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

Former Vice President, Phekezela Mphoko faces imminent 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, who had been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on allegations of defrauding the parastatal of US$1,3 million.

This development comes on the backdrop of the conviction of Juma who was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday for criminal abuse of office.

Government sources said Mphoko is likely to be picked up for questioning over his role in the release of Juma and Norupiri in 2016.

“He personally went to Avondale Police station and ordered their release,” the source said adding: “He even caused a scene at the police station after threatening to beat up the officers who wanted him to follow due process.”

In a move which bordered on abuse of office Mphoko, who was acting president at the material time stormed the Avondale Police station and ordered the immediate release of Juma and Norupiri. Former president Robert Mugabe was in Kigali, Rwanda, for the African Union summit.

Sources said soon after their release the duo accompanied Mphoko to his Rainbow hotel room where they stayed for the whole week as ZACC threatened to apprehend the duo.

ZACC had secured the arrest of the two ZINARA bosses under docket number RR08/05/16. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) charged them for allegedly defrauding the parastatal of US$1 294 575,76.

Mphoko is said to have ordered the release of the duo and told the police officers that he was not a vice-president of a co-operative or burial society but the country.

ZACC sources, this week, said investigations on Mphoko over his links with Juma and Norupiri commenced in 2016 but were halted after the then President Robert Mugabe intervened and accused ZACC of acting on the instructions of the then vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa to pursue his political enemies.

Sources said Mphoko was issued with fuel coupons worth US$20 000 by Juma and the coupons found their way into the market.

“The coupons were sold in Bulawayo and were traced back to ZINARA,” the source said.

“ZACC investigations are pointing to Mphoko who was given the coupons as a donation by Juma. This is why he has been protecting the Ex-ZINARA bosses from prosecution.”

The ZACC investigation is also being handled by the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet which is said to be 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, established by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to improve efficiency in prosecuting graft cases, was operationalised is reportedly combing through evidence provided by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).

Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi could neither confirm nor deny that police was keen to question Mphoko.

“Can you call me around 3pm so that I can provide you with the correct details pertaining to the case,” Nyathi said.

ZACC investigative head, Goodson Nguni, said he was not in the office and would comment on the issue on an appropriate time.

WATCH VIDEO LOADING BELOW

14 year old Babongile Bhebhe wast last seen last week Saturday in Gwabalanda, Bulawayo. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact their nearest police station or 0713926097. PICTURE:

Jane Mlambo| 19 activists of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) have been arrested and are currently detained at ZRP Mutare Central.

More details to follow…

THE European Union (EU) yesterday released its final report on the July 30 harmonised elections, which largely regurgitated MDC-Alliance claims aimed at discrediting the widely hailed polls. Other international observers, among them the African Union and Sadc have endorsed the elections won by President Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF as free, fair and credible, and a true reflection of the will of the people.

Zanu-PF trounced the MDC-Alliance, amassing 145 seats to the MDC-Alliance’s 63, with the Mugabe project, the National Patriotic Front (NPF) managing one seat and independent candidate Mr Temba Mliswa retaining his Norton seat in the 210-member National Assembly.

In the presidential contest, President Mnangagwa trounced MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa with 50,67 percent of the votes cast, to 44 percent.

Presenting the EU Election Observer Mission final report yesterday, deputy chief observer Mr Mark Stevens said the campaign period was largely peaceful, with freedoms of movement, assembly and expression respected, and both the main presidential candidates held numerous rallies across the country.

He, however, went on to regurgitate the MDC-Alliance claims, which included, but were not limited to layout of presidential ballot, modalities for printing and distributing ballots, alleged State media bias and conduct of postal voting.

The EU conceded that the 2018 election was conducted in an unprecedented level of freedom compared to previous elections, with voters actively participating in campaign, while civil society was free to engage without hindrance.

“The right to stand was provided for, the elections were competitive and political freedoms during the campaign were respected. On Election Day, voters enjoyed the right to vote and both campaign and Election Day were largely peaceful,” reads the report.

“The introduction of a number of legal and administrative changes was welcomed, including increasing the number of polling stations, limiting voters to voting only at registered station, and limiting the number of excess ballots to be printed.”

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Secretary Mr Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana yesterday said Government would comment after being presented with the report.

“We have not been presented with the report yet and we are meeting with that delegation on Friday. We do not have it (the report), so we cannot comment until we have been presented with it,” he said.

Zanu-PF secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said SADC and AU had endorsed the elections and he was no privy to the standards referred to by the EU Observer Mission.

“It is their opinion and it remains so. We are measured by Sadc and AU standards and we met those standards. The AU and Sadc said so. We cannot be measured by standards we know nothing about,” he said.

-State Media

Urban grooves musician Plaxedes Machuma Joka (popularly known as Plaxedes Wenyika, pictured) has filed for maintenance against businessman Dr Mika Joka following the couple’s separation pending divorce. The couple’s 13-year marriage is teetering on the brink of collapse after the artiste filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences with the entrepreneur. Dr Joka is the founder of Corporate 24 medical centre.

The couple married in 2005 and solemnised the union in terms of the Marriages Act (Chapter 5:11).

In the divorce summons filed at the High Court on August 30 this year, Wenyika claimed monthly maintenance of $3 500 for herself and the upkeep of the couple’s three children.

Pending termination of the union, the musician has upgraded her claim to $6 330 through a separate court application for maintenance.

In the court application filed at the High Court on Tuesday, Wenyika indicated she required $1 500 for her welfare and maintenance every month.

She is also claiming $1 110 monthly for each of the three children, including the one in boarding school.

The total claim in respect of the three children becomes $3 330. In addition, she is claiming $300 for the wages of her two maids and a gardener. She also claims $80 monthly for DSTV subscription.

The artist, who initiated the divorce proceedings, wants the businessman to maintain her in a manner she “had been accustomed to” during the happier times of the union.

“I am therefore approaching this honourable court to ensure that the children and myself are supported and that we carry on with the life we had been accustomed to in the interim, pending finalisation of my matrimonial suit,” she said.

The businessman already pays close to $8 000 termly as fees for the children’s who elite private schools but the musician wants the responsibility to be turned into an enforceable court order.

“In similar vein, I am seeking an order that the respondent be directed to pay school fees of the children in the private schools and pre-schools they are currently enrolled in and that in the process he acquires all uniforms and equipment as may be required,” reads Wenyika’s founding affidavit.

She is also seeking an order ensuring the children remain on the father’s medical aid. In addition, Wenyika wants the businessman to meet any shortfalls that may arise in respect of the medical aid.

The musician who is an economist by profession and holds an MBA has also claimed $150 per week as entertainment fees for her and the kids.

The handful list also includes a demand to have her car repaired and maintained by Dr Joka anytime it breaks down.

Jane Mlambo| Harare currently resembles a war zone with riot police officers patrolling streets to scare people from participating in a planned demonstration organized by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions against the 2 percent tax imposed by government on all electronic transactions.

A few minutes ago, a group of protestors attempted to march but heavily armed police   descended on the ZCTU offices where workers were gathered in preparation of the protest and arrested its President Peter Mutasa.

ZCTU insists that the protest will go ahead as they are exempted from the requirements of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

The Labour body has also approached the Constitutional Court to challenge police’s decision to ban their protest citing the cholera epidemic.

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) yesterday conferred President Emmerson Mnangagwa with an honorary Doctor of Laws degrees during the 2018 graduation ceremony amid tight security as speculation was rife that students wanted to embarrass him.

Mnangagwa was also installed Chancellor at his inaugural graduation ceremony at the university.

The Zanu PF leader urged the university council, senate, and staff to spur the institution to deliver education in line with global standards, national vision and aspirations.

“The African intelligencia in pre-independent Zimbabwe agitated for justice, equality and the right to self-determination,” he said.

“We envisaged a Zimbabwe where all men and women have equal access to opportunities. We fought to see society living in harmony, peace, love and unity. In the second republic, these aspirations must be realized and enjoyed by all of us; talent and hard work rewarded.”

A total of 3 632 graduands were conferred with degrees from nine faculties and the College of Health Sciences.

-Newsday

KFC and other fast food restaurants in Zimbabwe are unable to purchase supplies because of a shortage of U.S. dollars, forcing many to close.

KFC restaurant in the southwestern city of Bulawayo posted a notice to customers saying that it was shut until further notice “due to the fact that we are unable to source stock from our suppliers as they require U.S. dollars.”

Local chains Chicken Inn and St. Elmo’s Pizza have suffered a similar fate.

The closures are the latest in a wave of difficulties caused by Zimbabwe’s foreign currency crisis, which has seen the price of basic commodities “spiralling out of control”.

Some shops have already run out of essential items. Pharmacies have also exhausted stocks of diabetes and blood pressure medications.

The head of a retail association says that there is “panic in the market” as frustrated consumers snap up whatever is available. However, government officials deny there is a shortage of commodities in the country and said the crisis was born of “profiteering” and “greed.”

Hyper-inflation forced Zimbabwe to jettison its own currency, the Zimbabwe dollar, in 2009 and switch to foreign cash instead.

news24

Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema has warned that police will be out in full force today to thwart any attempts by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) to demonstrate against the worsening economic crisis in the country.

Addressing journalists after touring the country’s central registry headquarters yesterday, Mathema said while it was everyone’s democratic right to demonstrate, that right must be exercised within the limits of the law.

“We hear that there are some who want to demonstrate against what they say are an untenable economic situation in the country. Let me say that our President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) is a peace-loving person. We are a law-abiding government and so is our President,” he said.

“If people go against the law and go to demonstrate, they must know that our law will deal with them harshly. We don’t want law breakers. We don’t want people who break our peace.”

ZCTU has pencilled demonstrations across the country to protest against the two cents per dollar transactional tax announced by government last week and triggered price hikes by retailers and suppliers, disappearance of some basic goods, while some companies closed shop.

The labour body yesterday vowed to go ahead with today’s protests despite the police banning it on account of fears of a fresh cholera outbreak.

ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo said the labour group would not be stopped by the police to demonstrate against what he termed “economic sabotage”.

“We are going ahead as planned. We have instructed our lawyers to challenge (the police ban). We are very confident that we are going to exercise our rights as citizens and the police cannot determine or infringe on those rights like that,” Moyo said.

Meanwhile, Mathema said his ministry was working on decentralising production of passports in order to clear a huge backlog of up to six months.

“I have discussed this with the Registrar-General, who has assured me that there is now a work plan in place to clear the backlog within the shortest possible time and bring passport production to within normal timelines,” Mathema said.

NewsDay

THE Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Joel Biggie Matiza has dissolved the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (Zinara) board.

He said the entity’s board, whose management is at the centre of allegations of corruption and abuse of office, was dissolved on Tuesday.

According to the Zinara website, the dissolved board comprises Mr Wilfred Ramwi (chairperson). Other members are Dr Mercy Manyuchi, Mr Aaron

Tapfuma, Mrs Lucy Furamera, Mr Fidelis Ngorora and Engineer Goodwell Mapako.

The board also included former Victoria Falls mayor Mr Sifiso Mpofu, Mr Aaron Mazingaiso and Mrs Patricia Bwerinofa.

Eng Matiza made the revelations during a tour of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) facilities in Bulawayo yesterday.

He was commenting on the delays in the commissioning of the Plumtree-Mutare highway.

“The issue of the Plumtree-Mutare highway is being looked at and I will soon meet relevant authorities in that regard. However, I have just dissolved the Zinara board as we need to put things together and start afresh. The board was dissolved on Tuesday,” he said.

Over the past few years, Zinara has been under fire from various stakeholders over its failure to upgrade roads in several parts of the country despite the fact that the entity collects toll fees from the motoring public daily.

Eng Matiza said he has since delegated his deputy, Cde Fortune Chasi to deal with corruption at Zinara, a key parastatal under his portfolio.

“I have assigned my Deputy Minister to investigate the entity including issues of abuse of office. The Deputy Minister will oversee the establishment and maintenance of corporate governance at Zinara and its alignment to statutory requirements,” he said.

Eng Matiza said his Ministry has put in place measures aimed at restructuring Zinara to ensure that it is more effective.

Zinara chief executive Engineer Nancy Masiyiwa was in June suspended over what insiders say are frivolous and laughable charges including that she called one of the senior managers a “Satanist”.

However, investigations have since shown that the principal reason for her suspension is linked to her fight against corruption at the parastatal.

It is believed that a forensic audit report by an international audit firm Grant Thornton, which exposed the rot at the State enterprise, contained damaging information regarding the awarding of several road tender projects and even the Auditor General’s Office was not favoured with the copy of the report.

Eng Masiyiwa’s hearing last week opened a can of worms as it emerged that the parastatal is refusing to release the forensic audit report in question.

Last year, the Government set up an independent probe team to look into the operations of Zinara after the Grant Thornton forensic audit unearthed a number of questionable business transactions prejudicial to the State.

One of the questionable transactions exposed by the audit was the Plumtree-Bulawayo-Harare-Mutare project implemented by Group Five of South Africa at a cost of $206 million. The project was bankrolled by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).

The report findings compiled by the five-member independent committee, revealed that Zinara lost more than $119 million to two of its managers through shady deals and unprocedural tenders.

The committee was appointed last year in October by former Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo to investigate all projects that were undertaken by Zinara in the five-year period between 2011 and 2016, including the $206 million rehabilitation of the Plumtree-Mutare highway, after the forensic audit revealed financial rot at the parastatal.

On Tuesday, former Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma was jailed for effective two years after being convicted of criminal abuse of office.

Juma was first arrested in 2016 but was released from police custody at the instigation of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

The former VP allegedly stormed Avondale Police Station and ordered the release of Juma and Davison Norupiri.

State Media

The Meteorological Services Department has warned that a heat wave will sweep across the country tomorrow.

” Zimbabwe is expected to experience high temperatures tomorrow, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees in some parts of the country,” the department told the state broadcaster yesterday.