Correspondent|Leading accounting firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC) has started inviting the suspended Zesa Holdings managers for interviews as the forensic audit as the ongoing investigations gather momentum.

Impeccable sources inside the power utility said PWC has been inviting suspended managers for interviews in regards to the allegations of misappropriation of funds.

15 managers from across the power utility company’s subsidiaries were put on 90 days mandatory leave.

This was shortly after Zesa Group Chief executive officer Josh Chifamba and two other senior managers were charged with criminal abuse of office in October.

This emanated from irregular deals to the tune of $35 million with Indian company, PME.

PWC’s forensic audit seeks to verify information on how tenders were issued, board minutes, procurement documentation, fraud incidents reports as well as all procurement documentation for the Intratek Gwanda solar project.

The auditors are also said to have asked for finance reports of the power utility company for the past three years .

Meanwhile, Zesa board chairman Herbert Murerwa is on record for saying the suspended managers will receive salaries and benefits while on ‘forced’ leave.

Zesa Holdings has been plagued for years by scandals involving corporate malpractice, questionable tender allocation and blatant cases of corruption that have bled the of company millions of dollars.

In 2015 Zesa executives unilaterally donated almost $1,2 million to politicians and various organisations instead of the officially approved $300 000.

In July this year, Former Energy Minister Samuel Undenge was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of prejudicing Zesa Holdings subsidiary, ZPC of $12,650.

Apart from major scandals, lengthy projects and price escalations on tenders have resulted in the power company straining under $ 1 billion debt and owes its regional power suppliers close to $100 million.

M&T

Correspondent|MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti has rubbished oil discovery claims announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday stating that it was another mega deal that would never materialise.

President Mnangagwa announced the discovery of oil and gas in the Muzarabani area by Australian Stock Exchange-listed company Invictus Energy.

President Mnangagwa said the findings by Invictus Energy, a company that has been licensed to explore the oil in Muzarabani were positive and point to oil and gas deposits in the area.

President Mnangagwa said government would work very closely with Invictus to ensure that the company realises its plans to sink an exploration well by mid-2020.

In an interview Biti said the country was miles away from discovering oil.

“Coming from Mnangagwa, The man just shoots his big mouth off. We have heard of mega deals and mega deals billions and billions of mega deals, nothing has materialised.

“That there is ample justification for exploration of gas and oil in Muzarabani, it does not translate to oil.

“So the contrary that has been given to Invictus to gas and oil exploration, we are miles away from any potential finding of oil,” he said.

Biti said he was concerned with the allocation of resources by government.

“Secondly I am seriously concerned with the allocation of resources, what is the criteria that that we give those contract, this contract that has been given to Invictus what did they pay.

“Where is the transparency, why wasn’t this confession subjected to conduct so I have a problem with the way we allocate national resources without tender, without parliament, without full knowledge of the public so more questions arise than answers,” Biti said.

Biti also went on to social media and tweeted saying the discovery of oil was rubbish.

“It is one thing being clueless and predatory but it is another thing for a Government to lie and to tamper with the truth daily we are inundated with claims of billion dollar mega deals & investments. What hog wash .Now someone says there is oil in Zimbabwe .What a load of rubbish,” Biti tweeted.

M&T

Correspondent|The magistrates court in Harare on Friday heard of a desperate scramble to destroy evidence before police swooped on PHD Ministries’ founder Walter Magaya’s office in Harare to seize unlicensed medicines he intended to sell as an HIV cure.

“Just before the search, accused persons destroyed some of the exhibits by flushing the Aguma in the office toilets and burning the containers which were however recovered half-burnt. Several Aguma sachets and other torn sachets were also recovered in an office bin next to the Call Centre office,” according to a document prepared by the Criminal Investigations Department’s Drugs Section submitted in court.

Police raided Magaya’s Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries property on Edinburg Road in Marlbrough suburb and found drug-making machines, packaging machines and what police listed as “prescription preparatory medicines”.

The “prescription preparatory medicines” are thought to be approved prescription anti-retroviral drugs, although a full description was not provided in court.

Magaya, who was released on $300 bail by magistrate Elisha Singano, was charged under Section 40(1) also read with Section 40(2a) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act Chapter 15:03 for “distributing or in any other manner whatsoever bringing to the notice of the public or causing or permitting to be published or distributed or to be brought to the notice of the public any false or misleading advertisement of a medicine.”

Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa said Magaya had used his church’s Yadah TV and the website of Aretha Medical to advertise his purported HIV cure called ‘Aguma’.

Police had also recovered 20 travelling bags containing empty capsules, plastic containers and plastic container lids.

By Paul Nyathi|Mines and Mining development Minister Winston Chitando has also issued a statement indicating that no oil has been discovered in Muzarabani area.

Chitando reiterated Australian company Invictus Energy that there is need to drill an exploration well to confirm the presence of oil and gas in Muzarabani

Drilling the well is estimated to cost US$20 million.

Said Chitando in his statements;

“I refer to the statement made by Invictus on the Australian stock exchange and hereby comment as follows – Invictus will only now be releasing their resource statement on Monday morning Australian time, the statement by His Excellency and my technical analysis pointed to the need to drill an exploration well to confirm the indicated resources.”

“The statement further indicated that the current resource estimate to be released on Monday has been signed off by an International Oil Consultant.”

Kwese TV is shutting down their Satellite TV and instead of coming out clear to declare the shutdown, they opted to release a confusing press statement that doesn’t quit explain what is actually going on with the service.

Below is the statememt issued by the media funded by giant communications company Econet Wireless.

In order to maintain its position as a leader in broadcasting innovation in Africa, Econet Media has reviewed its business strategy and service offerings, to align them with the changes in the global digital and satellite broadcasting sector, and growth in access to mobile and fixed broadband on the continent.

The broadcaster’s new bouquet will carry FTA, religious, and free news channels which will be available to viewers for a minimal fee, as the broadcaster will waive monthly subscription fees. Kwesé subscribers who have already paid their subscriptions for the month of November, or in advance, will receive a full refund.

TWENTY people were injured when an AMBS bus developed a mechanical fault, veered off the road, hit a tree stump and landed on its side at the 125km peg along the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road.

The incident occurred at around 11AM on Wednesday at Gwampa Valley in Nkayi.

The injured were rushed to Nkayi District Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

Mr Joseph Magwenzi (41) of Emganwini suburb in Bulawayo was driving the bus with 31 passengers on board when the accident occurred.

The passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the accident.

“I can confirm we received a report of a road accident that occurred at the 125km peg along the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road on Wednesday morning.

“The bus which was proceeding to Nkayi with 31 passengers on board developed a mechanical fault. The driver then lost control of the bus and it veered off the road to the right side, hit a tree stump and landed on its left side,” she said.

Nkayi District Administrator, Mrs Matildah Mlotshwa, urged drivers to always exercise caution especially when ferrying passengers and avoid overloading as they risk lives.

“Drivers are advised to always thoroughly inspect their vehicles or buses before setting off for a journey and to regularly service their vehicles,” she said.

State Media

Correspondent|The Centre for Natural Resource and Governance (CNRG) has claimed massive harassment of its staff by police and intelligence officials, but vowed to continue exposing gross human rights abuses of people living in the Chiadzwa diamond fields.

In a brief address during the fourth edition of Operation Hakudzokwi commemorations held at Betera Primary School in Marange, CNRG director Farai Maguwu blasted police for attempting to block villagers from attending the event.

He also claimed he had to sneak in and address the gathering after law enforcement agents had denied him entry to the venue.

In his short speech, Maguwu vowed his organisation would take the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company head-on over lack of development in the area.

“I think you are aware that Marange is the richest area in Zimbabwe, but we have some of the poorest people in the country. There is no development in this community,” he said.

“A big percentage should be used to develop the community, like paying school fees, constructing roads. Last year, we wrote a petition to Parliament over lack of development, but nothing has improved.”

Maguwu added: “Every time we want to organise such an event (Operation Hakudzokwi), we receive death threats or we are arrested by the police. Even now I might sleep in police cells because they said I should not be allowed to deliver the speech.”

He said the threats would not deter the organisation from speaking on behalf of the people.

Operation Hakudzokwi was violent crackdown launched in 2008 by security forces to clear the Chiadzwa diamond fields of illegal panners.

Human rights groups claimed that over 200 people were shot dead by police and soldiers manning the diamond fields, while thousands were reportedly maimed and tortured.

Pupils from Maranatha High School in Bulawayo were rushed to hospital after they suffered injuries when the school’s newly constructed double storey building roofing collapsed due to strong winds.

The pupils from the Nketa 7 suburb located Seventh Day Adventist church-run school were rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals on Wednesday.

Four were treated for minor injuries while three were treated for shock.

The incident occurred at about 3PM. It drew all the city’s emergency departments while parents also rushed to the scene to check if their children were safe.

In an interview on Wednesday, Bulawayo acting Provincial Education Director, Mrs Olicah Kaira, who visited the scene soon after learning about the incident, described it as a disaster.

She said it was fortunate that most of the pupils had gone home when disaster struck.

“I got a phone call from the District Schools Inspector just after 4PM advising me that the newly constructed science laboratory at Maranatha High School had been blown away by strong winds. The message from the DIS shocked me because I could tell from the tone of his voice that he was also in shock.

“I said to him have we managed to make sure that pupils are safe and he assured me that a number of them had left school but four were injured. Two ambulances rushed them to the United Bulawayo Hospitals. Three others were admitted for shock but the rest were discharged,” said Mrs Kaira.

She said upon her arrival, she found the Bulawayo Fire Brigade Department sifting the debris to ensure no one had been buried beneath.

Mrs Kaira said the roof collapse could have been a result of shoddy work but the Ministry would wait for expert advice as investigations into the matter had commenced.

“This is a new thing where we are encouraging schools to build high rise buildings so that we have adequate classroom space for our learners. We were yet to commission the building and give the school a certificate of occupancy so that the pupils could start using the science laboratory,” said Mrs Kaira.

“I’m not a building specialist myself but my assessment and observation points to poor workmanship. I’m yet to get proper advice and guidance on the way to go from experts but we are launching a full scale investigation with the aid of the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works, National Housing.”

She urged parents to remain calm adding that schools remain safe for their children.

Mrs Kaira said the classroom collapse seems to have traumatised some of the pupils who witnessed the incident and the Ministry would today deploy psychologists to attend to them.

She said due to preliminary investigations happening on site, the school was forced to close for business at 11:30AM with normal lessons on Thursday.

State Media

From A Correspondent|The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission on Thursday arrested suspend University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice Chancellor, Levi Nyagura on twenty seven counts of fraud.

He appeared in court on Friday I the corruption charges which he allegedly committed while he was still the Vice Chancellor at the university.

The court released him on $500 bail.
Nyagura, who was not asked to plead, is being charged together with UZ top officials, Lazarus Mabvira and James Chipendo.

“Sometime between the period 2015 and 2018 at the UZ, the trio connived on various occasions to prejudice the university of substantial amounts of money by ‘dubiously’ awarding tenders for services needed by the university,” read state papers.

Court also heard UZ also received services of cutting down five trees from Tynwald Sawmills, a company that was awarded a tender outside due diligence requirements.

It is alleged that Tynwald Sawmills was paid $9 950 but there was neither security check nor storekeepers’ signature to confirm that the services were rendered.

On another occasion, the trio allegedly connived to split a tender of a single procurement into two purchases each below the competitive bidding threshold of $10 000.

They awarded the two contracts to Tynwald Sawmills without going to formal tender as required by the law.

On November 6, they awarded services to Tynwald Sawmills without solicitation for quotations from at least three competitive bidders as Tynwald and Frenzy were owned by the same people while Bright Tree Cutters was not a registered company.

Mabvira raised a purchase worth $49 950 in favour of Tynwald and he also made a goods received voucher on November 1 2015, acknowledging the services that had been rendered to the university.

On November 13, 2015 the university transferred the money into Tynwald Sawmills’s CBZ account.

Nyagura and Mabvira allegedly did the same thing with the cutting down of trees around the university in which they allegedly favoured Tynwald Sawmills and other companies without soliciting the required amount of quotations in total. They spent more than $200 000 on illegal contacting.

The under fire former UZ CEO also has another case before the court being that of criminal abuse of office after he allegedly awarded a “bogus” PhD to former first lady Grace Mugabe.

The trial has been stayed after he approached the Constitutional Court challenging the authority of special anti-corruption unit to prosecute him.

He will be back in court on December 12 pending trial.

President Mnangagwa yesterday capped 364 graduates at Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) who excelled in various entrepreneurial disciplines.
The President officiated at the graduation ceremony soon after his installation as the university’s second Chancellor.
After his installation, congratulatory
messages from various respected
personalities in the academia poured in.
HIT Vice Chancellor Engineer

Quinton Kanhukamwe said the institution was committed to nurture graduates responsive to industry demands.
“We are passionately committed to growing interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary expertise and creative thinking, together with practical application and problem
solving directly relevant and responsive to various sectors of our economy and the lives of the communities we serve,” said Eng
Kanhukamwe.State media

Former MDC legislator for Harare West Ms Jessie Majome on Thursday said she was no longer a political activist, having quit politics
on July 31 this year.
Responding to questions during a public interview to select the country’s new substantive Prosecutor-General, Ms Majome
said she was now an apolitical and
professional legal practitioner aspiring to hold the esteemed office.
Ms Majome was one of the 10 lawyers who participated in the selection process held at Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare to replace
Advocate Ray Goba, who resigned in August this year.
The other nine candidates were: Justice Maphios Cheda, Mr Tinomudaishe Chinyoka, Mrs Wendy Chingeya, Mrs Florence Ziyambi,
Mr Kumbirai Hodzi, Mr Misheck Hogwe, Mr Tichaona Mantsebo, Ms Noria Mashumba and

Mr Edmund Marondedze.The Herald

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

https://youtu.be/QsyitfueQDs

https://www.facebook.com/ZimEye/ videos/221712551853145

A man from Bulawayo yesterday appeared in court for attempting to burn his family in their house alleging that his grandmother bewitched his younger sister.

Tatenda Mutakura (21) of Mahatshula North appeared before Ms Adelaide Mbeure who remanded him in custody to November 14 for provision of a trial date. Mutakura pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo, alleged that on October 14 this year at around 11:30PM, an inebriated Mutakura arrived home from a local bar.

He allegedly started insulting his parents accusing one of the pair’s mother of bewitching his sister.
“Mutakura became violent on his parents, pushing them. He went on to take a cushion from the sofa, lit it and placed it by one of the bedroom doors. The door caught fire while he was standing outside the door holding a garden fork threatening to kill anyone who would attempt escaping,” said Mr Dlodlo.

The court heard the family screamed for help and were rescued by a relative who came with a bucketful of water to put out the fire.

After the family was rescued, Mutakura fled from the house. Mutakura’s mother reported the matter to the police leading to his arrest. Total value damaged is $50 and nothing was recovered. -state media

Six illegal gold panners have each been sentenced to two years in jail for illegal mining.

Charles Sibanda (28), Mduduzi Moyo (28), Fortune Dlamini (35), Bekithemba Tshuma (20), Proud Ngwenya (25) and Justice Ndlovu (29) were convicted on their own plea of guilty to prospecting for any mineral without a licence by Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi.

Prosecuting, Mr Takunda Mafudze said the gang was apprehended on October 30 at Old Sally Mine in Colleen Bawn.

“A report was made at Colleen Bawn police station about a group of people that were illegally panning for gold at Old Sally Mine. Police officers went to the mine to investigate and they found the six men still ]working in the mine shaft.

“The police approached them and asked them to produce documentation authorising them to work at the mine but they did not have any resulting in their arrest,” he said.

Police in Matabeleland South Province recently arrested 48 illegal gold panners and six illegal forex dealers during a seven day operation against illegal activities in the province.
Acting provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Thandolwenkosi Moyo said most arrests had been recorded in Esigodini area.

The operation was mainly targeting Esigodini, Colleen Bawn, Filabusi, Matobo and Fort Rixon areas as these places are where a lot of illegal mining activities have been taking place.

Sgt Moyo said the police would continue conducting patrols in a bid to contain illegal activities in the province.

He urged miners to desist from illegal activities as they had to regularise their operations.

Sgt Moyo said illegal forex dealings had to end as people were expected to take their monies to the banks.

Police launched the operation following an increase in illegal mining activities in the province which have been mainly reported in Gwanda and Esigodini areas, which have resulted in bloodshed.-state media

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube is trying to impose top economist Andrew Bvumbe (pictured) as the new Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor to replace the incumbent John Mangudya following the expiry of his employment contract with the World Bank (WB) where he worked as executive director for the Africa Group 1 Constituency (AFG1).

Government sources said although Ncube has had good working relations with Mangudya, he is closer to Bvumbe and likes the fact that he has been working at the WB and is connected to international financial institutions.

According to the sources, Bvumbe is supposed to return to his former position as head of the aid and debt management office at the Finance Ministry. The position is currently occupied by an official seconded to the ministry by the RBZ.

Sources said Ncube, who began courting Bvumbe soon after his appointment as Finance minister in September, is fighting to assert total control at the central bank by ensuring senior positions are occupied by people he is comfortable working with.

“Ncube has of late been in talks with Bvumbe and indicated that he would want to work with him once his contract at the WB expires. They first met on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly meeting in New York in September. They also met in Bali, Indonesia, at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings and held further talks,” a Finance Ministry official said.

“Although there is no bad blood between the two, Ncube appears to be frustrated by Mangudya’s cautious approach to the sweeping changes he sought to introduce when he became Finance minister.”
Senior RBZ officials also told the Zimbabwe Independent that when Ncube arrived at the ministry, he wanted to quickly remove bond notes, but Mangudya, who introduced the surrogate currency in 2016, warned that doing so would be catastrophic.

Ncube’s idea of introducing a local currency was also deemed too hasty by Mangudya, who subtly warned the ambitious minister in his monetary policy statement on October 1 that doing so would be akin to “putting the cart before the horse”.

“Ncube wants to control the RBZ, that’s one area where they are having differences. Mangudya is of the idea that Ncube’s big bang approach would cause mayhem and he favours gradual change.”

Sources said Ncube and Mangudya are currently not operating on the same wavelength as the minister was making decisions without consulting the governor.

“A case in point is that of the controversial communications taskforce which Ncube established. Mangudya knew nothing about the taskforce and, when he found out, he wasn’t comfortable with it at all. Actually, some RBZ officials believe that most of the allegations levelled against directors at the bank are either half-truths or total falsehoods,” another source said.

The short-lived taskforce, chaired by controversial former Zanu PF youth league official William Mutumanje, commonly known as Acie Lumumba, led to the suspension of RBZ directors on corruption allegations: Mirirayi Chiremba, Norman Mataruka, Gresham Muradzikwa and Azvinandawa Saburi.

Ncube was however later forced to disband the taskforce following a major outcry in government and in the ruling Zanu PF. George Charamba told the press yesterday Mangudya’s term of office would be extended once it expires.

‘‘The President is very clear on the Reserve Bank Governor’s tenure and his performance. Not only is he there to stay but the President is about to renew his contract for a second tenure,’’ Charamba said.

Efforts to get Ncube’s comment were unsuccessful.-Zimbabwe Independent

By Own Correspondent| Sport, Arts and Recreation minister, Kirsty Coventry has commended local artists for fighting corruption through their crafts.

Speaking at the press conference in Harare this week, the minister said she was impressed by the amount of talent in Zimbabwe and their works in fighting corruption.

“Through arts, another great passion of mine, there is so much talent being showcased and works being published and produced against corruption. Our artists sing about it and some create shows about it. These are all active and commendable ways we can fight corruption.

My ministry is implementing various programmes, policies and strategies to ensure that young people are given real opportunities to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to our economy.

I urge all young people of this nation to desist from all forms of corruption and to be a voice of positive change in our fight against corruption.”

Coventry was however on Thursday in a no show at Youth Day commemorations organised by the Zimbabwe Youth Council at Africa Unity Square in Harare.

The minister, who was expected to give a keynote address did not turn up for the commemorations where “Baba Harare”, a local musician whose real name is Braveman Chizvino ended up as the centre of attraction at the event whose theme was to encourage the fight against corruption.

The Movement for Democratic Change has blasted government’s decision to renew Dr John Mangudya’s term as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) saying its an insult to the suffering masses of Zimbabwe.

This comes after the Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, George Charamba announced that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was about to renew Mangudya’s contract for a second dance at the helm of the central bank.

Responding to Charamba’s remarks, MDC National Spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Mangudya had already provided for himself a resignation clause in a contract he signed with the public when he introduced bond notes.

“In any case he has already provided for himself a resignation clause in a contract he signed with the public. Mangudya pledged to resign if his creature known as the bond note failed, the authorities must just remind him of this pledge as opposed to rewarding him for mediocrity, incompetence and the arrogance he displayed when he was warned against the bond notes.

“To date the bond notes has created distortions on the market sending signals in the financial sector that have driven the price of the US dollars sky rocketing, creating multiple exchange rates ultimately driving out good money and creating a multi-pricing  situation in Zimbabwe,” said Mafume.

He added that Charamba is praising a man whose ideas and conduct are at the centre of destruction of the Zimbabwean economy adding that as a party, they were against Mangudya’s continued stay in office even for a single extra day.

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder and leader, Prophet Walter Magaya allegedly tried to destroy some of the Aguma medicine after sensing that an arrest was imminent.

According to state papers, the man of God destroyed some of the exhibits by flashing them in the office toilets and burning the containers which were however recovered half burnt.

Magaya was arrested yesterday after the joint press conference with the ministry of health where he apologized about his HIV cure claim.

He is being charged of contravening Section 41 Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act.

It is the state’s case that on 31 October 2018, Magaya made an advertisement on Yadah TV and on Aretha Medical website www.arethamedical.com of Aguma medicine which he claimed was a cure for HIV, AIDS cancer and other ailments.

The court heard that, Magaya further made claims on Aretha medical website and that Aretha medical and himself were manufacturers of the Aguma medicine which he claimed can cure HIV.

Police later searched Magaya’s Marlborough offices where they seized twenty travelling bags containing empty capsules, plastic containers and plastic container lids.

He was released on $300 bail.

GOVERNMENT has up to early December to process former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s full pension or risk a civil suit, his lawyer Welshman Ncube has said.

Mphoko is yet to receive his terminal benefits following his removal from office after the fall of former President Robert Mugabe in a November 15, 2017 coup.

He has been engaging government over his terminal benefits for months on end but has reached a deadlock over the matter, resulting in Mphoko’s lawyers giving notice to sue.

“The notice has not yet expired. I do not have the papers with me right now (to confirm the date of expiry of notice), but it expires in early December,” Ncube who is also MDC Alliance vice-president, told Southern Eye yesterday.

Government admits Mphoko is entitled to his pension but disputes he deserves full benefits such as security aides, an office, telephone, secretary and domestic workers in line with the Constitution.

Government argues Mphoko does not deserve full benefits as he did not serve a full term under Statutory Instrument 86 of 2015 that states only a VP who served at least one term in office can enjoy exit packages such as a security officer.

Section 102 of Zimbabwe’s constitution stipulates that “… A person who has ceased to be President or Vice-President is entitled to receive a pension equivalent to the salary of a sitting President or Vice-President, as the case may be; and such allowances and other benefits as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament.”

-Newsday

Terrence Mawawa|There are indications that ndications that Kwese TV is closing down 18
months from its inception.

Impeccable sources have revealed that as of November 1, Kwese will only offer three services; Kwese Free
Sports, Kwese iflix and Kwese Play.

The sources said Kwese subscribers who had already paid their full
subscriptions for the month of November, or in advance would receive a refund.

Kwese TV is a Zimbabwean satellite and broadcasting network owned by Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, under Econet Media.

The Movement for Democratic Change has blasted government’s decision to renew Dr John Mangudya’s term as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) saying its an insult to the suffering masses of Zimbabwe.

This comes after the Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, George Charamba announced that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was about to renew Mangudya’s contract for a second dance at the helm of the central bank.

Responding to Charamba’s remarks, MDC National Spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Mangudya had already provided for himself a resignation clause in a contract he signed with the public when he introduced bond notes.

“In any case he has already provided for himself a resignation clause in a contract he signed with the public. Mangudya pledged to resign if his creature known as the bond note failed, the authorities must just remind him of this pledge as opposed to rewarding him for mediocrity, incompetence and the arrogance he displayed when he was warned against the bond notes.

“To date the bond notes has created distortions on the market sending signals in the financial sector that have driven the price of the US dollars sky rocketing, creating multiple exchange rates ultimately driving out good money and creating a multi-pricing  situation in Zimbabwe,” said Mafume.

He added that Charamba is praising a man whose ideas and conduct are at the centre of destruction of the Zimbabwean economy adding that as a party, they were against Mangudya’s continued stay in office even for a single extra day.

Barely three months after the 2018 elections, Zanu-PF Youth league has begun canvassing for the endorsement of President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the ruling party candidate in the 2018 elections while shutting doors on possible challengers within the party.

The endorsement could be a killer hammer to an alleged faction aligned to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, believed to be pushing for Mnangagwa to run just for one term.

This is despite the fact that Chiwenga was very instrumental in bringing Mnangagwa to power last year during a military takeover which deposed former president Robert Mugabe.

Speaker after speaker during yesterday’s National Convention at the party’s headquarters in Harare seemed to suggest that the door had been closed for other possible candidates who might want to contest against Mnangagwa as the youths took turns to chant the “ED Pfee 2023” slogan.

The youth league commissar, Godfrey Tsenengamu, a Mnangagwa loyalist, told the gathering that they expect the President to run his full two terms without hindrance.

“The president is entitled to run for two terms and as the youth league, you have our full support, we will support you in 2023,” he said.

Mnangagwa has previously been quoted saying he will run for a second term but will not seek a third term.

Deputy Youth Secretary, Lewis Matutu, who introduced the ‘ED Pfee 2023’ slogan said; “This is in defiance of those that may be whispering in the corridors that the President will serve for only one term.”

The slogan is a sequel to the “ED Pfee” used during the July 2018 elections.

-263Chat

By Business Reporter| The oil/gas exploration company which ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa contracted for the Mzarabani fields, does not have any assets at all other than what they hope to dig out of Zimbabwe, it has emerged.

Its shares are not even trading, ZimEye can reveal.

Invictus Energy’s entire business activity was solely dangling on Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Thursday press conference hoping it would “strike the magic” for a share value.

Their entire asset base is what they envisage to get from this Zimbabwean prospective contract, analysts revealed.

Mnangagwa on Thursday announced that the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listed entity, Invictus Energy (IVZ), has discovered oil and gas deposits in the southern African country’s Mashonaland Central Province.

Invictus shares have however been swiftly suspended from trading on the ASX pending the release of the announcement regarding the Maiden Prospective Resource Estimate, ZimEye can reveal.

The main director, Scott Macmillan spoke to ZimEye in an interview that nothing will move until after next week, Monday. SEE INTERVIEW BELOW [TIMELINE 32:00]:

https://youtu.be/TYw0vEA_eGw

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

The company property was today found locked during working hours when the Australia based Zimbabwean, Mr Simba Mugadza arrived at Invictus Energy’s official address.

LIVE – Has Mnangagwa Another Queen Bee With Our Gas And Oil?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 2, 2018

The ASX said IVZ’s shares “will remain halted until the earlier of, either the release of relevant information, or the commencement of trading on Thursday 1 November 2018”.
https://youtu.be/TYw0vEA_eGw

In accordance with ASX’s Listing Rule 17.2, a trading halt was granted on Tuesday 30 October 2018, pending the completion and the subsequent announcement on Friday of the Invictus Maiden Prospective Resource Estimate.

Government has up to early December to process former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s full pension or risk a civil suit, his lawyer Welshman Ncube has said.

Mphoko is yet to receive his terminal benefits following his removal from office after the fall of former President Robert Mugabe in a November 15, 2017 coup.

He has been engaging government over his terminal benefits for months on end but has reached a deadlock over the matter, resulting in Mphoko’s lawyers giving notice to sue.

“The notice has not yet expired. I do not have the papers with me right now (to confirm the date of expiry of notice), but it expires in early December,” Ncube who is also MDC Alliance vice-president, told Southern Eye yesterday.

Government admits Mphoko is entitled to his pension but disputes he deserves full benefits such as security aides, an office, telephone, secretary and domestic workers in line with the Constitution.

Government argues Mphoko does not deserve full benefits as he did not serve a full term under Statutory Instrument 86 of 2015 that states only a VP who served at least one term in office can enjoy exit packages such as a security officer.

Section 102 of Zimbabwe’s constitution stipulates that “… A person who has ceased to be President or Vice-President is entitled to receive a pension equivalent to the salary of a sitting President or Vice-President, as the case may be; and such allowances and other benefits as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament.”

-Newsday

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder and leader, Prophet Walter Magaya is has been arrested and released on $300 bail following his arrest on three counts of advertising medicine without approval.

Magaya was arrested yesterday after the joint press conference with the ministry of health where he apologized about his HIV cure claim.

He is being charged of contravening Section 41 Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act.

It is the state’s case that on 31 October 2018, Magaya made an advertisement on Yadah TV and on Aretha Medical website www.arethamedical.com of Aguma medicine which he claimed was a cure for HIV, AIDS cancer and other ailments.

The court heard that, Magaya further made claims on Aretha medical website and that Aretha medical and himself were manufacturers of the Aguma medicine which he claimed can cure HIV.

Police later searched Magaya’s Marlborough offices where they seized twenty travelling bags containing empty capsules, plastic containers and plastic container lids.

Magaya allegedly destroyed some of the exhibits by flashing them in the office toilets and burning the containers which were however recovered half burnt.

FROM a distance, she is an ordinary vendor selling bottled water in the sweltering heat of Chirundu, but she is also a commercial sex worker.

Prudence (42) is one of many sex workers who operate at Chirundu Border Post and has been in the trade for over 20 years having bedded more 1 000 men from every tribe in the Sadc region.

“The water I sell is a disguise so that I can easily manoeuvre and do my business,” she said.

“It also helps me ensure that my children do not suspect me of anything like sex work. But I am a sex worker who has managed to build a house for my children and pay school fees for them.”

Her skin has aged, and so has her skill in her trade, which she says has improved due experience and exposure to a variety of clients.

Prudence is a member of the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV and Aids research in Zimbabwe, (CeSHHAR), a non-government organisation that helps sex workers avoid abuse and other forms of ill treatment.

She said with age, she is now able to negotiate for safe sex and tackle abuse.

“Before I joined CeSSHHAR, I was being abused by men who demanded unprotected sex. Some would forcefully remove the condom and others were refusing to pay after getting my service,” Prudence said.

She is one of the oldest sex workers in the area who now commands respect and has a permanent clientele base.

Despite the pain and abuse associated with the trade, Prudence is at least happy that she has put some of her earnings from prostitution to good use.
“I have done everything and met with different types of men. Some are abusive and others just want sex for no money.

“I think it is time I quit. I have bedded many, more than 1 000 and I have achieved a lot. I now have a seven-roomed house which I built from the proceeds of sex work,” Prudence said as she recounted her life story recently to journalists who visited the area under the banner of the National Aids Council (NAC).

With training from CeSHHAR, Prudence and her colleagues now know their HIV status and have been empowered to negotiate for safe sex-closing the tap for new HIV infections.

“This business of selling water provides me with extra revenue which if I don’t get a man to sleep with, I will not stress myself. I have lost appetite for man and I think it is now time I call it a day and find something else to do,” she said.

Before being empowered on safe sex and how to deal with abuse, Prudence like her counterparts, suffered on numerous occasions with sexually transmitted infections.

“Some men offer as much as $20 per night and demand that you have unprotected sex with them. Because of poverty and inability to negotiate for safe sex, I used to agree to that. This exposed me to STIs,” Prudence said.

Chirundu Border town in the last two months has recorded 129 cases of STIs among the 1 013 sex workers who are registered said Varaidzo Muchina, the representative for CeSHHAR based in the border town.

Through engagement with sex workers, at least 167 of them have been tested for HIV and Aids and those who turned out to be positive have been initiated on anti-retroviral drugs.

“The biggest challenge that we have is tracing most of our clients as a number of them are mobile. They travel across Sadc and in some cases some default,” she said.

CeSHHAR also has a strong commitment to strengthening research capacity among Zimbabwean graduates in HIV-related issues.

Statistics released by the NAC indicate that Zimbabwe’s border towns continue acting as breeding grounds to the pandemic and CeSHHAR had taken it upon themselves to fight new infectious in these areas.

The large numbers of people who pass through border towns as they trade or look for greener pastures in neighbouring countries has resulted in commercial sex becoming big business in the town.

As a result, border towns have been transformed from business hubs to breeding grounds of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV. Through its various projects that include educational programs, sex workers now can access condoms and get treatment to those who would have tested positive.

Muchina said most of the women had confirmed that they engage in unprotected sex which guarantees them more money.

“However, it is encouraging that we are getting a positive response in behavioural change from these communities as we continue to conscientise them about the dangers of indulging in unprotected sex,” she said.

Activists have been calling for behavioural change as the best way of effectively combating HIV and Aids.

Prevention remains the pillar of HIV interventions in Zimbabwe.

The behavioural change programme focuses on reducing key risk sexual behaviours, in particular multiple and concurrent sexual partners, low risk perception as well as other underlying vulnerability factors such as imbalanced gender relations, stigma and discrimination and risky cultural and religious practices.

The programme also seek to address the needs and vulnerabilities of workers in the informal economy who do not have access to coping mechanisms to mitigate the impact of the disease, such as lack of access to social protection and income.

In Zimbabwe, sex workers have been regarded as a key population with high risk of HIV infections.

According to latest statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, new HIV cases were more prevalent among long distant truck drivers, sex workers, prisoners and adolescents.

“Our aim is to prevent the spread of HIV from a sex worker to their client or from the sex worker to the client,” Muchina said.

The truck drivers who ply the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Highway have, for years been preying on under-age and vulnerable girls in the border towns of Beitbridge, Victoria Falls and Chirundu.

Recently, the NAC also estimated the number of children involved in sexual exploitation in Zimbabwe was about 160 000.

Besides empowering them with information on safe sex and sustainability, Ceshhar is also involved in fighting gender based violence.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Air Zimbabwe has cancelled its flight UM462 JNB/HRE 1Nov 2018 and UM467 HRE/JNB 2 Nov 2018.

The airline advised its customers that the cancellation had to do with operational challenges beyond its control.

Tweeted the airline:

An update will be made available to all affected passengers at 0900, 2 Nov 2018.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.

— Air Zimbabwe (@FlyAirZimbabwe) November 1, 2018

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday announced that Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listed entity Invictus Energy (IVZ), has discovered oil and gas deposits in the southern African country’s Mashonaland Central Province.

Invictus shares are currently suspended from trading on the ASX pending the release of the announcement regarding the Maiden Prospective Resource Estimate.

The ASX said IVZ’s shares “will remain halted until the earlier of, either the release of relevant information, or the commencement of trading on Thursday 1 November 2018”.

In accordance with ASX’s Listing Rule 17.2, a trading halt was granted on Tuesday 30 October 2018, pending the completion and the subsequent announcement on Friday of the Invictus Maiden Prospective Resource Estimate.

As an entrepreneur, on many occasions I have had initiatives for my country Zimbabwe, which could have created tens of thousands of new jobs. When I have discussed them with either investors or banks, they have turned me away, saying: “We don’t want to violate the sanctions in your country.”

I have documents and emails from bankers and investors. I tried so hard to persuade some of them, often suggesting that they are not interpreting the sanctions correctly.
In my case I was forced to go to China to secure loans to support our Zimbabwean businesses. But this was not always ideal. I have spoken about it publicly on many occasions even in the US and China itself.

It is not right that we as business should have to work under such conditions, when all we want is to create jobs and livelihoods for ordinary people.

Now, if Zimbabwe had been a person who committed a crime, for which they went to prison, would you not say 20 years is enough? Zimbabwe has served its prison time. It’s time for the country to be given a chance to get back on its feet.

I fled my country when assassins were sent to kill me. I had been tipped off by someone in the Mugabe government who was related to me. Even when I left the country, there were other attempts to kidnap me in SA. It has been 18 and a half years. Only I have the right to decide when to come home.

My executives [in Zimbabwe] were arrested and held in leg irons for 16 days. I endured all the persecutions, including the bombing and shutting down of my newspaper business. No one stood in our corner, or expressed indignation, perhaps because there was no Twitter?

Now will the end of Western sanctions end all our problems? Absolutely not! As I have said, no one should be under any illusion that this is not going to be very, very tough, as many of the issues to be tackled are due to bad policies going back decades including corruption.

-Report Focus

Government is considering giving the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) absolute powers to descend heavily on tax dodging companies so as to recover the outstanding $4,5 billion. Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, said this on Wednesday night in Harare during the Zimra Appreciation Awards Dinner.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was guest of honour during the awards dinner.

Prof Ncube said tax avoidance by companies has compelled Government to issue Treasury Bills and borrowing to finance budget deficit.

He said Government was alive to the challenges faced by companies due to the depressed environment they are operating under, but called on them to honour their tax obligations.

“ . . . those businesses and taxpayers who know they have a share of the $4,5 billion tax debt owed to Zimra, I wish to make this unequivocally clear that you need to own up, come forward and pay your tax debt,” said Prof Ncube.

“Collecting PAYE (pay as you earn), VAT (value added tax) and other withholding taxes on behalf of Government and converting it to your own use breaks the law and sabotages our desire to achieve fiscal equilibrium. I will ask Zimra to adopt more aggressive measures to recover the debts.”

Recently, Zimra Commissioner General Ms Faith Mazani, said the national tax collector was unable to meaningfully collect revenue due to the absence of instruments that compel taxpayers to honour their obligations.

Zimra has only resorted to garnishing accounts of defaulting taxpayers and imposing hefty penalties, but cannot do anything if the defaulters close their accounts.

Statutory Instrument 97 of 2013 on Revenue Authority (Civil Penalty for Late Submission of Returns) Regulations, 2013, provides for penalties to be charged on defaulting taxpayers.

Currently, Zimra is inviting companies that are not tax compliant to take advantage of the “voluntary disclosure” window and regularise their operations on a “no questions asked” basis.

Companies and individuals that continue to operate outside the tax net by December 31 will be dealt with.

Prof Ncube said as the country has been opened for business, success depends “on a unified and patriotic” approach to challenges.

“Together we are the success we wish to see and attain,” said Prof Ncube, adding that Government was thankful for companies’ resilience y with their tax obligations.

“As our Government remains committed to creating an environment conducive for business, we expect you as business to continue to work closely with Government to help recover the economy and create a mutually beneficial and sustainable economy.

“Please refrain from complaining behind closed doors about policies in your ‘own circles’, come forward with suggestions that we can explore for the benefit of our great nation. Our doors are open,” said Prof Ncube.

-State Media

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Zimbabwe has begun the implementation of its Lean Season Assistance programme for the 2018/19 season in October with a contribution (US$22 million) from the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which will support more than 430,000 food insecure people.

“This contribution is supporting the most vulnerable people in food insecure areas in Zimbabwe over 6 months to get through what is for many the most difficult time of the year,” said WFP Zimbabwe Representative Eddie Rowe.

In Zimbabwe, more than 2.4 million people residing in the rural areas will face acute food insecurity at the peak of the lean season (January – March 2019) according to the findings of the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC). The number is likely to increase if there is recurrence of the El Niño climatic phenomenon and late start or poor showing of the rainy season.

USAID’s Office of Food for Peace has provided support to the LSA program with a contribution towards food assistance for cash based transfers and purchase of local and regional commodities such as sorghum, as well as an additional contribution of in-kind commodities sourced from the U.S.

WFP’s ability to respond to escalating needs in the country hinges on timely and sustained financial contributions from donor nations. The U.S. Government has provided more than US$77 million in 2017 alone to emergency food support, nutritional assistance, and other programmes.

WFP is currently scaling up to provide life-saving food assistance to more than 1.1 million people per month in Zimbabwe—an effort that will require at least US$73.5 million in additional funding through April 2019.

The Zanu-PF Youth league yesterday threatened to descend on foreign-owned shops allegedly involved in siphoning hard foreign currency out of the country resulting in severe economic stress.

The ruling party’s Secretary for Youths, Pupurai Togarepi accused foreign-owned businesses of starving local banks of the much-needed cash due to their corrupt dealings.

“There are foreigners doing business in the downtown area who are not banking money to local banks. We are going to demand that they bank their money because they are milking all our foreign currency and are putting it on the black market.

“We suspect that several of them are taking the money to several countries. These people are not accepting Ecocash transfers neither are they accepting our bond notes. They are demanding payments in US Dollars and they are not doing business in a transparent and professional way.

“They are the same people involved in money laundering because they don’t even have bank accounts,” he noted.

“So after consulting with the Harare Province Chairperson (Godwin Gomwe), we have decided that we will confront these foreign-owned businesses and demand that they show us their bank accounts. Those without bank accounts will be chased back to their countries,” Togarepi added.

He made reference to some transport operators whom he said risk losing their licenses should they continue with their trends.

“There are people who own commuter omnibuses written ‘GOD GIVEN’, those ones do not own a single bank account but they demand hard currency yet they do not bank with the local banks. Those are the people who are fueling the cash crisis and we are going after them,” warned the youth league’s boss.

Zimbabwe has been facing acute cash shortages resulting in the re-emergence of the black market where both the local bond notes and United States dollars are flooded and selling for a premium.

Early this year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa issued a moratorium against companies and individuals fingered in money laundering and externalization of foreign currency.

-263Chat

Renowned constitutional lawyer Fadzayi Mahere has come out guns blazing against Econet Wireless Zimbabwe founder Strive Masiyiwa over his call for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Britain and United States of America.

Mahere charged that government must honor its responsibilities including human rights before calling for sanctions removal.

Speaking in an interview CNBC Africa television station on Tuesday, Masiyiwa threw his weight behind President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying his administration deserves a chance while disapproving continued imposition of economic sanctions on Zimbabwe by the west.

Mahere who lost in the Mt Pleasant constituency parliamentary elections called on government to change its governance style and introduce sound policies before sanctions can be removed.

“More importantly, US laws aren’t changed by external opinions. Government must change the way it governs. Corruption and overspending must end. Sound policy must take over.

“Government must comply with ZIDERA’s requirements if they want that law repealed. Nothing else can change it.

“As Zimbabweans, we need to accept that the only Govt that has any lawful obligations towards us is our own. We can only hold our Govt to account. If we want sanctions lifted/foreign assistance, our Govt must play by their rules,” she said.

In the wake of post-election violence that saw at least six unarmed civilians gunned down in Harare by the military and government’s unpopular financial reforms early October which sent distortions in currency value in the market leaving prices of goods skyrocketing, Mahere described the developments as the greatest sanction the country is trapped in.

“Quite frankly, there are no greater sanctions than those that a government imposes on its own people. Bad governance, creating fake money to facilitate theft of value from our bank accounts, army killings, and irrational taxation – these are the sanctions the common man faces daily.

“The more reason business/the billionaires should lobby @edmnangagwa to do the needful to ensure those sanctions are lifted. But let’s not pretend “sanctions” are the cause of our problems. Our Govt sold diamonds in Europe. Nobody stopped them yet the $ remains unaccounted for,” she added.

The United States imposed economic sanctions against Zimbabwe on the back of gross human rights violations targeted at opposition supporters.

-263Chat

Jane Mlambo| Unconfirmed reports reaching Zim Eye indicate that senior police officers, Innocent Matibiri, Josephine Shambare and Levi Sibanda were fired last night over G40 links.

Check out tweet from Larry Moyo below

BREAKING (Exclusive)
TOP COPS FIRED
I am reliably informed Police DCGs Innocent Matibiri, Levi Sibanda and Josephine Shambare fired last night together with Commissioners Nonkosi Ncube, Eric Magejo and Bungu pic.twitter.com/3Th0ih5bOn

— Larry Moyo (@larry_moyo) November 2, 2018

Harare City Council has approved a lease of 5 000 square metres to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s charity organisation, Angel of Hope at a monthly rental of $250 to build an orphanage.

According to minutes of the finance committee tabled on Wednesday at a full council meeting, the First Lady will lease the land for 10 years and pay $0,05 per square metre as well as meet other costs related to the construction of the property.

“Council resolved that notwithstanding the council policy recorded under item three of the minutes of the land alienation sub-committee dated September 26, 2005 to lease such stands through tender and subject to the provisions of section 152 of the Urban Council Act, stand 41159 STL – Belvedere Township measuring five thousand square metres be leased to Angel of Hope Foundation Trust for orphanage purposes for an initial period of 10 years at an initial monthly rental of $250,” part of the minutes read.

According to the foundation’s board chairperson Molly Dingani, they intend to build a skills centre where women and youths would embark on sustainable projects.

Early this month, the foundation received an ambulance from Mall Route Group.

Council said the rentals would be reviewed from time to time.

-Newsday

A Zimbabwean prison officer on Thursday 1 November 2018 pleaded not guilty to charges of undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa through posting some political comments on social media and to some misconduct charges.

John Mahlabera, who is employed as a prison officer by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) pleaded not guilty to the two charges he is facing as his trial commenced on Thursday 1 November 2018 at Chiredzi Prison, Masvingo province.

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 is 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 is also answering to charges of misconduct, where ZPCS authorities alleged that he attended an opposition political party rally ahead of the country’s harmonised elections held in July 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 did.

Mahlabera’s trial, which was adjourned late Thursday, will continue on Saturday 3 November 2018, where his witnesses are expected to testify before the trial officer only identified as Superintendent Muzhingi.

ZPCS Principal Correctional Officer Nyikadzino Machingura is prosecuting on behalf of ZPCS.

Own Correspondent|Computers donated by former president Robert Mugabe in early 2000 are now obsolete forcing rural schools that benefited from the handouts to buy refurbished machinery.

Former president Mugabe launched the computerisation program and donated computers at selected schools around the country.

He targeted mainly rural schools during the project.

Magunje High school located in Ward 10 in Hurungwe district is one of those schools that got computers from Mugabe.

It is situated 36 kilometres west of Karoi town near Magunje growth point.

Speaking during the Prize and Speech Day held on Friday, headmaster Moses Namaona said although the school had benefited from the computer donation, the machinery is not working at the school.

“As Magunje High Secondary School, we were fortunate to get computers from (former) president Mugabe. Unfortunately, they are no longer working. We have them stuck in the storeroom here.

“We cannot dispose them for accountability purposes. We were forced to look for alternative and had to buy second hand and refurbished ten computers valued around $180.00 each.

“We want our students to be computer literate and use internet to access for research like those in towns and other places,” he told parents and former students who graced the occasion here.”

Magunje High school is among several schools in Hurungwe as well as Mola in Kariba rural, Makonde, Kadoma districts within the province that got computers.

During the time that the machines were donated, most of the schools had no electricity and had to use solar panels installed for the computerisation project.

However some sources at different schools confirmed that Mugabe donated computers that were old models.

“Not all machines are not working (sic) at our school, as we have managed to repair some. They are old version,” said one of our sources speaking on condition of anonymity.

Another teacher in Kadoma district confirmed that the computers are now obsolete.

“It is true that some of these computers are not working. They are obsolete and we are no longer using them,” said our source.

Mashonaland West acting provincial director Richard Mhumha was said to be out of office for official comment but sources confirmed receiving reports of computers not working.

“This was (former) president Mugabe gesture and is not bound to have them repaired. We hope parents must now understand why it is vital to buy personal computers for their children. Schools can buy these as part of school property,” said an official.

He added that officially, nothing can be thrown out without approval.

“Audits are done annually and school headmasters have to account for everything including donated computers,” added our source.

School Development Committee chairperson Patrick Chinodakufa said it was disheartening that parents were not paying school fees for their children making operations tough without financial support.

“The school is being owed a lot of money and we need around $20 000 for progress around the school. The buildings need a facelift and we appeal for assistance,” said Chinodakufa.

Former student and guest of honour Moses Chundu a University of Zimbabwe economics lecturer challenged students to study mathematics and science as the world is fast changing.

“We must impart science knowledge as technology is now part of global village,” said Chundu.

He later launched Chundu Maths Award covering best students from Form One to Six.

“The best students will get sponsorship and prize money. We must motivate them to do better,” said Chundu.

M&T

Correspondent|Tsitsi Masiyiwa, wife to telecommunications mogul Strive, has decried the culture of corruption that has taken toll in the country in all sectors of the economy.

Her sentiments come barely two days after her husband called for the removal of illegal sanctions against the country in developments that indicate the powerful couple’s commitment and goodwill towards the recovery of the economy.

Strive’s media sentiments drew brickbats from the opposition who accused him of siding with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Tsitsi registered her displeasure through a tweet on Thursday.

When the country faced a cholera outbreak, Masiyiwa donated $10 million to alleviate the crisis and Tsitsi also contributed through her philanthropic organisation Higher Life Foundation.

However, some Harare City Council employees were accused of ‘looting’ these funds through inflating figures and they are expected to appear before the disciplinary committee to answer the charges.

Masiyiwa blew the whistle on the alleged corruption by the Harare City Council Officials.

This is not the first time Tsitsi has aired her views on the state of the economy. In the recent past she stirred an hornet nest when she insinuated that the economic dip was a result of laziness.

M&T

The controversial preacher and serial sex scandal man, Prophet Walter Magaya is currently at Harare Magistrates Court as unconfirmed reports flared that he will be answering to charges of selling medicine without a license.

Reports by a social news site say Magaya appeared at the courts Friday morning.

263Chat did not however state what Magaya is at the courts for. ZimEye could not at the time of writing verify what he is in court for.

Magaya caused a stir early this week when he announced during his Sunday service that he had found an HIV/AIDS cure named Aguma Onco.

Following widespread condemnation from both the government and HIV/Aids advocacy groups, Magaya later apologized for rushing to announce his discovery without going through the legal procedures including conducting clinical tests.

More to follow…

Harare City Council has approved a lease of 5 000 square metres to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s charity organisation, Angel of Hope at a monthly rental of $250 to build an orphanage.

According to minutes of the finance committee tabled on Wednesday at a full council meeting, the First Lady will lease the land for 10 years and pay $0,05 per square metre as well as meet other costs related to the construction of the property.

“Council resolved that notwithstanding the council policy recorded under item three of the minutes of the land alienation sub-committee dated September 26, 2005 to lease such stands through tender and subject to the provisions of section 152 of the Urban Council Act, stand 41159 STL – Belvedere Township measuring five thousand square metres be leased to Angel of Hope Foundation Trust for orphanage purposes for an initial period of 10 years at an initial monthly rental of $250,” part of the minutes read.

According to the foundation’s board chairperson Molly Dingani, they intend to build a skills centre where women and youths would embark on sustainable projects.

Early this month, the foundation received an ambulance from Mall Route Group.

Council said the rentals would be reviewed from time to time.

-Newsday

Harare City Council has approved a lease of 5 000 square metres to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s charity organisation, Angel of Hope at a monthly rental of $250 to build an orphanage.

According to minutes of the finance committee tabled on Wednesday at a full council meeting, the First Lady will lease the land for 10 years and pay $0,05 per square metre as well as meet other costs related to the construction of the property.

“Council resolved that notwithstanding the council policy recorded under item three of the minutes of the land alienation sub-committee dated September 26, 2005 to lease such stands through tender and subject to the provisions of section 152 of the Urban Council Act, stand 41159 STL – Belvedere Township measuring five thousand square metres be leased to Angel of Hope Foundation Trust for orphanage purposes for an initial period of 10 years at an initial monthly rental of $250,” part of the minutes read.

According to the foundation’s board chairperson Molly Dingani, they intend to build a skills centre where women and youths would embark on sustainable projects.

Early this month, the foundation received an ambulance from Mall Route Group.

Council said the rentals would be reviewed from time to time.

-Newsday

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mines minister Winston Chitando were yesterday dragged into a case in which $6,4 million pumped into Hwange Colliery Company for exploration, allegedly disappeared, while board members were kidnapped and held hostage by an operative linked to the two with assistance from police officers.

Government on Monday put the troubled coal producer under reconstruction and appointed Bekithemba Moyo of DBF Capital as its administrator.

The move also suspended the functions of Hwange Colliery’s board of directors.

But members of the board, led by acting chairperson Juliana Muskwe, yesterday appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Mines, which is chaired by Temba Mliswa, to shed light on the goings-on at the mine.

She also spoke on the abduction of company secretary Allan Masiye and internal auditor Gilbert Mudenda by Shepherd Tundiya with the assistance of the police.

“There was a lot of mismanagement of funds by Shepherd Manamike (financial director) and Thomas Makore (former managing director) to the extent that Makore was even said to be paying a journalist at ZBC and when we demanded to know how much, Masiye was arrested and when we called for an enquiry on May 23, Makore resigned,” Muskwe said.

However, Makore reportedly continued getting payment under unclear circumstances even though he had been given his statutory retirement package.
“The $6,4 million for (exploration of) the western area was used without board authority,” Muskwe said.

“When we suspended Manamike, Tundiya stormed in with two police officers during a board meeting with our lawyers in Harare. They grabbed Masiye and Mudenda and threw them into a car without number plates.”

Muskwe said that Tundiya owned two companies — Phil Cool and Avin Investments — which had contracts to transport coal from Hwange to a Zimbabwe Power Company plant in Kwekwe and bragged that he was connected to Mnangagwa and Chitando and was taking instructions from the President’s office.

“When we suspended Manamike, Tundiya called me to say that Mnangagwa wanted to see me and I must report to the President’s office,” Muskwe said.

“When we went to the President’s office, we only saw a director (name not given), who instructed that we should work well with Tundiya. He (Tundiya) then took control and ordered the board to reinstate Manamike. He also called for another meeting at Chitando’s office where he gave instructions and surprisingly Chitando was quiet and did not say anything.”

Another board member, Edward Tome, said the financial problems at Hwange were caused by gross mismanagement.

He said a European company, Motor Engine, which was contracted to mine coal by the Hwange Company Scheme, had not been paid, alongside several other creditors and workers as management allegedly embezzled funds, while Tundiya called the shots.

“When we suspended Manamike and Makore for the second time, we were told that there were instructions from the top to reinstate him,” Tome said.

Former board member Ntombizodwa Masuku said they later heard that the instructions allegedly came from Mnangagwa, who said that Manamike was his neighbour and so could not be suspended from Hwange.

Tundiya allegedly owes Hwange more than $200 000 after he diverted coal for his own use.

After the board directed that a forensic audit be carried out, Chitando put the company under reconstruction.

The board members said they learnt of the development in newspapers as they were not consulted.

In an Extraordinary Government Gazette published on Monday, Chitando said Hwange owes the government over $150 million, with its liabilities far outstripping the value of its assets.

Hwange Colliery Company Scheme chairperson Andrew Lawson told the committee that placement of the coal producer under reconstruction was unlawful because it was publicly listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.

The miner also lost the Western area concession, with businessman Billy Rautenbach telling the board that it was now his, Lawson told the committee.

Government has 37,1% shares in Hwange, Messina Investments 16,76%, Meikles Steel 9,76%, London Register 6,87%, National Social Security Authority 6,45%, Hamilton and Hamilton Trust 4,9%, Local Authorities and Pension Funds 1,2%, as well as several minority shareholders (4 401 in total).

-Newsday

Correspondent|MDC Alliance secretary general, Douglas Mwonzora says he is undecided on the position he will contest for at his party’s elective congress next year, despite speculation that he is gunning for the coalition’s presidency.

He did not categorically state the position in which he will contest but he kept his options wide open and is not restricting himself to a particular position.

In an interview on Wednesday, Mwonzora said he was still undecided on the position he would contest for.

He however made it clear that as a party member he had the right to contest for any position.

“At that congress any position is open for contest I really have not yet made up my mind regarding which position I will contest when congress comes,” he said.

Mwonzora’s statement comes amid speculative reports of a widening rift between him and MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa.

“I have read speculative reports in the newspapers and that still remains speculation but I have my rights as a member of the party and the rights I know I have include the right to elect office bearers or to be elected as an office bearer so I will make my decision when the time comes,” said Mwonzora who was keeping his wide options open.

Political analyst Alexander Rusero said Mwonzora would have to tread carefully towards the party’s 2019 congress as any message could be (mis)interpreted as a threat.

“So long as Mwonzora is still around Chamisa will continue to see shadows, so one way or another if Mwonzora is quiet he is suspected, if he says something he is also suspected.

“He is in a precarious position and has to play his cards close to his chest or risk finding himself in the political wilderness,” he said.

Rusero said Mwonzora’s decisive win for the secretary general post in 2014 over Chamisa’s bid is still fresh in the opposition leader’s mind.

“Mwonzora is very shrewd he is not a fly by night politician and as long as Mwonzora is in MDC he will always pose the greatest challenge for Chamisa, because Chamisa is still being hounded, traumatised by the dismal defeat he suffered at Mwonzora’s hands for the secretary general’s post in 2014,” Rusero said.

Despite, his 2014 loss to Mwonzora, Chamisa controversially became leader of the MDC Alliance shortly after the death of MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

His rise to power was contentious and led to the the break away of Thokozani Khupe and subsequent formation of MDC-T.

M&T

Custodians of the sacred Nharira Hills Heritage Site are up in arms with a Chinese-linked company Edsabri Investments, which has interest in mining quarry in the area for cement production.

The hills are a sacred site for the Nyamweda clan and were declared a national monument site in 2000 in terms of section 20(1) of the National Museums and Monuments Act. The clan had free access to the hills to practice traditional rites such as rain-making ceremonies.

When NewsDay arrived at the site yesterday, the company was already removing its equipment as ordered by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe with villagers witnessing and jeering Chinese nationals who were supervising the movement.

Nharira Heritage Trust chairman Israel Pasipanodya Kawanzaruwa said the Environmental Management Agency did not fully consult other stakeholders before granting the Chinese approval to start operations after conducting a Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) .

“We want to know the people who were consulted by EMA when they were doing their EIA because we were never consulted. We, as villagers, are demanding an urgent stop to the excavation, mining and desecration of the Nharira Hills given its status as a traditional heritage site.

“They should find another place to do their mining out of this area. This year, we failed to do the rain-making ceremony (mukwerera) because of this dispute. The whole process needs to be revised right from the start as everything is shady, due procedures must be followed with all stakeholders involved. Nharira Hills Heritage Site is a protected site,” Kawanzaruwa added.

Nharira Hills are located near Norton, about 20km west of Harare, and comprises of five hillocks that are interconnected by underground tunnels, spreading over Somerby, Kilworth, Saffron Walden and Stonehurst farms.

Kawanzaruwa added that operations of Chinese companies in the surrounding hilllocks as there will be mining quarry would destroy cultural and ancestral relics beneath the ground and were supposed to move further from the hills as they are interconnected by underground tunnels.

National Museums and Monuments regional director Godhi Bvocho was also at the site witnessing compliance by Edsabri Investments as this was meant to preserve sacredness of graves, rock paintings and the ruins at Nharira Hills.

“An instruction was given to Edsabri Investments to move all the equipment and go outside Nharira Hills because it was illegal for them to operate there. There was no authorisation from National Museums and Monuments,” Bvocho said.

-Newsday

GOVERNMENT has up to early December to process former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s full pension or risk a civil suit, his lawyer Welshman Ncube has said.

Mphoko is yet to receive his terminal benefits following his removal from office after the fall of former President Robert Mugabe in a November 15, 2017 coup.

He has been engaging government over his terminal benefits for months on end but has reached a deadlock over the matter, resulting in Mphoko’s lawyers giving notice to sue.

“The notice has not yet expired. I do not have the papers with me right now (to confirm the date of expiry of notice), but it expires in early December,” Ncube who is also MDC Alliance vice-president, told Southern Eye yesterday.

Government admits Mphoko is entitled to his pension but disputes he deserves full benefits such as security aides, an office, telephone, secretary and domestic workers in line with the Constitution.

Government argues Mphoko does not deserve full benefits as he did not serve a full term under Statutory Instrument 86 of 2015 that states only a VP who served at least one term in office can enjoy exit packages such as a security officer.

Section 102 of Zimbabwe’s constitution stipulates that “… A person who has ceased to be President or Vice-President is entitled to receive a pension equivalent to the salary of a sitting President or Vice-President, as the case may be; and such allowances and other benefits as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament.”

-Newsday

Harare City Council has approved a lease of 5 000 square metres to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s charity organisation, Angel of Hope at a monthly rental of $250 to build an orphanage.

According to minutes of the finance committee tabled on Wednesday at a full council meeting, the First Lady will lease the land for 10 years and pay $0,05 per square metre as well as meet other costs related to the construction of the property.

“Council resolved that notwithstanding the council policy recorded under item three of the minutes of the land alienation sub-committee dated September 26, 2005 to lease such stands through tender and subject to the provisions of section 152 of the Urban Council Act, stand 41159 STL – Belvedere Township measuring five thousand square metres be leased to Angel of Hope Foundation Trust for orphanage purposes for an initial period of 10 years at an initial monthly rental of $250,” part of the minutes read.

According to the foundation’s board chairperson Molly Dingani, they intend to build a skills centre where women and youths would embark on sustainable projects.

Early this month, the foundation received an ambulance from Mall Route Group.

Council said the rentals would be reviewed from time to time.

-Newsday