was switching to US dollar transactions Wednesday, Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu reacted angrily, describing the decision as “illegal” while accusing the local company of taking advantage of government’s benevolence in allowing open market economy with little interference from the state.

“This is not only against the spirit of fairness, but it is also an illegal practice,” Ndlovu said.

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

Delta imports its concentrate from Swaziland and it requires $2 million per month to buy it and granules used to manufacture plastic bottles used in packaging.

By announcing its foiled bid to change its books to US transactions, Delta may have been inspired by current Industry Deputy Minister and Bulawayo businessman Raj Modi who charges his beer products in US dollars.

TWO students from Munyikwa High School in Masvingo have achieved notoriety after a video of them went viral just before schools closed for the third term.

The students who cannot be named for ethical reasons appear to have been posing for the camera as they demonstrate what couples should do when making out while other students were watching what was happening and seemingly enjoying the action.

In the video the couple start of lying on the bed before getting up into sitting positions. At this point, they start kissing, and the male student starts stroking the girl’s chin and thighs seemingly demonstrating to other students how to act when they are being intimate with females.

When reached for comment by the Masvingo Mirror, the male student said,

It’s true that the s_ex tape leaked but I’m not the one who did that, it could be some of my friends whom I used to give my phone for charging since I don’t have a charger to charge my phone.

Parents who talked to the Mirror blamed the situation on the informal boarding systems at the school where girls and boys mingle in their different places of residence.

— Masvingo Mirror

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa as the Acting Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry from 5 to 10 January 2019.

Mutsvangwa will be holding reigns for Minister Prisca Mupfumira who will be on leave.

“President Mnangagwa has appointed Hon. Minister Monica Mutsvangwa as the Acting Minister of Environment, Tourism & Hospitality Industry from 5 to 10 January 2019, when Hon. Minister Prisca Mupfumira would be on leave,” said the Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting in a Tweet.

Terrence Mawawa|UK based IT expert and social commentator Ms Miriam Mutizwa has attacked Strive Masiyiwa for being an impediment to democracy.

See Ms Mutizwa’ s statement below: Over the past few weeks in the quest for justice Tsitsi Masiyiwa hit us with a tweet that she ran off of Twitter without explaining and did not have the decency of responding to any of the questions posted in response to her tweet.

She tweeted “Some outcries and actions in pursuit of justice seem and look so right until you discover the source of the outcry and sponsor of the cause. Take a step back and reflect on some of the things we consider good and just causes.”

Dewa Mavhinga responded as follows, “If you are implying that all and any outcry and pursuit of justice is sponsored then that really is sad. When your husband pursued his fight to be licensed it was a just cause. In such position of privilege, you should choose your words more carefully, lest you promote injustice”.

This happened to be Dewa’s only tweet in response to Tsitsi’s post.

For reasons best known to Strive Masiyiwa he viewed this tweet as an action of bullying Tsitsi off of Social Meida.

Strive seems to believe that because he is now a billionaire who rocks with the ruling elite of zanu pf which he once fought, he should be immune to criticism and public query.

His Facebook post literally bullied Mavhinga into getting his principles to respond to Strive’s allegations.

Professor Lumumba once said “As for accusations even the divine Jesus of Nazareth was accused of many things; even Martin Luther King Junior was accused of many things; even Mahatma Gandhi was accused of many things. But it is our duty to prove our detractors wrong by our actions.”

It is disturbing that Strive’s actions are not helping in proving his accusers wrong so far.

Recently I asserted that Zimbabweans must come first not just one or two Zimbabweans but ALL Zimbabweans.

This in my strongest of opinions makes Strive’s recent utterances appear to be saying him and his Mrs are the first Citizens and no other Zimbabwean citizen ought to query their steps and utterances despite them existing because of transacting with public funds at both institutional and individual level.

My expectations on characters like Strive are purely vested in the law.

Does the law protect ALL citizens equally or are we experiencing justice apartheid as pronounced by the Masiyiwas and others like them?”

Speaking on microblogging website Twitter, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said police in plain clothes visited their offices today.

This follows an article by the State owned newspaper The Herald claiming that 6 Western nationals
have been working with local non-governmental organisations led by Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe
(CCiZ) to force President Mnangagwa into a unity
Government with opposition political parties or to set up a transitional authority.

The six foreigners allegedly convened a week- long workshop at a private lodge in Harare earlier
this month where they came up with strategies to incite Zimbabweans to revolt against President Mnangagwa and the Zanu-PF Government. The
workshop was reportedly coordinated by CCiZ chairperson Mr Rashid Mahiya and a committee
member, Mr Pride Mukono, from December 3 to 7 under the theme: “The Crisis of Legitimacy in
Zimbabwe.” When contacted for a comment, CCiZ spokesman Mr Tabani Moyo denied that there was such a meeting.

Harare socialite and businessman, Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure was the centre of attraction in Victoria Falls on New Year’s Eve when he hosted a party at The Kingdom Hotel
that became the talk of town.

The party that was a “Lite” version of his All- White parties was organised hurriedly at one of the hotel’s biggest conference rooms after Ginimbi — who had attended the Vic Falls
Carnival — noticed that there was not much entertainment on offer in the town.

As a brand ambassador for the Harare International Carnival and an Internet sensation adored by many because of his controversial live videos on Instagram, Ginimbi marketed the event using himself as
the selling point. This worked out as the event trended with many — including cab drivers expressing their interest to attend.

The party attracted many Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls socialites, most who were persuaded to attend by their girlfriends for obvious reasons.
As one got to the hotel, one of the best in the resort town, they were met by Ginimbi’s fleet of top-of-the-range vehicles that were parked by the entrance. In this whole country, other than the President, no one is
allowed to park their car at hotel entrances as this blocks other guests who will be dropping off. However, Ginimbi’s vehicles
were there for the whole night.Chronicle

Harare Bureau-Delta Corporation has reversed a decision to sell its products in foreign currency after the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe yesterday assured the manufacturer it would provide the forex required to fund its import requirements.

The firm wanted to price its products in hard currency beginning today.
The decision to reverse the notice was made after Vice President Constantino Chiwenga last night met Delta officials together with RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya and
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.
Dr Mangudya and Delta chief executive Mr Pearson Gowero issued a joint statement after the meeting.
“The parties agreed that Delta withdraws the notice to sell its products exclusively in hard
currency, in the spirit of the multi-currency framework,” read the statement presented to journalists by Mr Gowero.

“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will
endeavour to provide the foreign currency required to ensure that Delta continues to trade on the current basis.”In an earlier interview, Prof Mthuli had appealed to private firms to be patient while Government worked on fiscal consolidation.
“We are saying the private sector should wait for us to give policy.
“They should be patient and see how our fiscal policy is making progress. We are making good progress in fiscal consolidation and once we are ready we will institute the requisite monetary reforms,” said Minister
Ncube.

“They should not rush ahead to choose the currency they think the whole country should adopt. They should just be patient, let us work together. That is really our
message,” he said.Chronicle

Correspondent|BILLIONAIRE business tycoon Strive Masiyiwa may not be enjoying the early days of the New Year after his bust-up with a number of people after making claims that his wife, Tsitsi, had been forced to close her Twitter account due to cyberbullying.

Masiyiwa even fingered Dewa Mavhinga, the Southern Africa Director for Human Rights Watch (HRW) as one of the cyber bullies and seems to have suggested that he should be fired as Masiyiwa is a close friend of the founder of Human Rights Watch, Robert L. Bernstein.

Wrote Strive Masiyiwa on his Facebook page:

Sadly one of the foremost bullies is a Zimbabwean who works for an international organization that is highly respected for its work on human rights. It’s (sic) founder, now 95 is a close family friend. I hope my human rights friend is happy now that he has stopped her from using Twitter. Maybe now he and others like him will stop this pathetic misogyny.

What about the rights of women like my wife to also express an opinion?

Apart from attracting criticism from various quarters who viewed Masiyiwa’s actions as bullying, the billionaire businessman was also rebuffed by Human Rights Watch after the organisation backed Mavhinga. Human Rights Watch CEO Kenneth Roth released a statement explaining that Mavhinga’s statements were fair and an entirely appropriate response to his wife’s words.

We publish Roth’s response to Masiyiwa below:

No one wanted to see your wife attacked on Twitter, but you are unfair by not explaining what happened. She had tweeted: “Some outcries and actions in pursuit of justice seem and look so right until you discover the source of the outcry and sponsor of the cause. Take a step back and reflect on some of the things we consider ‘good and just causes.’ #FoodForThought” Although I will presume it was not her intention, that comment closely paralleled the claim of President Mnangagwa and some of his supporters that critics of human rights conditions under his rule are not genuine but are sponsored by outsiders.

In response, the person you attack tweeted the following: “If you are implying that all and any outcry & pursuit of justice is sponsored then that is really sad. When your husband pursued his fight to be licensed it was a just cause. In such position of privilege you should choose your words more carefully, le[s]t it promote injustice.” With no further instigation, others took up this theme as well, so your wife chose to close her twitter account.

That response was entirely fair—an appropriate way to ensure that your wife’s comment, despite what her intentions might have been, wasn’t understood as an endorsement of the president’s and his allies’ attacks on human rights critics. Far from bullying, the response cites your personal story as a positive counterexample: your long experience fighting injustice shows that good causes can indeed be genuinely pursued without any foreign sponsor.

I accept that you and the responder differ on when sanctions against the Mnangagwa government should be lifted. You find it sufficient that in your view Mnangagwa is well-intentioned. The responder and many others, including myself, prefer to see the government take concrete steps before lifting one of the main sources of pressure to secure improvements.

That’s a legitimate difference of opinion. I would hope we could debate the merits of those positions without resorting to name-calling, especially such factually unsupported names, as you have now done. Unlike your statement here, the responder didn’t bully anyone—and certainly not your wife—but simply responded to what he feared, whatever her intentions, would be taken as an attack on the credibility of the human rights movement.

That others picked up on his point, without any encouragement or prompting by him, does not make him a bully but speaks to the resonance of his comment. And given his long respect for her work, as well as his highly respectful and productive relations with his many female colleagues in the human rights movement, I would hardly call him misogynistic. He would have responded to comments along the lines that your wife made regardless of who had made them. That is his right —and indeed his duty as a human rights defender.

FORMER Lands minister Douglas Mombeshora and his wife Millicent are set to lose household property worth thousands of dollars after failing to pay back an undisclosed amount of money to a local bank.

According to a notice of auction, KM Actions (Private) Limited is set to auction the property mid next week after the couple lost a court case to the financial institution.

In terms of the notice, the former Cabinet minister and his wife, are set to lose, a Capri washing machine, two wooden sideboards, two-door steel cabinets, massaging machine, a broken desk, electronic digital safe, books, a Sony television, a plasma television, steel shelf, gym equipment and a boardroom table, among other items.

“Duly instructed by the Sheriff of the High Court of Zimbabwe, we shall set by public auction the following assets to the highest bidder on Wednesday 9 January 2019 at our premises No. 20 Edison Crescent Graniteside at 12pm,” the notice reads.

The obtaining harsh economic climate has proved to be difficult for especially Zanu PF bigwigs who lost their plush jobs at the birth of the Second Republic under President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Last year, several politicians linked to Zanu PF and white commercial farmers were dragged to court by employees at their farms across the country over failure to pay wages.

In a development that exposes how the elite is finally feeling the pinch of economic hardships being faced by the majority in the country, the Progressive Agriculture and Allied Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Paawuz) — the union which represents farm workers — said it was forced to approach the Labour Court where the matters are still pending.

Court documents also reveal that Zanu PF bigwigs including former Public Service minister Nicholas Goche, Bindura South Member of Parliament Remigious Matangira, former first lady Grace Mugabe’s sister Rose Chidhakwa, former Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi and former Mbare MP Tendai Savanhu owe their employees tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and allowances.

A number of politicians were also hauled before the courts last year over their failure to service electricity debts and are either negotiating flexible payment arrangements with power utility, Zesa Holdings, or pleading their cases in court.

Among the bigwigs are Sekeramayi who owes $327 481 for his Ulva Farm; Savanhu ($19 000 for his Eagle Estate Farm in Marondera); Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba ($43 716 for Wakatai Plot in Concession) and former Mashonaland East Provincial minister Ambrose Mutinhiri who owes $54 000 for his Newton Farm.

In 2017, 43 head of cattle belonging to then Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry secretary Ngoni Masoka went under the hammer to pay off a debt he owed to the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Development Company (ZFDC).

During the same year, Zanu PF activist Stanley Kasukuwere’s three tractors and other farming equipment were also auctioned over a debt with Windmill (Private) Limited.

A 32-year-old man is in trouble after he allegedly ordered his gay lover bashed for refusing to have sex with other men for money.

Dzikamai Chihuri, of Kuwadzana, was arraigned before Harare magistrate, Ruramai Chitumbura this Wednesday facing aggravated indecent assault and assault charges.

The the incident occurred after Chihuri relocated from Chitungwiza to Kuwadzana recently upon hooking up with the 21-year-old complainant on Facebook.

The pair started living together in October last year.

According to the State, after moving in with the victim, Chihuri indicated that he was gay and went on to sexually abuse the former on several occasions.

Court heard that Chihuri would, at times, beat up the complainant, accusing him of dating other men. The latter did not disclose the abuse to anyone.

However, on January 1 this year, Chihuri allegedly brought home four men and ordered the complainant to sleep with each of them.

The partner, who was not identified in court refused, triggering a fight.

According to the State, the complainant managed to escape and went straight to the police to report the incident.

Chihuri was subsequently arrested.

He was not asked to plead when he appeared in court Wednesday.

The case was remanded to January 16 with Chihuri remaining in custody.

Sebastian Mutizirwa prosecuted.

NewsDay

Seven Chinese nationals appeared at the Harare magistrates court on Thursday after they were arrested last month with rhino horn pieces worth nearly a million dollars.

They are facing charges of breaching the country’s wildlife laws.

Zeng Dengui, 35; Peicon Jang, 35; Chen Zhiangfu, 30; Qui Jinchang, 29; Yu Xian, 25; Yong Zhu, 25 and Liu Cheng, 23 were arrested two days before Christmas after police raided their home following a tip-off.

The Chinese nationals appeared in a Zimbabwe court facing charges of breaching wildlife laws after they were found with rhino horn pieces
Police detectives found pieces of rhino horn stashed in a mattress, plastic bags and in boxes at a house in one of the town’s suburbs.

The seven who are all unemployed, appeared in the dock wearing khaki prison garb at the court in the resort town of Victoria Falls.

Their trial which had been scheduled to start Thursday was delayed to January 9 after prosecutors said they were not yet ready.

Prosecutor Bheki Tshabalala said police indicated they want further charges of money laundering from the case and also mentioned of a charge of theft of a motor vehicle.

Under Zimbabwe’s parks and wildlife laws it is illegal to keep, possess, sell or dispose of any protected animal’s products or trophies.

The rhino horn pieces weighed 20.98 kilogrammes and were valued at $938,700 (823,500 euros), according to the prosecution.

Rhino horns are highly coveted in some Asian countries such as China and Vietnam, where they have fetched up to $60,000 per kilogramme, for their supposed medicinal qualities.

The demand has fuelled a boom in poaching and trafficking in Africa, especially in Zimbabwe’s neighbour, South Africa.

South Africa, which is home to about 80 percent of the world rhino population, has lost more than 7,100 animals over the past decade.

In 2016, wildlife authorities in Zimbabwe said that they had begun dehorning the country´s 700 adult rhinos to curb rampant poaching.

— AFP

WATCH VIDEO BELOW…

Media Statement By The MDC|THE crush landing of a military chopper in Gutu exposes the rot in the public sector.

That a public official, a mere Permanent Secretary flies around on private visits in a military chopper is mind boggling.

A military chopper is state property only to be used for purposes of protecting the Zimbabwean State, its territorial integrity and its citizens.

A private graduation of a low ranking officer is not part of this obligation. Neither is a private graduation linked to the thwarting of vital threats of the State.

There must be a proper audit of resources in the sector and information availed to Zimbabwean people save for that which falls under classified operations.

More importantly a chopper belonging to the State was crushed on private business, the permanent Secretary must compensate Zimbabweans by paying the equivalent of the damage to the asset. Further reimbursement must be done to the state to the tune of the flying cost including previous trips done using military equipment.

This entails that a detailed inquiry be conducted in respect of routine and operational use of military equipment and measures to combat further abuse of military resources be put in place. Murky use of public resources in any government department must come to an end.

Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

Terrence Mawawa|Professor Jonathan Moyo has described Econet Wireless boss Strive Masiyiwa as a “stinking” hypocrite.

Moyo further accused Masiyiwa of attempting to use his financial power to browbeat dissenting voices.

” Strive, you’re a lumpen democrat & a stinking hypocrite. You claim not to read @Twitter , yet you twisted @dewamavhinga ‘s TL , hoping to
cost him his job. You shut down your paper by illegally not registering it. Recently you called the leader of your paper’s bombers, sincere,” Moyo wrote on twitter.

Masiyiwa has dismissed claims that Moyo is a champion of democracy adding such sentiments are

unfortunate.

Terrence Mawawa|MDC A official Luke Tamborinyoka has accused Emmerson Mnangagwa of sitting on delicate facts about the shooting of innocent civilians by armed soldiers on August 1, 2018.

Tamborinyoka has also pointed out that Mnangagwa is simply playing cheap political games by failing to release the names of the soldiers.

“Those particular members of the military and the police found to have been in breach of their professional duties and discipline on the 1st of
August 2018 should be identified as soon as

possible for internal investigations and appropriate
sanction,”said Tamborinyoka.

Terrence Mawawa|Prominent Zimbabwean businessman Mutumwa believes the government should seriously consider the plight of medical doctors instead of employing “bullyboy” tactics.

Mawere insists a democratic government is expected to uphold constitutional principles and respect citizens’ right to be heard without fear.

” Govt actors must stop pretending that they are some form of superior humans with the power to command
outcomes.Why go to a doctor only to nationalize his time and call him names? A doctor is a person of flesh who has material needs that have to be purchased for real value,” Mawere tweeted.

“Indeed I don’t tweet2attract followers or to be an address of any wisdom. It is and must be pick and choose. Where u don’t understand
just ignore&where u understand.

Who would be the social partners to a contract binding on real people? The missing voices on what matters precludes any inclusive but vacuous social contract.”

A 61-year old Chibuwe man died after a wildlife attack this Monday as human wildlife conflict escalates.

Livestock and fields have also been ravaged by the stray animals.

For 19 years, the Chibuwe community has been living in fear of wildlife attacks owing to vandalism of the electric fence that separates the community and Save Conservancy.

Tragedy hit the community on New Year’s Eve as 61 year old Sekuru Wilson Mahupani Mapakame who was herding cattle near Save Conservancy was attacked and killed by an elephant.

Samuel Mudini who was in the vicinity narrated what he thought might have transpired during the attack.

“We rushed to the scene of attack after we heard the noise of the elephant were Mapakame was herding his cattle. There was evidence of the wild beast having ran after the deceased before killing him,” said Mudini.

A life lost, highlighting the need for unified approach to the matter.

In the wake of the vandalised barricades, the villagers are now appealing to authorities to re-fence the conservancy so that their lives, plants and livestock are safeguarded.

“We urge government to intervene on the impasse between the conservancy and community on the need to ensure that wild animals are not left to roam in the villages living their habitats,” said Laison Mabhengere, the Village Head.

Contacted for comment, local legislator Retired Colonel Joshua Murire says human wildlife conflict is now a big problem as last year alone the community lost over 30 cattle to lions that stray into residential areas while elephants and other wild animals are ravaging fields.

The latest incident comes when two other lives were lost after being attacked by buffaloes.

-State Media