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.
The 14 ARTUZ leaders and members were charged with disorderly or riotous conduct as defined in Section 41(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly blocking a road in Ruwa, just outside Harare while holding and waving placards during an anti-government protest over poor salaries and unfavourable working conditions.
ARTUZ President Obert Masaraure was also charged with failing to notify the regulatory authority (ZRP) of their intention to hold a public gathering in contravention of Section 25(1) of POSA.
The 14 ARTUZ leaders and members, who are represented by Tinomuda Shoko and Kossam Ncube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, include Masaraure, Robson Chere, Taurai Boora, Regai Chinhuto, Brenda Musavengane, Gaudencia Mandiopera, Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Munyaradzi Masiiwa, Regis Mzambi, Memory Phiri, Christine Judane, Takemore Mhlanga, Gerald Tinashe and Godfrey Chanda.
The teachers, who are set to appear at Rotten Row Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon, were arrested by ZRP members on Tuesday 18 December 2018 in Ruwa, just outside Harare and detained at Harare Central Police Station as they marched from Mutare to Harare, where they intend to camp and picket at Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube’s office to demand payment of their salaries in foreign currency and the full payment of their 2018 annual bonuses.
The arrest of the labour unionists is the second one in less than one week after ZRP members first arrested nine ARTUZ leaders and members on Saturday 15 December 2018 in Macheke, Mashonaland East province before they were set free after prosecutors declined to prosecute them.
By Own Correspondent| Government is set to evict 500 illegal farm settlers, it has emerged.
This was revealed by the Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa at the Cabinet presser held at Munhumutapa offices in Harare (Wednesday).
Said Mutsvangwa:
“As part of the 100 Days Programme by the Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Cabinet approved the following priority projects: eviction of 500 illegal farm settlers and issuance of 500 A1 permits and production of 200 A2 farm diagrams.
Cabinet also agreed to embark on irrigation development for 443 hectares of functional irrigated area, fencing 100 kilometers of Gonarezhou National Park and improving livestock and agricultural water supply through the rehabilitation of 882 boreholes, drilling of 50 new boreholes and equipping of 97 boreholes.”
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.
By Own Correspondent| A Bulawayo magistrate here on Monday issued a warrant of arrest on Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni (54) of Ntabazinduna over failure by the traditional leader to appear in court to answer to allegations of extortion.
Magistrate Gladmore Mushove heard that sometime in June 2017, Fetti Mbele of Ntabazinduna and his wife had a misunderstanding.
Mbele reported the matter to Chief Ndiweni. The matter was heard before Chief Ndiweni’s traditional court where it was resolved that Mbele’s wife should vacate the family’s homestead.
The court heard that the couple later resolved their issue, leading to the wife remaining at Mbele’s homestead.
On July 4 last year, Chief Ndiweni and his subjects went to the Mbele’s homestead and allegedly ordered him to take his wife back to her parents.
The court heard that Chief Ndiweni told Mbele that he had disrespected him by keeping his wife after the ruling that he should send her packing.
The Chief allegedly took a cow and its calf as a fine from Mbele and forced his wife to go back to her parents homestead.-NewsDay
By Own Correspondent| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been given the mandate to guide and oversee engagement efforts between government and striking junior doctors following an impasse which has seen the two sides pulling in different directions over the junior doctors’ demands.
This was revealed by the Information and Publicity minister Monica Mutsvangwa at a press conference in Harare today (Wednesday).
Said Mutsvangwa:
“Following presentation by the Minister of Health and Child Care of an update on the junior doctors strike, Cabinet while noting the ongoing efforts to resolve the matter, agreed that henceforth, the engagement process be under the guidance of Vice President Constantino Guvheya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga.”
VP Chiwenga, 8 months ago fired all striking public hospital nurses with immediate effect and ordered the prompt recruitment of unemployed graduates to replace them.
The drastic action was confirmed by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Nurses had gone on strike to press the government to pay them allowances and to protest a flawed system for grading salaries.
Chiwenga said the nurses had continued with the crimpling job action despite the government releasing funds to pay their allowances in line with an earlier deal brokered between the two parties earlier in the week.
Said the Vice President:
“What makes the whole action both deplorable and reprehensible is the fact that, as agreed, Government today released and transferred a sum of $17 114 446 into the account of the Ministry of Health and Child Care for on-payment to the striking nurses.
Government now regards this lack of remorse as politically motivated, and thus as going beyond concerns of conditions of service and worker welfare.”
VP Chiwenga continued:
“Accordingly, Government has decided, in the interest of patients and of saving lives, to discharge all the striking nurses with immediate effect.
Further, Government has now instructed the Health Services Board to speedily engage, as appropriate, all unemployed but trained nurses in the country.
It has also authorized the Board to recall retired nursing staff into the service.”
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.
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.
By Own Correspondent| Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said that Zimbabwe had not executed convicts on death row since 2005.
He said ZANU OF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa wants the death penalty to be abolished.
The Justice Minister revealed that the government intends to abolish the death penalty and that plans are already in motion to push for a Constitutional amendment.
Said Ziyambi:
“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.
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 the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac). There was a vote that let us leave it there for now and this was captured in the Constitution.”-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent| First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa has launched a comprehensive assistance programme for the vulnerable in society dubbed “Giving Hand 2018”.
Amai Mnangagwa’s programme is targeting children’s homes, old people’s homes and homes for people with disabilities.
Mashonaland East Province became the first province to benefit from the programme initiated by the First Lady through her Angel of Hope Foundation in conjunction with Higher Life Foundation.
The First Lady said her organisation is still looking for more partnerships so as to ensure sustainable support to the under-privileged members of society.
15 children’s homes, 3 old people’s homes and one home for people with disabilities received large consignments comprising of all the essential groceries and blankets.
The Minister of State for Mashonaland East Province, Cde Apolonia Munzverengwi applauded the First Lady for putting a smile on the faces of the less fortunate.
Last year, Amai Mnangagwa travelled to all the provinces where more than 4000 children at various homes received Christmas goodies.
This year, she added old people’s homes and homes for people with disabilities on her distribution list.
The distribution of goods has also been decentralised in all the provinces to enable every home to receive their gifts before Christmas.-StateMedia
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.
By Own Correspondent| A South African 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,
By Own Correspondent| Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said that Zimbabwe had not executed convicts on death row since 2005.
He said President Emmerson Mnangagwa wants the death penalty to be abolished.
The Justice Minister revealed that the government intends to abolish the death penalty and that plans are already in motion to push for a Constitutional amendment.
Said Ziyambi:
“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.
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 the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac). There was a vote that let us leave it there for now and this was captured in the Constitution.”-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent| Human rights lawyer Douglas Coltart has expressed shock over the arrest of leaders of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union Of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) on Tuesday describing the President Emmerson Mnangagwa led regime as “unbelievable”.
ARTUZ leaders were arrested for the second time within a week after nine Union leaders were arrested by the police in Macheke on Saturday for criminal nuisance before being released without a charge after the State found no basis for prosecuting them.
Said Coltart:
“This regime is unbelievable! ARTUZ teachers have been arrested again on their #MarchToHarare! On Monday, the State admitted the charges were baseless and dropped after they’d been arrested by Macheke police on Saturday. Now they’ve been arrested again by Ruwa police.”
Perrance Shiri LIVE: "we are proceeding with the evictions…our task is to ensure that there is total stability on the farms. " pic.twitter.com/PPhlW8cLvq
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.
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.
TWO suspected robbers were left nursing gunshot wounds after being shot by police in Mvurwi after they allegedly broke into an electrical shop last week.
Tawanda Munyamba (34) and Casper Zhanje (36) were shot after they reportedly charged at the armed police officers with iron bars.
The two are admitted at Mvurwi District Hospital.
Their accomplice, Aluis Mudadai (22), surrendered himself to the police to avoid being shot.
Munyamba, Zhanje and Mudadai were not asked to plead when they appeared before Guruve resident magistrate Shingirai Mutiro, who remanded them in custody to December 28.
The State, represented by Spiwe Makarichi, alleges that on December 15 the three broke into Munyaradzi Mugwisi’s electrical shop armed with iron bars and bolt cutters.
They were intercepted by a security guard, who they allegedly threatened to kill.
The guard allegedly sent a text message to the shop owner, who immediately arrived in the company of armed police officers.
When Mugwisi and the police arrived at the scene, the robbers were allegedly arguing on whether to kill the guard or not.
Munyamba and Zhanje then charged at the police officers, who fired three warning shots before shooting at the pair.
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,
Tabani Moyo CiZC Spokesperson|The final report of the Commission of Inquiry into the events of August 1, 2018 during which the army killed six civilians in Harare has confirmed our long held view that the Kgalema Monthlante Commission was largely compromised to an extent that no credible outcome could be expected.
If anything the Commission has only served to absolve President Mnangagwa, Zanu PF and the Zimbabwe National Army from the killings of civilians who were demonstrating against electoral fraud.
The Commission has amplified the voice of its paymaster, President Mnangagwa who was the appointing authority and at the same time has amplified the voices of witnesses aligned to Zanu PF as a way of nailing the opposition.
CIZC holds the view that the Commission has largely failed the credibility test and the final report raises more questions than answers.
We are concerned that instead of seeking to achieve national healing and reconciliation the Commission’s report will inflict more pain on victims of the August 1 shootings as well as the general citizenry.
It is disturbing that instead of focusing on the real facts, the Commission has sought to pacify and cleanse president Mnangagwa.
Consequently the Commission has set the stage for continued persecution of opposition and civil society activists.
That the Commission would blame the MDC Alliance for the August 1 incident when senior Zanu PF officials had earlier on declared that President Mnangagwa was ready to shoot for power boggles the mind.
The Zimbabwe National Army has a well known record of interfering in politics and threatening war on the opposition and it is disturbing that such facts would just be swept under the carpet.
National healing and reconciliation continues to be a pipe dream in Zimbabwe owing to lack of sincerity on the part of authorities and this explains why results of the Commission that investigated the Gukurahundi Massacres which claimed more than 20 000 lives remains a top secret up to now.
We reiterate that the army should be held accountable for the August 1 shootings. The November 2017 military coup cannot continue on the path of the army killing civilians.
CIZC will issue a full response to the Commission’s final report after consultation with civic society organisations in the country.
Jane Mlambo| Gokwe Nembudziya parliamentarian, Justice Mayor Wadyajena has lashed at his party’s youth league which he said is now incompetent and totally corrupt.
Our Youth League as it is now is incompetent & totally corrupt. It wouldn’t be surprising if those middle-agers sold their souls to opposition as claimed. Did they campaign for H.E @edmnangagwa? We all know they’re team Torai Mari United!https://t.co/UhRlnaHo9Xhttps://t.co/vU8X7GGsfs
An Airforce of Zimbabwe pilot, based at Josiah Tungamirai Airbase in Gweru, who allegedly murdered his girlfriend, but was given free bail by a Gweru magistrate, has been remanded in custody to January 28 next year.
Tashinga Musonza (29) on November 25 allegedly fatally assaulted Lucy Duve (32) — a Gweru-based lawyer — accusing her of cheating on him with his colleague.
However, when he was brought before the courts for initial remand, magistrate Thomas Gurajena did not ask him to apply for bail to the High Court, but instead freed him, citing the violation of his rights through over-detention.
Gurajena ruled that Musonza had been kept in custody for 53 hours, instead of the stipulated 48 hours.
The ruling sparked outrage among members of the public and his late girlfriend’s family, which reportedly sought audience of senior judicial officials in Harare.
Last week, the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe held a march in Gweru, demanding justice for the slain lawyer.
Musonza was subsequently arrested over the weekend and brought before regional magistrate Phathekile Msipa yesterday.
Representing the State, prosecutor Ndamukanei Chikuni read out the indictment application, and it was acceded to by Msipa, who remanded the pilot to January 28 for trial when the High Court opens its first session of 2019.
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.
FINANCE and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube yesterday said Government had done all it could for now to address the grievances of striking junior doctors as he appealed to them to return to work for the sake of patients. Minister Ncube said Government would continue the engagement process through the bipartite negotiating forum.
Addressing a press conference in Harare, Prof Ncube said Government valued the work of junior doctors and other health workers.
“We value our junior doctors and all our health workers and of course we sympathise with their plight like we do with the plight of every Zimbabwean in this transitional situation,” said Minister Ncube.
“Government has done a lot in meeting the demands of the junior doctors – fuel for transportation purposes, vehicle loans and other such demands that they placed upon us and we responded. We feel that we are really doing our part in responding to their demands,” he said.
Prof Ncube said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development had put in place a facility for the procurement of drugs through the National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm).
The junior doctors have, among other grievances, cited drug shortages at Government hospitals as a major reason for the strike.
“We have got a good supply of drugs coming through and this again has been communicated to the junior doctors,” said Prof Ncube.
Government also promised to prioritise the doctors when it comes to fuel allocation.
The country is currently experiencing shortages of the commodity.
The Government further pledged to release the remaining $6 million for vehicle loans.
It has so far released $4 million.
“I think it would be unfair for them to continue staying out there. People are dying in hospitals and I think that it is important that ethics are put before everything else,” said Prof Ncube in his appeal to the doctors.
“They should go back to work while we do our part to meet their demands. They are valued employees of this country and the health sector,” he said.
He, however, said Government was unable to pay the doctors in foreign currency as per their request.
“Our job, through the central bank, is to allocate the little foreign currency that we earn to critical sectors. It is an allocation process and we are determined to make that process more efficient and we can prioritise but there is no question of salaries in hard currency. That cannot happen,” said Prof Ncube.
He said Government does not earn foreign currency.
“We are currently paying in RTGS and I would like to urge them to accept that. That is the mode of payment. We are unable to pay them in foreign currency. We do not earn foreign currency as a Government,” said Prof Ncube.
He refused to be drawn into promising a pay rise.
“There are structures through which they are engaging their line Ministry, that is the Ministry of Health. I would urge them to continue engaging through those structures and once there is a position, obviously with us as Treasury being involved. These things have budgetary implications. We will then take any proposals or any issues raised forward but I cannot respond to that specifically in this platform. It is wrong to do so,” he said.
Junior doctors went on strike at the beginning of the month demanding a review of their conditions of service.
Meanwhile, Government said it had also reversed deductions on junior doctors’ December salaries.
It attributed the deductions to a systems error.
“According to paymaster, Salary Service Bureau, this was due to PAYE final deduction system, which reconciles the payroll and ensures that correct tax is collected per employee by end of year,” said the Acting Secretary for Health and Child Care, Dr Robert Mudyiradima.
“At the end of year, the system makes final adjustments to PAYE calculations taking into account the total income, deductions and credits to which the employee is entitled,” he said.
“The deductions have since been reversed and the monies will be credited into the affected members’ accounts.”
The doctors said the deductions had undermined the spirit of negotiations.
“Even those who were not on strike have joined us, including our seniors, owing to the latest development,” said Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association Secretary General, Dr Mthabisi Bhebhe.
Jose Mourinho opens talks with new club immediately after leaving Manchester United and requests ambitious transfers
Jose Mourinho has reportedly already opened talks over the Real Madrid job after leaving his position as Manchester United manager on Tuesday morning.
The Portuguese tactician seems ready to return for a second stint at the Bernabeu, despite also leaving the Spanish capital under something of a cloud back in 2013.
Los Blancos, however, are pretty desperate right now after bringing in Santiago Solari to replace the hapless Julen Lopetegui this season as they struggle to cope with the summer departure of Zinedine Zidane.
According to Don Balon, Mourinho already has a list of transfer targets for Madrid president Florentino Perez, with some big names there as he clearly thinks big ahead of taking on his next role.
The report lists the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Christian Eriksen, Adrien Rabiot, Matthijs de Ligt and David Alaba as being among the main names he wants bringing in if he is to take the job.
Two Manchester United players remained loyal to Jose Mourinho until the end
Video: Zimmer wonder goal helps Dusseldorf end Dortmund’s unbeaten run
The first thing Paul Pogba did after finding out Jose Mourinho had been sacked by Manchester United
Real are known for their spending power and love of ‘Galactico’ signings, but they have been surprisingly quiet in that regard for a few years now.
Mourinho, however, has often relied on such spending at most of his clubs, so Madrid won’t be surprised if these rumoured requests to do come in.
A 37-YEAR-OLD man from Juru, who last week fatally struck his wife with a hoe over allegations of infidelity before fleeing to neighbouring South Africa, on Sunday handed himself over to police and was charged with murder.
The body of Tsitsi Mukoko (27) of Juru village, under Chief Chikwaka, was discovered in a state of decomposition by villagers after they noticed flies hovering around the bedroom window of their house.
The deceased’s husband, Shupikai Chakanyuka, reportedly fled to South Africa after the murder, but was escorted back by his brother and handed himself over to police four days after the incident.
Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the incident.
“The suspect handed himself to police after having fled to South Africa following the murder incident. The sanctity of human life must always be respected, and people must not resort to violence as a means of solving problems,” he said.
According to police, on December 11, during the night, Chakanyuka and Mukoko were heard by a neighbour engaged in an altercation over an unknown issue. The accused was later seen leaving his house on the same night.
The following day, a neighbour inquired on the whereabouts of Chakanyuka’s wife and he said she had been admitted to Murewa District Hospital for treatment.
On December 13, at around 1pm, another neighbour noticed houseflies and smelt an unpleasant smell emanating from the room and informed others.
They went on to investigate and discovered Mukoko’s corpse, but could not locate Chakanyuka.
Chakanyuka, however, handed himself over to the police on December 16 and allegedly revealed that he had fatally struck his wife with a hoe over infidelity claims.
Mukoko’s body was conveyed to Murewa District Hospital for post-mortem
Harare East MP Tendai Biti (MDC Alliance) yesterday tore into the 2019 National Budget presented by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, saying it violated the Constitution for charging duty on vehicles in foreign currency and incorporating the military in the enforcement of traffic fines.
Contributing to debate on the Finance Bill in the National Assembly, Biti, a Finance minister during the government of national unity, which ran the country between 2009 and 2013, said Ncube’s budget statement failed to address the structural problems affecting the country.
He challenged Ncube to be courageous and declare that the bond note was not at par with the United States dollar and also to demonetise the surrogate currency.
“Firstly, the Finance minister suggested that duty for imported vehicles and other selected commodities must be paid in United States dollars, which is legal tender, but the bond note is also legal tender, and it is unfortunate for the budget to suggest that for certain commodities, duty should be in US dollars. It is illegal,” Biti said.
“Another illegality is that the budget statement says by-elections should be held after every one year or two years, but the Electoral Act is clear that by elections must be within 90 days of a vacancy.”
On traffic fines, Biti said it was illegal for the Executive to interfere with the Judiciary in terms of sentencing of traffic offenders.
Previously, the fines were a maximum $100, but Ncube imposed deterrent penalties of up to $700.
“For the Finance minister to also say that traffic fines must be enforced by the military is also unconstitutional and illegal because the law and order maintenance function is vested on the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” he said.
“He also suggested that many people were using their houses as business premises and that the Department of Customs and Excise and Zimra [Zimbabwe Revenue Authority] must be empowered to carry out searches. The Constitution is clear that there should be privacy of persons and, therefore, Zimra has no power to do the searches.”
Biti also said giving the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) power to retain foreign currency from exporters such as Zimplats was unlawful.
The former Finance minister said the RBZ could not take people’s money and then allocate it.
He said allocation of funds were the duties of Parliament and it was illegal for the RBZ to do so.
On the budget deficit projected at $1,56 billion, Biti said it was grossly understated, given that there were plans by government to increase civil servants’ salaries by 10%. He said the only solution was to pay salaries in US dollar and re-dollarise the economy.
Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove on Monday issued a warrant of arrest on Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni (54) of Ntabazinduna after he failed to appear in court to answer to allegations of extortion.
The court heard that sometime in June 2017, Fetti Mbele of Ntabazinduna and his wife had a misunderstanding.
Mbele reported the matter to Chief Ndiweni. The matter was heard before Chief Ndiweni’s traditional court where it was resolved that Mbele’s wife should vacate the family’s homestead.
The court heard that the couple later resolved their issue, leading to the wife remaining at Mbele’s homestead.
On July 4 last year, Chief Ndiweni and his subjects went to the Mbele’s homestead and allegedly ordered him to take his wife back to her parents.
The court heard that Chief Ndiweni told Mbele that he had disrespected him by keeping his wife after the ruling that he should send her packing.
The Chief allegedly took a cow and its calf as a fine from Mbele and forced his wife to go back to her parents homestead.
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.
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.
HARARE City Council has resolved to sell a prime piece of land in Mount Pleasant to a property developer to raise money for salaries.
The land is currently being used by the ruling Zanu PF party as its district offices.
Minutes of a joint council meeting of the finance and housing committees revealed councillors on Monday agreed to sell the 8 575 square metre-stand to Pebeny (Private) Limited for $650 000, with the developer promising to pay up within seven days.
“Currently, the stand is occupied by Zanu PF Mount Pleasant district, which is using it as an office. That has been the status since 1980. That state of the property is not good for council and abutting properties,” read the minutes approved by councillors.
Council claimed the actual land value for the property was $130 000, but the developer was prepared to pay a premium.
“Pebeny (Private) Limited has negotiated with the party at provincial level and agreed that the party district office would be relocated elsewhere in the district where Pebeny will construct a replacement office,” the minutes stated.
The company has six months to start and complete civil works after signing a memorandum of agreement with council. All works should be done within 24 months.
According to a letter from Zanu PF attached to the minutes, provincial secretary for Harare said the party was willing to vacate the property and allow the private firm to develop residential stands as long as an alternative was given to them.
The property developer intends to construct 21 three-bedroomed residential units for resale.
Harare East MP Tendai Biti (MDC Alliance) yesterday tore into the 2019 National Budget presented by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, saying it violated the Constitution for charging duty on vehicles in foreign currency and incorporating the military in the enforcement of traffic fines.
Contributing to debate on the Finance Bill in the National Assembly, Biti, a Finance minister during the government of national unity, which ran the country between 2009 and 2013, said Ncube’s budget statement failed to address the structural problems affecting the country.
He challenged Ncube to be courageous and declare that the bond note was not at par with the United States dollar and also to demonetise the surrogate currency.
“Firstly, the Finance minister suggested that duty for imported vehicles and other selected commodities must be paid in United States dollars, which is legal tender, but the bond note is also legal tender, and it is unfortunate for the budget to suggest that for certain commodities, duty should be in US dollars. It is illegal,” Biti said.
“Another illegality is that the budget statement says by-elections should be held after every one year or two years, but the Electoral Act is clear that by elections must be within 90 days of a vacancy.”
On traffic fines, Biti said it was illegal for the Executive to interfere with the Judiciary in terms of sentencing of traffic offenders.
Previously, the fines were a maximum $100, but Ncube imposed deterrent penalties of up to $700.
“For the Finance minister to also say that traffic fines must be enforced by the military is also unconstitutional and illegal because the law and order maintenance function is vested on the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” he said.
“He also suggested that many people were using their houses as business premises and that the Department of Customs and Excise and Zimra [Zimbabwe Revenue Authority] must be empowered to carry out searches. The Constitution is clear that there should be privacy of persons and, therefore, Zimra has no power to do the searches.”
Biti also said giving the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) power to retain foreign currency from exporters such as Zimplats was unlawful.
The former Finance minister said the RBZ could not take people’s money and then allocate it.
He said allocation of funds were the duties of Parliament and it was illegal for the RBZ to do so.
On the budget deficit projected at $1,56 billion, Biti said it was grossly understated, given that there were plans by government to increase civil servants’ salaries by 10%. He said the only solution was to pay salaries in US dollar and re-dollarise the economy.
Jane Mlambo| National Aids Council (NAC) has torched a storm following their remarks that HIV testing should be compulsory and should be a key requirement from couples intending to get married.
Amon Mpofu, NAC Monitoring and Evaluation Director said;
"We want pastors & marriage officers to demand proof of HIV testing from couples intending to get married," National Aids Council Monitoring & Evaluation Director, Amon Mpofu.
By Own Correspondent| Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) Salary Caravan protestors were Tuesday late afternoon arrested again in Ruwa, Harare as they were about to finish the last leg of their protest.
President of ARTUZ Obert Masaraure said the teachers were arrested and taken to Harare Central police station where they will spend the night.
Masaraure could however not divulge the charges being levelled against the striking teachers.
Said the ARTUZ leader:
“We are now in police custory. It looks like we are going to spent the night here.”
The latest arrest of the ARTUZ members comes in the wake of nine Union leaders being arrested by the police in Macheke on Saturday for criminal nuisance. The leaders were however released without prosecution after the State found no basis for prosecution.
TWO suspected robbers were left nursing gunshot wounds following a shootout with police in Mvurwi after they allegedly broke into an electrical shop last week.
Tawanda Munyamba (34) and Casper Zhanje (36) were shot after they reportedly charged at the armed police officers with iron bars.
The two are admitted at Mvurwi District Hospital.
Their accomplice, Aluis Mudadai (22), surrendered himself to the police to avoid being shot.
Munyamba, Zhanje and Mudadai were not asked to plead when they appeared before Guruve resident magistrate Shingirai Mutiro, who remanded them in custody to December 28.
The State, represented by Spiwe Makarichi, alleges that on December 15 the three broke into Munyaradzi Mugwisi’s electrical shop armed with iron bars and bolt cutters.
They were intercepted by a security guard, who they allegedly threatened to kill.
The guard allegedly sent a text message to the shop owner, who immediately arrived in the company of armed police officers.
When Mugwisi and the police arrived at the scene, the robbers were allegedly arguing on whether to kill the guard or not.
Munyamba and Zhanje then charged at the police officers, who fired three warning shots before shooting at the pair.
The State yesterday conceded that it did not have some of the documented evidence needed to nail former Cabinet minister Supa Mandiwanzira, who is facing charges of contracting a company he had interest in to do consultancy work for State mobile operator, NetOne, without going to tender.
Mandiwanzira, who is also facing another charge of appointing his personal assistant Tawanda Chinembiri to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe board, yesterday appeared before magistrate Francis Mapfumo for trial.
The defence, led by Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba, had asked the State for further particulars for the trial to resume.
Magwaliba had also requested the tender documents relating to Chinese company Huawei Technologies’ contract with NetOne for the supply of network expansion and modernisation equipment.
He also requested a State Procurement Board authorisation document on the renegotiation of the contract and minutes of a meeting in February 2016, which concluded that Huawei was overcharging for the equipment.
Magwaliba also wanted the State to furnish him with a copy of the title deeds of a property in South Africa, which is allegedly co-owned by Mandiwanzira’s company Blue Nightingale and Megawatt Energy owned by Lui Xiadong, a Chinese national, plus a police diary log and Chinembiri’s employment contract.
However, the prosecution, represented by Tapiwa Godzi, told the magistrate that the State did not have most of the evidence requested by the accused because they relied on verbal evidence.
Godzi said most of the documentary evidence was in the hands of the accused and that the State had already supplied him with the little documentation it had, arguing that some of the documents requested by the defence were either irrelevant to the State case or not part of the State case.
“Those documents are either not relevant to the State’s case or not part of the State’s case. Tender documents are not part of the State’s case. We merely mentioned it in the State outline as an undisputed fact, but we only want the dealings that led to the contract,” Godzi said.
“We also do not have minutes of the meetings. The accused knows for sure where the minutes are found because they were kept by him. Most of the correspondence we have are verbal. We do not have proof of the title deeds to show that the accused’s company shared a property with Megawatt owner.”
He said the documents were not necessary for the trial, but were being brought up to delay the trial proceedings.
“It is my view the requests are calculated to deliberately delay the proceedings to a date in January. The accused is seeking a postponement through the back door,” Godzi said.
But Magwaliba argued that the State could not refuse to provide further particulars to the accused so that he prepares for trial.
“Those documents not relied upon by the State are relevant to the accused’s defence and must be supplied. It is provided in terms of the law that the court can postpone the matter for the purpose of allowing the State to provide the documents,” he said.
“The State witness, Reward Kangai, alleged Mandiwanzira co-owned a property in Johannesburg, South Africa with Megawatt owner, but the State does not have the title deed of the property to show the court. If the document is not in the hands of the prosecutor, then its relevance in court is invalid.”
Mapfumo postponed the matter for ruling to December 21.
ZimEye will be livestreaming a Cabinet press conference at 10 am this morning at Munhumutapa Offices in Harare.
The presser, which was supposed to be held yesterday (Tuesday) soon after the cabinet meeting was postponed to today (Wednesday) in order to accommodate the release of findings of the August 1 Commission of Inquiry.
Opinion By Farai Maguwu|I HAVE carefully gone through the Monhlante Commission Final Report and my attention was immediately drawn to the section that deal with the deployment of the troops to assist the overwhelmed Zimbabwe Republic Police officers.
Having read the annexes – letters exchanged between Home Affairs and Defence Ministries, there is a very strong indication that Mnangagwa did NOT deploy troops on 1 August.
On page 26 the report states that ‘As a result, the Commissioner General of Police invoked section 37 (1) of POSA and requested the Minister of Home Affairs to ask the Vice- President and Minister of Defence to seek the authorisation of the President in terms of section 213 of the Constitution for the deployment of the army to assist the police in the maintenance of law and order.’
There is detailed evidence of correspondence between Police and the Defence Ministry, with the former requesting the latter to intervene.
This chain of communication ends with the Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who was also the Minister of Defence at the time. Pages 26-7 contains very interesting information: ‘The Commander of the Defence Forces, General Philip Valerio Sibanda testified before the Commission that he had been advised by the Vice President and Minister of Defence, General Chiwenga, that His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa had authorised the deployment of the military in terms of the Constitution. It was on that basis that he gave orders for the deployment of the military to assist the Police. He produced to the Commission copies of the letters to confirm the above.’
According to Section 213 of the Constitution ‘Only the President, as Commander in Chief of Zimbabwe Defence Forces has power to –
1. authorise the deployment of the defence forces or
2. to determine the operational use of the defence forces’
Now, here lies the problem: All the correspondence regarding requests for the deployment of the defence forces is in written form. Only the authorization by HE President Mnangagwa has no written evidence.
The letter authorizing the deployment is coming from the Vice President who takes centre stage in the final correspondence, and not the President as stipulated in the Constitution.
We are all aware that on 1 August 2018 President Mnangagwa was in the country and there is no way Chiwenga could have been Acting President.
There is a letter purported to have been written to H.E Emmerson Mnangagwa by Vice President Chiwenga on the 1st of August ‘requesting for the immediate assistance of the Defence Forces for the purpose of suppressing violence in Harare Central Business District…’
Another letter, purportedly written on the same day by General Chiwenga to Commander Defence Forces, General P.V Sibanda, claims ‘the President, as Commander in Chief of Defence Forces has authorized deployment of the Defence Forces, in support of the Police Service in the maintenance of the public order.’
Why isn’t there any written authorization from the President, in response to the letter purportedly written by Gen. Chiwenga on 1 August?
How did the President authorise the deployment? Through word of mouth? A phone call to his deputy? Did someone usurp the power of the President and then forged letters in retrospect to heal the constitutional breach?
Why didn’t the Commission demand proof of the authorization of the President?
One of the recommendations should have been clarity in the constitution on how the President authorizes deployment of troops. This coming barely 9 months after the coup that was not a coup, it’s high time Zimbabwe addresses this challenge with finality.
The Defence Forces form the heart of the State and the command structure must be crystal clear.
Farai Maguwu is the Executive Director of the Centre for Natural Resource & Governance.
By Own Correspondent| Zanu PF has donated groceries left over from the National People’s Conference held at Mzingwane High School to hospitals in Matabeleland South province.
Speaking at the handover of the groceries to Gwanda Provincial Hospital yesterday, Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs Minister, Cde Abednico Ncube said the groceries will be distributed to all hospitals in the seven districts of the province as well as Gwanda Old People’s Home.
“I have been sent by Zanu-PF party to donate this food to Gwanda Provincial Hospital.
“As you all know the party held its annual National People’s Conference here and these groceries were left after the conference” he said.
Cde Ncube said President Mnangagwa instructed the province to give the food to the people.
“We sat down as a province and decided to donate the groceries to health institutions in all our seven districts and as such all our hospitals are going to benefit,” said Cde Ncube.
Gwanda Provincial Hospital received mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar and rice and other hospitals are going to receive a similar assortment of foodstuffs.-StateMedia
PUBLIC Service Commission chairperson Dr Vincent Hungwe has said servants who are set to benefit from the Government’s $60 million non-monetary incentive scheme should move into their new houses by April next year.
Dr Hungwe said this after touring the three sites for the housing units: Knockmalloch along Harare-Bulawayo Road in Norton; the second one is Glaudina, and the third is Dzivaresekwa, both in Harare.
The Knockmalloch site will have 260 houses out of 600 units, Dzivaresekwa (262) and Glaudina (270).
“This is where we are starting as the Public Service Commission and we expect that this will become a national programme, which continues to demonstrate Government’s commitment to ensuring its employees have access to accommodation,” said Dr Hungwe.
He said land had also been serviced in Norton for the same purpose.
“The land in Norton has been serviced and the beneficiaries have been identified. It is expected that come the end of the first quarter of 2019, the beneficiaries will be moving into their properties,” said Dr Hungwe.
The first 500 civil servants have so far been profiled by the National Building Society to benefit from the programme and have been given offer letters to access mortgage loans.
“The second project here in Harare is the Glaudina one. The units are being built and there are about 270 for civil servants. Here in Dzivarasekwa, we have been informed that there are 600 units and 220 of them will accommodate civil servants.”
Dr Hungwe said the programme would deliver affordable, low cost but decent housing for low-income earners.
He emphasised the project would also accommodate Zimbabweans who are not civil servants.
“In terms of affordability, it all depends on what you would want and what you can afford. I am told they are single bedroom units here that are $18 000; there are two-roomed units and three-bedroomed units. The units still leave room for someone to extend depending on their capacity,” he said.
“Although this project is open to civil servants, there are units that are available to non-civil servants. For example, out of the 600 units in Kuwadzana, only 220 will be allocated to civil servants.
“We are not trying to create an environment where civil servants live alone; they are part and parcel of a society so we are not going to cordon them off in their own camps where they do not interact with other members of society. However, wherever there is an estate, we are saying let us take action to ensure that civil servants are accommodated into those estates.”
Street vendors trade beneath election billboards in Harare.
FOREIGN currency shortages that triggered erratic supplies of basic commodities, inflation and an increase in the cost of living have made ordinary Zimbabweans an unhappy lot.
The World Happiness Index for 2018 puts Zimbabwe at 140 – down from 138 out of 155 countries in 2017. The unhappiness is evident even among some of the most educated and skilled workers in the country.
A fortnight ago, junior doctors downed tools citing an array of grievances ranging from poor remuneration to horrible working conditions. A spirited campaign by government to urge doctors to “put lives first” fell on deaf ears.
“People are dying in hospitals and I think it is important that ethics are put before everything else,” said finance minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.
Instead of heeding the call, senior doctors on Tuesday joined their juniors in the strike.
“We are therefore withdrawing our services with immediate effect. We hope that the situation will be resolved expeditiously so that we may resume providing our services normally and effectively,” doctors said in a media statement.
Most senior doctors are engaged in private practice and locum jobs outside government hospitals. As such they are dedicating their time to paying customers. There are only a few privileged clients but they pay in foreign currency.
“It makes sense to me because in January I will be forced to pay school fees for my son in foreign currency yet government pay me in the useless bond notes,” said one doctor.
Most medical aid associations, in renewing their subscribers’ cover in December, demanded payment in US dollars or an equivalent at a parallel market rate. Some companies have since withdrawn medical aid cover for their employees because of this demand.
“The decision of not renewing the contracts has been reached by the group members because the medical aid increased their tariffs and requires foreign currency funding which members or organisation do not have,” read a letter to Liberty Life.
While the doctors’ strike takes centre stage, a group of teachers have been walking around the country protesting against unfair treatment in the wake of an ailing economy. This week broader calls for a strike were raised by the whole civil service threatening to down tools as early as January if their demands for salaries to be paid in foreign currency or a massive pay increase were not met.
However, government has repeatedly said it cannot afford to pay them in foreign currency. At the recent Zanu PF 17th annual people’s conference the ruling party said it would work towards introducing a local currency if the economy improved.
It also made a resolution that government should enact laws that would effectively stop businesses from having a three-tier pricing system.
But business people argue otherwise. Simbisa Brands, a fast food giant, has led the way with what it charges in US dollars being different from the bond price. This is in contrast to the government’s argument that the bond note is equivalent to the US dollar.
Stevenson Dhlamini, an economics lecturer at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), sees signs of re-dollarisation on the horizon.
“Everyone is already moving towards transacting in foreign currency. It will get to a point where the bond note will have a free fall eventually. Right now things like fuel which is heavily subsidised by government are sold in bond notes but there are some garages that now charge strictly in foreign currency. If you look closely they are the ones with fuel most of the time and that means back to strictly foreign currency is the way to go, but let the markets take shape on their own,” he said.
Government’s stance that the bond note is equivalent to the US dollar has started showing adverse effects. Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has just downgraded Zimbabwe to junk status.
“Due to the worsening situation in the country regarding foreign currency shortages and inflation concerns, S&P DJI will remove index constituents domiciled in Zimbabwe,” said the organisation in a statement.
The S&P African Index is used by investors as a benchmark for the African market. It covers companies listed in 13 African countries and tracks the stock market prices of those companies. Zimbabwean companies will now be excluded from that index.
AN Airforce of Zimbabwe pilot, based at Josiah Tungamirai Airbase in Gweru, who allegedly murdered his girlfriend, but was given free bail by a Gweru magistrate, has been remanded in custody to January 28 next year.
Tashinga Musonza (29) on November 25 allegedly fatally assaulted Lucy Duve (32) — a Gweru-based lawyer— accusing her of cheating on him with his colleague.
However, when he was brought before the courts for initial remand, magistrate Thomas Gurajena did not ask him to apply for bail to the High Court, but instead freed him, citing the violation of his rights through over-detention.
Gurajena ruled that Musonza had been kept in custody for 53 hours, instead of the stipulated 48 hours.
The ruling sparked outrage among members of the public and his late girlfriend’s family, which reportedly sought audience of senior judicial officials in Harare.
Last week, the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe held a march in Gweru, demanding justice for the slain lawyer.
Demand for justice … Lucy Duve’s family says release of only suspect had traumatised them
Musonza was subsequently arrested over the weekend and brought before regional magistrate Phathekile Msipa yesterday.
Representing the State, prosecutor Ndamukanei Chikuni read out the indictment application, and it was acceded to by Msipa, who remanded the pilot to January 28 for trial when the High Court opens its first session of 2019.
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday made good on his promise to make public the findings of the three-month investigation into the post-election violence that left six people dead, and 35 injured.
While the report puts much of the blame on the army and police where it related to the death and injuries, it however implicated “fake, fabricated news on social media,” and the opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa, for sparking the violence, that resulted in the August 1st incident and involvement of the army and the police.
“Speeches made by political leaders, mostly the MDC Alliance, before and after the elections, heightened tensions and played a part in inciting some members of the public to protest,” noted the report. “During the pre-election rallies, the MDC Alliance had taken a position that if their presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa, did not win the election, they would protest. A threat that they implemented.”
The commission further determined that, “the protests were pre-planned and well-orchestrated as shown, for example, by the fact that the groups arrived in containers of assortment of products of objects such as stones, bricks, sticks, posters, etc., etc. which they used in their demonstrations,” the report noted.
The MDC refutes the report’s findings as far as their involvement in instigating the violence, saying the whole investigation is a white wash to cover up the real culprits of the August 1st violence.
“We are surprised that the report says we caused the violence, but they didn’t name even one person shot by the MDC, they haven’t even mentioned one member of the MDC who was even there, they are only referring to speeches that were made at rallies,” said MDC spokesperson, Jacob Mafume.
Mafume says his party is still going through the report.
According to the report, compiled by a seven-member Commission of Inquiry picked by President Mnangagwa to look into what caused the violence that broke out on August 1st, the police and army were found responsible for the deaths and injuries sustained from the clashes between citizens and members of the security forces.
“The death of these six people and injuries sustained by the 35-others, rose from the actions of the military and the police,” President Mnangagwa said, quoting the report.
However, the report also attributed blame on the protestors, some suspected to be members of the opposition Movement for Democratic (MDC) Alliance, who were demanding the release of the July 30th presidential results.
“At least six persons sustained injuries as a result of the actions by the protestors,” noted the report.
Though the commission found the deployment of the military to assist police in containing the violence “justified” and constitutionally “provided for in terms of Section 213 Subsection 2 of the Constitution and Section 37 Subsection 1 of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) Chapter 11.1.7,” given the “riotous” demonstrators, it also found the military’s use of force, which included beating demonstrators with baton sticks and rifle butts, as well as shooting into the crowds, unjustified and outside the command of the regulating authority.
“The use of live ammunition directed at people, especially when they were fleeing was clearly unjustified, and disproportionate,” the report noted. “The use of sharp shambokos, baton sticks and rifle butts to assault members of the public, indiscriminately was also disproportionate.”
Aside from just pinning blame on suspected culprits of the violence, the Commission, which was chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, also offered recommendations to prevent future outbreaks of election and other-related violence, as well compensation for victims of the violence and their loved ones.
“The payment of compensation is recommended for all victims of the violence, and dependents of the deceased. Where the deceased had young children, they should be urgently assisted with school fees and their general welfare,” recommended the commission. “The government should put in place a special committee to assess and determine the quantity of damages and compensation to be awarded to victims on a case by case basis,” offered the report, and even noted names of victims.
The report also calls for further internal investigation by the police to get to the bottom of who overstepped their boundaries while responding to the violence.
“It is imperative for the police urgently to complete their investigations to enable the persecutions of those persons who are responsible for all alleged crimes committed on the 1st of August 2018,” noted the report. “Those particular members of the military and police found to have been in breach of their professional duties and discipline on the first of august 2018 should be identified as soon as possible, for internal investigations and appropriate actions which should include hearing from the victims.”
MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume, took issue with the report’s call for tossing the investigation back to the police, saying the commission tasked with the investigation, should have resolved this.
“That was the commission’s job,” said Mafume. “But it is now returning the matter back to the perpetrators, those who committed the killings, to say who ordered the shooting, and who killed people.”
The Commission also recommended the use of enhanced ICT facilities to enable election officials to quickly transfer election results to the command center, so that crucial results like the presidential results, can be announced faster than the current five-day waiting period, provided for by the constitution.
To ensure that people’s right to demonstrate is protected, the commission also recommended more awareness to educate political parties and members of the general public on how to exercise their rights within the provisions of the law.
Commenting on the commission findings, President Mnangagwa said his government will study the recommendations and set the way forward.
A soldier clearly fires live ammunition at protesting citizens
Own Correspondent|MDC veteran politician David Coltart has questioned the Kgalema Montlante Commission’s recommendation that the army carries out internal disciplinary process on soldiers who killed people in Harare on the 1st of August 2018.
Clearly identified army officer shooting at innocent citizens.
Coltart notes the futility of the process since the army commanders told the commission that their officers did not kill anyone.
“Aside from the serious breach of due process if the military are not prosecuted for murder what was the Motlanthe Commission thinking about recommending “internal investigations” when they heard army commanders denying their soldiers had killed people? I am profoundly shocked,” said Coltart.
Aside from the serious breach of due process if the military are not prosecuted for murder what was the Motlanthe Commission thinking about recommending “internal investigations” when they heard army commanders denying their soldiers had killed people? I am profoundly shocked.
An armed soldier points his gun at an innocent aged vendor
Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed to apologise for the madness and murders by members of his military who have been declared as responsible for the murderer of six people in Harare on the 1st of August.
In his immediate statememt after revealing the commission of inquiry report into the killings, all that Mnangagwa could say was ask Zimbabweans to unite, move forward and forget about the killings.
Wrote Mnangagwa on his official Facebook page after the publishing of the report,
Today, as promised, the report on the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 incident was released.
The Commission was independent and transparent, and produced a thorough and fair report. We have studied the report at length, and expect all involved parties to do the same, so we can all take the necessary insights.
I now urge the country to come together and unite. We have a long road of recovery ahead, a process of reforming, restructuring and rebuilding. This requires above all peace, love and unity.
Only if we work and live together can the new Zimbabwe thrive. We must now look forward, and work as one nation for a better, prosperous future.
Harare East MP Tendai Biti (MDC Alliance) yesterday tore into the 2019 National Budget presented by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, saying it violated the Constitution for charging duty on vehicles in foreign currency and incorporating the military in the enforcement of traffic fines.
Contributing to debate on the Finance Bill in the National Assembly, Biti, a Finance minister during the government of national unity, which ran the country between 2009 and 2013, said Ncube’s budget statement failed to address the structural problems affecting the country.
He challenged Ncube to be courageous and declare that the bond note was not at par with the United States dollar and also to demonetise the surrogate currency.
“Firstly, the Finance minister suggested that duty for imported vehicles and other selected commodities must be paid in United States dollars, which is legal tender, but the bond note is also legal tender, and it is unfortunate for the budget to suggest that for certain commodities, duty should be in US dollars. It is illegal,” Biti said.
“Another illegality is that the budget statement says by-elections should be held after every one year or two years, but the Electoral Act is clear that by elections must be within 90 days of a vacancy.”
On traffic fines, Biti said it was illegal for the Executive to interfere with the Judiciary in terms of sentencing of traffic offenders.
Previously, the fines were a maximum $100, but Ncube imposed deterrent penalties of up to $700.
“For the Finance minister to also say that traffic fines must be enforced by the military is also unconstitutional and illegal because the law and order maintenance function is vested on the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” he said.
“He also suggested that many people were using their houses as business premises and that the Department of Customs and Excise and Zimra [Zimbabwe Revenue Authority] must be empowered to carry out searches. The Constitution is clear that there should be privacy of persons and, therefore, Zimra has no power to do the searches.”
Biti also said giving the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) power to retain foreign currency from exporters such as Zimplats was unlawful.
The former Finance minister said the RBZ could not take people’s money and then allocate it.
He said allocation of funds were the duties of Parliament and it was illegal for the RBZ to do so.
On the budget deficit projected at $1,56 billion, Biti said it was grossly understated, given that there were plans by government to increase civil servants’ salaries by 10%. He said the only solution was to pay salaries in US dollar and re-dollarise the economy.
CHIMURENGA music legend Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo will this year celebrate Christmas with his Gweru fans who had felt robbed when an earlier show scheduled for the city failed to take off due to logistical challenges.
The initial show — which had been pencilled for December 7 and was meant to officially open the 73-year-old music maestro’s Peace Tour in Zimbabwe — failed to kick off at Gweru Golf Club after the organisers were let down by power hiccups.
Sound engineers could not connect the sound system and the lighting equipment to a power point due to the unavailability of a cable after the stage had reportedly been set about 150m from the power point.
Mukanya’s tour manager, Denford Kasambira, however told NewsDay Life & Style that they would now make it up for their fans on December 24.
“The show will now be on December 24. All is sorted and we promise that all will be good. The show will be a good one, and surely one to remember,” he said.
Kasambira said Mukanya’s band members from the United Kingdom and United States had since jetted into the country for the show.
“His band is all set. His band members from the US and UK are with him on the tour, and it promises to be an exciting night for revellers in Gweru who yearn for Chimurenga music. We have tightened our security for people who intend to come with families and everyone in general,” he said.
Mapfumo’s publicity manager, Blessing Vava, confirmed the latest developments.
The Mamvemve hit-maker has so far visited various cities, meeting with his fans in shows that have rekindled memories, with performances in Bulawayo, Masvingo and Beitbridge.
There has, however, been concern that the tours were poorly marketed, failing to live up to the billing of such a gigantic figure as Mapfumo.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Philip Valerio Sibanda (left) confers the rank to Presidential Guard commander Major-General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe
PRESIDENTIAL Guard commander Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe’s recent promotion to the rank of Major-General before the release of the results of the commission of inquiry (COI) into the August 1 shooting raises a stink.
Such recognition dampens the letter and spirit of the former South Africa President Kgalema Motlanthe-led COI into the August 1 shootings.
What if it turns out that Sanyatwe is culpable? Well, President Emmerson Mnangagwa knows better since he received the report earlier.
Was the shooting of the civilians a ploy to divert attention from the alleged rigging of the presidential election?
Was it planned by the State security apparatuses to divert world attention from the legitimacy issues raised by the opposition?
Was it not wise to wait until the COI results have been publicised, given that Sanyatwe commanded the crack military unit at the centre of the fatal shooting of six civilians, with over 72 others left injured (according to civil rights groups).
It can only be hoped that the report does not in any way nail Sanyatwe or cast aspersions on his role in the operation. If it does, then the promotion is yet another reminder that in Zimbabwean politics, one does not rise on the basis of merit. For all intents and purposes, the promotion could be a reward of the role played by Sanyatwe in the ouster of former President Robert Mugabe.
The development, then becomes yet another indicator that for all the talk of a “Second Republic” or “New Dispensation” and such other romantic terms, we have not departed from the old politics entrenched by Mugabe. And, thus, there is no reason why the international community can really believe that Zimbabwe is open for business, when everyone can clearly see that the Zanu PF regime is pursuing Mugabe’s toxic political trajectory.
No doubt, walking the talk is critical in global politics where credibility is valued above all else.
It is against this backdrop – not necessarily based on professionalism, but the central role he probably played in Mugabe’s deposition – that Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Philip Valerio Sibanda could have seen it fit to recommend Sanyatwe for promotion.
Evidently, there is no way Mnangagwa would not have seen it fit, too, to promote the man who played such a crucial role in his rise to power. Just that seems enough to wipe away his role in the August 1 killings, notwithstanding public sentiments or questions likely to have been raised by the Motlanthe commission.
What Mnangagwa has done through this promotion is no different from spitting into the face of the COI.
In fact, it appears to confirm the widespread belief that, while Mnangagwa could have known the right thing to do, his hands were tied because it is the military from whose benevolence he benefitted that is in charge after all.
If Mnangagwa is really honest about having the global community embrace him and retain some of his dignity, it is essential that he starts to do things differently.
Thus far, he has not shown any inclination to create a new political culture.
What the Mnangagwa administration is saying is: whatever you think, we don’t care!
Joseph Chinotimba called female Parliamentarian a prostitute.
FEMALE parliamentarians have been called names for expressing their political views, with the word “prostitute” common in the insults hurled at them.
The latest to the list of female MPs labelled as prostitutes is the MDC chairperson Thabitha Khumalo who was called a “prostitute” by Joseph Chinotimba, the Buhera South MP.
Though the two have made up, Khumalo feels it was time MPs stop calling each other names and concentrate on real issues.
She told the Business Times: “I was insulted by Chinotimba, he called me a prostitute. It is so sad that we still have that patriarchal behaviour. You are too smart for them and they victimise us,” she said.
Khumalo said gender issues were not specific to women, adding that men should attend gender workshops to understand the subject.
“Chinotimba apologised eventually,” Khumalo said, “but on that day he accused me of insulting him, but I didn’t. Every time a woman from our party stands up, they say we are prostitutes and we slept our way to the top,” she said.
“MDC Alliance MP Lynnette Karenyi Kore has been accused of sleeping her way to the top and I have also been a victim. They say I can’t be a leader of the party in the House and party national chairperson without sleeping with anyone.”
Kore has since threatened to approach the courts to report sexual harassment against some lawmakers. The speaker of the House of Assembly, Jacob Mudenda, has instituted an investigation into the issues raised by the female legislators.
“We are targeted because we are pushing agendas that affect women,” Khumalo said. “That doesn’t kill our confidence. I am confident than ever. That Chinotimba apologised is a plus for us.”
Khumalo said “the word gender was corrupted by Beijing [the UN World Conference on Women held in the Chinese capital in 1995] and we need to change it to something else so that we can engage men for better dialogue. Even if you sleep with me, when it comes to office work it is work and not sex,” she said.
Joana Mamombe, the Harare West MP, has not been spared either. She was also labelled a prostitute after she wrestled the Harare West seat from Jessie Majome in the MDC Alliance internal dynamics.
MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe has also come under such attacks and labelled a prostitute by MDC Alliance supporters.
Khupe was also a victim of political violence after MDC Alliance youths threatened to burn down a hut she had sought refuge in at the funeral of Morgan Tsvangirai in Buhera earlier this year.
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, 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.
Newly-elected ZIFA president Felton Kamambo yesterday extended a charm offensive to his predecessor Philip Chiyangwa when he paid him a courtesy call at his offices in Harare and pledged to support his former boss in his regional portfolio.
Chiyangwa was voted out of ZIFA at the association’s elective congress on Sunday, losing to Kamambo who previously served in the board led by the former from 2016 until early this year.
However, the former ZIFA boss remains at the helm of the region as COSAFA leader until the end of his term and Kamambo yesterday pledged to support his former boss in his regional position as well as back his elevation at CAF and FIFA.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association president, Felton Kamambo, has today (yesterday) paid a courtesy call on his predecessor, Philip Chiyangwa, as he commences extensive engagement processes with all football stakeholders,” confirmed the association’s communications manager Xolisani Gwesela in a statement.
“Kamambo pledged to support Chiyangwa during his tenure as the COSAFA president, adding that he appreciates that Zimbabwean football stands to benefit with one of its own as the leader of the regional body.
“The new executive committee is prepared to lobby for and support the elevation of Chiyangwa to the top echelons of CAF and FIFA.
“The president highlighted that Chiyangwa and his executive committee has done tremendous work in the development of the beautiful game and the success we earned in various competitions.
“Chiyangwa was humbled by the president’s noble gesture and he pledged to support the new executive committee to put Zimbabwe on the (world) football map. Chiyangwa wished the new executive committee well on their four-year journey,” Gwesela added in his statement.
Some football stakeholders expected revolutionary changes at the ZIFA secretariat but the former Central Region boss Kamambo has indicated he will not be doing that, rather he is giving the current crop at the association a chance to prove themselves.
After meeting Chiyangwa, Kamambo proceeded to officially meet those responsible for the day-to-day running of the association led by general secretary Joseph Mamutse where he told them that the board will give them a bigger role in decision-making. “Kamambo also officially met members of the secretariat for the first time as the new head of the association and encouraged them to complement his efforts to develop football.
“The president has a vision, which is shared by his fellow executive committee members, that is “to unite and lead” the football family to greater successes.
“Kamambo has vowed to re-engage stakeholders in order to nurture long term mutually beneficial relations that are necessary for ZIFA to attract more partners.
“For football to win, the president underscored the need for every stakeholder to work tirelessly and focus solely on the great tasks of re engagement and development,” Gwesela said.
During his tour the ZIFA boss was accompanied by returning board member Philemon Machana who was responsible for finance in the previous administration.
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.Chronicle
The Passenger Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has urged the Government to ban the use of
second-hand tyres on public service vehicles.
The proposal follows the death of 17 people in a road accident along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway on Sunday. PAZ president Mr Tafadzwa
Goliati called for the ban, while extending condolences to the bereaved families. Goliati said
Government should help resuscitate the tyremanufacturing industry.
Said Goliati: As PAZ we call upon Government to act decisively on the ban on second-hand tyres and they should also ensure that as a nation we are able to manufacture affordable tyres that suit our climate and road conditions.
Government must actively help resuscitate Apollo (formerly Dunlop) in Bulawayo. In this case the cause was a tyre burst. Commuter omnibus
owners must consistently ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy.
Commuter omnibus operators must
also desist from giving kombi crews
targets that are very difficult to meet,
which leads to overloading and speeding. Chronicle
National Aids Council (Nac) monitoring and evaluation director Mr Amon Mpofu said there is need for couples getting married to know their HIV status first before they could get a marriage certificate.
He said this during a meeting with Members of Parliament on HIV and Aids in Kadoma.
Said Mpofu:”We want pastors and magistrates or any other marriage officers to demand proof of HIV testing from couples intending to get married. We need to protect our children.”
Mpofu also said foreign currency shortages in the country has also affected NAC. He said Government has not been allocating us enough
foreign currency towards the procurement of ARV drugs.Chronicle
MDC-Alliance activist Paddington Japajapa, who is facing charges of inciting violence, has been removed from remand after his trial failed to commence.
Presiding magistrate Mr Nyasha Vhitorini ruled that the State should put its house in order and until that happens, the matter will proceed by way of summons. Japajapa, through his lawyer Mr Ronald Simango, had made an application for refusal of further remand stating that the State was making too many postponements to the trial commencement which was initially set for October 30.
The State opposed the application saying that the court should give them another chance to prepare for trial.
Japajapa was summoned in court last week with the State stating that they were ready for his trial. The trial failed to kick off once more and he was removed from remand again.
It is the State’s case that Japajapa assisted in inciting the violence that took place on August 1 in which six people died, while property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed during the violent demonstration.
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.
Civil servants who are set to benefit from the Government’s $60 million non-monetary incentive scheme should move into their new houses by April next year, the Public Service Commission has said.
The first 500 civil servants have so far been profiled by the National Building Society to benefit from the programme and have been given offer letters to access mortgage loans.
In an interview yesterday after touring the three sites for the housing units, Public Service Commission chairperson Dr Vincent Hungwe said Government’s commitment to provide decent and affordable housing to the people of Zimbabwe was unequivocal.
Dr Hungwe said the first housing site was at Knockmalloch along Harare-Bulawayo Road in Norton. There are two other sites in Glaudina and Dzivaresekwa in Harare.
The Knockmalloch site will have 260 houses out of 600 units, Dzivaresekwa (262) and Glaudina (270).
“This is where we are starting as the Public Service Commission and we expect that this will become a national programme, which continues to demonstrate Government’s commitment to ensuring its employees have access to accommodation,” said Dr Hungwe.
He said land had also been serviced in Norton for the same purpose.
“The land in Norton has been serviced and the beneficiaries have been identified. It is expected that come the end of the first quarter of 2019, the beneficiaries will be moving into their properties,” said Dr Hungwe.
“The second project here in Harare is the Glaudina one. The units are being built and there are about 270 for civil servants. Here in Dzivarasekwa, we have been informed that there are 600 units and 220 of them will accommodate civil servants.”
Dr Hungwe said the programme would deliver affordable, low cost but decent housing for low-income earners.
He emphasised the project would also accommodate Zimbabweans who are not civil servants.
“In terms of affordability, it all depends on what you would want and what you can afford. I am told they are single bedroom units here that are $18 000; there are two-roomed units and three-bedroomed units. The units still leave room for someone to extend depending on their capacity,” he said.
“Although this project is open to civil servants, there are units that are available to non-civil servants. For example, out of the 600 units in Kuwadzana, only 220 will be allocated to civil servants.
“We are not trying to create an environment where civil servants live alone; they are part and parcel of a society so we are not going to cordon them off in their own camps where they do not interact with other members of society. However, wherever there is an estate, we are saying let us take action to ensure that civil servants are accommodated into those estates.”
Government has over the years identified land in various cities and towns for residential stands and construction of high-rise apartment blocks for civil servants as part of non-monetary incentives for State employees.-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
The below report by the state owned Herald paper lists ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa as the defacto spokesman of the Motlanthe Commission. The full state report reads as follows:
The Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 post-election violence which left six people dead and destroyed property estimated at millions of dollars has concluded that the violence was pre-planned and that deployment of the military was justified.
President Mnangagwa yesterday made public the report of the Motlanthe Commission as he promised last week at the Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference in Esigodini in Matabeleland South Province.
The commission was led by former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe.
It noted that utterances by leaders of some political parties could have incited people to demonstrate on the day in question.
It also concluded that there were individuals with firearms besides the police and the military on August 1 as evidenced by spent cartridges and bullet heads found on the second floor of Gorlon House in the Harare central business district.
Announcing the inquiry findings and recommendations at his Munhumutapa Offices, President Mnangagwa said: “On the basis of the evidence presented to the Commission, the protests were pre-planned and well-orchestrated as shown.
For example, by the fact that the groups arrived with containers of assortments of objects such as stones, bricks, sticks etc which they used in their demonstrations.
“The protests were not limited to Harare only but also occurred in some other areas such as Gweru where properties were also destroyed. The Commission found that the rioters were forcing ordinary people who were conducting their day-to-day business to join the riots. This move did not spare the physically incapacitated members of the public. Having considered all the evidence, the Commission found on a balance of probabilities that speeches made by political leaders, mostly MDC Alliance, before and after the elections, heightened tensions and played a part in inciting some members of the public to protest.”
President Mnangagwa said in its findings, the Commission noted the influence of inciteful speeches by the opposition.
“The influence of those speeches is evidenced by demonstrators reproducing in many cases word for word the language used at the rallies in their songs and speeches during the demonstrations. During the pre-election rallies, the MDC Alliance had taken a position that if their presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa did not win the election they would protest, a threat that they implemented,” said President Mnangagwa while summarising the report.
The report found that the demonstrators were using a tactic of appearing here, dispersing and then regrouping at different locations thereby making it difficult for the police to disperse them.
On the deployment of the military, the report said: “According to the evidence produced before the Commission, there is no doubt that the demonstrators became riotous and caused substantial damage, with several cars being set ablaze and there was a serious threat to public safety.
“Moreover, there is evidence of damage to fuel pumps at Zuva Service Station at number 100 Chinhoyi Street when about 60 protestors attacked the fuel station. This evidence indicates that there was a risk of the service station being set alight. Given the nature of these actions, it was clear that had the riots not been checked, the situation could have escalated resulting in disastrous consequences. It was therefore not surprising that the Commissioner General of the Police requested the Minister of Home Affairs to initiate the steps required by the Constitution and the applicable law for the deployment of the army to assist the police in the containment of the riots and the restoration of law and order.”
It added: “The Commission found out that on the basis of all prevailing circumstances, and in the light of all the evidence, including the rapid escalation of the situation in a very short space of time, the decision to deploy the military to assist the police in the containment of the riots was justified.”
The Commission, however, noted that the use of live ammunition directed at people, especially when they were fleeing, was unjustified and disproportionate.
The Commission recommended compensation to the victims of the violence and their dependants. It recommended registration of political parties to ensure accountability of their leaders.
“There is need for registration of political parties so as to ensure accountability of party leaders. The enforcement of the Zec Code of Conduct for political parties has been hampered due to the absence of institutional obligations on the part of political parties.
“Political parties should be encouraged at all times to preach unity and peace for the benefit of all Zimbabweans in order for the people to be able to live together as citizens of one nation despite their political differences,” said the Commission in the report read by the President.
The Commission said the use of live ammunition as warning shots should be discouraged and only be used in limited circumstances of danger to public safety.
By Own Correspondent| A senior government official has confirmed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will soon effect a Cabinet reshuffle that will see a number of ministers losing their posts barely four months after they were appointed.
Posting on Twitter on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting services Energy Mutodi said:
“After all what has happened, it’s now clear that some ministries are being messed up and President Mnangagwa has to take action. A reshuffle is coming and those messing up your days are numbered.”
Mutodi’s outburst comes on the back of two unexpected events over the past 24 hours: an editorial shake-up that was effected at State owned publications, The Herald and Sunday Mail last night, and the demonstrations by war veterans infront of President Mnangagwa’s offices on Tuesday morning.
“So the changes at the Herald and Sunday Mail are a make-sure exercice by the Mnangagwa camp, headlined by the Mutsvangwas.
So yes, a Cabinet reshuffle is imminent as President Mnangagwa is already surrounded by criminals,” the ZANU-PF chef explained.
Own Correspondent|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa by his admission received the Kgalema Montlante Commission of Inquiry report in advance of making public statements on it and delivering it tonthe nation.
Besides noting that the report declared the military and police responsible for shooting six people that died in the post election violence of August 1, Mnangagwa somewhat arrogantly promoted to the rank of Major-General Presidential Guard commander Brigadier-General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, the man who commanded the killer military unit.
The army was called in after police had reportedly been overwhelmed by protesters over the delayed release of the presidential election results held two days earlier.
As the situation deteriorated, the soldiers were forced to use deadly force, killing six protesters according to the report.
Sanyatwe, who was commander of the crack Presidential Guard elite unit, was also key in the coup that brought to an end former President Robert Mugabe’s 37-year-rule in November last year.
In a short citation, Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Philip Valerio Sibanda said he had seen it fit to recommend Sanyatwe’s promotions to higher ranks.
Sanyatwe appeared before the commission of inquiry chaired by former South Africa President Kgalema Motlanthe and denied the military’s culpability in the killings, instead pointing to a “third force” and implying the opposition MDC, blamed for instigating the protests, harbours an armed section among its youth assembly.
Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa writing on his official Facebook says:
Today, as promised, the report on the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 incident was released.
The Commission was independent and transparent, and produced a thorough and fair report. We have studied the report at length, and expect all involved parties to do the same, so we can all take the necessary insights.
I now urge the country to come together and unite. We have a long road of recovery ahead, a process of reforming, restructuring and rebuilding. This requires above all peace, love and unity.
Only if we work and live together can the new Zimbabwe thrive. We must now look forward, and work as one nation for a better, prosperous future.
The impact of this evidence is that it exposes Emmerson Mnangagwa as an electoral thief who clearly planned, plotted and then executed military violence, cruel terrorism, just so that he could change the results…
By Simba Chikanza| Below is the clear mention of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces deployment issuing of instructions to change the election results which evidence Emmerson Mnangagwa deleted from the original Motlanthe report to present corrupted conclusions in his outcome Tuesday afternoon.(CLICK TO TO READ THE CORRUPTED REPORT) The below was recorded and reported by the commissioners as activist Makomborero Haruzivishe presented the evidence. ZimEye makes note that this evidence was also fully LIVE broadcasted to the nation on 15th of December 2017 after 1 p.m by the state media, ZBC.
While Josiah Hungwe and Terence Mukupe were mentioned ( albeit the evidence being dismissed by the report), Chris Mutsvangwa was totally expunged.
The impact of this evidence is that it exposes Emmerson Mnangagwa as an electoral thief who clearly planned, plotted and then executed military violence, cruel terrorism, just so that he could change the results as announced in his presence by his official advisor. On the ZBC footage Mnangagwa is seen smiling in sync with this announcement.
Said Haruzivishe:
The 1st of August was a very sad day. I was in town. At Angwa Street there was a
cafeteria there I was having lunch, late lunch.
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That’s when I started to hear bullets and people running away and saying they are soldiers in the streets killing people. That’s when I came out. What I saw actually it was something that was foretold that it will happen. We have been told time and time again by senior government officials, senior government authorities, members of the cabinet about what I then saw happening that day. If you go back to 15 December in 2017, the then advisor to the President of ZANU PF and Zimbabwe Mr Emerson Mnangagwa, it was Christopher…
Mutsvangwa. He said at a ZANU PF function on the day we will mobilize people and working with military to ensure that we win 2018 elections. He said, “We want to win 2018 elections with a bigger margin than 1980. He emphasised that they will mobilize
and work heavily with the army to ensure his victory”. This was in the presence of Emmerson Mnangagwa. For me that was sort of inappropriate to include the army within politics as it is civilian space but the President did not do anything to reprimand his advisor or to try to distal the nation that the military will be involved.
So 1 August for me to run back that no, in December this was said then fast forward to around 22 May in 2018 whilst commissioning him to Chiredzi. And then a Minister of State Josiah Hungwe explicitly said, “Our leader Mnangagwa is a soldier and you know that a soldier is always equipped with a gun to do whatever he wants. If you want to run away from him he can shoot you so you should always take note of that”.
He said it was also reported in Masvingo Mirror a newspaper based in Masvingo
province, the way he was commissioning the cleaning. Again we did not hear or I did not hear President Mnangagwa trying to dispel the notions that the army and that he is a soldier, and can shoot people running away. And when I saw on the 1st of August people being shot on the back, the pictures of all the people I saw were shot in the back implying that they were fleeing, they were running away. This was so much in
line with what the then Minister of State for Masvingo Province Mr Josiah Hungwe had said in May back there. In the same month of May the honourable Terence Mukupe was ZANU PF Member of Parliament for Harare East and also the deputy Minister of Finance. He had a live video on his facebook page. I have the videos if need be I can play to you Mr Chair, saying that,” the army which practically snatched the country from Mugabe cannot let a toddler Nelson Chamisa to run the country.
LOW-cost carrier Fastjet says it has $6.8 million in its accounts — which is just enough to fly to Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe up to the end of the week.
The airline said that if its cash position does not improve, it will formally hire insolvency advisers.
The airline, which began operations on the continent 16 years ago with the aim of becoming Africa’s leading low-cost carrier, said it faces closure because of delays in the completion of a Solenta Aviation Holdings Ltd subscription letter.
Through a disclosure statement at the London Stock Exchange, Fastjet Plc said that it had a balance of $6.8 million, of which $6.4 million was restricted cash held inside Zimbabwe.
Shareholding
Last month, South Africa-based Solenta had agreed to buy more than 316.7 million Fastjet shares for a total of $4.1 million, which was preconditioned on GE Capital Aviation Services (Gecas), an Irish-American commercial aviation financing and leasing company, amending two existing Embraer 190 leases to Fastjet Africa.
However, the sale is yet to happen, denying the firm close to $0.7 million through an open offer for its ordinary shares.
The sale would have seen Solenta increase its shareholding to a majority of 54.6 per cent, and raise voting shares to more than 60 per cent.
“The company is continuing to take action with a view to enabling the Gecas condition to be satisfied in the next seven days.
Accordingly, it has deferred application for the admission of the new ordinary shares to be issued pursuant to the equity refinancing and the open offer,” Fastjet directors said in a trading update.
Despite considerable effort, the Gecas condition has not yet been satisfied, although the airline hoped to have reached a settlement by last Friday.
The statement on reaching a new lease agreement with Gecas comes from Fastjet’s recent decision to exit its Dar unit entirely, selling its shareholding but remaining in the country through a branding agreement.
“While discussions to date with the relevant stakeholders have been positive, they are ongoing and there can be no guarantee of a successful outcome. The company is continuing to take action with a view to enabling the Gecas condition to be satisfied in the next seven days,” the airline said.
If Fastjet is unable to satisfy the Gecas condition, the equity refinancing and open offer will not be completed and the airline will be unable to continue trading.
“The directors would have no choice but to formally engage insolvency practitioners to explore restructuring options (including administration) and to commence discussions with interested parties for the sale of the business and assets of the company,” Fastjet said.
Meanwhile, Fastjet Tanzania chairman Lawrence Masha has upped his stake in the new outfit, from four per cent to 68 per cent after he bought 47 per cent of the company’s shares owned by local investors and 17 per cent owned by Fastjet Plc, becoming the majority shareholder and owner of the unit.
His partner is the South African Hein Kaiser.
In November, Fastjet Plc said it was disposing its 49 per cent stake in its loss-making Tanzanian subsidiary Fastjet Airlines Ltd due to a difficult operating environment.
The Dar operator will be left with little muscle to compete with the government-backed Air Tanzania.
“We are now an independent Tanzanian unit and are looking for strategic investors so as to continue to expand within the country,” said Lucy Mbogoro, the firm’s public relations and marketing executive.
The Tanzanian unit, which generated revenue worth $15.7 million in the six months to June this year, posted a loss of $8.9 million in the same period.
The parent firm, Fastjet Plc, has struggled to raise sufficient funding from its shareholders in the past year, having successfully raised $28 million in September last year out of the $44 million it had targeted in fresh capital, as its shareholders became increasingly reluctant to invest in the business.
It had previously raised $19.8 million in July 2016, and $28.8 million in January last year.
Financial instability:
The airline has gone through financial instability, having tapped shareholders for $10 million in July to fund working capital for the current operational period, against its operational costs that ran to $25.8 million in the first six months of this year.
By the end of September, its cash reserves stood at $4.2 million, with $2.8 million held inside Zimbabwe.
The remaining $1.4 million was external hard currency within the group, which it said would not be enough to continue operating the business into the fourth quarter of this year.
In the six months to June, Fastjet Plc saw its revenue increase 42 per cent to $30.1 million on the back of year-on-year capacity and flight increases.
However, its group operating losses increased by 13.4 per cent to $14.7 million.
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.
In early September, Norton legislator Temba Mliswa (INDEPENDENT) conducted a solo public HIV testing at News Start Centre in Harare. That was a woman went on Twitter accusing the talkative legislator of sleeping around with young girls and knowingly infecting them with HIV.
“I have tested negative but even if I had tested positive it means nothing. HIV is not a death sentence and I will be launching a foundation focusing on the stigmatisation issue,” Mliswa said after the test.
“HIV is not a death sentence and I will be launching a foundation focusing on the stigmatisation issue. Now that @TindoMai has had her 5s of “fame” I suggest that any “evidence” she has going forward can be submitted to the relevant authorities.
“Vanohukura vachazongo hukura I rest my case. Let’s however spare a thought for those infected with/affected by HIV/AIDS. God is in control.”
Mliswa fumed: “It’s unfortunate that in this age there are some poor souls who still stigmatise people due to their status. It’s a sign of mental depravity that should have no room in this age.”
Correspondent|Self proclaimed Mthwakazi King Stanley Raphael Khumalo has upped his game by visiting controversial Nigerian Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua a move that has been viewed as a plot to acquire spiritual power to outrun his opponents.
King Stanley Raphael Khumalo Being prayed for at TB Joshua’s church in Nigeria.
Pictures that were circulated by Khumalos’s spokesman Greater Sibanda show the ‘King’ and his delegation at the Synagogue Church of All nations being prayed for.
Three Kings have so far claimed the throne which was declared unconstitutionally by the government of Zimbabwe.
Prince Bulelani Lobengula Khumalo was crowned by Matabeleland chiefs as the heir to Lobengula the last king of the Ndebele.
Peter Zwide Khumalo also crowned himself as king challenging the eligibility of both Bulelani Khimalo and Stanley Raphael Khimalo.
a. The demonstrations which became riotous and caused extensive damage to property and injury had been incited, pre-planned and well organised by the MDC Alliance;
b. The particular circumstances prevailing on the day justified the deployment of the Military to assist the Police in containing the riots; and
c. Six (6) people died and thirty-five (35) were injured as a result of actions by the Military and the Police.
The evidence showed that the Government deployed the Military in accordance with the Constitution and the applicable law. The Commission also considered that whilst the deployment of the Military was lawful, the operational framework in terms of Section 37 (2) of Public Order and Security Act [Chapter 11:07 ] was not fully complied with in that the deployed troops were not placed under the command of the Harare Regulating Authority.
The Commission made several recommendations. Some of the key ones concern:
a. Payment through a special Committee to be set up by the Government, of compensation for losses and damages caused including in particular, support and school fees for the children of the deceased;
b. Promotion of political tolerance, and responsible and accountable leadership and citizenry;
c. Electoral reforms including the development of Information Communication Technology (ICT), to among other things enhance the transparent and expeditious announcement of election results;
d. The enforcement of law and order in order to ensure that the events of the 1st of August 2018 are not repeated;
e. Accountability in respect of the alleged perpetrators; and
f. Nation building and reconciliation including an initiative for multi-party dialogue and cooperation.
6.4. Whether the degree of force used was proportionate to the ensuing threat to public safety, law and order
a. Given that property and lives were under threat at various locations, and in light of the inability of the Police to disperse the protesters, the firing by the Army and the Police of warning shots in the air in pursuit of their stated mission which was to clear the CBD of violent protesters was proportionate.
b. However, the use of live ammunition directed at people especially when they were fleeing was clearly unjustified and disproportionate.
c. The use of sjamboks, baton sticks and rifle butts to assault members of the public indiscriminately was also disproportionate.
c. The Commission’s finding on a balance of probabilities from all the evidence received is that the deaths of these six (6) people and the injuries sustained by thirty five (35) others arose from the actions of the Military and the Police.
d. At least six (6) persons sustained injuries as a result of the actions by the protesters.
The Commission was concerned about incidents of politically related violence against women before, during and post-election period.
a. The Commission noted that it received evidence of persisting grievances among communities especially in Matabeleland and the Midlands, arising from the events of the past such as Gukurahundi.
Correspondent|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa will soon effect a Cabinet reshuffle that will see a number of ministers losing their posts barely four months after they were appointed, a senior government official has revealed.
Posting on Twitter on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting services Energy Mutodi said, “After all what has happened, it’s now clear that some ministries are being messed up and President Mnangagwa has to take action. A reshuffle is coming and those messing up your days are numbered.”
Mutodi’s outburst comes on the back of two unexpected events over the past 24 hours: an editorial shake-up that was effected at State newspapers Herald and Sunday Mail last night, and the demonstrations by war veterans infront of President Mnangagwa’s offices on Tuesday afternoon.
“So the changes at the Herald and Sunday Mail are a make-sure exercice by the Mnangagwa camp, headlined by the Mutsvangwas.
“So yes, a Cabinet reshuffle is imminent as President Mnangagwa is already surrounded by criminals,” the ZANU-PF chef explained.
Correspondent|ZIMBABWE’S military and police were responsible for killing six people when they intervened to stop post-election protests in the capital in August, according to a report by a commission of inquiry released Tuesday.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the findings and recommendations of the report at a press conference.
The use of live ammunition, whips and gun butts on protesters was unjustifiable, said the report, but it said the deployment of the military was lawful and “unavoidable” to protect property and lives after the police had been overwhelmed by protesters.
Soldiers and police found to have broken their codes of conduct should face “internal” disciplinary measures, the report recommended.
The protests were “pre-planned and orchestrated” and opposition leaders had incited violence, the report found.
Military generals who appeared before the commission in November flatly denied that soldiers were responsible for the deaths, including some who were shot in the back.
The incident happened on August 1, when armed soldiers were deployed in the capital, Harare, to suppress a protest against delays in announcing the results of Zimbabwe’s first elections without former ruler Robert Mugabe.
Gunfire erupted and six people were killed. Mnangagwa set up a commission of inquiry, headed by former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe, to probe the killings.
Mnangagwa said that his government will study the report before deciding on its next steps.
The current dry spell affecting the South-western parts of the country mainly the Matabeleland provinces and Bulawayo is expected to continue, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD)
said in a statement.
The dry spell affecting southern and
western parts of the country which are Bulawayo Metropolitan, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo provinces is expected to last for about seven days.
… This lull in rainfall over much of the
country may prolong, thus farmers in
crop production areas are urged to
consult their local Agricultural
Extension Officers for advice on best
methods of moisture conservation.
The dry spell is expected to last for a whole week. The MSD earlier forecasted normal to
below normal rainfall for the 2018/19 season.State media
Correspondent|THE trial for former Minister of Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security Supa Mandiwanzira, who is facing charges of criminal abuse of office, has once more been postponed to this Friday after Mandiwanzira applied for further particulars to prove the state’s allegations.
Mandiwanzira through Advocate Brian Hungwe has requested proof that he has shares in Nightangle, a company which he is accused of owning and which was involved in fleecing NetOne for consultation services through Megawatt.
He additionally requested for State Procurement Board authorisation documents and correspondences between NetOne and RBZ and tender documents relating to the Huawei deal, among other documents.
By Simba Chikanza| ZimEye presents the full Motlanthe Commission report Emmerson Mnangagwa released to the public Tuesday afternoon. Mnangagwa’s report (attached) totally omits the ZBC video coverage of the 15 December 2017 when Emmerson Mnangagwa personally presided over an announcement by his own office he is going to deploy the military in the 2018 elections for the purpose of changing the election result so that it becomes greater than the 1980 outcome. The omission is despite the evidence submission having been made both in writing and in video form during the commission hearings. Mnangagwa’s report can be found here… Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry 18 DEC 18 (1)
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THE country’s year-on-year inflation surged by 10,16 percentage points to 31,01 percent last month as the spiralling price increases continue driven by speculative parallel
market rates and persistent foreign currency shortages.
In October, Zimbabwe’s rate of inflation reached its record high since February 2009 when the country adopted a multicurrency
system to reach 20,85 percent.
The country adopted a multicurrency regime to harness hyperinflation that had reached unprecedented levels between 2007 and 2008.
In its monthly report for November, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) said the year on year inflation rate (annual percentage change) for the month of November 2018 as measured by the all items
Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 31,01 percent, gaining 10,16 percentage points on the October 2018 rate of 20,85 percent.
This means that prices as measured by all the items CPI increased by an average of 31,01 percent between November 2017 and November 2018.”
During the period under review, year-on-year food and non alcoholic beverages inflation prone to transitory shocks stood at 42,71 percent while the non-food inflation
rate was 25,40 percent.The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe said the rise in prices has dampened spending in recent months with the cost of living rising by 4,6 percent to $697,76 for a food basket for a family of six in November compared to
By Simba Chikanza| ZimEye presents the full Motlanthe Commission report Emmerson Mnangagwa released to the public Tuesday afternoon. Mnangagwa’s report (attached) totally omits the ZBC video coverage of the 15 December 2017 when Emmerson Mmangagwa personally presided over an announcement by his own office he is going to deploy the military in the 2018 elections for the purpose of changing the election result so that it becomes greater than the 1980 outcome. The omission is despite the evidence submission having been made both in writing and in video form during the commission hearings. Mnangagwa’s report can be found here… Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry 18 DEC 18 (1)
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Terrence Mawawa|Gwanzura Stadium will be ready to host the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League games next season, it has emerged.
The 5000-seater venue has not hosted any top football for some years now after continuously failing to meet the PSL’s minimum requirements. Six teams from Harare had to share Rufaro and the National Sports Stadium during the 2018 campaign.
The Harare City Council carried out the renovations, and the overall costs are reportedly have been estimated to be$700 000.
There are also plans to put bucket seats across the stadium, but that will only happen in July next year, three months after the commencement of the league season.
Meanwhile, the next campaign will begin in March after the proposal to shift the calendar to August-May period was put on hold.
Terrence Mawawa|Former ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa will remain at the helm of COSAFA despite losing the ZIFA Presidential election at the weekend.
Chiyangwa lost Sunday’s election to Felton Kamambo ending his three year reign.
In a statement Cosafa said :
The Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) would like to confirm that Dr Phillip Chiyangwa remains president of the organization despite relinquishing his position with the Zimbabwe Football Association.
After numerous media enquiries, COSAFA can assure member associations that there is nothing in the organization’s constitution that states the president must also hold office with his/her home football association.
Terrence Mawawa|Popular Masvingo-based comedian, Sabhuku Vharazipi, whose real name is David Mubaiwa, has lampooned perpetrators of political violence in his latest video footage.
Vharazipi and Chairman produced the footage in collaboration with Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development(COTRAD).
A COTRAD official, Ishmael Kupfuwa said the video footage was produced in sync with the organisation’ s desire to promote peace and tolerance in the country.The six minute docudrama portrays how traditional leaders impose their political will on their subjects.
“It is enshrined in section 67 of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe that, every citizen has the right to make political choice freely- to form, to join
and to participate in the activities of a political party
or organization of their choice,” said Kupfuwa.
Terrence Mawawa|Controversial MDC T Deputy president Obert Chaurura Gutu has claimed there will never be free and fair elections under the sun.
Gutu castigated the opposition for failing to respect Emmerson Mnangagwa as the head of State.
“If anyone thinks that there’s anything called a “perfect” election then he or she is day-dreaming!
Even in the United States,the so-called doyen of democracy, elections are disputed now and again.
Right now, there’s contestation around the mid-term election results in North Carolina!” Gutu wrote on Twitter.
“The next harmonised elections in Zimbabwe will be held in 2023. Those who were dreaming and/or fantasizing about a GNU or a creature called a ‘Transitional Authority’ should now wake up from their nightmare! It was just a horrible nightmare!”
Terrence Mawawa|Media mogul Trevor Ncube strongly believes that youthful MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa is still ” a baby who needs to be mentored.”
Ncube argued that the MDC A should fix Chamisa’ s “immaturity as a matter of urgency.”
Ncube however said the ruling party was reflecting signs of desperation by attempting to use the age factor to block Chamisa from challenging Mnangagwa in the 2023 plebiscite.
“The fact that someone in Zanu-PF thought this was a brilliant idea is worrying. But MDC must fix Nelson Chamisa’s immaturity and recklessness. Find him a mentor,” tweeted Ncube.
“If you are interested in Zimbabwe there should be no sacred cows in calling a spade a spade.Zanu-PF must stop panicking about Nelson
Chamisa and deliver on the People’s Agenda.MDC must be honest with Nelson Chamisa.”
By Takura Zhangazha| Understanding the raw political ambitions of individual Zimbabweans is a complex exercise. One that is full of familiar dictum’s/accusations such as they want ‘power for power’s sake’ or ‘they are in it for the money’. On the rare occasion comments about how certain political leaders ‘mean well’ in their pursuit of political power. Or that at least they are ‘one of our own’ and the now ominously familiar, ‘they have liberation war credentials’.
These individuals invariably join/form political parties to better enable their intentions at some form of power. The parties that they form or are a part of are also queried as to their intentions with power. In the case of the ruling party the general accusation is that even if they may have been all about liberation, their long rule has made them appear to be all about self aggrandizement. With the main opposition the occasional accusation is that they are also in it for the perks but also, luckily for them, they would still be perceived to be the metaphorical ‘better devil’.
The prevalent view it would appear is that politics and political ambition are linked to some sort of benefit(s) from the state. And that whatever happens at the top of the political ladder, lower level leaders and supporters get some piece of the pie. This would also be known as political patronage.
What has been interesting has been the legal role that the state is obliged to play in support of those that would publicly be perceived as only motivated by milking from it.
This week the ministry of finance and economic development announced that it has allocated a total of US$ 8 million (lets not argue about currency here as I am certain they all have ‘nostro’ accounts) to the ministry of justice for distribution to the political parties that are in parliament. This is done periodically in terms of the Political Parties (Finance) Act. In this act, each political party that got at least 5% of the total votes cast for its members in the last general election shall be entitled to an equivalent percentage of the total money allocated to political parties in each financial year.
So the ruling Zanu Pf party is going to get at least US$6million and the opposition MDC Alliance is certain to get US2 million. At least according to the ministry of justice permanent secretary Virginia Mabhiza.
The act does not advise political parties what the money is to be used for. It is entirely at their discretion save for when the relevant minister issues out regulations as to how these monies are to be accounted for. And as far as I recall, these regulations are yet to be publicized. Nor has any minster of justice previously tried to make it an accountability issue beyond accusations of foreign funding which incidentally is not quite disallowed.
The long and short this act is that apart from other motivations such as getting actual executive power (the presidency) in terms of current Zimbabwean law, there is definitely money to be made by running as a political party, for parliamentary office. All you have to do is to get at least 5 percent of the total vote count for candidates in the National Assembly (which also entails actually wining some first-past the post seats/ constituencies). And as it turns out, it can be a lot of money just for your party (and as controlled by the party leadership).
This would not always be a bad thing if it was clearer as to what the money was being used for. Preferably this state funding would be intended to help political parties strengthen their internal democratic processes and represent their constituencies better. Even if its not stipulated in the relevant act or in existent supporting regulations.
In reality, experience shows us that these monies are largely unaccounted for and tend to be under the direct control of political party leadership.
This would probably explain why the public may be skeptical of such state funding arrangements for political parties in a time when government is talking about ‘austerity’ (unpopular as it is). Moreso given the amount the ruling party is being allocated.
This state funding of political parties has not promoted internal party democracy, a national democratic culture or seen a flourishing of issue based politics. And that is why the Political Parties (Finance) Act must be amended to include in its parameters how state funding is intended to contribute to the enhancement of intra party democracy, public accountability and issue based political practices. This should be done in tandem with removing/reforming the constitutional clauses that allow political party leaders to dismiss MPs without due procedure.
Zanu Pf and MDC Alliance would probably not agree with the above proposition for a number of reasons. The utmost being that it would limit their ability to practice political patronage over parliament. It would also seek to make them more intra democratic and as a consequence contribute to a better national democratic consciousness that sees beyond just our five year electoral contests.
Smaller opposition parties may also be wary of such reforms because they would feel that they would never have a chance of winning against parties that receive state funding. A gentle reminder to them would be that at least in its beginning the MDC (as then called) did not receive such funding and gave Zanu Pf more than just ‘a run for the money’.
Civil society organizations that work on elections, democracy, accountability and human rights would be advised to take this up more concertedly. Because this might be an opportunity to help direct our national democratic consciousness into less personalized and more institutionalized understandings of a people centered polity.
*Takura Zhangazha writes here in his personal capacity (takura-zhangazha.blogspot
Terrence Mawawa|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa, who is an ordained pastor has said his political foes in Zanu PF are being haunted by the demon of hatred.
Chamisa further pointed out that Emmerson Mnangagwa and Constantino Chiwenga must concentrate on fixing the waning economy instead of besmirching the opposition.
“Those in Zanu PF are our fellow countrymen, brothers and sisters.They need our love, prayers and help to realize that being cruel to fellow citizens is never a sustainable strategy,” tweeted Chamisa.
Terrence Mawawa|The Minister of State for Masvingo Province, Ezra Chadzamira has warned overcharging retailers and wholesalers that they will lose trading licences if they fail to abide by the government’s pricing system.
Chadzamira told a Masvingo-based radio station some unscrupulous traders were deliberately sabotaging government’s economic revival programmes.
“We are very firm on the issue because some unscrupulous traders are deliberately sabotaging government initiatives to revive the economy.
We know the people who are working with economic saboteurs to discredit and denigrate President Emmerson Mnangagwa,” said Chadzamira.
“Those who are overpricing their goods risk losing their trading licences,” Chadzamira said.
The trial for former Minister of Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security Supa Mandiwanzira, who is facing charges of criminal abuse of office, has once more been postponed to this Friday after Mandiwanzira applied for further particulars to prove the state’s allegations.
Mandiwanzira through Advocate Brian Hungwe has requested proof that he has shares in Nightangle, a company which he is accused of owning and which was involved in fleecing NetOne for consultation services through Megawatt.
He additionally requested for State Procurement Board authorisation documents and correspondences between NetOne and RBZ and tender documents relating to the Huawei deal, among other documents.
By Own Correspondent| Deputy Information Minister, Energy Mutodi has warned those holding ministerial offices to deliver or face the chop as President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to reshuffle cabinet.
In a Twitter post, Mutodi said complacent ministers have their days numbered as a reshuffle is imminent.
Wrote Mutodi:
“CABINET RESHUFFLE: After all what has happened, it’s now clear that some ministries are being messed up and President Mnangagwa has to take action. A reshuffle is coming and those messing up your days are numbered.”
By Own Correspondent| Rutendo Sambina, a social media user has alleged Greyhound has taken 40 hours to travel from Johannesburg to Harare.
Sambina described the services of Greyhound as trash.
Watch the video below:
Greyhound is trash!!!! Treating customers like they didn't pay. This was taken yesterday by my relative travelling from Joburg to Harare. First of all, the bus was 6 hours late. Now they had a breakdown in Zim and still haven't arrived! Over 40 hours on the road!! @GreyhoundRSApic.twitter.com/R68CKbc0Wx
Anthony Joshua believes his “enemy” Dillian Whyte will lose to Zimbabwe-born Derek Chisora in this weekend’s heavyweight boxing rematch. Whyte edged a pulsating split decision against Chisora two years ago but their long-standing grudge will be settled on Saturday, in a second fight with higher stakes.
“I think Derek is going to whoop Dillian. I want him to,” Joshua told Sky Sports. “I want Chisora to win. I don’t want too much good for Dillian because he’s an enemy of mine. But I want Dillian to win as well, so we can have our rematch.”
Whyte and Chisora’s rematch at The O2 could have consequences in the race to challenge for Joshua’s world heavyweight titles on April 13.
Joshua’s preference is to meet Wilder but a second fight against Whyte, whom he beat three years ago, could emerge into contention.
New research from WorldRemit reveals that the Zimbabwean diaspora could be losing up to $9 every time they send money home this festive season due to the high cost of sending money through traditional remittance channels.*
Last year, Zimbabweans living abroad sent home over $1.8 billion and the run up to Christmas is always one of the busiest times to send money. New data from WorldRemit reveals that, by switching from traditional offline money transfer services to lower cost digital channels, thousands of Zimbabweans could receive an extra Christmas present this year.
The savings were highest when sending from New Zealand to Zimbabwe, with an average saving of nearly $9* – enough to buy a hamper of groceries for Christmas in Zimbabwe.
Transaction costs are only part of the story and a significant challenge at this time of year is travelling to an agent during opening hours. With approximately one quarter of the Zimbabwean diaspora population living in Europe, the United States and Canada, before the advent of app and web-based money transfer services, thousands would be facing near freezing temperatures to travel to an agent to pay in money.
Equally, WorldRemit data suggests that their customers sending to Zimbabwe send money several times a month. When it costs around $3 to travel from somewhere like Bindura to Harare and takes over 2 hours to travel there and back, Zimbabweans can easily waste half a day of time each month just travelling to pick up money. Savings on travel alone during the festive season could be enough to buy several litres of cooking oil and a couple of chocolate bars.
Pardon Mujakachi, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at WorldRemit, said:
“Spending money just to collect money wastes precious time and money for families across Zimbabwe and creates added stress – particularly if you don’t know if you’ll receive the full amount in dollars. So, we have partnered with over 15 payment services to create the widest network of over 200 cash pickup points across the country, where money is paid out in full.”
A recent poll by WorldRemit revealed that eight out of ten people found that switching to digital channels has made money transfer simpler not just for senders, but also for their recipients. However, the majority of global remittance flows are still going through informal channels.
Companies like WorldRemit are working hard to help more people to move to more cost-effective and convenient money transfer methods. The incentives on offer for existing customers who refer a friend to WorldRemit could be enough to buy a scarf or a pair of shoes.
Pardon Mujakachi said: “Sending money is an important way for many people spending Christmas away from home to connect with their loved ones and play a part in the festivities back home even when they can’t be there in person. Yet, taking time out of work to travel to agents to send and receive money, can make Christmas a time of stress rather than joy.”
By enabling our customers to send money for collection as US dollars in a few taps from their phones and to track their transfers so they know when it’s ready for collection, we can take the stress out of sending money home at Christmas.”
Jane Mlambo| Deputy Information Minister, Energy Mutodi has added to ongoing rumors that a cabinet reshuffle could be coming soon, accusing fellow ministers of messing work forcing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to act.
In a Twitter post, Mutodi said those messing up work have their days numbered as a reshuffle is on its way. He wrote:
“CABINET RESHUFFLE: After all what has happened, it’s now clear that some ministries are being messed up and President Mnangagwa has to take action. A reshuffle is coming and those messing up your days are numbered.”
CABINET RESHUFFLE: After all what has happened, it’s now clear that some ministries are being messed up and President Mnangagwa has to take action. A reshuffle is coming and those messing up your days are numbered.
underway.Chronicle
their vehicles are roadworthy.
Civil servants who are set to benefit from the Government’s $60 million non-monetary incentive scheme should move into their new houses by April next year, the Public Service Commission has said.
below normal rainfall for the 2018/19 season.State media
horrible nightmare!”
MDC must be honest with Nelson Chamisa.”
Terrence Mawawa|The Minister of State for Masvingo Province, Ezra Chadzamira has warned overcharging retailers and wholesalers that they will lose trading licences if they fail to abide by the government’s pricing system.
