Terrence Mawawa|Dr Daniel Shumba, President of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), has reacted angrily to Mr. Frank Buyanga’s letter to the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres, asking him to consider Zimbabwe for a seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member, saying the peace and stability the country has enjoyed over the years deserves such recognition.

“I am perturbed by Mr. Buyanga’s ambitious letter not least because he seems to be oblivious to the reality of life in Zimbabwe but also he is under the mistaken impression that the transfer of power was based on consent and transparency.

Zimbabweans need the rule of law and constitutionalism before we can even think of flying our flags high to the world when at home were are concerned daily about the safety of my cash.

Mr. Buyanga wrote as follows: “Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, Africans need your support on many issues, including being able to voice their views on matters of security, those deliberated by the Security Council,” as if he has the competency and capacity on behalf of Africans.

Who gave Mr. Buyanga the right to think and express an opinion on behalf of the entire continent?

He then stated as follows: “The African Union is leaving the selection of who will represent Africa on the UN Security Council to be determined by foreigners. This, Mr Guterres, opens a gap for manipulation and only the ‘big’ countries will forever be selected to sit on this powerful council.”

The African Union is a community of member states, a point that Mr. Buyanga seems to ignore. He fails to explain in what capacity he finds it fit to poke his nose in the matter which the African Union Commission should be seized with.

Mr Buyanga opportunistically states as follows: “There is no threat to peace and security in Zimbabwe. Secretary-General, with your help and guidance we hope and trust that Zimbabwe will get the recognition it deserves,” when it is generally accepted that there can never be peace and security where there is no justice and the rule of law.

I have not heard Mr. Buyanga being vocal on matters that I think are germane in lifting Zimbabwe from its current economic mess.
We have left the future of our country to opportunistic, delusional and small-minded people like this Buyanga,”

Former Minister of Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Webster Shamhu following proceeding at the ongoing ZANU PF Conference @263Chat @OpenParlyZw @TelegraphMail @ZimEye pic.twitter.com/8UFPIgLme5

— Munashe Adrian (@ChokoMunashe) December 14, 2018

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has told the Zanu PF Annual People’s Conference currently underway in Esigodini that he will make the Commission Of Inquiry into post election violence report next week.

“After the voting and process of announcing elections we experienced violence in Harare we condemn that violence and we then appointed a commission of inquiry.

“I have since received the report of the commission of inquiry in the post-election violence of August 2018 and I will be making it public next week..” said Mnangagwa.

LIVE VIDEO LOADING

“Pamberi neZANU PF, Pamberi naPresident Emmerson Mnangagwa!, 2023, ED!, Pasi ne mhandu!”

“The first lady of the republic of Zimbabwe, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, my dear wife, Mary, Chairman of ZANU PF, mai Oppah Muchinguri, Sec of Admin Dr Obert Mpofu….Service Chiefs, War Veterans, Detainees and War Collaborators…business leaders, delegates, students who have come to join us…ladies and genglemen. On Sept 15 1952, a child(ED) was born to a young couple…”

ZimEye brings our viewers readers and listeners LIVE coverage of the ZANU PF Conference at Esigodini.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

11.24: Delegates start singing: “ED ndimambo. Simba inogara yega musango!”

1118: He now hands over proceedings to the Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu

1114: National Political Commissar Engelbert Rugeje takes over from Hungwe. He welcomes various invited guests and delegates to the conference.

1107: Deputy National Political Commissar Omega Hungwe is directing proceedings. She invites Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi to offer a prayer.

1105: Time for the National Anthem

1104: President Mnangagwa is now at the conference venue and proceedings are commencing. We bring you live updates.

1103: Zanu PF First Secretary and President, Emmerson Mnangagwa today officially opens the party’s 17th annual National People’s Conference in Esigodini, Matabeleland South province.

The conference is running under the theme, “Zimbabwe is Open for Business: Peace, Unity towards an Upper Middle Income Economy by 2030”.

“Pamberi neZANU PF, Pamberi naPresident Emmerson Mnangagwa!, 2023, ED!, Pasi ne mhandu!”

“The first lady of the republic of Zimbabwe, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, my dear wife, Mary, Chairman of ZANU PF, mai Oppah Muchinguri, Sec of Admin Dr Obert Mpofu….Service Chiefs, War Veterans, Detainees and War Collaborators…business leaders, delegates, students who have come to join us…ladies and genglemen. On Sept 15 1952, a child(ED) was born to a young couple…”

ZimEye brings our viewers readers and listeners LIVE coverage of the ZANU PF Conference at Esigodini.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

11.24: Delegates start singing: “ED ndimambo. Simba inogara yega musango!”

1118: He now hands over proceedings to the Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu

1114: National Political Commissar Engelbert Rugeje takes over from Hungwe. He welcomes various invited guests and delegates to the conference.

1107: Deputy National Political Commissar Omega Hungwe is directing proceedings. She invites Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi to offer a prayer.

1105: Time for the National Anthem

1104: President Mnangagwa is now at the conference venue and proceedings are commencing. We bring you live updates.

1103: Zanu PF First Secretary and President, Emmerson Mnangagwa today officially opens the party’s 17th annual National People’s Conference in Esigodini, Matabeleland South province.

The conference is running under the theme, “Zimbabwe is Open for Business: Peace, Unity towards an Upper Middle Income Economy by 2030”.

“Pamberi neZANU PF, Pamberi naPresident Emmerson Mnangagwa!, 2023, ED!, Pasi ne mhandu!”

“The first lady of the republic of Zimbabwe, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, my dear wife, Mary, Chairman of ZANU PF, mai Oppah Muchinguri, Sec of Admin Dr Obert Mpofu….Service Chiefs, War Veterans, Detainees and War Collaborators…business leaders, delegates, students who have come to join us…ladies and genglemen. On Sept 15 1952, a child(ED) was born to a young couple…”

ZimEye brings our viewers readers and listeners LIVE coverage of the ZANU PF Conference at Esigodini.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

11.24: Delegates start singing: “ED ndimambo. Simba inogara yega musango!”

1118: He now hands over proceedings to the Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu

1114: National Political Commissar Engelbert Rugeje takes over from Hungwe. He welcomes various invited guests and delegates to the conference.

1107: Deputy National Political Commissar Omega Hungwe is directing proceedings. She invites Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi to offer a prayer.

1105: Time for the National Anthem

1104: President Mnangagwa is now at the conference venue and proceedings are commencing. We bring you live updates.

1103: Zanu PF First Secretary and President, Emmerson Mnangagwa today officially opens the party’s 17th annual National People’s Conference in Esigodini, Matabeleland South province.

The conference is running under the theme, “Zimbabwe is Open for Business: Peace, Unity towards an Upper Middle Income Economy by 2030”.

Vice President Kembo Mohadi was curiously absent when President Emmerson Mnangagwa landed in Bulawayo on Thursday – triggering fresh speculation about his health.

Mohadi’s Matabeleland South Province is hosting the annual Zanu PF conference in Esigodini, and as the most senior official in the province, the former Beitbridge East MP was expected to receive Mnangagwa at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.

Instead, it was Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who welcomed Mnangagwa to Bulawayo when he landed some 20 minutes ahead of his appointed time of landing.

The ailing Mohadi, 69, spent over a month in South Africa after suffering leg injuries when a bomb exploded during a Zanu PF rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo on June 23 this year.

Nick Mangwana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, said he had no information on Mohadi’s whereabouts but promised to check with his office. He had not responded to our enquiry by the time of publication.

The annual Zanu PF conference is taking place at Mzingwane High School in Esigodini.

Mohadi, as the most senior Zanu PF leader in the host province, is expected to take centre stage.

“It’s his moment in the sun, which makes it highly unusual that he would fail to welcome Mnangagwa at the airport,” a senior Zanu PF official told ZimLive.

The Zanu PF conference began with a Zanu PF politburo meeting in Harare on December 11, which Mohadi attended, followed by a central committee meeting on December 12 at the party’s headquarters.

Mnangagwa will make his first appearance in Esigodini on Friday, with the party’s 3,000 delegates set to deliberate into Saturday afternoon.

– ZimLive

ZimEye brings our viewers readers and listeners LIVE coverage of the ZANU PF Conference at Esigodini.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

11.24: Delegates start singing: “ED ndimambo. Simba inogara yega musango!”

1118: He now hands over proceedings to the Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu

1114: National Political Commissar Engelbert Rugeje takes over from Hungwe. He welcomes various invited guests and delegates to the conference.

1107: Deputy National Political Commissar Omega Hungwe is directing proceedings. She invites Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi to offer a prayer.

1105: Time for the National Anthem

1104: President Mnangagwa is now at the conference venue and proceedings are commencing. We bring you live updates.

1103: Zanu PF First Secretary and President, Emmerson Mnangagwa today officially opens the party’s 17th annual National People’s Conference in Esigodini, Matabeleland South province.

The conference is running under the theme, “Zimbabwe is Open for Business: Peace, Unity towards an Upper Middle Income Economy by 2030”.

MDC-Alliance faces a potential split, with party leader Mr Nelson Chamisa set to preside over two high-level meetings today in a drive to have his deputy, Mr Elias Mudzuri, expelled. At least 220 party districts are said to have resolved to have Mr Mudzuri fired ahead of next year’s party congress for harbouring presidential ambitions.

This comes in the wake of reports that MDC-Alliance’s deputy treasurer and Kuwadzana East Member of Parliament Mr Chalton Hwende had allegedly threatened to shoot party secretary-general Mr Douglas Mwonzora.

Mr Hwende, a Chamisa ally, was reportedly miffed by Mr Mwonzora’s declaration that Mr Chamisa could be challenged at the party’s congress next year. Mr Hwende could not be reached on his mobile phone for comment last night.

Mr Mwonzora said he could not recall such an incident.

Party sources said Mr Hwende openly threatened to shoot Mr Mwonzora for “derailing” Mr Chamisa. Mr Chamisa has been accused in the past of using the notorious militia, the Vanguard, to silence his opponents.

Another allegation against Mr Mudzuri is that he attended a function at State House without Mr Chamisa’s “consent”. He survived expulsion last week after he failed to attend a standing committee meeting for unexplained reasons.

‘‘It is end of the road for (Mr) Mudzuri,’’ a source said. ‘‘The president (Mr Chamisa) is going for broke and the process of eliminating his rivals has begun in earnest. (Mr) Mudzuri is the first target and (Mr) Mwonzora is likely to follow. Remember (Mr) Hwende threatened to kill (Mr) Mwonzora and it is becoming clear that the Chamisa camp is worried about the inroads that (Mr) Mwonzora has been making in the race for the party’s top job.’’

Another source said Mr Mudzuri was being used as a warning to Mr Chamisa’s potential rivals.

‘‘This is not so much about (Mr) Mudzuri but (Mr) Mwonzora and those who are secretly canvassing for support at next year’s congress,” said the source. ‘‘You should know that (Mr) Chamisa has never really considered (Mr) Mudzuri as a threat but (Mr) Mwonzora. So what we are seeing is (Mr) Chamisa firing warning shots at the likes of (Mr) Mwonzora.’

Today’s meetings, one for the national executive and the other for the national council, will be held at the party’s Harvest House headquarters.

The fissures in the opposition are in sharp contrast to the ruling Zanu-PF which is holding its 17th Annual People’s Conference at Mzingwane High School in Esigodini, Matabeleland South, with a heightened unity of purpose.

President Mnangagwa has said the ruling party’s conference will focus on the country’s new investment trajectory towards attainment of his vision to turn Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy by 2030.

Party organs have already endorsed President Mnangagwa as the party’s candidate for the 2023 polls to ensure leadership stability and policy consistency.

In the opposition camp, Mr Mwonzora and allies have indicated they want congress held in February next year but Mr Chamisa and his camp insist that it should take place later in October.

Sources in the opposition said Mr Mudzuri’s fate in the party was sealed when he recently accompanied Parliament’s presiding officers to State House where they met President Mnangagwa. This was against a standing party directive not to recognise the Head of State and Government.

Mr Mudzuri, as leader of opposition party in the Senate, accompanied Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda and Senate President Mabel Chinomona when they went to formally introduce themselves soon after their election.

“The issue of (Mr) Mudzuri is definitely coming up for discussion in our meeting tomorrow (today). We have a national executive and a national council meeting. Decisive action has to be taken. At least 220 districts have resolved that he be fired. They expressed a vote of no confidence in him. What is likely going to happen is that he will either be fired on the basis of a no confidence vote or we will constitute a disciplinary tribunal,” said the source.

“Either way you look at it, (Mr) Mudzuri is gone. In fact, he expelled himself by defying the party directive.”

Another source said Mr Mudzuri could be stripped of the vice-presidency.

“We are exploring various options. One is to expel him. Another one would be to weaken him by demoting him to an ordinary card-carrying member,” said the source.

-State Media

Government met striking doctors yesterday and urged them to resume work as some of their grievances had been addressed. Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo met the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, the Health Service Board (HSB), the Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZIMA) and the Apex Council.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting in Harare, Dr Moyo said grievances that had been addressed by Government included the issue of car loans and availability of medicines.

“Medicines have been received and they are at NatPharm ready for distribution to all health centres around the country. We have given an instruction that NatPharm should distribute medicines to all health institutions,” Dr Moyo said.

“Transportation of our workers has been looked into, starting with fuel. We have put fuel arrangements in place at all health institutions that have fuel tanks, for example at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Harare Central Hospital and Mpilo Central Hospital,” he said.

“We even went to the extent of asking for our doctors and critical healthcare workers to be exempted from queues so that they can go and provide essential services and look after the patients. Car loans have also been looked into. Out of $10 million, we received $4 million and we are looking at the balance. Cars will be given to our health workers soon,” he said.

Dr Moyo said some issues were impossible to finalise at ministry level, like cost of living adjustments. These would be handled at a meeting covering all civil servants. Dr Moyo said ZIMA had also urged junior doctors to go back to work.

“We are one team being led by the Minister of Health, who is myself. We all have to push for the same agenda. We all have to make sure that whatever we do, we are a team. We are all fighting so that the department gets everything that is relevant. We all want to make sure that our healthcare workers benefit. We all want the patients to be looked after. The most important thing is that we must not lose any more lives,” he said.

ZIMA secretary-general Dr Sacrifice Chirisa said the demand for payment in American dollars by the doctors had been scrapped off after they considered the economic situation in the country.

“We have negotiated starting with the US dollars request and those have been removed. We are happy with the negotiations that have taken place so far. I think we are in a positive direction and we are expecting a positive response from our counterparts. Negotiations have been fruitful and tough and we are making sure that by Christmas we would have full services without any disturbances. Some of the issues will be discussed in due course,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association promised to make a statement today.

-State Media

WATCH VIDEO BELOW…

Jane Mlambo| Zanu PF National Chairperson, Oppah Muchinguri has admitted that the party primary elections exposed sharp divisions in the ruling party.

Addressing the Zanu PF Annual Conference in Esigodini yesterday, Muchinguri said the party was shaken during primary elections. This is amid suspicions that a residue of the G40 faction is still haunting the ruling party to this day.

“We had our primary elections where people were shaken a bit and this is the time to forget the past and strengthen the party as well as celebrate our victory in the harmonised elections,” said Muchinguri.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed that one of his top aides demanded R5 million from a prospective South African investor, reflecting the challenge he faces to rid his administration of graft that had become endemic under his predecessor, Robert Mugabe.
Mnangagwa made the stunning disclosure while addressing central committee members on Wednesday.

He said his “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra has been appealing to foreign investors because it sends a message that things have changed, but corrupt activities have spiked, with some party and government officials charging investors money to facilitate meetings with him and government ministers.

“I have introduced the ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ policy and it has been attractive, informing investors that we have opened up the country for business and changed on the way we were doing our things,” Mnangagwa said.

“This has generated interest among investors. They have been coming, wanting to do business in the country, but other people are now asking huge amounts of money from them to facilitate meetings with the President and ministers.”

He added: “Some people say to the investors, ‘before I take you to the President or minister, pay me some money’. I have been told that one investor was charged R5 million to come see me.”

“The investor was told that three quarters of the money would go to the President and the (fourth) quarter will be given to the person who will fix the meeting. When I eventually met the investor in South Africa, he told me that he had been asked to pay R5 million to meet me. Corruption, corruption, corruption, down with corruption!” Mnangagwa barked.

The southern African country is rated as one of the most corrupt on the planet, occupying 157th out of 180 countries in the 2017 ranking by watchdog Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.

Mnangagwa told ruling party officials that corruption was ravaging government and immediate action was needed to clean up the country’s investment climate.

“If you shun corruption, you will stay and stay with us in the party, but if you are corrupt, you will be fired,” he warned.

Mnangagwa took over power in a coup in November 2017 before winning the disputed July 30 election against opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa who says the vote was stolen.

He set up an anti-corruption unit based in his office, but its credibility has been tainted by allegations that it targets Mnangagwa’s political foes, mostly members of the G40 faction aligned to Mugabe’s wife, Grace.

Mnangagwa has pledged to fight corruption in his “second republic”, and several former ministers who served under Mugabe have been charged with corruption.

Former Energy minister Samuel Undenge has been convicted of issuing a $12 650 contract without due tender to a company that did no work, and was sentenced to four years in prison. He has appealed both the conviction and the sentence.

Former ministers Walter Mzembi, Ignatius Chombo, David Parirenyatwa and Saviour Kasukuwere all have pending cases before the courts, in what analysts view as a crackdown on officials loyal to Mugabe.

-Newsday

GOVERNMENT is taking advantage of fuel queues to pounce on vehicle owners who have failed to regularise their licenses, Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza has said.

Matiza told NewsDay yesterday that government would be deploying officers from the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) to flush out unregistered vehicles.

“People were given a deadline and those that complied have no reason to be scared. We are after those that have failed to regularise their licenses as required by the law. Beginning today (yesterday), we will have officers inspecting all fuel queues to check vehicle registration and related issues,” he said.

Government, according to officials, is already in the process of deregistering over 130 000 vehicles whose owners have defaulted in paying licence fees over the last two years to July this year.

Fuel shortages have triggered snaking queues across the country as motorists spend hours on end waiting for deliveries of the precious liquid. Government has, however, blamed hoarding for the shortages.

Matiza said some of the cars targeted for deregistration were being used for hoarding fuel.

“The latest move will also help us deal with those using unregistered vehicles as conduits to hoard fuel for resale on the black market,” he said.

Matiza said his ministry was working on robust implementation of the Zimbabwe Integrated Transport Management System (Zimtis).

“Technology is the way to go, and for us, it’s work in progress. The idea of having to trail every car, which at times results in anarchy, will end soon. We are working on Zimtis, and all our key departments, including from sister ministries, are working on this. Zimtis brings together key departments like the Zimbabwe National Road Administration, Road Motor Transport, the police, VID and others in an integrated system that will help us deal with all this chaos,” Matiza said.

The chaos on the country’s roads has been blamed for many fatalities caused by vehicles that are not roadworth as well as by unregistered cars and unlicensed drivers. There has also been a marked increase in the chaos following the withdrawal of traffic police in the wake of Operation Restore Legacy in November last year.

-News

GOVERNMENT is taking advantage of fuel queues to pounce on vehicle owners who have failed to regularise their licenses, Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza has said.

Matiza told NewsDay yesterday that government would be deploying officers from the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) to flush out unregistered vehicles.

“People were given a deadline and those that complied have no reason to be scared. We are after those that have failed to regularise their licenses as required by the law. Beginning today (yesterday), we will have officers inspecting all fuel queues to check vehicle registration and related issues,” he said.

Government, according to officials, is already in the process of deregistering over 130 000 vehicles whose owners have defaulted in paying licence fees over the last two years to July this year.

Fuel shortages have triggered snaking queues across the country as motorists spend hours on end waiting for deliveries of the precious liquid. Government has, however, blamed hoarding for the shortages.

Matiza said some of the cars targeted for deregistration were being used for hoarding fuel.

“The latest move will also help us deal with those using unregistered vehicles as conduits to hoard fuel for resale on the black market,” he said.

Matiza said his ministry was working on robust implementation of the Zimbabwe Integrated Transport Management System (Zimtis).

“Technology is the way to go, and for us, it’s work in progress. The idea of having to trail every car, which at times results in anarchy, will end soon. We are working on Zimtis, and all our key departments, including from sister ministries, are working on this. Zimtis brings together key departments like the Zimbabwe National Road Administration, Road Motor Transport, the police, VID and others in an integrated system that will help us deal with all this chaos,” Matiza said.

The chaos on the country’s roads has been blamed for many fatalities caused by vehicles that are not roadworth as well as by unregistered cars and unlicensed drivers. There has also been a marked increase in the chaos following the withdrawal of traffic police in the wake of Operation Restore Legacy in November last year.

-News

ZANU PF’S 17th national people’s conference kicks off today in Esigodini, Matabeleland South province, with the party seeking to deal with indiscipline and intolerance amid reports that a section of disgruntled officials could protest against certain individuals seen as economic saboteurs.

In an interview yesterday, party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said although law enforcement agents will be in attendance to deal with such issues, they expected delegates to observe discipline.

There are reports that some elements could register their frustrations over the deteriorating economic conditions through a demonstration at the conference.

“It’s the responsibility of the law enforcement agents to deal with such, but I have not heard about any planned demonstration,” Khaya Moyo said.

“We expect delegates to maintain discipline, and if there are people who might try to cause chaos, then the law enforcement agents should take care of that,” he said, adding that it is all systems go for the conference.

“We are set, today [yesterday] is travelling day, and we expect delegates to travel safely. Also, those in charge of their travelling must travel safely and avoid accidents. We expect that by evening [yesterday] all delegates will be here.”

The conference, which began with a politburo and central committee meetings in Harare, is expected to discuss the economy and other related issues.

“When we say Zimbabwe is one for business in peace and unity towards a middle income economy by 2030, obviously we will be concentrating on the economy, and the quicker it picks up, naturally we expect people’s lives to improve,” Khaya Moyo said.

Besides the economy, Khaya Moyo said they would talk about infrastructure development, food security and beneficiation of natural resources.

Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu said they expect delegates to be disciplined and avoid being caught up in alleged plots to demonstrate and cause public humiliation of certain top leaders.

Security remained on high alert, with soldiers and police making patrols kilometres away from the venue.

Villagers expressed mixed feelings about the conference, with others saying they were grateful to Zanu PF leadership for coming to their area because it had witnessed massive infrastructure transformation, while others said their livelihood, mainly gold panning, was being affected by the tight security.

“We are happy that the conference is happening in our area. We are vendors and we expect business to boom. We sell tomatoes and vegetables and people are buying in bulk. And because of that, we are generating profit,” Esnath Mpofu, a vendor at one of the growth points, said.

“We are also happy in that there is development in our area in the form of new roads, tarred roads and improved lighting, especially in Habane. The most important thing is that there is improved security and because of that, the crime rate has dropped and the illegal panners are being kept at bay.

“They usually cause a lot of problems, but they are being kept on check. We feel relieved about that, and we are living in peace.”

On the other hand, male villagers said almost 90% of the people in Esigodini area survive on gold mining activities, hence suspension of their work affects them in a negative way.

“Of course, we are happy that the President is coming to our area and he will see for himself the situation in our area. We need him to support our gold mining activities, but more importantly, and if we have the chance, we would want to share with him our problems.

“As they deliberate, we just don’t expect them to merry, but to come up with resolutions that take the country forward. We are really suffering, and this has forced many people into gold panning. However, that has been affected by the huge deployment of security forces who do not allow such things to take place,” another villager said.

NewsDay

MDC Alliance deputy national chairperson Tendai Biti’s lead lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa was this week left fuming after being given the run-around by judicial officers over the referral of the former Finance minister’s case to the High Court.

Biti is on trial for allegedly prematurely announcing results of the July 30 elections. He is also said to have incited the post-election protests which resulted in the killing of six people in a military crackdown.

In a letter to the registrar of the High Court, a copy of which NewsDay has in its possession, Mtetwa accused the State of refusing to reveal the identity of the judge who is set to hear the case. Mtetwa also disclosed her anger at the “murky” nature of the referral that she said seems to have circumvented procedure.

“The writer attended at the criminal registry with a view to ascertaining whether the trial magistrate had already referred the record to the High Court and whether we can have a copy of the referral document as we remain unclear as to the legal basis of the referral.

“The registry staff went through its documents and advised that the record has not been recorded as received in the normal way that appeal reviews and other records are recorded,” Mtetwa said.

She, however, indicated that the registrar had confirmed receipt of the record despite all documentation showing no such referral had been made.

“As our client might want to be heard on whatever it is that has been referred to the High Court, we then requested that we be provided with a copy of the letter. After making a call, the registrar advised that the judge seized with the matter was most likely in court.

“As the matter is now urgent, if a judge is already seized with the matter, we requested that we be advised of the identity of the judge so that we could directly make our request through the judge’s clerk,” Mtetwa said in the letter.

However, the registrar refused to reveal the judge’s identity.

“The registrar advised that she was not at liberty to disclose the identity of the judge. The registrar, however, advised that the record had been referred for a review in terms of Section 26 of the High Court Act.

“How the record was not entered in the Criminal Registry as is the case with review records is, therefore, not clear,” the letter reveals. Mtetwa has since demanded a copy of the referral letter.

NewsDay

POLICE in Marondera have launched a manhunt for suspected armed robbers who besieged Thursfield Farm, Bromley, owned by Cocker Peter, and got away with $25 000 in cash on Wednesday.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the incident and urged people not to keep large amounts of money in their homes as it attracts robbers.

“I confirm a robbery case in Bromley in which a farmer lost cash amounting to US$25 000. The complainant had travelled to Mozambique, leaving his maids at the house, before thieves broke in using the backdoor, entered his bedroom and stole the cash. The matter is still under investigation, and we appeal to those with information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects to report to the nearest police,” Mwanza said.

Meanwhile, police said they were concerned over the increase in car thefts and burglaries in Mashonaland East province over the past two months.

According to the police, between October and November, the province recorded five cases of car theft involving four Honda Fits and a lorry.

Four of the stolen vehicles were recovered.

“The suspects used the same modus operandi in stealing the vehicles. They would attack a house, steal valuables and demand car keys before using the vehicles to ferry the loot,” Mwanza said.

Police is urging the public to reinforce security on their premises as well as installing vehicle tracking systems.

“The motorists should also not leave their vehicles idling at gates or any other public places.

“We also urge members of the public to install surveillance cameras, erect security walls, put burglar bars and floodlights. During this festive season, we urge the public to employ these measures as robbers will be on the prowl,” he said.

NewsDay

THE United States Embassy through the State Department Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation programme has availed $42 000 to the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo for the publication of the book titled Preservation of Ndebele Art and Architecture at the Amagugu Heritage Centre in Matobo launched on Wednesday.

The book, written by John Knight, Cliford Zulu, Pathisa Nyathi and Andre van Rooyen and edited by Violette Ke-Tui and Pathisa Nyathi, documents the external and internal art, architecture, and decoration of Ndebele homes through schematic drawings and photographs.

The book also highlights the significance of culture, environment, and local Ndebele history.

Speaking at the launch, United States Ambassador Brian Nichols said the US embassy is leading efforts to preserve Zimbabwe’s rich cultural heritage and supports preservation of Zimbabwean art as part of expanded engagement between the two nations.

“The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation was created to give the world the ability to preserve iconic features of culture that might otherwise be lost,” he said.

Nichols said the $42 000 for the production of the book is a significant amount of money, but the value that has been created is priceless.

“Many people have contributed in delivering this book and I want to stress that this is a resource for people around the world that now exists to share the culture of Ndebele people, Matopo region and far,” he said

He said the combination and creative use of colour and depth in the book was so impressive.

Meanwhile, Nyathi said the book goes beyond decoration and it seeks to interpret Afro-centric symbols.

The book saw participants from the National Arts Gallery, National University of Science and Technology, Amagugu International Heritage Centre and women from Matobo district joining hands for the project following a documentation exercise that began in 2016.

MEMBERS of Mpilo Hospital Doctors’ Association yesterday staged a demonstration at the health institution complaining about poor infrastructure, shortage of drugs while at the same time demanding salaries in hard currency.

The disgruntled doctors stormed hospital premises carrying placards inscribed with their demands and vowed not to return to work until their grievances are addressed.

“They are forcing us to work under inhospitable conditions. What they pay us is little and the working conditions make it difficult to deliver. We don’t have adequate medicines and other medical materials,” Philip Dembura, Mpilo Hospital Doctors’ Association vice-president said.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association secretary-general Mthabisi Bhebhe said the striking doctors will not moved or threatened to go back to work till their issues are resolved.

“We shall not stop this struggle for a better living and better working conditions. Hospitals remain empty with acute shortage of drugs, medical and surgical sundries. Working conditions are deplorable and with obsolete hospital equipment. The welfare of service providers is forgotten and forsaken. The industrial action initially involved only central hospitals, but has grown to reach provincial and district hospitals,” he said.

Mpilo Hospital acting clinical director Xolani Ndlovu urged the striking doctors to be patient and revealed that only senior doctors were reporting for duty.

“Junior resident medical officers are the ones on strike and when the strike started we temporarily suspended all out-patient consultations. We are dealing with the emergency department. So far there is no sudden increase in the number of deaths. The conflict with the striking doctors is with their employer, the Health Services Board which is overseen by the Ministry of Health. I hope the issue will be solved amicably and see doctors returning to work, my concern is with the patients,” he said.

NewsDay

BULAWAYO councillors recently turned down an application by Musasa Project, a non-governmental organisation which provides support services to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism by displaying women’s undergarments on the streets.

The 16 Days of Activism is an international campaign against GBV that is commemorated annually from November 25 to December 10.

The Musasa Project in its application to the BCC said displaying ladies’ panties along Leopold Takawira Avenue, Herbert Chitepo Street and Lobengula Street was to demonstrate the magnitude of rape and GBV cases in the country.

“We are requesting to display women’s laundry by lining underwear up along tall buildings in the street mentioned above in solidarity with the survivors of rape and sexual violence under the national theme on “Sexual Harassment in the Work place”.

“Each underwear will be representing the girls and women survivors of rape,” reads the letter to the BCC dated November 1 and signed by Netty Musanhu, the Musasa Project executive director.

At least 22 women are raped daily in Zimbabwe, according to official data based on cases reported to the police.

Musanhu, in the application, said the displayed undergarments would have been accompanied by messages against rape, GBV and to “encourage survivors to break the silence and seek help”.

However, latest council minutes show that city fathers turned down the proposed display on grounds that it was “a taboo, violation of societal values and principles, and an invasion of cultural norms”.

“It was, therefore, resolved that the request by Musasa Project for space at the Lobengula Street Mall to have women’s laundry undergarments displayed as part of its commemorations of 16 days of activism against GBV from 20th November, 2018 to 10th December, 2018, be not acceded to as this was considered a taboo and would be against societal norms and principles in Bulawayo,” council minutes read.

To make gender-based violence more visible, Musasa Project, in collaboration with the Netherlands Embassy, launched a campaign in Gweru, Masvingo, Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare to hang skirts on a laundry line in public.

Only Bulawayo refused permission for the display.

NewsDay

GOVERNMENT is taking advantage of fuel queues to pounce on vehicle owners who have failed to regularise their licenses, Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza has said.

Matiza told NewsDay yesterday that government would be deploying officers from the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) to flush out unregistered vehicles.

“People were given a deadline and those that complied have no reason to be scared. We are after those that have failed to regularise their licenses as required by the law. Beginning today (yesterday), we will have officers inspecting all fuel queues to check vehicle registration and related issues,” he said.

Government, according to officials, is already in the process of deregistering over 130 000 vehicles whose owners have defaulted in paying licence fees over the last two years to July this year.

Fuel shortages have triggered snaking queues across the country as motorists spend hours on end waiting for deliveries of the precious liquid. Government has, however, blamed hoarding for the shortages.

Matiza said some of the cars targeted for deregistration were being used for hoarding fuel.

“The latest move will also help us deal with those using unregistered vehicles as conduits to hoard fuel for resale on the black market,” he said.

Matiza said his ministry was working on robust implementation of the Zimbabwe Integrated Transport Management System (Zimtis).

“Technology is the way to go, and for us, it’s work in progress. The idea of having to trail every car, which at times results in anarchy, will end soon. We are working on Zimtis, and all our key departments, including from sister ministries, are working on this. Zimtis brings together key departments like the Zimbabwe National Road Administration, Road Motor Transport, the police, VID and others in an integrated system that will help us deal with all this chaos,” Matiza said.

The chaos on the country’s roads has been blamed for many fatalities caused by vehicles that are not roadworth as well as by unregistered cars and unlicensed drivers. There has also been a marked increase in the chaos following the withdrawal of traffic police in the wake of Operation Restore Legacy in November last yerar.

NewsDay

FORMER Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi has been given until December 31 to pay over $110 000 in salary arrears to over 60 of his farm workers.

Sekeramayi, who became a career Cabinet minister under former president Robert Mugabe’s iron-fisted rule, was given an order in March to pay the money to his employees at Ulva Farm in Mashonaland East.

This was after the Progressive Agriculture and Allied Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Paawuz) — the union that represents farm workers — approached the Labour Court for redress.

However, the Zanu PF politburo member ignored the court order, prompting the employees through Paawuz’s lawyers to write him a final letter of demand on December 4 to compel him to pay.

“We refer to letters dated February 5, 2018 and the hearings of March 20, 2018 and December 4, 2018 conducted at our Marondera offices at which it was ruled that you settle the claim for under/non-payment of $112 800,” reads the letter of demand.

The employees expressed regret that since the court order to pay was given to Sekeramayi, the former minister has not bothered to act accordingly.

“This letter serves as our last reminder unless payment is made on or before December 31, this ruling will be referred to the Labour Court,” they vowed.

The minister risked being held in contempt of court.

Sekeramayi was not immediately available for comment as he was not picking calls. He also did not respond to messages sent to his mobile phone.

Several other Zanu PF politicians have been dragged to court by their employees over failure to pay wages at their farms.

Court documents show that some of the bigwigs include former Public Service minister Nicholas Goche; Bindura South Zanu PF MP Remigious Matangira; former first lady Grace Mugabe’s sister Rose Chidhakwa and former Mbare legislator Tendai Savanhu. They owe their employees tens of thousands of United States dollars in unpaid wages and allowances.

The development is the clearest indication that even the elite in Zanu PF are finally feeling the pinch of economic hardships being faced by the majority of their countrymen.

Goche, who has previously held the powerful State Security portfolio, was invited to attend court proceedings on July 19, over non-payment of workers at his Ceres Chizenga Farm in Shamva.

He had gone for 15 months without paying the aggrieved farm workers, according to the documents.

— DailyNews

VICTORY World International Ministries leader Paul Sanyangore, has been asked to prove he has means to pay before he is sent to civil prison for failing to pay $12 000 owed to Viewsat Limited.

The prophet has been issued with summons of civil imprisonment over the $12 733 after he refused or neglected to honour his obligations after a deadline upon which he was supposed to have cleared the arrears lapsed.

Sanyangore has been advised to approach the High Court with his financial position to assess whether he is able to settle the debt or not.

“You should bring with you the evidence of your financial position and it will be in your own interest to give the court evidence of your income from wages, salary or other earnings and other incomes you may receive from any other source.

“The court will conduct an inquiry into your financial position and depending on the circumstances, it may not commit you to prison but instead give you further time to pay the sum due or direct you to pay it in instalments over a specified period,” the notice said.

The court advised that if he cannot meet the requirements of the summons, he should be able to justify himself to void imprisonment.

“If you fail to pay the sum specified above, you must appear before the High Court at Harare to explain why you have not paid it and to show why an order for your imprisonment should not be made on account of failure to pay. You should bring with you evidence of failure to pay.

“Unless you pay the plaintiff the sum specified above, or unless the plaintiff accepts an offer of settlement which you have made to it, you must appear before the High Court.

“If you do not do so, a writ of personal attachment may be issued against you and you may be committed to prison.”

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa says he is dismayed to discover that members of his inner circle are demanding upwards of 5 million Rands to organise one-on-one meetings between himself and would-be investors.

Ironically, Mnangagwa rose to power through a military intervention of November 2017 which was founded on the principle of removing “criminals surrounding” Robert Mugabe.

He later retained the presidency after edging MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa in the July 30 elections. Addressing a Zanu PF Central Committee meeting in Harare on Wednesday morning, Mnangagwa said the corrupt acts were extending to various ministries and government departments.

“Zimbabwe is Open for Business is an attractive mantra that has opened up the country,” Mnangagwa told delegates, adding that investors are being asked to pay huge amounts of money to have access to ministers or the president.

“They say before I take you, pay up. One person told me that he was charged 5 million rand to come see me. He was told that three quarters of the money would go to the president (and the other quarter to the fixer),”Mnangagwa added.

“So corruption, corruption, corruption, down with corruption.

Being asked to pay to see the Vice president (Constantino) Chiwenga to see (Defence minister Oppah) Muchinguri, down with corruption.” “Under our new dispensation we do not tolerate corruption,”Mnangagwa said, insisting that the economy “is now the task facing the country.”

In 2015, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote failed to invest a cent in the crisis-torn southern African nation due to allegations of bribe demands by Mugabe’s Cabinet ministers.

– Mail & Telegraph.

FORMER soccer star Olisidio Simbi, who used to play for the now defunct Premiership sides Black Aces and Rufaro Rovers, was yesterday morning found dead in Glen Norah A, Harare, with his genitals severed, according to police reports.

He was 48.

It was claimed that a passerby walking through an area near Kundai Government Primary School discovered Simbi’s body.

According to Harare Province Police spokesperson Webster Dzvova, Simbi was allegedly stabbed to death by his 19-year-old son Bazilio on Tuesday night following an altercation between the two.

“We can confirm the death of Olisidio Simbi whose body was found this morning (yesterday) at around 6:45am near Kundai Primary School in Glen Norah A.

“Simbi, who was employed by PSMAS, first had a domestic issue with his wife on Monday and she moved away to her parents’ house in Chitungwiza.

“And the following day, Simbi and his son Bazilio had an altercation over cleaning of the house and Simbi is alleged to have grabbed a kitchen knife threatening to stab his son who managed to overpower him and turned it against his father.

“After having stabbed his father on the chest, Bazilio took his body into the bedroom and covered it with blankets after mutilating his genitals before he went on to dump it near Kundai Primary School in the dead of the night.

“But during their investigations, the police managed to see some wet blankets and some blood stains in the bedroom which led the suspect (Bazilio) to confess that he was the one who killed his father before dumping his naked body near Kundai Primary School,” said Dzvova.

Simbi’s body was later ferried to Harare Central Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

Born and bred in Harare’s high-density suburb of Mbare, Simbi started his soccer career at an early age and he once played under Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe at a junior side called Mbare National in the late 1980s.

Growing up in Mbare and playing football at junior level, Simbi also rubbed shoulders with the likes of Gilbert Mushangazhike, Innocent “Mbazo” Musapenda, Garikayi Mukangairwa, Hope Chihota, Chamu Musanhu, Mike Maringa, Tichaona Diya, Ernest Masango-Chigama and Misheck Mapika who all went on to become household names in the local Premiership playing under different teams.

At senior level, Simbi had a stint at Black Aces before he was snatched by the late John Nyamasoka’s Rufaro Rovers where he played alongside fellow talented players such as Butler Masango, who was the team captain, Shingirayi Arlon, Owen Nhunhama, Vincent Chigaga, Archibald Mudavanhu and David Malunga. And Masango and popular local football personality Charles “CNN” Mabika were among the first people to offer their condolences to the Simbi family following the untimely death of the former Rufaro Rovers and Black Aces utility player.

Mabika said: “He was a dedicated player who was at home as a defensive midfielder or centreback when he turned out for both Black Aces and Rufaro Rovers. Simbi was also a gritty ball winner who hated losing and was still involved in the game as he would help youngsters in the high-density suburb of Mbare.

“I was with him a fortnight ago at Mbare’s Kingston Grounds for the Chairman’s Cup final where the legendary George ‘Mastermind’ Shaya was the guest of honour and he told me that he (Simbi) was planning to venture into coaching.

“It’s so sad that his dream was sadly cut short by his untimely death. May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.”

Masango also expressed shock over the untimely death of his former teammate at Rufaro Rovers, Simbi.

“Yes, I was his (Simbi’s) captain at Rufaro Rovers in 1995 and he was a hard working and tough-tackling young player who just loved his football. My heart is saddened by Olisidio’s untimely death and my thoughts and prayers are with the Simbi family,” Masango said from his base in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday.

Craneborne Bullets head coach Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera, who also played alongside Simbi at Black Aces in the late 1980s, described him as a talented player who could have reached greater heights.

“I remember playing alongside him at Aces and he was a good player who had so much potential. They were the guys who we expected to play in the Premier League but fortunately he managed to get a full-time job early and didn’t take his football career further.

“He was a very disciplined guy who was always punctual at training and could also play as a centre half,” said Saruchera.

Simbi is survived by his wife and three children; and funeral arrangements were still to be confirmed by late yesterday. Mourners are gathered at No. 3705 Glen Norah A.

A POSTmortem report has revealed that a Form Three pupil at Founders High School in Bulawayo who was found dead in a bush near Nketa High School was not murdered but died due to excessive alcohol consumption.

The decomposing body of Prichard Ndlovu from Nkulumane suburb was found on Tuesday afternoon after he had gone missing on Saturday.

The schoolboy’s body was found by a Nketa High School caretaker, a walking distance from his home.

He is alleged to have spent the whole day on Saturday drinking alcohol with his friends at a sports bar in Nketa 6, before being involved in a teenage gang fight at around 9PM.

Prichard’s family alleged that he was killed and his body was dumped. The boy parents are based in South Africa and he lived with his younger siblings.

Prichard’s aunt, Ms Maenni Ndlovu, yesterday said they were shocked to receive a post mortem report indicating that he died due to alcohol intoxication. Ms Ndlovu said the family received the postmortem report on Wednesday at the United Bulawayo Hospitals.

“It still doesn’t make sense to me that the post mortem report says that he died due to alcohol intoxication. We have his friends confirming that they were assaulted by another gang. His body was found with visible wounds and was swollen in some parts which the police confirmed when he was found. But to then say he died due to alcohol intoxication is very strange and confusing. We have no confidence in the released postmortem report,” said Ms Ndlovu.

She said the postmortem report exonerates alleged criminals who might have killed her nephew.

Ms Ndlovu said what worries her is that this is the second incident within two weeks in which someone was attacked, only for the post-mortem report to say the cause of death was excessive alcohol consumption.

“There is that Mpopoma incident where three suspects were released after a postmortem report revealed that the individual died due to intoxication. How does murder change to intoxication? Was due diligence done in these cases? I don’t think so,” said Ms Ndlovu.

In the Mpopoma suburb incident that occurred early this month, Farai Moyo (28) was allegedly assaulted at Patatapa Beer Hall and was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital on the following day and died hours later. Moyo’s family learnt through drunken mourners that he had been assaulted in the beer garden leading to the arrest of three suspects.

A post mortem report exonerated the trio leading to their release by the police.

Yesterday, Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango said they have closed the murder investigation in Prichard’s case.

“We’ve received a postmortem report which revealed that the victim died due to alcohol intoxication. This means we are no longer investigating any murder as per our earlier report. Our investigations in such cases are always guided by the doctors’ report. We can’t move forward to arrest individuals when the postmortem says the death was due to alcohol abuse,” she said. Chief Insp Simango urged parents and guardians to take a keen interest in the activities of their children.

She said parents should ensure that their children do not abuse drugs and beer.

“It’s sad that a young life was lost but as parents we should monitor children’s activities because whatever they get themselves into, it will come back to us as adults. It does not make a sense that a Form Three child is not at home by 9PM,” said Chief Insp Simango.

State Media

THE Minister of Energy and Power Development, Dr Joram Gumbo, has said Intratek Zimbabwe Private Limited, a company owned by flamboyant Harare businessman, Mr Wicknell Chivayo, which was paid $5 million for the Gwanda Solar project, may have been overpaid.

Speaking in an interview during a visit to the site yesterday, Dr Gumbo said his Ministry was going to submit a proposal to Government on how best the project could be implemented.

Intratek Zimbabwe Private Limited was awarded the tender in 2015 and paid $5 million by the Zimbabwe Power Company to build the 100 megawatt Gwanda solar power plant. After receiving the money without a bank guarantee, no meaningful development has taken place at the site.

“I’m here at the Gwanda solar project site on a familiarisation tour. There has been a lot of talk surrounding this project which was awarded to Intratek with a total amount of $5 million being paid to the company for pre-commencement works.

“I need to have a clear understanding of what really transpired as I understand that the matter is now before the courts. My interest is for the project to take off because one way or the other Government has to make a decision for the project to take off. I have requested a detailed report on the project from the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC). After receiving the report I will sit down with my team and come up with recommendations which we will submit to Government on the way forward,” Dr Gumbo said.

He expressed disappointment as no work has been done at the site of the project despite the $5 million payment that was made to Intratek.

Dr Gumbo said the solar project was a crucial initiative that would not only benefit the Matabeleland region but other areas as well.

He said the project had been divided into three phases and the first one was supposed to have been completed by now.

Dr Gumbo said the work that had been reportedly done at the site so far such as clearing of the land was sub standard.

“I’m told that $5 million was paid for preliminary works but I’m questioning whether it (Intratek) wasn’t overpaid. I say so because there is a similar project in Mutoko where $2,4 million was spent on a solar project and it’s already producing power. It also has proper infrastructure compared to this bush which hasn’t been properly cleared.

“This is a big project that is supposed to produce 100 megawatts. People have been waiting for this project since 2015 as it one of the biggest projects we will have in Matabeleland region. We will evaluate the project and the required time frames and come up with a plan. We want to see this project taking off,” he said.

A ZPC official on the ground who preferred anonymity said some of the works which should have been completed during the precommencement stage comprised clearing of 200 hectares of land, fencing, construction of three temporary structures, drilling of a borehole, establishment of a quarry, tarring of 2,4 kilometres of road and a water and sewer system.

He said so far half of the site had been fenced, 70 hectares of the land had been cleared and two temporary structures built.

260 hectares of land was aside for the project.

State Media

As the Zanu PF conference gets off in earnest in Esigodini today, security agents are stressing over the safety of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his top aides — as the ruling
party converges there for its annual end of year get-together, the Daily News can report.
This comes as investigations into the June 23 Bulawayo bombing — in which Mnangagwa narrowly escaped an apparent attempt on his life
when an explosion rocked a Zanu PF rally that he was addressing at White City Stadium — have seemingly hit a dead end.
That explosion killed two of Mnangagwa’s close security aides, while also injuring scores of other
people.
Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga confirmed to the Daily News yesterday that they
had put in place “very tight security” for the Zanu PF conference.
“We deployed our teams there a week ago … and we have the whole area covered,” he said, without going into details.
Well-placed sources said security agents —including police, heavily armed military personnel and intelligence operatives — were working “around the clock” in a desperate bid to avoid a repeat of the White City Stadium incident.Daily News

THE Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) of Ghana has arrested a 30-year-old Zimbabwean woman at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra for trafficking illicit drug, Ghana media have reported.

The suspect, Cynthia Lichonja, was arrested on Monday, 3 December 2018 by operatives of NACOB at KIA when she disembarked from Ethiopian Airways flight No. ET 921.

Ms Lichonja was accosted while going through arrival formalities. A search in her checked-in luggage in her presence led to the discovery of seven parcels of brownish powdery substances suspected to be narcotics concealed in false compartments of the suitcase.

The substance, when tested, proved positive for Speedball, a narcotic substance with a weight of 7.5kg.

The suspect admitted that the suitcase was given to her by one Ms Patience, her childhood friend in Zimbabwe to be sent to an unknown person in Accra, adding that Ms Patience bought her the ticket to enable her travel to Accra.

Ms Lichonja is currently on remand in prison custody while frantic efforts are being made to track down the said Ms Patience and her accomplice to whom the suitcase was to be delivered.

NACOB has admonished the public to desist from delivering parcels for, and on behalf of others, as it has been the conduit for trafficking narcotic drugs.

— Pulse

During his tenure of office, Banda allegedly influenced the process and corruptly acquired the stand measuring 3,82 hectares on behalf of Entertainment Headquarters purportedly owned by his daughter, Samantha and one Saimon Mambazo.

Banda (49), who is now MDC Alliance MP for Njube-Lobengula and Bulawayo party provincial chairperson, residing in Burnside suburb, yesterday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure facing a charge of Criminal Abuse of Duty as a Public Officer or alternatively Fraud as defined in section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

He was remanded out of custody to February 1, 2019, on $100 bail.

As part of bail conditions, Banda was ordered to reside at his given address and not interfere with State witnesses until the matter is finalised.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said between January 2014 and December 2015, Banda, during his tenure as Deputy Mayor, allegedly ganged up with unnamed accomplices who were members of a sub-committee of the Bulawayo City Council and they corruptly processed a lease agreement for stand number 187964 Bulawayo Township on behalf of Entertainment Headquarters for the construction of a social club situated between 2nd and 4th Avenue along Samuel Parirenyatwa Street.

The company, purportedly owned by Banda’s daughter and Mambazo, was not registered at the material time of the signing of the lease agreement.

The court heard that Banda corruptly used his position as Deputy Mayor to acquire the lease without going through the normal tender process.

“When Entertainment Headquarters corruptly obtained the lease it was not yet registered with the Registrar of Companies,” said Mr Dlodlo.

However, the company registered with the authorities a year later after obtaining the lease agreement.

According to Circular Number 3 of 2015, councillors, including mayors and council chairpersons, have a special facility allowing them to buy a residential stand at 40 percent discount on the purchase price but provided they would not have been previously allocated a stand.

They are also entitled to acquire a commercial stand at full costs during their tenure of office. – state media

DAYS LEFT TO RELEASE MOTLANTHE REPORT:

6 Days Left, Will Mnangagwa Release Motlanthe Report?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 12, 2018

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

The Woman Of Valour [WOV] team from Bulawayo presented groceries to Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD) founder Prophet Walter Magaya and his wife yesterday evening.

By Own Correspondent| Spokesperson for the MDC T faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe exercised her muscles at a beer joint in Greencroft Harare after she threatened to beat one of the revellers following an unspecified misunderstanding.

Masarira, who is on record accusing arch rivals within the opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa of being violent shouted unprintable words threatening to do harm to the unidentified man.

Watch the video below for this and more:

Linda arikuda kutorova munhu pabhawa Greencroft right now! @GutuObert @Mamoxn @TichRay @MakomboreroH pic.twitter.com/jcW5p9Aj1G

— Cde Jerrycan Maikoniwa (@progressivezim) December 12, 2018

Twimbos took to twitter expressing mixed sentiments over the clip.

We publish below some of the reactions to the tweet: