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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Newsday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NewsDay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NewsDay

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

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

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

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

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

Four of the stolen vehicles were recovered.

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

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

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

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

NewsDay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NewsDay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Only Bulawayo refused permission for the display.

NewsDay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NewsDay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The minister risked being held in contempt of court.

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

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

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

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

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

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

— DailyNews

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– Mail & Telegraph.

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

He was 48.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

260 hectares of land was aside for the project.

State Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Pulse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DAYS LEFT TO RELEASE MOTLANTHE REPORT:

6 Days Left, Will Mnangagwa Release Motlanthe Report?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 12, 2018

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

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

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

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

Watch the video below for this and more:

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

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

Twimbos took to twitter expressing mixed sentiments over the clip.

We publish below some of the reactions to the tweet:

6 Days Left, Will Mnangagwa Release Motlanthe Report?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 12, 2018

VILLAGERS in Chipinge, Manicaland province have dragged ethanol producer, Green Fuel to court to stop it from occupying their communal land and interfering with their farming activities.

Represented by Passmore Nyakureba and Blessing Nyamaropa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the villagers together with Platform for Youth Development petitioned the High Court on Monday 10 December 2018 seeking an order restraining Green Fuel from depriving them access to their communal land and stopping the ethanol producer from destroying their crops.

In the urgent chamber application, the villagers argued that Green Fuel unlawfully invaded Magokova communal land in Chisumbanje, Chipinge, Manicaland province intending to expand its sugarcane farming operations.

The land, which they have had use of from the colonial times through inheritance from their parents, the villagers argued, is currently used by 138 families for agricultural purposes, where they grow cotton as their sole cash crop and maize for subsistence purposes.

Their concern came after Green Fuel started barring them from either tilling their fields, tendering their germinated crops and from total access at all.

The villagers argued that Green Fuel had done so without securing a court order barring them access to their fields and neither has the use of land been changed from communal land to commercial land by the responsible authority to the knowledge of the villagers.
In addition, Green Fuel has set armed security guards and dogs to ward off the villagers from accessing their fields in Magokova communal lands, of which farming is the only economic activity sustaining their livelihoods.

Green Fuel’s conduct, the villagers argued violates several of their fundamental rights, specifically the right to agricultural land as guaranteed under section 72 of the Constitution, the right to food as guaranteed under section 77 of  the Constitution, the right to
property as provided for under section 71 of the Constitution, the right to equal protection of the law as guaranteed under section 56 of the Constitution and above all it is a violation of the founding principles and the national objectives of the people of Zimbabwe entrenched in the Constitution.

The urgent chamber application will be heard and determined by Justice Hlekani Mwayera on Thursday 13 December 2018 at 3:30 PM.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has secured the release of Last Nyanhete, a citizen who was arrested on Wednesday and accused of obstructing or endangering free movement of persons or traffic while he was just walking in the central business district of Harare.

ZLHR is also representing several other people who were arrested together with Nyanhete on Wednesday.

More to follow…

VIEW PICTURES BELOW…

The area legislator, Charlton Hwende later posted on Facebook appreciating those who had donated books towards the library;

“Help me thank all those donating books to our Kuwadzana library the latest donor has just sent this wonderful message

“Well, I’d love give 50copies of each book giving a total of 150 books. But however I feel it’s not enough as the library is still growing so I’ve made a task to buy more books. The target is to have 500 books and as way of celebrating my birthday on the 6th of January 2019. I can come through and hand over the books.

How about that?,” said Hwende

VILLAGERS in Chipinge, Manicaland province have dragged ethanol producer, Green Fuel to court to stop it from occupying their communal land and interfering with their farming activities.

Represented by Passmore Nyakureba and Blessing Nyamaropa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the villagers together with Platform for Youth Development petitioned the High Court on Monday 10 December 2018 seeking an order restraining Green Fuel from depriving them access to their communal land and stopping the ethanol producer from destroying their crops.

In the urgent chamber application, the villagers argued that Green Fuel unlawfully invaded Magokova communal land in Chisumbanje, Chipinge, Manicaland province intending to expand its sugarcane farming operations.

The land, which they have had use of from the colonial times through inheritance from their parents, the villagers argued, is currently used by 138 families for agricultural purposes, where they grow cotton as their sole cash crop and maize for subsistence purposes.

Their concern came after Green Fuel started barring them from either tilling their fields, tendering their germinated crops and from total access at all.

The villagers argued that Green Fuel had done so without securing a court order barring them access to their fields and neither has the use of land been changed from communal land to commercial land by the responsible authority to the knowledge of the villagers.
In addition, Green Fuel has set armed security guards and dogs to ward off the villagers from accessing their fields in Magokova communal lands, of which farming is the only economic activity sustaining their livelihoods.

Green Fuel’s conduct, the villagers argued violates several of their fundamental rights, specifically the right to agricultural land as guaranteed under section 72 of the Constitution, the right to food as guaranteed under section 77 of  the Constitution, the right to
property as provided for under section 71 of the Constitution, the right to equal protection of the law as guaranteed under section 56 of the Constitution and above all it is a violation of the founding principles and the national objectives of the people of Zimbabwe entrenched in the Constitution.

The urgent chamber application will be heard and determined by Justice Hlekani Mwayera on Thursday 13 December 2018 at 3:30 PM.

THE trial of former Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who is facing criminal abuse of office charges after allocating land to former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s sister Shuvai Gumbochuma, was yesterday moved to December 19, pending the High Court determination of his application for exception.

Kasukuwere, represented by Advocate Thembi Magwaliba, applied for a postponement of the matter before magistrate Hosea Mujaya, saying the application for review at the High Court was more urgent.

But prosecutor Zivavani Macharaga opposed the postponement, saying some of the witnesses were coming from Gwanda and it costs over $500 to bring them to court, and that Kasukuwere just wanted to delay the proceedings.

Magwaliba objected and accused Macharaga of desperation, saying he wanted the trial to proceed despite the pending High Court application.

Mujaya then postponed the matter, stating the defence had produced enough proof.

Meanwhile, former Health minister David Parirenyatwa, who is also facing criminal abuse of office charges, yesterday successfully applied for the release of his passport, stating he wanted to attend an HIV and Aids workshop in Ghana.

Parirenyatwa, who appeared before magistrate Bianca Makwande, was ordered to return the passport after a 10-day period ending December 21.

NewsDay

THE Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) has vowed not to call off the industrial action which began on December 1, until their demands for better pay and more drugs in State hospitals are resolved.Correspondent

Speaking at a Press conference in Harare yesterday, ZHDA secretary-general Mthabisi Bhebhe dismissed calls made by government on Tuesday for them to return to work while their issues were to being attended to.

“It’s very unfortunate that we are entering the second week (of the strike) and nothing has been done, and it’s obvious that the grievances we have raised with our employer have not been addressed.

If it was the case, doctors would have gone back to work,” he said.

“We believe it is the duty of our employer to take care of his employees and these are the issues we are willing to discuss with our employer, but it’s unfortunate that our employer is not forthcoming, and we are left wondering what is going to happen next.”

Bhebhe said they had two meetings with their employer and are troubled by government’s lack of seriousness in resolving the issues.

He said negotiations were being deliberately delayed and done in bad faith.

“We are worried about the grievances that have been raised; they are genuine and we are waiting for answers … Our worry is that the response we are supposed to get is being delayed.

The situation has spread to provincial hospitals, and district hospitals have joined as well,” he said.

“If you visit any hospital right now, you will notice the effect of the industrial action; nothing is happening; doctors are not there.

They are waiting for the employer to address the grievances affecting them and the patient.”

“We are aware of reports that there has been a $25 million grant for drugs that has been secured.

The honest issue is there is no medication in hospitals, and when we did further investigations on the matter, the drugs are still in India.

The timeframe when they will be available is not known.”

Bhebhe said their strike would continue until they had tangible results.

“The grievances by doctors have been presented to the ministry countless times.

What is being and has been waited for is action on the part of the ministry to solve the impasse.

To this end, doctors will remain on industrial action until such a time practical and convincing solutions are provided to mitigate avoidable morbidity and mortality among patients,” Bhebhe said in a statement.

Nurses at Parirenyatwa and Harare Central hospitals told NewsDay that most wards had few patients and that admissions were limited to life-threatening cases only, since doctors were not reporting for duty.

NewsDay

Correspondent|FORMER President Robert Mugabe and his family are expected to leave the country shortly for their annual break in the Far East, it has emerged.

The government would, as ever, pick up the tab, our sources said this week.

While in power, Mugabe hardly took his annual holidays at home, usually leaving Harare in December and returning in February before his birthday celebrations.

Singapore – where he would also travel regularly for medical treatment – became a favourite bolt-hole after he was banned from Western capitals over allegations of rights abuses and electoral chicanery.

And the city State remains a preferred foreign destination after Mugabe’s forced and acrimonious ‘retirement’ last November.

The veteran leader and his family are still being looked after by the successor administration of former protégé Emmerson Mnangagwa, or so the latter claims.

Now approaching 95, Mugabe only recently returned home from Singapore after undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment for two months.

Mnangagwa told a political rally last month that the former Zanu PF leader was so poorly that he was no longer able to walk.

The claim was however, denied by National Patriotic Front (NPF) spokesman, Jealousy Mawarire who said Mnangagwa “lies more than he tells the truth”.

Maware often speaks for the Mugabes as well.

Sources say Mugabe’s health “is in keeping with his age” and that there was contact with the Mnangagwa administration “through the relevant institutions of the State”.

CHAOTIC scenes rocked the burial of MDC Alliance Ward 28 Councillor Hapson Ncube in Bulawayo yesterday with party members taking the deceased’s body to former councillor Collet Ndlovu’s business premises chanting slogans denouncing him.

The party supporters, clad in party regalia, also sang songs at the business premises in Cowdray Park suggesting that Ncube, who died on Sunday at a Bulawayo hospital at the age of 34, was killed through witchcraft.

The supporters, mostly made up of members of the party’s youth, passed through the business premises enroute Bulawayo Amphitheatre where a service was held before burial at Lady Stanley Cemetery.

The crowd chanted slogans denigrating Mr Ndlovu, saying “Phansi ngo Collet, phansi (down with Collet)” before breaking into song, “Ndiwe wakauraya pahukama, hazvina mhosva pahukama.”

The song is one of the funeral laments sung when mourners suspect foul play on the cause of the death.

Addressing mourners, the party’s provincial youth chairperson Clr Mlandu Ncube urged party members to desist from killing each other, to the applause and whistling from the audience.

“As the Bulawayo MDC Youth Assembly and the Zimbabwean young people we feel so much reduced and robbed. It came to us as a surprise today to note that one of our kingpins in the assembly has gone to the new land of peace, we say rest in peace our fighter,” he said, sobbing.

Source: State Media

Correspondent|THE body of a female Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education official from Matabeleland South Province whose vehicle was swept away by a flooded river while travelling with a colleague has been recovered by members of the police sub aqua unit.

The vehicle was swept away on Monday evening at Mamsisi River bridge in Ntalale village South of Gwanda.

Their vehicle was found by villagers on Tuesday morning along Mamsisi River about 200 metres from the bridge lying on its roof.

The area received heavy rains on Monday which left rivers flooded. A search for the two colleagues on Tuesday by villagers yielded nothing.

A police sub aqua team from Bulawayo was deployed to search for the two officials, Ms Samukeliso Dlamini who is the Gwanda District Schools Inspector and Mr Richard Nyandoro, an accountant with the Ministry.

Ms Dlamini was driving the vehicle when the accident occurred.

Ntalale Ward councillor who was also at the scene, Coster Ndlovu confirmed that police had recovered Ms Dlamini’s body and search will continue for Nyandoro.

“The sub aqua team recovered the woman’s body from the dam who has been identified as Ms Dlamini around 5PM. Only one body has been recovered today as the sub aqua team has aborted the search for the day and they are set to resume tomorrow, “he said.

AN inquiry into the illegal sale of State land in urban areas is now 60 percent complete and so far, 75 land barons have been arrested for fraud, theft of trust funds and other corruption-related offences.

Government appointed a commission to investigate the irregular sale of State land in and around urban areas in February this year.

It is chaired by Supreme Court judge, Justice Tendai Uchena.

The commission’s findings will be given to President Mnangagwa.

Of the 75 suspects, 25 have appeared in court and their cases are still pending.

Parallel to the public hearings, the chief investigator in the commission of inquiry, Superintendent Godfree Muza and his team was instituting criminal probe where prima facie evidence points to a criminal offence.

Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Justice Uchena said the commission had covered six provinces where investigations had been conducted on 79 farms.

“Therefore we have made inquiries on 79 urban State land units or farms. Currently, we are working on producing reports for the six provinces we have covered.

“The commission’s outstanding work in is four provinces which are as follows: Harare, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Midlands.

“The provinces covered are Manicaland, Masvingo, Mashonaland East, Matabeleland North, Matabeland South and Bulawayo,” said Justice Uchena.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Press briefing, Superintendent Muza said 75 land barons had been arrested and 25 taken to court.

“Some 25 matters are pending before the courts while about 50 others are still under investigation,” he said.

Supt Muza’s list of criminal cases features prominent names like former ZANU PF Youth league leader Innocent Hamandishe, who is facing five cases of land related criminal cases at Caledonia Farm.

Also on the list is another former Zanu-PF youth leader Mubuso Chinguno, who faces allegations of swindling home seekers in Chipinge.

The barons face charges including theft of trust property, receiving money from cooperative members and converting it to personal use and selling non-existent stands.

Justice Uchena said the commission was now compiling reports in respect of the first six provinces.

The commission, according to Justice Uchena, will move to the outstanding four provinces in February next year.

The other five commissioners are Dr Tarisai Mutangi, Mr Adrew Mlalazi, Mr Steve Chakaipa, Dr Heather Chingono and Mrs Petronella Musarurwa.

Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Permanent Secretary Mrs Virginia Mabiza heads the commission’s secretariat.

At the end of the inquiry, findings and recommendations will be submitted to the President.

State Media

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has ruled out the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) with MDC-Alliance, saying the ruling Zanu-PF had won an overwhelming people’s mandate in the July 30 harmonised elections.

Mnangagwa, who is also the ruling party’s First Secretary, said this while opening the 110th Ordinary Session of the Central Committee at Zanu-PF Headquarters in Harare on Wednesday.

“After the announcement of the election results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Zanu-PF got a two thirds majority in Parliament which was two times more than what they (MDC-Alliance) got,” he said.

“So when you hear them saying we want a GNU, you should ignore them. They are daydreaming. As Zanu-PF you should not even think that there would be a GNU. We don’t have any plans for a GNU in our party as Zanu-PF,” he said.

“They challenged the election results at the Constitutional Court (Concourt) and lost. They did not ask for the opening of the ballot boxes because they knew they would lose again. You now hear them making all sorts of noises, but you should not be bothered about that. That is what losers do,” Mnangagwa said.

“We should now concentrate on fulfilling the mandate we were given by the electorate in the next five years. We should build the economy and put politics aside.

“We are now seized as Zanu-PF with growing of the economy; with finding solutions to resolve all the economic challenges the country is facing as a result of sanctions which we are facing as a country.”

MDC-Alliance has refused the acknowledge Mnangagwa’s victory, saying it was a result of fiddling with figures by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

The MDC has denied claims that the party is desperate to form a government of national unity with ZANU PF (GNU).

MDC president and vice chairperson, Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti
respectively, have called for negotiations with ZANU PF in order to put an end to the political and economic crisis facing the country.

MDC party spokesperson Jacob Mafume told The Daily News Emmerson Mnangagwa was actually himself the one desperate for the formation of a GNU.

”Zanu PF honchos stole the vote and
they are being tormented by their theft, it is them who were rejected by all credible observer missions and it is them Zanu PF who are failing to get a single cent even from the Chinese.

They have caused fuel shortages and
are taxing people, it is not us who have begged them for a unity government,” he said.

“Zanu PF has messed up things, they have failed the economy.They are illegitimate; they have failed to pass the legitimacy test internationally and to the people of Zimbabwe. You cannot seek to govern people by force, they will not comply.They are facing resistance from the people and the economy,” said Mafume.

Correspondent|THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has said online application for Form One boarding school places is closing on December 21.

Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Edgar Moyo said parents who are facing challenges applying online should approach their nearest schools or online experts for help before the application process closes.

Said Moyo: “The system is still in place and parents should make use of it. There are reports of parents who are failing to access the system, we are urging them to consult knowledgeable people even in internet cafes before the application closes.”

Some parents fear that they may fail to secure places for their children as they are struggling to register online due to technical errors, poor internet connectivity and computer illiteracy.

Schools authorities said after a delay in response, many parents panic and drive to schools to confirm if their children got places.

“Boarding school places are on demand and parents cannot wait to confirm if their children got places. They end up coming here, some of them insulting school authorities for denying their children places. I think they need more education on this issue because they incur unnecessary losses driving here. The system sometimes is low since our internet connection is not perfect,” said a school official.

A majority of boarding schools countrywide are overwhelmed by online applications from pupils seeking Form One places for next year.

Here is how to apply on EMAP:
Visit the website here www.emap.co.zw and create an account. You create an account using a link at the bottom of the page that says “If you do not have an account please Sign Up Here…”
Enter the centre and candidate number as well as date of birth using the pupils’ result slip.
On the page that loads agree to the terms and conditions by checking “I Agree With The Terms And Condition.”
Next enter your Centre Number, Candidate Number and Date of Birth.

On that same page, click “Please confirm if you have been cleared by your former school”

Fill in the details required in this section, that is your mobile number and password of your choice this will provide you with an account
You can then apply and select the schools that you want.

Continuously you can check if you have been accepted at any of the schools that you selected.

You can access the Emap application here: www.emap.co.zw

THE ZBC has announced the re-birth of Joy TV in the first quarter of 2019, declaring that the development is testimony that the national broadcaster is open to any partnerships, as long as they are mutually beneficial.

Starting next week, Joy TV Incorporated will be going around Zimbabwe meeting content producers and spreading the good tidings.

31 May 2002 saw one of the main attractions on national television, Joy TV, going off air. With its demise, went erstwhile popular programmes such as Sunset Beach.

Zimbabwe’s only ever privately owned broadcasting station, Joy TV, started in July 1998, closed down on 31 May 2002, bringing down the curtain on Zimbabwe’s botched experiment with broadcasting diversity and carrying the same dream down with it.

Telecoms mogul James Makamba’s family have a controlling stake in the TV station.

Joy TV closed down after a lease agreement it had with the Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Corporation was cancelled on the grounds that it violated the
Broadcasting Services Act, which was enacted in 2001. Joy TV was leasing ZBC’s second station generally known as TV 2.

However, with the coming in of the new dispensation, all this is set to change for the better.

ZBC CEO, Mr Patrick Mavhura said brighter days are coming.

This recent partnership, which will most certainly complement ZBC’s programming, comes at a time when ZBC is preparing for digital switch over and will see that national broadcaster introducing additional 6 television channels. Set to be launched within the first quarter of 2019, Joy TV will run as a 24 hour family entertainment channel that will air local and foreign content. The channel will air a wide variety of genres that will include but not limited to current affairs programming, sitcoms, series, movies, reality shows, talk shows, game shows, travel and tourism and wildlife among others,” said Mr Mavhura.

Joy TV Incorporated representative, Kushinga Makamba said there is a bottomless pit of talent in Zimbabwe just waiting to be tapped to provide 24-hour riveting entertainment on the small screen.

The short but eventful life of Joy TV faced stern challenges especially
direct interference from the government. This manifested itself in a
“direct” order for the station to drop the BBC news bulletin it broadcast
everyday.

Joy TV was also never to allowed to flight local news except
musicals and apolitical documentaries. The reliance of the station on the
ZBC for transmission was largely as seen as having contributed to its failure
to survive as the government could cut it off at any time. It remains to be seen how it will fare this time, since the arrangement is more or less the same as before.

The closure of Joy TV strengthened the calls for the licensing of other players to enter the broadcasting industry. MISA-Zimbabwe viewed the Broadcasting Act itself as needing major amendments if private players were to survive in the industry.

The government has largely ignored the calls to amend the Act, which
virtually makes it impossible for private players to enter the industry. No foreign investment is allowed into the broadcasting industry and would-be
broadcasters would be required to stick to a strictly defined programme
content among many blemishes of the act.

— ZBC News on line

A FORM Three pupil at Founders High School in Bulawayo died during suspected teenage gang violence after an alcohol binge and his
assailants dumped his body in a bushy area near Nketa High School in Nketa 8 suburb.
The body of Prichard Ndlovu (16) from Bulawayo’s Nkulumane suburb was discovered on Tuesday afternoon by a caretaker at Nketa High School who notified the police.
Police then informed the boy’s relatives who had already filed a missing persons report when he did not return home on Saturday.
The boy’s body was found a walking distance from his home.
The Chronicle yesterday visited Prichard’s family home and gathered that he lived with his younger siblings as their parents are based in South Africa.
Prichard’s aunt Ms Maenni Ndlovu said he could have been stabbed and dumped by a rival teenage gang.
Ms Ndlovu, who lives in another suburb said she was shocked to learn from Prichard’s father who contacted her on Monday from
the neighbouring country saying his son was missing and had last been seen being pursued by a gang.
Ms Ndlovu said it appears there were
skirmishes involving three gangs.Chronicle

Transparency is essential. We must not allow the Motlanthe Commission Report to be swept under the carpet- ZUNDE