By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC Alliance Masvingo province has endorsed party president Nelson Chamisa as its presidential candidate for the 2023 harmonised polls.

This comes after ZANU PF provinces have unanimously endorsed President Mnangagwa as the party’s candidate for the 2023 polls.

War veterans recently called on Parliament to amend the Constitution so that in future elections presidential candidates should have attained the age of 52 years. This was interpreted as a move to block Chamisa from contesting future polls.

However, the MDC Alliance appears to be unfazed by those threats.

According to the Mail and Telegraph, MDC provincial secretary for information and publicity Dusty Zivhave said:

“As a province, we have resolved to recommend that President Chamisa will be our sole candidate for the 2019 Congress and beyond.

We will not negate the voices of over 2 million Zimbabweans who put their trust in our president. In consultation with all the 26 districts, we unanimously agreed that we are in total support and we will rally behind our president Chamisa.

We have a lot of reactionary elements in Zanu PF who want to amend the constitution to block our president. That will never happen on our watch and we will show Zanu PF that the country is not their private entity which they can do anything with as they please.

Chamisa will be our candidate for the 2023 elections and the decision to amend the constitution is merely wishful thinking. We cannot support that and we will get into the streets if they push for that amendment. That idea will never be bought even within Zanu PF.”

Children, as young as 12 years in Bulawayo are smuggling drugs such as marijuana into school and smoke it during break time to get high, a senior government official has revealed.

The children allegedly stuff marijuana, popularly referred to as mbanje, in their school ties, enter the school premises undetected and smoke it during break time.

This was revealed by Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan province, Judith Ncube, speaking about the scourge of corruption that has negatively affected communities during a United Nations Anti-Corruption Day commemoration hosted by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex Monday.

Ncube said she attended a meeting in the city last Friday where schoolchildren gave descriptive tales about their encounters with drugs.

She attributed such acts to the corruptive nature of society, which had resulted in these destructive behaviours.

“I am touched when we talk about corruption because that has affected the whole society of Zimbabwe…,” the minister said.

“Children as young as 12 years, are now a part of this cancer. One child described to us how they carry marijuana to school. They stuff the marijuana into their school ties and the children will be looking smart. Come break time they smoke some of it and go back to class, still looking smart but the teacher will realise a change in their behaviour.

“When the teacher confronts the child, the learner does not see the teacher but instead sees a chick (sic) because they will be high and respond back as if they are shrugging off a chick. In turn, the teacher just lets the child be. Yet you as a parent continue paying fees for the child who is no longer learning or receiving educational assistance.”

The minister said most people tend to focus on corrupt activities within government and ignore corrupt activities within their own home.

“Some of us make maputi, buns and freezits to sell and children told us when you sell these to them you add drugs. You add drugs in the maputi, inside the buns and in the freezits. This is aimed at destroying the nation of Zimbabwe.”

“There will come a time when a generation gap will happen unless and until we all put our heads together. One other child was telling us a well-treated drug consists of battery water, fertiliser and rat killer. What does it tell us as parents as a nation of Zimbabwe, as Bulawayo? We can’t sit back and do nothing, possibly there is someone who is involved in corrupt activities and profiting from such strategies that cause destruction among children,” she warned.

Ncube said corruption is a threat to the Sustainable Development Goals, which culminated in the 2018 theme: United against Corruption.

“This event is a symbol of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s commitment to zero tolerance to corruption. It shows commitment from the government to fight against corruption in order to assist all sectors to pursuit developmental success. Poor governance has entrenched the system of corruption, which remains a major challenge for sustainable development,” she noted.

The United Nations Anti-Corruption Day belated commemoration coincided with the opening of a ZACC Bulawayo office at Mhlahlandlela to be manned by two investigators and the unveiling of a Clients Service Charter.
ZACC Deputy Chairperson, Dr Nanette Silukhuni, said the unveiling of the Client Services Charter clearly set out the service standards.

“The rights of the clients include: right to protection whenever you report a case, lodge without fear and the right to access information and have privacy. In the same vein there are certain obligations expected from clients. Refrain from offering gifts or other favours to ZACC staff it’s a sin. The ZACC staff are well paid and don’t need your bribes,” she said, adding nearly 400 cases had been reported for this year, up from 294 in 2017

Dr Silukhuni highlighted that the international anti-corruption day, commemorated on December 9 each year, marks 15 years since the United Nations convention against Corruption (UNCAC) was adopted making it the largest international anti-corruption treaty with nearly 186 country signatories to date.

The event was also attended by the National Prosecuting Authority, academia, civic society business community, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Correctional Prison Services who gave solidarity speeches against corruption.

CITE

Terrence Mawawa|The MDC A has castigated the Emmerson Mnangagwa led government for blowing $2 million on posh vehicles at a time the nation is grappling with biting economic challenges.

Below is the MDC A statement:
The Zanu PF government has continued to prove its insatiable hunger for cars with a reckless splashing of millions of dollars on top of the range vehicles for
Ministers.

Before the election they spent millions on cars for traditional leaders in a self-preservation exercise.

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

While they are spending millions on cars, the budget deficit continues to balloon exposing the rhetoric on
expenditure retrenchment.

Presently, there are more pressing issues.The pharmaceutical sector, for instance, has announced that only a month’s supply of drugs
remains. A caring government could have, at least, channeled resources towards drugs procurement.

There is a crippling cholera outbreak and a doctor’s strike, part of which is a result of promises that were not honoured.

Cars are therefore more important than the lives of the citizens.
They now preside over a vampire state which devours its own people. They pursue a narrow agenda of self-aggrandizement which is why they
were rejected by the people of Zimbabwe.
It is time to end a rule of scoundrels and gangsters who use the state as an arena of personal enrichment.
Behold the New. Change that Delivers!
Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

Terrence Mawawa|MDC A official Jeffryson Chitando has challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ilk to concentrate on addressing the economic woes instead of besieging Nelson Chamisa.

See below Chitando’ s argument:
The election thiefs are merry making and drinking the
most expensive wines and imported whiskey at a time the Zimbabwean economy is on a free fall.On
the agenda it’s more about slogans “Pasi naChamisa! Pasi nemhanduuuuui!”Zimbabweans be
assured nothing will come out of this
gathering.After the Congress/Conference,Zimba
bweans will have to grapple with the economic quagmire.Fuel queues continue to increase on a daily basis.Basic commodities will not be on the shelves.

Own Correspondent|HARARE Magistrate Gloria Takundwa on Tuesday said she will approach the High Court to seek guidance on how to handle trial proceedings for human rights lawyer Tendai Biti after it emerged that a member of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had allegedly tried to interfere with trial proceedings.

Biti’s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights told Magistrate Takundwa that she had been made aware of a message sent by Michael Reza of the NPA, who was removed as lead prosecutor last month after the court found him unsuitable to prosecute the MDC Alliance Vice-Chairperson ostensibly to Thabani Mpofu, the head of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet, criticising the Magistrate’s ruling allowing media practitioners to live stream trial proceedings.

It has since emerged that Reza instead mistakenly sent the message to MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu instead of Mpofu his colleague at the NPA.

The message which was shown in court reads; “Cde Mpofu, it’s Reza, how are you. Another strange ruling by the magistrate trying Tendai Biti. They applied for live streaming of the case, with cameras and journalists in court and proceedings beamed all over the world. She has just agreed to that without authority of her boss the Chief Justice. She is either very brave or very stupid or both kkkkkk.”

Mtetwa charged that Reza’s conduct and message is contemptuous of the ongoing court proceedings and should be investigated by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers and also insinuates that judicial officers lack independence as they should consult the Chief Justice before passing any decisions.

The State represented by Jonathan Murombedzi of the NPA told Magistrate Takundwa that an enquiry should be set up to ascertain if it was Reza who indeed sent the message intended for Mpofu and determine whether it was contemptuous.

Magistrate Takundwa then postponed Biti’s trial to 21 January 2019 to allow herself to get guidance from the High Court.

Meanwhile, Mtetwa asked the court to relax Biti’s bail conditions so that he retrieves his passport, which is being held by the Clerk of Court at Harare Magistrates Court.

Biti, who is on trial on charges of contravening section 66A(1)(a) and 66A(1)(b) of the Electoral Act was arrested on 8 August 2018 after he allegedly unlawfully and unofficially announced the 30 July 2018 presidential election results. He pleaded not guilty to the charges when his trial commenced on Monday 10 December 2018.

Terrence Mawawa|A traditional leader in Matabeleland has written a petition to Amnesty International for protection after state security agents were allegedly assigned to trail him.

Chief Vezi Maduna Mafu of Avoca, Filabusi, has often spoken out against the Gukurahundi atrocities and has been at the forefront in
demanding restitution for the affected people.
The 1980s Gukurahundi massacres mostly affected people of Ndebele ethnic origin in the Matabeleland and Midlands Provinces after the
government sent soldiers to put down the dissident menace.

“I, Chief Vezi Maduna Mafu as an
elderly Chief of Avoca, Filabusi
Communal Lands in Zimbabwe recently torched the hornet’s nest when I petitioned the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe over the Ndebele people genocide that was perpetrated by the government under the operation Gukurahundi between 1981 and 1987 using a special North Korean trained notorious military crack force called the Fifth Brigade,” read part of the petition.

Eight Zimbabweans comprising 4 adults and 4 children are reported to have died in an accident in South Africa that occurred Saturday morning.

The South African Department of Roads and Transport has confirmed the incident which took place between Bloemfontein and Edenburg.

Four children and 4 adults were killed in the accident. Although details are still sketchy, a spokesperson for the Free State Mec’s Office Hillary Mophethe told the ZBC News that the driver was airlifted to the nearest hospital for treatment.

More details will follow as they emerge.

ZBC News on line

Own Correspondent|A new civil society grouping which has suspicions of being linked to the ruling ZANU PF, today stormed parliament demanding for the Speaker of Parliament to unleash a whip on opposition MDC Parliamentarians who are refusing to recognise ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa as the legitimate President of the country.

Operating under the banner Civil Society and Churches Convention, the group recently brewed a major storm when it convened a “people’s indaba” at the HICC where the leaders took turns to castigate opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and other civil society organisations outside their cluster claiming that they were responsible for the social and economic collapse of the country.

Led by activists Lynette Mudehwe, Anglistone Sibanda and Abigail Mwampamba, the group attracted displeasure from the HICC convention when it attempted to get Zimbabweans to embrace the unpopular two cents tax imposed by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube recently.

Messages on the banners at the parliament impromptu demonstration demanded for Advocate Jacob Mudenda to stop treating alleged truant parliamentarians with kid gloves.

Opposition parliamentraians last month refused to recognise Mnangagwa as President of the country when he entered parliament resulting in them being kicked out of Parliament.

At the opening of Parliament the opposition MPs also walked out of Parliament when Mnangagwa started addressing the house.

See pictures below:

By Own Correspondent| Teachers protesting in the Salary Caravan have so far walked 50 kilometers of their journey amid indications that they will reach Harare on December 19 2018.

School teachers recently resolved to march from Mutare to Harare, a distance of 275km in protest to demand their salaries in United States dollars.

The teachers will camp at the Ministry of Finance offices until their demands are met.

Amalgamated Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure said:

“We left Mutare at 1000 hours with 102 teachers but about 95 managed to complete the first and second laps of our journey.

We however, remains optimistic that we will complete the march within the planned time and will reach Harare by December 19. We will be camping on or close to business centres for the sake of our security.”

“She has just agreed to that without authority of her boss the Chief Justice. She is either very brave or very stupid, or both, kkkkk.”

VIDEO LOADING BELOW:

By A Correspondent| Below is the message sent by prosecutor Michael Reza to another prosecutor in which the latter said the sitting magistrate in MDC Deputy Chairperson and Harare East legislator, Tendai Biti’s case is either brave or very stupid. It reads in full:

“Cde Mpofu,its Reza,how are you. Another strange ruling by the magistrate trying Tendai Biti. They applied for live streaming of the case,with cameras and journalists in court and proceedings beamed all over the world. She has just agreed to that without authority of her boss the Chief Justice. She is either very brave or very stupid, or both, kkkkk.”

This message was presented in court by Biti’s defence lawyer as she reported Mr Reza for contempt of court. Meanwhile Biti today applied for exception of charges indicating that the current charges he was facing did not constitute a criminal offence.

Appearing before Harare Magistrate, Gloria Takundwa through his lawyer Beatrice Mthetwa from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Biti said there was no criminal offence in his announcement that Nelson Chamisa had won the Presidential elections as he had done so using information that was already in the public domain.

During the hearing, his lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa applied for an investigation of the chief prosecutor, Mr Michael Reza who sent a message saying that Harare magistrate Mtwandwa was stupid to allow LIVE streaming of the trial.

Biti was arrested at the Zambian border post after he tried to cross into the neighbouring country to seek asylum claiming he was running away from persecution by the state security.

Meanwhile, the magistrate granted an application made by his lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa for the proceedings to be live streamed by accredited media houses. The trial is expected to run for the rest of this week.

By Own Correspondent| Civil society organisations and churches have stormed  the Parliament of Zimbabwe and petitioned the Speaker, Advocate Jacob Mudenda to punish rowdy legislators who are taking parliament business for granted.

The organisations accuse the members of parliament of taking the electorate for granted and not deliberating national issues ahead of their partisan politics.

This is a developing story. More details to follow…..

Refresh this page for updates.

By Own Correspondent| A professor of World Politics at the London School of Oriental and African Studies, Stephen Chan has said Zanu Pf must convene a conference of economic leaders arguing that its leaders must sacrifice many of its own economic interests.

Said Chan:

“The leadership must agree to sacrifice many of its own economic interests. I do not see this happening at this moment in time.

In any case, what is needed is not a conference of political leaders, but a conference of economic leaders, i.e. the minister of Finance and governor of the central bank in direct negotiations with the seniority of the IMF.”- DailyNews

By Own Correspondent| The Zanu Pf annual people’s conference opened in Esigodini yesterday amid reports that Mnangagwa will use the conference to cement a Stalin-like grip of his party position for him to contest in the 2023 elections when he will be 81 years old.

There are concerns that such a move will make the country a gerontocracy.

Former President Mugabe was overthrown in a soft military coup in November 2017 at the age of 93.

Political analyst Ibbo Mandaza says that nothing tangible will come out of the ZANU PF Indaba.

He said:

“Nothing will come out from that meeting. Those are annual rituals”.

Another analyst who spoke to the Daily News, Rashweat Mukundu, said:

“… the conference will simply substitute the name of former president Robert Mugabe for that of ED and the rest will be the same.”

Dewa Mavhinga bemoaned ZANU PF’s obsession with elections.

He had his to say:

“Let’s not focus on elections, let’s focus on improving the lives of Zimbabweans. Instead of talking about the endorsement of a presidential candidate when you are barely a few months from the elections, Zanu should focus on how to solve the multiplicity of problems that the country is facing.

They must not focus on internal issues. Zanu PF should not be a party for itself it must be a party to serve Zimbabweans. If there is anything called new dispensation it must come from the way they do business, it must be business unusual, not business as usual. They must focus on things that matter not positions.”-DailyNews

By Own Correspondent| Chief prosecutor Michael Reza allegedly sent a text message to another prosecutor, Thabani Mpofu, denigrating the magistrate presiding over Tendai Biti’s case.

Reza labelled magistrate Gloria Takundwa stupid for allowing journalists to live stream the court proceedings without the Chief Justice’s approval.

The text which was shown in court today read as follows:

“Cde Mpofu. It’s Reza, how are you? Another strange ruling by the magistrate trying Tendai Biti. They applied for live streaming of the case, with cameras and journalists in court and proceedings beamed all over the world. She has just agreed to that without authority of her boss the Chief Justice. She is either very brave or very stupid or both kkkkkk.”

Biti’s lawyers have since applied for Chief prosecutor Michael Reza to be held in contempt of court.

Magistrate Gloria Takundwa has referred the matter to the High Court for guidance.

By Own Correspondent| MDC deputy chairperson and Member of Parliament for Harare East Constituency Tendai Biti has demanded that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) produce a server to the court to prove that what he said was false.

Biti is being charged for allegedly announcing false presidential election results soon after the July 30 poll.

Biti allegedly said, “we have now received from our agents across the country results of the 2018 elections, results show beyond reasonable doubt that we have won this election and that the next President of Zimbabwe is Advocate Nelson Chamisa”.

The statement has formed the basis of the State’s case against him.

Biti’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa said:

“It would be a gross violation of the accused’s right to a fair hearing to deny him access to a server held by Zec for and on behalf of the electorate.

The server will speak to what information was posted at each polling station and each constituency with regards to presidential elections.”-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Motlanthe Commissioner Lovemore Madhuku has said that he agreed to join the Commission so that people can hold on to the positive changes brought about by the so-called ‘New Dispensation’.

He likened himself to South African liberation icon Nelson Mandela who reconciled with whites after his release from a 27-year jail term.

Said Madhuku:

“Yes, I know they would be elements in the new dispensation that are of the old order, but they are a new thing and we have to move and hold on to advantages that come with this.

I can also give you an example of Mandela, 27 years in prison under that apartheid regime, but he still came out to work with the once oppressors.

I have colleagues, who kept reminding me when I was in the commission; hours and hours ‘you were beaten’. Yes, we were beaten and so on. Up to this day, I don’t understand why I should not have been in the commission that seeks to ensure we end such acts.”-Newsday

“She has just agreed to that without authority of her boss the Chief Justice. She is either very brave or very stupid, or both, kkkkk.”

VIDEO LOADING BELOW:

By A Correspondent| Below is the message sent by prosecutor Michael Reza to another prosecutor in which the latter said the sitting magistrate in MDC Deputy Chairperson and Harare East legislator, Tendai Biti’s case is either brave or very stupid. It reads in full:

“Cde Mpofu,its Reza,how are you. Another strange ruling by the magistrate trying Tendai Biti. They applied for live streaming of the case,with cameras and journalists in court and proceedings beamed all over the world. She has just agreed to that without authority of her boss the Chief Justice. She is either very brave or very stupid, or both, kkkkk.”

This message was presented in court by Biti’s defence lawyer as she reported Mr Reza for contempt of court. Meanwhile Biti today applied for exception of charges indicating that the current charges he was facing did not constitute a criminal offence.

Appearing before Harare Magistrate, Gloria Takundwa through his lawyer Beatrice Mthetwa from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Biti said there was no criminal offence in his announcement that Nelson Chamisa had won the Presidential elections as he had done so using information that was already in the public domain.

During the hearing, his lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa applied for an investigation of the chief prosecutor, Mr Michael Reza who sent a message saying that Harare magistrate Mtwandwa was stupid to allow LIVE streaming of the trial.

Biti was arrested at the Zambian border post after he tried to cross into the neighbouring country to seek asylum claiming he was running away from persecution by the state security.

Meanwhile, the magistrate granted an application made by his lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa for the proceedings to be live streamed by accredited media houses. The trial is expected to run for the rest of this week.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW:

By A Correspondent| Below is the message sent by prosecutor Michael Reza to another prosecutor in which the latter said the sitting magistrate in MDC Deputy Chairperson and Harare East legislator, Tendai Biti’s case is either brave or very stupid. It reads in full:

“Cde Mpofu,its Reza,how are you. Another strange ruling by the magistrate trying Tendai Biti. They applied for live streaming of the case,with cameras and journalists in court and proceedings beamed all over the world. She has just agreed to that without authority of her boss the Chief Justice. She is either very brave or very stupid, or both, kkkkk.”

This message was presented in court by Biti’s defence lawyer as she reported Mr Reza for contempt of court. Meanwhile Biti today applied for exception of charges indicating that the current charges he was facing did not constitute a criminal offence.

Appearing before Harare Magistrate, Gloria Takundwa through his lawyer Beatrice Mthetwa from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Biti said there was no criminal offence in his announcement that Nelson Chamisa had won the Presidential elections as he had done so using information that was already in the public domain.

During the hearing, his lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa applied for an investigation of the chief prosecutor, Mr Michael Reza who sent a message saying that Harare magistrate Mtwandwa was stupid to allow LIVE streaming of the trial.

Biti was arrested at the Zambian border post after he tried to cross into the neighbouring country to seek asylum claiming he was running away from persecution by the state security.

Meanwhile, the magistrate granted an application made by his lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa for the proceedings to be live streamed by accredited media houses. The trial is expected to run for the rest of this week.

Own Correspondent|MDC Deputy Chairperson and Harare East legislator, Tendai Biti has applied for exception of charges indicating that the current charges he was facing did not constitute a criminal offence.

Appearing before Harare Magistrate, Gloria Takundwa through his lawyer Beatrice Mthetwa from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Biti said there was no criminal offence in his announcement that Nelson Chamisa had won the Presidential elections as he had done so using information that was already in the public domain.

During the hearing, his lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa applied for an investigation of the chief prosecutor, Mr Michael Reza who sent a message saying that Harare magistrate Mtwandwa was stupid to allow LIVE streaming of the trial.

Biti was arrested at the Zambian border post after he tried to cross into the neighbouring country to seek asylum claiming he was running away from persecution by the state security.

Meanwhile, the magistrate granted an application made by his lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa for the proceedings to be live streamed by accredited media houses. The trial is expected to run for the rest of this week

By Own Correspondent| Opposition Deputy National Chairperson Tendai Biti’s application for exception of charges has been referred to the High Court on an urgent basis.

The state has submitted that the case be heard on the 21st of January 2019.

Meanwhile, Mr Biti’s lawyers have applied to have his bail conditions relaxed including giving him back his passport among others.

This is a developing story. More details to follow.

Refresh this page for updates.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By Own Correspondent| Zanu Pf Mashonaland Central Province has joined the fray of provinces and Zanu Pf wings to endorse President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s presidential candidacy for the 2023 general elections.

Provincial Chairperson Kazembe Kazembe confirmed that his province has also unanimously agreed that Mnangagwa should be the party’s presidential candidate in the next general elections to be held 4 years from now.

The province joins Mashonaland East and Midlands provinces and the war veterans, women and youth wings who have already endorsed Mnangagwa as their sole candidate for presidency in 2023.

Addressing delegates at an inter district meeting in Bindura ahead of Zanu-PF’s annual national conference set for Esigodini this week, Kazembe said:

“The entire province rallies behind the President, to the extent that we have unanimously endorsed him as the candidate for 2023.

We have also come up with many resolutions that we will present at the party’s national conference this week and among them is that the welfare of the war veterans must be looked at as a matter of urgency.

We also resolved that more efforts must put towards the empowerment of youths and women. We also spoke about the land and how to make it more productive, there are lots of squabbles there.”-StateMedia

By Dorrothy Moyo| The latest in the concealed Motlanthe report into the 1 August military violence on civilians has seen a well known ZANU PF activist publicly indicating that ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s final version copy of the report will declare the Zimbabwean people’s president Nelson Chamisa and his MDC Deputy Chairman, Tendai Biti guilty.

Writing in ZimEye’s forum discussion section, Mr George Chinyande(pictured), also passed several allegations against western envoys. BELOW WAS THE FULL RAW UNEDITED POST:

By George Chinyande| The President has spoken and shamed his haters and malicious gossipers who are the same evil people who incited and supported the 1st of August mayhem, lawlessness, destruction and deaths carried out by Chinja.

It was reported then, that western foreign embassies poured over $US400.000 to bankroll the business of the day like ensuring logistics and supplies of musombodhiya and chibuku for Chinja’s hollow thoughtless thugs to gather courage. The latest provocative and inciting utterances by the Dutch ambassador to Zimbabwe proves and sums it all.

It boggles the mind how and why a whole ambassador of a key EU state could once again demand or call upon our dutiful President ED to make public or divulge the findings of the commission of inquiry report hours after the very authority had made public and unequivocally clear that he has no intention whatsoever to hide it despite the laws of the land giving him such powers.

Why should a responsible foreign ambassador look so bombastically more demanding to an issue already attended to by the responsible authority? What is the hidden message in her aggressive undiplomatic conduct? Why does she want to mourn more than the agrieved? Yes, 6 people lost their lives in that Chamisa and Mbiti incited mayhem, but is that the beginning and ending of the story?

From the look of things the Dutch ambassador just like US neocons and warmongers Flake, Coons and Matthews seems to know or think or believe that both chief thugs Chamisa and Mbiti were handheld and coached enough before they stood in front of the commission of inquiry to warrant their absolving from any culpability.

That explains why we think and believe that all the fanfare surrounding their testimonies before the commission were fully paid by the likes of Dutch ambassador and the Mathews.

But one just imagines what shall be their reaction and dire consequences once the commission of inquiry report finds their 2 darling thugs guilty as accused and liable to immediate prosecution. We stop here for now, but seeing and hearing we shall.

By Farai D Hove| As the MDC’s deputy chairman Tendai Biti takes stand in court Tuesday morning, it has emerged that he has demanded that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission release its computer server.

Explained Human Rights Lawyer, Doug Coltart: “The state is refusing to give Biti access to the Server on the basis that they don’t think the information it contains is relevant to his defence.

“Essentially, they are now admitting the server exists. Now the Magistrate must rule on whether Biti should be given access to it.

“Biti’s argument is that the info on the server is extremely relevant to his defence: if the server shows that he was merely reporting what he had received based on polling station results (as he is entitled to do in terms of section 66A(3) of the Electoral Act) he’s innocent.

“ZEC holds the server on behalf of the Zimbabwean electorate. It does not hold it on behalf of ZANU PF or Mnangagwa.

“ZEC must explain why it is refusing to release the server. The people of Zimbabwe deserve to know. And Biti is entitled to that information for his defence.”

The state is refusing to give Biti access to the Server on the basis that they don't think the information it contains is relevant to his defence. Essentially, they are now admitting the server exists. Now the Magistrate must rule on whether Biti should be given access to it.

— Doug Coltart ✊??? (@DougColtart) December 10, 2018

Biti's argument is that the info on the server is extremely relevant to his defence: if the server shows that he was merely reporting what he had received based on polling station results (as he is entitled to do in terms of section 66A(3) of the Electoral Act) he's innocent.

— Doug Coltart ✊??? (@DougColtart) December 10, 2018

ZEC holds the server on behalf of the Zimbabwean electorate. It does not hold it on behalf of ZANU PF or Mnanagagwa. ZEC must explain why it is refusing to release the server. The people of Zimbabwe deserve to know. And Biti is entitled to that information for his defence.

— Doug Coltart ✊??? (@DougColtart) December 10, 2018

By Own Correspondent| Civil Society Organisations here have urged government to walk the talk and uphold citizens” basic fundamental human rights.

The Zmbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) in a statement said human rights continue to be under threat in Zimbabwe despite the country’s membership in the United Nations and the ratification of several human rights treaties.

Said the Forum and the ZLHR in a joint statement:

On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) join the nation and the whole world in commemorating this auspicious day, set aside to celebrate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948.

This year, marks the 70th year anniversary of the UDHR, and as we celebrate this milestone and commemorates this day we remind ourselves of the basic principles of justice, equality, non-discrimination, inclusion and respect for the inalienable rights which every human being is inherently entitled to.

As ZLHR and the Forum commemorate this global expression of human rights and fundamental freedoms, we embrace the theme for this year #StandUPForHumanRights and reaffirm our commitment to fighting impunity and standing up for those who are unable to stand up for themselves.

We note, with concern that despite its membership of the United Nations and the ratification of several human rights treaties, human rights continue to be under threat in Zimbabwe.  Citizens are confronted with violations of the right to education, right to health care and the right to property. Protections against torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, and arbitrary evictions are routinely disregarded. Environmental rights which are crucial for the wellbeing of the next generation of Zimbabweans are trampled upon and children, the disabled and women continue to face a second class existence despite commitments made to accord them full and equal dignity.

Despite their crucial role in enhancing transparency, good governance and accountability, civil society organisations continue to be vilified and treated with suspicion by the government, and many human rights defenders have faced reprisals for their role in standing up for the rights of others.

The Forum and ZLHR call upon the Government of Zimbabwe to give effect to the guarantees set out under the UDHR, and the international human rights treaties to which Zimbabwe is a party. Specifically, we urge the government of Zimbabwe to:

1. Urgently complete the process of domestication of international human rights treaties in order to make them a part of our law, and ratify the Convention against Torture, and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness as previously accepted;

2. Cease criminalising the work of civil society organisations and put an end to reprisals against human rights defenders;

3. Entrench a culture of constitutionalism by aligning all outstanding laws to the constitution and implementing laws purposively to give effect to constitutional protections;

4. Engender openness and transparency in all government proceedings by making reports generated by all Commissions of Inquiry since 1981 public;

5. Ensure equitable economic outcomes entrenching transparency and accountability in the public finance system as stipulated in the Constitution.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The company employs in excess of 2 000 workers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

By A Correspondent| “The easiness of the granting access (LIVE streaming of Tendai Biti’s court case) raises suspicion. Just like the publicity with the constitutional case, we might have a repeat,” commented Itai Dzamara’s lawyer Advocate Kennedy Masiye.

When further asked by ZimEye, Advocate Masiye said there are numerous other court cases lawyers have requested to be televised and none of these have been allowed. Only two cases have been allowed: first the constitutional court challenge by Nelson Chamisa in August and the only other one being the state against Tendai Biti which resumes today at 9am. VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

LIVE – Will Magistrate Play A Malaba On Tendai Biti Tomorrow? https://t.co/rRYG0B55ul via @ZimEye

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 10, 2018

CARL James Esprey, the Italian whose earlier venture in Kenya, Atlas African Industries disappeared with more than Sh450 million of investors’ money, is back in business with a new company seeking to export medical marijuana from Zimbabwe in partnership with a Zimbabwean State-owned company. He will be exporting cannabis to Canada.

Mr Esprey, who partnered with Kojo Annan (son of former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan) earlier this year to launch African Cannabis, is following the same script that left thousands of investors in Atlas out of pocket.

Details of his new venture are contained in filings with the Canadian capital market regulators, which show that African Cannabis also plans to go public by merging with Trius Investments Inc, a company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) and whose business comprises property investment and garbage collection.

Atlas raised Sh450.1 million in a private placement from Kenyan investors in 2014 when it listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) where it debuted with a market capitalisation of Sh4.9 billion.

Besides participating in the private placement, Kenyan investors also bought shares after the listing but suffered heavy losses when the stock price collapsed from the initial Sh11.5 to Sh1.05 by the time it was suspended from trading in May last year.

After closing the Kenyan operations, Atlas tried its hands at diverse sectors and countries before literally disappearing with no communication to shareholders.

The company ventured into Ethiopia where it said some $2.4 million (Sh244 million) earmarked for building a glass bottle-making plant was illegally seized by Ethiopia’s tax authorities, forcing it to shut down.

It then invested Sh50 million to acquire a minority stake in BonanzaWin, a Nigerian gaming company, marking its last known activity in Africa.

Mr Esprey’s new venture, African Cannabis, is also raising Sh1.5 billion (20 million Canadian dollars) in a private placement in Canada, whose proceeds will be used to fund production and export of medical marijuana.

“African Cannabis is a Toronto-based company incorporated in British Columbia in 2018 to deal in the production, cultivation, extraction and export of medical cannabis in multiple African countries,” the company said in market disclosures.

“African Cannabis was founded and is led by Carl Esprey and Kojo Annan, both experienced African businesspeople with over 40 years’ combined experience on the continent,” it added, making no mention of the Atlas saga.

The 39-year-old Esprey, who is emerging as a controversial globe-trotting financier, had not responded to our emailed queries on his venture by the time of going to press. Calls to his Moroccan telephone number did not go through.

Mr Esprey’s choice of the cannabis business coincides with a wave of legalisation of marijuana around the world and a huge investor appetite for shares in companies producing the commodity.

Canadian pot stocks such as Cronos Group, for instance, have rallied more than 100 per cent this year after the North American country legalised cannabis and industry players sought to find new uses for the drug such as beverages.

The reverse takeover of Trius Investments, in an all-stock deal, could see African Cannabis position itself to benefit from the trading frenzy in marijuana stocks.

Mr Esprey and Mr Annan will have control of the merged entity, according to the terms agreed by the two firms. In a testament to the Italian’s ability to extract incredibly favourable terms from counterparties, Trius has, ahead of completion of the merger, agreed to lend $250,000 (Sh19 million) to African Cannabis, which currently has no revenues.

African Cannabis says it is holding a medical cannabis licence in Lesotho and has entered into a joint venture with a Zimbabwean State-owned company in order to obtain a licence in that country.

Lesotho last year became the first African country to legalise cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purpose and it was followed by Zimbabwe earlier this year, with other countries said to be considering making similar moves.

“African Cannabis is in discussion with multiple other countries in Africa to develop the industry and ultimately produce medical cannabis at multiple sites across the African continent,” the company said.

Besides African Cannabis, Mr Esprey is also linked to other companies, including London-based realtor Mayfair UK (Properties) Limited which he recently joined as a director.

— Business Daily, SA

By Paul Nyathi|CHOPPIES Enterprises CEO Ramachandran Ottapathu reveals details of a boardroom scrap with former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and his son, Siqokoqela, for the ownership of Choppies supermarkets.

We publish below the letter he wrote to Zimbabwean media explaining how he got involved with the Mphoko family in a somewhat corrupt arrangement to circumvent Zimbabwean laws on foreign investment.

Mphoko has maintained that as Vice President, he swore to uphold the laws of the country and would not have participated in a patently illegal transaction. He maintains that he and his son own 51 percent of the Zimbabwean operation. The matter is now before the High Court.

Here is Ottapathu’s letter in full:

Editor, my name is Ramachandran Ottapathu. I am the CEO of Choppies, a Botswana-based retail enterprise whose tentacles spread across parts of the African continent.

We remain committed, as Choppies, to Zimbabwe and we are here to stay.

THE ZANU-PF Women’s League has joined war veterans in pushing for a constitutional amendment to raise the presidential age limit from 40 to 52 years.

Members of the league from the country’s 10 provinces resolved to lobby for the amendment to ensure those who contest for the presidency are mature enough to fully grasp the gravity of what it means to run a country.

The resolution was made last Friday at a Women’s League National Assembly meeting held in Harare ahead on the 17th Annual People’s Conference in Esigodini.

War veterans last week also held a meeting calling for the amendment of the supreme law to raise the age limit of those who can contest for the presidential election from the current 40 to 52.

Women’s League Secretary for Administration Monica Mutsvangwa said the party women were in full support of the war veterans’ proposal.

“We support the resolution made by war vets, their proposal to say that age limit be set on eligibility to presidential candidates,” she said.

The resolution was among a number of proposals that were handed over to President Mnangagwa for consideration ahead of the ruling party’s conference this week.

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

Prof Mutambara said President Mnangagwa enjoyed the support of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union (AU).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media

Pressed by MDC Mutare Central Member of Parliament Innocent Gonese to release names of ruling party heavyweights indebted to ZETDC, deputy Energy minister Magna Mudyiwa told legislators in the National Assembly last week that it was not permissible to reveal statuses of private accounts to third parties without the express consent of the account holders.

“The ministry is, however, on record that ZETDC is owed large amounts of money by individuals, corporates, local authorities and government departments,” Mudyiwa said.

ZETDC recently told Parliament that it is losing tens of millions of dollars in unpaid debts.
Under former president Robert Mugabe regime, ZETDC had conveniently ignored the ballooning electricity debts by bigwigs, who were stratified under the so-called “sensitive customers.”

The defaulters included heavies from across the political divide, judges, and senior government officials.

Among the highest debtors was Mugabe and his wife Grace, who owed over $345 000 to Zesa as at December 31, 2011.

Over the past few months, several Zanu PF officials have, however, been hauled before the courts as the power utility moves to recover what it is owed.

In September, Zanu PF politburo member Sydney Sekeramayi was dragged to the High Court for failing to pay $327 481 owed to ZETDC in respect of his Ulva Farm.

In May this year, former Zanu PF Mbare MP Tendai Savanhu was also dragged to the High Court by the power company after he failed to pay $19 000 for electricity supplied to his Eagle Estate Farm, Dam Point, Marondera.

During the same month, Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba was also summoned to the High Court by ZETDC in a bid to make him settle a $43 716 electricity bill accumulated at his Watakai Plot 10 in Concession.

Some of those that have also been dragged to court over the electricity bills include former National Patriotic Front leader Ambrose Mutinhiri, who owed the power utility $54 000 at his Newton Farm. – Daily News

By Own Correspondent| Zanu Pf Mashonaland Central Provincial chairperson Kazembe Kazembe has revealed that his province has also endorsed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s presidential candidacy for the 2023 general elections.

Addressing delegates at an inter district meeting in Bindura ahead of Zanu-PF’s annual national conference set for Esigodini this week, Kazembe said the entire province is fully behind the President.

Said Kazembe:

“The entire province rallies behind the President, to the extent that we have unanimously endorsed him as the candidate for 2023.

We have also come up with many resolutions that we will present at the party’s national conference this week and among them is that the welfare of the war veterans must be looked at as a matter of urgency.

We also resolved that more efforts must put towards the empowerment of youths and women. We also spoke about the land and how to make it more productive, there are lots of squabbles there.”-StateMedia

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By A Correspondent| “The easiness of the granting access (LIVE streaming of Tendai Biti’s court case) raises suspicion. Just like the publicity with the constitutional case, we might have a repeat,” commented Itai Dzamara’s lawyer Advocate Kennedy Masiye. VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

LIVE – Will Magistrate Play A Malaba On Tendai Biti Tomorrow? https://t.co/rRYG0B55ul via @ZimEye

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 10, 2018

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC Vice-Chairperson Tendai Biti on Monday 10 December 2018 pleaded not guilty to charges of contravening the Electoral Act after he allegedly unlawfully and unofficially announced the 30 July 2018 presidential election results.

Biti’s trial finally commenced on Monday 10 December 2018 before Harare Magistrate Gloria Takundwa after he succeeded in having Michael Reza of the National Prosecuting Authority removed as the lead prosecutor on the basis that he was biased and unsuitable to preside
over his prosecution.

The state has however lined up six witnesses to testify against the opposition deputy national chairperson in a case set to be livestreamed by accredited journalists.

Said the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights in a statement:

“After Biti pleaded not guilty to the charges of contravening the Electoral Act, his lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa, Alec Muchadehama, Gift Mtisi and Doug Coltart filed an application for exception to the charges arguing that the State had improperly split the charges from one to two that is violating section 66A(1)(a) – unofficial or false declaration of results prohibited, as well as section 66A(1)(b) – unofficial or false declaration of results prohibited.

In their application, Biti’s lawyers argued that he was served with a charge sheet that has two counts which are exactly the same and that it is unclear whether this was a deliberate improper splitting of the charges or sheer incompetence on the part of the State.

The lawyers argued that the purported charges brought against Biti do not disclose any offences.

Biti challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear his case on the basis that he was unlawfully brought into Zimbabwe from Zambia in violation of the deportation and asylum laws of Zambia and of an order of court issued by the High Court in Zambia in breach of international law regarding the extradition of people facing offences of a political nature.

His lawyers also demanded to be furnished with some primary documents such as polling station and constituency returns known as V11 and V23 forms and to have full access to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)’s sever, which has the entire information relating to the 2018 presidential elections.

Magistrate Takundwa postponed Biti’s trial to Tuesday 11 December 2018 to allow the State represented by Tafadzwanashe Mpariwa to respond to the human rights lawyer’s application.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Takundwa granted an application allowing accredited media practitioners to carry out live streaming of court proceedings during Biti’s trial.

Biti was arrested on 8 August 2018 after being returned from Zambia under unclear circumstances.

Prosecutors alleged that Biti, who is currently out of custody on bail, unlawfully and unofficially purportedly announced or purportedly declared that the MDC-Alliance party had won the harmonised elections held on 30 July 2018 when in actual fact ZEC officials, who are mandated to make the declaration had not yet declared the official results or winner, in contravention of the Electoral Act.”

By Own Correspondent| Former Zanu Pf cabinet minister who is in self imposed exile following the November coup, Jonathan Moyo has refuted statements made by the Minister Of Higher and Tertiary Education Amon Murwira before parliament that the STEM initiative was discontinued because of abuse of funds.

Moyo accused Murwira of lying before parliament that STEM was abandoned because it was being abused describing the minister’s lies as “satanic”.

Said Professor Moyo in a statement:

“Murwira shamelessly told shameful lies in Parliament yesterday Re: the A-Level Stem Scholarship Initiative launched in 2016 as a 10-year government programme with Cabinet approval. Murirwa’s claim that ‘a forensic audit unearthed rampant corruption’ is a wicked political lie.

If a forensic audit unearthed ‘rampant corruption’, which is false, that still would not be a reason for scrapping the programme.

Even idiots know that you don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. MPs must demand to see the forensic audit of the A-Level Stem Scholarships.

Stem scholarships addressed this to grow a pool for local varsities!” he said, arguing it is mandatory for higher education to plan for this.

To say the ‘mandate’ of Higher Education doesn’t cover ‘‘A’’Level students is false. Mnangagwa said so in vain in 2016. So there is no need for rocket science to see why the ‘‘A’’Level Stem Scholarships initiative has been scrapped. It’s satanic to use lies to justify the scrapping!”

HUMAN rights lawyer and opposition MDC Alliance party Vice-Chairperson Tendai Biti on Monday pleaded not guilty to charges of contravening the Electoral Act after he allegedly unlawfully and unofficially announced the 30 July presidential election results.

Biti’s trial finally commenced on z International Human Rights Day before Harare Magistrate Gloria Takundwa after he succeeded in having Michael Reza of the National Prosecuting Authority removed as the lead prosecutor on the basis that he was biased and unsuitable to preside over his prosecution.

After Biti pleaded not guilty to the charges of contravening the Electoral Act, his lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa, Alec Muchadehama, Gift Mtisi and Doug Coltart filed an application for exception to the charges arguing that the State had improperly split the charges from one to two that is violating section 66A(1)(a) – unofficial or false declaration of results prohibited, as well as section 66A(1)(b) – unofficial or false declaration of results prohibited.

In their application, Biti’s lawyers argued that he was served with a charge sheet that has two counts which are exactly the same and that it is unclear whether this was a deliberate improper splitting of the charges or sheer incompetence on the part of the State.

The lawyers argued that the purported charges brought against Biti do not disclose any offences.

Biti challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear his case on the basis that he was unlawfully brought into Zimbabwe from Zambia in violation of the deportation and asylum laws of Zambia and of an order of court issued by the High Court in Zambia in breach of international law regarding the extradition of people facing offences of a political nature.

His lawyers also demanded to be furnished with some primary documents such as polling station and constituency returns known as V11 and V23 forms and to have full access to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)’s sever, which has the entire information relating to the 2018 presidential elections.

Magistrate Takundwa postponed Biti’s trial to Tuesday 11 December 2018 to allow the State represented by Tafadzwanashe Mpariwa to respond to the human rights lawyer’s application.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Takundwa granted an application allowing accredited media practitioners to carry out live streaming of court proceedings during Biti’s trial.

Biti was arrested on 8 August 2018 after being returned from Zambia under unclear circumstances.

Prosecutors alleged that Biti, who is currently out of custody on bail, unlawfully and unofficially purportedly announced or purportedly declared that the MDC-Alliance party had won the harmonised elections held on 30 July 2018 when in actual fact ZEC officials, who are mandated to make the declaration had not yet declared the official results or winner, in contravention of the Electoral Act.

Six witnesses are scheduled to testify against Biti during the trial.

By Own Correspondent| Following revelations that the trial for the opposition deputy national chairperson Tendai Biti Tuesday will be livestreamed, citizens have taken to social media expressing mixed sentiments over the development.

By Own Correspondent| Former Energy and Power Development minister and G40 stalwart, Samuel Undenge has been acquitted of abuse of office charges.

The charges related to his alleged influence in the awarding of the Gwanda Solar Power Project deal which saw controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo landing the tender.

Undenge was being accused of influencing the awarding of the Gwanda solar power plant tender by Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) to Intratrek Zimbabwe when he was still Energy minister.

Intratrek is a company owned by controversial businessman, Chivayo.

Terrence Mawawa|Information Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi has sensationally claimed that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is attracting investors’ attention.

“A number of CEOs for bluechip companies have expressed interest in investing in Zimbabwe here in Seoul, South Korea. The ED gvt is
indeed an investment attraction,” wrote Mutodi on Twitter.

“I was warmly received by Dr Youngho Yun at their palace in Seoul, South Korea ahead of a business engagement tomorrow with CEOs
of big companies interested in Zimbabwe. Step by step we will get Zimbabwe right on track,” added Mutodi.

Terrence Mawawa| Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe (PSZ) president Portiphar Muondera has said the country is left with medicines that will last about three weeks to a month.

According to The Herald, Muondera said this when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care.

He said the situation would remain critical as long as they did not settle their US$38 million debt.

“The situation that we are in is critical because we are already noticing shortages of some mainline medicines— painkillers, shortages of anti-diabetic medicines and hypertensive medicines. We have limited supplies that will last us just about three weeks to a month or so in the warehouses.

As long as we have not cleared our debts or paid for new supplies we will not achieve much. As an industry we are trying to zero in on issues of
sustainability. If we have disruptions in the supply chain then we have a crisis. We have gone for more than six weeks without any allocation of foreign currency. In September we managed to import medicines worth about $6,8 million into Zimbabwe.

In October it fell to $1,5 million and November it was a very sad story,” said Muondera.

Terrence Mawawa|Esteemed political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya has described the celebration of the release of a notorious Zanu PF thug who was convicted of murder as a reflection of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s callousness.

“On International Human Rights Day today, 10 December, ZANU PF celebrates the release of a murderer who served 14 years in jail in Masvingo for murdering an position activist. Bad as Robert Mugabe was, he did not do such stupid things on Human Rights Day!” Dr Ruhanya tweeted.

“I am from Zaka district Masvingo province; this Eddie  Munjanja ZANU PF terror leader caused lots of deaths and violence against innocent people between 1999 and 2002 and the so-called new dispensation celebrate his release, very sad!”

Terrence Mawawa|In an incident that shocked the Zvishavane Community, a Form Three pupil impregnated his 16-year-old sister.

The pupil (19) (name withheld to protect the identity of his sister) appeared before Zvishavane magistrate 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 claimed 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.

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.

By Own Correspondent| A Harare-bound Inter Africa bus from Musume overturned at Polandi in Mberengwa injuring passengers on board.

Reports indicate that the accident was caused by the slippery dust road between Buchwa Turn-Off and Chief Ngungumbane’s area.

Witnesses to the accident alleged that the bus driver lost control of the vehicle before it overturned due to the slippery road in that area.

There has been heavy rainfall in the area over the past few days which have made the road impassable.

Police details are currently on the scene of the accident.

The injured passengers were ferried to Zvishavane District Hospital.-StateMedia