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ZIMBABWEAN authorities have been reluctant to share material with aircraft investigators from Finland regarding the Masvingo aircraft accident which occurred on 23 November, leaving the Finnish authorities to turn to South Africa and the United States for help.

Among the victims were four top executives from Finnish stock-listed companies. Among the passengers confirmed dead was 52-year-old Pekka Ojanpää, chief executive of the maintenance services and circular economy firm Lassila & Tikkanoja.

Another of the crash victims was 51-year-old Heikki Vappula, director of forestry company UPM’s Biorefining business unit.

All of the Finns on board the ill-fated Cessna S206 aircraft were said to be men in their 50s. The pilot, a Zimbabwean national, also died in the crash.

The aircraft in question belonged to Buffalo Range (Pvt) Limited.

Finland’s Safety Investigation Authority called Otkes had not yet received any information from Zimbabwean officials about the crash, nearly a month after the accident. This is despite several repeated requests for Zimbabwean authorities to cooperate, Otkes director Veli-Pekka Nurmi has said.

According to Nurmi, it does not seem likely that Otkes personnel will travel to the crash site, which is in rugged terrain, for an investigation. He noted that if the plane was manufactured in the US for example, investigators are likely to seek information in that direction.

The Otkes director said that it is quite typical for officials from different countries to cooperate on a flight crash investigation. He explained that the state in which the aircraft is registered and operated as well as the country where it was designed and manufactured all have a right to appoint a representative to take part in the investigation.

“And then there are participating states which get involved if their nationals are victims. This option only provides limited access to information. The right is restricted to information about the victims,” Nurmi pointed out.

Since Zimbabwean authorities have not been cooperating, Finnish accident investigators have turned to South Africans to help investigate the plane crash that killed four Finnish businessmen, writes regional daily Aamulehti.

Finland’s Safety Investigation Authority (Otkes) said Zimbabwean authorities have been reluctant to share material concerning the fatal accident in the mountainous Masvingo province. “We as well as our American colleagues have tried to get information from Zimbabwe – to no avail. That’s why we have now asked the South Africans to help us,” said Otkes director Veli-Pekka Nurmi.

American officials are involved in the investigation as the ill-fated Cessna S206 air plane was manufactured in the United States. Information-sharing on international aircraft accidents tends to be easy, according to Nurmi, but in this case that has not happened.

“To our knowledge, local authorities are still investigating the crash.”

The light aircraft was en route to Victoria Falls when it crashed at Chamanjenjere Hills, killing all four passengers and the pilot, who was accompanying the group on a hunting trip.

Nurmi said that he had seen photos of the crash site in media reports and noted that they do not show anything unusual.

“Pretty typical traces of a light airplane crash. That’s what it looks like,” he said, adding that Cessna aircraft are reliable and widely used.

He said that what can make a difference in aviation is how aircraft are maintained and serviced.

“Even good planes can malfunction if they are neglected and vice versa,” Nurmi declared.

ZRP Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi in November said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was working with the families of the deceased in arranging repatriation of the bodies.

Immediately after the crash, Mr Tawanda Gusha, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) Director Airports, said the CAAZ had dispatched inspectors to the crash site to carry out possible investigations as to what could have led to the fatal crash. No updates as to the outcome of the investigations were released, Finnish officials say.

Plane crashes are a rare phenomenon in Zimbabwe let alone in these parts of the country. Before yesterday’s crash, the most recent had occurred in March last year near the Zimbabwean-Mozambique border where six business executives from Mozambique died when their plane crashed somewhere along Vumba mountains. — ZOOMZimbabwe

Jane Mlambo| Commission of Inquiry into the 1st of August shootings has once again been slammed for ignoring former Ministers who openly declared that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will shoot to retain power.

This follows the commission report which charged that MDC leaders must be held accountable for the August 1 killings as they churned out inflammatory remarks that incited people to take to the streets post elections.

The Motlanthe Commission says MDC leaders must be held accountable for the August 1 army killings.But same commission has no opinion about ministers that said ED will shoot to retain power or that army wont allow Chamisa to rule #Whitewash https://t.co/EUp214W9fV

— Kholwani Nyathi (@kholwaninyathi) December 19, 2018

Correspondent|Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator, Justice Mayor Wadyajena has exposed sharp divisions in Zanu PF after coming out guns blazing against the party’s Youth League whom he accused of incompetency and corruption.

Writing on Twitter today, Wadyajena also accused the Youth League of conniving with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change further questioning if they campaigned for Mnangagwa in the just ended July 30 elections.

“Our Youth League as it is now is incompetent and totally corrupt. It wouldn’t be surprising if those middle-agers sold their souls to opposition as claimed. Did they campaign for H.E ED Mnangagwa? We all know they’re team Torai Mari United!”

Two months ago President Mnangagwa described the Youth League as indolent for failing to identify sustainable economic projects for the betterment of the economy and their well-being.

“The future belongs to the young people, yet you as the Party youth leadership are lethargic in your approach. This present situation has to stop and stop forthwith,” said Mnangagwa.

Reached for a comment, Zanu PF Youth League Secretary, Pupurai Togarepi referred all questions to his deputy, Lewis Matutu.

“I don’t think I would want to comment on that. You may talk to Matutu. But as far as I am concerned, I think if you were to call Wadyajena to explain to you,” he said.

Source : 263 chat

MISS Zanu-PF Bulawayo, Cde Nokuthula Sibanda, was crowned Miss Zanu-PF Zimbabwe during the ruling party’s 17th Annual National People’s Conference held in Esigodini last week.

The 42-year-old mother of three, who is the secretary for transport in Bulawayo’s provincial structures, came first, beating 50 other contestants drawn from the country’s 10 provinces.

For her efforts, she won a fridge and was congratulated by the First Lady Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa during the Zanu-PF National People’s Conference held at Mzingwane High School.

Cde Maidei Mpala, Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial secretary for information and publicity in the women’s league said they were very happy to scoop the first prize.

“We’re very happy as a province that Cde Sibanda won the national pageant. It shows that we worked very hard,” said Cde Mpala.

-State Media

A teacher at Fatima High School in Lupane district allegedly indecently assaulted four deaf-blind pupils during an auditory training session before raping them on separate occasions over a period of two months.

The victims are aged between 13 and 17 years.

This emerged when Raymond Chipunza (46) of Mzilikazi suburb in Bulawayo filed an application for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court, citing the State as the respondent.

Chipunza took a class of eight deaf-blind pupils to an area long the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road for an auditory training programme during which he allegedly fondled the breasts of four girls and touched their buttocks.

He later invited each of the girls to his cottage on separate occasions and allegedly raped them.

In his bail statement, Chipunza, through his lawyer, Mr Innocent Mafirakureva of Moyo and Nyoni Legal Practitioners, said he has demonstrated and discharged the onus on himself that in the interest of justice he would not abscond if released on bail.

He said if granted bail, he would not interfere with State witnesses.

Chipunza argued that the State’s assertion that he would abscond if granted bail were not backed by tangible evidence.

“The applicant denies the charges and has no previous convictions. It is common cause that the applicant is facing allegations that have not yet been proven before the court at this point hence the presumption of innocence, which is fully entrenched in our law and is in favour of the applicant,” said Mr Mafirakureva.

Chipunza was granted $100 bail after the State, which was represented by Mr Trust Muduma, conceded to his application.

Mr Muduma said there were no compelling reasons for denying Chipunza bail pending trial. He also said there was no likelihood that if granted bail, Chipunza would abscond trial.

As part of the bail conditions, Chipunza was ordered to report twice a week at Mzilikazi Police Station and to reside at his given address until the matter is finalised.

He was also ordered not to interfere with State witnesses.

It is the State’s case that between October 1 and November 22 this year, Chipunza took his class of eight deaf-blind pupils to the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road for an auditory training programme whose aim was to test their hearing ability.

He ordered three boys and a girl who were part of the group to walk faster.

He remained behind with the four complainants during which he allegedly fondled their breasts before caressing their buttocks without their consent.

It was stated in court papers that on four different occasions, Chipunza invited each of the victims to his room where he allegedly locked them up before raping them.

After raping the girls, Chipunza threatened to assault them if they reported the matter to anyone.

The matter was, however, reported to the police, leading to Chipunza’s arrest.

A-16-YEAR-Old boy who is suspected to have fatally axed his paternal grandmother (56) and her grandson (9), was found hanging from a tree, two days after the discovery of the two bodies.

Police suspect that the boy Nhlanhla Ndebele of Dulutsha village 3 in Siganda, Bubi District, allegedly hanged himself after killing the two.

His body was found on Monday morning hanging from a tree in a bush following a search by villagers.

Nhlanhla’s grandmother, Ms Wesi Ncube and her grandson Lloyd Ndebele, were found dead on Saturday with multiple axe wounds all over their bodies.

Police suspect that the killings may have occurred between 7PM on Friday and 7AM on Saturday.

Nhlanhla left home on Friday after informing his 14-year-old sibling that he was going to the bush and did not return home, only for his body to be found hanging.

The boy lived with his father and their homestead is a stone’s throw from his granny’s.

The bodies of his grandmother and her grandson were found a kilometre apart and the murder weapons, an axe and a knobkerrie, were found at the scene.

Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed that the boy was found hanging.

She said police were linking the suicide to the murders which happened in the same village.

A cellphone belonging to Ms Ncube was found in the pocket of Nhlanhla’s pair of trousers.

Police said they have other leads linking the late Nhlanhla to the murder of his grandmother and her grandson.

“I can confirm we received a report of sudden death by hanging of a 16-year-old juvenile who is allegedly linked to the two cases of murder which occurred on Saturday. Reasons for the attack are not yet known and investigations into the case are underway.

“The juvenile’s body was found hanging from a tree following a search by his father Mr Simanga Ndebele and other villagers,” Chief Insp Makonese said.

The boy’s body was taken to Mpilo Central Hospital for postmortem.

On Saturday morning, an eight-year-old girl who had gone to Ms Ncube’s homestead to ask for cooking oil discovered her body and alerted her family.

The body of Ms Ncube’s grandson was later found about a kilometre from their home by villagers.

The victims were allegedly last seen on Friday evening by their neighbour, Mrs Sibongile Ncube (48).

-State Media

Zimbabwe is staring at the prospect of an internet blackout in the near future as foreign service providers are increasingly getting disillusioned by TelOne’s continued failure to pay $22 million owed for services offered.

So dire is the situation that a Mauritius-based financier, Telecom Capital Finance, is threatening to seize TelOne’s shares in the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) over a $1,1 million debt.

WIOCC is a company that provides capacity to international and African telecommunications companies, over-the-top (OTT) services, content providers and internet service providers in and outside Africa.

Critically, TelOne is sitting on four letters of demand from Telecomicacoes de Mozambique (TDM), Duraline, WIOCC, and Telecom Capital.

Overall, TelOne owes 22 companies from Africa, Asia and Europe a combined $22 million.

Mrs Chipo Mtasa, the TelOne MD, launched a passionate appeal to members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on ICT after their tour of the Mazowe Earth Satellite Station on Tuesday, to help the company settle the obligations.

“TelOne is in receipt of demand letters from the following service providers; TDM of Mozambique — $5,7 million for backhaul services, Telecom Capital Finance — $1,1 million for loan repayment, Duraline — $845 000 for network material, WIOCC — $6,2 million for internet bandwidth,” said Mrs Mtasa.

“TelOne continues to be crippled by the escalating arrears on a monthly basis with no meaningful allocations received since July 2018.

Consequently, foreign payment arrears have accumulated to $22 million for services and other obligations.

“We continue to plead for the telecommunications sector to be prioritised for foreign currency allocations and this needs your urgent intervention as the situation is now out of control.”

Mrs Mtasa said TelOne is facing “threats of service disruption and foreign litigation”, which will be difficult to manage if they were implemented.

“Withdrawal of services will result in a standstill of our operations and a major internet blackout for the country.

“As reiterated in our past correspondences, Telecom Capital Finance secured a default judgment against TelOne in Mauritius.

“The continued delayed remittances will result in seizure of TelOne shares in WIOCC any moment from now (while) Telecom Capital will be reinstating $1,6 million that was written off when refinancing was negotiated in 2014, if TelOne fails to pay the balance of US$1,1 million by December 20, 2018 (today),” said Mrs Mtasa.

TelOne’s request for a bailout comes at a time when the 2019 Budget indicated that Government would not be dolling out money to stressed firms, unless they were involved in critical business.

Foreign currency shortages, which have resulted in shortages of fuel, bread and other basics, have also seen TelOne losing $7,2 million in revenue as at October 31, 2018 due to failure to fulfil customer requirements.

Mrs Mtasa said further revenues losses may amount to $20 million due to loss of customer reputation as a reliable service provider.

Currently, TelOne requires $3 million to pay for drop cable, drop wire, modems, fibres, routers, media converters and others.

-State Media

ZIMBABWE’S crop and livestock production will be negatively affected by delays in rainfall being experienced in the 2018/19 season, a food security report by the United States Agency for International Development has warned.

The report, titled Zimbabwe Food Security Outlook (December 2018 to May 2019), notes that low rainfall will increase the national maize deficit to below-average for the 2018-19 marketing season to March 2019.

“The start of the 2018-19 rainfall season has been delayed and rains have been erratic so far. Rainfall levels across most of the country are below the normal long-term average. This has adversely affected on-farm activities such as land preparation, planting and casual labour opportunities which are below typical levels for this time of the year,”

“Areas to the southern and western parts of the country, covering parts of Masvingo, Matabeleland North and South, are worst affected because they have received insignificant rains to date. The dryness is also affecting water and pasture conditions that are, especially poor in arid areas of the country.”

The country, however, is expected to be around 77% maize self-sufficient, which is attributed mainly to above-average (5%) annual national supplies from mostly carryover stocks and average production from the 2017-18 production season.

The report noted that while the condition of small stock was good to fair across most areas, cattle conditions were deteriorating in typical areas that had received insignificant rains so far.

“This is compounded by a high and increasing prevalence of livestock diseases including anthrax, foot and mouth, tick-borne, and January (Theileriosis) disease. The prices for supplementary feeding and livestock drugs have increased substantially as well, and some drugs are unavailable on the markets,”

“It is reported that some outlets are only accepting payment in US dollars. Cattle deaths are being reported in some parts of the country and are affecting draught power and household incomes.”

The liquidity crisis which has hit all sectors of the economy has also created critical shortages of fertilizers, other chemicals and crop inputs that is expected to hit farmers in terms of crop preparations”.

Normally, local manufacturing companies and importers provide these supplies but they have been facing difficulties in meeting demand and sustaining operations because of the ongoing liquidity crisis in the country.

“Since October, the prices of seed, fertiliser, and other chemicals have increased significantly (in some cases by over 200%), adversely affecting access by poor households. The crop input assistance scheme that is implemented by the government is reported to be facing resource challenges.”

-Newsday

Chinese mining and exploration group ASA Resources Group says it is tying up a deal to sell-off its shareholding in Bindura Nickel Corporation (BNC), which will see it exit the Zimbabwean market.

ASA operates Freda Rebecca, the largest single gold mine in Zimbabwe and Trojan Nickel Mine through BNC, which is listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE),
ASA gained control of BNC and its assets in 2015 after taking over the miner’s holding company Mwana Africa and booting out its founder, Kalaa Mpinga.

In a cautionary statement to shareholders, BNC announced that it had reached a deal with a potential buyer.

“Asa Resource Group has entered into a sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with a third party in relation to the 74,73% shareholding in BNC. The conditions of the SPA include various regulatory approvals and other conditions as expected with a transaction of this nature. The third party is a United Kingdom-based nickel company with complementary interests in Southern Africa,” the notice reads.

“Shareholders are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the company’s securities until a full announcement is made”.

In January this year, South African Gold producer Pan African Resources (Panaf) announced that it was in exclusive negotiations with ASA Resource Group to acquire assets and liabilities in Zimbabwe.

Panaf, a mainly gold miner which is listed on the Johannesburg and London stock exchanges, has operations in South Africa.

The group also has operations in Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Africa and Angola.

ASA has been operating under judicial management since July last year after struggling to service its obligations.

Last year, the board reported that $4,3 million was missing from Freda Rebecca Mine, with an audit showing that the then executive chairman Yat Hoi Ning and finance director Yim Kwan had irregularly transferred money to two Hong Kong-registered companies.

Ning and Kwan were kicked out of the company. Chinese firm, Rich Pro Investments, which holds 4,16 % in ASA, offered to buy 47 % shares in the African miner for $40 million in September last year.

In the six months to September, BNC registered a 26% increase in profit after tax to $2,8 million, buoyed by firm mineral prices on the international market.

However, sales during the half year period were down 14% to 2 980 tonnes from 3 485 tonnes last year on the back of low production and logistical challenges in moving the product out of the country.

Cost of sales increased by 11% from $16,2 million last year, to $18 million in the period under review, mainly due to an increase in local costs. Production declined to 3 076 tonnes from 3 460 tonnes in 2017.

BNC has had to put its ambitious Smelter Restart Programme on hold because of the prevailing economic challenges.

-Newsday

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is making concrete efforts to open up Zimbabwe’s economy for investment and widen the democratic space, a respected South African cleric, has said.

Apostolic Faith Mission International president and former top bureaucrat in former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s administration, Reverend Frank Chikane, says he was encouraged by the political will Mnangagwa had shown since taking over from his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, last November.

“I am encouraged by the current spirit, where there is a huge effort of opening up the country, normalising things and huge effort in getting the economy working,” Chikane said.

“There is a huge and concerted effort to get investment into the country, and that is encouraging. It is a long way and that is the reality, but the political will is there.”

The South Arfrica cleric was instrumental in Mbeki’s much vilified policy of “quiet diplomacy” on Zimbabwe at the height of the country’s political crisis and helped put together the compromise arrangement that resulted in the consummation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) between Mugabe and his then political arch-nemesis, the late opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

He said the GNU and its aftermath had been hampered by the sanctions imposed on Mugabe and his inner circle by Western countries, arguing they have hurt Zimbabwe.

“We were able to find a solution at a critical moment in the history of this country. The country was able to walk over the bridge, and the political actors had to work together to build a future for the people of Zimbabwe, and I think they did their best to make it work,” Chikane said.

“The challenge I think was that the economy went the wrong direction. I think that’s the real crisis and the pressure that the country was put under, especially by the sanctions. They have hurt the country, and there is no question about it.”

Asked to comment on the military coup last November that brought Mugabe’s rule to an end and thrust Mnangagwa into the top job, Chikane said the concern among leading political figures in the region was the possibility of bloodshed.

“Our concern was about the possible loss of life and thank God that things worked out well, and there was a peaceful transition,” the respected cleric and anti-Apartheid activist, said.

Going forward, Chikane said political actors in Zimbabwe needed to work with a common purpose for the good of the country, with respect for democracy being paramount.

“Zimbabweans must work together and respect democratic processes. This country needs change, and a working economy, people are struggling. We wish Zimbabwe well,” Chikane said.

Chikane was in Zimbabwe last week once again to broker peace between warring factions in the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe chapter that has split the church over leadership issues.

He warned that the instability in the church could affect the country and urged the two protagonists Amon Madawo and Cossum Chiyangwa to find peace.

Madawo has been endorsed by the global church as the legitimately elected leader of the church.

-Newsday

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube yesterday accused opposition MPs of being dishonest by insisting that people are not happy with the 2% levy on electronic transactions, claiming the new tax has widely been embraced.

“The 2% tax is not about Zimbabweans being punished, and it is dishonest to say that they do not want it. In fact, they have embraced it, and ordinarily what Zimbabweans have only complained about is that the prices of fertiliser and goods are high,” Ncube said in the National Assembly.

“We have ring-fenced the 2% to make sure that the people of Zimbabwe benefit, such that out of the 2%, we will extract the $310 million to finance devolution. This means that we have taken money from the people to give it back to the people. The change will be used to fund education and health and closing potholes, as well as purchasing ambulances and buying school desks, and so people will feel the impact.”

On the United States dollar to RTGS and bond exchange rate, Ncube insisted it is officially 1:1.

“Government said the official rate of US$ to RTGS and bond is 1:1, and this is official, but we are aware of the various premiums applied by people out there in terms of the rate,” he said.

“To be clear, this other rate is what we call in economics; premiums. We have the fixed exchange rate regime and there is the premium which people use out there.”

Ncube said in 2009 the US$ was introduced to remove zeroes, adding that the current 1:1 fixed rate would protect savings and balance sheets of companies at banks.

But, Norton MP Temba Mliswa (Independent) asked Ncube to explain if he was admitting to the existence of the black market and what he was going to do about it.

Ncube said there was need to deal with economic fundamentals to make sure the monetary sector remained strong, and these, he said, would deal with the fiscal deficit and current account deficit, and strengthen the money supply.

On domestic debt he said by 2019 it will be serviced to the tune of $6,8 billion of which $4,86 billion will be external and $2,18 billion domestic. He said the total debt in the blue book is $17,2 billion ($7,6 billion domestic and $9,6 billion external).

Ncube said inflation as at November was at 9,2% and not the 32% figure by Zimstats, adding that NSSA figures show that there has been a rise in employment levels in the country.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda berated MPs for parroting what Ncube said in the budget statement.

This was after several Zanu PF MPs contributed to the budget speech, giving thanks instead of critiquing it.

“The whole aspect of debating a budget is to discuss its impact on budgetary allocations, and not to repeat what Ncube said in his statement,” Mudenda said.

Mutare Central MP Innocent Gonese (MDC Alliance) said while Ncube pretended he was cutting spending by the Executive, several ministers have been seen driving new state-of-the-art Range Rover vehicles, with some even bragging about them on social media.

“The 5% salary cut of the Executive is a deception, because at their level, most of their remuneration is allowances and perks from gallivanting around the world for mega deals they always claim,” Gonese said.

“My proposal is that the minister must announce the austerity measures because you cannot hire a $2 million private Swiss jet for President Emmerson Mnangagwa. At least former President Robert Mugabe used Air Zimbabwe.”

-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| Deputy Information Minister, Energy Mutodi has shockingly defended embattled former first lady, Grace Mugabe who was issued with a warranty of arrest by a South African court following her altercation with one of the ladies who was dating her children during their stay in the neighboring country.

Mutodi wrote on Twitter yesterday saying government will not support any attempts to embarrass or degrade former President Robert Mugabe and his immediate family.

We note a warrant of arrest on Grace Mugabe for a crime alledgedly committed while she was on a diplomatic visit in South Africa. We make it clear that Zim will not smile on any attempt to embarrass, harrass or degrade former President Mugabe or his immediate family members.

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) December 19, 2018

Own Correspondent|ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has petitioned the High Court seeking an order to restore occupation of land to more than 40 families and 136 children, who were forcibly evicted from a sacred heritage site last week by armed police officers.

46 adults and 136 children were left homeless on Friday after they were forcibly evicted without a court order from Nharira Hills located at Somerby just outside Harare by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members in violation of provisions of Section 74 of the Constitution by armed ZRP members, who damaged their houses using crowbars, threw their possessions out in the open, and burnt a thatched house, which held traditional relics of the community and over $2 000 in cash which had been saved for traditional offerings.

This left the evictees to sleep out in the open subject to the elements in the rainy season, as they have nowhere else to go with their families’ health set to deteriorate as they continue to sleep out in the open.

In an urgent chamber application filed in the High Court, Fiona Iliff of ZLHR argued that the eviction of the Nharira community was illegal, unlawful and violated their right to freedom from arbitrary eviction enshrined in section 74 of the Constitution, their right to dignity and not to be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment in terms of Sections 51 and 53 of the Constitution, their right to the property, which has been or is likely to be destroyed or damaged contrary to Section 71 of the Constitution and their rights to be consulted prior to the eviction in terms of Section 68 of the Constitution and the Administrative Justice Act.

The human rights lawyer argued that the evictees’ traditional rights in terms of sections 3(1)(d); 3(2)(i)(i), 16(1), 16(2)), 33; 56 and 63(b) of the Constitution, Articles 19, 20, 21 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (61/295) were violated.

Iliff argued that the evicted members of the Nharira community were not issued with an eviction order in their own names as ZRP members and the Deputy Sheriff purportedly carried out the eviction in terms of a writ of ejectment against four people only identified as Mr Jumbe, Mr Goredema, Mr Madzongo and Mr Chikoto, who are not known by evicted members of the Nharira community and they are not claiming occupation of Nharira Hills through the four people but in their own right.

Iliff wants the High Court to order HFM Marketing to allow the 46 adults and 136 children, who were evicted from Nharira Hils to return to peaceful occupation of the land forthwith and to stop the quarry mining company, its agents, employees and anyone working on HFM Marketing’s instructions to be interdicted from disturbing the peaceful enjoyment, possession and use of the land which they occupied prior to the eviction.

The matter is yet to be set down for hearing in the High Court.

Source: ZLHR

FOURTEEN leaders and members of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) have been set free after a Zimbabwean court threw out disorderly conduct charges brought against the labour unionists and ruled that they did not commit an offence by staging an anti-government demonstration against poor salaries and working conditions.

The ARTUZ leaders and members had been hauled before the courts after they were arrested on Tuesday 18 December 2018 and charged with disorderly conduct in contravention of Section 41(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly blocking a road in Ruwa while holding and waving placards during an anti-government protest against poor remuneration dubbed “Salary Caravan”.

But Harare Magistrate Victoria Mashamba on Wednesday 19 December 2018 set free the ARTUZ leaders and members after ruling that the unionists had not committed an offence in staging an anti-government protest gainst the country’s worsening economic crisis as they were simply exercising their constitutional rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

The unionists’ lawyers Tinotenda Shoko and Kossam Ncube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights had challenged the placement on remand of their clients arguing that they had not committed any offence by waving placards and singing songs when they were arrested while protesting because they are a registered trade union which is exempted
from notifying the regulatory authority (ZRP) as provided under the punitive provisions of the Public Order and Security Act.

SEVERAL creatives who would be joining hands with other citizens to commemorate Unity Day this Saturday yesterday said there was need to appreciate the true essence of unity and its significance.

The Unity Day has been commemorated since 1987 following the signing of the Unity Accord between former President Robert Mugabe and the late former Vice-President Joshua Nkomo.

The inking of the deal followed years of conflict that saw thousands of people mainly from Matabeleland and the Midlands killed by the North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade as government ostensibly sought to flush out suspected Zipra dissidents.

Music promoter and Jibilika founder Plot Mhako told NewsDay Life & Style that the country needed to renew the true spirit and essence of unity.

“We are highly polarised on political grounds. The post-election tensions need to be diffused and it’s sad that music and the arts, which must play a key role to unify the nation, are also caught up in the disunity which hampers development. We need to promote and foster more unity through all our works,” he said.

Chimurenga music publicist Blessing Vava said Unity Day was very significant in the country’s history and was particularly important to his boss, Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo, who is currently on a national blitz dubbed The Peace Tour.

“It has always been the call by Mukanya for Zimbabweans to be united as one people. For us, this year’s Unity Day is significant as we are currently on a tour dubbed The Peace Tour, which is a call to promote peace and unity in our country through music, and on the day, Mukanya will be performing in Kadoma,” he said.

DreamStar Zimbabwe spokesperson Tinashe Kitchen said there was need to appreciate that unity was deeper than the unification of two political parties.

“National Unity Day does not only symbolise the unity of two political parties. It represents the unification of our people as one proud and united nation, bound by tradition, culture and music. DreamStar Zimbabwe will continue to provide platforms for young and talented Zimbabweans to make their dreams come true,” he said.

Award-winning songbird and entrepreneur Cindy Munyavi, said the day spoke to the equality of Zimbabweans.

“The day symbolises the fact that we are all equals as Zimbabweans, regardless of language, tribe, totem, dialect or geographical location, so we should love and celebrate each other,” she said.

NewsDay

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has berated President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration over the surge in human rights violations experienced in the country this year, singling out the August 1 shooting of civilians by soldiers in Harare as the worst.

Speaking at a belated International Human Rights Day commemoration held in Gweru recently, ZCTU deputy president Florence Taruvinga said the country plunged into a worrying period of human rights violations this year, with workers being the worst affected.

“Today, as we gather locally, we cannot stand tall and claim that we are enjoying human rights as Zimbabweans and workers, in particular. As 2018 ends, we can reflect on serious injustices and flouting of human rights,” she said.

Taruvinga singled out the August 1 killings by the military which left six people dead and 35 injured as the height of human rights violations in the year 2018.

“Peak of the injustices was the 1st of August military killings of civilians who were exercising their right to demonstrate as enshrined in the Zimbabwean Constitution.

There is no injustice that surpasses summary executions as witnessed on 1 August,” the firebrand trade unionist said.

On October 11, ZCTU leaders who planned to demonstrate against the 2% transaction tax introduced by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, were rounded up by police and locked up.

Taruvinga lamented the national operation and classified it as another glaring incident of human rights violations.

“The right to demonstrate has also been denied to us. On October 11, the police pounced on us, arrested and detained labour leaders countrywide to stop workers from exercising their right to demonstrate … Human rights cannot be separated from workers’ rights. On several occasions, our constitutional freedoms have been violated,” she said.

This week, Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe members who were marching from Mutare to Harare in protest over poor salaries and bonuses, also faced the wrath of the law enforcement agents as they were detained and arraigned before the courts. On Tuesday, they were again arrested in Ruwa and detained.

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on December 10.

NewsDay

Correspondent|ZANU PF councillor for Mberengwa ward 35 has been slapped with a $150 fine or an alternative three-month jail term for threatening to kill a local businessman.

Kufazvinei Mzezewa (37) of Honyobwe in Mberengwa, appearing before Zvishavane resident magistrate Shepherd Mjanja, pleaded guilty to issuing death threats against Justin Maposa of Juktz Mining Compound Honyobwe, Mberengwa, owner of Juktz Mining Syndicate Company.

Prosecutor Tinashe Maponde told the court that on June 30, 2016, Maposa saw a Pote borehole-drilling rig on his premises. He approached the crew who said Mzezewa had instructed that a borehole be sunk on his premises, but Maposa had ordered them to stop the drilling.

The court heard that on July 14, 2016, Mzezewa hired three unknown male adults who went to Maposa’s home and threatened his employees with a gun.

On July 22, 2016, Maposa reported the matter to the Zanu PF district chairperson for Kushinga ward 35, Tenson Maidza, who met the convict and complainant the following day, and Mzezewa confessed to having hired some thugs to kill Maposa.

A CHITUNGWIZA woman, who was shot by a police officer manning a roadblock along the Harare-Chitungwiza Road, is seeking over $17 000 compensation for injuries sustained.

Loveness Chiriseri recently issued summons against Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Home Affairs and Culture minister Cain Matema and the officer-in-charge at St Mary’s Police Station.

In her declaration through her lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Chiriseri said on August 19 this year, she boarded an unregistered private vehicle in Chitungwiza while on her way to Harare.

“At the intersection of Seke and Delport Road, there was a roadblock and a member of the ZRP from St Mary’s Police Station, Chitungwiza, whose particulars are unknown to the plaintiff (Chiriseri), waved down the vehicle to stop, but the driver proceeded without stopping,” Chiriseri said.

The woman said another member of the ZRP from the same police station, whose particulars are also unknown to her, “then fired indiscriminately at the vehicle, while standing in the middle of the road”.

“After the first shot, the driver held his head and the vehicle veered off the road. A second shot was then fired directly at the vehicle and the bullet pierced the plaintiff’s right buttock, causing her severe pain and bleeding,” Chiriseri said.

She was admitted at a local hospital for four days and since her discharge, she has been receiving daily treatment for the wound and going to hospital for the numerous reviews.

“Plaintiff suffered severe medical injuries and permanent disfigurement. She is also suffering from depression and anxiety … as a result of the reckless handling and indiscriminate discharge of a firearm by a police officer,” she said.

The matter is pending.

NewsDay

ZIMBABWE is staring at the prospect of an internet blackout in the near future as foreign service providers are increasingly getting disillusioned by TelOne’s continued failure to pay $22 million owed for services offered.

So dire is the situation that a Mauritius-based financier, Telecom Capital Finance, is threatening to seize TelOne’s shares in the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) over a $1,1 million debt.

WIOCC is a company that provides capacity to international and African telecommunications companies, over-the-top (OTT) services, content providers and internet service providers in and outside Africa.

Critically, TelOne is sitting on four letters of demand from Telecomicacoes de Mozambique (TDM), Duraline, WIOCC, and Telecom Capital.

Overall, TelOne owes 22 companies from Africa, Asia and Europe a combined $22 million.

Mrs Chipo Mtasa, the TelOne MD, launched a passionate appeal to members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on ICT after their tour of the Mazowe Earth Satellite Station on Tuesday, to help the company settle the obligations.

“TelOne is in receipt of demand letters from the following service providers; TDM of Mozambique — $5,7 million for backhaul services, Telecom Capital Finance — $1,1 million for loan repayment, Duraline — $845 000 for network material, WIOCC — $6,2 million for internet bandwidth,” said Mrs Mtasa.

“TelOne continues to be crippled by the escalating arrears on a monthly basis with no meaningful allocations received since July 2018.

Consequently, foreign payment arrears have accumulated to $22 million for services and other obligations.

“We continue to plead for the telecommunications sector to be prioritised for foreign currency allocations and this needs your urgent intervention as the situation is now out of control.”

Mrs Mtasa said TelOne is facing “threats of service disruption and foreign litigation”, which will be difficult to manage if they were implemented.

“Withdrawal of services will result in a standstill of our operations and a major internet blackout for the country.

“As reiterated in our past correspondences, Telecom Capital Finance secured a default judgment against TelOne in Mauritius.

“The continued delayed remittances will result in seizure of TelOne shares in WIOCC any moment from now (while) Telecom Capital will be reinstating $1,6 million that was written off when refinancing was negotiated in 2014, if TelOne fails to pay the balance of US$1,1 million by December 20, 2018 (today),” said Mrs Mtasa.

TelOne’s request for a bailout comes at a time when the 2019 Budget indicated that Government would not be dolling out money to stressed firms, unless they were involved in critical business.

Foreign currency shortages, which have resulted in shortages of fuel, bread and other basics, have also seen TelOne losing $7,2 million in revenue as at October 31, 2018 due to failure to fulfil customer requirements.

Mrs Mtasa said further revenues losses may amount to $20 million due to loss of customer reputation as a reliable service provider.

Currently, TelOne requires $3 million to pay for drop cable, drop wire, modems, fibres, routers, media converters and others.

State Media

Correspondent|BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has approved the sale of housing stands in foreign currency, a move that is set to make them priced out of reach of many citizens, who have endured falling standards of life over the years.

In reaction to the move, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association acting co-ordinator Emmanuel Ndlovu said the move was improper.

“Those in the Diaspora and with access to US dollars will mop up all the stands while the poor shall remain permanent tenants.

“Many residents cannot afford stands even using the bond note price,” Ndlovu said.

The city’s housing waiting list stands at over 120 000, but the council has only managed to service less than 20 000 stands in the last 15 years despite the growing number of those in need of houses.

The local authority is reportedly struggling to service housing stands, owing to the harsh economic climate that has been prevailing in the country.

The latest council report of the town lands and housing committee revealed a local authority that is battling to contain the hard economic situation.

“The Chamber Secretary, Sikhangele Zhou, advised that it was a challenge to award new contracts to service stands due to economic challenges. Servicing of stands in this environment would be costly and difficult to price the stands,” the minutes read in part.

“At the end of the day, the stands would be unaffordable because of the continued economic instability.

“Council had to re-strategies on how best to deliver this service within enforceable contracts that would deliver stands affordable to local residents,” added the minutes.

“She (Zhou) noted that council had already approved the sale of stands to the Diaspora and those with free funds in forex and modalities therefore are being worked on.”

Council housing stands have been ranging from around $4 000 to nearly $10 000 and above depending on the size, and location.

GOVERNMENT will suspend recruitment of trainee nurses with effect from May next year, Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji has said. In an interview with The Herald yesterday, Dr Gwinji said this was necessitated by the need to standardise recruitment processes and procedures.

He said while recruitment has temporarily been suspended, nurse training will continue with groups already recruited.

“This is a temporary measure that we have put in place to suspend pre-recruitment for candidates who are coming into nurse training for May and September 2019 going forward.

“We just want to fine tune our policy and recruitment processes so that they are standard and uniform across our institutions.

“Therefore, we will be communicating by end of January going into early February to all institutions with regards to this so that the processes can then commence and continue,” said Dr Gwinji.

He said the groups would be subjected to new regulations to be availed in due course.

“Nurse training per se is not suspended. We have a group that will be taken in May but it will then be taken under the revised training regulations,” said Dr Gwinji.

All the training institutions have since been advised of the development.

“Please be informed that the recruitment of student nurses from May 2019 and beyond has been suspended. You should be informed of the next steps via a circular in due course,” read a memo addressed to all training institutions.

Although Dr Gwinji could not be drawn into discussing the possible policy changes. A few months ago, the ministry announced it had tightened enrolment requirements for prospective students.

They are now required to be below 30 years of age with five Ordinary Levels all obtained in one sitting. A pass in Mathematics is now mandatory. Previous requirements did not have an age limit and Mathematics was not required.

Candidates with two sittings were also considered. Government used to produce about 1 000 nurses each year from its various training institutions. The majority of the institutions used to have three intakes a year.

Hospitals have been failing to absorb all the trained nurses following a recruitment freeze by Treasury. The development saw trained nurses failing to get jobs.

State Media

Parliament has been told that Zimbabwean diplomats in foreign missions are living in squalid conditions that have forced some of them to desert their houses as they are now health hazards.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs has recommended that treasury allocates resources towards the purchase and construction of properties for use by Zimbabwean foreign missions across the globe.

The committee made the recommendation after noting that Zimbabwe does not own any properties in at least 20 countries in which it has foreign missions, a situation that has resulted in treasury running an unsustainable bill accruing from rentals and other services offered to the missions.

Also in parliament today, the Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement said the money allocated for the importation of maize to boost the strategic grain reserve must be channeled towards other capital projects because the country has enough stocks to feed the nation in 2019.

Meanwhile, the National AIDS Council (NAC) has invited parliamentarians to public HIV testing and cancer screening, among other diseases, tomorrow as part of efforts to raise awareness and demystify the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS.

The First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa will lead the proceedings to be held in the Africa Unity Square.-state media

By Ephat Moyo| Members of Parliament have full rights to criticise the commission of inquiry into the 1 Aug violence report which was presented by Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa this week, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has said.

Ziyambi said the report which was made public by Mnangagwa is a public document meaning it is open for public scrutiny.

Responding to Mbizo constituency legislator Settlement Chikwinya who had requested that MPs be allowed to bring the report into the house for debate, Ziyambi said, “Indeed the report is in the public domain and it is within the rights of Parliament to discuss any document that is in the public domain, so we will consider it.

By Farai D Hove| Journalist Violet Gonda has said she was robbed in South Africa.

Gonda commented saying Zimbabwe apepars better than South Africa on managing crimes on the street.

She said she the alleged robbers were in a “getaway car which stopped in the middle of crossroad.”

The “thug came from opposite side of road, snatched my phone, ran into car & sped off,Mugged in SA.Getaway car stopped in the middle of crossroad.Thug came from opposite side of road. Snatched my phone, ran into car & sped off,” she tweeted.

Mugged in SA.Getaway car stopped in the middle of crossroad.Thug came from opposite side of road. Snatched my phone, ran into car & sped off. #SAPS wanted my cell serial Nos, b4 opening case.Who moves with serial Nos?Zim appears to be doing better thn SA on managing street crimes

— Violet Gonda (@violetgonda) December 19, 2018

Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe’s government has indefinitely suspended the recruitment of nursing students.

This was announced in a circular to provincial medical directors and schools of nursing by the secretary for health Gerald Gwinji.

Gwinji did not provide reasons for the decision. In a circular dated December 18, Gwinji said:

Please be informed that the recruitment of student nurses from May 2019 and beyond has been suspended.

The freeze on recruitment comes as the government has been failing to offer employment to nursing graduates, citing financial pressure and an out-of-control wage bill.

Terrence Mawawa|The Reconstruction Act is a repressive and unconstitutional tool that has been crafted to seize properties from hapless citizens, Mutumwa Mawere has said.

Using the controversial Act the government seized Air Zimbabwe, Shabanie and Mashava Mines(SMM) and recently Hwange Colliery Limited.

Writing on Twitter yesterday Mawere emphasised the need to uphold constitutional principles in the country.

“Are you aware of the existence and operation of the Reconstruction Act? If so, then ask the people in whose hands the company’s control and management was vested,” argued Mawere.

He added: “Is theft a policy? Is it a farcical currency or a well orchestrated scheme to steal value that ordinarily should accrue to a self-determining economic actor? When the people who take oath to promote,protect and uphold the protection of property become the guardians of its diversion,

then what?”

Limpopo Public Transport Unit officers in South Africa on Wednesday morning stopped a 22-seater cross-border taxi with double the number of permitted passengers on board.

According to the spokesperson for the department of transport, Matome Moremi-Taueutsoala, the bus was stopped on the N1 next to Snake Park just outside Polokwane. The bus was en route to Zimbabwe from Johannesburg.

“We have called cross-border officials to authenticate cross-border papers but the driver doesn’t have a permit to drive this kind of vehicle,” he said.

There were 44 people on board, seven of them children.

Moremi-Taueutsoala said this was totally unacceptable and that traffic officers would continue to crack down on those who broke the law.

A REPORT claims that embattled MDC Alliance vice president Elias Mudzuri has the full backing of his home province, Masvingo, in his tussle for the soul of the party with president Nelson Chamisa.

The MDC Masvingo provincial structures are said to be filled with Mudzuri supporters who are from Zaka district, where Mudzuri hails from. The provincial chairperson, James Gumbi also comes from Zaka.

A Mail and Telegraph source familiar with the internal dynamics of the MDC said: “Last Sunday there was a meeting which was convened by Mudzuri’s personal assistant Silas Man’ono and it was attended by many people across the province who believe Mudzuri should be accorded a chance to contest Chamisa at the Congress as it is within his constitutional rights.

“These meetings are being done on regular basis at night and they are done by bitter people who think Chamisa is persecuting Mudzuri along factional grounds.

“Other members who attended the meeting were Mushonga of Zaka Central, Ndekere of Chivi South, Damba of Chivi North, Dumbu of Zaka West, Tichaona Chiminya, John Nyika and David Charirwe of Masvingo Urban who is being propped to be the faction’s provincial chairperson.”

Contacted for comment, Gumbi, however, denied involvement in the alleged plot. He said: “I do not know why people are saying bad things about vice president Mudzuri. He is our leader and is in good books with president Chamisa.

“We support that leadership and any meetings taking place are meant to unite the party and not tear it apart.”

Mudzuri is allegedly working with Mwonzora to upstage Chamisa at next year’s October Congress.

Mwonzora is a firm believer of constitutionalism and it has made him so unpopular within the internal struggles. He, however, holds the power because his office controls the lower structures.

As the secretary general, Mwonzora was supposed to write dismissal letters to all the members who stood as independent candidates during the July 30 polls but he has deliberately ignored that call.

Mwonzora and Mudzuri are protecting those people and are going to rely on their support at the Congress.

— Source: Mail & Telegraph

Correspondent|HARARE Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba has announced that the Harare City Council has run out of water treatment chemicals.

The Mayor revealed the shocking details at a press conference on Wednesday.

The city has been going for long periods of the day with no water during the last few weeks.

The mayor revealed that The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has released only US$1.2 million towards the procurement of critical water treatment chemicals when the City requires between US$2.5 – US$2.8 million every month.

The city has run out of aluminium sulphate and HTH. Local authorities countrywide are battling to procure water purification chemicals as local suppliers are demanding payment in foreign currency, Urban Councils’ Association of Zimbabwe president Josiah Makombe revealed.

“Local authorities have been facing a challenge in sourcing water treatment chemicals because suppliers are charging in foreign currency, yet councils do not have that kind of money,” Makombe said.

“What it entails is that because local authorities do not have adequate supplies of foreign currency, they have reduced quantities they buy from local suppliers, but I still have to check with my secretary-general to get full details on the actual state of supplies (water treatment chemicals) in the market.”

Harare City Council’s acting director for water, Mabhena Moyo said the local authority had engaged the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) for forex to procure chemicals as all local suppliers had nothing in stock.

“We have reduced the water we are treating because we don’t have chemicals. We have engaged the RBZ but we are yet to get a favourable response. We checked with all our suppliers locally, we don’t have sulphuric acid and we hope that the central bank will help very fast,” Moyo said.

The situation is dire and exposes residents to waterborne diseases.

Already Harare is battling to meet water demand as it pumps 420 mega litres per day against the required 1 000 mega litres.

Last month, there were reports that Bulawayo had run out of the water treatment chemicals with fears that the local authority could be forced to stop the purification of the precious liquid due to foreign currency shortages.

Jane Mlambo| Following the release of the Commission of Inquiry report which implicated the army and police for the death of six civilians, Zimbabweans have stalked President Emmerson Mnangagwa to apologize to the nation and victims.

Former Sunday Mail Editor, Edmund Kudzayi said Mnangagwa should apologize for deploying soldiers who killed people on the streets of Harare.

He further demanded that those who lied about the third force should be disciplined.

Will President Emmerson Mnangagwa apologise to the nation for the unlawful killing of six civilians by soldiers that he deployed? Will the perpetrators be prosecuted? Will those who lied on behalf of the soldiers, blaming an armed third force, be disciplined? No. No. No.

— Edmund Kudzayi (@EdmundKudzayi) December 19, 2018

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on Wednesday 19 December 2018 charged 14 leaders and members of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) with contravening the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and disorderly conduct after they were arrested for allegedly staging an anti-government protest over poor salaries and unfavourable working conditions.

Police have released names of 14 victims who died in an accident involving two commuter omnibuses which occurred along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway on Sunday near Juru Growth Point.

In a statement, Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said bodies of a toddler, and two male and female adults were yet to be identified.

Those identified are Godknows Chitate (24) of Sunningdale 2 in Harare Febby Mugamanyadzi (55) of Murewa, Welldone Njerere (7) of Juru, Spencer Hwedenga (36) of Zengeza 5 in Chitungwiza, Medread Ruka (66) of Juru, Leeny Makusha (4)of Murewa and Violet Manuel (20) of Zengeza 2 also in Chitungwiza. Others are Ellis Makaza (30) of Jonasi Village, Chief Chitsungo (Pfungwe), Edison Madziva (32) of Gokwe, Bianca Nadzo (18) of Murewa, Wiriranayi Kawerenga (37) of Murewa, Sara Makusha (13) of Goromonzi and Lisa Makusha (14) of Murewa.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the three unidentified bodies were at Murewa Hospital mortuary. She urged people missing their relatives to visit Murewa Police Station.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges public service vehicle operators to ensure that their vehicles are checked regularly before embarking on journeys for fitness, which include tyres, brakes, lights and other essential components.

“Drivers should not speed in order to safeguard lives this festive season and only carry passengers stipulated under the respective vehicles registration permits,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Passenger Association of Zimbabwe is urging Government to ban use of second hand tyres by public service vehicles.

In a statement yesterday, PAZ president Mr Tafadzwa Goliati also extended his condolences to the bereaved families. President Mnangagwa on Monday extended his condolences to families who lost relatives in the accident.

He said Government would extend assistance towards meeting funeral expenses to the affected families.

— Chronicle

Actress Danai Gurira, Zimbabwe’s export to Hollywood has been unveiled as the face of a local anti-poaching campaign running under the theme “Poaching Steals From Us All”.

The Black Panther star who is in the country to raise awareness against poaching activities that are depleting Zimbabwe’s wildlife population, on Monday graced the campaign’s launch at ZimParks Gardens in Harare.

As a special guest, Danai who starred as Okoye in Black Panther – an American superhero film which was ranked the world’s ninth-highest-grossing film of all time, hogged the limelight at the Harare launch with her poise and down-to-earth personality.

Explaining the campaign, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo said they had partnered Danai, among other local celebrities, to be an ambassador as she has done well on the international stage.

“Danai is one of our own who has done well for herself on the international platform. We partnered her for this campaign to assist us to attract goodwill as a country. She’s an international brand whom we’re confident can assist us to attract more people from America – one of our biggest markets,” said Farawo.

“Her role is to also assist with our fight against poaching which has been affecting us as a country over the years. I think the figures (poaching) are going down and with the coming on board of Danai, it’ll go a long way as we’ll likely have more partners in our quest to protect our animals.”

Farawo said Danai, together with their American partners for the campaign, are now in Hwange where they are having an appreciation of the tourist destination as well as filming videos that will be used for the campaign.

Thereafter, they will travel to Victoria Falls.

Other than Danai, Farawo said they wanted to partner the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi, Pathisa Nyathi and Albert Nyathi as well as community leaders for this anti-poaching campaign which will be spread nationwide.

“We’ll be rolling out this campaign throughout the country for our people to know that when tourists are coming to Zimbabwe, they’re coming to see wild animals.

That awareness must sink into our people and they should feel proud.

“We want to educate communities on the importance of the anti-poaching campaign and the importance of keeping our animals,” emphasised Farawo.

This campaign is the biggest recognition for the Black Panther star from her home country and it could open doors for the campaign outside the country as Danai has a huge following worldwide.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) head of corporate affairs, Godfrey Koti, who attended the launch said it was exciting to have Danai being part of an innovative new communications campaign to protect Zimbabwe’s wildlife.

“Danai Gurira is the lead celebrity for the ‘Poaching Steals From Us’ campaign. These are tremendous efforts by the ZimParks, WildAid from America, Zambezi Society, ZTA and their various partners to accelerate the fight against poaching.

“Non sequitur: Danai is such a humble Zimbabwean who deeply loves her country,” said Koti.

-State Media

Government wants to abolish the death penalty with plans already afoot to push for debate on Constitutional amendments to end death by hanging in line with international trends to do away with capital punishment, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said President Mnangagwa wants the death penalty banned.

He said Zimbabwe had streamlined categories of people liable for the death penalty to underscore its resentment of capital punishment.

Minister Ziyambi said this on Monday while giving oral evidence before a Senate thematic committee which wanted to be updated on the human rights situation in the country.

Committee chairperson Sen Oliver Chidawu (Zanu-PF) asked Minister Ziyambi how far Government had gone towards abolishing the death penalty.

Minister Ziyambi said Zimbabwe had not executed convicts on the death row since 2005.

“From 2005 we have had no execution. The 2013 Constitution was an improvement from the previous one in that women can no longer be sentenced to death; those under the age of 21 are no longer sentenced to death, those over 70 are spared the death penalty,” said Minister Ziyambi.

“Only males over 21 and below 70 can be sentenced to death, which we believe is a great improvement from the previous position that we had. The status quo was as a result of the consultation that was done through Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac). There was a vote that let us leave it there for now and this was captured in the Constitution,” he said.

“The President is desirous that we remove it but that will also entail us amending the Constitution to ensure that is taken care of. But over and above that, I think we have done a lot to ensure that we respect the right to life. We have not been executing (convicts) and we have limited the category of people who can be sentenced to death,” he said.

Minister Ziyambi said through debate in Parliament legislators should decide whether to remove the death penalty or not.

“I believe we are moving in line with what other countries are doing. Today (Monday) at the United Nations there is going to be a vote on a moratorium on the death penalty.

Countries are voting to say even those on the death row can you give them a moratorium. You will agree that even when His Excellency was inaugurated in November, one of the first things he did was to commute part of death penalty (verdicts) to life sentence,” said Minister Ziyambi.

-State Media

A-56-year-old woman and her nine-year-old grandson were found dead with multiple axe wounds all over their bodies at their homestead in Bubi District, Matabeleland North.

The murder weapons, an axe and a knobkerrie, were found at the scene.

The bodies of Wesi Ncube and her grandson Lyodd Ndebele of Dulutsha village 3 in Siganda were discovered on Saturday a kilometre apart.

A neighbour’s eight-year-old granddaughter who had gone to the deceased’s homestead on Saturday morning to ask for cooking oil found Ncube’s body and alerted her family. The body of Ncube’s grandson was found about a kilometre from their home by villagers.

Police suspect that the killings may have occurred between 7PM on Friday and 7AM on Saturday.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese said reasons for the attack are not yet known and investigations are underway.

The victims were allegedly last seen on Friday evening by their neighbour, Mrs Sibongile Ncube (48), while she was at her homestead.

“At around 7AM on Saturday, a juvenile aged 14 sent his sibling, aged eight to go and ask for cooking oil at Ncube’s home. Upon arrival in their yard, she stumbled on the body of Ncube, lying about three metres away from the kitchen hut.

“The minor rushed back home where she notified her grandmother (76) about the incident. The elderly woman informed other villagers and they searched for Ndebele’s body which they discovered about a kilometre away from their homestead,” Chief Insp Makonese said.

The matter was reported to the police.

Chief Insp Makonese said both victims had multiple head injuries and a bloody axe was found next to Ncube’s body while a bloody knobkerrie was found next to the boy’s body.

The bodies were taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for postmortem.

Chief Insp Makonese appealed to members of the public to assist them solve the murder case by contacting their nearest police station.

Last month, an 88-year-old man was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds at his home in Plumtree.

His unknown attackers are still at large.

Mr David Ndlovu of Dopote village, under Chief Masendu in Madlambuzi, was pronounced dead on arrival at a local clinic.

His 21-year-old son said he heard several gunshots at around 11PM but said he was too scared to check what was happening outside his bedroom.

He discovered his seriously injured father at around 5AM the following day and rushed him to Makhulela Clinic where he was declared dead.

-State Media

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

LIVE: A journalist tells Chamisa party spokesman, the type of guns used by the ZDF on 1 Aug are a matter of state security, members of the public are not supposed to know . https://t.co/G05gs1E7SN @JMafume @nelsonchamisa @ProfJNMoyo pic.twitter.com/B5K608XQMe

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 19, 2018

Parliament yesterday fast-tracked debate on the 2019 National Budget which was presented by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube last month to ensure that it sails through before the august House adjourns for Christmas.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who is also Leader of Government Business in the House, moved for the suspension of some procedural requirements that should ordinarily be followed during such proceedings.

Some of the requirements that Parliament adopted was the suspension of automatic adjournment at 6.55pm, the requirement of referral of a Bill to the Parliamentary Legal Committee and allowing for the sitting of the House on Friday should the need arise.

The motion by Minister Ziyambi to suspend some procedural requirements in respect of debate on the 2019 National Budget was made in terms of Parliament’s Standing Orders.

Soon after Parliament adopted Minister Ziyambi’s motion, debate on the National Budget resumed with chairpersons of different portfolio committees tabling their reports.

Most of the reports bemoaned inadequate allocation of financial resources to various Government ministries and departments.
Prof Ncube sat through the debate listening to contributions from legislators and was expected to respond once the backbenchers completed their debate.

Presenting the portfolio committee report on Primary and Secondary Education, Cde Josiah Sithole (zanu-pf) bemoaned the low budget allocation for the ministry saying Zimbabwe was the only country in the Sadc region that did not offer free education.

Harare East MP Mr Tendai Biti (MDC Alliance) said the Government’s move to levy import duty in foreign currency was unlawful.

He said in terms of the Reserve Bank Act all currencies in the multi-currency basket should be accepted.
“As long as the bond note is in circulation it is legal tender,” said Mr Biti.

He said Prof Ncube should be bold enough to acknowledge the bond note was not at par with the United States and implored Treasury to liberalise the exchange rate.

“The minister must have the courage to demonitise the bond note. Bad money tends to displace good money. He must have the courage to liberalise the exchange rate. If the exchange rate is allowed to settle it will do so at a much lower rate than the going rate

Mr Biti said the only solution was to re-dollarise the economy.
Mines and Mining Development Portfolio Committee chairperson Mr Temba Mliswa said there was need to support the sector given that it was projected to contribute about 40 percent to Gross Domestic Product.

-State Media

The death toll in an accident involving two commuter omnibuses that occurred along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway on Sunday near Juru Growth Point has risen to 17 after three more people died at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals yesterday.

Twelve people died on spot when the vehicles collided head on. Two more people died same day on admission at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

Yesterday police confirmed the death of three more people from injuries sustained in the accident. Out of the 17, police managed to release names of 14 victims.

In a statement, Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said bodies of a toddler, and two male and female adults were yet to be identified.

Those identified are Godknows Chitate (24) of Sunningdale 2 in Harare Febby Mugamanyadzi (55) of Murewa, Welldone Njerere (7) of Juru, Spencer Hwedenga (36) of Zengeza 5 in Chitungwiza, Medread Ruka (66) of Juru, Leeny Makusha (4)of Murewa and Violet Manuel (20) of Zengeza 2 also in Chitungwiza.

Others are Ellis Makaza (30) of Jonasi Village, Chief Chitsungo (Pfungwe), Edison Madziva (32) of Gokwe, Bianca Nadzo (18) of Murewa, Wiriranayi Kawerenga (37) of Murewa, Sara Makusha (13) of Goromonzi and Lisa Makusha (14) of Murewa.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the three unidentified bodies were at Murewa Hospital mortuary. She urged people missing their relatives to visit Murewa Police Station.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges public service vehicle operators to ensure that their vehicles are checked regularly before embarking on journeys for fitness, which include tyres, brakes, lights and other essential components. “Drivers should not speed in order to safeguard lives this festive season and only carry passengers stipulated under the respective vehicles registration permits,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Passenger Association of Zimbabwe is urging Government to ban use of second hand tyres by public service vehicles.

In a statement yesterday, PAZ president Mr Tafadzwa Goliati also extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

President Mnangagwa on Monday extended his condolences to families who lost relatives in the accident. He said Government would extend assistance towards meeting funeral expenses to the affected families.

— Chronicle

Lobby group Afriforum has announced that an arrest warrant has been issued against former Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe for her alleged assault of SA model Gabriella Engels.

In July, AfriForum won a High Court application to review and set aside the government’s decision to grant Mugabe diplomatic immunity.

Mugabe allegedly assaulted Engels at a hotel in August last year. The former Zimbabwean first lady claimed that she was acting in self-defence,

-Eye Witness