Correspondent|THE family of the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has announced plans to hold his memorial service February 14 next year which would mark an exact full year since his death, the family has informed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

Family spokesperson Manase Tsvangirai said at the former Prime Minister’s residence in Harare’s Strathaven suburb that they have since begun preparations for his memorial.

“The family has decided to hold a pressor because there has been a lot of guess work and posting on social media regarding the late Tsvangirai’s memorial service,” said the younger brother to the once popular opposition politician.

Manase Tsvangirai said the family will announce concrete plans for the ceremony once everything was in place.

“Veteran opposition leader Ian Makone has been selected to be the chairperson of the organising committee of the function,” he said, adding that they have also informed the government, MDC and other stakeholders about the event.

The founding MDC leader was buried at his Buhera rural home where the memorial service is going to be held.

Tsvangirai succumbed to a long battle with colon cancer at a South African hospital where he had been receiving treatment since he came out publicly about his ailment 2016.

He was later given a state assisted funeral in an unprecedented government overture towards a Zanu PF rival.

His shock death aged 65 plunged his party into disarray with the main opposition immediately splitting following fierce differences on who should be successor.

FOLLOWING the publication of a story in the state media yesterday titled “AIPPA, POSA on deathbed”, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has clarified as follows:

Further to an article which appeared yesterday in The Herald, the words “repeal” and “toxic” are misplaced because they both imply pre-determination of the outcome of the statutory process.

For the record, AIPPA was put to address the obtaining historical circumstances which were existing, when there were concerted efforts to bring about illegal regime change.

The Operation Restore Legacy and subsequent opening up in the 2nd Republic has created a totally different set of circumstances.

Prior to the opening up, there is also the 2013 Constitution which created another new set of circumstances, thus it is in this vein that we are amending AIPPA so that it aligns itself to both, the Constitution and the 2nd Republic reforms.

The Executive and Legislature will comb through AIPPA and remove that which is not in concert with the 2nd Republic reforms. This may entail the repealing or amendment of AIPPA, that is why the Government will reinforce the good and remove the bad.

Let it be noted that the All Stakeholders Conference which the Ministry held was strictly a consultative affair.

This open and wide exchange of views is in no way to be misconstrued as a substitute for the due processes of both the Executive and the Legislature.

After all, both bodies are complete and unfettered masters of their agendas and processes as provided by the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

Correspondents|A horrific accident involving several vehicles has happened this morning on the notorious stretch between Kwekwe and Gweru.

According to witnesses, it is suspected the truck breaks failed and crashed into four stationary vehicles at a police roadblock.

More details to follow…

TEACHERS’ representatives under the labour body Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) yesterday met with President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House to discuss their grievances.

The PTUZ delegation was led by its president Dr Takavafira Zhou and requests, among other issues, that teachers’ salaries be paid in US dollars and that teachers’ children be exempt from paying tuition fees.

PTUZ secretary general Mr Raymond Majongwe, said they had an obligation to present their grievances to President Mnangagwa, who is the Head of State and Government and “not any other imaginary power or president”.

He described the meeting as a huge success.

Mr Majongwe said President Mnangagwa pledged to look into issues they raised before making a formal response.

“We were able to articulate the challenges that the teachers are facing,” said Mr Majongwe.

He said it would be difficult for teachers to return to work if not paid in US dollars.

“We ran through a coterie of serious challenges that we are facing, from salary issues. Our demands are clear that because of the purchasing power parity theory, it is going to be very difficult for teachers to return to work if we are not going to be paid in US dollars because the prices out there in the shops are just beyond the reach of many.

“We were also able to raise issues relating to our day-to-day demands about the allowances that we are earning, issues around infrastructure, challenges of teachers with disability, issues around housing for teachers and many other proposals that we were able to give to the President,” he added.

He described the meeting as rare.

“The most important aspect being that this was a rare opportunity; the first of its kind,” said Mr Majongwe.

He said they articulated challenges facing teachers and are looking forward to the President’s response. “I will be naïve to think that the President is going to stand and say ‘I will give you back your bonuses.You are going to be paid in US dollars’. The most important thing is we articulated and unequivocally put a clear position from the PTUZ and its membership that these are the challenges that we are facing and we honestly expect the President to respond. In his own words, he said he had understood and he is going to meet his ministers and deliberate on those and respond to us formally,” said Mr Majongwe.

Mr Zhou said they also proposed solutions to some of the challenges faced by teachers.

“For example, we have teachers who are teaching up 120 pupils. We told him that there is an excess of teachers that are not employed,” he said.

“They have suspended the recruitment of new teachers and even those excess teachers after recruiting, we can still engage on a Government-to-Government (basis) with neighbouring countries and those teachers can get employed. We have also highlighted that teachers are incapacitated. The basic salary of a teacher is $284 and from that $284, a mere uniform for a Form 1 pupil is ranging between $850 and $2 000,” said Mr Zhou.

“We also proffered solutions like a teacher may be allowed that three of his or her children must not pay tuition fees and (school) levy so that you can lessen the burden and other things like boarding fees,” he said.

“Those who work for the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority do not pay for electricity and those who work for Zimbabwe National Water Authority do not pay for water but there is no direct benefit for teachers,” he said.

THE court has issued a warrant of arrest for Zanu PF Makoni North legislator, James Munetsi, after he failed to appear in court for trial in a case where he is accused of duping several people in a land scam.

Munetsi (50) was expected to appear before magistrate Yeukai Chigodora on trial, but failed to turn up in court.

The complainant in this matter is Opper Williams, a pastor at Faith of God Ministries and 178 others.

Allegations are that sometime in 2012, Williams was introduced to Munetsi who was a Zanu PF councillor for Mayo ward 35 in Makoni. Williams was told Munetsi was able to assist her and other pastors of her church to secure land for farming in the Mayo area. It is alleged after some months, Munetsi hatched a plan to defraud the unsuspecting land seekers and invited Williams to Mayo area to have a look at the land waiting to be allocated. The complainant was allegedly shown the application forms of the land which had monetary requirements of $105.

The State alleges the complainant was convinced and she paid $105 for five hectares of land. Other pastors who had accompanied her allegedly also paid their money to Munetsi to be allocated five hectares each. Sometime in 2013, Williams phoned Munetsi requesting for lease papers of their purchased land but Munetsi allegedly told her that he had been given another bigger place at Wenslydale Farm. Munetsi allegedly told Williams to look for buyers interested in bigger plots measuring 15 hectares at $200. As a result, Williams invited a number of people. It is alleged Williams went and advised her church members, friends and relatives some as far as from Australia, United Kingdom, Afghanistan, South Africa and Botswana. It was allegedly agreed between Munetsi and Williams that the complainant would receive the payments on behalf of the Zanu PF MP.

The State alleges at one point, Munetsi came to Harare and went to Faith of God Ministries church where he addressed the congregants about the land. He made the complainants fill forms, including purported offer letters from Rusape Rural District Council.

He promised to bring them back after they have been stamped by council and their receipts as proof of payment.

It is alleged as time progressed, land seekers became impatient and approached Williams who in turn looked for Munetsi who now became evasive.

The State alleges Munetsi was then arrested in February 2015 and he allegedly admitted to defrauding the land seekers of $60 000 and nothing was recovered.

Devoted Nyagano-Gwashavanhu appeared for the State.

-Newsday

Exiled former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has attacked the Motlanthe report on the August 1 killings, describing it as “the worst published Report by a Commission of Inquiry since 1980.” The 21-tweet thread from his @ProfJNMoyo account reproduced verbatim below:_

1/21 It’s notable that the Motlanthe Commission Report does not extricate the Commision from the antecedent toxicity, arising from its flawed composition & terms of reference, that exposed it upfront as a compromised ZanuPF PR scheme. In fact, the Report confirms these flaws!

2/21 The fact that the Commission did nothing to liberate itself from its founding prejudices, especially with regards to its flawed composition & terms of reference, means its Report cannot be expected to meet legitimate public expectations. Something never comes from nothing!

3/21 There’s something instructive from the old-age Shona adage that “rine manyanga hariputirwi”. This is particularly true where atrocities are involved. It is impossible to use a Commission or anything else for that matter, to hide or escape from gross crimes against humanity!

4/21 The smoke and mirrors in Motlanthe Commission’s Report cannot obfuscate the fact that everyone knows why the Commission was setup in the first place. On 1 Aug civilians were gunned down by soldiers & some were killed in cold blood & others brutally injured in broad daylight!

5/21 What happened was self-evident to the naked eye. What was not obvious & needed to be established for purposes of accountability was the identity, names, of the soldiers on rampage & crucially, the authority that deployed them with lethal ammunition in a civilian situation!

6/21 Mnangagwa publicly told the nation & the world that he did not know who deployed the soldiers; meaning that it was not him. That he did not know was the only reason why Zimbabweans & the international community demanded an independent international commission to investigate!

7/21 Notwithstanding the antics by Motlanthe’s Commission to dance naked in the dark with smoke & mirrors; and not withstanding its convulted terms of reference, only two key questions needed factual answers: (a) who are the soldiers that killed civilians & (b) who deployed them?

8/21 WHO DEPLOYED THE SOLDIERS? The Commission had no stomach to bluntly say it was MNANGAGWA. It confirms the fact by claiming the deployment “was lawful”, a matter of law for a court, and by attaching on page100 Obert Mpofu’s & Chiwenga’s letters which say it was Mnangagwa!

9/21 The finding that Mnangagwa deployed the soldiers is significant in two respects:

(a) Clearly Mnangagwa lied in August that he did not know who had deployed the soldiers. This is egregious.

(b) Responsibility & accountability for what the soldiers did is with Mnangagwa!

10/21 WHO KILLED & INJURED CIVILIANS?

“The Commission’s finding on a balance of probabilities from all the evidence is that the deaths of six (6) people and the injuries sustained by thirty five (35) others arose from the actions of the Military and Police”.
P. 48 of Report!

11/21 Regarding the causes of death & injury of civilians on 1 Aug, the Report says on p. 40:

“The Commission has NOT RECEIVED ANY CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT ANY PERSON other than the Army and Police used guns during the protests on 1 August 2018”.

This puts paid to Vanguard crap!

12/21 Whereas the Report clearly says the six civilians who died were killed by the Army or Police & the 35 civilians were injured by the Army, the Commission fails to name the soldiers & police officers who committed specific atrocities. This renders the Report a big cover up!

13/21 The Commission’s failure to name the culpable soldiers & police officers is a dereliction of duty against its mandate. Even worse is its recommendation that the Police should investigate the 1 August crimes & the Army should identify & sanction its culpable soldiers. Plz!

14/21 The Report says the Army or Police killed the six dead & the Army injured the 35 injured, & that no one else but the Army & Police used guns; & that Mnangagwa deployed the soldiers yet the Commission assigns no accountability to him, his VP, ministers, Army & Police bosses!

15/21 The Commission’s position that only soldiers & police officers should be held accountable after further investigations & that no political & legal accountability should attach to Mnangagwa, his VP, ministers, Army & Police bosses is contrary to domestic & international law!

16/21 The Commission belabours the point that it was a fact finding process, and not a court of law. Yet its Report makes findings of law, notably that the military deployment was lawful. The Commission had no basis or competence whatsoever to draw such a scandalous conclusion!

17/21 The Commission alleges that the 1 Aug demonstratios, which it acknowledges kicked off peacefully, “had been incited, pre-planned and well organized by the MDC-Alliance”. But the Report does not have any evidence that shows or proves any PRE-PLANNING by the MDC-Alliance!

18/21 “Pre-planning” means “organising in advance”. It is revealing that the only pre-planning about 1 Aug that is proved in the Report was done by the Army & the Police on 29 July BEFORE even voting started on 30 July. The Report’s Appendix 7 has police letters that prove this!

19/21 Nothing in the Report explains why the Police & Army were planning about 1 August protests on 29 July. All of their 1 August letters refer to 29 July. Is this not the smoking gun that points to who planned & orchestrated the 1 August protests? Why was this not investigated?

20/21 The Army & Policy pre-planning on 29 July is damaging given the Report’s finding that the Army deployment “COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE POLICE WERE ADEQUATELY EXPERIENCED, better equipped & more suitably organized”. This is damming. Why blame the MDC-Alliance for this!

21/21 The Report of the Motlanthe Commission is poorly written, badly reasoned & self-contradictory. It’s the worst published Report by a Commission of Inquiry since 1980. Its saving grace is that it puts paid to the lie that Mnangagwa did not know who deployed the Army on 1 Aug.

By Admire Machiwenyika| The outspoken FreeZim Congress President, Joseph Makamba Busha has castigated President Emmerson Mnangangwa over the level of corruption in government and the interference with the judicial system.

The losing presidential candidate in the controversial July 30 elections challenges Mnangagwa to deliver on his promises to shun out corrupt ministers and brought them to justice.

“Even up to now those few ministers who have been taken for questioning have not been charged and we know them. I’m not sure if those are the only people who have committed crime in Zimbabwe,” expressed Busha.

“I also implore the government to stop interfering with the judicial system when these matters are being dealt with in courts,” added Busha.

FreeZim president lashed at the President Mnangagwa for falling short on his promises to the struggling ordinary Zimbabweans.

“There are issues to do with job creation and improvements of lives. The people will always remain hopeful but they need something tangible. One of the things that Zimbabweans were repeatedly told was that the criminals who were causing corruption would be removed, but that was not the case.

Busha went to castigate the new dispensation over other undelivered electoral promises such as cash shortages, fuel crisis and many other issues affecting millions of Zimbabweans.

During the campaigning period, Mnangagwa made a cocktail of promises including creating employment, opening up new industries through foreign direct investment among others.

“The so called new dispensation is facing the same situation we faced in 2008 were people were queuing for money in the banks, people were queuing for fuel on petrol stations. If you were not around in 2008 and you went away only to come in 2018, certainly there would be no difference because the environment and circumstances remain the same,” said Busha

“We talk about a new dispensation when there is no change. A new dispensation is about new leadership not change of positions. So our view is that there is no change because Zimbabweans are still battling to get cash to be able to do their activities,” said Busha.

Busha was among the presidential hopefuls that stood for this year’s elections which were subsequently won by the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnanganwa only after a Concourt ruling against Chamisa who had challenged the result.

A 21-year old man from Bulawayo has appeared in court for allegedly sneaking into a magistrate’s office at Western Commonage Magistrate’s Court where he was performing community service and stole a laptop and cell phone valued at $480.

Nobert Phiri of Cowdray Park suburb also set on fire papers that were on the magistrate’s table.

He allegedly stole a Compact laptop, a Nokia cell phone and a USB cable valued at $480 before setting the papers on fire on Friday last week, the court heard.

Phiri who was serving a sentence for stealing a laptop from a pastor, was not asked to plead to unlawful entry and theft when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndlovu.

Mr Ndlovu remanded him in custody to January 10 for sentencing. Prosecuting, Mr Kenneth Shava said on Friday last week at around 2PM the magistrate Mr Urgent Vundla left the door to his office closed but not locked to attend court.

Phiri who was performing community service at the court took advantage of his absence and sneaked into the office.

“He stole a black Compact laptop, a black Nokia series 8 cell phone and a black USB cable. He then set on fire papers that were on top of the table using a cigarette stub and left unnoticed,” said Mr Shava.

Mr Vundla discovered the offence on his return to the office and reported the matter to the police leading to Phiri’s arrest. All the stolen property was recovered.-state media

A Form Six pupil at Nhwali High School in Gwanda has appeared in court for impregnating his Form Two girlfriend.

Blessing Dube (19) pleaded not guilty to a charge of having sexual intercourse with a minor when he appeared before Gwanda provincial magistrate, Mr Maphios Ncube but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.

He was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment of which 12 months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.

The remaining 12 months were further suspended on condition that he performs 420 hours of community service at Nhwali Clinic.

Prosecuting, Mr Takunda Mafudze said Dube had sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old juvenile who is now seven months pregnant in May at a homestead that is rented by pupils.

“In May Dube proposed love to the juvenile and she agreed. On a date unknown to the prosecutor but in the same month Dube and the juvenile went to a homestead which is rented by some school pupils and they had sexual intercourse there.

“They had sexual intercourse on two other occasions on unknown dates and the juvenile fell pregnant. The juvenile kept quiet about the matter which later came to light after her parents noticed that she was pregnant. They questioned her and she revealed that she was impregnated by Dube. The matter was reported to the police leading to Dube’s arrest,” he said.

In his defence, Dube admitted to sleeping with the girl but said he was unaware that she was a minor.
“I didn’t know that she was 14 years old because when I asked her age when I proposed love to her she told me that she was 17. I asked her age because I know its a crime to have sexual intercourse with a minor,” he said.

In her statement in court the complainant said Dube was aware of her age because she had told him but he insisted on having sexual intercourse.-state media

A Bulawayo man allegedly broke into his neighbour’s house during their absence and raped their 15-year-old daughter who was sleeping in her bedroom before robbing her of $10 at knifepoint.

This emerged when Artwell Sibanda (21) of Cowdray Park suburb approached the High Court seeking bail pending trial.

Sibanda, who was armed with a torch and knife, allegedly broke one of the window panes and used an iron bar to destroy burglar bars to gain entry into the victim’s bedroom.

He allegedly raped the girl in the presence of her aunt and seven year old niece.
Sibanda through his lawyer, Mr Dumisani Dube of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, filed an application for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court, citing the State as the respondent.
In his bail statement, Sibanda said he was not a flight risk. He further argued that he would not interfere with State witnesses if granted bail.

Sibanda was granted $100 bail and ordered to report at Cowdray Park Police Station twice a week as well as reside at his given address until the matter is finalised as part of the bail conditions. He was also ordered not to interfere with State witnesses.

The State had opposed bail, arguing that there was no guarantee that if granted bail Sibanda would not abscond.

Justice Nicholas Mathonsi ruled that it was Sibanda’s constitutional right to get bail pending trial.
“Pre-trial incarceration is a feature of our criminal justice system that is currently under intense scrutiny. It should be resorted to only in very rare instances where the very essence of the administration of justice may be compromised and this is because the cornerstone of our criminal law that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty has received prominence and elevation to a constitutional imperative in section 70 (1) of the constitution which provides that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he said.

Justice Mathonsi said the State case against Sibanda merely contained allegations until established as facts during trial.

“I therefore conclude that the applicant has discharged that onus and what has been relied upon by the State in opposing his bail application does not amount to compelling reasons for his continued detention,” ruled the judge.

It is the State case that on April 27 this year at around 2AM, the complainant, who is doing Form Three at a local secondary school, was sleeping together with her aunt and niece when Sibanda broke into their bedroom.

The complainant’s parents had visited their rural home in Hwange district and left her under the custody of her aunt.

Sibanda who was armed with a knife and carrying a torch used an iron bar to destroy the burglar bars before accessing the house.

He demanded a cellphone and money from the complainant and her aunt and threatened to stab them if they resisted.

Sibanda allegedly searched the complainant’s handbag and took $10. He then took one of the blankets in the room and spread it on the floor before ordering the complainant to lie down.

He then ordered the complainant’s aunt to cove her face with a blanket before he allegedly raped the girl. After committing the alleged offence, Sibanda bolted out of the house and disappeared into the darkness. A report was made to the police leading to Sibanda’s arrest. The complainant was taken to hospital for medical examination. -state media

The Zimbabwe Independent yesterday alleged a Spanish company Indra was awarded the deal without going to tender and appeared to accuse Minister Matiza and the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) of corruptly handling the matter.

Minister Matiza “cleared” the air on the matter yesterday in a statement to The Herald.
“In 2013, CAAZ issued an open international tender for financing and supply of radar systems, navigational aids systems, air traffic control training simulator. The radar surveillance tender was won by Intelcan of Canada and Communication systems tender won by AME ATM of South Africa.

“The Indra tender award for the radar surveillance system was contested in the Supreme Court by Selex, a competitor from Italy and the tender award was set aside. The Supreme Court, in its determination directed that the matter be dealt with under a fresh tender,” said Minister Matiza.

He said five years lapsed without CAAZ addressing the matter due to lack of funding.
“Five years lapsed without the CAAZ addressing the national airspace management challenges due to lack of funding in the economy and absence of vendor financing as well.

The international aviation community and airlines raised safety and security concerns about the Zimbabwean airspace and the need for the issues to be addressed urgently.

“Indra Sistemas of Spain through the Spanish Embassy in Harare presented a proposal to finance the project in 2017. The Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe board then sought authority to undertake direct negotiations with the company and that authority was granted by the Office of the President and Cabinet as was provided for in the now repealed Procurement Act (Chapter 22:14) under PBR 11089 of 2 November 2017,” said Minister Matiza.

He said the Office of the President and Cabinet endorsed the deal.
“The office of the President and Cabinet reconfirmed its support for the project by its letter dated 22nd October 2018. Based on this approval the CAAZ negotiated a contract with Indra and is implementing the project with funding being provided by Afreximbank,” said Minister Matiza.

This is contrary to allegations by a local independent weekly that Minister Matiza had not followed Government procurement procedure in the US$33 million deal for air traffic control systems.-state media

Acting Prosecutor General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi has asked the Commissioner General of Police Godwin Matanga to investigate bribery allegations levelled against one of the prosecutors in the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU), Mr Zivanai Macharaga, who allegedly demanded $20 000 bribe from former Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa.

The bribery allegations were raised in court by Advocate Sylvester Hashiti last month.
Chidhakwa is facing abuse of office charges.

In a statement released yesterday, Mr Hodzi said his office takes the allegations seriously.
“They must be thoroughly investigated and all wrong doing clearly exposed. All offenders will be prosecuted without fear or favour.

“The NPA is cognisant of the fact that the success of the anti-corruption crusade is predicated upon the credibility of the NPA, its Prosecutors, SACU and its members,” said Hon Hodzi.

He said Adv Hashiti as an officer of the court had a duty to report to the police the acts of corruption.

“In making the allegations Advocate Hashiti categorically stated that he was not comfortable with his client (Walter Chidakwa) being prosecuted by SACU.

“He also made allegations that the unit takes instructions from the Executive yet it is trite that SACU is granted powers to prosecute under section 27 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act Cap 7:20 by the Prosecutor General.

“As the National Prosecuting Authority we are of the view that Advocate Hashiti as an officer of the court and a citizen of Zimbabwe has a duty to report any such alleged acts of corruption by fellow officers of the court or other citizens to the relevant investigating authorities,” said Mr Hodzi.

He insisted that Adv Hashiti must not conceal the acts of corruption as doing so was an offence.

“Mr Hashiti has material knowledge of the commission of an extremely serious offence and it is incumbent upon him as an officer of court and a legal practitioner of the High Court and Supreme Court to help the authorities in uncovering crime. Any concealment of crime constitutes a criminal offence,” said Mr Hodzi

He said promotion of the rule of law and the fight against corruption boost efforts by Government to turn around the economy. – state media

– ORIGINAL STORY –

By Own Correspondent| The National Constitutional Assembly led by Profesor Lovemore Madhuku has issued a statement on its observations on the August 1 Commission of Inquiry report.

Madhuku was one of the Commissioners in the Kgalema Motlanthe-led Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 shootings.

National Spokesperson of the NCA, Madock Chivasa said in a statement:

•NCA party welcomes the published findings of the Commission of Inquiry set to establish the circumstances surrounding the August 1 unfortunate shooting and killings of civilians.

•As NCA party we applaud the Commission of Inquiry findings that;

•The deaths and injuries were a direct result of the actions of the army and the police,

•The six people died as a result of gunshots wounds and 23 people were injured as a result of the gunshots,

•The use of live ammunition, directed at people, especially as they were fleeing, was clearly unjustified and disproportionate,

•The use of sjamboks, baton sticks and butts of the gun to assault members of the public indiscriminately was also disproportionate,

•The persons responsible for all alleged crimes committed on August 1, 2018, must be prosecuted,

•Those particular members of the military and of the police found to be in breach of their professional duties and discipline should be identified as soon as possible for internal investigations and appropriate sanction,

•Although the deployment of the military was in accordance with the Constitution, the operational framework was not fully complied with in that the deployed troops were not placed under the command of the Harare Regulating Authority (police),

•If the police were adequately experienced, better equipped, sufficient in numbers and more suitably organized, the deployment of the military could have been avoided.

•As NCA party we put value in the Commission of Inquiry recommendations particularly that;

•Government must compensate the victims of the military shootings including ensuring that dependents of school-going age are sent to school. However as NCA party, we feel that the need for compensation to individuals and other business people who lost property as a result of the demonstrations is absent in the Commission recommendations and must be taken into consideration,

•There must be introspection of the action by the army and police as well as to make their findings and any correctional measures against the military and police public to ensure no such actions happen again,

•There must be national dialogue to end deep-seated political polarisation in the country,

•The need for incorporation of the use of technology in our electoral laws so as to avoid unnecessary delays in the announcement of election results, in particular, the presidential election results.

•As NCA party we urge President Mnangagwa to act on the noble recommendations by the Commission of Inquiry.

•We urge all Zimbabweans to embrace peace and to respect human life as sacrosanct and avoid unnecessary loss of innocent lives ahead of anything.

•NCA party applaud all the Commissioners and all members of the Commission secretariat for distinguished professional conduct during the course of their duty. The report that was produced by the Commission of Inquiry, in our own view, is a true reflection of what transpired on 1 August 2018. If the Commission recommendations are taken seriously the country will benefit from the collective wisdom of the Commissioners.

Issued By
Madock Chivasa
(NCA National Spokesperson)
[PHONE NUMBER REDACTED- EMAIL REDACTED]

By A Correspondent| The UK based pastor Admire Kasingakore has refused to apologise for attending a ZANU PF junta function presided by the controversial preacher, Andrew Wutaunashe at which both Kasi and and Wutaunashe appeared at the front to compel Christians to sign papers to support the ZDF terrorists who killed innocent Zimbabweans on the 1st August 2018.

Kasi made the responses in the below unedited correspondence. (Readers please note the chats are unedited).

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Chris: Hi. Sorry for bothering you but to prevent speculation, l think l saw you at an event with Wutawunashe speaking. What’s your position on what he was talking about? Sanctions. Many thanks.

Admire Kasi: Hello Christopher. No bothers at all. It’s a discussion for of us all. What’s your opinion on the matter? I may as well benefit from yours.

Chris: Hi thank you for getting back to me. I am afraid you didn’t answer my question. My question was whats your personal position on issue and the speech by Wutawunashe? I need your opinion first before you benefit from mine. Thank you.

Who ordered the killing of 6 people on August 1? If you are of God u don’t talk about sanctions and at same time ignore murder by State.
Second its pure evil to talk about EU, UK and US while ignoring the rampant corruption by Mnangagwa and zanu pf. 15 billion disappeared and u so called pastors don’t see anything wrong.

Tell me on the conditions that USA gave as requirements to remove Zidera which one do u think is unjustified or not needed? So why are u not asking Dambudzo to meet requirements rather than just say remove sanctions.? Why wud so called pastors be against rule of law and ridding impunity?

Admire Kasi: Thanks Christopher.
Not knowing whether you have any knowledge of any utterances by me? As an academic, I would only comment on my own utterances which when you quote me I can authoritatively comment on. Of all that you say I am riding on the rule of law with impunity, are you able to quote me on any single statement? I know our approach to condemn without information overshadows our ability to dialogue together. You are commenting on my image you saw like you said, but not on any oral verbatim or declared commitment projected by me or on my behalf. I urge you to go past that. Even had it been an opinion by anybody, I don’t think it calls for insulting each other. The world is not made of one opinion but dialogue. I would have enjoyed a pragmatic discussion where you only push through your opinion in that matter and not personal insults. I really was bracing for a fruitful discussion. Even as you condemn pastors, will you also condemn me as a legal researcher saying lawyers or writers, all of which I am? I believe you can be helpful speaking from an informed position. Challenge me on my utterances and that’s honourable.
However, good night.

Chris: Hi but you sat there silently and nodding. I have not heard u condemn Mnangagwa for killing 6 people. If you did show me and l will apologise unreservedly. You sat there while the junta apologist Wutawunashe was talking of so called sanctions. Zimbabwe is not in this mess cause of sanctions. Legal researcher? You are a bishop arent you? A bishop of what, of a church. So why are you not publicly condemning murder by Mnangagwa? Let me see .

Admire Kasi: Please retract. You only saw me once. Its true you may never have heard me condemn anyone like you say. The question is have you ever listened to me before so you can hear what I say. Have you been anywhere where I have spoken? Do you have any idea what I ever say? You may be mistaken. Those who follow a person first and then commend do a wiser thing. Right now MDC Madzore sings song which I have facilitated and recorded in my own studios. I don’t want to say any further because you do not wish to dialogue. I have seen most emotional people failing to be helpful when they could have been if they had chosen to he objective. You don’t know me. Watching me seated for 31 minutes can’t be enough for you to judge me with such a multitude
of verbatim.

Admire Kasi: It’s one of the things I am saying. Imagine you do not know me even as legal academic. Even as a Bishol Accept this. You don’t know me. But there is no barrier on us meeting or seeking to know each other. That’s what is important. You say you have never heard me condemn the murder so where have you ever heard me approving of it? Take the right step. Accept this YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD ME.
That’s why l said let me hear you.

Chris: What do u want me to retract? What does you facilitating a song have to do with your condoning of a junta that is responsible for killing 6 people. A junta that is responsible for the suffering of millions. You are no man of God. You sat there nodding wat were u nodding if l may ask. Was your nodding in agreement or just movement of head?

Chris: Don’t give me that nonsense of academic. I am not a fool. Whether l know u or don’t, by just being there its an obvious.

Admire Kasi: I think you are just being provocative. If I share any little information with you then you say what you say. It’s ok, the devil may just want you to add someone to the list of your enemies. I have done nothing against you. No! nothing. Let God and men judge. But such things normally happen simply to open a bad thing in your life. I have not done you any wrong. Since whatever I say has nothing let me leave you feeling good that you insulted a pastor. May God grant peace to your family.

You won’t hear from me again.
Thanks.

Chris: If l have never heard of u condemning it my question to u is do u condemn Mnangagwa for killing the 6? That’s not even scriptural to say don’t judge . You are twisting that verse. First you have to understand the meaning of judge. You can judge good or bad . So if u don’t judge at all how are u going to come to conclusion that its the right thing or wrong thing to do?

No a pastor in my book is one who stands for the truth. U sitting there while Wutawunashe was lying and justifying killing and rigging of elections doesn’t make u man of God. It means u are in the same category as Dambudzo and zanu thugs. You are guilty by default.
So if u don’t support what was said what do you support?

If one of your congregants comes to u and asks. Bishop so why were u and the Wutawunashe presser? Wat wud u say?

The devil? So who is making u support the junta.

– Then l was blocked –

The secretary general of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWA)
Victor Matemadanda has lambasted a group of war veterans that demonstrated in Harare recently against his leadership.
The war veterans, who were led by Fredrick Ngombe, made staggering demands, which included monthly gratuities of $2 000 each. Some
of the protesting veterans berated Matemadanda for being bogus and having no interests of the war veterans at heart.
In his response to the allegations made against him by the War Veterans Welfare Committee, as
the group calls itself, Matemadanda said:”I cannot be vetted in the street. If I am not a war veteran, the association has a procedure of vetting its members, not a few rogue people demonstrating in the street. I was never imposed on the war veterans. I was voted for in Masvingo and before I became secretary-general, I was in the war veterans’ commissariat under the leadership of Jabulani Sibanda (former ZNLWVA leader). So all the years, they were electing someone who is not a war veteran?
They are also financed by a war veteran who is bitter that I refused to
protect him from his rape case when
he wanted to be an MP. The rapist
pours in a lot of money for anything
against Matemadanda. I have text
messages when he was asking for
protection and the time will come for
me to let the cat out of the bag.
Others are also bitter that I refuse to
protect their economic interests. Why they want me to protect things I don’t know about. Now they lie that I am not representing their interest, but no one ever came to my office telling me about those interests. Yes, war veterans have welfare issues, but this should not be at the expense of the people. Where can the government get the $2 000 per month when it is struggling to buy medicines, repair roads, among other issues?” Newsday

Terrence Mawawa|Former Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Jonathan Moyo has slammed the Motlanthe Commission’ s antics of “dancing naked in darkness.”

” Notwithstanding the antics by Motlanthe’s Commission to dance naked in the dark with smoke and mirrors; and not withstanding its
convulted terms of reference, only two key questions need factual answers: (a) who are the soldiers that killed civilians and (b) who
deployed them?” Moyo tweeted.

” WHO DEPLOYED THE SOLDIERS? The Commission had no stomach to bluntly say it was MNANGAGWA.
The finding that Mnangagwa deployed the soldiers is significant in two respects: (a) Clearly Mnangagwa lied in August that he did not know who had deployed the soldiers. This
is egregious. (b) Responsibility and accountability for what the soldiers did is with Mnangangagwa,” Moyo added.

“WHO KILLED AND INJURED CIVILIANS?”The Commission’s finding on a balance of probabilities from all the evidence is that the
deaths of six (6) people and the injuries sustained by thirty five (35) others arose from the actions of the Military and Police”. P. 48 of Report!

Regarding the causes of death and injury of civilians on 1 Aug, the Report says on p. 40:”The Commission has NOT RECEIVED ANY CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT ANY PERSON other than the Army and Police used guns

during the protests on 1 August 2018″. This
puts paid to Vanguard crap!” Moyo argued.

WAR Veterans deputy minister Victor Matemadanda has berated some former fighters who challenged his liberation war credentials, saying he cannot be vetted in the streets.

Matemadanda was reacting to claims that he was a fake war veteran and mere taxi driver during the liberation struggle. The allegations were made by war veterans under the banner of War Veterans Welfare Committee led by Fredrick Ngombe.

Ngombe’s group stormed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office on Tuesday where they were demanding he fulfills the pledge by his predecessor, Robert Mugabe to pay them gratuities and $2 000 monthly salaries that would chew in excess of $13,5 billion.

But Matemadanda yesterday accused the group of being sponsored to destabilise Mnangagwa by making absurd demands.

“I cannot be vetted in the street,” Matemadanda who is also the secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, said.

“If I am not a war veteran, the association has a procedure of vetting its members, not a few rogue people demonstrating in the street. I was never imposed on the war veterans. I was voted for in Masvingo and before I became secretary general, I was in the war veterans’ commissariat under the leadership of Jabulani Sibanda (former ZNLWVA leader). So all the years, they were selecting someone who is not a war veteran?”

Last year, at the height of the factional wars between Mnangagwa’s Team Lacoste and the vanquished G40 faction, former Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo claimed that Matemadanda was a taxi driver during the liberation struggle and was not a war veteran.

But Matemadanda said he was surprised at being targeted by the group.

“I am a target from three fronts. These are rouge war veterans being paid by a retired Central Intelligence operative who was fronting Grace Mugabe (former First Lady,” he said.

“They are also financed by a war veteran who is bitter that I refused to protect him from his rape case when he wanted to be an MP. The rapist pours in a lot of money for anything against Matemadanda. I have text messages when he was asking for protection and the time will come for me to let the cat out of the bag.”

He added: “Others are also bitter that I refuse to protect their economic interests. Why they want me to protect things I don’t know about. Now they lie that I am not representing their interest, but no one ever came to my office telling me about those interests. Yes, war veterans have welfare issues, but this should not be at the expense of the people. Where can government get the $2 000 per month when it is struggling to buy medicines, repair roads, among other issues?”

Matemadanda said his other problem was his refusal to back calls against command agriculture as a form as State capture as what other war veterans have been pushing for. He said the ambitious agricultural programme was funded by private players and guaranteed by government because of its ability to ensure food security.

Matemadanda recently clashed with the ZNLWVA chairperson, Chris Mutsvangwa after the latter accused him of being bankrolled by fuel mogul Kudakwashe Tagwirei to lead an onslaught against the former Norton legislator after he sought to break the Sakunda boss’ monopoly in the fuel industry.

— NewsDay

Jane Mlambo| An unlicenced Harare tout, Chrispen Magaya was yesterday sentenced to seven years in jail after the court found him guilty of running over and killing a pedestrian with a kombi.

Magaya who was previously jailed two years after he pleaded guilty to a similar offence.

State Prosecutor Isheunesu Mhiti proved before a Harare magistrate Barbara Mateko that the accused had defied a previous court ruling and continued to drive without a license.

On his latest offence, Harare magistrate Barbara Mateko sentenced him to a combined seven years imprisonment for culpable homicide, driving without a licence, failure to stop after an accident and failure to report an accident after 24 hours.

Magaya will however serve an effective five years after two years of his sentence were suspended on condition that he did not within that time commit a similar offence.

The prosecutor said the fact that Magaya was previously convicted of driving without a licence shows that he has total disregard for the law.

“What aggravates the matter is that these so-called public service vehicle drivers treasure money they get more than the lives of the passengers who keep their businesses afloat,” he said.

It is State’s case that on October 8 this year and at around 9pm, Magaya was driving a commuter omnibus registration number ACZ 5162 which is a public service vehicle along Lomagundi road towards the Harare city centre.