Jane Mlambo| Opposition legislator, Tendai Biti will be back in court today for the continuation of his trial in a case in which he is accused of contravening Section 66A (1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 2:13, which prohibits the unofficial or false declaration of election results.

Biti, through his lawyers, Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Messrs Alec Muchadehama and Jeremiah Bhamu made an application for exception while also challenging the jurisdiction of the court and requesting further particulars which they want to use if trial proceeds.

Mtetwa said Biti had the right to declare the results according to section 66(3) and (4) of the Constitution which states that the public is entitled to report on votes as long as they are based on polling station returns.

She also said that they are challenging the court’s jurisdiction because they still believe that Biti was unlawfully brought back into the country even though the courts have already ruled that was not the case.

In response the State said that it had been served with the defence’s outline on short notice and needed time to prepare a response.

The matter was rolled over to today for ruling.

THE opposition MDC has blasted President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government for reckless spending and lack of prioritisation through purchasing of luxury cars for Ministers.

In a statement released by the National Spokesman Jacob Mafume on Monday MDC said, “ZANU PF is presiding over a vampire state which devours its own people. They pursue a narrow agenda of self-aggrandizement which is why they were rejected by the people of Zimbabwe.”

Mafume accused ZANU PF of having an insatiable appetite for cars at the expense of the general populace.

“The Zanu PF government has continued to prove its insatiable hunger for cars with a reckless splashing of millions of dollars on top of the range vehicles for Ministers.” Mafume said. “Before the election they twice spent millions on cars for traditional leaders in a self-preservation exercise. They went on to use state funds to buy party cars in a move which exposes the state-party conflation.

“Recently a million dollar vehicle was bought for Mnangagwa who in his first days as President pretended to be a small car head of state.”

MDC further noted that the reckless spending by the Mnangagwa government is the major cause of budget deficit. However, government achieved a budget surplus for the month of October.

“While they are spending on cars, the budget deficit continues to balloon exposing the rhetoric on expenditure retrenchment. Presently, there are more pressing issues which that money could have put to better use.

“The pharmaceutical sector, for instance, has announced that only a month’s supply of drugs remains. A caring government could have, at least, channelled resources towards drugs procurement. There is a crippling cholera outbreak and a doctor’s strike, part of which is a result of promises that were not honored.

“Zanu PF’s lack of care forms part of its wisdom. Cars are therefore more important than the lives of the citizens.”

The vehicles purchased for cabinet ministers allegedly cost an estimated $107 000 each, translating to a combined total of over $2,14 million for the 20 full Cabinet ministers.

NewsDay

Former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara has trashed opposition MDC-Alliance’s talk of another “Government of National Unity” (GNU), saying President Mnangagwa is the legitimate leader of the country following last July’s elections.

Prof Mutambara said President Mnangagwa enjoyed the support of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union (AU), leaving the opposition marooned in its quest to negotiate power after losing elections in which the ruling party got more than two-thirds majority of parliamentary representation.

Prof Mutambara slated the opposition for its lack of strategy and ridiculed it for planning to spend the next five years “crying about a stolen election”.

He said this in an interview with South African television station SABC News last week, during a review of his book, “The Path to Power — In Search for the Elusive Zimbabwe Dream”.

He said the conditions that created the previous GNU, where he was Deputy Prime Minister as the ruling Zanu-PF shared power with the MDC factions, had altered significantly in 2018.

“Number one, the opposition is not challenging Parliament, ZANU- PF controls two thirds majority in Parliament,” he explained.

“In our case, we the opposition controlled the majority and ZANU- PF were in the minority. Secondly, when we said Mugabe is illegitimate after the run-off we had the support of South Africa, SADC and the African Union. Unfortunately in this situation, where there is a challenge to the legitimacy by (President) Mnangagwa, the South Africans have endorsed Mnangagwa, SADC have endorsed Mnangagwa and the AU have endorsed Mnangagwa which makes it very difficult to operationalise the challenge to the legitimacy of Mnangagwa,” said Prof Mutambara.

He said the opposition’s case was weak because it was not challenging Zanu-PF’s two-thirds romp but just the Presidential result.

Further, the opposition’s claim to not recognise President Mnangagwa’s victory would complicate matters regarding the convening of any meeting for the “National Transitional Authority”, as MDC- Allaince alternatively calls it.

He said: “The opposition must understand that they have a harder case than we had in 2008, because they are on their own. South Africa, SADC and the AU have endorsed this regime which means it is a tougher situation than what was obtaining in 2008. For example, when you say you want a National Transitional Authority, who is going to call the meeting? How does Mnangagwa call the meeting when you don`t recognise him, as who?

“So you need South Africa, SADC or the AU to call a meeting which is harder because they as institutions have endorsed the election.

“What I am emphasising is that, let’s see more strategic thinking. You can’t spend five years talking about a stolen election. What is the opposition’s plan for the next five years? Let us see that plan. Let us see that SWOT analysis which is robust.”

Prof Mutambara is not the first one to trash the opposition calls for a GNU.

At the weekend, Vice President Kembo Mohadi dismissed recent media reports claiming President Mnangagwa and MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa were indirectly in talks for a unity government.
He said Zanu-PF did not require a GNU as it had the mandate emanating from the two thirds majority in Parliament.
“We can do it alone unlike in 2008 where we had a sort of hung Parliament. This time there isn’t going to be that kind of arrangement,” he said.

-State Media

TWO children died on the spot last week after a tractor they were travelling in was hit by truck haulage at the narrow Pembi Bridge in Mvurwi. The two, Thandiwe (5) and Junior Nyanhete (7) were travelling with their mother, Ms Evelyne Nyalon (25), while sitting on the tractor’s mudguard.

They were coming from the fields at around 7pm when a haulage truck travelling to Mvurwi crashed into the back of the tractor.

Acting Mashonaland Central provincial spokesperson Assistant Inspector Petros Masikati confirmed the accident and urged tractors owners to put reflectors on them.

“We are urging all tractor owners to put reflectors and tail lights on their vehicles. They should also not carry passengers on mudguards when they do not have trailers,” said Asst Insp Masikati.

Mazowe North legislator Campion Mugweni assisted the bereaved family with $400 while the haulage company and tractor owner chipped in with $1 000 and $80 respectively..

The MP called for the completion of the Pembi Bridge construction to avoid more carnage as a result of the narrowness of the bridge

The accident happened barely two months after a Mvurwi-bound truck haulage caught fire that reduced 30 tonnes of fertiliser to ashes just 100m from the bridge.

Meanwhile, a Harare-bound CAG bus from Muzarabani overturned at Maori just after Mvurwi injuring several passengers after the bus driver failed to negotiate a curve.

State Media

The trial of Nyanga South National Assembly member and former Information, Communication Technology and Cyber Security minister Supa Mandiwanzira failed to kick off yesterday after he successfully made an application for trial postponement citing that he had only received State papers an hour before trial.

Mandiwanzira, through his lawyer Advocate Brian Hungwe, made the application accusing the State of inefficiency after failing to provide relevant papers on numerous occasions.

He said the State had more than a month to prepare for trial, but they did not give him equal opportunity.

“The defence objects to the trial starting because the accused was arrested on November 7 with the assumption arising from the arrest being that the police would have completed investigations and upon his appearance on the day, the court was advised that trial will commence on December 10.

“Those State papers were never availed to the defence until the accused person appeared for the second routine hearing.

“On that day, the defence was advised that the State papers would be ready within a week, but the papers were never availed until an hour before trial was meant to begin. The State has been inefficient and why should the State’s inefficiency prejudice the accused person,” he said.

Prosecuting, Michael Chakandida agreed to the postponement of trial but however said the date that the defence counsel was proposing was too far.

“I will concede that the defence counsel was furnished with State papers this morning because of circumstances that were beyond my control as the trial prosecutor.

“It is worth noting from the record that the accused (Mandiwanzira) was brought to court on November 7 on a request for remand form 242 which was also furnished to the accused’s counsel on the same date indicating that investigations were to be completed on November 20, this trial was set for December 10.

“On the date I am opposed and propose that it commences on December 18,” he said.

Magistrate Francis Mapfumo, who frowned upon the State’s inefficiency, ruled that Mandiwanzira‘s trial could not commence yesterday but should instead commence on December 18.

“There is no way trial can commence today. Section 70(1) of the constitution gives the accused the right to receive ample time.

“However, that other day cannot be next year as justice cannot be delayed. Trial is therefore to proceed on December 18,” he said.

Mandiwanzira is accused of criminal abuse of office after he allegedly engaged South African firm, Megawatt Company to provide services to NetOne without going to tender.

He is also accused of appointing his personal assistant, Tawanda Chinembiri to the Postal Telecommunications and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) board.

State Media

Paul Nyathi|THE Kgalema Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry report will be made public since the interviews were held in public, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

Mnangagwa is quoted as having said this while addressing Zimbabwe’s Ambassadors and Charge d’Affaires who were in the country for a week long workshop recently.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, “The Motlanthe Commission Report will be published in full. This was made clear by His Excellency when he met Zimbabwe’s Ambassadors abroad. He said the hearings were done in public so the report will be shared with the public. He has so far received the summary and not the whole Report.”

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba last week caused a major furore in the country when he said President Mnangagwa in his capacity as the Head of State and Government is the sole recipient of the report and may decide not to share it with the public.

“There is nothing at law that compels the President to release the report to the public or not to release it to the public,” said Mr Charamba.

“The discretion is his. Where he has a bit of a limit is in respect of how the Commission conducts its hearings in terms of the law.

THE South African Government has relaxed travel requirements for children travelling through its borders by scrapping compulsory submission of affidavit forms which many found cumbersome.
South Africa’s Home Affairs Department announced the relaxation of travel requirements with effect from December 1.
The neighbouring country, in 2014, imposed stringent travelling requirements for children going in or out of South Africa.
Parents were supposed to sign several affidavit forms to prove that they consented to their children travelling.
The law is said to have affected tourists’ arrivals, impacting negatively on the economy resulting in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government reviewing it.
“The Department of Home Affairs is pleased to announce the relaxation of some international travel requirements for children going through South African ports of
entry. The revised conditions are contained in the Government Gazette titled “Draft First Amendment of the Immigration Regulations, 2014 made under the Immigration Act,” reads
the statement posted on the South African Department of Home Affairs website. Chronicle

Correspondent|Preparations for zanu-pf’s 17th Annual National People’s Conference slated for Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province, have reached fever pitch, with the party providing transport for each district, the ruling party’s secretary for Transport and Welfare Cde July Moyo has said.

The business of the conference begins with a Politburo meeting today at the party headquarters in Harare, followed by a Central Committee meeting at the same venue tomorrow.

On Thursday, delegates travel to the conference venue for the official opening which will be presided over by President, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The conference — which is running under the theme: “Zimbabwe Is Open for Business: Peace, Unity towards an Upper Middle-Income Economy By 2030” — is expected to attract about 5 000 delegates from the country’s 10 provinces.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting at Esikhoveni Training Institute in Esigodini on Sunday, Moyo said each district will get a bus and the buses will be inspected first by the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) for roadworthiness.

“We have allocated each district one bus to carry delegates to and from the conference and those buses will have to undergo vehicle examination by VID to determine their roadworthiness since they will be ferrying people to and from the venue of the meeting.

Moyo said 8,4 tonnes of meat is required to feed the delegates. So far, Beitbridge has donated 14 cattle while Esigodini has offered 26 cattle.

The conference is the first to be officiated by President Mnangagwa in his capacity as First Secretary and President following his election at the party’s Extraordinary Congress in Harare last year.

State Media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has threatened to recall incompetent Members of Parliament from his party, including those who refuse to tow the party line in pursuit of narrow
factional agendas.
While addressing a Zanu PF women’s League national assembly in Harare last week, Mnangagwa warned that he would not hesitate to call for by-elections to replace the errant
legislators.
He said there were some MPs in the party who were voted into the august House before they were politically ripe after taking advantage of the
chaos that characterised the ruling party’s primary polls held in May this year.
“MPs must work for the people and play their oversight role on the Executive but we know oversight are some who were rushed into Parliament yet they were not ripe. We will not hesitate to recall you from Parliament and call for a by-election in line with the Constitution because our party has rules, Mnangagwa said.
The president spoke amid tensions in his party over what many perceive to be unresolved succession issues.Daily News

Forex dealers popularly known as
‘‘money-changers’’ are back on the streets operating underground as they still claim that there is high demand for foreign currency now
because government is charging duty in foreign currency.
In recent weeks, forex dealers were largely absent from posts they usually occupied where currency deals were conducted after new laws
prescribing a maximum 10-year custodial sentence for illegal foreign currency traders came into force.
Although operating in disguise, some of the money changers have returned to their usual operating points at Copa Cabana and Eastgate Mall in Harare among other areas.
Speaking to the Daily News, some of the money- changers said while they are afraid of the 10-year jail sentence, it’s almost impossible for them to stop their business as foreign currency is now in demand as the economy continues on downward spiral.Daily News

Women are reported to be struggling
with sexual harassment at the workplace, with a majority of them suffering in silence due to
perpetrators who usually hold high positions in organisations and government.

Surveys conducted by researchers have shown that women are extensively sexually harassed
and objectified by men in the work place.
Sexual harassment in the workplace is generally defined as a form of discrimination that includes any uninvited comments, conduct, or behaviour regarding sex, gender, or sexual orientation.
Gender Commission chairperson Margret Mukahanana-Sangarwe, speaking at the launch 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based
Violence campaign under the national theme ‘‘Creating Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment
in the Workplace’’ revealed that many women do not even understand what it infers.
“Basically sexual harassment refers to any sex-based behaviour that is unwelcome or offensive to the recipient made by a person who knows reasonably that such attention is unwanted,” she said.
All employees of any position from management to entry-level are susceptible to sexual harassments, but women are profusely victimised.Daily News

A 19-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed 12 years for raping a 15-year-old juvenile while she was drunk.

Arnold Sibanda of Sontala Village in Kezi took advantage of the juvenile during a musical show and followed her to a bush where he raped her.

Sibanda pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence by Gwanda regional magistrate, Mr Mark Dzira.

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

Prosecuting, Mr Pernson Chekeya said Sibanda raped the juvenile on December 16 at around 5AM last year.

“On 16 December 2017, the juvenile was at Sontala Business Centre with her friends watching a band. She got drunk and left the shops alone and went to sleep in a nearby bush. Sibanda who had seen the juvenile leave then followed her and found her asleep as she was intoxicated,” said Mr Chekeya.

“He took advantage of the situation and raped the juvenile. A passerby, Mr Artwell Tshabangu, who was looking for his donkeys, caught Sibanda during the act. Upon realising that he had been caught, Sibanda fled from the scene and left the juvenile lying on the ground. Mr Tshabangu advised other villagers who ferried the juvenile to a nearby police station.”

In his defence, Sibanda said he was not at the business centre at the time he was accused of raping the juvenile. He said he left at around 3AM and went home.

He said Mr Tshabangu was fabricating the matter as there was bad blood between them.

“I didn’t commit the offence as I was already home at that time.

“Artwell Tshabangu is lying when he is saying he caught me raping the juvenile. This is his strategy to fix me because he is jealous that I got a contract to build a house which he also wanted to build. We are both builders,” said Sibanda.

State Media

FORMER Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s family did not invest a cent in the Choppies business whose majority ownership belongs to the Botswana-headquartered retail group, chief executive officer, Mr Ramachandran Ottapathu, has revealed.

Responding to recent squabbles over the control of Choppies Zimbabwe, pitting former VP Mphoko’s family and its Botswana business partners, Mr Ottapathu said Choppies Enterprises belongs to the Botswana firm, which invested $25 million to set up the business.

In a letter, issued through a consultancy to different media houses in Zimbabwe, he said the media narrative about Choppies boardroom fights has lacked appreciation of real substance around the controversy.

“We have, as a business, had a situation where there have been boardroom challenges, which do not in any way affect the running of the business. The matters at boardroom level are matters that are now in the public domain and are also matters that are in the courts of law in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Ottapathu.

“As a matter of fact, we would like to state…that Choppies operations in Zimbabwe are owned, in the main, by Choppies Enterprises Limited, a company registered in Botswana.

“The reference of the 51 percent being owned by Mphokos was done so as to comply with legislation, which was put in place by the Government, which precluded foreigners from owning big stakes in businesses in preference to locals. That legislation is being looked at as we write to you because of the vision that the Government has to open up the business sector and promote investment.”

Choppies runs 34 branches in Zimbabwe and had indicated plans to increase its local network to 60.

The company employs in excess of 2 000 workers.

President Mnangagwa’s Government has since reviewed the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act and clarified that the 51-49 percent requirement only applies to natural resource-based investments.

As such, Mr Ottapathu said, as Choppies they did nothing else than answer the Zimbabwean government’s call to come and invest in Zimbabwe.

“We have had the family of the former VP of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Phelekezela Mphoko, whom we entered into a partnership with, now refuting that we are the owners of the business because they are using paperwork that was done in order to comply with legislation that was in place,” said Mr Ottapathu.

He said they have documentation to prove they invested $25 million, which was underwritten by Barclays Bank of Botswana, for the setting up of the Choppies Zimbabwe operation.

“We also reiterate that the Mphokos were given the 51 percent shares in an agreement which allows us to comply with the law. Mphoko never invested any cent in the business. We gave them the shares on paper,” said the Choppies CEO.

“Their seven percent free carry shares was a way of thanking them for facilitating that we set up business in Zimbabwe. The other 44 percent shares were allotted to them (the Mphokos) to add to the seven percent free carry shares to make it 51 percent. But that is merely on paper.”

According to the shareholder agreement that was signed to facilitate the setting up of the business under Zimbabwean law at the time, Mr Ottapathu said the 44 percent shares “can be called back” at any minute at no cost to Choppies Enterprises, thus leaving Mphokos with their seven percent share.

“The seven percent free carry shares can be bought back by Choppies Enterprises at US$1 per share in the event that we want Mphokos out of the business altogether. We have not yet reached that stage yet,” he said.

“For the record, Siqokoqela Mphoko and his father, who are shareholders of Nanavac, have all along been getting dividends through their bank accounts for the seven percent shares they hold and not the 51 percent. We have proof of transfer and we can furnish you if you so wish.”

Mr Ottapathu said there were machinations to seek to wrestle the Choppies Enterprises from its owners through peddling misleading narratives about the company. He said the business partners know the truth although some are now trying to take advantage of the situation to twist facts in their favour.

“All the important and crucial stakeholders know who holds what percentage in the company. They also know who invested what. They also have documents that talk to these issues”.

Meanwhile, last week Siqokoqela was arrested and remanded in custody after he violated bail conditions by harassing State witnesses. He is facing 170 counts of fraud and theft.

It is alleged that as country managing director, he hijacked the Choppies retail business and “looted” more than $50 000 worth of cash and goods from the outlets countrywide without board approval.

Despite these squabbles, Mr Ottapathu said Choppies remains committed to continue serving the Zimbabwean market.

“All this drama is not worth the energy that they have put into it. We would rather have the energy being devoted to the growth of the business,” he said.

State Media

A 12-year old boy died on the spot while two other people were injured when a donkey drawn scotch cart they were travelling in overturned in Nkayi District.

Nkosikhona Moyo of Khoto Village in Mdengelele area, sustained serious head injuries in the accident, leading to his death.

The accident occurred at around 4PM on Saturday along the Gwelutshena-Nkayi road.
The boy was travelling home from a nearby borehole in the company of Joshua Moyo (13) and Mr Jabulisa Ndlovu (32) when the accident occurred.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the accident.
“I can confirm we received a report of a fatal accident where a donkey drawn scotch cart went over a hump while travelling at high speed and overturned. It threw out all the three passengers and as it landed, it seriously injured one of the minors, a 12-year-old boy who sustained serious head injuries and died on the spot,” she said.

The boy’s body was taken to Nkayi District Hospital mortuary. Chief Insp Makonese urged members of the public to exercise caution when using scotch carts to avoid loss of life and injuries.

She urged parents and guardians to always lead animal drawn scotch carts as children may at times fail to control the animals.

Chief Insp Makonese said animals can panic at any time when disturbed or can just choose to be wild.

“It is sad to note that we continue to lose lives in scotch cart mishaps despite our warnings for people to exercise caution when using them. We also encourage adults to always be in the lead and never make children drive a scotch cart alone,” she said.- state media

The company, which was being represented by its Chief Loss Control Officer, Samuel Mapswayi, was convicted on its own plea of guilty to selling petroleum products without a retail licence by Gwanda magistrate, Miss Nomagugu Ncube.

The company was ordered to pay a $300 fine. Prosecuting, Mr Takunda Mafudze said the offence was discovered by a Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) official on September 5.

“On 5 September Mr Gladmore Rongai who is employed as a fuel quality technician by Zera went to CMED Gwanda to carry out an inspection. He found CMED employees selling petrol and diesel to customers. Mr Rongai approached the fuel officer and asked to see their Zera retail licence but he failed to produce one.

“Mr Rongai then issued the company with a seven day notice to produce their licence in terms of Section 55 (3) of the Petroleum Act but they failed to produce one resulting in the arrest,” he said.- state media

Forex dealers popularly known as ‘‘money-changers’’ are back on the streets operating underground as they still claim that there is high demand for foreign currency now because government is charging duty in foreign currency.

In recent weeks, forex dealers were largely absent from posts they usually occupied where currency deals were conducted after new laws prescribing a maximum 10-year custodial sentence for illegal foreign currency traders came into force.

Although operating in disguise, some of the money changers have returned to their usual operating points at Copa Cabana and Eastgate Mall in Harare among other areas.

Speaking to the Daily News, some of the money-changers said while they are afraid of the 10-year jail sentence, it’s almost impossible for them to stop their business as foreign currency is now in demand as the economy continues on the downward spiral.

One of them said with government demanding duty in foreign currency, most people have been coming to look for foreign currency as they cannot access it in banks.

“We are scared that we might be caught and arrested but as you may see, people are struggling to get foreign currency since it’s not there in banks. We are just trying to make a living through this
business and at the same time help out those in need foreign currency.

“The demand for foreign currency is now even higher since government said duty for vehicles should be paid in foreign currency. People are only trying to survive these tough conditions,” one of the money-changers said

Another money-changer said among the people who come to trade are those who will be intending to travel to other countries for business or pleasure especially now that the festive season is upon us.

He said government should avail foreign currency in banks if it wants the suffering members of the public to stop trading with illegal money-changers.

Forex dealers deserted their usual selling points after President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he would bring grief to all those who are involved in the illegal trade of foreign currency as he tries to bring stability to the country’s wobbly economy which went into turmoil at the beginning of October when government introduced unpopular measures.

The country has been experiencing acute shortages of foreign currency which in previous weeks triggered shocking price hikes, shortages of essential medical drugs and basic consumer goods.
The central bank holds the official exchange rate at 1:1 US dollar to the bond note, but the rate is largely only accessible to importers of essential goods like wheat and fuel, creating major demand for black market dollars.

Economists, however, recently told this publication that closing in on money-changers does not help solve the problem that the country is faced with.
Leading economist John Robertson said the country’s problems are deeper than government is willing to address.

Robertson urged government to remove the hurdles that are derailing the country’s progress by accepting that market forces determine the value of the money used for imports.

“Market forces still dictate that money used to pay for imports is more valuable than money that has limited uses, so different rates of exchange will remain until the limitations are removed,” he said. Daily News

VIDEO LOADING…

Mliswa clashes with ZANU PF Chief whip pic.twitter.com/zvGI51IAKt

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 10, 2018

ZANU PF last week threw a lavish party to welcome back its official after he was released from jail, having spent 14 years behind bars for killing an MDC activist in the run-up to the 2002 general elections.

There was pomp and fanfare at the home-coming party when Eddie Munjanja of Munjanja village under Chief Nhema in Zaka Central was released from Mutimurefu Prison, a development that has irked the MDC.

Munjanja was convicted of murder with actual intent after he killed MDC activist, Atinos Mapingure in cold blood, during the 2002 presidential election campaign. His accomplice, only identified as Makeme, is still serving his 45-year jail term.

At the time, Munjanja was commander at a Zanu PF campaign base where opposition activists were routinely taken in for torture and “political re-orientation”.

The village head Phillip Munjanja, who is Eddie’s younger brother, defended the move, saying there was nothing wrong with welcoming a brother who was wrongly convicted. He went on to thank Zanu PF for the pledges and donations.

“I don’t have any remorse, neither am I moved by any complaints from haters and the opposition, because I feel my brother was wrongly implicated in that murder case. We are not going to offer any compensation to the bereaved family,” Munjanja said.

“In fact, I would like to thank Zanu PF supporters for making the event successful, and making my brother feel welcomed.”

But Harrison Mudzuri, former MDC legislator for Zaka Central, said: “It is not only abominable for Zanu PF to throw a hero’s welcome party for a murderer. In fact, it’s immoral and amoral, to say the least, for right minded people to slaughter a beast on such an occasion.”

He added: “The move promotes political violence and does not have a deterrent effect. From the reports I have received, fear has already gripped the whole district.”

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights communications officer, Kumbirai Mafunda, said they urge people to conduct themselves in a way that would not offend the aggrieved parties.

MDC party spokesperson Jacob Mafume castigated Zanu PF for throwing a party for the convicted murderer, saying it shows the party had not reformed.

“Zanu PF never thought about how the victims are going to live with trauma of what he did to them before his incarceration,“ he said.

Zanu PF Masvingo provincial secretary for information and publicity, Ronald Nava, said he would call the party offices in Zaka to confirm if it was a party or private family event.

The deceased’s family could not be reached for comment at the time of going to Press.
Zaka has recorded some of the worst incidences of political violence in the province since 2000. MDC party members have been murdered, maimed or displaced.

At one point, MDC party activists were locked up in their party office and petrol bombed at Jerera Growth Point in the run-up to the June 27, 2008 presidential election run-off.

-Newsday

Former Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Samuel Undenge has been acquitted on the criminal of abuse of office charges relating to his alleged influence in the awarding of the Gwanda Solar Power Project deal to Wicknell Chivayo.

Undenge was discharged at the close of the state case after Harare Magistrate Barbra Chimbodza found that no evidence had been presented by the state linking him to the charges.

Chivayo’s Intratek company was awarded the deal in the absence of the required paperwork and services at the Gwanda solar power project.

Undenge’s lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama said the court found that there was no evidence placed before the court linking Dr Undenge to the charges of having unduly influenced Zimbabwe Power Company to pay Chivayo’s Intratek company US$5 million without following laid down procedures, but rather the key witness former ZPC Managing Director Mr Noah Gwariro was the one complicit in the matter

Meanwhile, the trial of former ICT and Cyber Security Minister and Nyanga South legislator Supa Mandiwanzira has been postponed to the 18th of December after the defence raised concern over the late submission of papers by the state.

Mandiwanzira is alleged to have awarded a private company in which he had vested interests in to undertake consultancy work for NetOne without going to tender and appointing his aide to the POTRAZ board.

ZBC News on line

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged the country’s diplomats to promote trade between Zimbabwe and the countries they are stationed in as part of Government’s new
diplomatic thrust.
The President said this after holding a closed door meeting with local diplomats at his Munhumutapa Offices.
He added that the Second Republic was focused on servant leadership.
“They have to realize that there is a Second Republic and the new dispensation and that this new dispensation is a servant leadership
that should also translate to themselves,” he said.
“They should understand that the will of the people is what is in their hearts always.
Secondly, we have changed the title of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, which means all our missions must address the question of trade.
“Their priority is to promote trade with the capitals where they are accredited with Zimbabwe. The third point was to brief them about the transitional programme which we
have in the country sector by sector as to how we intend to mordenise and industrialise our economy. So I walked them through the processes and provisions towards 2030,” he said.state media

A BID to impress a university girlfriend backfired for a Jet Stores administrations clerk, Kwekwe branch, after he stole a pant, skirt and short, valued at $22,85, leading to his arrest.

Tawanda Chakaziva (26) was last week sentenced to nine months imprisonment, five of which were suspended on condition of good behaviour, while the remaining four were commuted to 140 hours of community service at Chiedza Primary School by Kwekwe magistrate Tavengwa Sangster after full trial.

The court heard that on October 9 this year, Chakaziva stole a ladies pant, skirt and short valued at $22,85, which he placed in a plastic bag and hid them in his underwear, but was unlucky to be apprehended by the security guards.

The convict stole the goods intending to give to This girlfriend, a marketing student at Great Zimbabwe University.

In mitigation, Chakaziva pleaded: “Your worship, I have suffered enough since I have lost my job and have been thrown into the reserve pool of unemployment, I am begging this honourable court to spare me a custodial sentence and I am more than willing perform community service.“

Divine Chakombera represented the State.

NewsDay

Terrence Mawawa|Tapuwa Chitambo, the Secretary General of the Friends of SMM (FOSMM) has called for a shared understanding on Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy question.

“We have two but not new positions posited by the two dominant political parties, the ruling party, ZANU-PF, led by President Mnangagwa, and the MDC-Alliance, led by Mr. Nelson Chamisa, that President Mnangagwa is the legitimate head of state and government following the 2018 elections whose results were confirmed by the Constitutional Court and the alternative view that challenges this narrative.

Mr. Chamisa supported by Hon. Tendai Biti continue to argue that the only was to legitimize President Mnangagwa’s administration is to form a National Transitional Authority (NTA) and this will presumably be the bridge to prosperity that has eluded many Zimbabweans for far too long.

It is interesting that a demonstration was recently organised and led by the MDC-Alliance calling for the establishment of the NTA and this was before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SRRC) held on 6 December at which the issue of the removal of actions was a key focus.

To the government that question of legitimacy is an irritation and unwelcome subject devoid of any legal and constitutional merit.

It is significant that during the week when the ZANU-PF is scheduled to be held, the Herald in its editorial had this to say: “The long and short of it is that the MDC-Alliance leadership is desperate to rig its way into Government after losing the July 30 harmonised elections,” implying that the view held by President Mnangagwa is that unlike was the case in 2008 when ZANU-PF did not enjoy an overwhelming parliamentary majority, there is basis for any alternative to a ZANU-PF led government.

Against a background of a myriad of social and economic problems, there is no agreement as to the cause of these challenges. According to MDC-Alliance representatives, the economic problems are a direct result of the legitimacy question whereas according to ZANU-PF representatives, the problems directly flow from sanctions imposed by the Western Nations.

To what extent are the problems that have visited Zimbabwe for the last two decades a consequence of external or internal reasons, is an issue that has now become overly politicised.

The question by Standa Sani below that: “Is a government fit for purpose and worthy of respect when it cannot defend and uphold the rule of law?” is a poignant one because it speaks to a fundamental problem that goes beyond the legitimacy question.

It is self-evident that the legitimacy question will never be resolved as it does not appear that Chamisa will accept that President Mnangagwa won the 2018 elections and likewise President Mnangagwa will never accept that he did not win the elections.

One would have expected the debate to move from the legitimacy test to the fit to govern test.  Regrettably, the legitimacy question plays into the hands of President Mnangagwa.

As a member of FOSMM, I have learnt that there is a link between the rule of law and constitutionalism with prosperity.

Notwithstanding, there is a serious deficit in the country in terms of domestic leadership on rule of law matters. We seem to be bogged down on the legitimacy question yet common sense would dictate that we test the commitment of President Mnangagwa to the rule of law with specific case studies outside his comfort zone of electoral triumph.

In South Africa, it is significant that minority political parties like the EFF and the DA did successfully dislodged former President Zuma from power by exposing his failure to uphold the rule of law and constitutionalism.

It would have been foolhardy for these minority parties to challenge President Zuma on legitimacy grounds but on his conduct as the President of a constitutional state.

What lessons should we learn from the Zuma affair? We all know that Zuma had the majority in parliament and in the party. It was also clear that a direct attack on his legitimacy without exposing the implications of the Nkandla affair to the generality of the South African public, it was unlikely that an implosion within the ANC could occur without an external push.

In 2014, I wrote a letter to then Vice President Mnangagwa on behalf of FOSMM, to seek his intervention on our call to have the Reconstruction of State Indebted Insolvent Companies Act repealed because it belongs to a class of laws that are so offensive to the rule of law.

He confirmed that he had constructive knowledge that the mines were reopened after the government had won 22 out of 23 litigation cases based on the existence of a law that allows the rights and freedoms of shareholders and directors to be divested without the knowledge and involvement of the courts.

The question that should arise is whether President Mnangagwa having taken an oath to promote, protect and uphold the Constitution can be deemed to be fit for purpose if he is involved in enforcing a law that does not pass the constitutional muster.

The existence and operation of this law does a long way towards defining who we are as a nation. This is not about winning or losing an election but about the exercise of public power and the morality expected from the President as the head of state.

If this law exists and the President sees no evil in it, then how many similar laws exist that undermine the rule of law?

Who would be safe against when laws of this nature exist?”

Dr Daniel Shumba, who was a Presidential candidate in the 2018 elections after his unprocedural dismissal from ZANU-PF, said: Lord Cross of Chelsea in the British House of Lords famously held: “a law of this sort (like the Recon Act) constitutes so grave an infringement of human rights that the courts of this country ought to refuse to recognise it as a law at all.”
He further said: “This is a penal and confisticatory law that no President of a constitutional democratic state should recognize and seek to enforce. The fact that this law exists says a lot about President Mnangagwa’s own problems with constitutionalism
No investor will put his money when the highest office in the land sees no evil with a law that tramples on the bills of rights enshrined and entrenched in the Constitution.

It is not surprising, therefore, that on 19 November 2018, the Attorney General, Mr. Prince Machaya, stated that this law is not only constitutional but an extrajudicial order issued by the Minister of Justice is akin to a judicial order that only a Court of law can be grant.

With a boss like President Mnangagwa, clearly anything goes.”

Mr. Chitambo concluded by saying: “The need for a shared understanding on what time it is cannot be understated. It is clear that it is not time for asking the legitimacy question but to ask questions about troubling governance and rule of law questions. We need to converge as a nation on what matters and not on what divides us. The legitimacy question will never see us in one tent asking for accountability of public office bearers to us the citizens.”

Own Correspondent|DOCTORS at public hospitals yesterday said they will continue with their industrial action and implored government to be more serious with health care and move with speed to avert collapse of the health system.

Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) yesterday said while it recognised efforts by Health minister Obadiah Moyo in trying to engage, the response by government has been sluggish and the strike action, which enters day 10 today, continues.

“As it stands, doctors remain on industrial action and the situation in our hospitals has grown increasingly dire as we approach the festive season,” ZHDA said in a statement.

“Till then, they remain on industrial action and more seniors will be joining so that the employer may address our beloved country’s health care system with the respect it deserves.”

FORMER Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwerehas petitioned the High Court, accusing regional magistrate Hoseah Mujaya of being biased in the manner he has been handling his court case.

Kasukuwere is facing charges of abuse of office in the parcelling out of land when he was still a Cabinet minister.

His petition comes after Mujaya dismissed the former minister’s application for exception to the four criminal charges he is facing.

Through his lawyers, Chinyama and Partners, the former minister said Mujaya failed to properly consider his application in which he was seeking to be absolved from any wrongdoing since the charges preferred against him did not disclose any offence.

He argued that his actions were a bona fide exercise of administrative power and authority.

“…The above shows clearly that what was being peddled as a criminal offence was a bona fide exercise of administrative power and authority. It could not amount to any criminal offence in any circumstances….the decision of the first respondent (Mujaya) can never be sustained,” Kasukuwere said.

“It was so grossly outrageous in its defiance of logic to the extent that it is reviewable. Any reasonable magistrate who would have applied his mind to the facts would have noticed that in fact, no essential element of the offences had been established.”

He added: “From a consideration of the ruling, it is apparent that the first respondent did not address the fact that the charges preferred against me did not disclose an offence in the absence of a statement of what duties I am alleged to have breached.

“Undoubtedly, the first respondent was biased and showed interest in the proceedings.”

To buttress his application, Kasukuwere further said Mujaya spent a large portion of his ruling addressing the sufficiency or otherwise of the notice given to the State and mischaracterised the arguments made by his lawyer, Charles Chinyama.

“He (Mujaya) states that the State lined up witnesses whose evidence looks relevant to the matter on hand. I do not know how the magistrate looked at the evidence from witnesses who have not yet testified and before I have been asked to plead to the charges,” Kasukuwere argued.

“His statement that the evidence looks relevant to the matter on hand amounts to an assessment of evidence which has not been led. It means the trial of the matter will be farcical… If he had applied his mind to the exception, he would have noticed that the exception does not raise triable issues. It simply questions the validity of the charges.

“…secondly, the first respondent confessed, during the proceedings that he was operating under pressure on at least two occasions. In doing so, the honourable magistrate breached his constitutional duties and the Judicial Code of Ethics; that being so, the proceedings were vitiated and must be set aside.”

Kasukuwere also challenged the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to invite a Harare lawyer Zivanai Macharaga to prosecute the matter as a specially appointed prosecutor.

The matter is pending.

NewsDay

FUEL shortages have intensified in recent weeks leading to debate over the sustainability of continuing to have the imported product sold in bond notes and the real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system or electronic dollars.

Officially bond notes are pegged at par with the greenback, but the reality on the ground is that the bond note trades at 3:1 to the US dollar.

The anomaly has resulted in operators failing to restock as foreign suppliers require payment in US dollars.

President of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation- the country’s largest representative body of small-scale miners, Henrietta Rushwaya told the NewsDay that the fuel challenges had impacted on output from the miners.

“Our sector is saying designate service stations that will sell in forex, so that we go and buy fuel there. We are paid in forex, so we don’t have any challenge of paying for the fuel in forex because as it is operations are at a standstill. Designate service providers in the form of fuel that we pay in forex and see if we don’t buy that fuel from them because you are paying us 100% in forex so where do you think that forex goes, we must use it to buy fuel if need arises because we don’t want to wait for fuel whilst we have forex,” she said.

“We are facing challenges that some service stations are demanding visa cards and membership cards that we don’t have, we don’t deal with visa cards we have cash so give us those service stations that accept payment in cash.”

Small-scale miners contribute a large proportion of the country’s gold output.

Monthly production from the small-scale miners averaged two tonnes since the beginning of the year, but saw output for November drop by nearly 50% to just 602kg.

This was the first time this year that small-scale miners produced less than big mine houses.

Last year, Zimbabwe produced 28 tonnes and this year the country is targeting 34 tonnes but chances of attaining that output are increasingly getting slim.

NewsDay

Correspondent|ZANU-PF party will square off with the MDC-Alliance, the MDC-T and the NCA in a by-election set for Saturday, January 26, 2019 in Chitungwiza.

Guvamombe Mercy of ZANU-PF, Chagwada Yotam of MDC-Alliance, Makovere Jane of MDC-T and Tsakeni Anderson of the NCA will contest the Chitungwiza Ward 24 seat after they successfully filed their papers at the nomination court on 7 December 2018.

The Chitungwiza Municipality Ward 24 seat became vacant following the death of Alice Chihambakwe of the MDC Alliance who had won the seat on July 30 this year.

The poll shall take place on Saturday, 26 January 2019 in accordance with section 125 subsection 4 (b) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13].

Jane Mlambo| A Harare bound Inter Africa bus from Musume, Mberengwa overturned due to slippery roads early this morning.

View Picture Below…

The Magistrate in Tendai Biti’s trial has granted an application made by his lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa for the proceedings to be live streamed by accredited media houses. The trial is expected to run for the rest of this week in Court 17 at Rotten Row Mag Court.

The next hearing will be tomorrow at 9am.

More to follow….

Fuel shortages have intensified in recent weeks leading to debate over the sustainability of continuing to have the imported product sold in bond notes and the real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system or electronic dollars.

Officially bond notes are pegged at par with the greenback, but the reality on the ground is that the bond note trades at 3:1 to the US dollar.

The anomaly has resulted in operators failing to restock as foreign suppliers require payment in US dollars.

President of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation- the country’s largest representative body of small-scale miners, Henrietta Rushwaya told the NewsDay that the fuel challenges had impacted on output from the miners.

“Our sector is saying designate service stations that will sell in forex, so that we go and buy fuel there. We are paid in forex, so we don’t have any challenge of paying for the fuel in forex because as it is operations are at a standstill. Designate service providers in the form of fuel that we pay in forex and see if we don’t buy that fuel from them because you are paying us 100% in forex so where do you think that forex goes, we must use it to buy fuel if need arises because we don’t want to wait for fuel whilst we have forex,” she said.

“We are facing challenges that some service stations are demanding visa cards and membership cards that we don’t have, we don’t deal with visa cards we have cash so give us those service stations that accept payment in cash.”

Small-scale miners contribute a large proportion of the country’s gold output.

Monthly production from the small-scale miners averaged two tonnes since the beginning of the year, but saw output for November drop by nearly 50% to just 602kg.

This was the first time this year that small-scale miners produced less than big mine houses.

Last year, Zimbabwe produced 28 tonnes and this year the country is targeting 34 tonnes but chances of attaining that output are increasingly getting slim.

-Newsday

Primary and Secondary Education minister Paul Mavima has been convicted of contempt of court and has been given up to seven days to reinstate a fired school teacher or risk serving a 90-day jail term.

Mavima was convicted by the High Court last week after he together with officials from his ministry, ignored a court ruling of September 19, 2018, ordering them to reinstate a female teacher, Patricia Chifodya, whose contract had been terminated under unclear circumstances.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC), were also cited as respondents in the matter.

The order committing the four top government officials to prison was issued by High Court judge Justice Clement Phiri on December 3, 2018, after making a determination that the quartet had failed to abide by Justice Nicholas Mathonsi’s court ruling.

“The application for contempt of court be and is hereby granted. The respondents (Mavima and colleagues) are hereby ordered to purge their contempt by complying with paragraph 1, 2 and 3 of the court order in HC2650/15 within seven days of this order,” Justice Phiri ruled.

“In the event that the first, second, third and fourth (permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, secretary for Primary and Secondary Education, PSC chairperson and Mavima) respondents have failed to comply with the above mentioned paragraphs, they are hereby held to be in contempt of court and are hereby committed to civil imprisonment for a period of 90 days. Respondents are ordered to pay costs on a punitive scale.”

According to the court papers, Chifodya filed the court application for contempt of court on October 25, 2018 through Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers.

In her founding affidavit, Chifodya said she was informally suspended by Mavima and his subordinates through her school head in October 2017 and no reasons were given to her for such a decision.

“When I asked my headmaster (name not given) he told me that no reasons were given and he had been instructed by the respondents to relieve me of my duties at Rusike Primary School,” she said.

“I was never called by the respondents to be told of the allegations that had led to my suspension and cessation of my salary. This only came after contacting the respondents, fruitlessly demanding to know and understand why my salary was cut and why I was being forced to provide free labour after my reappointment.”

-Newsday

Zanu PF last week threw a lavish party to welcome back its official after he was released from jail, having spent 14 years behind bars for killing an MDC activist in the run-up to the 2002 general elections.

There was pomp and fanfare at the home-coming party when Eddie Munjanja of Munjanja village under Chief Nhema in Zaka Central was released from Mutimurefu Prison, a development that has irked the MDC.

Munjanja was convicted of murder with actual intent after he killed MDC activist, Atinos Mapingure in cold blood, during the 2002 presidential election campaign. His accomplice, only identified as Makeme, is still serving his 45-year jail term.

At the time, Munjanja was commander at a Zanu PF campaign base where opposition activists were routinely taken in for torture and “political re-orientation”.
The village head Phillip Munjanja, who is Eddie’s younger brother, defended the move, saying there was nothing wrong with welcoming a brother who was wrongly convicted. He went on to thank Zanu PF for the pledges and donations.

“I don’t have any remorse, neither am I moved by any complaints from haters and the opposition, because I feel my brother was wrongly implicated in that murder case. We are not going to offer any compensation to the bereaved family,” Munjanja said.

“In fact, I would like to thank Zanu PF supporters for making the event successful, and making my brother feel welcomed.”

But Harrison Mudzuri, former MDC legislator for Zaka Central, said: “It is not only abominable for Zanu PF to throw a hero’s welcome party for a murderer. In fact, it’s immoral and amoral, to say the least, for right minded people to slaughter a beast on such an occasion.”

He added: “The move promotes political violence and does not have a deterrent effect. From the reports I have received, fear has already gripped the whole district.”

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights communications officer, Kumbirai Mafunda, said they urge people to conduct themselves in a way that would not offend the aggrieved parties.

MDC party spokesperson Jacob Mafume castigated Zanu PF for throwing a party for the convicted murderer, saying it shows the party had not reformed.

“Zanu PF never thought about how the victims are going to live with trauma of what he did to them before his incarceration,“ he said.

Zanu PF Masvingo provincial secretary for information and publicity, Ronald Nava, said he would call the party offices in Zaka to confirm if it was a party or private family event.

The deceased’s family could not be reached for comment at the time of going to Press.

Zaka has recorded some of the worst incidences of political violence in the province since 2000. MDC party members have been murdered, maimed or displaced.

At one point, MDC party activists were locked up in their party office and petrol bombed at Jerera Growth Point in the run-up to the June 27, 2008 presidential election run-off.

-Newsday

Several people were left homeless after a storm hit Karoi town on Saturday night.

Among the worst affected were single mothers and widows in Chikangwe high-density suburb.

Some asbestos sheets were blown away by the strong winds, amid heavy downpours, leaving people exposed and property destroyed.

Sarudzai Mudimu, a single mother from ward 3, had six asbestos thrown off her two-roomed house and had to seek accommodation from neighbours.

“We have lost all asbestos covering the bedroom and dinning. The windy rains affected us,” she said while battling to control her tears.

Another elderly widow Retina Mudenga, also said she has nowhere to go to after her two-roomed house was ravaged by the storm.

“I have lost all the asbestos, and I do not know where to start,” she said.

A block at Chikangwe Hospital, which serves as the maternity wing and has been in limbo since 2015 after a non-governmental organisation, Zim-Health, based in Switzerland, offered support though equipment to help several pregnant mothers, was also affected.

Several asbestos sheets were blown away and stationery was socked by the rains, exposing expectant mothers.

Hurungwe district administrator Peacemaker Muzenda, who is the district civic protection unit chairperson, confirmed the incident.

‘I can confirm what has happened in Karoi. Currently, we do not have statistics of the affected households and we cannot give evaluation of how much damage has been done. We are planning to have those affected accommodated at schools that are secure while we work on modalities,’ she said.

Muzenda added that two schools had also been affected; Chikangwe High School girls’ hostel and Chiedza Tafara Primary School. Even churches were not spared by the rains that also uprooted power poles, plunging the town into darkness.

-Newsday

Fuel shortages have intensified in recent weeks leading to debate over the sustainability of continuing to have the imported product sold in bond notes and the real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system or electronic dollars.

Officially bond notes are pegged at par with the greenback, but the reality on the ground is that the bond note trades at 3:1 to the US dollar.

The anomaly has resulted in operators failing to restock as foreign suppliers require payment in US dollars.

President of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation- the country’s largest representative body of small-scale miners, Henrietta Rushwaya told the NewsDay that the fuel challenges had impacted on output from the miners.

“Our sector is saying designate service stations that will sell in forex, so that we go and buy fuel there. We are paid in forex, so we don’t have any challenge of paying for the fuel in forex because as it is operations are at a standstill. Designate service providers in the form of fuel that we pay in forex and see if we don’t buy that fuel from them because you are paying us 100% in forex so where do you think that forex goes, we must use it to buy fuel if need arises because we don’t want to wait for fuel whilst we have forex,” she said.

“We are facing challenges that some service stations are demanding visa cards and membership cards that we don’t have, we don’t deal with visa cards we have cash so give us those service stations that accept payment in cash.”

Small-scale miners contribute a large proportion of the country’s gold output.

Monthly production from the small-scale miners averaged two tonnes since the beginning of the year, but saw output for November drop by nearly 50% to just 602kg.

This was the first time this year that small-scale miners produced less than big mine houses.

Last year, Zimbabwe produced 28 tonnes and this year the country is targeting 34 tonnes but chances of attaining that output are increasingly getting slim.

-Newsday

ZANU PF last week threw a lavish party to welcome back its official after he was released from jail, having spent 14 years behind bars for killing an MDC activist in the run-up to the 2002 general elections.

There was pomp and fanfare at the home-coming party when Eddie Munjanja of Munjanja village under Chief Nhema in Zaka Central was released from Mutimurefu Prison, a development that has irked the MDC.

Munjanja was convicted of murder with actual intent after he killed MDC activist, Atinos Mapingure in cold blood, during the 2002 presidential election campaign. His accomplice, only identified as Makeme, is still serving his 45-year jail term.

At the time, Munjanja was commander at a Zanu PF campaign base where opposition activists were routinely taken in for torture and “political re-orientation”.

The village head Phillip Munjanja, who is Eddie’s younger brother, defended the move, saying there was nothing wrong with welcoming a brother who was wrongly convicted. He went on to thank Zanu PF for the pledges and donations.

“I don’t have any remorse, neither am I moved by any complaints from haters and the opposition, because I feel my brother was wrongly implicated in that murder case. We are not going to offer any compensation to the bereaved family,” Munjanja said.

“In fact, I would like to thank Zanu PF supporters for making the event successful, and making my brother feel welcomed.”

But Harrison Mudzuri, former MDC legislator for Zaka Central, said: “It is not only abominable for Zanu PF to throw a hero’s welcome party for a murderer. In fact, it’s immoral and amoral, to say the least, for right minded people to slaughter a beast on such an occasion.”

He added: “The move promotes political violence and does not have a deterrent effect. From the reports I have received, fear has already gripped the whole district.”

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights communications officer, Kumbirai Mafunda, said they urge people to conduct themselves in a way that would not offend the aggrieved parties.

MDC party spokesperson Jacob Mafume castigated Zanu PF for throwing a party for the convicted murderer, saying it shows the party had not reformed.

“Zanu PF never thought about how the victims are going to live with trauma of what he did to them before his incarceration,“ he said.

Zanu PF Masvingo provincial secretary for information and publicity, Ronald Nava, said he would call the party offices in Zaka to confirm if it was a party or private family event.

The deceased’s family could not be reached for comment at the time of going to Press.
Zaka has recorded some of the worst incidences of political violence in the province since 2000. MDC party members have been murdered, maimed or displaced.

At one point, MDC party activists were locked up in their party office and petrol bombed at Jerera Growth Point in the run-up to the June 27, 2008 presidential election run-off.

-Newsday

By Farai Maguwu| Thanks to the United States Senate for a very candid assessment of the situation in Zimbabwe. I believe an honest diagnosis of the situation will lead to an effective remedy.

Our political problem stem from our hijacked liberation war narrative where a certain clique believe they purchased this country through the blood of our brothers and sisters who perished whilst fighting for this country and whom I am very convinced had a completely different goal and vision from those destroying Zimbabwe in their name.

I also had a brother, Edward (now late) who went to war at the age of 14. He didn’t even tell the family, he simply went into the hut of our granny (Mbuya Juliana Maguwu), knelt before the family alter (Chikuva) in the presence of his then 13 year old young brother Innocent and pleaded with his ancestors to protect him.

He fought for four years and thankfully returned alive. When he went to war he wanted a free Zimbabwe — the complete opposite of what was created after independence.

Zimbabweans know whats good for their country and I don’t know any other people who love their country more than Zimbabweans – but the country has been hijacked and criminals are masquerading as patriots.

The solution to all this mess is internal. Its not with EU or USA though these are potential strategic allies.

But without internal dialogue, not just among and between political parties — but between government and the PEOPLE of Zimbabwe, we will continue to be the poster child for poverty and misery.

ED must stop those useless USD 2 million per trip foreign trips which will bring absolutely nothing.

The solution lies in Zimbabwe (kutsvaga Mwari kure kure uchimusiya mumba mawabuda). Mugabe was by many miles the most travelled President in the world and yet we kept sinking because he had stollen Zimbabwe from its people.

Put the foot down on corruption, investigate it and prosecute the corrupt. Corruption is hurting us a million times more than the so called sanctions. Ask us what must be done and do as we tell you.

THE Dumiso Dabengwa-led opposition Zapu party on Friday besieged the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo’s statue in Bulawayo, protesting over the deteriorating economic situation in the country.

Zapu women’s wing staged a mini protest at the statue of the late Vice-President, demanding President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to address the economic challenges the country is facing, which they blamed on skewed Zanu PF policies.

Nkomo was the founding leader of Zapu.

Zapu treasurer Moses Thwala said the government must respect elders, who worked to build the nation through hard work.

He expressed concern that elders spent nights in bank queues to access their pension money, describing such development as a serious sign of disrespect for senior citizens.

“We are suffering; we are struggling as if we have no government in place. What is this? When will we rest and enjoy life?” Thwala queried.

Zapu national people’s council member Thoriso Moyo, who led the protests, said most people who went to the liberation war had nothing to show for because of Zanu PF’s misrule. He also demanded that government addresses the emotive Gukurahundi issue.

“People in Matabeleland and Midlands were killed for supporting Zapu, and these people are not interested in addressing the issue of the killings. We have a lot of orphans due to these killings, and as a result, there is a lot of poverty in Matabeleland,” Moyo said.

The protesters were carrying posters, condemning the 2% electronic transaction tax imposed by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube in his Transitional Stabilisation Programme introduced two months ago.

Zapu also demanded that Mnangagwa addresses concerns raised by health professionals to end the strike by doctors, which enters the eleventh day today.

Some posters demanded creation of jobs and action on price hikes that rocked the country after the surge in the demand of the United States dollar following Ncube’s stabilisation programme as well as the introduction of foreign currency accounts by the central bank.

NewsDay

Several people were left homeless after a storm hit Karoi town on Saturday night.

Among the worst affected were single mothers and widows in Chikangwe high-density suburb.

Some asbestos sheets were blown away by the strong winds, amid heavy downpours, leaving people exposed and property destroyed.

Sarudzai Mudimu, a single mother from ward 3, had six asbestos thrown off her two-roomed house and had to seek accommodation from neighbours.

“We have lost all asbestos covering the bedroom and dinning. The windy rains affected us,” she said while battling to control her tears.

Another elderly widow Retina Mudenga, also said she has nowhere to go to after her two-roomed house was ravaged by the storm.

“I have lost all the asbestos, and I do not know where to start,” she said.

A block at Chikangwe Hospital, which serves as the maternity wing and has been in limbo since 2015 after a non-governmental organisation, Zim-Health, based in Switzerland, offered support though equipment to help several pregnant mothers, was also affected.

Several asbestos sheets were blown away and stationery was socked by the rains, exposing expectant mothers.

Hurungwe district administrator Peacemaker Muzenda, who is the district civic protection unit chairperson, confirmed the incident.

‘I can confirm what has happened in Karoi.

Currently, we do not have statistics of the affected households and we cannot give evaluation of how much damage has been done. We are planning to have those affected accommodated at schools that are secure while we work on modalities,’ she said.

Muzenda added that two schools had also been affected; Chikangwe High School girls’ hostel and Chiedza Tafara Primary School. Even churches were not spared by the rains that also uprooted power poles, plunging the town into darkness.

-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| A disgruntled Electrical Engineering graduate has attacked President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s New Dispensation mantra which he said has forced him to relocate to South Africa in search of greener pastures.

Posting under the name Engineer Eden Moyo, he said he was pushed out of Zimbabwe due to the fact that he has a family to take care of.

Goodbye @edmnangagwa.
SA here i come.
@Julius_S_Malema please organize something for me.
I am an Electrical Engineer but at the moment even a gardener will do.
I have a family to feed.
The so called New Dispensation have failed me big time.@Gwafa13 @Goromigos pic.twitter.com/BowRcDl4AS

— Eden Moyo (@engineer_eden) December 9, 2018

PRIMARY and Secondary Education minister Paul Mavima has been convicted of contempt of court and has been given up to seven days to reinstate a fired school teacher or risk serving a 90-day jail term.

Mavima was convicted by the High Court last week after he together with officials from his ministry, ignored a court ruling of September 19, 2018, ordering them to reinstate a female teacher, Patricia Chifodya, whose contract had been terminated under unclear circumstances.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC), were also cited as respondents in the matter.

The order committing the four top government officials to prison was issued by High Court judge Justice Clement Phiri on December 3, 2018, after making a determination that the quartet had failed to abide by Justice Nicholas Mathonsi’s court ruling.

“The application for contempt of court be and is hereby granted. The respondents (Mavima and colleagues) are hereby ordered to purge their contempt by complying with paragraph 1, 2 and 3 of the court order in HC2650/15 within seven days of this order,” Justice Phiri ruled.

“In the event that the first, second, third and fourth (permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, secretary for Primary and Secondary Education, PSC chairperson and Mavima) respondents have failed to comply with the above mentioned paragraphs, they are hereby held to be in contempt of court and are hereby committed to civil imprisonment for a period of 90 days. Respondents are ordered to pay costs on a punitive scale.”

According to the court papers, Chifodya filed the court application for contempt of court on October 25, 2018 through Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers.

In her founding affidavit, Chifodya said she was informally suspended by Mavima and his subordinates through her school head in October 2017 and no reasons were given to her for such a decision.

“When I asked my headmaster (name not given) he told me that no reasons were given and he had been instructed by the respondents to relieve me of my duties at Rusike Primary School,” she said.

“I was never called by the respondents to be told of the allegations that had led to my suspension and cessation of my salary. This only came after contacting the respondents, fruitlessly demanding to know and understand why my salary was cut and why I was being forced to provide free labour after my reappointment.”

Chifodya said on November 8, 2018 she engaged the Progressive Teacher’s Union of Zimbabwe who then wrote to the Education ministry, but the latter chose to ignore it.

Dissatisfied with her employer’s actions, Chifodya then petitioned the High Court with an application for a declaratour, seeking an order for her discharge from employment to be declared unlawful and wrongful, and the cessation of her salary and benefit to also be declared unlawful and wrongful.

“The matter was heard on September 19, 2018 before Justice (Nicholas) Mathonsi, who granted the application and confirmed my prayer that my discharge from employment as a teacher was unlawful and wrongful….and that respondents be directed to reinstate me forthwith or at least not later than seven days, without loss of salary or benefits. The respondents were ordered to pay costs of suit.”

Several other government ministers have of late been convicted of contempt of court for defying court orders.

NewsDay

Former Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere has petitioned the High Court, accusing regional magistrate Hoseah Mujaya of being biased in the manner he has been handling his court case.

Kasukuwere is facing charges of abuse of office in the parcelling out of land when he was still a Cabinet minister.

His petition comes after Mujaya dismissed the former minister’s application for exception to the four criminal charges he is facing.

Through his lawyers, Chinyama and Partners, the former minister said Mujaya failed to properly consider his application in which he was seeking to be absolved from any wrongdoing since the charges preferred against him did not disclose any offence.
He argued that his actions were a bona fide exercise of administrative power and authority.

“…The above shows clearly that what was being peddled as a criminal offence was a bona fide exercise of administrative power and authority. It could not amount to any criminal offence in any circumstances….the decision of the first respondent (Mujaya) can never be sustained,” Kasukuwere said.

“It was so grossly outrageous in its defiance of logic to the extent that it is reviewable. Any reasonable magistrate who would have applied his mind to the facts would have noticed that in fact, no essential element of the offences had been established.”

He added: “From a consideration of the ruling, it is apparent that the first respondent did not address the fact that the charges preferred against me did not disclose an offence in the absence of a statement of what duties I am alleged to have breached.

“Undoubtedly, the first respondent was biased and showed interest in the proceedings.”

To buttress his application, Kasukuwere further said Mujaya spent a large portion of his ruling addressing the sufficiency or otherwise of the notice given to the State and mischaracterised the arguments made by his lawyer, Charles Chinyama.

“He (Mujaya) states that the State lined up witnesses whose evidence looks relevant to the matter on hand. I do not know how the magistrate looked at the evidence from witnesses who have not yet testified and before I have been asked to plead to the charges,” Kasukuwere argued.

“His statement that the evidence looks relevant to the matter on hand amounts to an assessment of evidence which has not been led. It means the trial of the matter will be farcical… If he had applied his mind to the exception, he would have noticed that the exception does not raise triable issues. It simply questions the validity of the charges.

“…secondly, the first respondent confessed, during the proceedings that he was operating under pressure on at least two occasions. In doing so, the honourable magistrate breached his constitutional duties and the Judicial Code of Ethics; that being so, the proceedings were vitiated and must be set aside.”

Kasukuwere also challenged the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to invite a Harare lawyer Zivanai Macharaga to prosecute the matter as a specially appointed prosecutor.

-Newsday

CAUGHT by the revolutionary frenzy, Chimurenga music fans turned Thomas Mapfumo’s Bulawayo show on Saturday show into a political demonstration as Mukanya belted out his politically charged tracks, which made him unpopular with former President Robert Mugabe’s regime.

Mukanya displayed a close to four-hour-long top-class act at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo, having failed to fulfil a gig on Friday night in Gweru following an alleged power blackout.

When the firebrand Mapfumo started playing Disaster, one of the songs that made him unpopular with the Mugabe-led administration, fans could be seen pointing their fingers to the portrait of President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the wall.

After the song Disaster, fans started chanting lyrics to another politically charged track, Chauya Chauya.

“The song Disaster just reminded us of how the ruling party, Zanu PF, planted the seed of corruption. The problems we are facing right now were planted long back.

Mapfumo had seen that the government which was for the people was now against the same people who put them where they are, hence they put his life in danger,” a disgruntled fan, identified as Jongwe, said.

“We were pointing at the portrait of ED (Mnangagwa) because he was part of the same administration which created all this chaos, even though he now preaches the gospel of anti-corruption. But corruption starts with them. We live among thieves and corrupt leaders.”

After he released the album, Corruption, in 1989, criticising Mugabe’s regime, the government turned against Mapfumo, leading to his exile in the United States.

Despite the low attendance of less than 300 people as predicted by many, Mapfumo put up a scintillating act at the show that also featured Jeys Marabini and Gary Tight.

Marabini and his band proved why they are highly ranked in Bulawayo, as they belted their old and new songs backed by well-choreographed and energetic dancers.

The low attendance could be blamed on the show promoter for his failure to market the concert widely, as posters advertising the gig became visible only a day before the event.

Another factor could be the pricing, as fans had to part away with USD$10 or $40 bond, leaving many with no option but to opt for Killer T who performed at the Vista, which is a stone’s throw away from the Large City Hall.

It was a fun-filled weekend as merrymakers were spoilt for choice on the night at the Castle Lite Block parties at Zarah Lounge, Crystal and East 68 Pub.

Another event which was an option for party goers was the All-star party, which was headlined by ExQ at Venus Night Club.

NewsDay

THE trial of former Information Communication Technology Minister Supa Mandiwanzira which kicks off today at the Harare Magistrates Courts has generated interest in media circles.

The Nyanga South legislator allegedly awarded a contract to Megawatt Company without going to tender and directed NetOne to pay $4 million for the service, and $1 million for consultancy.

Mandiwanzira is also alleged to have seconded Tawanda Chinembiri to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority board without following due process, which prejudiced the telecommunications regulator of $35 000 from allowances drawn by Chinembiri.

“The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists is following with keen interest the legal challenges facing journalist and publisher, Supa Mandiwanzira,” Zimbabwe Union of Journalists secretary-general Foster Dongozi said.

Mandiwanzira is a former journalist who worked for Zimpapers’ Manica Post and The Herald before joining State broadcaster, ZBC, as a business reporter and main news anchor. He also worked for Al Jazeera among other international media networks.

Mandiwanzira owns a multimedia company, AB Communications which runs national radio station, ZiFM Stereo; metro radio stations Hevoi FM in Masvingo, 98.4 FM in Gweru, production house Mighty Movies and Business Times, a business and financial newspaper.

ELEVEN people, who include nine employees at a Chinese factory in Harare, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts facing allegations of contravening sections of Parks and Wildlife Management Act and fraud after they were allegedly found selling polished ivory, with fake parks reference numbers.

The 11 suspects appeared before magistrate Learnmore Mapiye, who remanded them in custody to December 21, pending finalisation of investigations.

It is the State’s case that on December 2 this year, one of the accused, Robert Shonhiwa called the informant, only identified as Henry and informed him that he had 200kg of polished elephant tusks, which he was selling for $90 per kilogramme.

The State alleges the next day Shonhiwa met Henry at Extreme Service Station opposite Gulf Shopping Complex. Shonhiwa got into Henry’s vehicle and directed him to Zanu PF headquarters, where they were going to meet one Titus Mazambani whom Shonhiwa indicated was in possession of the ivory.

It is alleged while parked outside Zanu PF headquarters, Shonhiwa called one David Madzinga and Raymond Mutinha, who later showed up and joined them. Mazambani allegedly directed Henry to Karigamombe Centre, where they would meet Noah Manyanye and Pettymore Munodawafa.

The State alleges Mazambani, Madzinga, Mutinha and Munodawafa then directed the informant to the light industries at Duandong Trade Centre, leaving behind Shonhiwa.

While at Duandong, the five suspects had a short meeting with the informant and agreed on a price of $90 per polished kilogramme.

The informant was then led by the accused persons to a warehouse where they met other accused persons carrying elephant tusks and placing them on a table.

The informant examined the tusks and was satisfied that they were real and genuine, and advised the suspects that he was organising the money and left the place in the company of Mazambani, whom he dropped at Zanu PF headquarters.

The informant then alerted detectives. The informant later returned to Duandong and was given a paper by Madzinga indicating weights. Police swiftly reacted to the information, leading to the arrest of the accused persons and recovery of the six marked ivory pieces.

The six elephant tusks were valued at $8 160.

Delight Mauto appeared for the State.

— NewsDay

Several people were left homeless after a storm hit Karoi town on Saturday night.
Among the worst affected were single mothers and widows in Chikangwe high-density suburb.

Some asbestos sheets were blown away by the strong winds, amid heavy downpours, leaving people exposed and property destroyed.

Sarudzai Mudimu, a single mother from ward 3, had six asbestos thrown off her two-roomed house and had to seek accommodation from neighbours.

“We have lost all asbestos covering the bedroom and dinning. The windy rains affected us,” she said while battling to control her tears.

Another elderly widow Retina Mudenga, also said she has nowhere to go to after her two-roomed house was ravaged by the storm.

“I have lost all the asbestos, and I do not know where to start,” she said.

A block at Chikangwe Hospital, which serves as the maternity wing and has been in limbo since 2015 after a non-governmental organisation, Zim-Health, based in Switzerland, offered support though equipment to help several pregnant mothers, was also affected.

Several asbestos sheets were blown away and stationery was socked by the rains, exposing expectant mothers.

Hurungwe district administrator Peacemaker Muzenda, who is the district civic protection unit chairperson, confirmed the incident.

‘I can confirm what has happened in Karoi. Currently, we do not have statistics of the affected households and we cannot give evaluation of how much damage has been done. We are planning to have those affected accommodated at schools that are secure while we work on modalities,’ she said.

Muzenda added that two schools had also been affected; Chikangwe High School girls’ hostel and Chiedza Tafara Primary School. Even churches were not spared by the rains that also uprooted power poles, plunging the town into darkness.
-Newsday

THIS report details the Zimbabwe Election Support Network’s (ZESN) observations of the Mutoko North Constituency National Assembly and the Chegutu East ward 16 by-elections.

ZANU-PF was the most visible party in campaigning, particularly by way of rallies while the MDC Alliance relied on moving around in vehicles campaigning and posting posters. There were no visible campaign activities conducted by the NCA.

Although rallies were generally held peacefully, threatening statements were sometimes made at the rallies. Notable efforts by a local youth CBO to promote peace were made.

However, ZESN continued to observe the tearing of rivals’ campaign posters in violation of the Code of Conduct for Political Parties, Candidates, and other Stakeholders.

The participation of women in the election, particularly as candidates, remained a challenge.

Even ZANU-PF did not field a female candidate despite the fact that the vacant seat had been occupied by a female candidate. There were also instances of the partisan distribution of food aid and seed by ZANU-PF ahead of the election.

The Mutoko North Constituency seat fell vacant following the elevation of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic (ZANU-PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Mabel Chinomona to the position of President of the Senate while the Chegutu East Local Authority seat was necessitated by the death of the ZANU-PF incumbent Councillor for ward 16, Silas Chikati on 10 September 2018.

ZESN observed the Nomination Court that sat on 12 October 2018 to consider applications of nominees for the by-elections.

Three candidates: Boniface Mushore of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance, Rambidzai Nyabote of ZANU-PF, and Edson Mugoma of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) successfully submitted their nominations and subsequently contested in the Mutoko North by-election.

The Chegutu East ward 16 by-election was also contested by three candidates of the same parties namely, Patricia Mapfurira of the NCA, Tichaona Muchenje of the MDC Alliance and Obert Mutandinda of ZANU PF.

Whereas all media outlets should ensure that all political parties and candidates are treated equitable in the news media, there was a bias towards ZANU PF in the public media. Commendably, the media particularly the private media was able to cover electoral processes, for example primary elections and election day processes.

In terms of the voting day processes, all polling stations successfully completed setup and opening procedures on time and all the required voting materials were available.

All polling stations were adequately manned with an average of seven polling officials, 50% of them being female in most cases. In addition, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and people with disabilities were allowed to vote ahead of other voters.

ZESN particularly commends ZEC for efforts to have a separate polling booth at every polling station in Mutoko North that facilitated voting by PWDs. Overall, the Commission complied with the threshold on number of ballot papers that can be printed in excess of the number of registered voters.

The participation of the traditional leaders continued with some of the village heads (Sabhuku) reported to have been election party agents for ZANU-PF.

The Mutoko North Constituency voters’ roll that was availed by ZEC has a total of 23295 registered voters. On Election Day, ZEC indicated that 52.9% turned out to vote. The processing of voters by the polling officials including those with special needs was observed to be efficient in both Mutoko North and Chegutu East.

A low turnout of youth voters was noted in Mutoko and turnout in Chegutu East was relatively low. Overall, ZESN noted a reduction in turnout in both by-elections when compared to the 30 July Harmonised elections, ultimately reducing the total votes for each candidate.

ZESN noted alarming statistics of assisted voters in the Mutoko North by-election, mostly women and on account of illiteracy. Due process was generally followed in assisted voting. There were cases of people who were redirected having turned up at the wrong polling stations.

For the Mutoko North by-election, ZANU-PF deployed party agents comprehensively; every polling station and collation centre was manned by one or more ZANU-PF agents while MDC Alliance was not represented in only very few polling stations and the NCA did not an single agent at any of the centres. Other election observers namely the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the US Embassy and the British Embassy deployed observers to the Mutoko North by-election. Worryingly, some traditional leaders were reported to have been election party agents for ZANU PF.

Following counting, results were immediately posted outside the polling stations and at the constituency collating centre. At all polling stations that ZESN observed closing of polling and counting, party agents who were present signed the V11 forms.

The ZANU-PF candidate, Rambidzai Nyabote, won the Mutoko North Constituency by-election. ZANU-PF has retained the seat from 2000 when ZESN started to observe elections, albeit with fewer votes in 2008. There was also a 34% decrease in votes garnered by the ZANU-PF candidate in the by-election compared to the 2018 harmonised elections. For the MDC Alliance, and the same candidate, the margin was a 58% decrease.

The Chegutu East Local Authority by-election was won by Obert Mutandinda of ZANU-PF who polled 326 votes as compared to 89 and 13 garnered by the MDC Alliance and NCA candidates respectively.

Source: Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)

Own Correspondent|MDC-T Vice President Obert Gutu has said that there is no need for a Government of National Unity (GNU) in Zimbabwe as democracy entails that the party that won elections must govern until the next elections.

“On the GNU, our position is very clear and unequivocal. Let the party that won the elections govern. After all, that’s the very essence of democracy, isn’t?” Gutu said.

Gutu himself is a former Minister in the 2013 to 2018 GNU that was entered into by former President Robert, the late MDC founding President Morgan Tsvangirai and Authur Mutambara of the splinter MDC.

Responding to those who said MDC leader Nelson Chamisa was calling for a transitional authority not a GNU,, Gutu who is a corporate lawyer had this to say: “There’s a distinction without a difference between a GNU and a so-called Transitional Authority, if you ask me.”

Vice President Kembo Mohadi has also dismissed any GNU, transitional authority or whatever coalition talks with Nelson Chamisa, saying his party had enough parliamentary vote to make laws unlike in 2008 when there was a hung parliament.

HARARE -As the country’s economy stutters amid a sharp spike in the prices of medicines, Zimbabweans are skipping trips to drug stores
and instead turning to herbal remedies to treat every-day illnesses.
Herbalists are recording brisk business after the latest round of economic reforms hit supplies of
conventional medicines and increased the cost of some generic and even life-saving drugs.
The herbalists are treating everything from snake- bites, to chronic ailments such as diabetes, high
blood pressure and cancer. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) about 85
percent of Zimbabwe’s population relies on traditional medicine for healing.
Alternative medicines practitioner Godfrey Mwerenga, who has been researching on African herbal medicine for the past 37 years, said it is high time that Zimbabweans return to the beginning of evolution and understand that God created herbs for their well-being as well as for preventive and curing of chronic diseases.
The herbalist, who runs the Modern Herbal Drugs and Cosmetics Clinic, said even modern medicine doctors are now turning to traditional
medicine for new drugs because researches are too costly and are also taking too long to come
up with solutions to some of the emerging diseases.Daily News

ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has promoted four Zimbabwe Republic Police senior assistant commissioners to the rank of deputy commissioner-general in an ongoing restructuring exercise.

The three are Senior Assistant Commissioners Mind Elliot Ngirandi, Learn Ncube and Lorraine Chipato.

This brings the number of deputy commissioners-general, including Deputy Comm-Gen Stephen Mutamba, to four.

The promotions come after the recent retirement from the force of three Deputy Commissioners-General Levie Sibanda, Innocent Matibiri and Josephine Shambare.

In a statement yesterday, chief police spokesperson Snr Asst Comm Charity Charamba confirmed the appointments.

“The Commissioner-General of Police informs the nation that in terms of the Police Act Chapter 11:10 Section 14 (1) (b), His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde ED Mnangagwa, has promoted senior officers with effect from 7 December, 2018.

“The senior officers promoted to the rank of deputy commissioner-general are as listed, Senior Assistant Commissioner Mind Elliot Ngirandi, Snr Asst Comm Learn Ncube, Snr Asst Comm Lorraine Chipato while four assistant commissioners have been elevated to the rank of senior assistant commissioner,” she said.

The four are Snr Asst Comm David Mahoya, Snr Asst Comm Kudakwashe Mubemi, Snr Asst Comm Crispen Charumbira and Snr Asst Comm Patson Nyabadza.

A total of 15 chief superintendent were promoted to the rank of assistant commissioner while 34 superintendents were promoted to the rank of chief superintendent.

“The promotions are in line with the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s thrust of improving service delivery to the nation and the Government’s policy of attaining a middle income economy by the year 2030,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

In August, Mnangagwa promoted 660 police officers to ranks ranging from inspector to deputy commissioner-general in terms of Section 14 (1) (b) of the Police Act.

Among those promoted was Senior Assistant Commissioner Stephen Mutamba, who is now the Deputy Commissioner-General.

Prior to his appointment, Deputy Commissioner-General Mutamba was head of the Criminal Investigations Department and he will now be the Deputy Commissioner-General Crime.

State Media