By Farai D Hove| While the Motlanthe Commission report remains undisclosed, ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has promoted the military commander who lied under oath that 1 Aug soldiers shot at civilians at a 45 degree angle.

Mnangagwa has promoted two Brigadier Generals Sanyatwe and Thomas Moyo to the rank of Major General.

The two promoted are Major General Thomas Moyo and Major General Anselem Sanyatwe. The promotions are in terms of section 15(1)(b) Paragraph 2 of the Defence Act.

Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Phillip Valerio Sibanda conferred ranks to the newly promoted senior officers and encouraged them to continue working hard in their new responsibilities.

“You need to do more than you did before because rank comes with responsibilities,” said Sibanda while conferring the new ranks.

In his acceptance speech, Major General Moyo commended his superiors for showing confidence in their work.

The conferment of the ranks was witnessed by the Commander Zimbabwe National Army, Lieutenant General Edzayi Chimonyo and several senior officers.

SEE PICTURES BELOW…

President Mnangagwa has promoted two Brigadier Generals Sanyatwe and Thomas Moyo to the rank of Major General. Conferring the new ranks, #CDF Valerio Sibanda said "You need to do more than you did before because rank comes with responsibilities" #Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/2OdiQ7xlBU

— Sharon (@sharontawuya1) December 17, 2018

Terrence Mawawa|Prominent MDC A activist, Dred Field Marshall Reckless has said the tired Zanu PF functionaries who literally spent the conference snoring do not have the capacity to turnaround the country’ s dwindling economy.

Dred Field Marshall Reckless of the Nhare Mbozha fame described the Zanu PF Annual People’s Conference as the “Bedroom Conference” of snoring ruling party honchos.

“OK, OK, I see. So they were fighting for the bedroom with Mugabe? I thought they had brilliant

ideas…”posted Dred Reckless on Facebook.

A MEMBER of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) recently appeared before Guruve magistrate facing allegations of shooting a Guruve man before robbing him of a Toyota Quantum vehicle, $6 000 in bond notes and US$200.

Wayne Masaiti (26) pleaded not guilty to armed robbery before magistrate Shingirai Mutiro, who remanded him in custody to December 24.

Public prosecutor Albert Mazhindu alleges Masaiti and his three accomplices, who are still at large, broke into Peter Munatsa’s house at Dzvukamanja shops in Guruve on December 2, around 10pm and demanded cash. Munatsa resisted and was shot on the right knee. Masaiti and his accomplice then allegedly took money and the vehicle, which they later dumped along the Guruve-Rafingora Road. He was later picked by police for questioning in connection with the case, and he was positively identified by Munatsa as the shooter.

The State opposed bail, saying Masaiti was likely to commit similar offences because the weapons used to commit the offence had not been recovered.

NewsDay

MEMBERS of the Amalgamated Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) have vowed to proceed with the salary caravan march today, despite their leaders being arrested and hauled before the courts.

Nine Artuz members were on Saturday arrested in Macheke during the march before being taken to Marondera Central Police Station where they were charged with criminal nuisance. They were released into the custody of their lawyer, Timomuda Shoko from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. They will appear at Marondera Magistrates’ Courts today.

Speaking to NewsDay in Marondera yesterday, Artuz boss Obert Masaraure said they would continue with the march today after court proceedings.

“The arrest was an act of banditry by the State against its own citizens. It was barbaric to say the least. Unarmed teachers were confronted by heavily armed police officers and thrown in custody without a charge. Charges were only preferred seven hours after the arrest,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Teachers Association has strongly condemned the detention and arrest of the protesting teachers, and threatened that its members would down tools next term if government did not address their demands.

NewsDay

A 2018 gender audit on elections by the Women in Politics Support Unit (WiPSU), released on Thursday, has revealed that female candidates in the July 30 polls suffered a lot of hate speech and violence, which in turn impaired their political participation.

WiPSU director Sakhile Sifelani Ngoma, in her opening remarks at the launch of the report in Harare, described the 2018 plebiscite as “a very difficult election for women”, adding that it is now time to rethink strategies that can protect women in politics ahead of the 2023 elections.

Buhlebenkosi Tshabangu-Moyo, who presented the WiPSU gender audit report, said the 2018 election was a highly digital election, resulting in increased use of social media hate speech, with a record 2 470 candidates using social and electronic media to reach out to citizens.

“The many faces of violence attack undermine and deter women’s participation in public political affairs and in the electoral cycle,” Tshabangu-Moyo said.

“A record of 1 822 women contested for seats in the 2018 elections, an increase of over 900 women since the 2013 elections,” she said.

Rumbi Katedza, who presented the WiPSU report on hate speech, said in their tracking from the month of January 2017 to November 30 2018 (23 months), it was revealed that 3 122 incidents of hate speech, with 57% of the perpetrators being male and 43% being female, were exposed.

“A total of 1 699 women candidates were targets of hate speech, while 949 males were victims of hate speech. It becomes clear that women contesting in elections are subjected to the abusiveness of hate speech twice more than their male counterparts, raising the issue of discriminatory practices within the political context, undermining women rights to equal opportunities,” Katedza said.

She said there was also hate speech churned out by members of the public (60%) during the elections, which shows that there is need for voter education which speaks to the code of conduct.

“All presidential candidates were subjected to hate speech. Women presidential candidates were subject to double the hate speech that their male counterparts received.

Four hundred and twenty one incidents of hate speech against women presidential candidates were recorded, compared to 256 incidents targeted on male presidential candidates,” Katedza said.

NewsDay

South African police early today arrested the driver of an Intercape bus which killed nine Zimbabweans, among them a toddler, in a road accident near Polokwane on Friday last week.

The bus was travelling from Harare to Johannesburg. Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said the man disappeared from a hospital in Polokwane at the weekend but was intercepted at Beitbridge border post by alert police officers.

He said the man had been charged with nine counts of culpable homicide and would appear before a Polokwane magistrate on Tuesday.

Col Ngoepe withheld the suspect’s name pending his court appearance and said they were still working on identifying the nine victims.

“The Police in Westenburg outside Polokwane have arrested the driver of the bus involved in this horrific accident. He tried to cross the border to Zimbabwe after he was taken to hospital with other 51 injured passengers for medical treatment,” he said.

“As the process of intensive investigations by the Police was unfolding, especially on the possible cause of that accident, he then disappeared following his discharge from hospital and fled towards the Beitbridge port of entry. Police were tipped-off, and swiftly responded and subsequently, the driver was caught hidding inside goods trailer of a truck trying to illegally cross the border into Zimbabwe,” he said.

State Media

South African police early today arrested the driver of an Intercape bus which killed nine Zimbabweans, among them a toddler, in a road accident near Polokwane on Friday last week.

The bus was travelling from Harare to Johannesburg.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said the man disappeared from a hospital in Polokwane at the weekend but was intercepted at Beitbridge border post by alert police officers.

He said the man had been charged with nine counts of culpable homicide and would appear before a Polokwane magistrate on Tuesday.

Col Ngoepe withheld the suspect’s name pending his court appearance and said they were still working on identifying the nine victims.

“The Police in Westenburg outside Polokwane have arrested the driver of the bus involved in this horrific accident. He tried to cross the border to Zimbabwe after he was taken to hospital with other 51

injured passengers for medical treatment,” he said.

“As the process of intensive investigations by the Police was unfolding, especially on the possible cause of that accident, he then disappeared following his discharge from hospital and fled towards the Beitbridge port of entry. Police were tipped-off, and swiftly responded and subsequently, the driver was caught hidding inside goods trailer of a truck trying to illegally cross the border into Zimbabwe,” he said.

The 30th of July elections in Zimbabwe almost painted and sold a superficial and dummy picturesque of a changed regime to the world and hearts of many. Had the lingering demons of untamed violence and State brutality not manifested on the 1st of August, the devil could have comfortably found his way into the temple!

The events of the 1st of August were bloodcurdling and heartrending, to say the least. Innocent civilians, most of who were not even taking part, directly or indirectly, in acts of insurgency, were butchered in cold blood.

The right to demonstrate in Zimbabwe is constitutional, and citizens have the right to do so, as provided for by Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 20 of 2013). However, despite this inalienable right, we recognise that the enjoyment of this right should and must not prejudice the rights of others, as such, any unlawful activities should have been dealt with in a proper way by the police.

It is unfortunate that despite the usual ranting and raving by the police, accusing and blaming the opposition for the 1st of August violence – and even the unfortunate murders of at least six people – not even a single arrest has been made to date in connection with the violence, except the blatant and veiled attempt to arrest the 22 MDC Alliance members who were seized with parallel vote tabulation at the party’s national headquarters, the Morgan Tsvangirai House. The 22 members have since been released after the State failed to prove a case against them.

The sanctity of human life

The killing of at least six innocent people on the 1st of August has no justification whatsoever, howsoever, and by whomsoever, even in Hades. The right to life is codified in Chapter 4 Section 48 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Section 48 emphasises on the right to life of every Zimbabwean, whether delinquent or not. Whatever crime the protesters were committing, or alleged to have been committing, could not have warranted the wanton murder of unarmed civilians by the uniformed forces – according to the pictorial and video evidence we have so far.

These murders, purely criminal in nature, were against the laws of Zimbabwe, and they must be given the condemnation they deserve, and must be prosecuted befittingly in a competent court of law, without fear or favour. Only the prosecution of the murderers and truth, will give a proper purgation and catharsis to the August 1st events.

The Motlanthe Commission – A post-mortem analysis

On the 19th of August 2018, Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed Kgalema Motlanthe as the chairman of a commission to inquire into the post-election violence of 1st August. The commission was composed of seven commissioners whose selection was a sole prerogative of the President. In light of natural justice principles, particularly at this point, the nemo judex in sua cosa (literally meaning; no man can be a judge in his own case), President Mnangagwa was never the right person to appoint a commission to investigate a case in which he is an accomplice.

The most honourable thing he could have done was to recuse himself and let independent establishments to appoint commissioners whose integrity to the task was unquestionable, and commissioners that are undefiled and acceptable to all. It is a common principle of logic and justice that a criminal cannot choose a judge to hear case in which he/she is being convicted of. The decision by Emmerson Mnangagwa to appoint a commission was not only faulty at law, but also mischievous.

The terms of reference for the commission were grossly insipid and a deliberately unscrupulous attempt by the presidium to sway the focus of the commission from the crux of the issues at stake. The terms of reference were merely pre-emptive of a desired outcome and were disingenuously designed not to find out the truth, but to shift the blame.

The preoccupation of the terms of reference on placing the blame on demonstrators and their alleged leaders was simply disturbing and un-strategic by whosoever designed them. The indispensable need to find out who deployed, ordered, and murdered innocent civilians on the 1st of August was a loud and conspicuous deliberate omission on the terms of reference.

The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, in accordance with Section 213 of the Constitution, is responsible for deploying the Defence Forces. And as the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, and the only authority with an exclusive right to deploy the army, was, in all essence, supposed to have been the first witness to be summoned before the Motlanthe commission to explain how he deployed the army into the streets of Harare without Parliament and Cabinet approval. The procedures that the police and the army followed were inconsistent with the current Constitution, thereby invalid and illegal.

It was very worrying and disheartening when a whole convocation of army and police generals came to the commission to exhibit their shameful mathematical deficiencies and lack of logical consistency as they were narrating their uninspiring and conspicuously fabricated cacophony of lies.

Their testimonies were a devious concoction of lies, deceit and malice. “The soldier was shooting into the air at an angle of 45˚,” said Anselem Sanyatwe, the National Reaction Team Commander. My foot! This military formula of 45˚ is so outlandish, scathing and laughable, it defies all logic. The pictorial and video evidence of a crouching soldier firing a salvo into the running crowd is a monumental justification and answer to the who killed who question.

The composition of the commission, the kind of factual dishonesty that some of the witnesses unashamedly exhibited under oath, and the prejudice against some witnesses leaves a lot to be envied about the commission. The crouching soldier was supposed to be invited to explain his behaviour and give a mathematical formula as to how his automatic AK47 assault rifle, as it appeared on the video that went viral of social media, was shooting at 45˚ angle.

Our leaders in Zimbabwe must learn that sometimes there are benefits that can be accrued by owning-up. We hope, as a nation, that the Motlanthe commission, despite all its shortcomings and the misgivings that were levelled against it by the people of Zimbabwe, was guided by principles of truth, objectivity and fairness, otherwise the whole three months they’ve been roaming around in Zimbabwe, gobbling the taxpayers’ money, will amount to nothing.

Solutions Tower

A Zanu PF activist from Nyabira has been sentenced to two months in jail after threatening to shoot a villager he found setting up a goat pen.

Chinhoyi magistrate Letwin Rwodzi was last week told that on November 27, Brighton Matikiti (47) found Peter Imbayago of Umvukwe Farm building a goat pen and ordered him to stop, saying the farm belonged to him.

Imbayago told Matikiti that he had been instructed to build the pen by his employer who owned the land and the Zanu PF activist drew out a pistol from his pocket and pointed it at the complainant.

He threatened to kill Imbayago if he did not comply with his orders. The matter was reported to the police, leading to Matikiti’s arrest.

Imbayago told the court that Matikiti had boasted that he was untouchable because he was a Zanu PF member.

Matikiti pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two months in prison or pay a $200 fine.

There was drama in Mt Darwin when a top police officer allegedly bashed a junior cop for failing to buy him beer.

Wesley Zimbonja (41) of Mt Darwin Police Station reportedly went to a night club in Mt Darwin on Tuesday evening and demanded beer from Clever Makara.

Makara only managed to buy two Castle Lite pints before running out of money.

Zimbonja allegedly slapped Makara twice on the cheek after the junior officer told him he had run out of money.

Makara reported the matter at Madziva Police Station under CR number 40/12/18.

Mashonaland Central acting police spokesperson Sergeant Tonny Nyandoro said he was yet to get the report.

– Standard

WATCH VIDEO BELOW…

A Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) member recently appeared before Guruve magistrate facing allegations of shooting a Guruve man before robbing him of a Toyota Quantum vehicle, $6 000 in bond notes and US$200.

Wayne Masaiti (26) pleaded not guilty to armed robbery before magistrate Shingirai Mutiro, who remanded him in custody to December 24.

Public prosecutor Albert Mazhindu alleges Masaiti and his three accomplices, who are still at large, broke into Peter Munatsa’s house at Dzvukamanja shops in Guruve on December 2, around 10pm and demanded cash. Munatsa resisted and was shot on the right knee. Masaiti and his accomplice then allegedly took money and the vehicle, which they later dumped along the Guruve-Rafingora Road. He was later picked by police for questioning in connection with the case, and he was positively identified by Munatsa as the shooter.

The State opposed bail, saying Masaiti was likely to commit similar offences because the weapons used to commit the offence had not been recovered.

State Media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is reportedly mulling a cabinet reshuffle that will see minister of foreign affairs Sibusiso Busi Moyo retiring from the ministry of Foreign Affairs and taking up full time position at the ZANU PF Headquarters.

A source from the Office of the President revealed to us several alleged changes that are being considered.

“There is a discussion among the President and his advisors several changes in the party and in government. The ones that seems to be agreed upon so far are that Cde Victor Matemadanda should become the National Chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association and be deployed full time at the party headquarters.” The source said.

“You are also likely to see minister Sibusiso Moyo being retired from government politics and being redeployed to party HQ to replace Cde Obert Mpofu who is retiring from active politics.

“Another interesting one is that Amai (Monica) Mutsvangwa may be moved to replace SB Moyo and you are likely going to see the razzmatazz deputy minister Energy Mutodi being elevated to become substantive minister of media, information and broadcasting services.

“Also another big one is that Cde Lovemore Matuke is being touted for the ministry of state presidential affairs.” This will be the first cabinet reshuffle since Mnangagwa won the 2018 harmonised elections.

-Zimetro

Jane Mlambo| A Beitbridge bound Smart Express bus has been attacked by armed robbers resulting in the death of one person while three were injured.

Beitbridge based Journalist, Mhlomuli Ncube reported the attack today.

@ZBCNewsonline 1 person was killed. 3 injured after Smart bus they were travelling in was attacked by two armed robbers 10km before Beitbridge town on Monday morning.

— Mhlomuli Ncube (@Mhlozbc) December 17, 2018

More details to follow

Jane Mlambo| Daughter of self-exiled former Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Mandi Chimene died on Friday and this could force the watermouth politician to resurface since her disappearance in November last after being targeted by the then Lacoste element of the ruling Zanu PF party.

Chimene’s daughter, Ellen Zimondi (35) had been admitted at Murambi Gardens Clinic in Mutare suffering from an undisclosed ailment.

With the mother in an unknown location, Chimene will be forced to make a public appearance to attend her daughter’s burial.

Other former Zanu PF members including Savior Kasukuwere were arrested of corruption and abuse of office soon after coming out in the public from their hideouts.

Representatives of Zanu-PF, MDC-Alliance, MDC-T and the National Constitutional Assembly will battle it out in the Chitungwiza Ward 24 by-elections set for January 26 next year after successfully filing their papers on Friday at the Nomination Court sitting at the Chitungwiza Municipality head office.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Councillor Alice Chihambakwe of MDC-Alliance on October 30.

The ruling Zanu-PF will be represented by Ms Mercy Guvamombe, the MDC- Alliance by Mr Yotam Chagwada, MDC-T by Ms Jane Makovere and the National Constitutional Assembly by Mr Anderson Tsakeni.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) nomination officer Mr Jairos Machona announced the final list of contestants after the sitting

“We are happy that the nomination process was very calm and all the four duly nominated candidates that came through had their papers in order. There are two ladies and two gentlemen.

“Since more than one candidate has been duly nominated in Ward 24 a poll shall take place on Saturday 26 January 2019, in accordance with Section 125 Subsection 4(b)of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13),” he said.

Chitungwiza has 25 councillors, 21 from the MDC-Alliance and four from Zanu-PF.

State Media

Zanu-PF and MDC-Alliance will share $8 million allocated to political parties by Treasury under the Political Parties Finance Act.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube set aside the $8 million in the 2019 National Budget he presented in Parliament in November.

The figure is higher than last year’s allocation of $6 million.

Zanu-PF will get the lion’s share of the money after it secured more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats as it trounced MDC-Alliance in the July 30 watershed elections, which were widely given a clean bill by local, regional and international observers. A rough calculation shows that the revolutionary party is set to pocket almost $6 million with MDC- Alliance taking home about $2 million, given its paltry seats in the National Assembly.

Zanu-PF won 145 of the 210 seats in the National Assembly against MDC-Alliance’s 63. The remaining two seats were won by the National Patriotic Front’s Masango “Blackman” Matambanadzo (Kwekwe Central) and independent candidate Mr Temba Mliswa (Norton).

Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabiza confirmed the allocation yesterday.

“Yes, political parties were allocated $8 million in the Blue Book. It is under the Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs,” said Mrs Mabiza.

Under the Political Parties Finance Act, only a political party that secures 5 percent of the total votes cast can benefit from the fiscus.

Small political parties have in the past asked Government to extend financing to them but their pleas hit a brick wall when the Constitutional Court dismissed their application.

The Zimbabwe Development Party, led by Mr Kisinoti Mukwazhi, approached the Constitutional Court in January 2013 seeking an order to compel Treasury to release funding to all political parties participating in national elections but the application was dismissed for lack of merit.

In its ruling, the Constitutional Court said it would be “irresponsible and dangerous for Government if all political parties were to be funded” from the fiscus as that would mean even fly-by-night parties would be funded.

Government enacted the Political Parties Finance Act in 2002 after it emerged that some political parties were getting funding from hostile foreign governments and non-governmental organisations.

Some parties have tried to circumvent the law by using NGOs based in Zimbabwe as conduits for getting funds from foreign entities.

Many countries, for example the United States, do not allow political parties to receive foreign funding.

-State Media

Despite assurances by President Emmerson Mnangagwa that he will ensure devolution is implemented, ZAPU leader, Dumiso Dabengwa is not convinced power will be decentralised as per the wish of citizens.

Zapu secretary for policy and strategy, Sakhile Sibanda said the inclusion of devolution in the constitution gave people hope that power will be distributed to all provinces but as a party they are sceptical of the Zanu PF leader’s sincerity.

“The results of the Constitutional Parliamentary committee (COPAC) public consultation confirmed the popularity of devolution. The inclusion of Devolution in the 2013 Constitution Chapter 14 gave many people hope of transferring power from the centralised and corrupt system of government to the people to manage their own affairs in their localities,” she said.

She said  after five years of Zanu PF government’s dithering  and even threats to scrap devolution provision by amending the constitution, President Emmerson Mnangagwa took advantage of devolution sentiments in his 2018 election campaign trail promising to enact legislation to establish and operationalise Constitutional provisions if he won the elections.

“Mnangagwa’s government is quickly moving to fulfill their promise by introducing the Devolution Bill in Parliament. There has been mixed reactions to the Bill and confusion about the final shape of the proposed devolution,” she said in  a statement.

“The public seems to be taken in by the rhetoric of “Power to the People” and the dream of having communities take control over their local affairs and resources.”

They said Mthuli won’t do certain things because ZANU PF won’t allow him to. Some of us said we have to wait and see. Mthuli announced job cuts for Youth Officers, who were not making economic contributions through their posts.. They said it won’t happen. Today here we are:#TSP pic.twitter.com/vZzYdDehJ9

— Soko Mukanya ?? (@PTChimusoro) December 16, 2018

Negotiations meant to end the nearly 2-week-long strike by junior doctors have suffered a blow after hitches in the payment of the doctors’ December salaries.

The junior doctors were supposed to resume normal duties soon after Friday’s bipartite negotiations, pending more dialogue with their employer, but it is no longer the case after they were apparently struck off the payroll.

Friday’s negotiations had provided a breakthrough to end junior doctors’ industrial action and restore normalcy in the country’s public hospitals.

There has however been no progress since then with the junior doctors alleging their employer; the government, has struck them off the payroll.

Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) Secretary General, Dr Anele Mthabisi Bhebhe alleged that their accounts were credited with what seemed to be slashed salaries for December but two hours later, the transactions were reversed.

A letter dated 14 December 2018 and signed by the Acting Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care, Dr Robert Mudyiradima indicated that the salaries confusion was caused by some excess deductions on the employees’ pay as you earn (PAYE), adding that the deductions have since been reversed and the monies will be credited into the affected members’ accounts.

However, Health Services Board (HSB) Chairperson, Dr Paulinas Sikhosana told the ZBC News that the doctors who had withdrawn their services are already off the payroll after their industrial action had gone for over 14 days.

The doctors’ strike started on the 1st of December and according to current health sector regulations, any health worker who fails to report for duty for 14 consecutive days is struck off the payroll.

-State Media

Jane Mlambo| New ZIFA President Felton Kamambo who earned praises from football stakeholders after fighting controversial businessman Phillip Chiyangwa, has since joined Twitter to “be in touch with the people” as well as accepting ideas to improve football administration.

Writing on Twitter yesterday, Kamambo thanked Zimbabwe for electing him saying he will work hard to improve the country’s sport.

https://twitter.com/FeltonKamambo/status/1074381852499050496

Following his trouncing by rival Felton Kamambo, flamboyant businessman and Zanu PF politician, Phillip Chiyangwa said his decision to withdraw from the race was to show that he is not power hungry.

Ironically, Chiyangwa and his deputy Omega Sibanda had gone all systems out to block their challengers in a style typical of a power hungry duo.

Posting on Twitter soon after the ZIFA polls, Chiyangwa said;

https://twitter.com/MPChiyangwa/status/1074314461769543681

ELEVEN people died on spot and several others were seriously injured yesterday when two commuter omnibuses collided head-on along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway, marking a bloody start to the festive season which runs from December 15 to January 15, 2019.

The accident occurred at the 49km peg late in the afternoon.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident last night.

Police said the accident happened when one of the commuter omnibuses burst a tyre and encroached onto the lane of the other driving in the opposite direction, resulting in the head-on collision which killed 10 adults and a child.

Police had not released the names of the deceased by last night.

Asst Comm Nyathi said details of the accident were still sketchy as police were attending the scene in the Murehwa area.

The bodies of the deceased were taken to Murehwa Hospital mortuary while the injured were rushed to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.

“One of the commuter omnibuses had a tyre burst and encroached onto the lane of an oncoming omnibus, resulting in the head-on collision,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“Police officers at the scene are still establishing the number of passengers who were on board each kombi,” he said.

“We are yet to establish the number of the injured passengers. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Murehwa Hospital’s mortuary and the injured were ferried to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He urged motorists to ensure their vehicles were fit before travelling to avoid accidents.

Asst Comm Nyathi also said drivers must always observe traffic regulations.

“Motorists should always check the tyres of their vehicles to see if they are fit to be on the road. They should also remember that it is imperative for everyone to take extra caution in order to curb or continue reducing the number of accidents. We implore motorists to observe all traffic laws as they travel to different destinations,” he said.

The country has of late been experiencing a spate of road fatalities.

Last week 12 people died on the spot near Checheche Growth Point in Chipinge when a Green Fuel haulage truck collided with a commuter omnibus.

Last month 47 people — 45 adults and two children — were killed, while 70 others were injured when two buses collided head-on at the 166-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare Highway.

The accident involved Bolt Cutter and Smart Express buses.

On November 25, four people lost their lives, three of them on the spot, when a Toyota Allion they were travelling in hit the pillars of Mupfure bridge near Chegutu and landed under the bridge.

Also mid last month, 30 people were killed near West Nicholson in Matabelaland South when a gas cylinder exploded in a bus resulting in an inferno which burnt some of the passengers beyond recognition. DNA tests were carried out to identify some of them.

In September, five people died in two separate accidents along the Shurugwi-Zvishavane and Gweru-Kwekwe roads.

Four people died on the spot at Boterekwa when a maize-laden T35 truck they were travelling in overturned.

-State Media

The fate of MDC Alliance vice president Eng Elias Mudzuri will now be decided by opposition leader Mr Nelson Chamisa after the national council referred disciplinary issues against the former Harare mayor to the party’s presidium.

The MDC Alliance presidium consists of Chamisa (president), Professor Welshman Ncube, Eng Mudzuri, Morgen Komichi (vice presidents) and Thabitha Khumalo as chair, according to spokesman Jacob Mafume.

The MDC Alliance national council met on Saturday last week at the party’s headquarters in Harare.

Mr Mafume confirmed the latest developments on Eng Mudzuri in a statement yesterday.

“The meeting noted the allegations against vice president Mudzuri’s conduct and resolved that the matter be dealt with by the presidium,” said Mr Mafume.

Eng Mudzuri, who reportedly wants to challenge Mr Chamisa for the party presidency at next year’s congress, was recently taken to task by party officials for being part of a parliamentary delegation of presiding officers that paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at State House.

A video of him being quizzed by senior members of the party for his attendance went viral on various social media platforms.

The MDC Alliance has refused to acknowledge President Mnangagwa’s electoral victory in the July 30 harmonised elections although its electoral petition at the Constitutional Court was thrown out for lack of merit. The party doesn’t want its officials to acknowledge President Mnangagwa.

The MDC Alliance congress was initially scheduled for February next year but Mr Chamisa and his allies now want it in October to give him time to purge the party of potential challengers.

Eng Mudzuri and the party’s secretary-general, Mr Douglas Mwonzora, are expected to contest Mr Chamisa for the party’s presidency.

Eng Mudzuri has not been attending MDC Alliance meetings at Harvest House of late.

Party insiders say EngMudzuri is afraid those in Mr Chamisa’s camp might unleash violence on him if he visits the party headquarters.

A number of senior party officials have been assaulted at the MDC Alliance headquarters before, including Mr Elton Mangoma, for harbouring leadership ambitions.

Also at its meeting on Saturday, the MDC Alliance national council resolved to carry out a post-mortem of its parliamentary candidates selection criteria after it performed dismally in the July 30 elections.

“In respect of the party’s parliamentary campaign in the 2018 elections, the party resolved to set up an inquiry to review candidate selection and make recommendations for future elections.

“The meeting reviewed progress made in the integration process and resolved that the process be completed in the shortest possible time,” added Mr Mafume.

Zanu-PF won the parliamentary elections with a two-thirds majority.

-State Media

Own Correspondent|THE state media has labelled MDC leader Nelson Chamisa as a small fly, a waste of time, and in need of psychiatric help to get out of the elections he lost on 30 July.

The media makes these sentiments while the leader of ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his party are having sleepless nights scheming against Chamisa.

The entire party leadership over the weekend endorsed a resolution calling on parliament to increase the minimum age for one to contest as President to fifty just to try and eliminate Chamisa from contesting against Mnangagwa.

In an opinion piece, The Herald Assistant Editor Isdore Guvamombe said: ” (Chamisa’s) biggest mistake is ego. For example, there was no need for him to go to the Constitutional Court after the elections claiming to have “overwhelming” evidence of rigging yet he totally had nothing.

“The Government exposed him badly by screening live the hearing for all and sundry to see. It exposed him as that politician who just wants to cause problems even where it is not necessary.

“He simply abused the democratic space and wasted everyone’s time. In normal and mature democracies Chamisa would have apologised to the nation for time wasting. But he did not.

“Well, this is the criticism most of the gullible MDC Alliance supporters do not want to hear. This is a departure from self-serving fanaticism. It hits below the belt. It hits the dangling bits until they retreat into the abdomen. But it is realistic. It moves the country forward.

“When he violently grabbed power in February 2017, many people in MDC and beyond got very excited but the mature ones urged caution. Instead of uniting the party, he divided and split it much faster than anticipated. Aided by the party’s rogue wing of youth known as the Vanguard, Chamisa became the epitome of violence.

“Soon his violent nature spread like a veld fire and spilled over from his party to the nation at large. As the 2018 harmonised elections took a steady shape on a new trajectory of non-violence, thanks to the New Dispensation, Chamisa stuck to violent and foul-mouthed politics. He declared that no one except him should win the election. Any other result was unacceptable.

“In the run-up to the elections, he violated his own party aspiring candidates by ordering them to delivering multitudes of supporters, by hook or crook to his roadshows, causing them to neglect their own constituencies. It was supposed to be him and him alone. It was a cavalcade whose plummage he looked at and thought it all provided votes. No!

“Declaration that he should be the only winner, failure of which he would render this country ungovernable, even before voting day, was not only stupid but dangerous politics that has no place in a democracy like ours. One would think a leader of a political party named Movement for Democractic Change would know what democracy is. But, alas, as we now have all learnt from Chamisa, what is in a name?

“Suffice to say, the election season is over and Zimbabwe needs to move forward but Chamisa is still in election mode, five months after the elections. For as long as he remains in that mode, he is a problem not only to the country, but to himself and his party.

“For starters, after losing the election, then the election challenge at the Constitutional Court, after failing to get Sadc’s and African Union’s endorsement for his election challenge, if he was normal, he would have seen that there is no longer any other reasonable channel to follow but to accept defeat.

“At first it was understandable that the huge defeat his MDC Alliance and himself suffered in the July 30 elections could have unhinged his brain and numbed his skull but by now he should have gotten over it. It seems he now needs psychiatric help to get out of it.

“His propensity for political showboating through demonstrations is not only childish but self-serving especially when dealing with a mature democracy like Zimbabwe’s under Zanu-PF. Yes, they will allow him to demonstrate on the streets and yet at the end of the day, it is much ado about nothing, full of sound and fury, but signifying nothing. Nothing!

“Besides showboating, spending the day on the streets, the demonstrations of that type prove nothing. It is a waste of time by any standards.

“It defies logic — assuming Chamisa still has some semblance of it — that he wants to have talks with President Mnangagwa, yet he does not recognise him as the Head of State. What nonsense!

“Chamisa’s MPS go into Parliament and he says elections were not free and fair yet the voting process and system was the same. It was done simultaneously. His party is demanding that ministers in President Mnangagwa’s Government go to Parliament to answer questions but does not recognise their appointing authority — the President. What tomfoolery!

“If Chamisa wants to be taken seriously in the matrix of governance he should change his attitude, his language, his politicking and get real. What he has been doing since the elections does not make him a serious contender even for talks with the President. No President will stoop that low to talk to a mean person who does not seem to understand that opposition politics is not hate politics. That opposition politics should be national in its interest and value system and indeed in it is everything.

“Nelson Chamisa is a failure practising archaic politics, the sort of politics that is informed by extreme arrogance bereft of tactic and vision. The country has moved on and he has been left behind.

“Nelson Chamisa is no longer a factor in solving Zimbabwe’s problems and neither is he worthy talking to over governance. He is a waste of time.

“For President Mnangagwa to dialogue with Chamisa at the moment would be stooping to a record low. A whole State President entering talks with a small fly that does not recognise him, when the international community and its leaders do recognise him? No, Nelson, no!

“Over the months Chamisa has proved to be a big part of the problem himself that, in fact, needs a solution. Naturally, a problem does not provide a solution to itself. It remains a problem.

Chamisa has largely become an epitome of poor politicking, emotional instability and brazen dislike for order and a propensity to abuse the existing democratic space.

“It is clear Chamisa’s biggest mistake was overrating his stake in Zimbabwe’s political space and with time he is slowly discovering his diminishing returns.

“Since taking over power from MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirai, Chamisa has distinguished himself as a problem that enjoys selfishly abusing the democratic space at the expense of the general populace and the development of the country.”

Own Correspondent|ZANU-PF has proposed amendments to the national Constitution to streamline the functions of Provincial Councils in its efforts to implement devolution of powers from Central Government.

The ruling party revealed its wishes on the principle in its resolutions adopted at the end of the ruling party’s 17th Annual National People’s Conference held in Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province, last week.

The amendments stops members of Parliament from being part of Provincial Councils and instead to exercise an oversight role over their operations.

“It is proposed that Provincial Councils be constituted only by elected councillors and their chairpersons and mayors of urban councils.

“It is proposed to amend the Constitution to exclude all members of Parliament from being members of Provincial Councils,” reads part of the resolutions.

Currently, the Constitution allows MPs to be part of Provincial Councils and President Mnangagwa has said this would make it difficult for legislators to exercise an oversight over the councils.

The ruling party also resolved that the unconstitutional Provincial Affairs Ministers should coordinate development projects in their respective provinces.

“It is resolved that the role of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, as provincial representatives of His Excellency the President, be to provide overall coordination of development programmes.

“That the role of Provincial Councils be to provide legislative framework on provincial economic development through the production of economic development plans,” the ruling party further resolved.

It was also resolved that a database of provincial economies be established, with the Minister of State required to take custody of the information.

“Capacity of Provincial Councils and the Minister of State should be built to enable them to effectively engage business entities, development partners and investors timelessly,” Zanu-PF said in its resolutions.

Speaking at the 17th Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference in Esigodini on Friday, president of the Chiefs’ Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira said chiefs can resolve the Gukurahundi issue.
Charumbira said commissions such as the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) which is mandated by the Constitution to lead the healing and reconciliation process in the country, had failed in other countries.Said Charumbira:
There is an issue of Gukurahundi that
is always talked about. I want to say it in public that as chiefs we agreed that we must take over this issue. In
Rwanda and other countries people
fought but now there is peace, why do people in this country keep referring to the Gukurahundi issue? So we are now taking over. Give us a chance as chiefs, we are determined to work to bring closure to this issue. In Burundi and Rwanda the United Nations poured in millions of dollars and set up commissions made up of judges but it all failed. They then referred the issues to traditional chiefs. There is no United Nations that can solve your in-house issues, we can only solve them on our own.” Chronicle

LIMPOPO police on Sunday intercepted a closed truck transporting a stolen luxury vehicle, LED TVs and several other items in Polokwane, believed to be worth millions of rand.

A Zimbabwean and two Ugandan nationals have been taken into police custody.

The truck was impounded and is being stored at the Seshego police compound outside Polokwane.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said: “We can confirm the incident; we’ll provide more details later.”

It is understood the truck was travelling from Gauteng and was destined to cross the Beit Bridge border in Musina. It was stopped by police just outside Polokwane, and upon inspection, they found a stolen white Range Rover, several TVs and other goods.

During the 2017 festive season, police also disrupted a criminal operation in which donkey carts were used to transport stolen vehicles and goods across the Limpopo River into Zimbabwe.

The incident comes at a time when police and traffic officers in Limpopo are on high alert on the roads, especially on the N1, since the start of the 2018 festive season on Friday.

Late on Saturday, 16 motorists were arrested for drinking and driving, including a 22-year-old man found with the highest reading of 0.87mg/l.

Meanwhile, the N1 south near Kranskop has been opened after it was closed for several hours following an incident in which a sedan collided head on with another vehicle and overturned. No fatalities were reported.

— News24

A mechanic (37) was burnt and later died after drums of petrol he was keeping at his workshop for resale on the black market caught fire in Victoria Falls.

Tapinda Whisper Muzvidzva who operated a panel beating shop but had turned the premises into a petrol warehouse feeding the black market was rushed to Victoria Falls Hospital and was later transferred to Mpilo
Central Hospital where he died last Friday.
The fire occurred on Thursday at Jeche Complex in the industrial area.
One of his colleagues at the shop and another man believed to be a Zambian citizen, escaped with minor injuries.
Property and a yet to be disclosed number of drums full of fuel were also destroyed. It is suspected that the fire occurred when Muzvidzva and his workmates were draining
petrol from one of the drums to fuel a client’s vehicle using an electric motor.
His father, Mr Morris Charles Muzvidzva, confirmed the death but denied that his son was dealing in fuel.

A mechanic (37) was burnt and later died after drums of petrol he was keeping at his workshop for resale on the black market caught fire in Victoria Falls.

Tapinda Whisper Muzvidzva who operated a panel beating shop but had turned the premises into a petrol warehouse feeding the black market was rushed to Victoria Falls Hospital and was later transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital where he died last Friday.

The fire occurred on Thursday at Jeche Complex in the industrial area.

One of his colleagues at the shop and another man believed to be a Zambian citizen, escaped with minor injuries.

Property and a yet to be disclosed number of drums full of fuel were also destroyed.

It is suspected that the fire occurred when Muzvidzva and his workmates were draining petrol from one of the drums to fuel a client’s vehicle using an electric motor.

His father, Mr Morris Charles Muzvidzva, confirmed the death but denied that his son was dealing in fuel.

“It came as a shock to us as the whole family is yet to come to terms with the whole issue. It’s not true that he was selling fuel but he was refuelling his car at the workshop,” said Mr Muzvidzva.

Sources close to the incident said Muzvidzva was burnt while attempting to salvage the premises and drums of fuel inside.

“The now deceased was keeping fuel in drums and jerry cans at Jeche Complex in the industrial area. He would buy the fuel from service stations and stock it at his premises to later sell on the black market where he used an electric pump to drain from drums into a car.

“On the fateful day, one of his assistants switched on the electric pump to drain fuel for a client and there was a spark which set the premises alight,” said a source.

The Chronicle was told that Muzvidzva who was outside the shop, rushed inside intending to put out the fire to save his property. In the process a jerry can fell and spilt some petrol thereby fuelling the fire.

A crowd that had gathered watched helplessly as Muzvidzva was engulfed in fire while the two survivors bolted out to safety.

A businessman, Mr Evans Ncube from nearby premises rushed with a fire extinguisher and put out the fire in the shop but Muzvidzva had already been burnt.

“I wasn’t nearby and only heard noise. When I checked what was happening I saw fire and that’s when I rushed with a fire extinguisher. I only managed to extinguish the fire in the shop but could not save Muzvidzva as he was already burnt and was being rushed to hospital,” he said.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was yet to receive the report.

He, however, warned members of the public against hoarding fuel and keeping it in houses or shops as this is dangerous.- state media

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By Own Correspondent| Anna Kwavakona held one of her one-year-old twin babies in her arms while her other children clutched to her dress as she stood in front of a tent shelter perched by the roadside on the outskirts of Bindura town along Mt Darwin highway.

Kuvakona was dressed shabbily and desperation was written all over her face.

Her clothes, apart from being a signature of time, were testimony of the distant relationship that has existed between the 24-year-old mother of four and water.

It was around 4pm and her face looked as if it was last scrubbed over a week ago and this is largely because of her family’s dire living conditions for the past three weeks.

Kuvakona’s face told a story of pain, neglect and dejection. She looked hungry and unable to bear the weight of her twin daughters, whose situation was as hopeless as hers.

“This one is called Kimberly and she has not been feeling well for some days. She has a running stomach and is very weak,” Kuvakona said, referring to the child in her arms.

“I think it is because of the water we are drinking, which is not safe. We fetch it from that well (pointing at a shallow and open well in a field just across the road). I am also having a challenge feeding them.”

The children looked underfed and scruffy – epitomising the hard realities that have confronted the family and 17 others since three weeks ago when they were thrown out of Claverhill North Farm, owned by Kingdom Community Church (KCC).

The families were dumped by the roadside by former Rushinga senator Damian Mumvuri (Zanu-PF), who says he is the new owner of the property.

“I have four children and I have asked a friend to temporarily take care of the other two,” Kuvakona said.

“My husband is not here, he has gone out to look for food. We do not have anything to eat.

“Our food was thrown away when we were chucked out of the farm. It was a nasty experience.”

The distraught mother nearly broke into tears as she narrated the harrowing experience at the hands of the police when they were violently evicted from the farm they had called their home all their lives.

“We are now living in the open, and we are in the rainy season. We were only given these tents by the district administrator two days ago. Imagine being in the open with these young children.”

Another villager, Conwell Matope (49), who is a father of six, said most of the villagers had been staying at the church-owned farm before Mumvuri “invaded” the property in 2005, armed with an offer letter from the government.

The families have been fighting Mumvuri’s seizure of the farm in the courts. Matope is an elder at the KCC.

The villagers claim the church, which employed most of them, owned the property, that they claim is now being leased to a white commercial farmer by the former Senator.

“The white man has been operating at the farm for the past three years,” Matope said.

“We were evicted by Mumvuri three weeks ago and dumped here. We don’t have water and we are using bush toilets. It is a matter of time before there is an outbreak of diseases.

“We have been exposed to rains and thank God that the children here (pointing to a one-month-old baby and a four-month-old baby in her teenage sister’s arms) are still alive, but I am sure it is only a matter of time.”

Matope said they had tried to get assistance from Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Monica Mavhunga without any joy.

“She told us that there was nothing she could do if we are evicted from someone’s farm,” she said.

“We don’t have anywhere to go. We were born and grew up at this farm and we know no other home. (The minister) uses this road every day, but has done nothing to assist us.

“She should have found us another place to go to. It is painful, our ancestors’ graves are at the farm, and we cannot leave them just like that.

“But even if we are to go back to the farm today, there is no more shelter for us because they destroyed our houses.”

Simbarashe Chingoka, a member of the same church, weighed in, saying more families faced eviction from the farm.

“Only 18 families are here out of the 46 that were settled at the farm,” he said.

“Others are still there because Mumvuri ran out of money to throw them out.

“He said he was using the money he gets from leasing the farm to a white farmer to evict us.”

Chingoka added: “They used force and threw away our foodstuffs. We don’t have food right now. Our livestock was also left at the farm.”

Another victim, Estery Banda (45), whose husband is aged 61 and has worked for the church for the past 24 years, said she had been forced to abandone her aged mother at the farm.

“My mother was born in 1944. She is old and ailing and can’t walk anymore. She could not come with us because of her condition. We left her and asked a neighbour to look after her,” she said.

“For three weeks I have not seen her, I can’t go back there, it will mean trouble for me and my mother.

“Our children are no longer going to school. We don’t have the money. We don’t have the food.

“We are here and our husbands are having to move around the surrounding communities to look for work in exchange for food.

“It is almost sunset and we have not eaten anything since morning as we are waiting for the men to come back so that we have something.”

She added: “We no longer have anything, even our property was destroyed by the rains.

“We only got these tents from the DA yesterday (Wednesday) and he promised to take our problem to higher offices.

“Even our MP (Kennedy Musanhi) has never been here, we don’t know if he is not aware of our predicament.

“We thought the land reform programme was for all of us, but we were wrong, it is for the powerful.

“Mumvuri seized the farm from the church, which has been here for many years helping communities, and here we are now – living in the open.”

Mumvuri refused to comment on the matter, referring question to his lawyer Zvidzai Kajokoto.

Kajokoto said Mumvuri was allocated part of the farm by the government in 2006 and the disputes that arose after the allocation were settled by the courts.

He said the farm workers refused to work for the Zanu-PF politician and they had initially promised to relocate before they changed their position.

“The issue started in 2016 and in November 2017, we had a consent order that they signed with their lawyer, Mr Gumbo,” he said.

“They signed the judgment, but they do not want to move now. They are the ones who actually proposed that they would move out in August this year.”

Farm workers were some of the biggest victims of Zimbabwe’s chaotic land reform programme that displaced over 4 000 white farmers and destroyed the country’s once thriving agriculture sector.

The workers, many of them of foreign origin, were left homeless after the new land owners evicted them.-TheStandard

By A Correspondent| Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged preacher brother, Talent has been caught red handed communicating gross factual falsehoods from the Biblical passages.

In the below video (timeline 3minute), Talent Chiwenga who calls himself, Apostle Chiwenga says “John The Baptist did not baptise anybody.” Analyst and preacher, Howard Nyoni makes the below evidence layout-

A GROUP of political science students at the University of Zimbabwe has come up with a list of the 100 most influential persons in Zimbabwe for 2018.

The list is dominated by politicians, but also includes Zimbabweans in sports, media, business, civil society, music, religion among others. Guess who’s on number 1?

Here is the list: What do you make of the list?

2018 top 100 Zimbabwe’s Movers, Shakers, Finest and Most Influential People

100. Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo (Civil and Socioeconomic rights Activist)

99. Benard Manyenyeni (Former Harare Mayor)

98. Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa (Radio and TV talkshow host)

97. Prudence Mabhena (Musician)

96. Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (MDC-T MP | Children and Women’s Rights Activist | Former Minister)

95. Happyson Nyasha Ncube (Politician | Pro- Democracy Activist) MHSRIP

94. Haru Mutasa (Broadcaster)

93. Nhlanhla Moyo – (Former Child President | Activist | Entrepreneur)

92. Evan Mawarire (Pastor| Pro-Democracy Activist)

91. Claris Madhuku (Youth and Environment Activist)

90. Lenin Tinashe Chisaira (Environmental Lawyer | Writer | Researcher & Activist

89. Prosper Ngomashi aka Comic Pastor (Comedian)

88. Yvonne Mangunda (Broadcaster)

87. Simba Mhuriro (Entrepreneur)

86. Soneni Thandeka Gwizi ( Broadcaster | Radio & TV Host | Disability Activist)

85. Farai Maguwu (Human Rights Defender)

84. Glanis Changachirere (Feminist | Human Rights and Democracy Activist | Founder of Institute of Young Women Development)

83. Oliver Mtukudzi (Musician)

82. Jessie Fungayi Majome (Lawyer | Former Harare West MDC-T MP)

81. Sally Dura-Ncube (Feminist and Human Rights Activist | Director at Womens Coalition of Zimbabwe)

80. Dumiso Dabengwa ( War Veteran | ZAPU President)

79.Jenny Williams (Human Rights Activist)

78. Briggs Bomba (Civic Rights Activist)

77. Cynthia Chirinda-Hakutangwi ( Motivational Speaker | Author | Pastor)

76. Albert Nyathi ( Musician | Writer | Poet)

75. Vongai Zimudzi ( Youngest Candidate in 2018 elections | Feminist | Politician)

74. Joice Mujuru ( Former Vice President of Zimbabwe | War Veteran | NPP President)

73. Sue Nyathi ( Author)

72. Jeys Marabini ( Musician)

71. Lewis Matutu (Politician | ZANU-PF Deputy Youth Chair)

70. Alex Tawanda Magaisa (Writer | Former Advisor to the late Former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai | Academic and Lecturer of Law)

69. Maud Chifamba ( Academic )

68. Nigel Mugamu (Journalist | Blogger)

67. Nomathemba Primrose Ndebele ( Fashion Entrepreneur |Women Developmentalist | Socialiate)

66. Genius Kadungure (Businessman | Socialiate)

65. Innocent Netanyahu ( Politician | ZIPP spokesperson | Activist)

64. Linda Muriro ( Journalist | Producer)

63. Vangelis Haritatos (Politician | Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement)

62. Nyasha Nhau (Human Rights Defender)

61. Lynnette Karenyi ( Politician | MDCA MP)

60. Rebecca Chisamba ( TV Talkshow Host)

59. Michael Mdladla Ndiweni (Vendors Trust Activist)

58. Janet Manyowa ( Gospel Musician)

57. Larry Kwirirai ( Blogger | Radio & TV Presenter | Writer)

56. Tafadzwa Goliath ( Passenger Rights Activist : Founder of Passenger Association of Zimbabwe)

55. Blessing Kasiyamhuru (ZIPP President | Businessman | Prophet)

54. Regai Tsunga ( Human Rights Defender | MDCA Mutasa South MP)

53. Victor Matemadanda ( War Veteran | Politician | Deputy Minister of Defence)

52. Walter Magaya (Prophet | Patriot)

51. Morgan Dube ( Civic Rights Activist | Chairperson of Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association)

50. Mable Chinomona ( War Veteran | Politician | Senate President)

49. Nyaradzo Francisca Nhongonhema (Stage and screen actress | Radio Host & Producer)

48. Mathias Mhere ( Gospel Musician)

47. Duduzile Nyirongo ( Pastor | Politician | Entrepreneur)

46. Samm Farai Monro aka Cde Fatso ( Comedian | Poet | Innovator | Activist)

45. Rodwell Chinyengetere ( Footballer)

44. Kirsty Leigh Coventry ( Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation | Athlete | Speaker)

43. Monica Mutsvangwa (Politician | Minister of Information & Publicity)

42. Wallace Chirumiko aka Winky Dee ( Musician)

41. Peter Ndlovu ( Former Zimbabwe Captain | Football Legend )

40. Joseph Chinotimba ( Politician | ZanuPF MP Buhera South | Farmer)

39. Marry Chiwenga ( Former Model & Patron of the Miss Zimbabwe Trust | 2nd Woman of Zimbabwe)

38. Alfred Dzirutwe ( Politician | MDC-T Youth Spokesperson)

37. Mukudzeyi Mukombe aka Jah Prayzah ( Musician)

36. Mthokozisi Ncube ( Political Activist | Bulawayo Youth Arise Director)

35. Nhire Sekuru Mutimbanepasi ( Herbalist | Researcher In African Culture & Traditions | Radio Personality |Artist)

34. Tsitsi Masiyiwa (African philanthropist | Social Entrepreneur )

33. Trevor Ncube ( Businessman | Media Mogul)

32. Godfrey Tsenengamu (Politician | ZanuPF Youth Commissar)

31. Barbara Rwodzi ( Politician | Pan-African Entrepreneur | Philanthropist | ZanuPF MP for Chirumanzu)

30. Lucia Matibenga ( Former Trade Unionist | Former Minister if Labour | PDP President)

29. Norman Mapeza ( Football Legend | FC Platinum Coach)

28. Heath Streak ( Former cricket player | coach)

27. Geneva Sibanda ( Politician | Businessman)

26. Gift Ostallos Siziba (Pan-African fundamentalist | Academic | Political Activist)

25. Zenzele Ndebele ( Artist | Entrepreneur | CITE Founder | Journalist)

24. Mqondisi Moyo (Mthwakazi Republic Party President)

23. Doug Coltart ( Human Rights Lawyer | Activist)

22. Obey Shava ( Lawyer | Theologian | Human Rights Defender)

21. Rev. Anglistone Sibanda (Reverend, Human Rights Defender and Shalom Trust Director)

20. Jestina Mukoko (Human rights activist and the Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project)

19. Pupurai Togarepi ( Politician | ZanuPF MP for Gutu South)

18. Happymore Chidziva ( Politician | MDCA MP for Highfield West | Human Rights Activist)

17. Joana Mamombe ( Politician | Former Student Leader | Youngest MP in the 9th Parliament| MDCA MP for Harare West)

16. Peter Mutasa (President of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions | General Secretary of Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union)

15. Noah Manyika ( BZA President | Pastor | Businessman | Founder of War on Poverty Trust)

14. Fadzayi Mahere ( Constitutional Lawyer | Law Lecturer | African Development Enthusiast)

13. Acie Lumumba (Politician | ZanuPF Activist | Media Personality)

12. Kuda Musasiwa (Musician, Hip-hop producer, Entrepreneur and Socialite)

11. Samantha Kureya aka Gonyeti ( Actress | Standup Comedian)

10. Beatrice Mtetwa ( Human Rights Lawyer)

9. Violet Gonda (Journalist | Radio Personality | Moderator)

8. Shingi Munyeza (Businessman | Pastor)

7. Abigail Mupambi (Civic Society and Churches Joint Forum National Coordinater : Social Justice Advocate)

6. Thokozani Khupe ( Former Deputy Prime Minister | MDC-T President | Founder of Thokozani Khupe Cancer Foundation)

5. Temba Mliswa (Politician | Independent MP for Norton | Farmer)

4. Tendai Biti (Politician | Lawyer | Former Finance Minister | MDCA MP for Harare East)

3. Linda Tsungirirai Masarira (Politician | MDC-T Spokesperson Radical Feminist | Human Rights Defender | Founder of Zimbabwe Women In Politics Alliance)

2. Emerson Mnangagwa (Politician | President of Zimbabwe)

1..Nelson Chamisa ( Politician | Former Minister of ICT | MDCA President)

Terrence Mawawa|Seasoned political analyst Jeffryson Chitando has challenged the city council to remove Robert Mugabe’s name from street corners in ancient city of Masvingo and erect the late Edison Jonasi Mudadirwa Zvobgo’ s statue in the city centre.

See below Chitando’s statement:
Masvingo City must erect a statue of Dr Edison Mudadirwa Zvobgo in the City.

Masvingo City must name streets in recognition of people like Dr Edison Mudadirwa Zvobgo, Prof E.Mukonoweshuro,Hamadziripi,Mukono,and other prominent political and social leaders of this province.

Great Zimbabwe University must name some of its schools after some prominent political and social leaders from this province for example Munhumutapa school of Heritage, Moderkai Hamutyinei School of Culture ,Dr Edison Mudadirwa Zvobgo School of law or Dr Simbi Mubako School of law ,Dr Simon Mazorodze School of Medicine,Engineer Chaimiti School of Local Government etc.

Mupandawana and Chiredzi Towns must as well be given the chance to honour some prominent political and social leaders from those area.

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed how his Zanu PF party has over the years shown to be out of touch with reality following his remarks that devolution had finally been embraced by citizens.

Unequal sharing of natural resources has always created a need for devolution especially in provinces such as Matebeleland and Manicaland but it appears Zanu PF was blind to their calls.

In his closing address at the 17th Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference in Esigodini, Matabeleland South, yesterday, President Mnangagwa said;

“I have been happily surprised by the reception and quick understanding of the concept of devolution and creation of provincial economies by our communities. We must work hard, with a renewed sense of urgency, to close the development gap between the urban and rural communities.

“The revitalisation of rural areas must be uttermost in our endeavours. The days of lopsided development must be a thing of the past. All our people are important to us, everybody must be on board, no one must be left behind,” said President Mnangagwa.

“The prosperity we seek to achieve by 2030 must be for all our people in very corner of the country. Our desire for better and more modern roads, schools, health facilities must be realised across the entire country. As we are determined to modernise, build and industrialise our beloved country, no one should be left behind.”

President Mnangagwa said conference resolutions would help his Government better serve people’s needs.

“We value all the constructive contributions, with regards to all the sub-sectors of the economy; agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, infrastructure, energy, ICTs and social services.

“As conference has directed, we will accelerate the various strategies that will lead to the modernisation of our agriculture sector and ultimately increased production and productivity,” said President Mnangagwa.

He called on the ruling party to be at the forefront of communicating the development agenda and the actual work done to improve livelihoods.

“The relevant departments of the party must play a central role in publicising our policies, programmes and reform measures to allow for the tracking of progress, monitoring and evaluation by the people,” he said.

Zanu-PF’s economy-focused conference, which ended here yesterday, has sent a loud message that the ruling party is “boldly on the move”, First Secretary and President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

In his rousing closing remarks at the party’s 17th Annual National People’s Conference in Esigodini, Matabeleland South, which was themed “Zimbabwe is open for business: Peace, unity towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030”, Cde Mnangagwa declared that Zanu-PF was unstoppable in its quest to deliver better livelihoods.

To huge cheers, Cde Mnangagwa — who is the Head of State and Government, and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Forces — said: “Here is the message from Esigodini. Those who have ears listen, those with eyes see: Zanu-PF is boldly on the move.

“We have an appointment with our destiny and we will not miss our destiny. Zanu-PF will not be distracted or destroyed, it will prosper.

“Prosperity for our beloved country and a better quality of life of our people is inevitable and it is us who must achieve it.

“Musangano wedu, Zanu-PF, wava kufamba senzou. Ucharamba uchiongofamba, uchingofamba, unchingofamba.

“Hapana unoumisa; tinoziva kwatinoda kuinda; tichafamba, tigongofamba tichingofamba vanovukura vachingovukura.”

Cde Mnangagwa said the resolutions adopted by the Conference marked a new era of implementation and development.

“All the resolutions were unequivocal and will certainly strengthen and consolidate the correct line as well as our desire to grow and modernise or revolutionary mass party,” he said.

“Zvisungo zvataita zvose hapana chatawana chatigozhera. These will further stand as a guiding beacon as we implement our polices and programmes in the coming year. Zvisungo izvi uchava mwenje watichatevera tichienda mberi.

“The spirit of unity, love, loyalty, cooperation and discipline within the party, must remain the solid foundation upon which our structures are build and strengthened.”

Added Cde Mnangagwa: “Party leaders and members alike should continuously and consistently concern themselves with the state of the party and seek to improve it always.

“Hard work, integrity, unity of purpose, honesty, sensitivity to the plight of our people regardless of social status must be synonymous with the party line.”

The ruling party’s President and First Secretary urged Conference delegates — who numbered in the thousands — to share their fruitful deliberations with their constituencies so as to galvanise Zanu-PF’s momentum.

“As we close our Conference, allow me once again to thank you for the commitment, discipline and focus which has characterised this conference,” he said.

“This is the nature and character of true cadres of a true revolutionary party.

“As you go to back to your respective provinces, I wish you safe travels and ability to disseminate the decisions we have made at this defining 17th National People’s Conference.”

-State Media

Traditional leaders have applauded First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa for taking a leading role in ensuring citizens have access to quality and affordable healthcare.

On the sidelines of the 2018 World Aids Day Celebrations in Glendale yesterday, Mazowe district Paramount Chief Makope (Mr Jacob Mapirinjanja) said the First Lady was showing her dedication to improved health for the disadvantaged.

He said traditional leaders would assist her efforts, as well as Government programmes aimed at improving the health delivery.

“As traditional leaders, we are happy over the manner in which the First Lady is showing love for Zimbabweans. The previous First Lady did not have such a caring heart,” he said. “We have observed how she has taken time to visit our hospitals to appreciate how patients are being treated.”

Chief Makope said traditional leaders had a big role to play in the fight against HIV and Aids.

“We, traditional leaders, will work with the Government and other stakeholders such as the National AIDS Council and the Dreams Programme so as to fight HIV and Aids until we achieve our target to rid of the disease totally by 2030,” said Chief Makope.

“The programmes that are being implemented by NAC in the district are showing positive signs as we are witnessing a decrease of HIV in the District.”

The Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (Dreams) Project seeks to reduce HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women in 10 African countries.

Mashonaland Central is characterised by farming and mining activities, with many people living in compounds where there are high incidences of STIs and HIV.

Mashonaland Central Provincial Chief’s Council Chair Senator Clemence Nembire (Chief Nembire) called on Zimbabweans to shun immoral sexual behaviour to curb the spread of HIV.

He hailed the First Lady’s health initiatives, adding: “Amai Mnangagwa is doing good because she is always on the ground taking a leading role. She hardly has time to rest and is always on the go attending to various issues for the betterment of our people’s lives.”

-State Media

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has put in place a viable plan to turn around Zimbabwe’s economic fortunes, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said, but called on the country to quickly clear its foreign arrears first.

The IMF said it was in talks with Zimbabwe to start monitoring the country’s programmes.

If Zimbabwe secures the deal to enter the so-called staff monitored programme, it would mark a major step towards normalising relations with the IMF, which suspended its voting rights in 2003 over policy differences with ex-president Robert Mugabe and non-payment of arrears.

“IMF staff is currently discussing with Zimbabwe the policies that might become the staff monitored programme which would aim to assist with fiscal consolidation and the reform agenda,” spokesperson Gerry Rice told a regular IMF media briefing on Friday.

“We think the policies, to answer the question, the policies of the new administration under the Zimbabwe transition and stabilisation programme, do constitute a comprehensive stabilisation and reform effort in order to address Zimbabwe’s macroeconomic situation.

“And, you know, we see it as a fairly ambitious programme that the authorities have requested the staff monitored programme.

“I’m differentiating that from an IMF financial programme which, of course, discussion of that, as we’ve said here before, would require the clearance of arrears by Zimbabwe to the other international financial institutions as well as an agreement with official bilateral creditors.

“So, we are looking at a staff monitored programme, but not at this point, the full financial programme for the reasons I just mentioned. …”

Zimbabwe faces a daunting challenge to clear at least $1,8 billion in arrears to the World Bank and African Development Bank before it can start accessing IMF foreign credit, especially for the private sector as well as foreign direct investment.

Mnangagwa has promised to revive the economy, pay foreign debts that the country has defaulted on since 1999 and end the international pariah status that Zimbabwe acquired under Mugabe’s nearly four-decade despotic rule.

But the economy remains in crisis with an acute shortage of cash, fuel, other basic goods, the collapse in the value of the country’s parallel “bond note” currency and many businesses struggling to operate.

Paying debt arrears could potentially open access to financing from the IMF, World Bank and other development institutions, but the United States, which is the bank and fund’s largest member country is an obstacle.

It still maintains sanctions on Harare and is unlikely to support financing for Zimbabwe until the new government makes progress on reforms, including changing laws restricting media freedom and anti-government protests.

At the heart of its economic problems is a $17 billion domestic and foreign debt, a $1,8 billion trade deficit that has worsened dollar shortages and lack of confidence in the ruling party by citizens still traumatised by hyperinflation.

The economic crunch is increasing political tension after a July vote that was supposed to lay the foundation for Zimbabwe’s recovery was instead followed by turmoil that left six people dead after an army crackdown.

The latest crisis was triggered by fiscal and monetary changes announced in October including a 2 percent tax on money transfers and separation of cash dollars and foreign inflows from bond notes and electronic dollars, that caused the collapse of the surrogate currency on the black market.

— DailyNews

Terrence Mawawa|Doctors at public health institutions have been on
strike since December 1 this year.

The doctors have decried poor working conditions were they have been forced to improvise for them
to attend to patients.

In an interview with ZimLive, Prince Butau, the treasurer of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) said:”
People are dying under our watch. As
doctors, we’re also not psychologically in a good place because of the effects of the economy including price hikes
and fuel shortages.

There’s no personal protective
equipment. Sometimes we’re forced to wear condoms when checking
patients. Doctors are asking, until when shall we continue practising bush medicine?”

The doctors have since dropped one of their key demands, to be paid in United States dollars. They have, however, insisted that their RTGS
salaries should be commensurate with the cost of living.