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

A POLICE officer from Bulawayo undergoing disciplinary action for allegedly deserting the force has been arrested with his wife and three others for running a drug cartel that reportedly sold dangerous substances to clients that include school children.

Police recovered about 5kg of dagga, 420x100ml of Adco-Salterpyn Cough Syrup and Bron Cleer Cough Syrup including about 300 Diazepam Tablets following a raid at the cop’s home on Friday.

Samuel Tambooneyi (29), his wife Pride Chaingeni (27), Chisiiwa Nyarai (20) who reside along Masotsha Avenue and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street, Allen Ngwenya (33) of Pumula South and Zibusiso Sibanda (20) of Trenance suburb were arrested following a sting operation at the Masotsha Avenue house.

The cop allegedly said he sourced the “high grade weed (dagga)” from Malawi and got the cough mixtures and tablets from a syndicate based in South Africa.

Sources who cannot be named for professional reasons said there was drama as the cop and his wife barricaded themselves in their bedroom where most of the drugs were hidden, to prevent detectives from searching the room.

“They piled furniture behind the door and refused to open it. The police officers had to call for reinforcements to break down the door. It was then that they discovered the dangerous drugs,” said the source who declined to be named.

A police source said the cop’s residence had been put under surveillance following a tip-off.

“An unusually large number of people, mostly teenagers who could be of school-going age, frequented the place. The police intercepted some of them and found drugs,” said the source.

The source said it was sad that a grown up person was destroying the future of other people’s children by selling them drugs.

“That, besides being a crime, is Satanic. This guy is a cop stationed at Bulawayo Central Police Station. He is facing disciplinary action for desertion. After this despicable act, he is likely to be further charged with acting in an unbecoming manner or in any manner prejudicial to good order that brings discredit to the police force,” said the source.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Simango could not comment on the matter.

“I can’t comment on the issue because at the moment I’m not at work. I can only receive the news when I get to the office and that could be tomorrow,” she said.

A majority of teens usually guzzle cough mixtures to get drunk quickly without spending as much money as they would to achieve the same state through taking alcohol.

A medical expert and Mpilo’s clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya is on record as strongly warning against the use of cough mixtures to get drunk.

He said: “It can kill. It can cause brain damage and kidney failure. It’s shocking that our children are taking it. It’s popular at parties in the Western world where they mix it with various drinks. This is something that we should campaign against.”

Online sources suggest Diazepam — also known as Valium — can cause death especially if it is mixed with other drugs.

It is mainly used under controlled environments to treat depression, anxiety and seizures.

However, it is widely used illegally to achieve “a nice instant high” through mixing it with alcohol and other drugs.

“Diazepam oral tablets can slow down your brain’s activity and interfere with your judgment, thinking and motor skills. You shouldn’t drink alcohol or use other drugs while you’re on Diazepam. You also shouldn’t drive, operate machinery or do other tasks that require alertness . . .” reads one source.

Prolonged use, said a medical doctor who preferred anonymity, can cause liver, bladder and kidney damage.

State Media

A form three pupil from Zvishavane who impregnated his 16-year-old sister has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for incest.

The pupil (19) (name withheld to protect the identity of his sister) appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Mr Archie Wochiunga facing charges of having sexual intercourse with a minor and having sexual intercourse within a prohibited degree of relationship (incest). He was convicted on his own plea of guilty.

In mitigation, the boy told the court that he was in a relationship with his biological sister, adding that he was madly in love with her.

“Your worship I’m sorry for what I did, I’m sorry for my actions but I’m madly in love with my sister, and I’m willing to take full responsibility for the pregnancy,” said the boy as he appealed for a lighter sentence.

Mr Wochiunga slapped the teenager with a 15-month prison term saying he had committed an abomination which deserved a stiffer sentence to deter like-minded would be offenders.

“You were supposed to protect your younger sister but you ended up sleeping with her, which is taboo and then you impregnated her. You are sentenced to 15 months in prison of which five months are suspended on condition that you don’t commit a similar crime, while the remaining 10 months are wholly suspended on condition that you complete 350 hours of community service at Zvishavane police station,” he said.

The court heard that the incestuous relationship started in July this year and on August 14, the teenager had unprotected sex with his 16-year-old sister.

The matter was discovered by the complainant’s teacher on November 14, who noticed the pregnancy leading to the teenagers’ arrest.

Mr Lloyd Mavhiza appeared for the State. – state media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has promoted 56 senior police officers with three top cops, among them, the Officer Commanding Bulawayo Province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Learn Ncube, having been elevated to the rank of Deputy Commissioner General.

The promotions are with effect from December 7. The others who were promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner General include Senior Assistant Commissioners Lorraine Chipato and Mind Elliot Ngirandi.

Prior to his promotion, Ngirandi was the Chief Staff Officer (planning and development) while Chipato who is former Officer Commanding Victoria Falls Police, was also among the 660 police officers who were elevated in August.

She was recently promoted from Assistant Commissioner to Senior Assistant Commissioner.

The trio replaces three former Deputy Police Commissioner-Generals — Innocent Matibiri, Josephine Shambare and Levi Sibanda who retired last month after reaching the compulsory age of retirement. The three newly promoted Deputy Commissioner-Generals join former head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Stephen Mutamba who was elevated to the same rank four months ago.

In a statement, ZRP national spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, said the promotions were made in terms of section 14 of the Police Act, Chapter 11.10.

“The Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police informed 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 Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has promoted senior officers with effect from December 7, 2018.

The senior police officers who were promoted to the ranks of Deputy-Commissioner-General are: Senior Assistant Commissioners Mind Elliot Ngirandi, Learn Ncube and Lorraine Chipato,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

Four Assistant Commissioners have been elevated to the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner and these are Assistant Commissioners David Mahoya, Kudakwashe Mubhemi, Chrispen Charumbira and Partson Nyabadza.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said 15 Chief Superintendents were promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioners while 34 Superintendents were elevated to Chief Superintendents.

“The promotions are in line with ZRP’s thrust of improving service delivery to the nation and the Government’s policy of attaining a middle income economy by year 2030,” said the national police spokesperson.-state media

A police officer stationed at Sauerstown Police Station in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman and forcing her to pose for nude pictures during a nine-hour ordeal.

The police officer only identified as Constable Rambi Bigboy who resides at Ross Camp Police Station met the complainant (name withheld for ethical reasons) on November 16 at a clinic in North End where they were both collecting medication for an undisclosed ailment.
Sources close to the investigation said the officer lied to the woman that he was a Central Intelligence Operative.

“At the clinic the two talked for a while before exchanging phone numbers. It is said that the constable offered to drop the complainant at her house.

“He visited her on three different occasions and would spoil her with money. On the last occasion the complainant told Const Bigboy that she wanted to leave for South Africa to seek greener pastures and that did not go down well with him.

“Bigboy got angry and demanded all the money he had spent on the complainant and she promised to bring it back a few days later,” a source said.

“On November 23, Const Bigboy found the complainant in bed with her boyfriend in an early morning visit around 5AM. He produced a baton threatening to beat the complainant before chasing her boyfriend away”.

Const Bigboy allegedly ordered the complainant not to dress up and took pictures of her naked. He later allegedly raped her several times while pinning her on the wall before leaving with her S5 cellphone at around 1PM.

“On the very same day, the complainant reported the matter at Mzilikazi Police Station and she discovered that he had given her a false name. He had said his name was Benjamin Rhemba Dube and worked as a CIO at Bulawayo State House in Sauerstown,” the source said.

For a while the police could not locate Const Bigboy as he had changed his contact numbers.

The source said: “On December 5, Constable Bigboy called the complainant demanding his money. I think complainant told him to come and get the money at her house. She quickly contacted the police and told them that Bigboy was on his way to her place.

“Upon the arrival of Constable Bigboy at the complainant’s place, the police were already there and arrested him.”

Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango said she was not aware of the matter.

“I can’t comment on the issue because at the moment I’m not at work. I will only get details of the story when I get to the office and that could be tomorrow,” she said.- state media

Terrence Mawawa|Prominent social media analyst Antony Taruvinga has said Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid to hoodwink the United States of America into believing that he is a democratic leader has hit a brick walk.

“The US is still far from ending sanctions or
providing debt relief or new credit until genuine reforms have been implemented.

Mnangagwa thought he was going to hoodwink
America, not knowing the brains of his entire
Cabinet is equal to the brains of one American
Senator,” wrote Taruvinga on Facebook.

Terrence Mawawa| JSM Strategic Pathways Managing Consultant
Joe Mutizwa, a confirmed Zanu PF sympathiser has blamed MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa for causing political polarisation which in turn has caused low investor confidence.

Matizwa made the remarks during a US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, on Thursday.

“The legal challenges against the
election results at the Constitutional
Court and the refusal by the main
opposition to accept the legitimacy of
President Emmerson Mnangagwa
has resulted in deep political
polarization which has severely dented
business confidence for both foreign
and domestic investors.

While the polarization is a reality it is also a fact that the ruling party emerged from theelection with a two thirds majority in parliament thus giving it a strong mandate to carry out the required legislative reforms particularly those needed to align existing laws to the 2013 constitution,” claimed Matizwa.

Former vice president Phelekezela Mphoko’s world is crumbling down following his fall from grace in November last year.

The diplomat could just be on the verge of losing what many consider to be a key asset in his portfolio — Choppies Enterprises.

Choppies is a retail chain whose roots can be traced as far back as 1986 in a town called Lobatse in neighbouring Botswana.

It was established in Zimbabwe in 2013 through the acquisition of Industry and Commerce deputy minister Raji Modi’s Sai Enterprises.

At the time, it boasted of being fully compliant with the country’s harsh indigenisation laws which compelled all foreign-owned companies to cede controlling stakes to black Zimbabweans.

Nanavac — a vehicle controlled by the Mphoko family had 51 percent shares in the business with the remainder owned by shareholders in Botswana.

Between 2013 and the greater part of last year, the partnership didn’t show any sign of trouble.
But following former president Robert Mugabe’s dramatic fall, the controversial indigenisation laws were scrapped except in the case of the diamond and platinum sectors where foreigners are still required to ensure local participation, which is not cosmetic.

With Mphoko still licking his wounds following Mugabe’s ouster, the foreign shareholder in Choppies now argue that the arrangement they had with Nanavac — co-owned by Mphoko and his son Siqokoqela — was just a measure to bypass the indigenisation laws.

They said the former VP only had a seven percent interest in the business even though Mphoko insists he holds 51 percent.

If Mphokos want to remain as the controlling shareholders in the business, they have been asked to put $94 million on the table.

The dispute has now turned ugly, with Mphoko fighting to retain the asset, which has more than 33 retail outlets in Zimbabwe.

Once ranked amongst the most powerful men in the country, Mphoko is holding his breath — awaiting for the High Court to rule on whether he still has shares and control over the retail chain.
In the meantime, the foreign shareholders have written a memo to local staff, instructing them not to take instructions from the Mphokos.

Mphoko’s lawyer, Welshman Ncube, confirmed to the Daily News on Sunday that Choppies Botswana’s shareholders filed a High Court application whose effect, if granted, would be to increase their interest in the business to 100 percent.
Such a move would completely cut off Mphoko and his family.

“Under the pretext of an Operational Services Agreement which is in the High Court, Choppies Botswana applied for a declaration to be the sole owner of Choppies but that letter is pending in the High Court; it has not been decided,” Ncube said.

Ncube also dismissed a memo to Choppies’ employees saying it was done without the consent of other board members and before the High Court made a ruling on the application.

“A lie was circulated to say the High Court had barred Siqokoqela from entering the shops in a bid to stop the workers from listening to any of the Mphoko directors which was not true.
“The circular is trying to enforce an order which has not yet been given and is going to be argued early next year as the High Court is closing in two weeks’ time,” Ncube said.

To add to Mphoko’s woes, his son Siqokoqela was arrested recently and was remanded in custody for allegedly violating bail conditions and harassing State witnesses.
He is facing 170 counts of fraud and theft.

Siqokoqela is being accused of hijacking the Choppies retail business and “looting” more than $50 000 worth of cash and goods from the outlets countrywide without board approval.
Siqokoqela’s father surprised many when he rose to become one of the country’s two vice presidents (VPs) in 2014, along with Emmerson Mnangagwa.

He lost his job last November following a military intervention that led to Mugabe’s resignation while at the same time catapulting Mnangagwa to the presidency.
Despite being caught up in the Choppies battle, the politician has some unfinished business with his former employer — government.

Reports indicate that Mnangagwa’s administration has refused to pay him his full benefits as a former VP on account that he did not complete his term.

Statutory Instrument 86 of 2015 states that a VP who served at least one term in office can enjoy exit packages such as a security officer, two drivers and domestic workers.
The clause has, however, created a bone of contention as it assumes that Mphoko does not qualify for the benefits since he allegedly did not complete his term.

When Mugabe was pushed out, all the Zanu PF heavyweights who were perceived to have been loyal to him, including Mphoko, were pushed out.

A number of the bigwigs are now struggling to make ends meet with former Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi having fallen on hard times as he is allegedly struggling to pay his workers at his Farm.

Sekeramayi reportedly owes $400 000 in unpaid wages and allowances to his employees.

Zimbabwe’s first National Assembly Speaker Didymus Mutasa is also struggling to make ends meet as he is failing to pay debts, including an outstanding $70 000 owed to power utility Zesa.

Mutasa is allegedly also failing to send his children to school. Daily News

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Masvingo: A Zanu PF activist has been released from prison after serving a 14 year jail sentence for the murder of an MDC official in Zaka district.
There were wild celebrations by members of his party while welcoming him from prison.

Eddie Munjanja was released from prison last week and the family, with the assistance of Zanu PF structures in Zaka, organised a lavish welcome party for him at Munjanja homestead.
Munjanja was sentenced to prison after being convicted of the cold blooded murder of Atinos Mapingure in 2002 through torture.

His accomplice, identified as Makeme, is still serving his 45 years imprisonment for the murder.
When the murder was committed, Munjanja was a Zanu PF base commander in the area.

MDC Councillor for Ward 19 Peter Imbayarwo, where the welcome party was held, said opposition supporters were now living in fear following Munjanja’s release.

He said holding a party for a convicted political violence perpetrator was disturbing as it showed the ruling party still required the services of people like Munjanja in the area.

Imbayarwo said this evoked sad memories about Zanu PF’s reign of terror in Zaka during the past few years.

The district witnessed some of the worst political violence cases at the turn of the millennium with some opposition supporters now permanently disabled when they were petrol bombed by alleged Zanu PF attackers with others tortured.
However Munjanja’s brother, Philip did not show remorse and was not moved for hosting the party adding that his younger brother was wrongly convicted for the murder.

“We had a big party at the weekend to celebrate the release of my brother Eddie, Zanu PF supported us with various goodies and they even pledged to assist my brother move on with his life.

“The murder was unfortunate, we are neighbours with the deceased’s family but we are not going to pay anything to them. We know that our brother is innocent.

“He was only taken in because he was a leader at the base,” the brother said.

Zimbabwe News

STATEMENT:Air Zimbabwe notes with great concern a false and malicious article circulating online headlined “AirZim planes are death traps?” which seeks to not only tarnish the image, cause alarm and panic to passengers but also tarnishes the good repute of the medical professionals who were on the same flight and rendered medical assistance. Air Zimbabwe therefore, wishes to give the correct account and facts as follows:

The flight in question was UM339 on 14 November 2018 and not last week as alleged by the reporter. The said flight was still on the ground when the passenger collapsed during boarding and as is standard procedure the passenger was attended to on the ground. This is contrary to the article which alleges that the plane was airborne and had to do an emergency landing. The passenger who required emergency medical attention was male and not a female passenger as the article further alleges. The passenger was attended to by a team of medical doctors and nurses who were on board the same flight and their assistance was heartily acknowledged.

The reporter, by reason of these false statements while quoting and referencing an unnamed prominent medical doctor from Bulawayo, brings the reputation and good professional standing of the medical doctors who demonstrated their unparalleled skill, compassion and commitment. The doctors and nurses assisted in every way possible working together with our flight Captain and Cabin crew until the passenger was ferried to a medical hospital by an ambulance.

In accordance with standard aviation procedure all medical emergencies which occur on the ground onboard the aircraft, the Cabin Crew notifies the flight Captain while rendering first aid and the Captain in turn alerts the local airport authorities for further Website:
www.airzimbabwe.aero

Correspondent|BEVERAGES manufacturer Delta Beverages’ Chief Executive Officer Pearson Gowero has said although government had released foreign currency to enable importation of raw materials, the company would still not be able to produce enough soft drinks ahead of the festive season.

Although many retailers have increased the prices for soft drinks, Gowero insisted that the company had not increased its wholesale prices as it was getting foreign currency from the Reserve Bank Zimbabwe (RBZ).

“But I am happy to say that I have just received confirmation here that the central bank has allocated us some money to bring in some concentrates for soft drinks. Therefore, we are working over the weekend to get them in time for Christmas,” Gowero said.

“As far as beer is concerned, we should be able to meet demand without too many problems. Soft drinks, clearly we are not able to do so. There is going to be some kind of shortage of drinks.”

The company requires at least $60 million to $100 million in foreign currency per annum to import raw materials. For beer, Gowero said they need about 35 tonnes of barley to produce over 220 million litres for the Harare lager plant, but operations have since been affected by intermittent supplies of foreign currency from the RBZ.

Gowero said forex shortages were impacting heavily on the production of soft drinks, as most of the concentrates where imported from Swaziland.

ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has effectively ended his deputy Constantino Chiwenga’s ambitions for the top post after Zanu PF structures took the unusual step of endorsing him as the ruling party’s candidate almost five years before the next election.

Zanu PF will hold its annual conference in Esigodini in Matabeleland South this week amid simmering tensions between Mnangagwa and the increasingly isolated Chiwenga.

After leading the coup that toppled former president Robert Mugabe in November last year, Chiwenga’s backers wanted Mnangagwa to serve one term and hand over the reins to the former army commander ahead of the 2023 elections.

However, that plan seems to have gone up in smoke with a strong push for Mnangagwa to run for a second term, which was started by Zanu PF youths a few weeks ago.

A senior Zanu PF official revealed that the rush to endorse Mnangagwa was linked to a plan to isolate Chiwenga and to curb his influence in the ruling party.

“In public they might want to give an impression that they are united, but a lot of things are happening in the background,” the source said.

“Mnangagwa’s backers are making sure that Chiwenga’s influence in both government and party is whittled down.

“This is why there is a rush to endorse the president as the party’s presidential candidate in 2023 only three months after the elections. This is being done to ensure Chiwenga will not have any chance.”

The Zanu PF youth league, women’s league, war veterans and the majority of the provincial structures have already endorsed Mnangagwa as the party’s presidential candidate for 2023.

The youths were the first to make the public endorsement and went on to unveil the “2023 ED Pfee” slogan to campaign for the president.

The youth league’s commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu criticised party members who were whispering in corridors that Mnangagwa would only run for one term.

Tsenengamu’s declaration and recent statements by Zanu PF youth secretary Pupurai Togarepi and secretary for administration Lewis Matutu, declaring that Mnangagwa could not be challenged, are said to have unsettled Chiwenga’s backers.

“Chiwenga’s supporters are now feeling betrayed. They think Mnangagwa would not have been president without the retired general.

“They are bitter that Chiwenga and most of those loyal to him are being sidelined by a clique close to Mnangagwa led by his relatives and allies,” the source said.

“They also think Mnangagwa has been captured and is betraying some of the agreements made when he was made leader.

“They are bitter that the security establishments are now led by people from mostly Midlands, the army and Central Intelligence Organisation, and there are plots to have one from Masvingo to take over the police force.”

According to the source, the targeting of command agriculture benefactor Kudakwashe Tagwirei was a way of dismantling Chiwenga’s support base as the businessman is believed to be his major financier.

“A lot is happening. Mnangagwa backers are not sleeping. They know Chiwenga is a real threat in the succession matrix. They would have been glad if he was removed from his position and they are busy plotting for that,” another source added.

However, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said Mnangagwa’s endorsement had nothing to do with the alleged plot against Chiwenga.

“VP Chiwenga has responded to that. It is all nonsense. It is wishful thinking. There is nothing wrong in endorsing the president now and all who want to challenge him can always stand against him ahead of 2023,” he said.

“The issue of VP Chiwenga is nonsense. It’s a democratic country, and people are free to express themselves. That was why we fought for freedom. As long as you don’t break the law, there is nothing wrong with that.”

This week’s conference will be the first without Mugabe after last year’s extraordinary congress that elected Mnangagwa as Zanu PF’s new leader.

Standard

MR Lameck Banda from Waterfalls, Harare is a shrewd and cunning businessman.

Better known as Sekuru Chitsuwi, Banda understands the basic premise of capitalism: supply and demand.

Each day, the 60 year-old wakes up at 4am and goes to nearby wetlands and swamps, and collects frogs and small tortoises.

He takes these home, cleans himself up and takes his catch to his “factory” at Machipisa Shopping Centre in Highfield. There, Sekuru Chitsuwi gets down to the task of tying colourful beads around the frogs and tortoises. He adds rubber bands, horns or chicken nails to the accessories.

And hey presto, you have yourself a “goblin”!

His major customers for these are “prophets” and self-professed witch-hunters (tsikamutanda), who spring these things on their clients and then claim to have discovered evil spirits, which they then proceed to “exorcise” — often for a pound of flesh.

Sekuru Chitsuwi says business is brisk.

“One might conclude that I am boasting but the truth is that my objects are being bought like hot cakes. Some of my clients are prominent prophets who always pay handsomely,” Sekuru Chitsuwi said.

Originally from Mozambique, he narrates how his business has given him a little infamy and some fortune.

“When I left Mozambique for this country I had nothing. Nothing. I am now a proud owner of a house in Waterfalls, several cars and my children attend expensive boarding schools,” Sekuru Chitsuwi said.

Sekuru Chitsuwi says prices of his “goblins” ranges from US$300 to US$700.

“I charge according to the object. Some of the objects need more time to work on them and I sometimes end up spending hours and even days on end working on one object. The objects must appear genuine,” he explained.

Asked if he does not feel bad that his products are used to defraud people, Sekuru Chitsuwi says that is not his concern.

“This is a business my friend. I am a manufacturer of some sort. All I do is to make these objects according to my clients’ specifications. What they will later on use the objects for is none of my business.”

Fake prophets are often in the courts for fraud.

In January, Isaac Nkalakhata from Binga was arrested after he tried to extort money from bus operators.

Armed with a live tortoise which was covered in wild animal skins, Nkalakhata approached several bus operators and extorted money from them.

He was jailed for six months.

In Bulawayo, three men were this year arrested for allegedly planting multi-coloured “charms” at a house, and then claiming to discover them. They told the home owner that the “charms” had caused the illness of a child, and demanded $7 000 as payment.

Sekuru Friday Chisanyu, the president of the Zimbabwe National Practitioners Association, says the police should clamp down on such fraud.

“These people are aiding criminals and should be brought to book. People are defrauded of thousands, if not millions, of dollars each year by the con artists. Those that are producing the fake goblins must be arrested and given deterrent jail sentences,” Sekuru Chisanyu added.

State Media

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has opened an investigation into how Lands, Agriculture, Water and Climate Permanent Secretary Mr Ringson Chitsiko handled a $250 million contract with an investor.

Zacc head of investigations Commissioner Goodson Nguni told The Sunday Mail yesterday that Mr Chitsiko may have approved a $250 million contract with Lexi Flower without following due processes.

“We are finalising an investigation into how Mr Chitsiko signed a huge contract without authority. We are keen to interview the permanent secretary in relation to the flower project deal,” said Mr Nguni.

Mr Chitsiko was not available for comment yesterday.

Meanwhile, Zacc has launched a fresh probe into Cotton Company of Zimbabwe MD Mr Pius Manamike and head of corporate services Mr Benedict Mugura over a $10,3 million deal.

The Sunday Mail understands that the Cottco bosses were summoned to Zacc offices to answer questions in relation to the deal. Mr Nguni said on October 10, 2018, Cottco engaged an Indian company to supply cotton packs without following proper procurement procedures.

Allegations are that Cottco did not source three quotations before placing the order as provided by procurement regulations.

On October 12, 2018, the Cottco bosses allegedly sourced two more quotations from other Indian companies, one of which is suspected to be linked to the company that had already won the $10,3 million order.

Cottco is yet to pay for the cotton packs. “By next week (this week), we will be done with the Cottco investigation. Apart from the US$10,3 million cotton pack deal, we are also probing the links between Mr Manamike and a company called Cotton Pro, which allegedly defrauded Cottco of $2,5 million,” said Mr Nguni.

Mr Manamike has a pending criminal case after entering an arrangement with Cotton Pro to buy 8 00 tonnes of lint on a 90-day credit facility against Statutory Instrument 150/2008 of the Exchange Control Cotton Order.

The order stipulates that all lint must be acquired by a customer through pre-financing. Efforts to get a comment from Mr Manamike were futile as he did not respond to questions sent to him.

State Media

GOVERNMENT will introduce a new line of cheaper and more effective antiretroviral drugs for HIV and Aids patients early next year.

Authorities will introduce the Dolutegravir (DTG) line, which has significantly fewer side effects and is less prone to development of drug resistance.

Around 1,2 million Zimbabweans use ARVs.

DTG has been the drug of choice for the last two years for people living with HIV in high-income countries, and is administered as a single, small tablet taken once daily.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo told The Sunday Mail that, “My ministry will be in 2019 introducing DTG-based treatment regimens to the already existing basket of first and second-line treatment options available currently.

“DTG is recognised as an effective low-cost generic formulation by the WHO; and is associated with fewer adverse effects and is less likely to result in drug resistance.

“Through the national medicines and therapeutic policy advisory committee and my ministry’s Aids and TB directorate, work on how we will be transitioning to these newer and effective medicines are now at an advanced stage with plans to start offering DTG as from May 2019.

“Our health staff will be capacitated fully to offer this service and networks and advocacy group of people living with HIV are being engaged to provide input into this process.

“The introduction of DTG-based treatment regimens is meant not to substitute, but compliment, the currently existing treatment options.”

The United States approved medical use of DTG in 2013, while it is listed on the World Health Organisation List of Essential Medicines as one of the most effective medicines needed in a public health system.

Of the nearly 1,2 million Zimbabweans on antiretroviral therapy – up from just 5 000 in 2004 – 84 percent have their viral load suppressed.

HIV incidence dropped to 0,48 percent in 2016 from 0,88 percent in 2011 owing to interventions that include condom promotion and distribution, voluntary medical male circumcision, HIV testing, prevention of mother to child transmission and social campaigns for behaviour change.

HIV prevalence remains around 14,7 percent.

This year, authorities have distributed 98 million condoms against an annual target of 106 million.

In addition, coverage of voluntary medical male circumcision has reached 84 percent against the 2018 target of 1,2 million circumcisions.

— State Media

A bogus Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) officer stormed State House and demanded to directly drop unidentified documents to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a Harare magistrate heard yesterday.

Marshall Chirombe appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa charged with impersonation.

Mugwagwa remanded Chirombe in custody to December 19 and ordered that he be examined by a psychiatrist.

Allegations are that on December 4 and at around 8pm, Chirombe drove his Toyota Wish registration AEM 0668 along Chancellor Avenue and arrived at the north boom of the State House.

He identified himself as a CIO officer to one Constable Njerere who was manning the gate and that he was in a hurry to deliver some documents to Mnangagwa.

Knowing that Mnangagwa was not at State House but at Zimbabwe House, the court heard that Njerere removed the spikes and allowed him to drive through.

The court heard that Chirombe drove through and proceeded to the State House and upon arrival at the State House Westgate, he hooted for attention.

It is alleged that one Constable Soka attended to Chirombe who proceeded to introduce himself as Brigadier General Mashall sent by Mnangagwa to collect some documents on his behalf.

The court heard that Chirombe was asked to produce his identity card and failed to do so.

It was discovered that Chirombe was not a member of either the CIO or the Zimbabwe National Army and was subsequently arrested. – Daily News

By Collin Makotore| Chiredzi West MDC- Alliance youth Wilton Nyasha Machimbira has thrown the gauntlet and vowed to salvage the ward won by Zanu-pf in Chiredzi West Constituency if by elections are to be held in light of the impending expulsion of Zanu-pf Councillors for Ward 8 and 2, Ngwenya and Nzombe for allegedly defying Zanu-pf party directive in voting for the Chiredzi Town Council Chairperson.

Chiredzi Town Council is MDC- Alliance led although Zanu pf has a majority of Councillors, it is dominated by youthful faces who won in the just ended July 2018 General Elections.Both Zanu-pf and MDC-Alliance had youthful condidates and from the look of things youthful candidates are being embraced by the electorate.

Wilton Nyasha Machimbira hinted that if the MDC-Alliance is to put its house in order chances are high that the party will bag the wards to the big tent.Machimbira also said that he will not hesitate to represent the MDC-Alliance in ward two if the by-election are to be held within 90 days after being pronounced vacant.

“People want representation and that is what I will do if called upon by the people to do so.The tragedy of the day is that controversial figures are in some instances imposed on the electorate to stand as Councillors of which ward politics is quite different since people look at the attributes of the candidate.So it’s imperative for political parties, the MDC Alliance in particular to come up with a candidate without a questionable past, a candidate with the energy, stamina and political acumen to woo the electorate” Machimbira said.

Asked to comment on the political upheavals in Chiredzi West which saw MDC-Alliance party cadres contesting as indipendent candidates Machimbira said divergent point of views are part and parcel of politics but how they are managed is what matters and you also need to understand that politics is the game of numbers so if the MDC-Alliance leadership is serious about having the numbers on its side, they should let bygones be bygones and unite the people but the problem is paita mabhuru arikutungira panze dzimwe mombe and that has to be examined and dealt with once and for all.

A political scientist Machimbira implored the MDC-Alliance to issue what he called a moratorium, a blanket amnesty with regards to Chiredzi West party members who participated in 2018 July elections as independent candidates.”In as much as democracy and discipline work in tandem, we should not sacrifice the numbers which happen to be the currency of politics” Machimbira said.

With regards to what he will do Machimbira said he will institute all stakeholder engagement forums such that residents will be part and parcel of local governance.

Zanu-pf won most wards in Chiredzi West as a result of double candidacy and debilitating infighting from the MDC-Alliance.Once bitten, twice shy, the MDC- Alliance is expected to go back to the drawing board and rectify the July 31 election anomalies, a post moterm will do to achieve the good results.

FORMER Finance minister Tendai Biti has called on Parliament to rein in new Treasury chief Mthuli Ncube for not prioritising debate on the 2019 Budget instead prioritising foreign travel.

Describing the action as “disrespect,” Biti, who is also the opposition MDC deputy national chairperson, hit out at Ncube at the start of Thursday’s debates in the National Assembly which focused on the 2019 National Budget.

The Harare East MDC MP said the minister should have at least sent in representatives to take notes on his behalf if he was not contemptuous of Parliament.

“I am concerned that the minister of Finance and Economic Development has taken leave off the country during the week that Parliament is debating the country’s most important fiscal instrument — the budget,” Biti — who was given the floor on a point of privilege — complained.

Acting National Assembly Speaker William Mutomba explained that Ncube sought leave of the House and had sent in his apologies. He said Ncube was away in the US on government business.

Mutomba said Parliament had noted Biti’s concerns and also explained that Ncube had indeed sent in representatives from the ministry.

“We have taken note of your point of order but could I just shed light on some of the MPs who are not aware that the minister actually is in New York at the moment and he has sent his apologies but, we do have in the House officers from the ministry of Finance and Economic Development who are taking notes,” Mutomba said.

Biti shot back saying “there are no officials from the ministry of Finance and Economic Development, they are not there.”

After being called out, Mutomba suggested that the officials had been delayed by the rains that pounded the capital city that afternoon and claimed they were on their way.

“It is just my hope that they have been delayed because of this rainfall. I believe that they are coming but, the position is that everything is being recorded in the Hansard but I will keep note of your concern,” Mutomba assured Biti.

Biti had also accused Cabinet ministers of disrespecting MPs by not turning up for parliamentary business.

“This is disrespect, utter contempt and utter abuse of this august House. It is the first time in the history of the country that a minister of Finance and Economic Development takes leave of absence when the budget is being debated.

“It is not acceptable, it is not good enough and we as Parliament must reject that,” Biti fumed.

— DailyNews

Thirty-five MPs from the eighth Parliament who failed the House’s audit of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) will be denied access to the same in this session’s CDF allocation, Parliament announced on Tuesday.

The country’s Legislature undertook to embark on an exercise to audit the CDF in a development that was hailed as one of the most progressive actions by the august House in years.

Acting National Assembly Speaker William Mutomba announced that 35 legislators were ineligible to apply for the 2018 CDF.

“To date, only 62 out of 97 MPs who retained their seats have so far submitted or partially submitted their returns and consequently, all who have not submitted their returns will not access funding for 2018 until they comply with provisions of the CDF constitution and the accounting officers’ manual,” Mutomba said.

He announced that for those who have complied with the CDF provisions, their allocation for 2018 is now ready for disbursement.

In terms of Article 14 of the CDF constitution as read together with Article 18 of the Accounting Officers’ manual, the Constituency Development Committees are
required to submit their returns to Parliament on a quarterly basis.

It provides that no new applications for fresh CDF disbursements would be considered before the completion of the audit of funds released for the eighth Parliament, an exercise which was expected to be completed around July.

Mutomba did not, however, disclose the names of the concerned legislators.

The decision to audit the funds was viewed by many as signalling seriousness towards achieving accountability — for long one of the biggest handicaps inherent in State institutions.

The fund was first introduced by former Finance minister Tendai Biti in 2010 during the tenure of the stability-inducing inclusive government when former president Robert Mugabe entered into a unity government with his long-time foe, the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai between 2009 and 2013.

A year after CDF was unveiled; it collapsed due to budgetary constraints and the absence of a legal framework to govern it.

A number of MPs had been accused of abusing the fund, which was meant for the express development of the constituencies they represented in Parliament.

Ironically, Zimbabweans are reeling under the weight of several challenges among them fuel and cash shortages, poor road network and other communication infrastructure, shortages of drugs in health facilities and a struggling education sector, areas which need urgent injection of funds to breathe life into them.

At some point last year, even nonconstituency MPs applied to get access to the fund in a curious development that smacked of greed.

— Daily News

Firebrand politician and MDC-A principal Tendai Biti has dumped confrontational politics and asserted that engagement and political dialogue between the MDC-A and ZANU PF is the only panacea to the current economic meltdown that  the country is currently experiencing.

Speaking in a wide ranging interview with the  Mail and Telegraph, Biti said dialogue should be centred on issues to do with legitimacy and reform agenda, among others.

“Firstly let us agree on what we are going to discuss. Number one, we should discuss onthe issue of legitimacy. We have also to discuss the issues to do with structural reform agenda specifically focusing on electoral reform, legal reform, constitutional reform specifically focusing on state capture and militarisation of the state,” he said.

He also said the dialogue will also  have to centre on the current economic gangrene.

“We have to discuss the economy especially on how do we deal with macroeconomic stability and fiscal consolidation. We also have to discuss how we deal with the issue of huge structural reforms that are required like public service reform,” said the former finance minister.

Biti suggested that the country has to adopt the Rand Monetary Union in order to escape the financial mess, but warned that there will be serious abuse if Zanu PF introduces it alone.

“The current financial mess is a dog’s breakfast, one which my dogs will not touch because it’s a disaster. We have to demonetise the bond note, join the Rand Monetary Union. I will also have to say that ZANU PF can introduce the Rand Monetary Union but if  left on their own, they will bastardise that currency the way they bastardised the Zimbabwean dollar and the US dollar.

We are the first country that have bastardised the US dollar so Zanu on its own cannot do these things. We also have to resolve the challenges of gross capital formation. The challenges on infrastructural development especially on the state of our roads,” he added.

-Mail and Telegraph

Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) youth assembly has reportedly vowed to thwart the alleged plan by the country’s war veterans to have a constitutional amendment to revise the minimum age of any aspiring president to 52.

According to Daily News, the influential Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association has proposed that parliament raise the minimum age for presidential aspirants from 40-years to 52 ahead of the ruling Zanu-PF conference next week.

The motion is widely seen as targeted at the MDC presidential candidate in the just ended election in which Nelson Chamisa, 40, narrowly lost against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The planned constitutional amendment would likely prevent Chamisa from contesting for power in the country’s next election in 2023.

War veteran secretary Victor Matemadanda said the 1970s freedom fighters are calling on the ruling Zanu-PF party, which hold a two-thirds majority in parliament, to push for the constitutional amendment.

But, according to New Zimbabwe, the MDC youth have vowed to resist such a move.

MDC youth leader, Takunda Madzana warned the former liberation fighters that the country does not belong to them.

Madzana also said the MDC youth would not sit around and watch the country being turned into an “old age home”.

“So they (war veterans) should be warned and they should know that we will do anything as the youths for this country and Matabeleland to make sure that we defend our country. We cannot watch whilst some people are trying to turn this country into a people’s old age home,” Madzana was quoted as saying.

News 24

Correspondent|TEARS welled up Psychology Maziwisa’s eyes and he tried hard to stop them rolling down his cheeks as relatives took turns to comfort him after he was sentenced to six and half years imprisonment.

For his part, Co-accused Oscar Pambuka appeared expressionless and unusually calm as his own sentence was passed.

The two were accused of fleecing ZPC of about $12,000, while pretending to be carrying out public relations work through ZBC on behalf of the power utility.

Court heard that, Maziwisa and Pambuka would bill ZPC each time news broadcasts on ZBC’s platforms referenced the power utility, claiming they were responsible for the publicity.

Magistrate Ncube ruled that the State proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“It is surprising that one would claim money claiming that they caused the broadcasting of news articles,” the judge said Thursday.

“The accused have not shown the court that they had any agreement with ZBC.

“It is also not in dispute that they approached ZPC armed with a letter from the ex-minister Samuel Undenge authorising that they be paid.”

The judge added; “What this court has to determine is if the accused made any misrepresentations or not.

“The court’s findings are that ZPC was not supposed to be billed. The second accused (Pambuka) was not entitled to claim any money as he was already being paid by ZBC.

“This court’s view is that the State has managed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.”

During trial, Maziwisa and Pambuka insisted that they indeed carried out work for ZPC in line with government’s ZimAsset programme.

However, ZBC employees who testified against them told court that Pambuka – a news presenter – only read bulletins produced by reporters.

ZPC lost $12,000 paying the two through their company, Fruitful communications.
Prosecutor Michael Reza also proved that the power utility could have lost another $36,000 if investigations into their project had not started.

Court heard that two managed to defraud ZPC by hiding behind ex-minister Undenge’s name.

Undenge was convicted over the same case and sentenced to four years imprisonment. He is currently out of custody on bail pending appeal.

Oscar Pambuka and ex-Zanu PF legislator Psychology Maziwisa will challenge that the High Court their conviction and sentence for fleecing power utility the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC).

Defence lawyer Jonathan Samkange told Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube Thursday that his clients would seek “bail pending appeal at the High Court”.

“I believe there are prospects of success on both counts,” Samkange said after his clients were sentenced.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Ambassador Nicholas Kitikiti as the Deputy Chief Secretary for Policy Analysis, Development Planning and Co-ordination in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

Ambassador Kitikiti is an economist with a wealth of experience in macro-economic analysis, policy development and implementation management.

In a statement yesterday, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, said the appointment, made in terms of Section 205 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013, is with immediate effect. “His Excellency the President has, in terms of Section 205 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013, appointed Ambassador Nicholas Kitikiti as the Deputy Chief Secretary for Policy Analysis, Development Planning and Co-ordination in the Office of the President and Cabinet,” said Dr Sibanda.

Ambassador Kitikiti has served Government in Trade, Mining, Energy and Foreign Affairs. He also represented Zimbabwe at multilateral institutions including Sadc, Comesa, UNDP, ECOSOC and UNCTAD.

“Ambassador Kitikiti brings vast private sector experience, national vision and national economic development plans. The Office of the President and Cabinet welcomes him into its fold from his latest assignment in the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey,” said Dr Sibanda.

The President has also appointed Mr Jacob Charles Wekwete as head of the e-Government Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

Mr Wekwete brings a wealth of training, technical competence and practical experience in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector. He holds qualifications in ICT and Business Administration and has also served in the Ministry of Defence and the Office of the President and Cabinet as well as in various private sector institutions.

“Mr Wekwete has been instrumental in the development and rolling out of the national e-Government Agenda and the establishment of Special Economic Zones in Zimbabwe. Over the years, he participated in several international committees on ICTs including the International Communications Union (ICU),”said Dr Sibanda.

Mr Wekwete, who is the chairperson of Africom (Pvt) Ltd, is set to vacate his post to lead the development of a comprehensive e-Government programme spanning a wide range of public sector institutions in the country.

“The Office of the President and Cabinet welcomes Mr Wekwete and wishes him well in discharging this huge national responsibility,” said Dr Sibanda.

-State Media

Correspondent|THE Ministry of Energy and Power Development on Thursday moved swiftly and blocked a venture by a local delivery company Fresh in a Box which had partnered with a fuel entity Heavy Fuels in delivering fuel to homes, leading to ZANU-PF activist Acie Lumumba to retort: “We’re being led by insane people!”

Founded by Kuda Musasiwa, Fresh in a Box had announced that from Friday they will be delivering fuel at pump price with delivery and logistics charge of $5-$15 to pensioners, critical care workers, pregnant women and people with disability. 20 litres was being sold for $30.

The Ministry of Energy on Thursday issued a statement saying, “Section 29 of the Petroleum Act states that no one shall retail petroleum products without a ZERA license. EMA Act Chapter 20:27 & SI 12, 2007 requires anyone wishing to transport hazardous to have a Permit from EMA.”

In light of the statement Fresh in a Box issued a statement saying they were stopping the door to door delivery facility.

“To avoid faulting any Zimbabwean law and ZERA regulations , we will not be delivering fuel to your home. We will deliver coupons that you can redeem at your convenience at Heavy Fuels (Zimbabwes First EGarage). NO long waits for our vulnerable customers,” Kuda Musasiwa the leader of Fresh in a Box said.

Wrote Lumumba on Twitter:
“Decided to spend my Friday helping out Kuda Musasiwa with emergency fuel delivery. First delivery was to Nomathemba Primrose Ndebele. Order your fuel at http://www.20litres.com”

Acie Lumumba, who had gone around homes with Kuda Musasiwa delivering fuel, said: “Inini I think nyika ino tiri kutongwa nemapenzi (we’re being led by insane people).”