The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has expressed concern over continued reports of violent clashes in the artisanal mining sector in Matabeleland South Province amid revelations that some are motivated by tribal undertones.

On Monday the 8th of September, 28 year old Ndodana Ncube of Nyamandlovu was brutally murdered while five others were seriously injured at Vova Mine in Gwanda during violent clashes over gold claims.

While the increase in such incidents is a cause for concern, it is the ethnic dimension of the conflicts that has seen the NPRC descends on Gwanda yesterday to investigate the matter and proffer solutions.

Chairperson of the commission Retired Judge Selo Nare who identified the source of the conflict as based on control of resources between locals and fortunes seekers from other regions, recommended the formalisation of the mining sector.

“The challenge as we here it is the invasion of mining areas by people from as far as Gokwe and Kwekwe who come into areas that have been pegged by locals and start elbowing them out. I believe everyone should benefit from resources in Zimbabwe but we must do it in a polite way and proper way.

“It also worrying that certain remarks were said by arrival group of miners who visited that area which are tribal and very disturbing as especially at a time when we are trying to heal our nation,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Christian Alliance Church Convergence on Peace director Reverend Useni Sibanda concurred on the need to urgently deal with the unresolved issue of land and mining rights in the province adding the policy on devolution power will be the answer to the long standing problem.

“It is important to make local people not feel like other people are coming to take their local resources because I think that is an issue of conflict. But what is also important is formalising the artisanal miners, formalise the process of getting people who are involved in mining to have proper documentation. It also points to the issues of devolution which is central because it will be part of national healing because it’s saying to the people, how do you have access to your own resources,” he said.

The NPRC which also announced plans to launch its strategic plan in the coming week said they will be visiting communities in Matabeleland and Midlands to engage them on pre-post independence conflicts with a view to heal and reconcile the nation.

The meeting was also attended by the Provincial Minister of State for Matabeleland South Province Cde Abednico Ncube, representatives of the Human Rights Commission and members of the Joint Operations Command.

Zbc News online

A GANG of eleven miners have been arrested for killing a man in a mine claim conflict in Vhovha, Gwanda.

The gang, whose members come from Mberengwa, Masvingo, Gokwe and Gwanda, were armed with logs, machetes, axes and stones when they attacked Ndodana Ncube at Mascot Mine on Monday.

Samson Chihombodo (35), Tererai Guri (32), Tinomuvonga Zhou (31), Melusi Dube (29), Tinashe Mutasa (23), Tinashe Muengedzwo (28), Praise Gondwe (25), Joseph Tshuma (31), Learnmore Makonese (24), Comfort Ncube (30) and Prosper Nyoni (25) were not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda provincial magistrate, Mr Maphios Ncube, facing murder charges.

They were all remanded in custody to October 24.

Prosecuting, Miss Keneiloe Nare said the gang attacked Ncube on October 8 at around 8AM.

“The accused persons who are all gold panners at Vhovha Mine teamed up and went to Mascot Mine while armed with logs, machetes, axes and stones in search of Ndodana Ncube and his workmates over an outstanding tribal conflict.

“Upon arrival at Mascot Mine, the gang didn’t find anyone as Ncube and his workmates had fled into the bushes. The gang pursued Ncube and his workmates.

“They attacked him with the weapons and he died on the spot. The matter was reported to the police who carried out investigations leading to the arrest of the 11 men,’’ said Miss Nare.

The gang also left several of Ncube’s workmates severely injured during the attack. Two of the victims are admitted to the Gwanda Provincial Hospital, three others were referred to Mpilo Hospital while several others were treated and discharged.

In separate interviews, two victims who are admitted to the Gwanda Provincial Hospital said the altercation was a result of a tribal conflict over who should operate from Vhovha mine.

By Paul Nyathi|Lloyd Boniface Kobekile Moyo who is accused of shooting dead a Harare parking marshal will plead not guilty to murder and raise self defence as the motive behind his shooting of the man.

Moyo, 24, appeared before Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba on Thursday and was remanded in custody to October 26 for bail hearing.

His lawyer Oliver Marwa told journalists outside the courts that they will present overwhelming evidence that Lloyd Moyo acted in self defense after being chased for 200 meters by a group of marauding touts before he even drew his licenced firearm.

The case as presented by prosecutors had stripped the crime of all the political connotations which emerged in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Witnesses who spoke on the sidelines of the shooting incident indicated that the fiasco started after he refused to pay for the parking, saying the rank marshals had no authority from the Harare City Council, and this had quickly turned into a row over some ZANU PF political gear which was spotted on the back seat of his car.

Prosecutors in court said that Kobekile parked his vehicle at the corner of Angwa and Nkwame Nkurumah Avenue before he proceeded to the Deeds Office nearby.

He left his two sisters, Takudzwa Mugabe and Lorraine Kobekile, in the vehicle.

Mwakapira, who was a rank marshal, then arrived and challenged Kobekile’s sisters, telling them they had parked in parking bays he controlled.

When Kobekile returned, a row ensued and he was attacked by Mwakapira and his colleagues, said the prosecutors.

Mwakapira and his crew allegedly broke the window of the Kobekile’s vehicle, stuffed some cardboard boxes inside and set it on fire.

“The accused tried to escape but the deceased and his friends continued to attack him with stones and iron bars,” said Sebastin Mutizirwa for the prosecution.

It is alleged that Kobekile ran away along Kwame Nkrumah Avenue towards First Street with a mob giving chase. According to the state, he fired three warning shots from his AG Brevet pistol before shooting Mwakapira in the head. The victim died on the spot.

Kobekile’s lawyer, Oliver Marwa, told court that the state made an error by writing down his charge as murder.

Marwa complained that his client was facing a lesser charge of culpable homicide because he had acted in self defence. He gave notice to take the issue up at the High Court where he will apply for bail.

A MAN (26) was killed by three suspected gold panners in Esigodini after he tried to protect his fiancé from indecent assault, putting an end to their dream wedding that was set for December.

Nkosi Ndlela was in the company of his wife-to-be, whose name was not revealed by his family, on Thursday at around 8PM when the incident occurred.

Ndlela left home as he normally did to wait for his fiancé at the bus stop as she was coming home from work. As they walked home, the gold panners started proposing to her and fondling her and Ndlela was killed while trying to protect her.

His fiancé’s brother, Mr McKenzie Mlauzi, was also stabbed a few hours later and is battling for life at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) after tipping off police on the whereabouts of the suspects who are all still at large.

Matabeleland South Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm that we are dealing with a murder case which occurred in Esigodini, Habane Township. The matter is under investigation,” said Chief Inspector Ndebele.

The deceased’s elder brother, Mr Mzondiwa Ndlela said his brother had died a painful death yet he lived all his life a peaceful man. “His wife was called by some gold panners who were drinking at the shops.

They started shouting obscenities at her and were proposing love to her in his presence. He asked them to stop as she was his wife and they started assaulting her. He tried to stop them but they turned on him and started assaulting him. She begged them to stop and not to kill him when they told him that they would kill him.

“However, one of them struck him on the thigh with an axe and he started bleeding profusely. They stoned him and left him for dead.

“He died on admission to United Bulawayo Hospitals,” said a visibly heartbroken Mr Ndlela.
“He was very quiet. He was taking care of our 89 year old father. Our mother is late. Life will be very difficult for us. He was the second last born child in our family and he was preparing to formalise marital relations with his in-laws.”

He said the deceased was set to wed in December. A Chronicle news crew visited Esigodini yesterday and spoke to some residents.

One of the mourners at the funeral wake said they now fear for their lives due to gang violence from gold panners. “It is very dangerous because we now fear for our lives. Our children can no longer play outside and we have to take our daughters to school and back because it is just not safe anymore,” said Mrs Concillia Ncube.

“I was born here and inherited this house from my parents but the place has just become inhabitable. I’m planning to sell it and go and live in Bulawayo or Gwanda. Esigodini is just a place of lawlessness now,” said another resident who identified himself as Mr Nkomo.

Other residents called for transfers of police and judicial officers, saying they no longer had faith in them as they allegedly “protect” some known violent criminals.
Residents held a meeting yesterday afternoon and shared sentiments that violent gold panners should be evicted from their area.

They called for the intervention of the Zimbabwe National Army into the frequent gold wars caused by the panners.

Gangsterism is rampant in the mining area, with a number of locals being forced out of their homes due to unbearable violence.-state media

By Paul Nyathi|Sources at the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) report that the commission has finalised a criminal docket for the former Vice President, Phelekezela Mphoko, and will hand it over to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution within the next few days.

“We have completed a docket and soon NPA will commence prosecution over his (Mphoko) abuse of office and corruption charges,” the source said.

Mphoko faces arrest for defeating the course of justice after he abused his power as the then acting president and released the Ex- Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) acting chief executive officer Moses Juma and non-executive director Davison Norupiri from police custody in 2016.

Juma and Norupiri had been arrested by ZACC on allegations of defrauding the parastatal of US$1,3 million.

“Once NPA is done then Mphoko will be picked up for questioning,” the source said.

“We have a strong case against him because he interfered with the investigations and arrests of the culprits during his days in government.

Besides allegations of criminal abuse of office ZACC is also investigating Mphoko over the US$20 000 fuel coupons which he allegedly sold to the black market in Bulawayo.

The coupons were tracked back to Mphoko after ZACC investigated the source of the ZINARA coupons in 2016.

Government sources this week said Zimbabwe is likely to witness an increase of high profile corruption cases being prosecuted after the formation of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

The unit is reportedly poring through tons of documentary evidence which could be used to prosecute cases of grand corruption, with some bigwigs facing arraignment before the courts. The crack unit was established by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to improve efficiency in prosecuting graft cases.

Mphoko joins a growing list of former powerful figures who are facing criminal charges. Former cabinet Ministers Saviour Kasukuwere and Walter Chidhakwa appeared in court this week, while another, Samuel Undenge was convicted.

M&T

Correspondent|The Zhombe man who shot dead a suspected tout in Harare CBD over a parking altercation will spend the next two weeks behind bars after Harare Magistrate, Victoria Mashamba denied him bail.

Lloyd Boniface Kobekile Moyo (24) will be back in court on the 26th of October.

Circumstances surrounding the matter are that Lloyd Boniface Moyo shot dead the now deceased following an altercation over parking dispute at the intersection of First Street and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue.

According to the state, Lloyd parked his Subaru car along Angwa Street, leaving his two sisters inside.

The now deceased who is a parking marshall reportedly came and started questioning the sisters why their car was at his parking lot without his knowledge.

The court also heard that the now deceased demanded the removal of the car from the parking point and then ganged up with his colleagues who were now tearing cardboard boxes and put them into the accused’s car and set it on fire.

Lloyd Boniface Moyo tried to escape but the now deceased and his friends attacked him with stones resulting in him allegedly pulling out his 6.35mm AG Brevetto pistol and fired three warning shots in the air before aiming at the now deceased.

Lloyd appeared in court with a visibly swollen face and blackened eye from injuries he sustained from the parking touts. He also had his head heavily bandaged.

Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared on behalf of the state while Rusinahama Tendai and Marwe Oliver represented the accused person.

Lloyd’s family has mining interests in Kadoma, Venice Mine and Chakari. He has provided an Avondale address to the courts.

Zm Zim

Violence on Thursday reared its ugly head again in Esigodini and one man was reportedly stabbed to death while a losing MDC Alliance council contestant is fighting for dear life in hospital after a bloody fight with gold panners who are reportedly linked to ZANU-PF.

It is alleged the deceased was escorting his girlfriend home (Habane) from work and the fight erupted as he was trying to protect her from being bullied and abused by a notorious gang of gold panners.

According to the source that preferred anonymity, the losing MDC Alliance council contestant Mr McKenzie Mlauzi allegedly got stabbed after giving a statement and helping police identify the culprits.

“McKenzie got stabbed after helping the police and giving a statement. It happened that as the police turned to ask other people about the incident, the same group that stabbed the deceased attacked him. The shocking part is at that time police had not gone far. It’s so hard here, we don’t know what is becoming of our people, they are not moved by taking a life,” he said.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the murder.

“I received a report on the murder that happened at Esigodini but I haven’t received full details of the incident,” he said.

State Media

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A CLEANSING ceremony turned horribly wrong when a self-proclaimed witch-hunter commonly known as a tsikamutanda died when he allegedly ran out of magical powers leading him to being bitten by a “possessed” snake he was getting rid of.

The shocking incident happened at village head Mafuriranwa’s homestead in Gokwe in the Midlands Province where a cleansing ceremony was being conducted.

Although Midlands’s provincial police spokesperson Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the tragic incident she, however, didn’t substantiate reports that the tsikamutanda, Kudakwashe Mushonga, died while conducting a cleansing ceremony.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a case of sudden death involving a man from Gokwe who died after being bitten by a snake,” said Insp Mukwende.

Meanwhile, according to reports gathered by B-Metro village head Mafuriranwa engaged the services of Mushonga claiming his family was being tormented by some mystical creatures.

It is alleged that before the exorcism a family member narrated what was happening to their household.

“They revealed that a ‘possessed’ snake was causing havoc at the homestead. Dressed in his robes the tsikamutanda entered one of the bedroom huts where he removed some items which he claimed were also juju tormenting the family.

“After sometime he went back into the bedroom hut and captured a snake measuring about one metre under a bed which he said was also troubling the family. While holding the huge snake, the tsikamutanda struggled with it for sometime before he became powerless.

“The reptile then went on to bite him three times on the hand and thumb. Moments after the bites the tsikamutanda became unconscious,” said a source from the area adding that people were devastated by the incident.

Mushonga reportedly died upon admission at Gokwe District Hospital.

The source said there was commotion as people ran for cover when the tsikamutanda was struggling with the huge reptile.

Chief Nemangwe whose jurisdiction, village head Mafuriranwa’s homestead falls under also confirmed the shocking incident.

“It was a tragically unlucky accident and we have since summoned the village head where the cleansing ceremony was being conducted to explain what happened on the fateful day,” said Chief Nemangwe.

Source: State Media

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has ordered the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to release three leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) from Gweru citing lack of evidence.

Moses Gwaunza was arrested in a
midnight raid at his home on Thursday while Charles Chikozho, the ZCTU Administrator in Gweru and Bernard Sibanda, the ZCTU’s District
Secretary were arrested in the early hours of Friday. The trio was charged with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence,
breaches of the peace or bigotry as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
However, after reviewing the case, prosecutors from the NPA ordered the police to release all three men and to proceed by way of summons
because there was no evidence linking the man to a crime. The three were represented by Takashinga Pamacheche of the Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Politics and International Relations (honoris causa) by the Great Zimbabwe University in recognition of his selflessness and sterling service to the nation.

The ZANU PF leader was installed as the Chancellor of the University, making him the head of the institution with full rights to preside over all graduations at the university.

He was installed by the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Rungano Zvobgo.

Speaking soon after the installation, President Mnangagwa said he is honoured to serve as the university’s second chancellor.

He urged the university to increase its visibility and impact towards Vision 2030 of making Zimbabwe a middle class economy.

President Mnangagwa said in the Second Republic, institutions of higher learning must not take pride in enrollment figures and good infrastructure but should strive to ensure the education they offer answers the needs of the economy.

The university was also called upon to contribute to the work of turning around Masvingo into a green belt using the Tokwe Mukosi dam.

Correspondent|Alpha Media Holdings owner Trevor Ncube has seemingly implicated Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Energy Mutodi after newspapers vendors who were selling AMH titles, NewsDay and The Zimbabwe Independent were attacked by a group of men.

Ncube described the attack as well organised after the group was reportedly transported in two vehicles. Ncube then revealed that the editor of NewsDay, Wisdom Mdzungairi, was threatened by Mutodi after AMH increased the prices of its titles by 100 per cent this week.

Mutodi was not impressed by the decision and warned the group not to indulge in speculative behaviour saying that newspapers should remain pegged at $1 only.

Relating the alleged attack on the newspaper vendors, Ncube wrote:

“Approximately 8:30 am today, a group of young men transported in 2 cars attacked NewsDay Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Independent vendors and burnt newspapers. This was well-organised operation. The culprits are at Harare Central police station.

“As this was happening Deputy Minister of Information, Energy Mutodi Energy Mutodi called NewsDay editor Wisdom Mdzungairi threatening that he would fight AMH if we didn’t adjust the cover price of our newspapers. This conduct is regrettable and must be strongly condemned.

“On Wednesday Energy Mutodi tweeted a veiled threat saying newspaper price increases would not happen under “our watch”. The question is – is it him who organised these young people to commit this crime? So far all indications point to this.”

Trevor Ncube continued: “Energy Mutodi’ s threat reminds me of Jonathan Moyo’s threat to the Daily News before their printing press was bombed. I refuse to think we are back to those dark days. I am aware of getting rid of Mugabeism in some people is a process, not an event.

“The 8 young men are currently at Harare Central police station having been caught by members of the public and our vendors. Vendors have made warned and cautioned statements. This type of behaviour has no place in a country we are trying to rebuild.”

Jane Mlambo| Losing Harare West parliamentary candidate, Jessie Majome has shocking appeared on the list of candidates set to be interviewed for th position of Prosecutor General of Zimbabwe.

Majome who was recently fired from the opposition MDC Alliance after she defied the party directive not to contest as an independent candidate will tussle it out with Florence Ziyambi, Tinomudaishe Chinyoka, Chesa Maphios and seven others in interviews set for the 1st of November 2018.

The interviews will be open to the public.

FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube recently terminated the tenure of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) board. The Zimbabwe Independent news editor Owen Gagare (OG) spoke to outgoing board chair Willia Bonyongwe (WB) about her tenure at the tax authority and the state of corporate governance at the organisation:

OG: Your board was in office from June 2015 to October 1, 2018. How would you describe the tenure?

WB: The Zimra board was appointed on June 19, 2015, and the tenure expired on June 18, 2018. However, the former minister of finance and economic development (Patrick) Chinamasa extended it by a period of six months in terms of paragraph 2 (2) of the Fifth Schedule to the Revenue Authority Act, which provides that, upon expiry of their term of office, board members shall continue to hold office until either they are re-appointed or a new board is appointed for a period not exceeding six months. The tenure was very hectic because prior to our appointment, Zimra had been without a board for almost two years and a lot of the corporate governance issues emanated from that vacuum. You will recall in May 2016, the then commissioner-general (Gershem Pasi) and about six executive managers were sent on leave, some were subsequently dismissed following disciplinary action. The commission-general and the head of ICT and Infrastructure chose to resign than go through disciplinary proceedings. We had to spend a lot of time on corporate governance issues. We had a board audit in that regard from the Institute of Directors of Zimbabwe and fared very well, the International Monetary Fund Tadat (Tax Administration Diagnostic Assessment Tool) auditors were also quite impressed with governance at Zimra. We also replaced the executives and management and restructured and replaced the ICT personnel. Despite the huge capital expenditure in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Zimra operated a semi-manual system, unlike the banking and insurance sectors, which were fully automated. This led to genuine leakages and presented opportunities for corruption. Plugging the leakages and fighting corruption also took a great deal of our time.

OG: What was the major mandate of your board and how successful were you in implementing your objectives?

WB: As a board we had the general oversight responsibilities, that is, ensuring that the organisation is doing what it is supposed to do in terms of the Revenue Act. We were responsible for setting up a structure and systems of control to manage risk and achieve the goals of the organisation. We were supposed to ensure that the senior management was in place and were adhering to corporate governance best practices. You will recall when we were appointed, Zimra was struggling to meet its revenue targets and civil servants salaries were being staggered at some stage. So the minister said we needed to increase the tax base. We needed to accelerate the roll out of the ICT systems, in particular, complete fiscalisation and we needed to fight corruption because Zimra was not only perceived to be corrupt, but this was substantiated by surveys carried out by independent consultants for Zimra. We introduced a battery of revenue enhancing measures, which resulted in a steady rise in revenues and as we leave we were surpassing revenue targets consistently and in real terms. The measures increased the tax base by netting evaders and those not paying tax in full. However, compliance is still very low and Zimra is looking to upgrade its revenue systems and link it up with the relevant data bases to net in everybody. During our tenure we pioneered many things, including the Independent Hotline, as part of our anti-corruption fight. We introduced the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) against serious resistance. We saved government millions of dollars in overpriced systems, among other things.

OG: What challenges did you face during your term of office? Please also comment on allegations that politicians were interfering with your work, as an example, exerting pressure on officials to allow goods to come into the country duty-free. The Zanu PF campaign vehicles and party regalia which were imported ahead of the July 30 elections quickly come to mind.

WB: The challenges were to do with resistance from management to do things differently, previous management withholding vital information from the board, and when we introduced the hotline and the ECTS, people within Zimra and outside Zimra had issues and hence there were allegations. Of course, this was not true because the funds were availed through the AfDB facility through an international tender won by a Tanzanian company. The board was never told of government officials exerting pressure to allow goods duty-free because this was an operational not policy issue and management would deal with it, but also because the policy is very clear. On the Zanu PF party regalia and campaign material, again this would be dealt with by management being an operational issue. However, the issue was raised just before elections at a Zimra workshop with parliamentarians and the Commissioner-General (Faith Mazani) indicated that proper importation procedures were followed.

OG: The Zimra board had asked for an extension but was instead dismissed by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube. Why do you believe an extension was necessary and do you think the government’s decision to fire the board was justified?

WB: I have already indicated that the board’s tenure had expired and it is unfortunate that someone talked about firing and governance problems in relation to the board. You cannot fire one with no tenure, our extension letters were very clear that we were going anytime. Unfortunately when the minister was meeting stakeholders, he did not meet the Zimra board to know who was offering himself or not, we do not know who advised him that we had asked for an extension. People need to generally be sensitive. These are people with professions and reputations built over years. Both the former minister (Chinamasa) and permanent secretary (Willard) Manungo know that this was a very demanding job and not everyone in the board was rooting for re-appointment. This is a storm in a tea cup — really nobody was fired and nobody to my knowledge asked for an extension. As for whether minister Ncube was justified or not to reappoint, big Yes, he is the appointing authority and can choose anyone to the Zimra board. He might retain some members for continuity or have a completely new team that is his prerogative, no question about that.

OG: What is your response to the allegation that during your tenure board members were enriching themselves through high sitting fees and allowances? Last year for example board members pocketed US$292 582 up from US$268 225 in 2016?

WB: I am not aware of anyone who was enriched during our tenure. I have explained before that there are 10 board members. That year was a unique year in that we had two forensic audits and the usual external audit by the Auditor-General and some ad hoc committees to spearhead fiscalisation and the ECTS, which meant the board met more than usual. I can assure you that we never met for sitting fees, infact, we had many more meetings for no fees than with fees. These are professionals who earn five times in an hour what the board gives them in a sitting. As for the level of fees, these were done in comparison with peer organisations and were all approved by the parent ministry. I actually remember reducing them when the then board secretary presented them before they went to the ministry.

OG: How true are the allegations that as chairperson you were domineering figure in the board and that you would make decisions unilaterally?

WB: That is an insult to my colleagues in the board who by the way do not share that view. There are professional people with varied skills and experiences which we used collectively as a board. All our decisions were decided in terms of the majority and there are some issues which I lost, but were carried. I know some people tried to divide the board to make it dysfunctional, but lost dismally. There are some who believe a woman should not be assertive, but I rose through the corporate ladder and learnt that there is no gender in the boardroom and I make no apology.

OG: There are some smuggling syndicates involved high-profile persons, the police, immigration and Zimra officials. How did your board try to stamp them out and with what success?

WB: These are what I called organised syndicates and they cost government billion dollars in forgone revenue. I would say they come from anywhere, not limited to those you put in your question. Automation is the answer, but it is still work in progress. The ECTS got a sizeable number of them although they were working with border officials to avoid sealing. When the electronic sealing was introduced, there was a 60% decline in transit fuel cargo, which gives you the level of transit fraud in that sector.

OG: You spoke several times about fighting corruption and ensuring transparency and yet Zimra is still associated with corruption. What bottlenecks did you face in fighting corruption?

WB: There are measures which were put in place to fight corruption, including strengthening the loss control function. In the previous executive, loss control was the centre of all corruption. Zimra is also reinvigorating its relationships with state agencies mandated to deal with corruption. There is need for the police, public prosecutors and magistrates to be capacitated by training in order to minimise the delays and acquittals that occur in cases referred for prosecution. The authority is also taking a leading role in the implementation of the Asset Forfeiture Act and has so far referred two cases where assets of the concerned employees are supposed to be forfeited to the state. Forfeiting the proceeds of crime is a great deterrent, it was very successful in India they call it disgorgement.

OG: Zimra was accused of delaying clarification of tax issues around a US$100 million commercial loan advanced by the British government, through the state-run Commonwealth Development Fund (CDC), to Zimbabwe’s private sector. What’s your comment on this? Is there a strategy on tax issues around this loan?

WB: That is a technical issue which management, the ministry and the Reserve Bank were looking into. What I can say is Zimra implements government policy; there is no way they can refuse to implement policy as an agent of government working to promote government objectives.

OG: During your term of office Zimra increased its revenue collection. Do you see it continuing in the long term?

WB: Yes there is no reason why they should not, especially given the current low compliance rate, the upside potential is huge. All the systems audits we carried out have diagnosed the problems and what is left is implementation. They need to strengthen the ICT systems. We were also very happy with the calibre of the commissioner-general, Ms (Faith) Mazani. She is a best fit for the post and we would be quite enthused if the revenues increase. Infact, we would be surprised if the revenue falls because we have build a very strong foundation.

OG: Although you command respect and are a professional in your own right — but because of our patriarchal society — some people still attach the marriage tag to professional women. What have been the challenges in your work at Zimra and other bodies in relation to this, since you are married to the country’s former intelligence boss?

WB: In general, professional women don’t get support from their spouses and this is a problem if you are rising on the corporate ladder and you get to come home late, to be away from home on business. So in the past you either chose career or marriage, but that is changing. Women can now have it all. Some male counterparts and bosses do not believe there is equality and there is a glass ceiling. Consequently, women have to work much harder than their male counterparts to be recognised. Fortunately we now have many role models in every field and that helps the young ones who come to us for mentoring. Now to why I said you have become the problem. I met my husband whilst I was at university and he was in the army and we had both just come back from the liberation struggle. He joined from St Augustine and I from Dadaya. He has supported my career steadfastly, and I am very grateful to him, but I have always been employed on merit and not on marriage. And I do not know why this keeps cropping up. Nobody cares about what this or that chairman’s wife does or who she is. This is 2018 and we do not expect it.

Terrence Mawawa|Professor Jonathan Moyo has remained sceptical of claims by the state media that the country’s economy is on the recovery path following the tumbling of black market rates.

“Black market rates tumble” #Herald 12 Oct 2018 1. The law of believability is that if you did not report, or worse if you sought to cover up, the soaring rates; you can not report the tumbling rates and expect to be believed. 2. But

great news. If true!” Moyo tweeted.

“In conclusion, we are calling unequivocally for a total and final shutdown… we are entering a season of Service and Sacrifice together as citizens of Zimbabwe we are going to confront this regime… and there is no amount of ammunition which can kill all our people…,” said Tajamuka leader Promise Mkwananzi.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW

Mkwananzi LIVE: “I think we have seen the level of police brutality in this country…nobody is safe don’t think that you are safe. We need to come together and protect ourselves.”

ZimEye would like to correct an earlier news release in which senior MDC sources made claims that party President Nelson Chamisa has demanded a Vice Presidency from ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Chamisa has made it clear on numerous occasions that he has no other desire to fulfil “other than the position people voted for me( the presidency).”

This is the official position and any other insinuations can only be private expressions, and Chamisa has also told the Voice Of America,  “One thing for certain, no to GNU. No to the issue of repeating what they did to president (the late Morgan) Tsvangirai. This is a new ball game, this is a new direction. If we are to have any kind of engagement, it has to be an engagement on issues to save Zimbabwe.

“We have to put on the table five critical issues that have to be discussed. First one is the issue of legitimacy, the issue of the will of the people. It doesn’t make sense for people to go for an election, vote for a candidate of their choice only for that vote to be disregarded, discarded and ignored. We want the vote to count, we want the voice of the people to be respected. For that to happen we need to understand the contours of engagement, the terrain of engagement. Who does what, when and how?”

He said the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, which killed six people in Harare a day after the harmonized elections in July when some agitated people were angry over delays in releasing presidential election results, should be confined to the barracks in order to map the way forward for Zimbabwe.

“We do not want our soldiers, our military to be there dictating to the electorate who should be leading. Let not the gun guide politics. Politics must guide the gun.”

The Zanu-PF provincial executive here has summoned four Chiredzi Town councillors for a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct and disloyalty after they allegedly sold out to the MDC-Alliance by allowing the opposition party to land the council chairmanship despite the ruling party being the majority in council.

The councillors were last month given prohibition orders by the party provincial leadership pending their appearance before a disciplinary hearing after allowing the MDC Alliance’s Councillor Gibson Hwende to land the chairmanship in the sugar growing town council dominated by Zanu-PF.

Zanu-PF bagged four wards in the town during the July 30 polls, while the MDC Alliance got three, with one seat going to an independent candidate.

Clr Hwende was duly elected Chiredzi Town chair after garnering five votes, while Zanu-PF’s candidate Clr Blessing Mazinyane managed two votes, with the remaining vote going to an independent candidate.

The development courted the ire of the party leadership in the province which accused some of its councillors of going to bed with the opposition by voting for Clr Hwende ahead of Clr Mazinyane.

Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial vice chair Ailess Baloyi said the councillors Liberty Macharaga, Obert Ngwenya, Josphat Nzombe and Mazinyane had been summoned for a hearing this week.

In a letter to the four councillors, Baloyi said they will appear before a provincial disciplinary committee today.

“Prohibition order has been issued on you for the following charges: (1) In terms of Chapter 1, Article 3, Section 21, Subsection (1,2,3,4 and 5) of the Zanu-PF Party constitution in that you failed to perform duties required of a member,” reads the letter.

“Contrary to this Article, you disrespected the provincial leadership and the party at large by working in cahoots with members of the opposition MDC Alliance and some of our party renegades culminating in bringing the party into disrepute and ridicule,” continued the letter.

Baloyi said the councillors acted in violation of the party’s constitution by supporting Clr Hwende.

“In terms of Article 28, Section 262 (b) and (c) on general provisions of the party constitution, you failed to obey a lawful order as required of a member,” he said. “You are, in this case charged with gross misconduct and disloyalty.”

Zanu-PF last month warned that the party was going to follow internal party processes to deal with errant Chiredzi Town councillors for going to bed with the opposition.

State Media

Jane Mlambo| Think tank and advocacy institution on elections and democracy, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) has called upon government to pay attention to the issues rais3ed by the European Union Observation Mission, insisting that the new administration must “change attitude on electoral reforms.”

The EU Observation team yesterday presented its final report on the 2018 election highlighting a plethora of electoral irregularities which could have been avoided if the government had paid attention to the statements of the local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Tawanda Chimhini, the ERC executive director, said its high time government changes its behavior on reforms.

“Now that the same things that we as ERC and others have said before have now been repeated by credible election groups who watched the 2018 elections at the invitation of Zimbabwean authorities, it is expected that the new administration’s attitude towards electoral reforms must change,” Chimhini said.

Chimhini bemoaned lack of political will to implement reforms by authorities.

“Sadly attempts to compel election authorities to adopt the necessary changes to improve elections in the past have fallen on deaf ears and have largely been ignored,” the ERC boss said.

The ERC executive director said authorities must walk the talk than just promising.
“The review done on the election by the EU suggests that going forward, it is no longer enough to base re-engagement efforts on mere rhetoric alone. It is no longer enough to just talk without acting,” he said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa had promised the nation and the world that Zimbabwe would have free, fair and credible elections on July 30 a test that he failed.
Chimhini said Zimbabwe must be prepared to move away from the current method of running elections for it to be accepted and appreciated internationally.

“This therefore suggests that re-engagement efforts at the international level must be accompanied by substantive changes in our democratic culture at a domestic level which is exhibited and not just said,” Chimhini said.

Chimhini said any re-engagement efforts that are devoid of addressing the electoral inadequacies which are now obvious to all “will be nothing but hot air”.

HEALTH minister Obadiah Moyo is neither a qualified medical doctor nor a fellow of various international elite societies as stated on his curriculum vitae posted by Chitungwiza Central Hospital (CCH), where he served as chief executive before being appointed into Cabinet, investigations by the Zimbabwe Independent have revealed.

The investigations showed that Moyo is an academic and medical impostor, who is not a registered practitioner with the Medical Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe (MDPCZ).

It also emerged this week that President Emmerson Mnangagwa ignored his advisers who disapproved the appointment of Moyo as Health minister due to his questionable medical qualifications.

Mnangagwa had asked for due diligence checks to establish Moyo’s suitability for the appointment, among other potential cabinet appointees.

On his CV posted on the CCH website, Moyo claims to be a “visionary leader with a proven track-record in the fields of medicine and executive management”.

He says he attained a Doctor of Medicine Degree (MD) in the West Indies, a region of the North Atlantic Ocean in the Caribbean, without specifying the country, university and year of study as is the norm.

Moyo did not respond to questions from the Independent, but investigations established there is no such qualification as MD throughout the Anglophone Caribbean region. Medical experts said in most Anglo-Saxon countries, practising medical doctors attain a Bachelor of Medicine and Dental Surgeries degree (MBChB) from a recognised university, as is also the case locally.

Elsewhere, the general qualification is known as MBBS, an abbreviation for Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae, or Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in English.

Contrary to claims on the CV that he was a medical practitioner with a proven track-record, Moyo never practiced as a medical doctor in Zimbabwe.

The Health Professions Act requires practitioners to register with MDPCZ. Moyo’s name does not appear on the list of the 3 624 registered medical practitioners in the country.

MDPCZ officials, who confirmed the list to the Zimbabwe Independent, explained the stringent registration process.
“You need to be trained for seven years at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and thereafter work as an intern for two years. You will then be deployed as a government district medical officer for at least a year before you are eligible to get into private practice. All this while, you will be working under strict supervision and you can only proceed on strong recommendations,” an official said.

“If you received your training in the Sadc region, the council verifies your qualifications before allowing you to register without additional restrictions. If you are registered outside Sadc, you need to work for between six and 12 months under supervision before you are allowed to practice. You will then be granted an MDPCZ certificate, which is renewable annually. You cannot just walk in here claiming to be a doctor, it does not work that way.”

On his resume, Moyo claims to be a registered renal specialist and chemical pathologist, notwithstanding the fact that he is not on the MDPCZ register as it appears on its website: http://www.mdpcz.co.zw/mdpcz.

Moyo also claims to be a holder of a Master of Philosophy degree in medicine (MPhil Med) from the UZ, again without stating which year he graduated.

The university this week declined to shed light on Moyo’s academic credentials.

“The University of Zimbabwe regrets to advise that with all due respect, not all institutions and/or individuals can have access to confidential information about the institution’s clients, including students, staff and alumni with the exception of the clients themselves, current or potential employers and/or a government accredited investigating authority.

“Alternatively, such confidential information can be passed to a third party, if and when such a party, has expressly authorised the University to do so,” UZ Information and Public Relations director Daniel Chihombori told the Independent in responses to written inquiries this week.

The Independent investigation corroborates a cable dated November 2008 released by whistle-blower, WikiLeaks in which former US Ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee, in correspondence to Washington, wrote: “Moyo’s business card indicates he has both a PhD and a medical degree. After our initial meeting, we learned that he earned neither.

Rather, he was Sally Mugabe’s dialysis technician at Parirenyatwa throughout her long struggle with a kidney disease. After Sally’s death, Mr Moyo suddenly became Dr Moyo, and in 2004 he became CEO of Chitungwiza Hospital.”

Elite international medical societies to which Moyo claims to be a fellow dismissed his claim.

International Society in Nephrology (ISN), United Kingdom (UK) programme coordinator Marie-Pierre Smal, confirmed that Moyo was not a fellow of the prestigious medical club contrary to his claims.

He only joined the prestigious society in 2015 as an ordinary member. Fellowship to the society requires one to be a distinguished medical specialist.

“I confirm that Dr Obadiah Moyo is a member of the International Society of Nephrology since January 1, 2015. However he is not an ISN fellow and has never accomplished an ISN fellowship training with an ISN sponsored grant. Nephrology is a small world and medical achievements are very much based on peer review, networking and word of mouth,” Marie-Pierre Smal said.

“If the sector realises someone is claiming education he did not get, this would be very bad press for the person.”

Other clubs such as the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath), (UK), Royal Society of Public Health (FRSPH) (UK) and the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) (UK) said they could only comment with Moyo’s consent.

Medical sources said Mnangagwa however “did the exact opposite” of what his advisors had recommended when he appointed Moyo. “There were consultations with relevant stakeholders in the medical field. The idea was to assess if they were comfortable having someone who was not a medical doctor as their minister. They were also asked to suggest names of people they thought would be suitable for the appointment,” a source said.

“They were comfortable working with someone not a medical doctor as long as that person was not Obadiah Moyo. But the problem with Moyo is that he is an imposter. So industry was unanimous that Moyo was not a suitable character to safeguard and maintain the integrity of the health and medical profession.”

According to the sources, several other individuals including the ministry’s permanent secretary Gerald Gwinji, were shortlisted for the post.

Other candidates who were suggested include one army chief identified as major-general Celestino Bhasera and former Health minister Henry Madzorera, who was out rightly disqualified for his links to the opposition party, MDC.

Sources further said after Mnangagwa realised that Moyo’s appointment had torched a storm, he roped in Chikomba West legislator John Mangwiro, who is a respected medical doctor to deputise Moyo in order to “sanitise the ministry.”

Independent

TWENTY-SEVEN leaders and members of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) will spent the night in police custody after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on Thursday 11 October 2018 and charged with disorderly conduct and committing public violence.

In Harare, ZRP officers charged seven ZCTU leaders with disorderly conduct in a public place as defined in section 41 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The seven leaders, who are represented by Kossam Ncube, Tinomuda Shoko and Gift Mtisi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) include ZCTU President Peter Mutasa, Secretary-General Japhet Moyo, Benice Maluleke, Priscilla Jonhi, Simon Mutasa and two leaders only identified as Chinovamari and Marmish.

In Mutare, 20 ZCTU leaders and members, who are represented by Natsai Nyamwanza and Passmore Nyakureba of ZLHR, will spent the night in police custody after they were arrested and charged with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry in contravention of section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. The 20 ZCTU leaders and members include Tenson Muchefa, Barbra Chivinge, Deliwe Munyongwa, Laina Sharare, Superior Boka, Stevene Chandakabata, Beatrice Kwendepi, Giles Maoneke, Justin Muonda, Arshford Mariga, Dickson Chaeruka, Elias Matanda, Jackson Mtisi, Portia Sibanda, Adam Nhamo, Regis Duri, Isaac Kapeni, Edison Nyambanje, Allen Chakabuda and Christine Mukolosa.

In Masvingo, 12 ZCTU leaders and members, who were represented by Collen Maboke of ZLHR, were released after spending several hours in police detention. ZRP officers indicated that they would proceed by way of summons if they intend to prosecute the labour union members.

The 12 include Elliot Meso, Agnes Hlanga, Kevin Mawoyo, Gilbert Sibanda, Tasara Dunia, Richard Munyenye, Davison Madzivire, Tamutswa Chikonyora, Peggie Rukawu, Stephen Madoyi, Chrispen Matipedza and Maxwell Madhunha.

In Harare, ZLHR lawyers Lizwe Jamela, Obey Shava and Noble Chinhanu rescued 26 ZCTU staff and union members, who since morning had been illegally detained at their Gorlon House offices by ZRP officers after the arrest of the labour union’s leaders in a pre-emptive strike to thwart an anti-government protest organised to protest against government’s disastrous economic policies.

Meanwhile, Harare Magistrate Lanzini Ncube on Thursday 11 October 2018 dismissed an application filed by Chinhanu seeking to overturn the ZRP ban of ZCTU’s anti-government protest. In dismissing the ZCTU application, Ncube cited the current cholera outbreak and stated that the labour union’s protest could turn violent as there is discontentment among citizens over the current economic situation.

Jane Mlambo| High Court will on Friday 12 October 2018 hear an appeal filed by Tendai Biti, the Movement for Democratic Change-Alliance Vice-Chairperson challenging Harare Magistrate Francis Mapfumo’s refusal to temporarily release his passport to allow him to travel to South Africa to receive specialised medical treatment.

Biti petitioned the High Court after Magistrate Mapfumo on Thursday 27 September 2018 dismissed his application for alteration of his bail conditions which entailed releasing his passport to receive specialised medical treatment which is unavailable in Zimbabwe.

In his application filed by Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Biti argued that the interests of justice will not be prejudiced if the court grants his application for the release of his passport.

The opposition political party leader wants the High Court to order the release of his passport so that he travels to South Africa for medical treatment from the date the travel document is released to him until Tuesday 23 October 2018, when he will surrender it back to the Clerk of Court at Harare Magistrates Court until his matter is finalised.

Biti is currently appearing in court after he was arrested in August and charged with contravening section 66(A)(1) of the Electoral Act for allegedly announcing the 30 July 2018 harmonised elections Presidential results unofficially and for committing public violence
as defined in section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Jane Mlambo| ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa is in agreement with the European Union position that death penalty is an affront to human dignity and constitutes cruel, inhuman and is contrary to right to life.

Responding to the EU embassy in Zimbabwe on Twitter, Mnangagwa posted in agreement to the fact that death penalty makes judicial errors irreversible.

Mnangagwa is believed to have survived death penalty during the liberation struggle because of his age.

I wholeheartedly agree! https://t.co/QSAldicm8L

— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) October 10, 2018

ZANU-PF has suspended National Youth league Secretary for External Affairs Sibongile Sibanda over allegations of abuse of office.

Sibanda (35), from Bulawayo Province, is alleged to have accumulated hotel bills on activities that were not sanctioned by the party.

In a letter, Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration, Obert Mpofu, said Sibanda had been suspended from conducting party business pending investigations into her alleged misconduct.

“This letter serves to inform you of your immediate suspension from all Zanu-PF activities pending the finalisation of investigations into your conduct. Accordingly, you are required to immediately surrender all Party properties in your possession to the appropriate departments. Further all unauthorised expenditure by you on hotel lodgings and other related activities will be in your personal account,” said Dr Mpofu in the letter.

He said failure to comply with the above will leave Zanu-PF with no option but to take disciplinary action.

In an interview yesterday, Mpofu said Sibanda was set to appear before a disciplinary hearing but declined to disclose the exact issues that led to her suspension.

“She has to be hauled before a disciplinary hearing for misdemeanors that she was involved in as a senior youth at national level.

I know the accusations, but I cannot divulge them. I cannot dismiss some the allegations but the matter is a grave one and the party has started taking appropriate disciplinary action” said Dr Mpofu.

Sibanda was a proportional representation candidate for Nketa constituency in the July 30 polls.

State media

A 23-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man has been arraigned for grabbing and pulling a police officer’s private parts after the officer reproached him for making noise in a bar.

Chrispen Mutenda (23) of Western Commonage Police Station grabbed and pulled the private parts of Marvellous Sibanda (36), who is a police officer at the station, following a heated argument.

The court heard that the two were drinking beer at Western Commonage canteen and Mutenda was speaking loudly.

This did not go down well with Sibanda who reproached him for his actions.

Mutenda stays with his brother who is also a police officer at the same station, the court heard.

He was convicted on his own plea of guilty to assault by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube. “I didn’t do it intentionally. It was a mistake. I was drunk and I didn’t even realise what I had done,” said Mutenda.

Mr Ncube fined him $100 or 90 days in prison.

Mr Kenneth Shava appeared for the State.

State Media

South Africa is always willing and ready to assist Zimbabwe at any time that the authorities request assistance, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said on Thursday.

“Insofar as Zimbabwe is concerned, we stand very ready at all times to assist the people of Zimbabwe. We have had a very long standing relationship with the people of Zimbabwe from the time we were in the struggle,” said Sisulu.

“At any time they need our assistance, they are able to request our assistance.”

Sisulu, however, said Pretoria cannot play big brother to Harare, and waits for the neighbouring country bedevilled with massive economic challenges, cash shortages and food scarcity to ask for the specific aid.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu addressing media in Pretoria on Thursday.
“We would not be able to go to Zimbabwe and say here is a bag of whatever and you will have it. I think international relations depends on reciprocity,” she said.

“As and when Zimbabwe requests our support in anything, we will be able to provide them with that support, fully. We wish the people of Zimbabwe well. It’s a country that we regard as a friend, and we would like some stability there. We would like the economic reforms that have been put in place to succeed there.”

Sisulu emphasised that if Zimbabwe requests help, South Africa would be “too happy to assist”.

Fuel shortages have intensified across Zimbabwe as long queues formed at service stations that selling the commodity amid widespread panic-buying of basic goods blamed on government’s new austerity measures.

On Thursday, human rights lawyers in Zimbabwe said police arrested dozens of trade union activists ahead of a planned protest in Harare as tensions simmer over the economic downturn — the worst in a decade according to analysts.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said police arrested members of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) — the country’s largest trade union.

Zimbabwe has been battling a cholera outbreak blamed on damaged water pipes, and broken sewerage systems have been in urgent need of repair for more then a decade.

Several shops in Harare have put up “closure signs” on their doors as the cash crunch deepens, signalling a worsening of the economic crisis epitomised by the return of fuel shortages last seen eight years ago.

Earlier this week, clothing store Edgars, eatery Teta, fast food outlets KFC and St Elmos Zimbabwe, as well as Corky’s Pub and Grill, all warned customers they were shutting up shop.

African News Agency/ANA

By Paul Nyathi|The Harare parallel market exchange rates on Thursday afternoon took a shock turn as the United State Dollar exchange rate tumbled from $650 to $250 Bond Notes for US$100.

Currency dealers who spoke to ZimEye.com indicated that the rate which they claim is determined by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe had hit a shock $650 Bond Notes for US$100 by mid morning Thursday only for it to tumble by more than half later in the day when they tried to deliver the green buck to the Reserve Bank.

The dealers claimed that the fall may be temporary as the RBZ has reduced its demands for the US Dollars after sourcing enough currency to bring in fuel and wheat demands that had threatened to collapse the economy.

The Currenecy dealers on the streets of Harare were in a hurry to offload the cash as it became apparent that shortages of basic commodities were not going to persist. The rates are expected to continue falling into the weekend, and might begin gaining towards the end of the month, the dealers say.

Own Correspondent|A registrar at the deeds office yesterday testified at the Harare Magistrate’s court in a fraud matter that implicates prominent businessman Frank Buyanga.

Allegations are that sometime in August 2009, one Steven Nyoka entered a loan agreement of $19,000 with Buyanga’s company, Orton Drift and was made to sign off his house which was valued at $130,000 at that time.

He allegedly tendered his tittle deeds as security for the loan and after a few months, he was met by aggrieved clients at Buyanga’s office as he was settling his debt.

He was advised that the deal he had made was shady and upon enquiry at the deeds office, he was told that his house was registered under Buyanga’s company.

The registrar, Ellen Mawere told the court that the transfer of the deeds from Buyanga’s company to another company that he owns as well had been stopped.

She told the court that all transfers involving Buyanga had been halted by order from the Attorney General’s office.

“The deeds that were tendered for transferring the said property were rejected as no properties involving Buyanga were supposed to be transferred as he had pending issues with the courts.”

However, through her testimony it was established that the deeds had already been transferred from Nyoka as he had surrendered his deeds.

The accused person in this matter is Bishop Jeche, a property manager at East Rivet Investments Pvt Ltd.

He is being charged with perjury, money laundering and fraud over the case.

Buyanga has however, not been brought to court over the case with the papers citing Jeche as the accused together with an unnamed accomplice who is said to be still at large.

M&T

Through his lawyer Admire Rubaya, Jeche said he was not involved in any transaction or arrangement with the complainant.

He denied the charges and has since written to the prosecutor general saying it is Buyanga who should be before the court.

A 23-YEAR-old Bulawayo man has been arraigned for grabbing and pulling a police officer’s private parts after the officer reproached him for making noise in a bar.

Chrispen Mutenda (23) of Western Commonage Police Station grabbed and pulled the private parts of Marvellous Sibanda (36), who is a police officer at the station, following a heated argument.

The court heard that the two were drinking beer at Western Commonage canteen and Mutenda was speaking loudly.

This did not go down well with Sibanda who reproached him for his actions. Mutenda stays with his brother who is also a police officer at the same station, the court heard.

He was convicted on his own plea of guilty to assault by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube. “I didn’t do it intentionally. It was a mistake. I was drunk and I didn’t even realise what I had done,” said Mutenda.

Mr Ncube fined him $100 or 90 days in prison. Mr Kenneth Shava appeared for the State.

A man who allegedly registered cellphone lines in Perrance Shiri the Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister’s name and made over $10,000 has finally appeared before the courts.

The suspect, Mr Blessing Vava (32) was named for also furthermore allegedly registering other phone lines in Mary Shiri and Brigadier Brighton Manyika’s respectively.

The court heard that he would call the farmers using the fraudulently registered lines advising them that they had qualified for land distribution before ordering them to send money for processing the offer letters through EcoCash.

The complainants would fall for the trap because the EcoCash confirmation would indicate that the recipient of the cash was Minister Shiri.

Vava was once jailed for similar offences in 2014 and by then he was using the name Blessing Mazarura.

Facts of the charges which Vava was convicted of are that he registered cellphone lines in the names of prominent Zanu-PF politicians, which he used to swindle unsuspecting farmers of thousands of dollars through dubious farming input schemes.

He would call the farmers using the fraudulently registered lines advising them that they had qualified for agricultural inputs and implements before ordering them to send money for transport through EcoCash.

The politicians whose names were used are Cde Didymus Mutasa, Cde Tendai Savanhu, Cde Simbaneuta Mudarikwa, Cde Basil Nyabadza and Mr Munacho Mutezo.

MDC-T legislator Mr Innocent Gonese’s name was also used.

Mazarura, through his lawyer Mr John Ndomene of Ndomene and Maposa legal practitioners, told the court that he recently changed his surname from Mazarura to Vava.

According to the State, the offences were committed from May 10 to September 28 this year.

Vava allegedly defrauded 18 complainants.

Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that on May 10, Vava contacted Mr Cullen Richards who had a pending appeal at the ministry over a farm in Beatrice.

As such, Vava instructed Richards to pay $1 767 into Ecocash registered in the name of Mary Shiri towards speeding up finalisation of the appeal.

On May 17, Vava contacted another complainant Mr Willard Mutazu who had applied for a farm in Bindura and misrepresented that his application was successful.

Richards was instructed to transfer $135 into Ecocash registered in the name of Mary Shiri.

The following day, Vava misrepresented to John Chin’onzo who had applied for land that his application was successful and was also instructed to pay a processing fee of $195 via Ecocash.

On the same day, Vava called Craig John William purporting to be Minister Shiri and lied that he could facilitate the issuance of a 99-year lease.

William was ordered to pay a processing fee of $650.

On May 22, Vava, the Court heard, got in touch with Tapiwanashe Gandiya and misrepresented to him that his application for land in Marondera had been approved, hence a processing fee of $420 was required.

It is the State’s case that two days later, Moses Tendai Chingwena was ordered to pay $1 000 by Vava after he was told that his appeal on the acquisition of a farm in Masvingo had been successful.

Chingwena was told the money was meant for allowances of officials from the ministry who were supposed to travel to Masvingo to officiate at the farm handover and demarcation of boundaries.

Using the same modus operandi, Vava duped several other farmers.

Some of the complainants fell for the trap and deposited the money, while others refused after they became suspicious.- state media

By Farai D Hove| Zanu PF’s party’s Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu has attacked MDC leader Nelson Chamisa saying he wants a government of national unity.

Chamisa has repeatedly dismissed the ZANU PF rumours that he is aiming for a unity deal with Mnangagwa.

Ever since the elections, even AMH publisher Trevor Ncube re-sounded the rumour while attacking Chamisa’s character saying the MDC leader will soon let his supporters down.

Said Mpofu: “After extensive consultation and investigations, we discovered that there is a hidden hand in the economic situation prevailing, MDC Alliance is going round claiming it has the keys to economic revival envisaging that the situation gets dire and force a GNU, never, President Mnangagwa has a full mandate given to him by the people, they invited sanctions and at the same time want to take advantage to cause chaos in the economy, we are on top of the situation and very soon we the whole agenda will be exposed.”

IS HE TELLING THE TRUTH?

By Paul Nyathi|THE High Court will on Friday hear an appeal filed by Tendai Biti, the Movement for Democratic Change-Alliance Vice-Chairperson challenging Harare Magistrate Francis Mapfumo’s refusal to temporarily release his passport to allow him to travel to South Africa to receive specialised medical treatment.

Biti petitioned the High Court after Magistrate Mapfumo on on the 27th September dismissed his application for alteration of his bail conditions which entailed releasing his passport to receive specialised medical treatment which is unavailable in Zimbabwe.

In his application filed by Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Biti argued that the interests of justice will not be prejudiced if the court grants his application for the release of his passport.

The opposition political party leader wants the High Court to order the release of his passport so that he travels to South Africa for medical treatment from the date the travel document is released to him until Tuesday 23 October 2018, when he will surrender it back to the Clerk of Court at Harare Magistrates Court until his matter is finalised.

Biti is currently appearing in court after he was arrested in August and charged with contravening section 66(A)(1) of the Electoral Act for allegedly announcing the 30 July 2018 harmonised elections Presidential results unofficially and for committing public violence as defined in section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. – ZLHR

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration appears to have switched back to the former President Robert Mugabe’s style of governance following the arrest of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) officials today as the police moved to thwart its demonstration against new financial reforms.

Mugabe was unpopular for employing state apparatus on the ordinary citizens and those who differed with him a script President Mnangagwa pledged to throw away.

“I will fight tooth and nail against those making a mockery against Zanu PF founding principles, ethos and values. You and your cohorts will instead leave Zanu PF by the will of the people and this we will do in the coming few weeks as Zimbabweans in general now require new and progressive leadership that is not resident in the past and refuses to accept change,” part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa last November enroute to new Zimbabwe.

Post 30 July disputed elections which the Constitutional court resolved by declaring President Mnangagwa as the rightful winner, Harare has remained highly militarized with the police and city fathers launching a clampdown on vendors in the wake of cholera outbreak which claimed at least 50 lives.

Surprisingly, the police allowed the ruling party Zanu PF to host ‘thank you’ rallies a fortnight ago, including in Harare where MDC’s 19th anniversary was banned on the pretext of the medieval disease, cholera epidemic outbreak.

It happened so that the opposition described the development as political labeling the new dispensation a ‘change without a change.’
ZCTU has added a list of victims of the new dispensation with the polices raiding its head offices today.

In a statement, the workers union mother body, confirmed the arrest of the senior officials who were raided at their offices in the capital this morning.

“In Harare, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers arrested ZCTU members including the labour union’s leaders, Peter Mutasa and Japhet Moyo, at their offices and detained them at Harare Central Police Station.

“In Mutare, ZRP officers arrested some ZCTU members from their offices and detained them at Mutare Central Police Station while in Masvingo, the law enforcement agents arrested some ZCTU members and detained them at Masvingo Central Police Station,” reads part of the statement.

263Chat also learnt that in Masvingo senior ZCTU officials were arrested in connection with the protest which was planned to go simultaneously around the country.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has moved in to provide legal aid to the union officials who defied the police order given yesterday.

The police reminded the workers union yesterday that the public gatherings banned a couple of weeks ago to curb cholera was still effective and warned that the law enforcement agents would not hesitate to descend on them if they defy the order.

-263Chat

By Investigations Correspondent| ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa suddenly visited his deputy Constantino Chiwenga’s house Monday and Tuesday, staying there for about 45 minutes per time, ZimEye can reveal.

Mnangagwa was Tuesday afternoon jeered by gardeners of houses in the road leading to Chiwenga’s residence.

ZimEye can reveal the gardeners were sitting down outside when ED’s motorcade passed by and upon seeing it, they screamed out “mbahva mbavha!” The soldiers left ED at Chiwengwa’s house and came back for the gardeners. They inquired among the 5 on the identities of thise who had called out ‘mbavha’ and they told the 3 others who were older and are cooks to go away. Afterwards they began beating up the remaining 2 badly so the extent that they had to be taken to hospital yesterday.”

ZimEye was at the time of writing researching on their whereabouts.

Meanwhile, ZimEye can confirm that Chiwenga is unwell. The general has since the beginning of the year encountered several episodes of collapsing while at work. On the 25th January, Chiwenga collapsed and was spotted coming out of a top private hospital in Borrowdale, Harare. Two months later, another similar incident happened and in recent days his health has deteriorated. – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY…

Terrence Mawawa|The chairpersons of Parliamentary Portfolio Committees have been announced.

Tendai Biti will lead the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts.

Below is a list of the chairpersons of the respective Parliamentary Portfolio Committees:
1. D. Mataranyika – Justice
2. C. Chinanzvavana – Environment
3. M. Chikukwa – Local Gvt
4.TembaMliswa – Mines
5 Mayor Justice – Agric
6. E. Huni – Pub Service
7. K. Paradza – Foreign Affairs
8. Mayihlome – Defence
9. F. Mhona – Finance
10. R. Labode – Health
11. C. Madiwa – Women
12. D. Garwe – Trans
13. P. Sibanda – Media
14. D. Molokela – Higher Edu
15. M. Tongofa – Youth
16 P Misihairabwi – Education
17 Charlton Hwende – ICT
18. J Sacco – Industry
19. G. Gabbuza – Energy
20. Biti Tendai – Public Accounts

Terrence Mawawa|Zanu PF mandarins in Mt Darwin have been forced to suspend operations due to the escalating economic crisis in the country.

A Zanu PF activist in Mt Darwin yesterday wrote the following note, accusing his party of failing to run the country:STEPHEN KABOZO ZANU-PF MP FOR MT DARWIN SOUTH SHOP AT JOSIA- MATOPE has been closed .

MARIKISI MUDZIDZI COMPLEX SHOP at Rushinga Business Centre has been closed.

Please maMPs e ZANU-PF musaite mahypocrites you told us to vote for ZANU-PF vhurai mashops enyu titenge cheap goods from you if you are true patriots.

Dzikisai ma prices enyu and lead by example ndimi makatanga kudhurisa trikukuonai hedu nyaraiwo and don’t sabotage ED.

By Paul Nyathi|Independent Member of Parliament for Norton Temba Mliswa has been reappointed as the Chairperson of the Mines and Minerals Parliamentary portfolio committee.

Mliswa who chaired the committee towards the end of the 8th parliament earned people’s hearts when he led the investigations on the missing $15 billion dollars diamonds revenue.

While the Speaker of Parliament was announcing him as the Committee Chairperson at parliament, Mliswa was in Bulawayo attending the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba.

He is captured below making a contribution to a plenary session at one of the break away discussions at the Indaba.

Zanu PF Secretary for Administration has come out guns blazing in his response to a raft of new financial reforms that were introduced by the Finance Minister Mtuli Ncube, insisting that “no consultations were done” to the effect of the reforms.

Last week Prof Ncube introduced a plethora of economic reforms that include of measures aimed at breathing life into the comatose Zimbabwean economy, including an electronic transaction tax pegged at two cents per dollar.

Addressing the media at party headquarters yesterday, on the back of wild market response to the monetary and fiscal policy, Mpofu said the reforms which the government said are set to restore the country’s economic path will not come into effect because people had no input in it.

“The so called the new financial reforms which have caused price hikes and the response you have seen from business were done without consultations and Zanu PF will not allow that,” Mpofu said.

However, President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a couple of days ago said there was no reversal to the new reforms which appeared to be already in force hinting that the 2 percent tax on every dollar transaction will stand despite outrage from the public saying the position at which the country stands in terms of its debt it requires painful steps rescue the economy.

“For us to become a viable economy, a solid economy, we are going to take measures that are painful and this is one of such measures,” he said.

President Mnangagwa added that the reforms are meant to support the public sector and therefore people should not have misconceptions because the measures do not seek to please individuals.

Mnangagwa fronts 2030 Middle Income Economy vision which is under siege and appears as castles in the air as the economy continue to bleed day after day.

The government has lately been caught in policy inconsistent with both the RBZ governor Dr John Mangudya and Professor Ncube saying different things at global stage over the reforms impacting on the economy with distortions in business taking toll. – Source: 263Chat