Correspondent|Kwekwe magistrate Mr Storey Rushambwa convicted Munyaradzi Chiweshe (30) of Chitiki Village, Chief Gobo in Silobela, on stocktheft charges.

Chiweshe was nabbed as he tried to sell the beast in Zhombe’s Chapewa Village after police received a tip-off from the prospective buyer.

In mitigation, Chiweshe told the court that he mistook the beast for his. He said he wanted to pay hospital bills for his wife who was not well.

“Your Worship, I took the wrong beast because it was dark. I wanted to take my own beast so that I could sell it and get money to get my wife hospitalised as she was not feeling well at the time,” said Chiweshe.

The State, led by Mr Freddy Ndoro, heard that on October 23 at around 11pm, Chiweshe proceeded to the grazing land in Mukhuhlane area under Chief Sigodo.

Upon arrival, he tied the ox using a rope before embarking on a journey to Zhombe overnight.

Chiweshe planned to sell the beast to Trust Sibanda at Chapewa Shopping Centre without clearance.

Sibanda became suspicious before alerting the police who arrested Chiweshe.

Own Correspondent|Embattled Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Leader Prophet Walter Magaya has claimed that he is a trillionaire. In a wide circulating interview, Magaya is asked how many cars he has.

In response He says, “Just a few; right now I have got 3. I had four but I gave away the latest one that I had just last week to charity. It was not expensive it was just worth about US$ 65 000 and I gave it away.”

When the interviewer interjected and said, “one would assume that you are a millionaire.” Magaya responds, “I am a trillionaire actually.”

However a scroll over the internet revealed that there is no trillionaire who is alive yet on earth with speculations that the Amazon Leader Jeff Bezos who is the richest man in the world might be the first person to reach a trillion as his Amazon entity is now a trillion worth.

Magaya is embroiled in a messy court case after being accused of unlawful distributing immune boosters which he tried to crush and flush when police were investigating him.

“Circumstances are that on 31 October 2018, the accused known as a prophet the Prophetic Healing and Healing Deliverance Ministries (PHD) made an advertisement on Yadah Television of Aguma Medicine which he claimed to be a cure for HIV/AIDS, cancer and other ailments.

“He further made claims that Aretha Medical and himself were the manufacturers of the Aguma medicine which he claimed can cure the abovementioned diseases.

“Verifications were made through the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe and it was established that Aguma is not a registered medicine or drug in Zimbabwe. It was also established that neither Magaya nor Aretha Medical Company were authorised by the Health Professions Authority to carry out clinical tests on nay human being to prove that Aguma can cure the aforementioned diseases thereby the accused committed an offence.

“The charge sheet further reveals that on 31 October, a search was conducted at Magaya’s Marlborough premises where unregistered prescription medicines, drug manufacturing, packaging machines and drug manufacturing raw materials were recovered.

“Just before the search, the accused persons destroyed some of the exhibits by flashing them in the office toilets and burning containers which were however, recovered half-burnt. Several Aguma sachets and other torn sachets were also recovered in an office bin next to the office call centre,” the charge sheet further states.

By Own Correspondent| Exactly on this day, November 6 2017, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo announced the expulsion from the ruling party Zanu Pf, the then Vice President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.

Khaya Moyo’s announcement followed former VP Mnangagwa’s expulsion from government by the former President Robert Mugabe.

Said Khaya Moyo:

“It had become evident that his conduct in the discharge of his duties, had become inconsistance with his official responsibilities. He had also demonstration little probity in his execution of duties.”

 

Correspondent|The Registrar General’s office will have to answer to findings from an inquiry set to be launched by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) this month.

ZHRC chairperson Elasto Mugwadi revealed that a National Documentation Inquiry will begin later this month and will focus on issues regarding access to national identification.

In an interview on the sidelines of the National Conference on Human Rights and Access to Justice in the capital on Monday, Mugwadi said the inquiry was vital as many people in the country were currently considered stateless.

“This inquiry is very necessary because we have been receiving complaints or questions on why people are not able to access birth certificates, national IDs some of whom are now majors (adult age), they do not have IDs they do not have birth certificates because of the requirements of the RG’s office.

“So we are saying we need to get to the bottom of it, what exactly is impeding on the issuance of these documents? I mean you are only identifiable as a national or Zimbabwean citizen if you have an ID [or] a birth certificate for this country, if not then you are rendered stateless in your own country of birth so we are concerned about this,” he said.

Mugwadi said the inquiry was fully funded and would begin later this month.

“We will probably be starting soon after the 15th because we have been trying to put all the necessary logistics in place advising the people we are going to be meeting out there regarding our intended visits to their provinces, so it is likely to start around the 20th of November and we believe we may be able to finish by around mid January if not the end of January at the latest,” he added.

Mugwadi said the inquiry would look at various cases where the requirements for national documents were too difficult to attain, giving an example of those born during the Gukurahundi era.

“Can you imagine people who were born in the early 80s? They are now majors in their thirties and some of them have got no birth certificates or IDs because they cannot present to the registry office witnesses to confirm that they were born in that locality or area, so we are saying they should be better means of screening a local from a non-local,” he said.

Mugwadi called on the government to align the ZHRC Act with the 2013 constitution, in order to empower his commission and its mandate.

He said the commission currently had only two offices (Harare and Bulawayo) which limited its capacity as a national body

Mugwadi said the commission needed more than “resource empowerment” or it would risk falling behind other human rights bodies around the world.

“The commission for now can only make recommendations, if it carries out an investigation where human rights have been reported as violated or infringed upon the commission can only make a recommendation but in other jurisdictions national human rights institutions can actually issue orders,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a speech read on his behalf the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi said the government had initiated an “inclusive bottom- up approach” in order to achieve its goal of “making justice accessible to everyone by 2020.”

The conference entitled ‘Enhancing human rights and access to justice in Zimbabwe’ was hosted by the Legal Resources Foundation, and was attended by various civil society organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders.

The minister said the government’s involvement in the conference would be for the greater good of ordinary citizens.

“I believe that this conference is an ice breaker and a first step in the right direction in cultivating trust between government and CSOs.

“Working together benefits neither CSOs nor the government but our citizens especially the marginalised and the vulnerable” Ziyambi said.

The conference ends on Tuesday.

M&T

Own Correspondent|Lawyers representing arrested former minister Supa Mandiwanzira have officially advised media on the charges laid against their client.

Below is the statememt by the lawyers:

Correspondent|RURAL and urban councillors in the Midlands province are demanding motor vehicles and an upward review of their allowances when they travel away from their stations on business to align their working conditions with those of legislators.

The demands were presented to Local Government minister July Moyo during a councillors’ induction workshop yesterday.

Gokwe ward 2 councillor Machinda Mutembedzi said there was no reason why councillors and MPs should have different working conditions when they were all elected public office bearers.

“An MP is elected in the same manner as a councillor. So why would their conditions of service be different? If an MP is provided with a car for his work, so must be a councillor,” he said.

Wilbert Rambanapasi, ward 12 councillor for Tongogara Rural District Council in Shurugwi, echoed the same sentiments.

“In the rural areas, a councillor can walk for a long distance to attend council business. Some actually live as far as 40km from council offices and have to sometimes walk for such distances due to transport problems in remote areas. So I think it is better to just review their conditions of service and provide cars for them,” Rambanapasi said.

He said their monthly allowances were too meagre and exposed them to mockery by management staff who should be subordinate to councillors.

Former Gweru mayor Hamutendi Kombayi (ward 1 councillor) said councillors’ out-of-pocket allowances should also be reviewed from the current $10 a day.

In response, Moyo said the councillors must first improve their revenue collections before they talk of any improvements in their welfare.

“If councils make revenue that leave them within the 30:70 ratio of salaries and service delivery after all their demands have been effected, there will be no problem at all. So my advice is that expand your revenue bases then we can approve your demands. MPs also cover bigger areas than just a single ward, and so that is why they are given cars, but if your revenues improve, we can relook into that,” he said.

“A person ends up using their own cash while conducting business of council. $10 is not fair at all. We need the allowance to be reviewed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Harare City Council last month pledged to buy iPads for councillors who had demanded the gadgets ostensibly to avoid wasting of paper on documents as well as equip them with the latest information technology devices.

By Own Correspondent| A warrant of arrest has been issued for the former Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Godfrey Gandawa after he failed to appear at court (Monday).

Gandawa is facing 14 counts of fraud and criminal abuse of office after he allegedly embezzled $400 000 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development (Zimdef) together with exiled former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo.

The warrant of arrest was issued by High Court judge, Justice Tawanda Chitapi after Gandawa’s lawyer told the court that he did not know his client’s whereabouts as the two had not communicated at all.

Gandawa was out on $500 bail until the warrant of arrest was issued.

TWO Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members, former Attorney-General Johannes Tomana and the Home Affairs Ministry have apologised to Mordecai Mahlangu, a human rights lawyer and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) Board Chairperson after conceding that they violated his fundamental rights when they arrested and detained him almost a decade ago.

The ZRP members namely Henry Sostein Dowa and Clever Ntini together with the Co-Home Affairs Ministers and Tomana, who served as Attorney-General then, tendered their apologies to Mahlangu last week after acknowledging that the ZLHR Board Chairperson’s arrest and detention in November 2009 was wrongful and unlawful.

In a Deed of Settlement signed on Wednesday 31 October 2018, Dowa, Ntini and the Co-Ministers of Home Affairs, who served during the coalition government of former President Robert Mugabe and the late former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai agreed to pay Mahlangu a total of $13 500 to cover his legal costs before Friday 30 November 2018.

Mahlangu was placed under arrest and spent one night at Harare Central Police Station cells in November 2009 on a trumped up charge of attempting to obstruct the course of justice. He was apprehended after he sought to highlight to the State the difficulties the authorities would encounter in using Mutare arms dealer Michael Peter Hitschmann as a State witness during the trial of the late former MDC-T legislator Roy Bennett.

Through summons filed at the High Court by his lawyers Advocate Thabani Mpofu instructed by Raymond Moyo of ZLHR, Mahlangu argued that his arrest in 2009 was not warranted as he was acting purely as a legal practitioner giving advice in accordance with his professional requirements.

 

Terrence Mawawa| MDC Alliance Parliamentary candidate for Gutu South Constituency, Eriam Musendekwa has declared that the party will continue to fight for total political emancipation in the country.

Speaking to ZimEye.com at the weekend Musendekwa said he convened a fact finding meeting in the constituency last week.

“Issues that came out of the meeting were as follows : elections were rigged through vote buying by the ruling party.Zanu PF also distributed inputs on partisan lines. In addition Zanu PF activists and traditional leaders intimidated local villagers.

However the shortage of regalia and lack of adequate training programmes for our polling agents also dented our chances of winning the polls,” said Musendekwa.

“Our members still have faith in their leadership from the branches to the president. I also managed to pay each agent $5 plus nine roving agents.

We had 17 800 registered voters in the whole constituency and

I got 6 055 against Pupurai Togarepi’s 7 900,” added Musendekwa.

By Paul Nyathi|Social media critic Dr Charlton Tsodzo has revealed how a local supermarket is selling chicken bones meant to be pet food for domestic consumption.

“This for me folks is the heart and soul of indignity….this in my books is pet food…..hanzi vana veZimbabwe ngavadye….this is what our people have been rduced to? Ndinobuda misodzi nenyika yakadai….” said Tsodzo.

Jane Mlambo| The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has fired defiant Councillor Tinashe Kambarami accusing him of failing to recuse himself from the Mayoral elections held yesterday where he re-emerged the winner despite resigning a day before.

In a letter to Kambarami, MDC Chief of Staff, Sessel Zvidzai said “Following your continued defiance of the President’s directive that you recuse yourself from the Bulawayo Deputy Mayoral elections, this letter serves to inform you that you are hereby expelled from the party with immediate effect, in accordance with Section 89 of the MDC constitution.

“You are advised to immediately surrender all party properties in your possession and stop representing the party at any forum,” said Zvidzai.

 

Terrence Mawawa|Youthful MDC Alliance MP for Masvingo Urban Jacob Nyokanhete has forked out $ 2000 to pay election agents in a goodwill gesture that has been hailed by senior members of the opposition party.

Nyokanhete used his personal resources to pay 220 election agents, according to the MDC Alliance Masvingo Provincial Executive.

Speaking in an interview with ZimEye.com Nyokanhete said:
“I am humbled by the sincerity and honesty of our election agents.They protected our votes and Zanu PF failed to steal Masvingo Urban votes.”

He said he would continue to work closely with councillors to make sure the city continues to improve service delivery.

“We won in Masvingo Urban and we must therefore deliver. We thank the previous council for being named the best-run municipality at our party’s 19thanniversary at Gwanzura,” said Nyokanhete.

Chicken Inn head coach Joey Antipas says their veteran midfielder Clemence Matawu will not be joining FC Platinum in the near future.

The platinum miners officially showed their interest in the services of the old horse, wanting him on a six months loan deal that will see the Gamecocks receive $500 after every single match that the midfielder would have featured in.

“Matawu will remain with us. He is a great asset that we will not release to any club,” said Antipas.

Matawu (36), is one the six players that FC Platinum included in their provisional squad for the Champions League season that gets underway in November.

Other players being targeted by the Zvishavane side include Dynamos defender Peace Makaha, John Zhuwawu of Caps United, Ngezi Platinum captain Liberty Chakoroma, Triangle striker Lameck Nhamo. Prince Dube was also on the wish-list but retraced to Highlanders.

Soccer24

Jailed former Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke has petitioned parliament to censure Norton legislator Temba Mliswa for allegedly maliciously slandering him by accusing him of impregnating his wife while in prison.

Prison authorities refused to be dragged into the civil matter.

In a petition addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, through his lawyers Mutandiro, Chitsanga and Chitima Attorneys, Kereke says Mliswa “sensationally alleged: (a) That Dr Munyaradzi Kereke allegedly made his wife pregnant whilst in prison; (b) That Dr Munyaradzi Kereke is allegedly being treated preferentially in prison on the back of corrupt activities.”

Kereke, is refuting the allegations which he says are “categorically false, malicious and unwarranted”.

The former legislator has demanded that the Speaker of Parliament strongly reprimands Mliswa, while also directing the Norton MP to publicly apologise to Kereke.

On the 31st of October, Mliswa posted on his twitter account @TembaMliswa, saying: “In a conversation overheard by a prison guard between Kereke and his younger wife’s sister, word has it that whilst in prison Kereke has impregnated his younger wife. One’s left wondering where the act took place and why he’s being given preferential treatment, why not let others too?”

Zbc News online

ZIMBABWE Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) security officials have been implicated in cases of diamond looting in Chiadzwa after they allegedly formed syndicates with illegal miners.

This was revealed at a ZCDC all-stakeholders’ meeting held in Mutare last Friday.

Bocha Community Development Trust director Moses Mukwada said the country was losing millions of dollars through pilferage of diamonds in Marange.

He said there were well-organised syndicates in Chiadzwa, some involving ZCDC officials.

“Illegal miners are being promoted by the security forces, we are seeing illegal miners. They are working with ZCDC security guards and I have the primary evidence on that,” he said.

“For the last two weeks, the situation was worse. The security officials also involve members of the uniformed forces. They form syndicates with well-known diamond buyers and we know some of them and there is need to stop the rot,” he said

“There is deep corruption in Marange. Of course, you are saying that there is development going on in Marange, but I don’t see the development. I need answers please from the officials, diamonds are being stolen daily.”

Centre for Research and Development director James Mupfumi said the issue of security needed to be addressed urgently.

He said ZCDC should provide statistics on how much money the company was spending on corporate social responsibility programmes.

“I think we need to know how much the company is generating from diamond mining. We need to know how much you are channelling, we need statistics on how much is going to government and how much is going to corporate social responsibility,” he said.

“Probably you don’t have much money. We need statistics showing this (much) is going where, the issue of security needs to be addressed, human rights violations need to be addressed as well if we are to move forward.”

ZCDC chief executive officer Morris Mpofu admitted that there was rampant looting of the precious stones in Chiadzwa.

He said they had already planted investigators within the company.

“I want to thank you for raising such issues. We are not in denial about corruption which could be happening internally or externally, but there are measures being taken,” he said.

“We have already planted our own investigators and we are committed to fighting corruption at all costs.”

Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba said anyone found involved in diamond looting should be arrested.

“I am saddened with what I hear about corruption. We can’t afford to ignore that, we cannot. I am keen to know who is doing that and the time is up for those who are doing that. We don’t tolerate corruption in this new dispensation,” she said.

NewsDay

By Own Correspondent| A 31 year old Gokwe man from Siyamuzula Village under Chief Siyamuchembo has been arrested in connection with the murder of a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer.

The man, identified as Pardon Nzanga (31) was arrested after he was found in possession of the deceased’s vehicle who was based in Tsholotsho. The accused was using the car for pirating purposes.

According to facts of the matter glimpsed by ZimEye, the deceased, one Constable Edmond Sibanda of ZRP Tsholotsho’s body was found at Bochkloof farm, Hunters, Gweru in a state of decomposition.

This was after his brother had reported him missing since 11 October 2018 after he was last seen while on his way to Bulawayo.

On the 29th of October 2018, the deceased’s brother Edmon Sibanda found the deceased’s vehicle a Toyota Corrola, at Gokwe business centre being used by the accused person for pirating purposes and alerted CID Gokwe.

CID Gokwe arrested the accused and recovered the deceased’s vehicle and driver’s licence. Upon interogation,the accused reportedly revealed that he had stabbed the deceased once on the neck using an okapi knife in Bochkloof farm Hunters Gweru.

The accused is yet to appear in court.

 

Advocates Thembinkosi Magwaliba and Brian Hungwe on the instructions of Selby Hwacha of Dube Manikai & Hwacha have issued the following statement: – 

Hon. Supa Collins Mandiwanzira, immediately on his return from an overseas business trip, presented himself to the police at their request this morning. The police interviewed him in connection with allegations of abuse of office on two issues: –

1. That he allegedly engaged Megawatt company to do consultancy work for NetOne without going to tender.
2. That he allegedly appointed his Personal Assistant, a government employee at deputy director level, to the Potraz Board in violation of corporate governance principles and a Cabinet circular. 

Hon. Mandiwanzira denied the allegations and advised the police that Megawatt offered consultancy services at no cost to the government. That consultancy led to the recovery of tens of million dollars for NetOne. He explained that no corporate governance principles or any circular, were violated in the appointment of the PA as a Potraz board member.

 

6 November 2018

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police has accepted liability over the unlawful arrest and detention of senior Harare lawyer, Mordecai Mahlangu, who was a key witness in the trial of the late former MDC treasurer Roy Bennett, who was facing charges of terrorism in 2009.

Mahlangu’s lawyers, Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans and the Home Affairs ministry’s lawyers from the Attorney-General’s Office signed a deed of settlement on October 31, 2018, in which the police regretted their actions, which led to the top lawyer’s arrest and detention and, as a result, offered to financially compensate him.

“The first, second and fifth defendants (Detectives Henry Dowa, Clever Ntini and Home Affairs ministry) acknowledge and accept that the plaintiff (Mahlangu)’s arrest and detention was wrongful and unlawful … First, second and fifth defendants apologise to the plaintiff unreservedly for the wrongful and unlawful arrest. Their apology has been recorded in their statements referred to above,” part of the deed of settlement read.

“… the first, second and fifth defendants jointly and severally the one paying the others to be absolved will pay the plaintiff’s wasted costs in the agreed amount of $8 500 plus VAT (value-added tax) and the fee payable to plaintiff’s counsel in the sum of $5 000 plus VAT before end of day on Friday November 30, 2018.”

Mahlangu was arrested in November 2009 and spent a night in police cells after he had sought to highlight to the State the difficulties they would face in using Mutare arms dealer Michael Peter Hitschmann as a State witness in Bennett’s trial.

The State then accused Mahlangu of having authored Hitschmann’s affidavit and caused him to sign it when he approached him for advice and, as a result, he (Mahlangu) was charged for trying to obstruct the course of justice.

However, Mahlangu was later acquitted on the charges, prompting him to file a litigation against the then Prosecutor-General Johannes Tomana and former Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, alongside his subordinates, Dowa and Ntini.

A week ago, as the matter was set to be heard at the High Court, the two detectives and the Home Affairs ministry acknowledged that Mahlangu’s arrest and detention was unlawful and that they were liable for compensation.

“We acknowledge that a legal practitioner discharging his mandate in terms of the law, such as was the plaintiff in this matter, should never be hindered in the exercise of his duties and, indeed, should not suffer the same fate as the plaintiff in this instance,” both detectives and the Home Affairs ministry said.

“First, second and fifth defendants acknowledge as follows: the plaintiff’s arrest on the 2nd and 3rd of November 2009 was wrongful, unlawful and contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. We regret our individual and collective roles in the said arrest and detention of the plaintiff.”

-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| Former Information and Communication Technology minister Supa Mandiwanzira has been arrested and is currently at CID Serious Fraud where he had been invited for an interview. VIDEO:

More to follow….

Norton Member of Parliament Mr Temba Mliswa has disowned a Twitter account using his name and challenged his Chivi South counterpart Cde Killer Zivhu to prove that he indeed authored defamatory statements against him.

Cde Zivhu is suing Mliswa at the High Court for $1 million over alleged defamation of character emanating from tweets which he attributed to the Norton legislator.

In his request for further particulars to the case, Mr Mliswa — through his lawyers Kadzere, Hungwe and Mandevere — challenged Cde Zivhu to prove that he indeed owned the Twitter handle Hon. Temba P Mliswa.

“To enable the defendant to plead to the plaintiff’s summons and declaration, the following further particulars are requested: how is it being alleged that it is the defendant who actually wrote the said tweets?

“How is it being alleged that the Twitter account Hon Temba P Mliswa belongs to the defendant? Is there any proof that shows that it is the defendant who authored such tweets?

“We request that we be furnished with MAC address that identifies the actual device that was used to send the said tweets.

“We request that we be furnished with an IP address which identifies the location and the Internet that was used. Is there any confirmation from service provider that indeed the account belongs to the defendant? How is the defendant responsible for the articles he did not author?”

In his plaintiff’s declaration, Cde Zivhu indicated that the Twitter handle belonged to Mliswa and that he was using the same handle to update his constituency and other stakeholders about his programmes.

Cde Zivhu said Mliswa used the same twitter account to allege that he had corruptly acquired land in Norton’s Galloway area.

“Print outs of the mentioned tweets and published articles are hereby attached as annexures,” he said.

“Moreover, several articles have been published on several news websites including Zimeye, The Sunday Mail and TheZimbabwe.co, who all quoted the defendant as the source.”

-State Media

Jane Mlambo| Firebrand Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa has rallied his counterparts in the National Assembly to reject the 2019 budget until government curtail unnecessary spending.

Mliswa who has been unequivocal in his stance against corruption said government of Zimbabwe was over the years exceeding budgets without consulting or getting authority from parliament which in an ideal situation should provide checks and balances on the executive.

Parly needs to stamp its authority&not pass Govt budgets until Govt can curtail expenditure. 2017 Govt unlawfully exceeded budgets without consultation or authorisation. Why should they get more money when they’ve not addressed their situation&comply? We must stand for the people

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 6, 2018

Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube is due to present the 2019 budget before the end of the year and it remains to be seen if Mliswa will succeed in rallying other parliamentarians from both Zanu PF and MDC to push through his idea.

AFTER weeks of chaos, fuel prices in the country fell by at most four cents, with Energy minister Joram Gumbo attributing this to a dip in international crude oil margins.

A survey around Harare showed that most service stations had reduced petrol prices from $1,43 to $1,39 per litre, with availability seemingly having stabilised and queues that had become an eyesore no longer visible.

“We only have a problem with diesel. Petrol supplies have stabilised. We have enough stocks and that is why maybe the price has fallen. No retailer wants to hold it for long. The more we sell, the better the margins. We have been asked to push volumes,” a fuel attendant in Harare said.

Following the announcement of a new monetary regime that included a 2% transactional tax, Zimbabwe spiralled into fresh economic turmoil last month, with basic goods disappearing from supermarket shelves.

Shortages of fuel, one of the most important industrial inputs, also re-appeared, with motorists being forced to queue for the commodity for long hours on end as government scrambled to deal with the desperate situation.

Gumbo yesterday said prices would continue to fluctuate in the coming days and weeks.

“We are monitoring international oil prices and when they fall, our retail prices will follow suit. We will also allow the local market to determine the prices, but under strict monitoring. If international oil prices rise, you will see a similar movement here,” he said.

The shortages, which Gumbo last month attributed to panic-buying, triggered black market trade in the commodity in Harare and other cities, with illegal fuel dealers cashing in on the crisis, charging as high as $2 per litre against a pump price of $1,40.

The spiralling United States dollar parallel market went into meltdown after Finance minister Mthuli Ncube announced a 2% tax on all electronic transactions, triggering a fresh wave of price increases and consequently shortages.

In response, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government capitulated to public demands and indefinitely suspended sections of Statutory Instrument 122 of 2017 to increase the flow of basic goods into the market, mainly from neighbouring South Africa, ahead of the festive season and ease pressure on foreign currency demand on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

-Newsday

INGUTSHENI Central Hospital claims it now has adequate drug stocks and food supply for its patients following a 200 percent budgetary increase from government.

The institution – the largest referral center for mental patients in Zimbabwe, was also one of the first beneficiaries of the Health Levy Fund, which acts as insurance for hospitals.

So far, Ingutsheni Hospital has used USS$650 000 from the Health Levy Fund to procure Central Nervous System (CNS) drugs, which are critical in psychosis therapy.

Recent reports had said the institution was facing a critical shortage of essential drugs, with some supplies having completely run out.

In a fact finding mission, CITE spoke to Ingutsheni Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Ernest Manyawu, who revealed government had increased its 2018 budget by 200 percent, which had boosted the institution’s stocks.

“As of 2017, our recurrent budget was $450 000 and for 2018 our recurrent budget is now $1.55 million. That’s effectively a 200 percent increase because of that we have been able to buy food and stock up on necessary drug supplies. What I have noticed is when you tell people you have drugs people don’t want to believe you, we don’t know why,” he said.

In addition, Manyawu said the health levy account introduced by the Ministry of Health and Child Care had topped up to the $1.5 million budgetary allocation,

“We used this money to buy CNS drugs, which are psychiatry medicines. We have a list of what we need to buy and if you say Ingutsheni doesn’t have drugs, it means we don’t have those in supply but we actually have them,” he claimed.

Ingutsheni Hospital sources its drugs from the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) and has a supply of 76 percent in stock.

“We are not going into the private market to buy drugs. I’ve been asked that question and people were actually assuming that because the private market is asking for US dollars that situation is applicable to us but no, we acquire our drugs from Natpharm. Senior management from NatPharm was here last week and we actually communicate with them.

“We produced a graph of our consignment and this year our drug supply is exceeds last year’s 70 percent. The drug availability is around 76 percent for CNS drugs that means we have enough for drugs for patients. When we don’t have a specific drug for a patient we have an alternative so we in terms of drugs we are ok,” he claimed.

Manyawu said in its planning model presented to the health ministry, some types of CNS drugs were lower as they had increased the dominator list.

“We had a list of 14 types of drugs required then it went up to 18 and then to 23. Initially last year we had 14 drugs on the list and we achieved 100 percent stock but when we moved to 18 drugs we were hitting 80 percent. Now that we have moved to 23 lists, we have 76 percent availability which for our purposes is good and everyone who comes in will have something,” he explained.

“For as long as the health levy fund is available, our medicines will be covered. From the day the health levy account came on board, Ingutsheni because of our peculiarity was actually among the first to utilise it. To date the ministry of health calculated and gave us a report that we have used USD$650 000 for those 23 drugs. That is why in the national health sector we talk about national health insurance because it makes a difference”.

As for food supply the situation is stable said Manyawu.

“We don’t have cases of pellagra and our children are actually well fed. Our worry now is the price instability on the market it will begin to affect as from January early next year that’s if the prices on the market don’t stabilise. Not just Ingutsheni but everyone will have a problem because you will still need to go to the shops to buy cooking oil and a lot of things.

For now, we have enough stocks. I remember we have cooking oil to last us six months, sugar for four months. Our meat situation is actually stable as we are able to procure meat. Our protein level is good, we have beans, soya mince and beef itself. We are ok but we need the donations. The Anglican Church just donated 250kg of beef,” he noted.

The CEO said what Ingutsheni needed was more detergents to sanitise the hospital and patients surroundings.

“This is because the type of patients we are dealing with. Some of them may not really be conscious of what is happening and if you have a dirty environment patients may touch then put hands into their mouth. Until they grow conscious about their environment we need it to be clean. We also need linen in the forms of uniforms, blankets and bedding. Then you need infrastructure that is very important. You need boilers to supply hot water, need a kitchen, need wards, roofs with no leaks. This is what you need in a hospital like Ingutsheni right now,” Manyawu summed.

CITE

Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando yesterday defended Government’s decision to place Hwange Colliery Company under the control of an administrator as there were no prospects of a turnaround amid rising debt.

He said Hwange Colliery Company had continued to suffer losses, despite coming up with a strategic plan which envisaged huge margins of profits.

Minister Chitando said this while giving oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy chaired by Norton MP, Mr Temba Mliswa.

Last week, the Government placed Hwange Colliery Company under the control of an administrator in terms of the Reconstruction of State Indebted Companies and Insolvency Act to avert further worsening of fortunes.

“The story of Hwange Colliery Company is a sad one. If you look at the results of Hwange, the biggest problem is that it has made a gross loss. The revenue you are getting is less than what it is costing to produce,” said Minister Chitando.

He said Hwange Colliery had incurred a net loss of $23 million in its half-year in 2018 despite promising to be working on a $5 million profit in its strategic plan.

Minister Chitando said Hwange had made successive losses over the years.

“That is why fundamentally there is no business in this world which can ever succeed if it is costing you more than your revenue. Who is paying you for that cost? In January to December 2017, Hwange for the first time made a profit of $1,3 million, but posted a net loss because that time there were a number of intervention measures.

“January to June 2018 things went berserk; it was now losses, we had a fundamental problem.

“That gave Government warning shots that as a shareholder we have a problem. You now have a deterioration,” said Minister Chitando.

Legislators asked why there were no adequate consultations with other stakeholder such as fellow shareholders before a decision was made.

Questions were also raised on whether the decision to place the coal miner under reconstruction would not scuttle a forensic audit the outgoing board had initiated.

Minister Chitando said the forensic audit would continue and that the results would be made public.

The Minister said the decision to place Hwange under an administrator was meant to arrest a further deterioration. He said the Government wanted Hwange Colliery Company to return to profitability.

-State Media

President Mnangagwa arrived here yesterday on a two-day State visit at the invitation of President Alpha Condé and will use the occasion to appeal for African support in Zimbabwe’s efforts to re-engage the West and end economic sanctions on the country.

Zimbabwe is under illegal Western sanctions which have hurt its economy for nearly 20 years.

President Mnangagwa landed at the Airport Conakry Gbessia in the afternoon and was welcomed by his host, President Condé, who is past President of the African Union (AU).

The President received a 21-gun salute and inspected a guard of honour.

He had a brief meeting with President Condé and the two leaders were set for a closed-door dialogue last night.

Briefing journalists, Presidential spokesperson and Deputy Chief Secretary (Presidential Communications) Mr George Charamba said the trip here was critical for Zimbabwe’s cause for the removal of sanctions.

“We are consolidating African support towards our re-engagement with the Western world where we must make sure that all the sub-regions of Africa are solidly behind Zimbabwe in its efforts to break sanctions as well as achieve some rapport with the West,” said Mr Charamba.

“Generally, you are more effective when your neighbour adopts your own cause so that it becomes an African position. That is precisely what we are trying to do by consolidating our support in Sadc, which we have already done. You notice that the last Sadc summit (held in Namibia) passed a resolution against sanctions. Now, we are trying to bring that same consensus continentally and in the case of French West Africa, we also expect that countries like Guinea Conakry will help put in a word for Zimbabwe to the French, who by the way, are critical especially after the exit of Britain,” he said.

He added: “We are also aware that the French Bank Lazard is working with Afreximbank to put up a financial package for Zimbabwe as well as help the country reconnect with international financial institutions. France is a key member of international financial institutions and it is important that we consolidate our interests and our message to Francophone Africa. We have been to Mali. We are now in Guinea Conakry and Guinea Conakry is critical to us because this is the past President of the AU. He (Mr Condé) also has clout in this sub-region.”

Mr Charamba said it was important to seek African support in the removal of sanctions.

“He is the past President of AU. We want to consolidate our viewpoint and our own interests so that it helps us to persuade West Africa to complete the agitation for the removal of sanctions as well as re-engagement with the west but more critically, we think that Guinea is in a good position to consolidate our relations with the French who, by the way, are very forthcoming now as evidenced by Bank Lagard which is working with Afreximbank to create a facility for Zimbabwe,” said Mr Charamba.

President Mnangagwa’s administration has been pushing for engagement and re-engagement in an effort to end Zimbabwe’s isolation from the West since 2000 as a result of the land reclamation programme.

-State Media

 

Government has issued a stern warning to schools after it emerged that some were demanding tuition fees in United States dollars.

Some top private schools have already sent out circulars to parents advising them to pay next term’s tuition in US dollars.

Parents fear more schools might follow the bandwagon.

Responding to questions from journalists after a media briefing, Primary and Secondary Education Secretary Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango warned schools to desist from making such demands saying it was a violation of Government policy.

“If there are schools asking for US dollars they will be brought to book because we have not received any policy to the contrary. We know that fees are being paid in local currency because people are getting their salaries in local currency.

“We have not been advised of any changes so far,” said Dr Masango.

Her remarks come after Government, through the Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, urged businesses to observe the multi-currency system prevailing in the country.

The move by some schools to ask for a single currency is clear contempt of the Government’s position.

Dr Masango assured parents that this year the Electronic Ministry Application Platform (EMAP) for Form One boarding pupils will be seamless unlike last year when it was marred by technical glitches.

“We took in suggestions that came from stakeholders when we were making improvements on the EMAP system, as a result we do not expect it to crush especially with the measures we have put in place,” said Dr Masango.

Parents were also urged to apply early on the platform as there are just 24 320 boarding places yet 350 810 candidates sat for their Grade 7 examinations in 2018.

“Parents who wish to send their children to boarding schools are advised to start applying through the platform (www.emap.co.zw). This year’s platform will run from November 5, 2018 to December 21, 2018.

“Successful applicants will be notified through short message service (sms) by the respective school heads. Details about individual school enrolment patterns, school fees and levies are available on this platform,” Dr Masango said.

-State Media

 

ZIMBABWE Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) chairperson Elasto Mugwadi yesterday said the majority of citizens are having their socio-economic rights violated as government is failing to provide safety nets to cushion the poor in light of the economic turmoil inflicting the country.

Speaking to media on the sidelines of a national conference on human rights and access to justice organised by the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF), Mugwadi said enjoyment of rights could not be separated from the economic situation in the country.

“When we are talking of enjoyment of human rights, you cannot separate that from economic development, especially with our current situation and the economic challenges that we are facing,” he said.

“There are so many rights, especially socio-economic rights, that are being violated in this country and the approach of the State in terms of the Constitution is progressive realisation of such rights. A right that may need to be addressed now will have to wait because there are no resources for up to 20 years and the damage would have already been done.”

He urged people to put the just-ended elections behind them and focus on working together for economic development.

Addressing the conference, the president of the Commonwealth Judges and Magistrate Association, Justice Charles Mkandawire said there was need to make justice accessible to all.

“Access to justice has largely been affected by corruption and people now neglect courts because of corruption. Most people who are in need of judicial services come from marginalised communities continue to be sidelined when they are the ones who most need it. There is need for a set of guidelines that enhance human rights and promote access to justice in Africa,” Mkandawire, who is also a Malawi High Court judge, said.

He noted that access to justice in Africa was being stifled by a raft of issues, including corruption.

The two-day conference is focused mainly on key human rights issues confronting Zimbabwe and strategies to address these issues in the next five years.

Running under the theme Enhancing Human Rights and Access to Justice in Zimbabwe, the conference saw civil society organisations and State institutions exploring opportunities for collaboration in advancing human rights and access to justice in the country and shaping advocacy strategies.

NewsDay

 

SHORT VIDEO OF MINISTER ADMITTING WALTER MAGAYA HAS NO DOCUMENTATION AT ALL ON TESTS FROM INDIA:

COMMENT: That Walter Magaya who government has declared intention to assist in testing/ developing an HIV cure, is a serial conman is without question: There are numerous cases of victims he has stolen money from under the guise of financial products he advertised. One of those victims is a Zimbabwean assisted by ZimEye in July this year after she was conned 20,000 British pounds. There are numerous other victims within and outside Zimbabwe and all this is public knowledge.

Secondly – that Walter Magaya is a serial rapist is without question. Although he does not have a conviction as yet, there are several cases he has paid out of court settlements for. He is currently battling prosecution for his latest case, another which he doled out an out-of-court lump sum for.

What has irked Zimbabweans is the fact that government entertained Magaya despite the fact that he lied that his Aguma medication was tested and approved in India. To this date, there is not a single record of the said tests in India. Last week the ministry of health conducted a whole press conference with Magaya inside as they declared that they are going to assist him on his HIV concoction. The minister of Health’s side of the story is that an African science innovator must be given equal access to state resources so they can test their products. It however appears that, apart from Walter Magaya, no other citizen has ever been granted a press conference to speak about their innovation.

YOUR VIEWS?  

Mnangagwa Govt Announces It's To Assist A Serial Rapist Develop An HIV AIDS Cure, What Special Message Is Govt Sending To Investors?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 6, 2018

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa used his Executive powers to refuse Hwange Colliery a renewal licence for the Western area concession, Mines minister Winston Chitando told Parliament yesterday, a claim which businessman Billy Rautenbach last week said was not his.

The concession, which measures more than 10 000 hectares, was among the three that the Colliery was granted by government in 2015, along with Lubimbi East and West, with an estimated resource of 750 million tonnes of mainly coking and thermal coal.

The resources are expected to prolong its lifespan by 50 to 70 years.

“There were four grants whose licences were to be renewed and clearly Hwange did not qualify for renewal of any of these licences,” Chitando told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines.

“A company called Localise Mining was then successful and given the Western area grant and they paid $100 000 to secure it and subsequently the letters of authority were signed by the former Mines minister Walter Chidakwa.

“Section 301 of the Mines and Minerals Act says all mining renewals are taken to the President, who does the renewals, and for the Western area, the President declined to sanction the grant to Hwange Colliery.”

The chairperson of the Hwange Scheme, Andrew Lawson, last week told the same committee that businessman Rautenbach had claimed ownership of the concession.

“You are giving the same Rautenbach another concession when he sold one concession, Tidal, to a Kazakhstan businessman for $4 billion and never mined there? Billy now owns everything in Zimbabwe when blacks are suffering,” committee chair Temba Mliswa said.

On Shepherd Tundiya, who was said to be calling the shots at Hwange and giving orders to the board, Chitando denied any relationship with him.

“I only met Tundiya once at a rally in Hwange and he did come to my office with Juliana Muskwe (acting Hwange Colliery board chairperson) to speak about issues of Hwange Colliery as a stakeholder. So, Tundiya has no mandate to give instructions to the Hwange board on behalf of anyone,” Chitando said.

He said he placed the Colliery under administration because the miner owed government $150 million and had made a loss of $23 million in the first six months of the year.

Chitando said Hwange also owed $42 million to Portuguese conglomerate Mota-Engil, which was contracted to mine coal on a five-year contract in 2014.

Hwange Colliery company secretary Allen Masiya then told the committee that the $6,4 million, which was ring-fenced for developing the Western area concession had been misused by management without board approval, adding that when they were about to report the case to the police, they were then harassed by Tundiya.

A forensic audit on the $6,4 million is currently underway.

Masiya also told the committee that the manner in which Chitando placed Hwange under administration was unlawful.

The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) acting chief executive Martin Matanda told the committee that Chitando was supposed to meet other shareholders before putting it under reconstruction since it is a listed company on the ZSE, Johannesburg and London stock exchanges.

He said government’s illegal move will drastically affect investment into the country.

NewsDay

Own Correspondent|The government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality has signed a Memorandum Of Uunderstanding (MOU) with AlJazeera Media Network to promote Zimbabwe on the global network.

“This is an opportunity to showcase the beauty of our country to the world!” said Hon. Prisca Mupfumira, the Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Minister who signed on behalf of Zimbabwe.

Minister Mupfumira also adressed the 109th session of UNWTO executive council, in Manama Bahrain. She acknowledged the UNWTO program of works on poverty alleviation in Tsholotsho, Zimbabwe and called for continued cooperation to support biodiversity.

“All our hands are on the deck in promoting Zimbabwe as a destination of choice,” she added.

This comes as the government is mulling plans to set up a State-run and fully-fledged university of wildlife management at Mushandike College in Mashava, as part of efforts to boost the country’s tourism and hospitality sector and up its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.

The move is also aimed at priming the tourism and hospitality sector to be a major pillar of Zimbabwe’s economy in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision to make the country an upper middle income economy by 2030.

In a speech read on her behalf by the permanent secretary in her ministry, Mr Munesu Munodawafa, at Mushandike College’s eighth graduation ceremony last Friday, Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira said opening a wildlife management university would help Zimbabwe accrue more benefits from its rich wildlife resource base.

At least 245 graduates were awarded diplomas and certificates in wildlife management.

According to New Zimbabwe.com, men from Mpandawana Growth Point said that they were at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, as some of the condoms often burst during sex.

The country’s National Aids Council (NAC) reportedly identified Mpandawana, the largest service centre in Gutu, as a “hot spot” for new sexually transmitted diseases in Masvingo province.

In February, former health minister David Parirenyatwa challenged local manufacturers to produce condoms so as “to address concerns over the size of condoms imported from China”.

‘Too small’

Parirenyatwa urged manufacturers to produce condoms that were suitable for Zimbabwean men.

According to NewsDay, Parirenyatwa said at the time that the move would also save on foreign currency.

He said that young people in the southern African country complained about the size of the imported condoms, saying they were “too small”.

At least 109.4 million condoms were distributed across Zimbabwe in 2016 which amounted to about 33 condoms per individual for the year, a New Zimbabwe.com report said.

This made Zimbabwe one of the five countries that exceeded the United Nations Population Funds regional mark of 30 male condoms per man per year, the report said.

Condoms were one of the key measures that government and development partners were using to fight the HIV and Aids prevalence.

-News24

Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) chairperson Elasto Mugwadi yesterday said the majority of citizens are having their socio-economic rights violated as government is failing to provide safety nets to cushion the poor in light of the economic turmoil inflicting the country.

Speaking to NewsDay on the sidelines of a national conference on human rights and access to justice organised by the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF), Mugwadi said enjoyment of rights could not be separated from the economic situation in the country.

“When we are talking of enjoyment of human rights, you cannot separate that from economic development, especially with our current situation and the economic challenges that we are facing,” he said.

“There are so many rights, especially socio-economic rights, that are being violated in this country and the approach of the State in terms of the Constitution is progressive realisation of such rights. A right that may need to be addressed now will have to wait because there are no resources for up to 20 years and the damage would have already been done.”

He urged people to put the just-ended elections behind them and focus on working together for economic development.

Addressing the conference, the president of the Commonwealth Judges and Magistrate Association, Justice Charles Mkandawire said there was need to make justice accessible to all.

“Access to justice has largely been affected by corruption and people now neglect courts because of corruption. Most people who are in need of judicial services come from marginalised communities continue to be sidelined when they are the ones who most need it. There is need for a set of guidelines that enhance human rights and promote access to justice in Africa,” Mkandawire, who is also a Malawi High Court judge, said.

He noted that access to justice in Africa was being stifled by a raft of issues, including corruption.

The two-day conference is focused mainly on key human rights issues confronting Zimbabwe and strategies to address these issues in the next five years.

Running under the theme Enhancing Human Rights and Access to Justice in Zimbabwe, the conference saw civil society organisations and State institutions exploring opportunities for collaboration in advancing human rights and access to justice in the country and shaping advocacy strategies.

-Newsday

 

Kwesé parent company Econet Media (Mauritius) says reports that it has lost a court case against the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) are malicious, misinformed and misplaced.

Responding to reports in the Herald newspaper that the Supreme Court had ruled that “Econet Media (Mauritius) cannot distribute Kwesé TV satellite content to Zimbabwean viewers because it failed to comply with the terms and conditions under which it was granted license”, Econet Media insisted that it had never been in any court in Zimbabwe against BAZ, and that its affiliate, Econet Media Zimbabwe, was properly licensed to distribute multimedia satellite content in Zimbabwe by the government’s licensing authority, BAZ.

“The article is referring to a recent Supreme Court judgement (Judgement No. SC62/18) in the case between The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and Dr Dish (Pvt) Ltd in which the Court ruled that Dr Dish (Pvt) Ltd had failed to comply with the terms of a Content Distribution License issued to it by BAZ when it tried to distribute content from Econet Media (Mauritius),” an Econet Media spokesman said.

“Although Dr Dish had a Content Distribution Agreement with Econet Media Mauritius, Econet Media Zimbabwe terminated all and any agreements with Dr Dish when Dr Dish persisted with litigation against BAZ. At the time that Econet Media Zimbabwe ended the relationship Dr Dish, Econet Media Mauritius also terminated its Content Distribution Agreement with Dr Dish. Econet duly notified the Courts of its withdrawal from the agreement with Dr Dish,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman denied that Econet Media had changed its business model and scaled down its DTH (satellite) service because of the judgement.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. On observing global changes being driven by the internet, technology and globalisation, and their impact on business models, consumer preference and behaviour patterns, we have taken the strategic decision to refocus the business based on market trends. ” the spokesman said.

“All we have done is to de-emphasise our satellite service and redirect our efforts and resources towards a future-proof business model, which recognises the global shift by consumers towards connected digital services,” the spokesman said.

He added that contrary to recent reports, Kwesé was growing and expanding its services around Kwesé iflix, its flagship service and Africa’s fastest growing mobile service, with several million customers across Africa.

Kwesé, he said, was also extending its Kwesé Play (broadband TV) service which offers premium, unlimited video-on-demand services – including Netflix – to several African countries over the next few months. He said its Kwesé Free Sports is now in over 27 African countries, and was riding high on successfully bringing the FIFA World Cup to over 200 million viewers across Africa.

“As a matter of fact, Kwesé TV has not gone anywhere. We have streamlined our service to 15 Channels which include the popular Kwesé Free Sports channel, premium faith TV channels and news. More importantly we have, in line with the refocus and strategic shift to digital, extended a free 12-month Kwesé iflix subscription to each of our existing Kwesé TV subscribers, to enable them to enjoy an unlimited choice of videos and movies as well as linear channels available on Kwesé iflix. We are excited to be leading in this digital entertainment revolution,” the spokesman said.

 

 

Correspondent|A ROW has erupted between a Form 3 pregnant student and school authorities at St Anne’s Goto High School in Wedza with the former accusing the administration of violating her rights after expelling her from the institution in September this year.

“I am pregnant and the school authorities expelled me on September 24, 2018, because of my condition. My boyfriend committed suicide in August 2018. My biological parents separated a long-time ago and grew up with my grandmother. I want to resume studies with others this term at the same school, hence the need for your assistance,” part of the girls’s affidavit read.

The girl (name withheld) is fighting to be readmitted to the Anglican-run school after she was expelled for falling pregnant.

According to a letter dated September 23 and signed by the school head only identified as KK Mutseyekwa and addressed to the girl’s guardians, the pupil’s expulsion became necessary when she fell pregnant.

The school authorities said the move was in the best interests of the school and the unborn child.

“I regret to advise you that I have reason to believe that your daughter in Form 3 fell pregnant while at school. It is in the best interest of the school, the learner and the child to be born that she be allowed to take leave from the school,” the letter read.

In her affidavit stamped at Mukamba Police Station in Wedza on October 2, the 18-year-old girl, who is an orphan pleaded with government to intervene so that she could go back to school.

“I plead with the government authorities and Constitutional Court to assist by ensuring that I go back to St Anne’s Goto High School. I am pregnant and the school authorities expelled me on September 24, 2018, because of my condition. My boyfriend committed suicide in August 2018. My biological parents separated a long-time ago and grew up with my grandmother. I want to resume studies with others this term at the same school, hence the need for your assistance,” part of the affidavit read.

Efforts to get a comment from the school authorities were fruitless yesterday.

Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Tapiwa Chengeta confirmed the case and said the school violated the girl’s rights.

“We have an obligation to safeguard not only the teachers who are our members, but also the pupils who are our stakeholders. To us, expelling the girl is a violation of circular P35 which gives exceptions to the girl child in the event of pregnancy. It is also a violation of the child’s constitutional right to education.

“We intend to take the issue through our legal department and the relevant education authorities. An innocent child cannot suffer because of rotten implementation of the statute. We stand guided by the regulations,” he said

By Professor Mthuli Ncube|ON Friday, November 2, 2018, I visited Surface Wilmar based in Chitungwiza. The company is owned by one of the largest companies in the world in the production of edible oils, based in Singapore. The factory floors are most impressive and world class, and it was not lost on me that this was right in the middle of Chitungwiza.

To see this modern plant operated by automated robotic systems, making it one of the most efficient companies in Africa in the edible oils sector, was uplifting, as the last time I have visited a robot-controlled factory was in Hyundai in South Korea a few years ago.

The futuristic robotic systems-controlled factor floors at Surface Wilmar are testimony to the aspirations of Vision 2030, and the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), that Zimbabwe can become the gateway to investment into Africa.

Turning Zimbabwe into a gateway into Africa means establishing an Offshore Investment Centre with strong links to the Zimbabwe One-Stop-Investment Shop which processes investments. This needs to be seriously explored for Zimbabwe to continue to attract global investors such as Surface Wilmar from Singapore. This means all new foreign investment into Zimbabwe, going forward, could be registered in the Offshore Centre, giving foreign investors similar benefits as are enjoyed in centres such as Mauritius, Guernsey and Isle of Man.

There are many reasons why Zimbabwe could be a successful gateway into Africa, through the Offshore Centre.

First, Zimbabwe has a highly educated population with the requisite skills to service such an offshore centre. The competent crop of legal firms, accounting firms and other service providers can successfully provide the services needed to support the offshore centre.

Second, Zimbabwe has a strong regulatory environment in the form of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, tax regulator (ZIMRA), securities regulators, among others. These regulators are already operating at global standards and are globally compliant in their approaches.

Third, the multi-currency regime positions Zimbabwe as an ideal place for foreign investors to preserve their value in hard currency. Even, investors from neighbouring countries could find Zimbabwe very attractive in terms of value preservation, apart from the investments that Zimbabwe offers in the first place.

Fourth, locally the Offshore Investment Centre could also help stem any unnecessary capital outflows out of Zimbabwe, as the country would be as good as any centre in the world for offshore investments.

Fifth, while there is need to make more investments in Zimbabwe’s infrastructure, the current infrastructure is very good by standards on the African continent, outside South Africa. Having traversed the whole of Africa, in the last 20 years, and when I was with the African Development Bank, I am convinced that Zimbabwe has very good infrastructure. This again makes the country an attractive location for an Offshore Investment Centre.

Sixth, one of the benefits to be offered by the Offshore Investment Centre is a special low tax environment for any company that invests through it. ZIMRA has the capacity to administer this dual tax environment of offshore investors and domestic investors. ZIMRA is a member of Africa Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) which ensures that its systems, processes, capacity and capabilities are of world standards.

Finally, Zimbabwean banks have the capacity to offer world class custodial services and administrators can equally offer administrative services, where they are required by foreign investors, in addition to the capacity offered by accounting firms and legal firms.

Turning Zimbabwe into a gateway into Africa, means establishing such an Offshore Investment Centre. This vision means that investors would now come into Zimbabwe to access the entire opportunity in the region and the rest of Africa, and not just Zimbabwe.

It is doable, and sends the right signal that Zimbabwe is truly open for business, even beyond its borders.

Mthuli Ncube is Minister of Finance and Economic Development

Correspondent|AFTER weeks of chaos, fuel prices in the country fell by at most four cents, with Energy minister Joram Gumbo attributing this to a dip in international crude oil margins.

A survey around Harare showed that most service stations had reduced petrol prices from $1,43 to $1,39 per litre, with availability seemingly having stabilised and queues that had become an eyesore no longer visible.

“We only have a problem with diesel. Petrol supplies have stabilised. We have enough stocks and that is why maybe the price has fallen. No retailer wants to hold it for long. The more we sell, the better the margins. We have been asked to push volumes,” a fuel attendant in Harare said.

Following the announcement of a new monetary regime that included a 2% transactional tax, Zimbabwe spiralled into fresh economic turmoil last month, with basic goods disappearing from supermarket shelves.

Shortages of fuel, one of the most important industrial inputs, also re-appeared, with motorists being forced to queue for the commodity for long hours on end as government scrambled to deal with the desperate situation.

Gumbo yesterday said prices would continue to fluctuate in the coming days and weeks.

“We are monitoring international oil prices and when they fall, our retail prices will follow suit. We will also allow the local market to determine the prices, but under strict monitoring. If international oil prices rise, you will see a similar movement here,” he said.

The shortages, which Gumbo last month attributed to panic-buying, triggered black market trade in the commodity in Harare and other cities, with illegal fuel dealers cashing in on the crisis, charging as high as $2 per litre against a pump price of $1,40.

The spiralling United States dollar parallel market went into meltdown after Finance minister Mthuli Ncube announced a 2% tax on all electronic transactions, triggering a fresh wave of price increases and consequently shortages.

In response, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government capitulated to public demands and indefinitely suspended sections of Statutory Instrument 122 of 2017 to increase the flow of basic goods into the market, mainly from neighbouring South Africa, ahead of the festive season and ease pressure on foreign currency demand on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

Correspondent|A gang member who was part of a syndicate that went on a movie-style shooting spree and open fire battles with the police before getting away with over $25 000 lost his manhood in the shootout.

Godfrey Josi (35) allegedly lost his manhood after his gang engaged in an open fire battle with the police in Chitungwiza which also resulted in the injury of one police officer, Prince Gwashura .

Austin Ncube (27), Harmony Nyathi (29), Polite Madamombe (34), and Sangulani Chikumbutso (38) appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing six counts of armed robbery.

Wisdom Tariro (22) who is believed to be part of the syndicate was issued with a warrant of arrest and the gang was remanded in custody to November 19 .

They are represented by Tawanda Takaendesa who submitted that his clients had complaints against the police claiming that they were assaulted.

Prosecuting, Shepherd Makonde said the State would look into the assault allegations.

It is alleged that on October 20, at around 0015 hours, the gang went to Mabamba complex at Chitungwiza Town Centre where they confronted Noel Mapingura who was guarding the premises. Mapingura fled from the scene and reported the matter to the police.

He came back in the company of police officers and noted that the gang had broken into Mukuru.Com offices and set detonators at the office’s safe and got away with US$494, $364 Bond notes and a car battery.

Police officers fired warning shots at the gang to scare them off but the accused persons retaliated and shot Prince Gwashura, a police officer on the groin.

On October 16, at around 2120 hours, the armed gang allegedly proceeded to Glen Norah A and requested to see the owner of the house Tatenda Mugwenhi who was not around at that time.

It is alleged that they threatened to shoot a woman Stella Ruvengo who was at the house if she made any noise.

They demanded cash and ransacked the whole house and stole US$5 550, $375 Bond notes and a phone. They reportedly tied Ruvengo’s hands at her back using shoe laces and fled from the scene.

The State alleges that on October 17, the gang went to Samson Mutenda’s work place in Willowvale armed with pistols and disguised as potential customers.

They reportedly produced pistols and ordered Mutenda and his co-workers who were in the shop to lie down while they ransacked the offices. They alleged stole $7 000 Bond notes and two cell-phones.

On October 30, the accused persons were allegedly driving a Mercedes Benz E240 when they went to a cement retailer. They allegedly produced pistols and fired three shots at one Simbarashe Maposa shooting him on the stomach. The gang reportedly stole US$1 200.

M&T

A Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officer has been relieved of his job after a disciplinary hearing convicted him for using “traitorous or disloyal” words towards President Emerson Mnangagwa.

John Mahlabera was accused of tweeting in favour of then MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa April 9.

He was also charged for undermining President Mnangagwa and attending an MDC Alliance rally held in Tshovani Stadium, Chiredzi on June 10, 2018.

On count one, Mahlabera was found guilty for contravening Section 3(1) of the Prisons (staff) (discipline) Regulations of 1984, using “traitorous” or “disloyal” words against Mnangagwa.

“On the 9th day of April 2018 and at (or near) Chiredzi prison, the said 2929948A C01 Mahlabera John (Herein referred to as accused), being a member of the Service, did: Unlawfully made political comments on his Twitter account after an MDC Alliance rally that was held at Jerera Growth Point in Zaka which was addressed by Nelson Chamisa, the President of MDC Alliance political party,” reads the charge sheet in part.

“He wrote the following words on his Twitter account ‘Come to Chiredzi my President’ thus showing loyalty to the opposition party president, thereby exhibiting disloyalty and disgraceful conduct to the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.”

On the second count, Mahlabera was also found guilty for contravening Section 3(46) of Prisons (Staff) (Disciplinary) Regulations 1984 after he attended Chamisa’s rally which was held in Chiredzi.

“Being a member of the Service, did: Unlawfully and intentionally participated in active politics when he attended MDC Alliance rally which was held at Tshovani Stadium in Chiredzi on 10 June 2018, whereupon, the accused was invited to the podium by MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa who then introduced him to MDC Supporters.

“The member was then promised promotions or work as a security detail if Nelson Chamisa wins the harmonised elections that were held on 30 July 2018 for showing a partisanship with MDC party,” the charge sheet further reads.

Advocate Collin Maboke of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights who represented Mahlabera during the disciplinary hearing said he will appeal against the prison officer’s conviction at the High Court.

Correspondent|Political activist Patson Dzamara has warned Zimbabweans from taking sides in the ongoing fights between Zanu-PF factions saying Zimbabweans stand to benefit nothing because the fight is about personal egos and not about the nation.

“Until the day we learn that Zanu-PF fights are never about us, I’ll vehemently reject the notion that we are an educated bunch. When they fight, its a case of 1 beggar trying to drive others out of town. We must just drive all of them out rather than getting dazzled by their crap,” Dzamara said.

“I repeat, problems are never solved at the same level they were created. Expecting Zanu-PF to retrieve us out of this pit they put us into is foolish. It won t happen. If we are going to allow them to continue forcing themselves on us, we may as well get used to failure and poverty.”

Dzamara’s statements come at a time when Zanu- PF factions are embroiled is messy fight for the control of the Party. The factions are allegedly aligned to President Mnangagwa and Vice President Chiwenga respectively.

Whistle blower Acie Lumumba was recorded confessing to Wedza South ZANU-PF Member of Parliament MP Tinoda Machakaire that he was used by Christ Mutsvangwa and Mthuli Ncube to fight RBZ bosses and tarnish the image of Fuel Boss Kuda Tagwirei.

“They tricked me,” Mutumanje says of Mutsvangwa and Ncube.

“The only reason these people got me is that they knew I was in a tough corner. My father wasn’t feeling well. I went to Chris and said why are you letting my father suffer like this when you worked together? He said we will take care of him, but there’s something I want you to do for me but because at the time I wasn’t thinking the only thing that was on my mind was to look after my father and I made commitments, I said yes I will do it without knowing what it is. Little did I know I’had signed my life away, now this whole operation was about to start.

“I knew that they were planning something, but I didn’t know that I would be part of it, talking about it.”

The Muzarabani oil project has high potential to produce 3,9 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas and 181 million barrels of conventional gas, Australia-listed company, Invictus Energy has confirmed. Cubic feet are used to measure volume in the oil and gas industry.

A maiden resource estimate report released by Invictus yesterday said the Muzarabani project had net mean recoverable conventional potential of 680 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), consisting of 3,9 tcf and 181 million barrels of condensate or conventional gas.

The report was completed by a leading petroleum consultancy firm, Netherland, Sewell and Associates Inc (NSAI).

The 3,9 tcf of natural gas can give the country 500 megawatts of power for 40 years while 181 million barrels of conventional gas can give Zimbabwe enough fuel for the next 20 years at current consumption levels of 25 000 barrels per day, according to Invictus managing director, Mr Scott Macmillan.

The fuel that can be produced from conventional gas includes high-octane petrol, as well as jet, diesel and boiler fuels.

Invictus cautioned that the quantities of petroleum that may potentially be recovered by the application of a future development project relate to undiscovered accumulations.

“These estimates have both an associated risk of discovery and a risk of development. Further exploration, appraisal and evaluation are required to determine the existence of a significant quantity of potentially movable hydrocarbons,” reads part of the statement by Invictus.

“Prospective resource assessments in this release were estimated using probabilistic methods in accordance with SPE-PRMS standards,” it said.

While Invictus has not yet discovered oil and gas, subject to exploration and drilling, information available so far points to vast potential for the two resources in the area under exploration.

“The high side estimate of over 2,2 billion boe gross is enormous and confirms Muzarabani as potentially the largest undrilled seismically defined structure onshore Africa,” said Mr Macmillan.

He added that the estimate excludes the additional prospective horizons above and below the Upper Angwa in the Muzarabani structure as well as further plays and leads within the SG 4571 area which have the potential to add material prospective resources to the Cabora Bassa project.

Significant additional potential would be evaluated in post seismic reprocessing results in the first quarter of 2019, the statement said.

Going forward, Invictus will continue with its geological and geophysical studies, including additional basin modelling and a further resource estimate leading to a planned marketing programme to attract a farm-out partner.

Following on from the reprocessing work, a final independent Prospective Resource Report encompassing the entire SG 4571 area will be delivered early next year. “Our technical work programme continues to highlight the enormous potential of the world class Muzarabani prospect in our Cabora Bassa Project. We look forward to maturing the additional potential within our acreage and continue to build on our significant prospective resource inventory,” reads Invictus’ statement.

President Mnangagwa on Thursday last week addressed a press conference in the presence of officials from Invictus and updated the nation on oil and gas prospects in Muzarabani.

He pledged Government’s full support for the project and indicated that if all goes according to plan, Zimbabwe would have its first oil exploration well by 2020.-state media

A 27-year old woman from Bulawayo has been arraigned for beating her younger boyfriend for allegedly dumping her.

Memory Dube of Pumula East suburb had allegedly tried to scald Canaan Ndlovu (22) with boiling oil.

She allegedly assaulted him using an empty pot after he told her he wanted to collect his property and move out of the house.

Dube convinced him to sleep over and assaulted him during the night. The court heard that Ndlovu is employed at the National Railways of Zimbabwe while Dube is not employed.

Mr Kenneth Shava prosecuted. Dube pleaded guilty to physical abuse charges when she appeared before Western Commonage magistrate, Mr Lungile Ncube.

“We started fighting because he came back home late at night and started playing loud music. I eventually overpowered him,” she said. Mr Ncube remanded her out of custody to today.

The State alleged that on October 4 at around 6PM, Ndlovu told Dube that he was separating from her and had come to collect his property.

Dube convinced him to sleep her over. During the night she tried to pour some boiled cooking oil on Ndlovu who had just woken up but he managed to avoid the hot oil.

“She then took an empty pot and assaulted him several times on the head and face injuring him,” said Mr Shava.

Ndlovu reported the matter to the police leading to Dube’s arrest. Ndlovu did not seek medical attention.-state media

ZIMBABWE Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has dismissed from employment, John Mahlabera, a prison officer, after convicting him for undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa and posting a Tweet viewed by his superiors as disloyal to the ruling ZANU PF party leader.

Mahlabera was convicted on Monday 5 November 2018 and dismissed from employment by the trial officer only identified as Superintendent Muzhingi.

When trial commenced on Thursday 1 November 2018 at Chiredzi Prison, Masvingo province, Mahlabera pleaded not guilty to charges of undermining President Mnangagwa through posting some political comments on social media and to some misconduct charges.

According to ZPCS, Mahlabera unlawfully made some political comments on his Twitter account after an MDC-Alliance party rally held at Jerera Growth Point in Zaka, Masvingo province, which was addressed by Nelson Chamisa, the opposition party leader, where he allegedly posted a message, which reads; “Come to Chiredzi my president”.

ZPCS said by posting such a message on Twitter, Mahlabera contravened section 3(1) of the Prisons (Staff) (Discipline) Regulations 1984 for using traitorous or disloyal words regarding the leader of government and had showed loyalty to Chamisa and disloyalty to President Mnangagwa.

But the ZPCS officer, who was represented by Collen Maboke of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, denied uttering any treacherous or disloyal words against President Mnangagwa or government and indicated that the Twitter account, which ZPCS authorities alleged belongs to him is in the name of Shephard Mahlabera.

Mahlabera was also convicted for misconduct, where ZPCS authorities alleged that he attended an opposition political party rally ahead of the country’s harmonised elections held in July 2018 in contravention of section 3 (46) of Prisons (Staff) (Disciplinary) Regulations 1984 that is being guilty of any other act, conduct, disorder or neglect of duty to the prejudice of good conduct or discipline as read with section (19) (a-g) of Staff General Regulations 1968.

ZPCS authorities alleged that the 36 year-old prison officer unlawfully and intentionally participated in active politics when he attended an MDC Alliance party rally, which was held at Tshovani Stadium in Chiredzi, Masvingo province on 10 June 2018, where he was invited to the podium by Chamisa, who then introduced him to opposition political party supporters.

ZPCS charged that Mahlabera was promised employment by Chamisa, where he would work as a security detail for the opposition political party leader in the event that he emerged the winner of the harmonised elections that were held on 30 July 2018.

ZPCS said Mahlabera had no right whatsoever to conduct himself in the manner he allegedly did.

A record 2,215 people took to vote for the best leader between Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga and below were the results whose reliability was maintained by a strict IP filter that ensured only human beings vote:

BE HONEST, BETWEEN MNANGAGWA & CHIWENGA – WHO'S A BETTER PRESIDENT?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 3, 2018

BE HONEST, BETWEEN MNANGAGWA & CHIWENGA – WHO'S A BETTER PRESIDENT?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 3, 2018

Jane Mlambo| Bulawayo Deputy Mayor who was forced to resign by the Movement for Democratic Change has been re-elected back into his position in a move that leaves the party leadership with an egg on the face.

Kambarami resigned yesterday after the party gave him seven days to relinquish his position or be expelled.

Tinashe Kambarami has won the deputy Mayor position in the party uncontested .That means he is still the deputy Mayor .#Asakhe

— Zenzele (@zenzele) November 5, 2018

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman, George Charamba has said Zimbabwe has no option but enter into an agreement with Kuda Tagwirei’s Sakunda Holdings to supply 100 million litres of fuel.

Government is said to have begun negotiations with Sakunda so that it will eventually provide 1,8 billion litres of fuel over an 18 month period.

Said Charamba: “we are already mortgaged and if it was not Sakunda, it was going to be another company.

“As long as you are not an oil-producing country you are already mortgaged anyway and what is the point? Don’t get caught up with the politics that who are you indebted to because that is a foolish argument.

“The point is you cannot avoid being indebted because you don’t have the product. What we have is a line of credit and Zimbabwe has been for a long time on a cash budget and very few friends will be able to give you a line of credit as has happened with Sakunda. We must say Hallelujah, fuel is an unavoidable expenditure.”- Standard

Bindura North Ward 2 Report on RAN Mine evictions

In my capacity as the councillor of ward 2 , Bindura town council I held a meeting with residents of Ran Mine compound. The agenda was on the letters of eviction that have been given to families of mine workers to vacate the compound by the 31st of December 2018.

The workers have been employed at this mine for over twenty years and have outstanding salaries that date back to 1999.

A few Misguided elements and 3 ZRP uniformed police distributed letters of eviction forcing ran mine residents to sign forms agreeing to the eviction.

After receiving numerous calls I organised a meeting which was attended by 465 people (based on the number of signatures appended to the petition against the evictions).

At the meeting we resolved that the company must first pay all outstanding salaries to workers before evicting them, provide a descent alternative place for relocation considering that these workers have spend all their lives at the compound, properly follow the law in all their processes. All communications shall be done through the councillor and feedback meetings shall be held on weekly basis.

As the councillor for all in this ward, I represent all citizens despite political affiliation and also hope that the Member of Parliament for Bindura North(Kenneth Musanhu) also comes on board to defend the welfare of these workers and protect their wellbeing from abuse by the capitalist mine owners. I also want to guarantee the ran mine that they should not live in fear as we are about to take this case to the courts,victory is certain.

Ian Makone (Bindura North Ward 2 councillor)

Zimbabwean colours scart branding President Emmerson Mnangagwa has arrived in Guinea. The big question remains, What Will he bring back home.

A ZANU PF party Central Committee member Joshua Muzamba has relinquished his position in the ruling party in compliance with a court order, which directed him to choose between holding a position in ZANU PF party or remain as Binga Rural District Council (BRDC) Chief Executive Officer as provided in the Constitution.

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court in August 2018 ruled that Muzamba must either resign as a ZANU PF Central Committee member or quit being BRDC’s Chief Executive Officer as he cannot occupy both positions at the same time.

Three Supreme Court Judges of Appeal namely Justice Anne-Mary Gowora, Justice Ben Hlatshwayo and Justice Lavender Makoni noted that after assuming political office, Muzamba was automatically barred in terms of section 266(3) of the Constitution from maintaining employment in whatever capacity with BRDC. Section 266(3) of the Constitution provides that employees of provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities must not be office-bearers of any political party.

Muzamba was given three months by the Supreme Court to decide which position to drop as he could not double up as BRDC Chief Executive Officer and ZANU PF Central Committee member.

In a letter written to Obert Mpofu, the ZANU PF party Secretary for Administration, Muzamba said he was relinquishing his membership of the ruling party with effect from 25 October 2018 in compliance with the terms of the Supreme Court order.

Muzamba was hauled to court by Binga North legislator, Prince Dubeko Sibanda, who was represented by Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara instructed by Kay Ncube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who argued that the Binga local authority leader had breached the Constitution by remaining as the BRDC’s Chief Executive Officer and at the same time maintaining his position as a Central Committee member of ZANU PF party.

 

Correspondent|Former Zimbabwe national team goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar and striker Stewart Shutto Murisa have been roped in a musical project that seeks to champion the welfare of people living with disability.

Other football legends in the project include Labani Kandi, Harrington Shereni, Elvis Chuchu Chiweshe and Justice Majabvi.

The project is an initiative of Light Africa Project, an organisation made up of young Zimbabweans living in the country and diaspora.

In an interview Light Africa founder Chanda Dzawo said they came up with the initiative after noticing how some talented musicians living with disability were having their careers cut short. He cited Tedious Matsito as an example.

“We decided to start this project to assist people living with disabilities from proceeds of the sale of the single we are producing.

“We are targeting at least 15 people including football legends, celebrities and even government officials to be part of this music project.

“We are happy that Stewart Murisa, Bruce Grobbelaar, Munyaradzi Munodawafa and others have agreed to be part of this project. Even people like Ginimbi or anyone who feels like helping is free to join. Bruce agreed in principle but he requested to see part of the intended beneficiaries first so we are waiting for his representative Dickson Choto to revert to us but at this stage he is willing” he said.

Chanda extended an invitation to Harare International Carnival ambassador Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure and Zimbabwe Tourism authority boss Karikoga Kaeke to lend a voice in the project saying its vital to have them on board since the artists who will be supported were potential tourism ambassadors because of their musical talent.

A fortnight ago a disabled musician Terrence Green secured a free recording contract from the popular Mt Zion Studios after Light Africa had posted a video of him on social media.

“The young boy (Green) had no money to record and this touched our hearts and we sent his video on social media,
“T-Man , a producer with Mt Zion then saw the video and offered to record him for free and they have already recorded and we are excited ,” explained Dzawo.

He hailed Murisa and Grobbelaar for accepting to be part of the project.
Grobbelaar , a former soldier, has no known history of music and his willingness shows that he was touched by the plight of people living with disability.

Munodawafa is a blind musician who started singing at the age of nine and he got generous airplay on radio.

M&T

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Priscilla Chigumba is expected to appear in court as a state witness against a Chitungwiza resident Shadaya Tawona, accused of retweeting a defamatory message against the former High court judge.

Tawona’s trial which was supposed to kick off today was rolled over to 20 November 2018 after the state failed to serve the complaint, Chigumba with papers.

Tawona pleaded not guilty to the offence arguing that all he did was re-tweeting something written on social media by a person he did not know.

The accused had earlier pleaded guilty and later made an application of change of plea after his lawyer Noble Chinhanu from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) successfully applied for change of plea arguing that his client had mistakenly pleaded guilty to the charge due to a misunderstanding of the essential elements of the offence.

In her ruling, Harare Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa said it was clear from the record that the essential elements of the matter were not clearly stated and that there was a possibility that the accused thought the Twitter account belonged to Chigumba.

He also said that when he re tweeted the defamatory message against Chigumba, he was drunk and the account which he took the massage from was named Chigumba.

-263Chat

ZANU PF National Youth League chairperson Pupurai Togarepi has dismissed MDC Alliance principal Tenda Biti’s claims that there are fissures in the party’s presidium and advised him to to continue supporting their mock president Nelson Chamisa and stop hallucinating.

Biti posted on micro blogging site Twitter on Friday alleging that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is no longer in charge of the nation but the military under his deputy Constantino Chiwenga had taken over..

Reports have been awash in the private media where Mnangagwa and Chiwenga are said to be at loggerheads in their alleged quest for power in ZANU PF and the nation at large.

Biti took to twitter saying he has information that Mnangagwa has been captured by Chiwenga and his lieutenants.

“I can strongly confirm that Mnangagwa is under state seizure. He is no longer in charge but the military under Chiwenga and Tagwirei has taken over Zimbabwe with effect from 1 November 2018. What happened last year to Mugabe is happening again in a different way. Chiwenga and Tagwirei have captured the executive powers as they have given Mnangagwa a condition:

Either you play by the rules of the Cartel or you step down by resignation or by military backed public demonstrations. Watch this space, Mnangagwa’s days are numbered. This time Chiwenga is taking over.” he tweeted.

In an interview on Monday, Togarepi leapt into his superiors defence and said there were no fissures in the presidium.

“Zanu PF is in charge and our President (Mnangagwa) is totally in charge and fully supported by his entire presidium. Biti’s utterances are a sign of desperation to divert attention from deep seated divisions in MDC Alliance,” Togarepi said.

MDC Alliance is said to be in an unstable state after the party’s Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora is said to be garnering for the party presidency challenging Nelson Chamisa in next year’s congress.

In a move that suggests Mwonzora is laying the foundation for take over, he recently nullified the suspension of all party members who were dismissed by Chamisa.

Togarepi said Biti can continue to say things that are not existing.

“Biti can continue to hallucinate, his party can continue with their mock president and failed flames while we in Zanu PF continue to work for our great country,” he said.

M&T

 

Terrence Mawawa| Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has been literally captured by the state as the ruling party implodes.

MDC Alliance deputy chairperson, Tendai Biti has said it is a matter of time before Mnangagwa is removed from power by his own comrades.

“I can strongly confirm that Mnangagwa is under state seizure. He is no longer in charge but the
military(under Chiwenga and Tagwirei)has taken control of
state affairs with effect from 1 November 2018.

What happened last year to Mugabe is happening again in a different way. Chiwenga and Tagwirei have captured the executive powers as they have given Munangagwa a condition: Either you play by the rules of the Cartel or you step down by resignation or as a result of military backed public demonstrations. Watch this space, Mnangagwa’s
days are numbered.This time Chiwenga is taking over,” Biti tweeted.