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Own Correspondent|Former NetOne chief executive officer Reward Kangai has finally been removed from remand after his application for refusal for further remand was successful.

The same application was previously dismissed by magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa in September on basis that the police needed ample time to investigate the matter in which he was facing 21 cases of criminal abuse of office during his tenure as the Mobile Networking Operator (MNO)’s boss.

In an evident ‘sigh of relief’, Kangai expressed his happiness and thanked all those who supported him via micro-blogging site Twitter on Wednesday.

Read his tweet:
“Today, the Magistrate relieved me of the harrowing remand process, so I am Free and Thanking the Lord. A Big Thank you to all who have supported my just cause throughout.”

It was the State’s case that case that sometime in October 2014, Kangai unlawfully and corruptly sanctioned payment of rentals in advance for four base stations without authorisation and approval from the board of directors.

Kangai allegedly showed favour to Bopela Family Trust by sanctioning the advance rental payment of $10 500, which covered a period of 21 months.

Richwood Sports Club was paid $33 000, which covered a period of five years, while Avondale Christian Church was paid $27 000, which covered three years. It is alleged that house No. 514 Chipembere Road, Windsor Park in Ruwa, Harare was paid $5 400.

The court heard that NetOne has no provision for advance rental payments and the lease agreements entered between the company and base station landlords had no provision for such.

It is alleged that Kangai’s conduct was prejudicial to NetOne and other landlords whose rentals were not paid.

Kangai also approved a loan of $80 000 to Bopela Group (Pvt) Ltd without approval of the board. It is alleged that the loan approval was outside NetOne’s mandate. The company lost $155 900 as a result.

Between January 2014 and December 2015, Kangai allegedly hand-picked Espol Advertising (Pvt) Ltd, Sectional Poles South Africa, Convergys (Pvt) Ltd, Bopela Group (Pvt) Ltd, Gemalto (Pvt) Ltd, Afrosoft (Pvt) Ltd and Imago Communications for a tender whose total value $17 594 700.

The court heard that on eight different occasions, Kangai abused his authority by giving directives to his subordinates on the acquisition of base station sites. The procedure required three survey reports before the final selection. It is alleged that construction work at the sites commenced without survey reports.

Ironically, Kangai will be one of the state’s key witnesses in the trial of his former boss Supa Mandiwanzira whom he on December 28 last year accused of abusing office.

The former NetOne boss made the allegations through a letter dubbed “The birth and growth of a cartel in the ICT Sector in Zimbabwe” which he directed to President Mnangagwa accusing Mandiwanzira of abusing his office.

M&T

Own Correspondent|Energy and Power Development Minister Joram Gumbo has blame the spate of fires in the country on people allegedly hoarding fuel at their premises.

Speaking in a news interview on Star FM radio on Wednesday, Gumbo said that Zimbabweans are unnecessarily hoarding fuel at their premises resulting in the fires that have gutted properties around the country.

“People are unnecessarily keeping fuel in their homes and this can be directly linked to the spate of fires around the country,” said Gumbo.

The Minister dismissed emerging fuel shortages at most filling stations claiming that there can be no shortages of fuel in the country at the moment as government has stocked enough fuel to last the country for 18 months.

Gumbo blamed the emerging shortages to social media messages that have been encouraging motorists to stock up fuel in preparation for the festive season. According to the messages, the country is set to have a severe fuel shortage over the festive season.

Gumbo said Zimbabweans should not place their trusts on social media.

“We can not have our people believe in the social media than they do to the government,” he said.

“What we say as government is the truth and people should believe us. We have more than 18 months stock of fuel in the country and panic buying due to social media is causing the temporary shortages.”

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday launched a Ministry of Education è learning programme at a low key event in Harare.

Mnangagwa showered praises on himself in launching the programme and distributing 5000 text books which critics claim the Minister of Education may well have presided over.

Wrote Mnangagwa on his social media platforms;

It was a great pleasure to launch our programme of e-learning and exercise books at the event, “Building Positive Social Impact for Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education: Everyone’s Responsibility.”

As we build our new Zimbabwe together, nobody shall be left behind!

The opposition MDC-T, led by Dr Thokozani Khupe, has commended the Commission of Inquiry investigating the post-election violence that occurred in Harare on August 1.

In a statement yesterday, the MDC-T said it noted the commitment of the commission and was hopeful that Zimbabweans and the global world would get to know what exactly transpired on the fateful day, leading to the exposure and prosecution of the perpetrators.

“We believe the commission must be given enough room to manoeuvre in order to get to the root cause of the problem.”

Khupe’s statements come as a surprise to most people as they are contradictory to other opposition parties and civic society groups that have condemned the commission’s composition and operations.

Khupe and her party members have been surprise bedfellows with the ruling ZANU PF since the July elections.

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"Bring the soldier in the video footage to clarify on whether the gun was at 45%.Our lives are at risk.They will reopen 2014 Dockers.Protect us because we have said the truth & we will be persecuted," pic.twitter.com/y7oCwyHfjD

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 21, 2018

"The body was later identified as Brian Zhuwao. The people who brought him were visible angry.Their vehicle took off at high speed" says mortuary attendant pic.twitter.com/43nQVd6WCm

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 21, 2018

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"The body was later identified as Brian Zhuwao. The people who brought him were visible angry.Their vehicle took off at high speed" says mortuary attendant pic.twitter.com/43nQVd6WCm

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 21, 2018

Own Correspondent|The country has witnessed a radical reduction in the total area affected by veld fires from July to October, the Enviromental Management Agency (EMA) has revealed.

According to EMA there has been a three percent reduction in fire incidents. A total of 1 595 fire incidences were recorded Since July 31 this year.

“The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has been monitoring the occurrence of veld fire since the 31st of July up to the 31st of October 2018.

“During this period, the availability of dry biomass, heat and wind provide a conducive environment for veld fires to occur. The fire season has come and gone and left a trail of destruction. According to Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007, the fire ends on 31 October of each year but cases of fire incidences will be recorded until the onset of the rainy season hence the Agency will continue to monitor these fires.

“During the period, 3.09% of Zimbabwe’s total land area was burnt, down from 3.29% in 2017. The actual total burnt area was 1 190 174.89 Ha emanating from 1 595 fire incidences. This is a 6.2 % decrease in area burnt compared to the 2017 fire season where 1 268 534.31ha were burnt from 2 705 fire incidences,” read part of the statement released by EMA this week.

EMA said the worst affected province was Mashonaland West. “The worst affected provinces were Mashonaland West with 420511.2ha burnt followed by Matabeleland North with 212547.16ha burnt and Mashonaland Central with 153305.44ha burnt.

The six worst affected districts were: Karoi (156 964.58), Hwange (80 566.03), Insiza (77065.50), Makonde (69647.59), Zvimba (61 078.79) and Gweru (51345.85),” EMA said.

Interestingly, this week has seen an increase of fire accidents throughout the country with the latest incident being a fire that broke out in Mbare near Siyaso Complex on Tuesday afternoon.

M&T

Own Correspondent|Online media houses and social media pltforms have today been going wild condemning widow to the late MDC founding President Morgan Tsvangirai, Elizabeth, for appearing in a video singing while driving, but is there anything extraordinarily wrong with this?

Watch video below:

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Paul Nyathi|MDC president Nelson Chamisa has expressed shock at what he describes as “tone of hate and anger” in Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba’s statement flighted in the state owned Herald on Tuesday.

Charamba was quoted in the media vilifying Chamisa regarding his preconditions to appear before the Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 killings.

“Comments by government & Mr Mnangagwa’s spokesperson in yesterday’s herald are so strange. He strangely suggests that the Aug 1 inquiry’s sole purpose is to fix MDC, its leadership.The tone of hate and anger is baffling.I have no blood in my hands.Peace defines my life,” said Chamisa in his Twitter page.

This followed Chamisa’s insistence that he would only appear before the Kgalema Motlanthe led Commission on condition that President Mnangagwa and his deputies were also subpoenaed to testify.

Chamisa has since climbed down from that position, and is set to testify later today. MDC deputy chairperson Tendai Biti will also testify, along with other MDC members Shadreck Mashayamombe and others.

Despite widely published photographs and video footage showing the Zimbabwean army soldiers firing on people in Harare’s streets, senior military commanders last week flatly denied before the Commission that their men were responsible for the shooting of six people in Harare choosing instead to put the blame on Chamisa.

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Nyemba asked whether Maphosa had been given a single paged document when the family got the post mortem results for Sylvia claiming she had died of stab wounds

ZANU PF is pulling out all stops for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s first rally since the disputed July 30 elections which will be held in former President Robert Mugabe’s home area, three days after the first anniversary of a military coup that forced his resignation.

Party provincial chairperson and Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told a provincial co-ordinating committee meeting last week that the rally would be a celebration of the demise of the “G40 cabal”.

G40, believed to have been Mugabe’s brainchild, was a faction within Zanu PF that up to November last year engaged in a fierce power struggle with Team Lacoste fronted by then Vice-President Mnangagwa.

“The President has directed that all MPs must thank the people for voting for them in July. He will lead by example by coming to Mashonaland West, the epicenter of the G40 cabal to the 313 000 people who voted for him.

“It is cause for celebration that President Mnangagwa got more votes than the former President (Mugabe) ever got in the province despite the fact that this (Mashonaland West) is the G40 birthplace,” Ziyambi told provincial leaders according to an official who attended the meeting.

Ziyambi was not immediately available for comment yesterday.

Insiders also said besides celebrating the poll victory, the rally was Mnangagwa’s cunning way of sending a clear message to Mugabe that he was now in charge.

“It is a clear message to the former President that Mugabe has to accept the new reality. The choice of Mugabe’s home area to stage the first ‘thank you’ rally is not a mistake. You will remember that when he was appointed Vice-President in 2014, his first stop was his home province of Midlands. This choice is instructive,” the official told NewsDay.

Zanu PF provincial vice-chairperson Dexter Nduna said the numbers who voted for Mnangagwa in the elections alone were cause for celebration.

“Yes we are celebrating our victory and have asked all districts to make transport arrangements for a resounding rally for the President. Many had claimed we would lose Mashonaland West to the opposition, but we worked hard. The opposition, even with support from the G40 failed,” Nduna said.

But the ruling party’s spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday said Zanu PF will not be celebrating the anniversary of Mugabe’s forced departure.

“There is no need for us to celebrate. We are not stuck in the past and the President (Mnangagwa) has been very clear. We should let bygones be bygones. Zanu PF is concentrating on the revival of the economy and not personalities,” Khaya Moyo said.

“The rally is one of many that will come to thank our supporters for the crushing victory in July.”

Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa was also in Mashonaland West at the weekend “consulting” his supporters ahead of planned mass action against the declining economic situation in the country.

Chamisa has already been to Marondera in Mashonaland East as well as Beitbridge in Matabeleland South.

-Newsday

LAST November was possibly the busiest and most breathtaking moment for Father Fidelis Mukonori, a Roman Catholic cleric whose ties with former President Robert Mugabe are well documented.

To see the man he had been close to all his life cornered and being made to negotiate a power transition that elbowed his long-time ally could have been one of the most daunting tasks for the man of the cloth.

His love for Mugabe was not a secret and so is his love for peace, and Mukonori was surely between a rock and a hard place.

Supporting Mugabe was imperative, but the former leader was cornered and there was need to balance his love for him and the love for a peaceful Zimbabwe.

But a year after the coup that toppled Mugabe, Mukonori said the former President is fine and moving on with his life.

A year on, Mugabe seems to have accepted his fate and things seem to have changed from the time he addressed a Press conference supporting opposing leader Nelson Chamisa, but softened up after the government went all out of the way to assist him and his wife at the funeral of his mother-in-law in September.

He has slowly accepted the new dispensation after he had constantly attacked his predecessor President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the manner in which he got into power.

And Mukonori said he has no regrets over his role and wishes Zimbabwe to move forward.

“I did what I had to do and let Zimbabwe move forward,” Mukonori said in an interview.

“I am sure things will be okay in future.”

On Mugabe he said it’s been a while since he met him, but they always talk over the phone and he sounds okay.

“I am sure he is at home.

“I haven’t met him for some time, but I have been in touch with him by phone and I talked to him a few weeks ago after the death of his mother-in-law and he sounded fine.

“Thereafter I think he travelled so I haven’t been in touch with him since then.”

Mukonori said he was not sure if Mugabe still misses power, the high life where he was always at the centre of discussions both locally and internationally.

Since his removal from power last year, many people have said there is nothing really tangible that the new administration has achieved in terms of making life easier for the majority.

Mugabe, now nearing 95 years couldn’t imagine life away from power. During his days as a feared leader, Mugabe created a strong system that pounced on anyone who dared challenge his continued grip to power, particularly within the ruling Zanu PF.

Mugabe has been full of surprises.

Almost a year ago, as the former strong man’s rule fell like a deck on the cards, millions of Zimbabweans and many others across the world waited for his anticipated resignation but alas, he delivered a speech which he coined by the Swahili saying “Asante Sana” where he stubbornly tried to paint a picture that he was firmly in charge.

However, as fate has it, Mugabe’s rule finally came to an end and one year later, his negotiator thinks he is just doing fine.

— NewsDay

Correspondent|PIONEER Gas owner and top Harare socialite Genius Kadungure, facing charges of tax evasion and money laundering, was freed on $1,000 bail by a High Court judge on Tuesday.

Justice Tawanda Chitapi, in a judgment delivered late Tuesday afternoon, ruled that Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande had erred in denying bail to the businessman.

Makwande ruled on Friday last week that it would be against the interests of justice to release Kadungure on bail.

But Chitapi overruled the lower court as he released Kadungure on $1,000 bail with stringent conditions.

Kadungure was required, as part of the conditions for his release, to surrender his passport; surrender title deeds for a property worth $250,000; report once fortnightly to the CID Commercial Crimes Unit and to continue residing at his home in Domboshava.

The judge was critical of Makwande, who – according to Kadungure’s lawyers – initially was inclined to release the socialite on bail, but changed her mind when the lawyers left court to go and find title deeds.

The magistrate had, among other reasons, cited the fact that Kadungure is awaiting a verdict on fraud charges in another court. The judge said the magistrate was wrong to reference a case which is not before her in determining whether a suspect must get bail.

In the end, the judge said bail was a right and can only be denied in extreme circumstances where evidence is shown that a suspect is unlikely to present in court when required to do so.

Kadungure is accused of under-declaration of sales for his gas business between 2009 and 2016, prejudicing the taxman of over $3 million.

He also becomes the first person to be taken to court for failing to account for his wealth under new lifestyle audits ordered by authorities. He faces charges of money laundering.

FORMER Bulilima West legislator and Minister of National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, Mr Moses Mzila-Ndlovu and two of his sons have been arrested for allegedly robbing a suspected poacher that they apprehended at his farm in Figtree.

The trio were arrested on Monday.

The ex minister and his sons, Tjakalisa and Umile were supposed to appear at the Plumtree Magistrates court facing robbery charges yesterday.

They however could not be put on remand after their lawyer Mr Nqobani Sithole challenged their placement on remand.

They allegedly robbed Mr Mike Makichini.

The lawyer argued that police were supposed to investigate the allegations before arrests.

The state and Mr Sithole later agreed that the matter would proceed by way of summons.

Charges against Mzila-Ndlovu and his sons are that on Thursday last week they apprehended, Mr Makichini allegedly poaching firewood at the family’s Khami Magazine farm along the Bulawayo-Plumtree road.

They allegedly robbed him of his cellphone, an axe and wheelbarrow.

Mr Makichini reported the trio to the police.

On Friday, the trio was summoned to the police station but could not make it and allegedly agreed with police that they would report on Monday.

When they reported at the station on Monday they were arrested and detained.

They were only released after the intervention of their lawyer.

In 2013, Mzila-Ndlovu was arrested and charged with threatening to shoot two firewood poachers, robbing them of their cash, car keys, cellphone and personal identity documents after apprehending them at his farm.

He was however acquitted of the charges.

— State Media

NINE Bulawayo police detectives allegedly fatally assaulted two suspected armed robbers and shot the bodies in a bid to claim that the suspects were killed while trying to flee from custody during indications at the crime scene.

The detectives, among them senior officers, allegedly committed the offence in 2009.

Philip Tada, Daniel Nimrod Kwaramba, George Zuze, Onias Mbano, Peter Muchada, Mgcini Sibanda, Mailos Mairos Ncube, President Masukume and Albert Zhou who were all attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Bulawayo, allegedly tortured Andrew Jabulani Quinton Sibanda and Temai Bvumbunu in March 2009 while they were in police custody.

The trial of the accused persons was supposed to kick off yesterday at the Bulawayo High Court following their indictment on two counts of murder and obstruction of justice.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese removed the matter from the roll after the State, which was represented by Mrs Sifiso Sibanda, indicated that it was not yet ready to proceed.

Mrs Sibanda said the State wishes to rope in one of the accused persons, Mgcini as its witness.

“The matter be and hereby removed from the roll. The State is not yet ready to proceed as accused six (Mgcini Sibanda) is now a State witness and a statement has not yet been requested from him,” said Justice Makonese.

The nine officers allegedly killed the two suspected armed robbers and tried to make it appear as if the suspects were shot dead as they attempted to flee from police custody.

Eight witnesses, among them relatives and residents who heard gunshots during the time are expected to give evidence during trial.

According to court papers, the nine detectives were handling a case in which Andrew and Bvumbunu had been arrested over a series of armed robbery cases.

The now deceased persons were arrested after they were raided at their homes in Njube suburb.

It was stated that after they were taken into custody, they were interrogated and allegedly assaulted by the accused persons using batons, sjamboks and open hands.

The deceased persons succumbed to the injuries sustained as a result of the assault.

In an attempt to cover up the fatal assault, the detectives then hatched a plan to make it appear as if the two had been shot after trying to escape from police custody.

They then loaded the bodies of the deceased persons under the cover of darkness into a motor vehicle and drove from Bulawayo Central Police Station to a bushy area in Queens Park.

They offloaded the bodies and laid them on the ground facing downwards and shot them in the back to look as if the deceased had tried to flee during indications.

The nine officers took the bodies to United Bulawayo Hospitals where a post-mortem examination was conducted by one doctor Garcia.

He concluded that the cause of death in relation with Andrew was caused by hypovolemic shock, bleeding, ruptured left kidney and left iliac artery and gunshot wounds.

With regards to Bvumbunu, Dr Garcia concluded that the cause of death was a result of acute anaemia, ruptured lungs and left femoral artery, gunshot wounds.

A sudden death docket was then compiled before an inquest was held by the late Bulawayo provincial magistrate Mr John Masimba.

During the inquest one Detective Sergeant Nyapokoto revealed that the deceased were assaulted and died while in police custody at the station.

He said the escape and shoot claim was stage-managed to conceal the actual cause of death.

State Media

FORMER Insiza South Member of Parliament Malachi Nkomo has appeared in court for allegedly breaking into a farmhouse and stealing two tool boxes valued at $800.

Nkomo (52) and his co-accused Zenzo Jele (53) pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry and theft when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi.

They were remanded out of custody on free bail to today for continuation of trial.

Prosecuting, Miss Glenda Nare said Nkomo and Jele broke into Artherstone Farm House which belongs to Mr Norman Dlamini on January 1 last year at around 7PM.

“On 1 January 2017 at around 7PM Nkomo and Jele unlawful gained entry into Artherstone Farm house by breaking the lock of the door using an iron bar. They stole two tool boxes belonging to Mr Dlamini.

“The two accused persons were seen by Mr Khumbulani Nkala while loading the tool boxes into their truck. Mr Nkala then alerted Mr Dlamini,” she said Miss Nare said the two tool boxes are valued at $800 and they were not recovered.

In his defence, Nkomo denied the allegations saying he has an offer letter permitting him to occupy the farm. He said Mr Dlamini does not own the farm or any property on it.

“The allegations laid against me are not true because myself and five other farmers among them Jele who is my co- accused were given offer letters by Government permitting us to stay at Artherstone Farm.

The complainant is the one who doesn’t have a right to be at that farm and it is therefore not true that we invaded his property.

“The house which he is saying we broke in is being used by our farm workers. I didn’t see the alleged tool boxes he is talking about and I didn’t take them. When we were given offer letters to operate from the farm, the complainant promised to soil our names,” he said.

State Media

THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has bemoaned the circulation of accident pictures on social media saying people were deriving pleasure in taking pictures and videos of people dying instead of assisting them.

In the last two weeks, the country recorded two horrific bus accidents involving a Smart Express and Bolt Cutter buses in Rusape killing 46 people on the spot and the Brooklyn bus in West Nicholson that caught fire claiming 33 lives.

Before relatives of the victims knew of the death of their loved ones, social media was awash with horrific pictures of the accident scenes.

Soon after the West Nicholson accident, one twitter user @thompson posted: “Let’s at least try to be humane, there is nothing too special about breaking news if the news cause more harm than good.

“My old woman collapsed after my little son showed her a picture of the Brooklyn accident which our elderly sister was travelling in. We learnt later that she was among people burnt beyond recognition.”

In an interview, TSCZ managing director Mr Obio Chinyere said it was sad that people were taking pleasure in taking pictures and videos of people dying instead of assisting them.

“We appeal to members of the public to desist from inhumane behaviour of sending pictures and distributing them before victims’ relatives get to know of their death. Just imagine the shock, anxiety and depression it brings to learn of the death of your beloved one on social media. We may end up having more deaths as a result of shock and that will do no good to the nation,” he said.

Mr Chinyere said the majority of people see accidents as an opportunity for citizen journalism at the expense of saving lives.

“It appears people are now prioritising breaking news more than saving lives. It is better to use that gadget to call an ambulance or the police than to concentrate on becoming the first to dish out news,” he said.

Mr Chinyere said the TSCZ is going to engage authorities and see how they can deal with the issue.

Renowned historian, Mr Pathisa Nyathi bemoaned posting of horrific pictures on social media, saying it indicates a loss of Ubuntu.

“The behaviour where people make fun of death and human injury is sad and confirms that people have lost humanity.

“It’s not cultural, for in our culture death is respected and news of death should not be announced on social media by those that are first to the scene. It is announced by a relative or the police who are trained to handle such issues. It’s really sad that we have lost our sense of ubuntu,”he said.

State Media

The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has expressed its anxiety on the impending visit of the leader of the Family Peace Association, Dr Sun
Myung Moon.

The council does not agree with the teachings and practices of Dr Sun’s
Movement. In a statement released yesterday ZCC said:” Zimbabweans, especially Christians have been raising anxious questions regarding the impending visit of the leader of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.
As ZCC in light of our convictions and Christian traditions, we do not identify with the teachings and practices of this movement and therefore we will not participate in their event.

Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence.’ (1

Peter 3 verse 15).”

A delegation led by representatives from Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is expected in Harare for talks later this month.

However, Germany is still sceptical
about fully engaging Zimbabwe on the economic front.
The Germans are not yet convinced that the reforms undertaken by the Mnangagwa government are genuine and far-reaching. A spokesperson for the Germany Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development had this to say:”The implementation of political and economic reforms by the Zimbabwean government is a prerequisite for the resumption of bilateral development cooperation.
Uwe Kekeritz, the opposition Green party’s parliamentary spokesman for development cooperation is also unconvinced by the Zimbabwe government’s appetite for reforms.” He added:”I do not see genuine political change with regards to the development of democratic structures. There are still many questions remaining with regards
to human rights… Development
assistance should be resumed, but in
close cooperation with the civil society, as far away from the government as possible. dw.com

UGANDA has started recruiting women for trials of a long-lasting injectable antiretroviral drug for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis.

This is part of a large scale trial that will also be conducted in six other countries — Kenya, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Swaziland.

A total of 3,200 individuals are expected to be recruited into the study across the seven countries. It will run over a five-year period.

Known as HPTN084, the phase III clinical trial aims to assess if an injectable ARV called Cabotegravir, administered every two months is safe and can reduce an individual’s risk of acquiring HIV when they are exposed.

If the drug turns out to be safe and efficacious, Cabotegravir could become the drug of choice for use as PrEP, instead of the current Truvada, an oral pill that must be taken daily.

Dr Amanda Wanyana, a researcher with the International Aids Vaccine Initiatives, at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, one of the sites where the trial will be conducted, noted that while in Southern Africa it will be carried out among HIV-negative but high risk groups including gays, in countries such as Uganda and Kenya, the trial will focus on HIV negative, healthy women of reproductive age, 18 to 45. They will be drawn mainly from fishing communities.

The trial will be blinded, meaning participants will be divided into two groups. One group will be given the injection with the active ingredient under study, while the other will be given a placebo.

According to Dr Wanyana, trial participants will receive the injection once every month for the first two months, and thereafter, they will receive one injection every two months for the rest of the study period.

Women who take part in the study will also be expected to be on long term contraception, be in good clinical health and not be pregnant at the time of recruitment or during the trial.

“Besides issues of efficacy, we also want to know how the drug affects reproduction in women, and if there are cases of drug resistance. In the long run, if the injectable ARV works as well, it will be an option as PrEP,” said Dr Wanyana.

Oral pill
Currently, Truvada, an oral pill, is the drug being used by HIV negative individuals to reduce their risk of infection in case of exposure to HIV. Because the drug must be taken daily, health experts say it has seen in poor adherence in many cases.

“A long-lasting injectable PrEP, which can be administered every two months, can therefore help people who are unable to adhere to daily oral pills,” said Dr Wanyana.

In Kenya and South Africa, the oral pill Truvada is already being used as PrEP.

Although Uganda is one of the countries where the demonstration study on the effectiveness of Truvada as PrEP was pioneered, it has been slow in rolling out the drug to those who need it.

Currently, the drug is being administered to high-risk individuals such as sex workers and couples in discordant relationship through a pilot programme in selected health facilities.

Gertrude Nanyonjo, a community engagement officer said sensitisation programmes are currently being undertaken in communities where the trials will be conducted to raise awareness among women about the benefits of taking part in the study.

“We emphasise the fact that women are more vulnerable to acquiring HIV and how they will benefit from the research,” said Ms Nanyonjo.

Girls and women make up more than half of the 36.7 million people currently living with the virus, according to estimates from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids.

— Daily Monitor

Terrence Mawawa| A senior Zanu PF official has angrily responded to remarks made by former MDC A MP for Gutu Central Constituency about Cyril Ramaphosa’ s untimely call for the removal of sanctions.

Last week Chirume described Ramaphosa’ s utterances as “ill-advised” and unfortunate given the refusal by Harare authorities to embrace constitutionalism.

Labour and Social Services Deputy Minister Lovemore Matuke was quick to accuse Chirume of being influenced by his handlers to fight for a lost cause.

“1.Always say less than necessary. 2. Never commit to anyone’s cause. It is only a fool who rushes to take sides. 3. Be careful. Do not offend the wrong person 4. Conceal your intentions…” wrote Matuke on social media.

However Chirume said:”The subject under the spotlight is not about individuals, rather it is about constitutionalism

What is Parliament doing to restore constitutionalism?

I will not be moved by empty threats, I even trounced the man(Matuke) in the Gutu Central Constituency Parliamentary election in 2008 when I was a political novice.I guess the man still has an axe to grind with me.”

Terrence Mawawa| Outspoken MDC activist Emmerson D Jendera has said God has rejected the Zanu PF government.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page yesterday Jendera said:”God has assured me he has rejected ED and the Zanu PF administration. I think Zimbabweans should rather watch him fail woefully at the 2023 election, he will lose and I wish to say that if he doesn’t which I doubt, I would burn all my academic certificates, in fact, his loss is inevitable. ED is empty, there’s nothing in his head, he does not have the capacity to lead Zimbabwe
but perhaps lead his pets he cherishes more than humans, I think
if he’s truly responsible, he ought to beg Zimbabwe for forgiveness and bury his head in utter shame, yes,
he can never be an alternative to any sane person.I thank you for your time.

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is now amenable to appearing before a Commission of Inquiry investigating the post-election violence that killed at least six people in central Harare on August 1, the Daily News can report.

But before he could face the seven-member Commission, the MDC leader wants the panel to clarify a number of issues to enable him to make an informed decision.

On November 14, the Commission had written to Chamisa inviting him to appear before it at its next sitting tomorrow. Chamisa had previously gone on record, refusing to appear before the commission, saying President Emmerson Mnangagwa could not appoint a Commission to inquire into his own conduct as he was responsible for the deployment of the defence forces — according to the Constitution.

But in a letter to Commission chair, former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe, dated November 16, 2018, Chamisa makes a volte-face, saying notwithstanding his misgivings he “would like to take your invitation seriously and give it the due weight it deserves”.

“I note, in particular, that the basis of the invitation appears to emanate from testimony and allegation made by a witness to the effect that I incited violence.

I consider the allegation to be malicious. Since my response to this contrived allegation is required, I consider it ‘fair and just’ that I should be afforded all the relevant information relating to the allegations so as to enable me to prepare adequately,” he wrote.

“I kindly therefore ask the Commission to favour me with the full transcript of the relevant part of the testimony; to better understand the nature, circumstances, scope and credibility of the allegations made against me.

This would enable me to form an informed opinion regarding the invitation.

“Further, and in the interest of due process and my natural and constitutional rights, would I stand assured that an opportunity to cross-examine the witness who ‘mentioned (my name) as among those who played a part in inciting the violence of 1 August 2018’ will be availed, since the sole basis of my invitation is his, her or their testimony?,” said Chamisa.

Chamisa said it was pertinent for the Commission to note that during the material time, Mnangagwa was the sole authority charged with the responsibility of the security of all citizens in terms of the Constitution.

“He therefore is the key witness in this matter,” he said, adding that since the Commission was set up by his political competitor, the Commission must put in place mechanisms to guard against possible abuse of the process to persecute and maliciously nail him and the party he leads.

“Honourable chairman, in my view, the real issue is about the killing of innocent, unarmed and fleeing civilians; most of them shot in the back and whether or not this was justified? “Honourable chairman, there is in this country an unfortunate and terrible history of malicious persecution of the alternative voices and selective application of the law on the basis of one’s political affiliation.

“This is a major cause of the erosion of public confidence in institutions of law enforcement, inquiry and justice.

In the interests of fairness and equal application of the law, I would be most grateful if you could confirm that all persons who have been cited by witnesses, including, Mr Mnangagwa, have been or will also be called to testify before the Commission.

I ask because the basis of my invitation is merely that my name was mentioned by an untested witness. “I understand that the Commission considered it ‘fair and just’ to invite me and likewise, I hope the Commission appreciates why my requests are reasonable, fair and just,” he wrote.

Chamisa’s climb-down comes days after Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba, had told the Daily News that the MDC leader risked suffering serious consequences if he did not appear before the Commission, as it had powers similar to those of the country’s courts.

According to Section 10 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, the probe team has the same power as a magistrates’ court to summon witnesses and examine them under oath, and to require witnesses to produce documents in evidence.

Witnesses who fail or refuse to attend after being summoned, or who give false evidence on oath, may be prosecuted.

Despite widely published photographs and video footage showing the Zimbabwean army soldiers firing on people in Harare’s streets, senior military commanders last week flatly denied before the Commission that their men were responsible for the shooting of six people in Harare.

Brigadier-General Anselem Sanyatwe, commander of the elite presidential guard, told the public hearing “if any gunshot wounds were sustained by the victims, it was not from my men. All those were shot before we deployed and this is true because we never came across a dead body”.

Sanyatwe said troops had fired warning shots as they were trained to do.

The commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, told the inquiry that a kneeling soldier captured on a video that has gone viral on social media discharging his firearm, was firing warning shots.

The senior officers’ testimonies fly in the face of witness accounts and do not match the recollection of many witnesses to the violence, which followed scattered confrontations between police and protesters from the MDC angered by alleged electoral fraud.

This escalated resentment towards the Commission amid suspicion it’s condoning the institutionalised cover-up of the shootings by the army.

-Daily News

Two High Court Judges Justice Charles Hungwe and Justice Neville Wamambo have today set aside the conviction of pro-democracy campaigner Linda Masarira, who was convicted in March 2017 and sentenced to serve 385 hours of community service for participating in an anti-government protest held in July 2016 against Zimbabwe’s former leader Robert Mugabe’s administration.

Masarira was represented by Obey Shava and Kudzayi Kadzere of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

More details to follow….

Correspondent|POPULAR Zimbabwean pastor, Prophet Uebert Angel has been criticized by some of his followers over his Instagram post.

The prophet had posted a photo of himself carrying his wife, Beverly and gushing over how much he missed her.

“MISS her like some IDIOTS miss my POINT here on my Instagram posts… trust me THATS A LOT OF MISSING!!!

#GoodNews ***Many IDIOTS will miss the whole point of me missing my wife and go straight to defending FOOLS … see it for yourself… when you see it ask yourself why THEY MISS THE MAIN POINT and why their eyes only saw the word FOOL and not the main point of me MISSING MY WIFE! he wrote.”

The post was followed by series of criticisms from his followers for calling people idiots.

However, the man of God defended himself. See some of his comments.

“I do not know why you defend fools but you know better.. here are the facts… I do not know who taught you such nonsense? The bible calls FOOLS 69 times as FOOLS. This is no opinion. This is FACT and if a minister of GOD can not call a FOOL a FOOL just like the BIBLE says then that minister has lost his oil.

“God is THEOCRATIC not DEMOCRATIC like you are trying to play him.

“The bible also says A FOOL SAID THERE IS NO GOD. That is the bible and we should follow the bible. It is not talking to Christians. You need to leave this LEFTIST AGENDA. The bible you have to follow or go home.

“I wrote to provoke minds like yours that strangle one scripture forgetting that the bible calls FOOLS as FOOLS 69 TIMES. It forbids calling a Christian such names . You miss the point of people of God and children of God… and before you say WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD …Jesus my Lord and saviour thought different… he called some YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL that means you knew the difference.

“You are here defending CHILDREN OF DEVILS … ask yourself why?”

Terrence Mawawa|The country’s main opposition party, MDC A has unrolled a massive development programme for the city of Harare.

Kuwadzana East MP Charlton Hwende yesterday said Parliamentarians were working closely with Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba to facilitate development initiatives in the sunshine city.

“We are now working together with the Mayor and his Harare City Council staff to ensure that our library in Kuwadzana East is completed this month.

We will be pioneering the e-library
concept in a high density location and I am

working on providing free wifi to the students,” said Hwende.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Correspondent|A female Police officer based in Chivhu has been dragged to court on allegations of adultery and she has been slapped with a $10 000 lawsuit.

Kirsty Mushoriwa is accusing Nyasha Gweshe of having an affair with her husband Tinashe Mushoriwa for five years now. Mushoriwa works for the Ministry of Lands Agriculture and Rural Resettlement in Nyamapanda.

Both women are being represented by lawyers and the matter which came to court on Friday is before Chivhu Magistrate Michelle Panavanhu.

Kirsty who is represented by Ruvarashe Rusemwa of Nsingo and Associates says that Gweshe engaged in a sexual relationship with Mushoriwa when she was fully aware that he was still married to her and the marriage Chapter 5:11 between them was still valid.

Kirsty said she talked to Gweshe’s superiors to intervene in the adulterous relationship but to no avail. The only thing that happened is that Gweshe was transferred from Nyamapanda to Chivhu.

Gweshe, through her attorney, Albert Mhaka of Mhaka Attorneys dismissed the claims arguing that she discovered that Tinashe was married four months after she was pregnant with his child.

She said that she was customarily married to Mushoriwa who paid bride price for her. She said that there was no longer a love relationship between Mushoriwa and Kirsty since the former had filed an application of divorce at the High Court although the matter had not yet been finalised.

Gweshe also argued that Kirsty had filed the damage claim out of malice after a Murambinda magistrate recently granted a downward variation of spousal maintenance she was getting from Mushoriwa.

“I first met Kirsty in court some four months after I had got married to Tinashe when she had filed a peace order application against me. She however had never confronted me about her husband earlier because she knew very well that there was no longer affection between them,” said Gweshe.

Rusemwa however insisted that the customary marriage between Gweshe and Mushoriwa could not override the dictates of the Chapter 5:11 marriage between her client and Tinashe.

“You should have left the man you are having an adulterous affair with as soon as you discovered that he was married to the applicant. My client has lost trust, love and companionship because of the extra marital affair he is having with you,” said Rusemwa.

Gweshe confirmed that she had a child in the alleged adulterous relationship.
The matter was postponed to November 15 2018.

Prophet Chinyunyu  delivered a chilling prophecy on Nelson Chamisa’s Presidency.

According to the prophecy, Nelson Chamisa, if not careful will be booted out of the country’s main opposition.

“I saw a bus with the colour of blood, the bus driver needs to be careful because I saw the conductors of the red bus are planning to replace the bus driver by any means possible. I then saw the driver of that bus leaving the red bus and he started driving a new bus .

Dismissing Zanu PF in the MDC infighting, Prophet said, ” This conspiracy has nothing to do with the driver and conductors of the other bus which is yellow and green in colour (Zanu PF).

He however, said  that the uprising against  Chamisa could be  prevented if the current driver of the red bus (Chamisa) visits the country’s prestigious spiritual fathers who include  Baba Guti.

Own Correspondent|METEOROLOGICAL Services Department senior forecaster Mrs Linia Mashawi yesterday said heavier falls were expected over the weekend starting with the southern provinces, with heavier falls expected starting from Friday.

She said the 2018-19 rainfall season had performed badly so far and there was no meaningful rainfall for farmers who depend on rain-fed agriculture to start planting.

“There is no meaningful rains received anywhere across the country to date for people to start planting because of dry air in the middle levels of the atmosphere, which is sitting over Zimbabwe, reducing the chances of rain-bearing clouds countrywide,” said Mrs Mashawi.

“During this time of the year, cloud bands which normally traverse the country from Botswana have been very weak or none at all. However, there are atmospheric physical systems or processes that support moisture which are expected to affect the country.”

Mrs Mashawi said from tomorrow until Sunday, a cloud band was expected to start infiltrating the western border of the country into Matabeleland South and parts of Matabeleland North and proceed eastwards across the country. “As such, isolated light showers should progressively start over Matabeleland South and parts of Matabeleland North on Wednesday, as the cloud drifts into the country from Botswana,” she said.

“By Thursday evening, much of the country should be cloudy, humid and hot. Heavier falls are expected on Friday into weekend starting with the southern provinces, thus parts of Matabeleland South, southern districts of the Midlands, Masvingo and southern districts of Manicaland provinces moving northwards during the weekend.”

Ms Mashawi said although light rains were expected countrywide, the conditions were conducive for violent storms such as strong winds, hail, lightning and localised heavy downpours.

The MSD has forecast erratic rains as the 2018-19 season is pointing towards an El Nino phase.

El Nino is associated with above average warming of the sea surface temperatures of the Pacific Ocean and in most years is usually associated with reduced rainfall activity over the sub-region.

According to experts, approximately 62 percent of El Nino phases have resulted in below normal rainfall in Zimbabwe, leaving the country with less than a 40 percent chance of good rains during this coming season.

Own Correspondent|Controversial Bulawayo Provincial spokesperson for the MDC, Felix Magalela Mafa has made a sensational claim that he is getting death threats from the MDC vanguard for declaring that he will challenge party President Nelson Chamisa at the next congress.

Mafa declared on Monday that he was going to be challenging Chamisa’s presidency at the congress against varied statements from other senior party officials who have declared that Chamisa will not be contested.

Mafa provided ZimEye.com with a text message he claims was sent to him by a person only referred to as Gono.

“Mdhala mucharohwa nema Vanguard zvikangorova. Siyanai nazvo izvi. Free advice. The moment you try to contest President No one listens to your justification. Tinenge tatoona Zanu. We love you but kwamakutambira kunonyudza uko,” reads the message.

In his response Mafa declared that he will stand his ground and challenge Chamisa as no one in the party is above the constitution, or if closed out, he will quit the party altogether. Mafa is a founding member of the MDC and ZIPRA war veteran.

“Let it be known henceforth that no one is above the party constitution and let alone above the Almighty who predestined everyone. Leadership is from the Living God! Currently, Advocate Chamisa is our brand a true revolutionary. But that doesn’t preclude democratic ethos and virtues where the MDC is founded.

“I have nothing to lose now and a near future as long democratic values are maintained by this great movement.
To those with ears ,understand me well and accept my constitutional obligations to redirect some overzealous colleagues in order for their self preservation.”

“If that is the case,it is better I resign from this great movement in disgrace and watch from the terraces. I have done my bit and should hand the button to the younger generation. I can’t take this anymore.”

Jane Mlambo| Kuwadzana East legislator, Charlton Hwende has revealed his plans for the much talked about Kuwadzana library started by his party President Nelson Chamisa.

Hwende who toured the project site yesterday in the company of Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba said, “We are now working together with the Mayor and his Harare City Council staff to ensure that our library in Kuwadzana East is completed this month. We will be pioneering the e-library concept in a high density location and I am working on providing free wifi to the students.”

Watch Video below

ONE of the longest serving chiefs in Mashonaland Central province, Chief Bepura of Guruve, has died. He was 63.

Chief Bepura, born Kenneth Sailas Bepura, died at his homestead on Sunday around 2am after a short illness.

Mashonaland Central provincial administrator Cosmas Chiringa confirmed the death.

“We are saddened with the passing on of one of the long-serving chiefs in Mashonaland Central and his untimely death has left a big void after being appointed in 2006,” Chiringa said.

“We are still waiting for the family to furnish us with burial arrangements

NewsDay

A SNAKE that allegedly fatally bit a 25-year-old man from Lupane in a 45-metre deep well on Wednesday last week has kept rescuers at bay as everyone is afraid to enter the well and retrieve the body.

Police yesterday confirmed the incident.

The Civil Protection Unit brought in the police sub-aqua unit, rangers from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Forestry Commission, Fire Brigade and underground mining experts and they all allegedly baulked at entering the well.

Sandile Mguni had descended into the well using a rope when he shouted that he had been bitten by a snake.

He had been contracted with two colleagues to rehabilitate a well at Mr Glen Moyo’s homestead in Makhekhe Village when they spotted a snake at the bottom of the well.

The trio boiled a drum-full of water which they poured into the well intending to kill the reptile.

Believing that the snake was dead Mguni and his workmates returned to the homestead to resume work but he was bitten while underground.

Police were called in and could not do anything.

On Saturday officers from the Bulawayo City Council fire brigade department were called in and spent the night trying to retrieve the body but failed.

Yesterday Mguni’s body had not been retrieved from the well as none of the potential rescuers was brave enough to go down the well.

Gomoza ward 12 councillor Malaki Tshuma said the whole community is in shock.

Police spokesperson for Matabeleland North Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese said the incident was rare.

She said a team of snake catchers from Bulawayo had volunteered to travel to Lupane to retrieve the body.

“On November 15 we received a report of suspected sudden death by snake bite or suffocation from a well. The victim who we can’t confirm dead for now since the body hasn’t been retrieved was in the company of two others doing some domestic work at Mr Glen Moyo’s homestead where they were employed to scoop mud from a well,” said Chief Insp Makonese.

She said Mguni is suspected to have been bitten by a venomous snake in the well.

“A week before the incident they spotted the snake and boiled a drum full of water which they poured in the well to kill the snake. They stopped working and returned on November 14 at 7AM intending to resume work,” said Chief Insp Makonese.

She said Mguni spotted the snake as he was being lowered and requested that they pull him up with the intention of picking a bucket to put the snake as he believed that it had died from the hot water they had poured the previous week.

“He armed himself with a spear and carried a bucket. As his colleagues were lowering him down, they heard a hissing sound and Mguni suddenly called out that he had been bitten. They pulled back the rope but only an empty bucket came up,” she said.

Chief Insp Makonese said a report was made to the police who mobilised other stakeholders.

State Media

View pictures below

Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe Diamonds Workers Union secretary general Justice Chinhema has accused Chinese of fuelling corruption in the mines sector.

Reacting to an exposure of environmental threat in Zvimba where two Chinese companies are mining chrome, Chinhema charged the so-called investors are ‘benefiting from underhand dealings implicating senior National Employment Council, NEC, officials.

He claimed that there is ‘unprofessional conduct, corruption and underhand dealings by mostly NEC giving Chinese ‘first class citizen treatment,’.

Chinhema said, “We have discovered that dirty money is exchanging hands between NEC officers and Chinese. There is deep rooted corruption between these two groups affecting mining sector and Government will never get tax from these companies.”

He claimed that their investigations exposed Chinese run mines that include Decolux in Sutton, Zvimba, San he and Kherai in Guruve as well as UMC in Mutorashanga.

“These are part of several chrome mining Chinese companies that have gone to bed with NEC officials in the mining sector,” said Chinhema in a written statement.

Chinhema added that some mines involved in underhand dealings are mining gold as well. He castigated NEC officials who besides being mining industry regulating authority are failing to protect workers.

“Associated Mine Workers Union and ZDWUZ have lost faith as our members have not been assisted by NEC as they NEC grants ‘exemptions’ to Chinese miners so that they cannot pay what is due to their workers and Government tax when it is due.

“This is corruption and exploitation of highest order in an independent country. Workers are no longer paid overtime worked as well as minimum wage as negotiated on behalf of workers by unions,” he added.

Chinhema said majority of mine workers are paid between $5 and $7 per day working from 6am till 6 pm with no protective clothing.

“Exemption issued in 2016 have not been reviewed till this year. What is so special about Chinese run mines?” said Chinhema.

“NEC officers in mining industry are conniving to cheat and steal from hard working mine workers,” charged Chinhema.

Chinhema added that NEC officials are paid ‘as little as USD$30 by Chinese management so that they do not follow laid down procedures.

“This is not helping the mining sector. We call upon Government to revisit the mining rights offered to mostly Chinese run mines. They are not adding value in the sector,” added Chinhema.

M&T

Meteorological Services Department (MSD) senior forecaster Mrs Linia Mashawi yesterday said heavier rainfall is expected over the weekend starting with the southern provinces.

Mashawi said there has been no rainfall because of dry air in the middle levels of the atmosphere.

Said Mashawi:

“There is no meaningful rains received anywhere across the country to date for people to start planting because of dry air in the middle levels of the atmosphere, which is sitting over Zimbabwe, reducing the chances of rain-bearing clouds countrywide.

“During this time of the year, cloud bands which normally traverse the country from Botswana have been very weak or none at all. However, there are atmospheric physical systems or processes that support moisture which are expected to affect the country.”

She said by Thursday evening, much of the country should be cloudy, humid and hot. She said heavier rainfall is expected on Friday into weekend starting with parts of Matabeleland South, southern districts of the Midlands, Masvingo and southern districts of Manicaland provinces moving northwards during the weekend.

-State Media

Dr. Daniel Shumba, the immediate former Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Mines and Energy, who followed closely the proceedings of the Committee in which the Attorney General, Hon. Prince Machaya, stated boldly that in his view, the Reconstruction of State Indebted Insolvent Companies Act (“The Recon Act”) does not contravene the Constitution.

“I was shocked to hear an Attorney General whose role and power is prescribed in the Constitution of Zimbabwe. It is worth highlighting that s 114 provides that one of the AG’s functions is to promote, protect and uphold the rule of law and to defend the public interest. One does not need to be a lawyer to know that a law that permits a Minister to issue an order, with the same force and effect of a judicial order, that limits the constitutional rights of shareholders and other stakeholders in respect of a company, can never pass any constitutional muster. I listened with disgust while the AG, presumably thinking that we are all illiterate, defend this draconian and penal law that should never exist let alone operate in a democratic constitutional state,” said Dr. Shumba.
He also said: “The President has promised constitutionalism and the rule of law, yet the AG as the principal legal adviser to the Government seems to think and act in a manner that is ultra vires the constitution. On this basis alone, he is and ought to be automatically disqualified from holding any public office. The mere fact that the AG seems to think that the Minister of Justice, a member of the Executive branch of government, has the power to divest shareholders and directors of the rights they constitutionally have in relation to a company without following the due process of the law and the Constitution must concern any person interested in the prosperity of this country.”
“It is my considered opinion that the Committee members missed a unique and opportune moment to expose the illiteracy of the AG and his dereliction of duty when they failed to interrogate him about the letter and spirit of the Act in order to establish whether they speak to the prescripts of the rule of law. The Constitution compels the AG to be on the side of the Constitution yet what I heard from yesterday was so shocking that I could not help by vocal on the urgent need to remove this AG otherwise all the plans and efforts to improve the business climate are doomed,” said Dr. Shumba.
The Recon Act empowers the Minister of Justice without notifying a company’s stakeholders to issue a reconstruction order in respect of a private company.
The effect of the order is to divest the shareholders of the power to appoint and remove directors of a company they hold shares in.
In addition, the Minister is permitted to divest the directors of a company of the right to control and manage the company outside the operation of the Companies Act.
In terms of this law that the AG said is a good law, the Minister of Justice can issue the order by way of notice in the Government Gazette without the knowledge of a Court or Judge.
The role of the Court is limited to confirming this Ministerial or Executive Order.
However, the law provides that the first time the Court will get to know about the facts and circumstances of the order is 30 days after the issuance of this quasi or extrajudicial order when the confirmation of the order is sought.
“Imagine you have a company that owes money to a government institution. Then the Minister of Justice decides in his own wisdom and independent to the concerned institution to issue an order in relation to this company. In terms of this law, you are left in a legal vacuum for 30 days while your rights in relation to this company are impaired. Then you have the AG, the very person who is supposed to protect, promote and uphold your sights as a shareholder boasting that the existence and operation of this law serves a bona fide and constitutional purpose. What would you do when confronted with this nonsense in the name of some imagined public interest?” said Dr. Shumba.

Jane Mlambo| MDC Deputy President, Professor Welshman Ncube has dismissed as false a story that insinuated he has fallen out with party leader Nelson Chamisa.

Ncube said everything that is attributed to him is false adding that there is no fallout between him and Chamisa.

The story headlined Welshman & Chamisa in nasty fallout is 100% FAKE NEWS. I never spoke to the author of the story. EVERYTHING attributed to me I never said. There is no fall out between me & Chamisa. The real question is: Why are the forces behind the FALSE story so DESPERATE?

— Prof. Welshman Ncube (@Welshman_Ncube) November 19, 2018

Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC President, Nelson Chamisa has clarified his position on the coming elective congress saying all positions are up for grabs, blaming all the noise on outsiders whose motive is to destabilize the party.

Responding to a question on whether the party decided that he will not be contested, Chamisa said all positions were for contest “when the time comes.”

I don’t understand what the noise is all about.Congress is coming.All positions are open for a democratic contest when the time comes.The only problem is attempts from outside seeking to distabilze the movement through interference and influence.

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) November 20, 2018

Jane Mlambo| Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, George Charamba has thrown a jibe at Movement for Democratic Change leader, Nelson Chamisa saying he must not expect to be treated with gloved hands in a matter that involves the death of people.

Charamba who appeared to suggest that Chamisa will be arrested said the Commission of Inquiry into the 1st of August shootings is working to establish facts which will be preceded by arrests.

“Essentially, that is what he is saying, to say ‘your voting is useless, I have my own ways which is above the ballot and which is above the people’. And if he thinks there is an irresponsible parent who throws jiggies to a child who is burning the village, sorry hake,” said Charamba.

“We want to establish the facts and soon after the facts have been established, prosecutorial action will be taken because we have lost lives. But more critically, we will have more elections for as long as this country lives as a democratic proposition. If we don’t send a clear signal that you don’t dabble in violence and trivialise life, it will mean that this thing will continue haunting us. It’s a very serious matter.”

Mr Charamba continued: “Yes, it’s about lives that have been lost, but more critically, it’s about lives that are still endangered by future elections. The Vanguard is mentioned in the Commission. There is a counter narrative to say we have disbanded it, meanwhile Chamisa is certificating them for their superb violence which draws fatalities.

“Who takes him seriously and is that responsible leadership? He is personally liable and he is also vicariously liable and the best favour he can do to himself is to go and put his own side of the story before the Commission. He should not think that he can throw people on the streets so as to abort processes.

“It’s not going to happen. If he thinks that his response to a subpoena is by throwing his demos in the street, then he is in for a very rude shock. He must be brought to account. There will come a time when we go beyond that to say for how long do we tolerate an argument which says the voter made a mistake to give us a certain electoral outcome when in fact what will decide the electoral day is violence in the street.

Opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa has for the second time suspended Victoria Falls Mayor, Councillor Somvelo Dlamini, on allegations of bringing the party into disrepute by defying directives and undermining protocol among other charges.

Reads the letter copied to the national organising committee, district and ward committees: “Suspension from councillorship of Ward 9 and party activities at Victoria Falls Municipality and Ward 9 structures.

With reference to the above matter, this communiqué serves to inform you that you are suspended from performing the above duties within the party with immediate effect.

“You’re therefore expected to be summoned to appear before the provincial executive disciplinary committee in terms of section 3.6.1 of the party constitution in due course and expected to hear your laid out charges in terms of section 3.6.3 of the same constitution.”

In an interview yesterday, Presidential spokesperson Dr Nkululeko Sibanda blamed the Victoria Falls mayorship saga on what he termed “competition from competition” that he accused of causing confusion in the process.

He accused Clr Dlamini of not following party procedure when he was elected as mayor.

Asked why the party was keen on disciplining him alone and not the seven councillors who voted him in, Dr Sibanda said: “The reason is that they got confused during the election process because they knew there was one candidate.”

“When nominations were called, no one challenged but the opposition confused our councillors to vote for Dlamini who was meant to be deputy.”

Dr Sibanda said Mr Chamisa was not imposing candidates but keen on introducing democracy which residents were denying.

He said the selection process involved residents who were, however, overshadowed by personal interests.

“In Victoria Falls we had all stakeholders required by the party to participate in the selection process but the residents association chose not to participate because it is suspected that it is working closely with our competition hence they refused to participate in the process,” he said.

-State Media

Jane Mlambo| Sensing that opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa could be running away with the political ground, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has now joined the bandwagon and is set to launch his party’s ‘Thank You Rallies’ in Mashonaland East this weekend.

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa heads to Mash West this weekend‼️

He will be launching “Thank You Rallies” to express gratitude to the people who voted for him and Zanu-PF in the July 30 harmonised elections. @KMutisi @JonesMusara @Mavhure @ttgono @nicolehondo @larry_moyo @CdeNMaswerasei pic.twitter.com/dVcTgd4k5S

— ?? ZANU PF PATRIOTS ?? (@zanupf_patriots) November 20, 2018

ZIMBABWEAN big spenders, prophets and socialites have reportedly gone into hibernation as last week’s gazetted anti-corruption measures have begun netting some of big spenders who used to be untouchable.

Last week the “Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Amendment of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act and Exchange Control Act) Regulations, 2018”, which empower government to seize assets of people who fail to disclose the source of their wealth, was gazetted.

Following the decision by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to fight corruption – particularly in government and the business sector – several public figures have been either briefly caged, released on remand or summoned by the police for questioning.

In no time, Harare socialite Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure, 34, whose razzmatazz lifestyle is known far and wide – and who has a penchant for super cars and heavy spending in Africa’s richest square mile, Sandton – was nabbed for tax evasion over a period of nine years. It is alleged that he owes the tax man at least US$22m.

Kadungure, who at one time was the only person in southern Africa to own a 2016 Rolls-Royce Wraith, mocked another fellow socialite-come-tenderpreneur, Wicknell Chivayo, on national radio for driving a “car for civil servants” when he boasted about driving the then latest S-Class Mercedes-Benz.

Chivayo, 39, has also been in and out of court and even spent time in remand prison in relation to allegations of corruptly receiving US$5m from the government-owned Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and also being awarded a US$200,000 tender illegally.

Known for running alcohol tabs that went well into thousands, before Mnangagwa came into power, the who’s who of the boys club were only rivalled by the Mugabe boys, Chatunga, Robert and Russell. With the trio keeping a low profile, spending most of their time in South Africa, some tenderpreneurs have also fled the country fearing the arrests currently under way.

“These guys [new government] can pick up anyone just like that. Even if you can prove yourself later, you will spend time behind bars because you have been leading a flashy life. Most of us are dealers and obviously there’s no straight path in our trade and, to be honest, in the Zimbabwe situation no legitimate business can stay afloat without cutting corners because corruption is all over,” said one dealer, who has since set up base in Johannesburg until tempers cool.

Many of the “hustlers” whose lifestyles attract probes are allegedly involved in smuggling fuel, gas, minerals and getting government tenders controversially.

Soon after Operation Restore Legacy in November last year, many that benefited from being aligned to the former First Family or its auxiliaries switched allegiance to those close to the new order.

“You had guys now looking for new sources to feed off, some were offering services like, ‘I know such and such a mineral dealer we can work with’,” he added.

Prosperity preacher, Prophet Walter Magaya, who last month claimed to have found an HIV cure that could kill the virus in a space of two weeks is also being investigated. He is on record saying that he is worth at least US$500m. To put it into perspective, had he been an American rapper he would rank in the Top 10 of the all-time highest earners’ list.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) confirmed it was investigating the prophet’s source of wealth and tax compliance saying the issue was “highly sensitive”.

“You don’t get access to state resources without a power behind you. All these money-flaunting guys have their inside men, hence convicting them of any money related crime is nearly impossible,” said a Zanu PF insider.

This narrative was last week laid bare by Mnangagwa’s former special advisor, Christopher Mutsvangwa, who told an independent weekly that Zimbabwe was being run by cartels. He claimed these cartels had political pawns in the highest offices.

“He [Kudakwashe Tagwirei] is dividing the presidium. How can a businessman have preferences in the presidium? That is trying to turn the country into a banana republic. Tagwirei’s business gets about US$80m to US$90m every month for fuel from the RBZ [Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe], yet many companies, some of them the largest fuel dealers in the world, want to come and invest in the fuel industry in the country,” he said.

Tagwirei is the chief executive officer and director at Sakunda Holdings Group, a company that controls the majority of the fuel industry in the country.

Prophet Magaya, despite being probed, has been also rubbing shoulders with the political elite through parcelling out gifts. In 2015 he bought former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s autobiography for US$50,000. In September this year he donated goods worth US$1m to 10,000 households in Harare to step up the fight against cholera.

Millionaire Frank Buyanga fled the country during the Mugabe era after numerous cabinet ministers and high-ranking politicians – whom he gave loans to, but which they failed to repay – reported him to police . He is back in the fold – last week he went to meet President Mnangagwa in his high powered red Ferrari F12 Berlinetta that turned heads at the government offices.

Buyanga has since offered government a US$34.8m facility to procure drugs as the forex shortage bites.

“There is nothing for free. These guys are trying to get a foot in but it’s up to the president to show them he means business – no to corruption,” added the Zanu PF official.

With the highest office in their corner, tenderpreneurs tend to bully cabinet ministers. In 2016 Chivayo, then close to the First Lady Grace Mugabe, barked at Professor Jonathan Moyo for being a bully used to having his way around “people with no money”.

Former ministers such as Ignatious Chombo, Dr Samuel Parirenyatwa, Supa Mandiwanzira, Saviour Kasukuwere and Samuel Udenge have appeared in court facing corruption charges but their cases are dragging.

— TimesLIVE

Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, George Charamba yesterday launched a scathing attack on MDC President Nelson Chamisa threatening that he will be arrested should the Commission of Inquiry into the 1st of August violence nail him as one of the people responsible.

In an interview with The Herald, Charamba said Chamisa must appear before the Kgalema Motlante led commission and give his side of the story.

“We want to establish the facts and soon after the facts have been established, prosecutorial action will be taken because we have lost lives. But more critically, we will have more elections for as long as this country lives as a democratic proposition. If we don’t send a clear signal that you don’t dabble in violence and trivialise life, it will mean that this thing will continue haunting us. It’s a very serious matter.”

Mr Charamba continued: “Yes, it’s about lives that have been lost, but more critically, it’s about lives that are still endangered by future elections. The Vanguard is mentioned in the Commission. There is a counter narrative to say we have disbanded it, meanwhile Chamisa is certificating them for their superb violence which draws fatalities.

“Who takes him seriously and is that responsible leadership? He is personally liable and he is also vicariously liable and the best favour he can do to himself is to go and put his own side of the story before the Commission. He should not think that he can throw people on the streets so as to abort processes.

“It’s not going to happen. If he thinks that his response to a subpoena is by throwing his demos in the street, then he is in for a very rude shock. He must be brought to account. There will come a time when we go beyond that to say for how long do we tolerate an argument which says the voter made a mistake to give us a certain electoral outcome when in fact what will decide the electoral day is violence in the street.

“Essentially, that is what he is saying, to say ‘your voting is useless, I have my own ways which is above the ballot and which is above the people’. And if he thinks there is an irresponsible parent who throws jiggies to a child who is burning the village, sorry hake,” said Charamba.