Robert Mugabe deployed troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe got nothing out of it save for international punishment.

However, several of his acolytes
lined their pockets with the Congo mineral loot.Zimbabwe’s former President, Robert Mugabe, in
the August of 1998 sent about 11,000 troops, armoured vehicles and combat aircraft to the Democratic Republic of Congo. There was much discontent back home with one opposition Parliamentarian saying, “The government of Kabila is worth no single Zimbabwean fly or mosquito to die for.” News24 reported that even within the ruling party, there was no consensus. People wanted to know what the country was benefitting from the DRC. What they did not realise was that the answer was right before their eyes.
Zimbabwe and the DRC’s armies had formed joint mining operations in the Congo, one of which was Sengamines operating in the Senga Senga and Mbuji Mayi rivers in Kasai. In Katanga, Zimbabwe was into copper mining. Further, Zimbabwe was now paying for electricity from the DRC in Zimbabwean dollars. Zimbabwe was facing an acute shortage of foreign currency which was a consequence of the Mugabe decision to deploy troops to the Congo. The deployment’s heavy cost
was more than $25 million per month and soon, Zimbabwe defaulted on its IMF loans. The IMF reacted by blacklisting Zimbabwe and terminating its $193 million funding package to which Mugabe retorted, “The IMF should shut up its mouth. Yes, we have spent money in DRC, but we have not died because of that. We continue to be productive.”
According to IOL , Zimbabwe lost the air force’s Cassa 212 transport planes, Alouette-3 helicopter gunships, MiG fighter jets along with armoured personal carriers and several Brazilian- manufactured Cascavel tanks containing heavy
ammunition and radio communication systems.
These had to be replaced. It was a wrong turn. All the promises of potential economic benefits to
Zimbabwe did not materialise as the country’s economy went on a tailspin. What had seemed to be unwarranted criticism by the University of Zimbabwe’s John Makumbe proved to be the
truth. He had said, “It won’t be Zimbabwe as a nation that benefits. Instead, a number of individuals in the political elite will enrich themselves.”
Ken Yamamoto, writing for The Zimbabwean Independent was motivated into investigating
Zimbabwe’s involvement in the Congo after a tour of Harare’s leafy suburbs where military officials
resided sparked his interest. His account of the operation is probably one of the most extensive but the bottom line is Mugabe and his close
lieutenants plundered two countries and lined up their pockets. A UN Panel Report on the Congo revealed that companies controlled through secret contracts and off-shore private companies were being used as instruments of looting by some 30
businessmen, politicians, and military officers.
These 30 were the main beneficiaries of the arrangements. Robert Mugabe, true to his nature, dismissed the allegations in 2002 saying, “At no time was our motive anywhere near the malicious, puerile or even libellous allegations that have been made against us by our detractors. At no time did we…seek the plunder of that country’s resources or the unfair exploitation of a war situation to steal from a sister country.”- The African Exponent

Press Satement|Mthwakazi Republic Party would like to congratulate King Bulelani Lobhengula Khumalo on the occasion of his inauguration as the 3rd King of Mthwakazi people, after his great grand father King Lobhengula Khumalo. The announcement of the official coronation of the King which took place on the 28th of September 2018 at a private ceremony, brought joy and exuberance from those who had attended the commemoration of King Mzilikazi at his grave site.

Chief Nhanhlayamangwe Khayisa Ndiweni, who broke the unexpected news, challenged all those who were present to announce the great news to the entire world.

As the People’s Revolutionary party we say, Bayede! Bayede! Wena wendlovu! Wena wendlovu!
This is the dawn of a new era for the people of Mthwakazi. Never again shall they remain fatherless.

We are grateful to izinduna zakithi for the patience and diligence that they exercised in the hunt for the heir to the thrown of King Lobhengula that was distroyed 125 years ago by the white colonial settlers accompanied by 652 batsmen from Mashonaland.

Siyalibonga Mantungwa amahle, however we wish to emphasise that King Bulelani Lobhengula Khumalo must not be a king of the Khumalo people but rather a king of Mthwakazi people.

It has consistently been our position as a party that we are receptive to a constitutional monarch as opposed to an absolute one.

Once more, sithi Halala! Halala! Amhlophe!

Sisonke sibambene singuMthwakazi Sizokulungisa.

Mthwakazi Republic Party Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Mbonisi Solomon Gumbo

Staff Reporter|The royal Khumalo Family descendents of last Ndebele King, Lobengula Khumalo declared on Saturday that they had crowned Prince Bulelani Lobengula Khumalo as the new King of the Ndebele people.

The family announced Bulelani’s coronation to the thrown at a low key annual Mzilikazi Commemoration event held at the Mzilikazi Memorial Centre in Matopos on Saturday.

According to the royal family, spokesperson, Khumalo was crowned the king at a ceremony held in Bulawayo after government cancelled a much publicised coronation event which was set for March 4 this year.

It is not yet clear what the new king’s functions will be under the laws of the country that do not provide for the existence of a king.

Correspondent|Newly-elected Zanu-PF Bikita East Member of Parliament and former long-serving Pamushana High School head, Johnson Madhuku, has stepped down as president of the National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH).

Madhuku recently resigned following his victory in the July 30 harmonised polls where he was voted legislator for Bikita East.

His entry into full-time politics brought the curtain down on an illustrious career in the education sector spanning 34 years.

It was at the helm of NASH where he earned both national and international acclaim when he was re-elected to lead the organisation for five consecutive terms until his resignation to concentrate on politics.

Former NASH vice president and Gwanda High School head Mr Arthur Maphosa is now the organisation’s acting president.

Madhuku said that his focus was now on his work as a parliamentarian.

“I tendered my resignation at a NASH national executive meeting held at a Gweru hotel recently,” he said.

“My focus now is on spearheading development in Bikita East constituency where I was resoundingly voted Member of Parliament.”

THE High Court has dismissed an appeal against conviction and sentence by a jailed Bulawayo landlord’s son who raped their tenant’s two daughters on six different occasions 10 years ago.

Shawn Mpofu (29) of North End suburb raped the two victims, aged 10 and 11 years at the time, on different occasions in September 2008.

Mpofu was in 2008 convicted of six counts of rape. He was sentenced to 33 years in jail of which 13 years were conditionally suspended for five years.

Mpofu, through his lawyers, Shenje and Company Legal Practitioners, filed an appeal at the Bulawayo High Court challenging his conviction and sentence, citing the State as the respondent.

He said there was misdirection on the part of the trial magistrate, arguing that he convicted him without properly investigating the reasons for the delay by the two complainants in making a police report.

Mpofu, who was aged 19 years at the time of conviction, said the sentence imposed by the lower court induces a sense of shock on a juvenile offender.

“The court a quo erred in imposing a heavy sentence on a young offender without taking into account the fact that the appellant had committed the offence while below the age of 18 years. Wherefore, the appellant prays that his conviction be quashed and sentence set aside or in the event that the court of appeal upholds his conviction, it reduces his sentence by blending it with mercy,” argued Mpofu’s lawyers.

Mpofu, in his grounds of appeal, said the regional magistrate, Mr Collen Ncube, largely relied on a medical report which was irrelevant in the circumstances.

“All the counts of rape surfaced when one of the complainants had sexually abused a seven –year-old boy. A medical examination was then conducted on the complainant to establish that sexual abuse,” he argued. In her ruling, Justice Nokuthula Moyo said the issues raised by Mpofu were non-existent.

“The appellant lured the young girls into having consensual sex with them. The girls were young and vulnerable and the appellant abused his position of being the landlord’s son where these two girls lived. The appellant was not falsely incriminated and therefore the conviction is unassailable and it is confirmed. The appeal against sentence fails,” ruled the judge.

The State, which was represented by Mr Thompson Hove, opposed the appeal, arguing that the complainants’ testimonies were credible.

“It is submitted that the sentence imposed by the trial court is proper in the circumstances. An effective 20-year imprisonment for six counts of rape cannot be said to be excessive so as to induce a sense of shock and the respondent prays for the appeal to be dismissed in its entirety,” he said

According to the court papers, sometime in September 2008, Mpofu asked one of the complainants to open the door for him during which she broke the door handle.

The court heard that Mpofu then demanded to have sex with the girl failure of which he would report her to his father for destroying the door handle. Out of fear, the girl complied with Mpofu’s orders. He took the girl to the lounge where he engaged in sex with her.

On a different day during the same month, Mpofu invited the girl to his room where he raped her at knifepoint. He repeated the act on two other different occasions.

During the same month, Mpofu spotted the other complainant’s sister at the house and he invited her to his room on the pretext that he wanted to give her a mealie cob. The girl complied and on entering the room, Mpofu ordered her to lie on the carpet before he raped her.

On September 27, one of the complainants sexually abused a seven-year-old boy who stays at the same house. The girl’s grandmother quizzed her during which the complainant revealed that she had also been sexually abused by Mpofu. A report was made to the police leading to Mpofu’s arrest.

State Media

AN 80-year-old man from Gokwe burned to death after accidentally starting a veldfire while burning weeds in his field.

Michael Mazambuko of Marandu Village in Gokwe North reportedly failed to control the fire, which burnt down about 5 hectares of grazing land on Tuesday last week.

Midlands Provincial Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mkwende could not be drawn into commenting saying she was yet to receive details of the incident.

Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Midlands Provincial Spokesperson Mr Simon Musasiwa however, confirmed the unfortunate incident.

“There was a veld fire in Ward 4 in Gokwe North under Chief Chireya. The person responsible for the fire died after he tried to put it out possibly due to suffocation,” said Mr Musasiwa.

He said Mazambuko was working in his field when the fire went out of control.

“We gathered that on the day in question, Mazambuko went to his field around 8AM to burn weeds. Around 11AM, the family members noticed lots of smoke coming from the direction of the field prompting his son and grandson to rush to the field,” said Mr Musasiwa.

He said the two tried to locate Mazambuko while fighting the fire from spreading further.

“They however, failed to locate him but continued fighting the fire which narrowly missed burning a nearby homestead,” Mr Musasiwa said.

Mazambuko’s charred body was only discovered around 3PM.

Mr Musasiwa urged members of the public to desist from starting fires out of their homesteads.

“EMA has previously and continues to advise people against the practice of starting open fires outside residential properties as the risk of these fires spreading and causing veld fires is quite high during the fire season which runs between July 31 and October 31 each year.”

“The high temperatures prevailing in the country are also contributing to the veld fire risk thus farmers are encouraged to desist from starting fires outside their residential properties,” he said.

Midlands has lost over 90 000 hectares of land to veld fires so far.

State Media

A BULAWAYO-based traffic cop who was last year injured when an errant motorist accidentally knocked him down while trying to evade a roadblock, is suing the driver of the car for more than $16 000 in damages.

The accident occurred on March 3 last year when the motorist, Mr Peter Phiri, was trying to flee from the roadblock whose location was not mentioned in court papers.

Mr Kudakwashe Tokoda was manning the roadblock when Mr Phiri, who was driving a Toyota Gaia, hit him.

Mr Tokoda through his lawyers, Dube-Tachiona and Tsvangirai Legal Practitioners, filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing Mr Phiri and Sanctuary Insurance Company as defendants.

Mr Tokoda, who is the plaintiff in the matter, said he suffered permanent injuries, shock and pain as a result of the accident. He said the accident was caused by Mr Phiri’s sole negligence.

“The first defendant (Mr Phiri) drove recklessly without regard to the safety of other road users. He encroached into a prohibited lane and failed to exercise reasonable control of the danger he created when he failed to obey a ‘police ahead’ warning sign and trying to evade the roadblock,” he said.

Mr Phiri was convicted of negligent driving and fined $20.

“The police adjudged the first defendant to be negligent and charged him with the offence of reckless driving for which he was convicted and fined $20,” he said.

Mr Tokoda is demanding $16 618 being damages for pain, shock, permanent injuries, contingencies, future and past medical expenses incurred.

He wants an order directing the defendants to pay him the money including legal costs.

“As a result of the accident the plaintiff suffered injuries which rendered him permanently disabled for about five percent which will cause him pain forever especially during winter,” said Mr Tokoda’s lawyers.

Mr Tokoda said despite demand, the defendants has refused, failed and neglected to compensate him for the injuries and damages suffered.

He is seeking an order compelling the defendants to pay the money.

The defendants have not yet responded to the summons.

State Media

Media Paper By Chitungwiza Residents Trust|Chitungwiza residents are almost edging close to the Stone Age era of bush ablution;but otherwise the Ramapethecsus era bush ablution system was by far hygienic and humane than the ablution system currently obtaining in the dormitory town of Chitungwiza.Instead of discharging the sewerage at the sewer reticulation plant,its now sewer all over the streets.

A CASE STUDY:Unit M Seke.

On Friday 28 September 2018, most houses in unit M have been affected by sewage bursts never seen on this earth.Areas close to Seke 3 High were almost sunk in the sewage dams.Areas between Seke3 and Jambanja had sewer flowing in streets like an overflowing mighty Limpopo river.Houses between Chirenje Shops and Herentals School could not manage getting out of their houses or crossing roads due to raw sewer all over.In the north eastern side of Seke3 High School before Unit M Creche is an area that is known for sewer daily.

All these sewerage affected areas are a perennial problem.Residents are sitting on a time bomb in Unit M.A visit to unit M on Sunday by Chitrest to light life threatening scenarios the residents are surviving in.Residents of houses around 17005 complained that they could not afford to sleep well nor cook food since sewrage had overflowed into their houses.

They even showed Chitrest Director Alice Kuvheya and Chitrest Coordinator Obert Matsika sewer overflowing into kitchens and beneath the beds in bedrooms.

A resident at 16873 said on Friday night sewer flooded from the toilet overflooding into the sitting room only to be assisted by neighbours to scoop the sewerage into the nearby drainage ditch.Several houses around that house were all affected by overflow sewer on their yards.

Just across the road at house 16867,the landlord complained much about the behaviour of council plumbers who came sometime back at his house to attend to sewer bursts and leaving their wire stuck in the sewer pipe at the back of the house.He even accused them for worsening the intensity of the bursts .He cried that kids at his house had to be evacuated to a relative’s place for a safe haven after they all suffered diarrhoea and disturbing stomachaches amid this cholera pandemic.

Another resident in the Garikai stands bordering unit M is surviving on the horns of a dilemma.The family is indeed between the deep see and the devil.The house is situated on top of the main trunk that ferry all sewer from Unit O to the sewer reticulation plant.It is bordered by 3 mainholes which are ever bursting concurrently or in alternation.The landlord at this house number 33432 complained that the mainholes were left open sometime ago and that augmented by the perennial sewage bursts tradition left him admitted in hospital due to pro-cholera abdomenal malady.

Another lady who claimed to be an employee in the Justice ministry complained about that sewerage problem.She showed us a drainage ditch which was cemented by Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle residents and it used to help drain away sewer in the event of a burst.A road demarcating the unit M old houses and Garikai houses has since stopped functioning due to sewerage problem at the area.

COUNCIL REACTION

Slow,Inhumane and Primitive
Council was alerted of that sewage burst in Unit M by residents around houses 17005/6;16873 on Saturday by 0800am but could not come.Senior council officers were informed also by Chitrest director but could not come only to attend to the scene on Sunday 30 September at 0900am.They cited fuel shortages at the council for their delay.

It is very dissappointing that the source of hope is no longer reliable,what it is supposed to be and what it used to be.It is now seriously inefficient and incompetent.

Of serious concern is the phenomenon of the cholera outbreak.How can we fight cholera with this calibre of council administration staff.Not reactive,uncaring and conmen like deportment.

The council sewer workers are also at risk.They work without proper clothing.One of them had his tennis in his foot,some had no gloves and all of them had no masks for safe breathing.
Mr Tarutira,the sewer manager who was at the scene in unit M,piled heaps and heaps of blame on residents for for the bursts and blockages.First he said residents were disposing materials like metals,cloth,bottles,shoes and pampers in the drainage system;which he said impacted negatively on the smooth flow of the sewerage.Secondly he complained that the trunk which carry all the sewage from unit O to the plant had been seriously damaged by residents building houses on top of the trunk causing leakages on the pipes that consequently reduces pushing force and also the holes allow sand in hence blockages.He said the trunk might be having 4 of such holes within a 15metre length.

Chitrest coordinator
Ward 24

The man who helps runs Zimbabwe’s ‘Peace & Reconciliation’ had a crazy idea. Go to a deeply polarized region – after a highly contentious election – and ask political enemies to sit and talk to each other. Here’s what happened:

BARON Dube, a popular gold baron in Esigodini in Matabeleland South Province appeared in court on Friday facing a charge of murdering a member of a rival mining gang in the area.

Dube of Habane township appeared before Gwanda magistrate Mrs Nomagugu Ncube in Gwanda facing a murder charge after he allegedly shot and killed Antony Bvundura on Thursday.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to 12 October where his case will be heard at the High Court.

Prosecuting, Mr Takunda Mafuse said Dube allegedly killed Bvundura in the heat of a fight over a mining claim early on Thursday morning.

The shooting happened at a mine belonging to a Mr Musanangurwa. Mr Musanangurwa told state media that cases of confrontations among gold gangs were rampant in the area.

“I was at an all-night prayer when the unfortunate incident happened but I received reports of rival gold panning gangs who got involved in a shoot-out which claimed the life of one local.

What happens with these guys is that when they come to your mine they do not negotiate with you, they just start mining and thereafter they go to local bars for a binge where they discuss where they would have gotten the gold. Members of rival gangs then mobilise themselves to go and chase the other group.

I am reliably informed that those who were chased had made close to three kilogrammes of gold and that is where the problem started,” he said.

State Media

AN anti-riot police officer from Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly strangling his three-year-old son and claiming the boy died due to injuries sustained after falling off the stairs.

Albert Nhenda (33), a Constable in the Echo Troop ZRP Support Unit stationed at Fairbridge Police Camp, was arrested on Friday after allegedly making a false police report that his son, Makhosiwonke, fell on steps which are about 30 centimetres high on the entrance to his home at Mpopoma suburb on Wednesday last week.

A source close to the family, who declined to be named, said Nhenda had tried to kill his son twice before.

“He appears to have succeeded on the third attempt,” said the source.

The source said Nhenda sent the mother of the child, Ms Cathrine Ndlovu (22) from Filabusi, to the city centre to purchase clothes for their child since she had visited with one set of clothes.

“When Ms Ndlovu left, Nhenda sent the maid to buy some drinks at Total shops. Everyone now believes it could have been a ploy to remove everyone around him so that he could strangle his son without witnesses,” said the source.

“It is believed that it is during this time that Nhenda strangled his son and plotted the falling lie. He called his friend from Magwegwe to help him ferry the child to hospital. Along the way, he suddenly ‘discovered’ the child had died.”

The source said Nhenda and his friend drove to Western Commonage Police Station and made a report and the matter was treated as a sudden death.

The Chronicle learnt that a postmortem was done at the United Bulawayo Hospitals and the cause of death was concluded as strangulation and asphyxia and this led to further investigations by the police.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide and Western Commonage Police, said another family source, learnt that Nhenda had on different occasions tried to kill his child.

“They immediately centred their investigations on Nhenda and it appears they may have a case because we have been told he will appear in court this week,” said the source.

“In September 2017, Nhenda suggested to Ms Ndlovu that they should kill their child. A year after, Nhenda visited them in Filabusi and was left with the child and allegedly poisoned him,” said the source.

As a result, added the source, the child was admitted to Filabusi District Hospital for four days.

However, a police source yesterday said Nhenda has adamantly stuck to his version of his son’s death. “He still insists the boy fell and broke his neck. I think the whole truth will come out in court,” said the source.

Efforts to contact Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango were fruitless yesterday.

State Media

MDC Alliance elections director, Henry Chimbiri, was seriously injured after he was caught in a crossfire and assaulted by Harare law enforcement agents pursuing illegal vendors on Friday.

This was confirmed by MDC Alliance senior official Kurauone Chihwayi on Saturday, who indicated that Chimbiri was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after the attack, where doctors indicated the injuries he sustained on the face and lower part of his backbone were serious.

“MDC director of elections Chimbiri was attacked by members of the police service anti-riot squad while fuelling his vehicle at a service station in Harare,” Chihwayi said.

“He is receiving treatment at Parirenyatwa Hospital. Some of the culprits have been identified.”

He said doctors confirmed that he had sustained serious injuries and had carried out a second orthographic angle X-Ray.

Speaking to NewsDay from his hospital bed, Chimbiri said on Friday, he was number two in a fuel queue at a service station located at the corner Sam Nujoma Street and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue in Harare when motorists were asked to wait for an hour for a fuel tanker to finish offloading its contents.

He said he was sitting in his vehicle when he saw vendors being pursued by the anti-riot and municipality police, who were throwing teargas at them.

“I opened the car door to see what was happening and that is when I was dragged from behind by a police detail, who accused me of being a vendor, saying I was trying to hide in the car,” Chimbiri said.

“They seriously assaulted me. Even the service station attendant who came to my car to give me back my swipe card was assaulted in the melee.”

He said he questioned the officers’ motive as they dragged him away from his car.

Chimbiri said some passers-by later came to his rescue.

NewsDay

There was drama at Mucheke Bus Rank in Masvingo when Primrose Rebecca Chijange (22), a se_x worker stri_pped nak_ed in public and threw herself under a moving car.

Chijange who says she was drunk is said to have acted in the manner as she tried to avoid being arrested by Police officers.

Sources said two oncoming vehicles almost collided as they tried to avoid crushing into her.

Chijange of 274 Chibi Street, Mucheke A appeared before magistrate Peter Madiba on Monday facing two counts of disorderly conduct and public indecency.

Edmund Mapope representing the State said on September 21, 2018 at around 5pm Chijange was inside Mundondo Bar drinking beer.

She got drunk and started insulting everyone in the bar. Wilfred Marufu, a patron tried to refrain her but she charged towards Marufu shouting abusive language including uri mbwa (you are a dog). Marufu reported the matter to Chikato Police station.

As the Police officers were escorting Chijange to the station, she stri_pped nak_ed before the confused cops and fled and threw herself in front of a moving vehicle. The vehicle swerved and stopped just in time to avoid crushing her head.

Magistrate Madiba asked her why she did that and she said it was because she was drunk.

She was asked to apologise and not to do it again.

— Mirror

ZANU PF legislator for Murehwa North constituency Daniel Garwe has accused his estranged wife, Pedzisai Liliethy, of adultery and labelled her a criminal who has been abusing authority and trust, as their divorce takes a nasty twist.

Garwe had been married to Liliethy for 31 years, but says their marriage has irretrievably broken down due to her alleged adulterous behaviour and criminal activities that include venturing into gold smuggling and illicit money exchange deals which are in breach of the country’s exchange laws.

According to papers filed at the High Court, Garwe said he was divorcing Liliethy for infidelity and her criminal activities, which he said were detrimental to him and his family.

“In or about 1988 and while defendant (Garwe) was away on work assignment, plaintiff (Liliethy) fell pregnant by a man unknown to the defendant. Plaintiff unlawfully terminated the pregnancy referred to in the above paragraph,” the MP said in papers filed on his behalf by Mundia and Mudhara Legal practitioners.

“Plaintiff has, during the subsistence of the marriage, involved herself in illegal foreign currency dealings. The latest being in 2016 when she lost the sum of $23 000 to foreign currency dealers. Plaintiff has involved herself in smuggling of foodstuffs from South Africa into Botswana and Namibia. Plaintiff has involved herself in illegal gold trading,” the papers read.

In his sworn affidavit, the MP also stated that his wife was also having a questionable relationship with the husband of a colleague who resides in Kadoma.

“Plaintiff has inexplicably spent extended times with the husband of her friend in Kadoma, while her friend was in Harare,” the papers read.

“In March 2018, Plaintiff boasted to defendant that she ‘had a man with a bigger manhood who made her happier’. Defendant’s boast so hurt the defendant that he left the matrimonial home to which he has not returned. Over the years, the plaintiff has been abusive to and disrespectful of, defendant.

The MP said his estranged wife at some point attempted to murder his father.

“In 2017, and at the parties’ matrimonial home, the Plaintiff attempted to murder defendant’s father by grinding glass into his food. Defendant’s father was suffering from diabetes and was living temporarily with the parties while receiving treatment,” Garwe said in the papers

Garwe also claimed that Liliethy was involved in insurance scams where she took out funeral policies for terminally ill relatives, and collected cash payouts upon the beneficiary’s death, but never remitted the funds to the deceased’s relations.

Liliethy has also filed contempt of court charges against the MP after he allegedly moved some property out of the family home before their divorce case was finalised.

In his defence, Garwe said the assets in question were in commercial arrangements and did not solely belong to him.

He also said some of the property the wife wanted locked down until finalisation of the divorce were a source of his income.

The matter is now under investigation by the police.

Newsday

THE price of bread may revert to $1 from $1,10 per loaf in the next two weeks, as grain processors are engaging Government over the procurement of wheat.

Addressing journalists in Bulawayo on Thursday last week, Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe chairperson, Tafadzwa Musarara, said there may be changes in the price of bread in the next two weeks.

“We would like to assure the public that the wheat situation is improving and that we have since procured 30 tonnes of wheat which we are expecting from Mozambique,” he said. “The shipment is due to arrive in the next 14 days.

“We have paid for the current crop of wheat in advance and it will be harvested very soon and we hope this will help to cushion our stocks.

“We are currently trying to engage Government on subsidising our purchase of wheat and this will likely see the price of bread coming down again”.

Musarara said the wheat imports were likely to ease the strain on bakers and improve availability of bread in the country.

He said bread production was at 50 percent, with most shops in rural areas not getting deliveries.

“Bread is currently at 50 percent supply and we are only able to supply mostly urban areas,” he said.

Musarara said grain millers needed $30 million in foreign currency each month for procurement of wheat, of which $7 million went towards bread.

“$30 million is required each month for wheat, $8 million for rice and $2,5 million for salt,” he said.

“We are like any other industry, affected by foreign currency allocations and experienced our biggest challenge in July before Vice President Chiwenga intervened.

“Subsequent shipments were not funded, leading to exhaustion of reserves, throwing us into the crisis that we encountered.”

Musarara said his team had just come back from Beira in Mozambique and was dealing with logistics for the shipment to arrive in the country.

He said the market for bread had dramatically increased in the last decade due to changes in dietary patterns.

“Systematic changes in dietary requirements have contributed to a surge in the consumption of wheat and bread in particular,” said Musarara.

“No country in Africa has the ability to produce its own food, so imports are very much necessary by captains of industry for provision of supplies.”

State Media

Staff Reporter|Bribery fears have gripped the MDC leadership after its elected Councillors in Bindura revolted against Chamisa and elected Zanu PF councillors to head key committees

On Wednesday 26 September 2018, some MDC councillors revolted against their president Nelson Chamisa by voting for Zanu Pf Councillors to head key committees at the expense of fellow councillors who has expressed interest in to chair the same committees.

The country’s main opposition party controls the local authority, having won 10 seats out of 12 in the July 30 elections.

Zanu PF Councillor for ward 12 Wonder Machisi surprisingly, was elected the Chairman of the Health and Environment Committee when he got the majority votes against ward 4 councillor Friday Chigwande of the MDC.

Machisi was nominated by MDC councillor Stewart Nyarumbe as the they made an unholy alliance with Zanu Pf to make sure that fellow MDC councillor from the rival group fail to land any post in the influential committees.

Another Zanu Pf Councillor for ward 11 Patrick Masango beat MDC councillor Norbert Dokotera to land the Deputy Chairman for the Finance Committee. Masango was nominated MDC ward 3 councillor Brian Kembo for the post.

Angry supporters accused MDC Alliance councillors of betrayal and receiving bribes from Masango and Machisi to vote them into these committees at the expense of fellow MDC councillors.

The 5 rebellious councillors are led by Bindura Mayor Carlos Tokyo and include Aniko Chikuvanyanga, Brian Kembo, Paradzai Mupingiza and lan Makone.

The group is believed to have the backing of MDC Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora who is set to challenge Chamisa for the MDC Presidency

“Yes MDC councillors did vote for fellow Zanu Pf Councillors in the chamber because its better to have a literate Zanu Pf Councillor than having a councillor who can’t even read council minutes.It might sound rude but that’s the truth.The calibre of our councillors is a disaster to Bindura”said Bindura Mayor Carlos Tokyo.

However a fellow councillor dismissed Tokyo’s allegations but in accused Tokyo of being a fraud who moves around with forged degree certificate yet .he never attended any university.”I challenge our mayor to let us know which university he attended” said the councillor who refused to be name.”

Another MDC activist in the town put squarely the blame on the weak MDC structures in the province that allowed the rebellious group to stand when there not residence of the town.

Efforts to get a comment from MDC Alliance provincial Chairman George Gwarada were fruitless as his phone went unanswered.

A WOMAN from Bulawayo rushed in panic to alert her boyfriend’s wife after unknown assailants attacked and killed her lover while the two were having sex in a bush.
The duo was allegedly attacked by two people who were wearing black clothes that covered them up at a rocky area between Mabutweni and Njube suburbs at about 10PM on Saturday.
The incident happened some metres away from the man’s house in Mabutweni.
Jameson Mwembe allegedly took advantage of an electricity blackout to have a tryst with Fadzai Mativenga (33), one of his neighbours.
Mativenga is in a critical condition at Mpilo Central Hospital as she sustained head injuries.
Mwembe’s wife, Mrs Rudo Mwembe, said a bloodied Mativenga broke away from the assailants and rushed to inform her that her husband had been attacked.
She said Mativenga initially lied to her.
“At around 10PM, this woman came and knocked at my door, she called me by name. She told me that she was on her way from church when she found my husband lying lifeless on the ground. I suspected she had a hand in my husband’s attack because why would she know me by name and my house.

“When l wanted to rush to get a vehicle to take my husband to hospital, she said we should first rush to the scene and check if he
was still breathing,” said Mrs Mwembe, who struggled to speak between sobs.
She said she only learnt that Mativenga was Mwembe’s girlfriend when the police were
taking statements. “Fadzai told the police a different story, she said they were together when my husband was attacked,’’ Mrs Mwembe said.
The Chronicle caught up with the family and neighbours and most of them blamed Mativenga for Mwembe’s death.
A neighbour who declined to be named said:”This was not a random attack. I suspect these murderers are her boyfriends because such ladies are a nuisance. They play games
with many men.”
When The Chronicle visited the scene where the attack occurred, there was a congealed pool of blood near a big rock.
“His parents will know what to do with it (the blood),’’ said a relative.Chronicle

The national dam levels have declined to an average 75,5 percent due to rising temperatures, but the water is still sufficient to meet the domestic and irrigation requirements, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) said last week.

ZINWA corporate communications manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the dam levels had declined by 0,31 percent since September
17.
She said the decline was due to rising temperatures, which caused some rivers to stop flowing while irrigation activities had increased.
“Dam levels are now receding due to the rising temperatures,” said Mrs Munyonga.
“The stoppage of river flows in many parts of the country and the intensification of irrigation activity around the country also explains the steady decline in dam levels.”
Mrs Munyonga said while there had been a decline in the dam levels, the water was still sufficient enough to meet irrigation and domestic requirements.
“Despite this decline, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) wishes to assure the nation that the water in the dams is sufficient to meet the country’s domestic and
irrigation requirements,” she said.
Mrs Munyonga said Mazowe Catchment had the highest dam level of 92,1 percent, while Gwayi catchment recorded the lowest percentage

of 63,8 percent.State media

ZAPU leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa has revealed that he is the brains behind the original Public Order and Security Act (POSA) Bill but former President Mr Robert Mugabe refused to sign it because it was “too liberal.”

In an interview yesterday, Dr Dabengwa said the POSA Bill that eventually sailed through Parliament, was a “grossly edited version” of his brainchild.

POSA repealed the draconian and colonial-era Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA). It was introduced in Zimbabwe in 2002 and amended in 2007.

Dr Dabengwa, who was then Home Affairs Minister, said he was the mover to replace LOMA and invited the Law Society of Zimbabwe and members of civil society to discuss POSA.

“Indeed, POSA is my baby because I had been tortured and imprisoned by the Rhodesian government under LOMA during the liberation struggle. It really pained me to see the same piece of legislation that was used to imprison us in the early 1960s still in place in Zimbabwe hence I made a move to have it completely repealed and replaced by POSA when I was Home Affairs Minister,” he said.

The former Zanu-PF Politburo member and Cabinet Minister said he consulted President Emmerson Mnangagwa who was then Justice Minister, legal experts and civil society.

“I did lots of consultations, first with (President) Emmerson Mnangagwa who was then Justice Minister and we agreed since he had also been imprisoned under LOMA. We went together and brought a number of legal experts among them the likes of Mr David Coltart and we also extensively consulted civil society and held meetings and discussed issues with people like Ms Priscilla Misihairabwi (Mushonga) who represented civil society,” he said.

“Finally when we agreed on the format that it was supposed to take, I had it drafted by the Parliamentary Legal Committee and it was then brought back to me so that I could be able to steer it through Parliament. It was not easy as there were a number of issues raised by people who opposed certain sections of the Bill, but I managed to get it through almost completely unamended.”

Dr Dabengwa said Mr Mugabe sat on the Bill, arguing that it was too liberal.

“The Bill went through all stages of Parliament and it was passed and went to the President’s Office for a signature but the President would not sign because he had a number of objections. He thought the Bill was too liberal but he didn’t even bother to find out or ask me why I decided to bring certain issues on the Bill.

“All he did was to sit on it and made sure it lapsed because after three months without the President assenting, a Bill automatically lapses and this was about the time we were getting towards the 2000 elections,” he said.

Dr Dabengwa said changes to the Bill were later made by his predecessor, the late Cde John Landa Nkomo.

“The same name was used and during John Nkomo’s time and a number of changes were made which completely diluted the Bill from what it was. There were some repressive sections in LOMA, which we had removed, and one of them is the issue of having to get permission from the police for meetings and that Bill said all that you needed to do was to inform the police of the meeting in case you encounter problems and it also placed the onus on the conveners to first inform police of a demonstration. In the event that any property was damaged, the leaders would then be solely responsible for repairing the damages thereof,” he said.

Dr Dabengwa claimed the current POSA signifies little improvement on LOMA.

“The Bill that I introduced was a liberal POSA which you will find in almost every democratic country and it is completely different from the POSA that we have now. When they came up with the new POSA Bill, I was very angry,” he said.

Opposition parties regard POSA as an Act that helped Mr Mugabe consolidate his power post-2000 during demonstrations and protests.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi recently announced that the Government is set to amend POSA, the Police Act as well as the Citizenship Act as part of an initiative to align legislation with the Constitution.

There has previously been resistance to amend some laws but this reluctance to comply with the Constitution is being addressed in the Second Republic. The Government under President Mnangagwa has since pledged to entrench civil liberties. Officially opening the 9th Parliament of Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa pronounced the legislative agenda which is guided by the need to align laws to the new constitution, to further democratise the nation and ensure that the country achieves its 2030 developmental vision. – state media

Dear Editor.

Pa Avenues Clinic izvezvi. The motorcade is seen bringing General.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Terrence Mawawa| A woman who was desperate to restore her marriage will rue her decision to resort to juju.

Cynthia Mvhuma (36) lost her husband and came up with a plan to get him back. She used juju to entice him but things took the wrong turn when the master plan turned her into a sex addict.

Mvhuma told B- Metro the juju gave
her a ravenous sex urge instead of bringing back the love of her life.
“I always feel the urge for sex every time. A few years back when my husband left me I went to see
a traditional healer who gave me juju to help win him back. I poured it all over my body as instructed and waited for the miracle to happen. After two days I started feeling weird and my private parts were wet,” she said.
She went back to the sangoma and he said she had nothing to worry about.
“He said everything would be fine, it was just part of the process. In the first week I slept with three different men from my area. I thought it was normal for me because I was going through a hard time,’’ she added.

The sangoma is now dead and
there’s no one to reverse the juju. Now she sleeps with every man who walks her path.
“I can’t help myself for feeling this way. I just want

to have sex all the time,’’ she said.

Opposition MDC is set to contest the upcoming Mutoko North by-election, a move that confirms the party’s departure from its earlier stance to push for electoral reforms before participation in any by-elections.

In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com, party spokesperson, Jacob Mafume said the party will soon meet to chose a candidate for the seat that fell vacant following the election of Mabel Chinomona to senate President.

“Yes we are going to meet soon as a party and we will choose our candidate to contest in the Mutoko North constituency by-election,” said Mafume.

He added that their participation will also be an opportunity to test the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission commitment to improve its administration of elections on the back of a shambolic management of the July 30 polls.

“But as we agree to participate, we look forward that the electoral body, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) will be transparent and improve on how they handle elections,” Mafume said.

“Surely we need to see a big difference between general elections and by-elections and this will be a test for ZEC to see if they are going to improve on what several local and international observers Election Reports noted in the just ended election.

“We also expect the situation to be conducive for opposition to campaign and participate in areas known to be no go areas for the opposition by ruling party supporters, and state sponsored violence.”

Terrence Mawawa| Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister retired Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri has allegedly grabbed part of  the farm belonging to the widow of the late national hero General Vitalis Gava Zvinavashe and allocated the land to the Chinese.

A huge chunk of Margaret Zvinavashe’s farm in Norton was allocated to Chinese firm Sunny Yi Feng Tiles so that it can set up a
ceramic tiles factory.
Shiri told The Standard that the ministry of lands was reducing farm
sizes.
“She was adequately consulted and
everything is being done in agreement.The Chinese hold an offer letter on the piece of land after there was an agreement to withdraw it from her…
We have given them the land and
whatever they do should be in
compliance with the demands of other

government agencies,” said Shiri.

Terrence Mawawa|A married Victoria Falls woman was forced to skip the border to South Africa after her long suffering husband discovered that she was cheating on him with two
men.

The woman, Duduzile Ngwenya (30),
reportedly had a long history of cheating on her husband, Mthulisi Ncube (40).

According to sources Duduzile’s two-timing escapades came to light after her “official” boyfriend found her in the arms of another man around midnight on 11 August.

The boyfriend allegedly assaulted her before confiscating an iPhone that he had bought her as a gift.
The vengeful boyfriend did not stop there as he proceeded to leak a number of lewd pictures of Duduzile to her friends and relatives.

Left alone with no friends to turn to or a shoulder to cry on, Duduzile
packed her bags and fled to South Africa on 27 August.
According to a close friend, Duduzile was in the habit of sending nude photos to men that she desired.
“Dudu was something else. You will not believe me if I tell you that she is a baptised church member.
She was always drinking and half the time she was as high as a kite.
“But she used to be a good girl, I don’t know what happened to her. She was now neglecting her children. It’s like the maid was now their mother because the children spent more time with the maid than with the mother,” said the friend who
requested anonymity.

Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa has poured cold water on the proposed plan by government to make him leader of the opposition in parliament saying Zimbabweans elected him to go to State house and not the house of assembly.

Chamisa who addressed bumper crowds in Glen View and Budiriro yesterday after conducting a clean up exercise told his supporters that he is still determined to prove that he won the July 30 Presidential elections ahead of Zanu PF’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“They are saying they want me to go to Parliament and I said: ‘Are you sick?’ I was elected to go to State House and not Parliament,” he said.

“Hold forth because we are not easily convinced. I have no fear because I know you are solidly behind me,” said Chamisa.

Jane Mlambo| A Twitter character by the name Matigari, known for releasing classified government information while frequently attacking the opposition has finally been exposed following an in-depth study by a group of researchers operating under the banner of Teampachedu.

According to Teampachedu, @matigary’s Twitter account is linked to an IT expert Taurai Chinyamakobvu.

Chinyamakobvu’s profile posted on IREX, an American organization that runs the Mandela Washington fellowship programme reveals that he is a partner and investor in Flocash Zimbabwe, a joint venture with a UK payment gateway services company.

He is also the founder of Pazimba, an e-commerce start-up business focusing on providing multiple retailers with a convenient platform to sell their goods online.

Below are leads which points to Chinyamakobvu:

#MatigaryUnmasked

Evidence 9: Powertel@matigary's claim to have once helped Powertel to solve a problem is confirmed by @tchinyamakobvu's CV which shows that Taurai was also contracted by Powertel back in 2009 for four months.
@matigary @tchinyamakobvu @Wamagaisa pic.twitter.com/fU8nLcok1b

— Team Pachedu (@PacheduZW) September 29, 2018

#MatigaryUnmasked

Evidence 14: Follower Sequence

Twitter sorts handles followed by date followed – the first at the bottom.

Below, is evidence that @matigary followed @tchinyamakobvu within a very short period after creating the @matigary account.

Now, do the math.@matigary pic.twitter.com/dM2Pcw0Jua

— Team Pachedu (@PacheduZW) September 30, 2018

Aquilinia Kayidza Pamberi, the woman who in 2011 was suspected to have been in an affair with the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, has fallen on hard times.

Pamberi, who is based in Bulawayo, is set to lose two luxury vehicles after they were attached by the Sheriff of the Court over a $5 000 debt.

An advertisement advising of the sale was placed in the Press last week indicating that Pamberi’s two cars, a Mercedes Benz and Nissan Hardbody will go under the hammer. In addition, Pamberi might be arrested as she is facing a criminal case where she allegedly conned her friend – Ms Irene Chinyanda of $5 000.

According to court papers gleaned by Sunday News, sometime in January this year, Ms Chinyanda met Pamberi in the CBD, where she told the latter that she was seeking to raise $575 to pay the Deputy Sheriff for a writ of execution for a case that was ruled in her favour at the High Court.

It was then stated that on 16 July, Ms Chinyanda met Pamberi outside a boutique in the CBD, where Pamberi asked about her issue that was in the courts. Ms Chinyanda reportedly told Pamberi that the defendant in the issue had paid part of the money owed to her and also made an urgent chamber application at the High Court.

Pamberi is then reported to have told Ms Chinyanda that she had a connection at the High Court, who was able to make a follow up on the case. Pamberi is said to have later phoned Ms Chinyanda, saying that her contact had checked on the file at the court. On 18 July, Pamberi again phoned Ms Chinyanda requesting for a meeting over the issue.

When they met Pamberi told Ms Chinyanda that the said connection had requested
$10 000 in cash, so that he could assist her with the matter. Ms Chinyanda is reported to have told Pamberi that she did not have $10 000 but had $5 000, which she transferred to her bank account.

Pamberi is then alleged to have phoned Ms Chinyanda telling her that she should instruct her lawyer to go to the High Court and apply for a set down over the matter. Ms Chinyanda then requested to meet the alleged contact but Pamberi declined, saying the contact was not at liberty to meet her, assuring her that “all was in order”.

On a later date Pamberi phoned Ms Chinyanda telling her that her contact had not seen any opposing affidavits in the said case. That is when Ms Chinyanda’s suspicions were raised and she demanded her money back, saying that she should write an affidavit acknowledging that she owed her $5 000, which Pamberi refused to do.

On 7 August, Pamberi is alleged to have sent a picture of an RTGs, where she purported to have transferred $2 900 to Ms Chinyanda’s account. However, upon investigations it was revealed that Pamberi had actually not done any transaction of that sort but allegedly forged the document.

Pamberi initially appeared in court on 13 September, with the matter being remanded to 15 October this year. Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya presided over the matter. Pamberi and Tsvangirai were linked after Pamberi’s late husband Jacob Mandeya made an impassioned plea to the MDC leader to stay away from his wife.

Mr Mandeya suspected that Tsvangirai was dating his wife behind his back. Before he died, Mandeya alleged that he suspected that Tsvangirai was having an affair with his wife and had caused untold suffering at his home and traumatised his two daughters.

State Media

Staff Reporter|Chiefs from Masvingo Province have demanded that Government builds new and bigger houses to match the trendy Isuzu Twin Cabs they got from government recently.

The chiefs made the demands to the new Minister of State for Masvingo Province Ezra Chanzamira at a meeting held in the city to familiarise with the chiefs.

The chiefs claimed that it was embarrassing to park the big vehicles at their homes as the two would not match. They also demanded WiFi routers, mobile phone boosters near their homes and an upward review of their salaries.

The chiefs who stepped on each other’s toes with personal demands were Nemauzhe, Chief Murinye, Chief Chitanga and Chief Tshovani.

“We need better houses, we cannot continue dwelling in these ancient structures. When our cars are parked outside neighbours ask if we have rich visitors around because our houses and cars do not complement each other. We need houses that befit our stature and cars,” said Chief Nemauzhe.

“Our allowances do not allow us to fully support our families; the Government promised us a salary increase, we are still waiting for that promise to be fulfilled,” said Chief Tshovani of Chiredzi.

The plea for better allowances was also shared by Chief Nemauzhe, Chief Murinye from Masvingo, Chief Ndanga from Zaka and Chief Negavi from Mwenezi who spoke on behalf of their counterparts from their respective districts.

Chief Murinye bragged about being a lawyer in Harare hence he needed a WiFi at home.”We are in a technological age. Network is a serious issue in some of our areas, we receive messages after climbing up a rock. Network boosters and Wi-Fi routers are a necessity for chiefs in this age, we need to stay up to date and in communication,” said Chief Murinye.

KING DAVID INSPIRES ME..David sang psalms & hymns from the PALACE.He even wrote: “Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name..”
Psalm 105:1-3

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) September 30, 2018

MASVINGO – In a wave of new self-centered demands, chiefs from Masvingo Province have demanded that Government builds new and bigger houses to match the trendy Isuzu Twin Cabs they got from tax-payer’s money just before this year’s national elections.

Ironically Government failed to provide the chiefs with fuel to return to their homes after a meeting they held on Friday last week. They were promised that money would be sent in their ecocash accounts later.

The chiefs said it embarrassed them to park the Twin Cabs at their homes because the two don’t match. They also demanded WiFi routers (efficient WiFi routers cost $500 per month), boosters near their homes and an upward review of their salaries.

The chiefs who already have many other benefits including farms and sugarcane plots demanded fresh sugarcane plots at Tugwi-Mukosi Irrigation scheme in Chivi.

The chiefs had been called to a meeting at Benjamin Urombo House in Masvingo to welcome Ezra Chadzamira, the new Minister of State for Masvingo.

While there are some concerns that were raised that could help the people, it was the demands for personal benefits for chiefs that dominated the meeting.

The chiefs who stepped on each other’s toes with personal demands were Nemauzhe, Chief Murinye, Chief Chitanga and Chief Tshovani.

Chief Nemauzhe, real name Nelson Murandu of Chivi pleaded with Chadzamira to refurbish the chief’s houses to complement the latest Isuzu Twin Cabs.

“We need better houses, we cannot continue dwelling in these ancient structures. When our cars are parked outside neighbours ask if we have rich visitors around because our houses and cars do not complement each other. We need houses that befit our stature and cars,” said Chief Nemauzhe.

“Our allowances do not allow us to fully support our families; the Government promised us a salary increase, we are still waiting for that promise to be fulfilled,” said Chief Tshovani of Chiredzi.

The plea for better allowances was also shared by Chief Nemauzhe, Chief Murinye from Masvingo, Chief Ndanga from Zaka and Chief Negavi from Mwenezi who spoke on behalf of their counterparts from their respective districts.

Chief Murinye bragged about being a lawyer in Harare hence he needed a WiFi at home.

“We are in a technological age. Network is a serious issue in some of our areas, we receive messages after climbing up a rock. Network boosters and Wi-Fi routers are a necessity for chiefs in this age, we need to stay up to date and in communication,” said Chief Murinye.

-Masvingo Mirror

RENOWNED United States economist Steve Hanke says Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate is 69,9%, much higher than the official figure of 4,83%.

“At present, Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate, by my measure, is 69,9%. I measure the inflation rate daily by using high-frequency data.

“At elevated inflation rates, the method I use, which is based on purchasing power parity (PPP), is very accurate.

“It measures the rate of overall inflation for all goods, services, and assets in Zimbabwe,” Hanke said in emailed responses to Standardbusiness.

“In short, my ‘basket’ includes everything. The PPP methodology, with the application that I use, is recognised in scholarly literature as the most accurate way to measure inflation in ‘high’ inflation countries.”

A paper titled, On the Measurement of Zimbabwe’s Hyperinflation covering the 2008 hyperinflationary period, prepared by Hanke and fellow economist Alex K F Kwok, states the reason this method is preferred is because of lack of inflation data.

Until that data void is closed, a huge mismatch between Zimstat data and changes in the prices of goods will continue to remain.

Addressing Zimbabweans living in the United States at an investment conference meant to lure American investors recently, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said annual inflation was 6%.

“Inflation has been well behaved hovering between 2% and 6%, currently at about 4%, but we think it may creep up, “he said.

“I was watching the prices last week and I must say we have just hit that 6% mark, but I must say it is reasonable in my view and I do not think we should be able to go above that.”

EDWARD Masendeke, who has been on the run since 2013 in connection with a murder case committed at a bar in Mbizo in Kwekwe has been arrested.

Masendeke (40) was arrested by police detectives after he resurfaced at his elder brother, Elson’s funeral last week. He allegedly assaulted Jonathan Mpofu together with brothers Ernest and the late Elson as well as two other accomplices Walter Mahofa and Justice Mukarati following a misunderstanding in the bar in 2013.

Mpofu died on the spot from the assault. Masendeke appeared before Kwekwe magistrate Mr Storey Rushambwa last week and was remanded in custody to 15 October. He was advised to apply to the High Court for bail.

Allegations are that on 27 March 2013 at about 3am, Masendeke was playing snooker in the company of his two brothers and two other accomplices at Cold Spring Bar at Mbizo 4 Shopping Centre. A misunderstanding ensued between Mpofu and one of the accused leading to a brawl.

The gang then pulled Mpofu outside the bar where they assaulted him with wooden sticks all over the body.

Mpofu died on the spot from the attack. Ernst, Elson, Mahofa and Mukarati were arrested and appeared before the courts where they were released on bail. Edward reportedly fled to South Africa where he had been in hiding until he resurfaced recently, leading to his arrest.

Mr Vincent Chimwenje represented the State while Archibold Madzima of Mutatu and Partners represented Masendeke.

Edward is related to Edmund Masendeke, one of the notorious robbers and murderer to ever live in Zimbabwe during the 1990s.

Meanwhile, a man linked to the gruesome machete attack at the long distance bus terminus in Kwekwe on Saturday appeared before a Kwekwe magistrate facing murder charges last week. Jefta Matambo (43) of Mutsanyamate, Village under Chief Sayi in Gokwe appeared before Mr Rushambwa facing murder charges for attacking Clement Moyo with machetes at the bus terminus. Moyo, who was waiting to board a bus at the terminus, died on the spot after Matambo and his six friends launched an attack on him following a misunderstanding in the terminus toilet. Matambo was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to 15 October. He was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

Staff Correspondent|THE Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s (AFM) leadership woes continue to mount as top church leaders have been suspended.

The battle to control one of Zimbabwe’s biggest churches rages on, threatening to further split the group.

The church’s general secretary Reverend Amos Madawu communicated that seven top church leaders have since been suspended for violating the church constitution.

The church’s president, Reverend Aspher Madziyire on Wednesday suspended vice-president Reverend Cossum Chiangwa and his allies without salary and benefits.

“AFM Council resolved to suspend without pay and benefits, the church’s deputy president and Harare West province Overseer Rev Chiyangwa, Harare North Overseer Rev Arthur Nhamburo, Harare East Overseer Rev Amon Chinyemba and Ruwa province Overseer Rev Maron Mashumba,” said an internal circular.

Rev Donald Ndoni and Rev Nathan Nhira , we also supsended in terms of SI of 2006 for “conduct inconsistent with the express or implied conditions of their employment”.

Reverends Madziyire, Join Mdlongwa, Rabson Mbedzi, Innocent Murefu, Knowledge Munjeri, Enos Manyika and Munyaradzi Shumba were lifted to be in the committee to fill the vacant posts.

A new documentary film on the Matabeleland and Midlands atrocities soon after Zimbabwe’s independence claims the mass killings were probably plannedplanned before independence.

The film by Bulawayo-based journalist Zenzele Ndebele, titled Gukurahundi Genocide 36 Years Later, was launched in the city last night.

Ndebele interviewed Zapu and Zipra stalwarts, including Dumiso Dabengwa, former dissidents, a former 5th Brigade soldier, victims of rape and a villager who was detained at the Bhalagwe “concentration” camp in Matabeleland South.

Dabengwa said he believed the military campaign targeting the late vice-president Joshua Nkomo’s Zapu supporters was planned by “both Zanu and I want to think the British were involved”.

Dabengwa and other prominent Matabeleland leaders attended the launch of the documentary.

In the film, former Zipra fighter Vincent Hillary Ndlovu, now living in exile, explains how he was hounded out of the national army and ended up as a “dissident”.

He said he operated in Tsholotsho, but was arrested and spent 15 years in jail after he was arrested in Botswana.

Misheck Velaphi, an administrator of the Zipra-owned Nitram Farm, said the alleged arms caches were used as an excuse to deploy the North Korean-trained 5th Brigade by former president Robert Mugabe.

He said both Mugabe and President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was State Security minister at the time, knew the arms belonged to the ANC’s military wing Umkhonto weSizwe.

Velaphi was arrested with Dabengwa and late Zipra commander Lookout Masuku in connection with the arms.

He was the only one who was convicted and sentenced to three years for possession of arms of war.

Velaphi claims Mnangagwa and Mugabe were used by apartheid South Africa to weaken the ANC, which operated side by side with Zapu.

He claimed that there were mass graves in Bulawayo’s Luveve area of ex-Zipra combatants that were killed when the clashes began at Entumbane.

Prior to the launch, Ndebele claimed that he had been harassed by the police who demanded that he must first be cleared by the Censorship Board.

He received support from the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC).

Mnangagwa last week said he would accept any recommendations by the NPRC on how to deal with the Gukurahundi issue after he was asked whether he would apologise by CNN.

Standard

By Paul Nyathi|Residents of Bulawayo went on the rampage in the early hours of Sunday morning damaging several shops and vehicles following a power failure I the middle of a hugely attended South African music group, The Soul Brothers.

Thousands of people of the Mbaqanga music outfit filled up the Large City Hall Car Park to watch the legendary music group perform in the country for the first time since the passing on of lead vocalist David Masondo in 2015.

The group treated the huge number of fans with a thrilling performance that did not show the absence of Masondo.

Trouble started when there was a sudden power failure in the Bulawayo Central Business. Police have not confirmed any arrests.

Jane Mlambo| Deputy Minister of Transport, Advocate FOrtune Chasi has urged the national airline, Air Zimbabwe to optimally use its assets to sustain its operations and stop seeking Government bail-out all the time.

Air Zimbabwe, which is choking in a debt amounting to over $300 million has struggled to remain operational with some of its planes grounded at foreign airports but Chasi said the days of over-reliance on Government are over.

“We are completely unhappy with a situation where the planes are grounded and they are not earning income. We don’t believe that Government must perpetually be putting in money into parastatals when they have assets they must sweat,” he said.

Chasi told state media last week that it is unacceptable for parastatals to struggle for funds when they have grounded aircraft.

Jane Mlambo| Harare Mayor, Councilor Herbert Gomba has hinted that he is mooting opening Morton Jeffray water works to Harare residents so that they can appreciate the work done with the $72 million received from a Chinese loan to refurbish the city’s water infrastructure.

Gomba said contrary to reports that the money was abused by the local authority, the Chinese funder stopped disbursements after a dispute arose over repayment terms.

“I will engage with the director of water to allow residents to visit the treatment works so that they can see for themselves how we put to use the $72 million council received from China,” he said.

Residents’ groups have accused council of supplying contaminated water and in some areas not being able to supply at all.

The election dispute between President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will derail the country’s chances of moving forward, outgoing British ambassador to Zimbabwe Catriona Laing has said.

Speaking to journalists at Munhumutapa Offices soon after meeting acting President Kembo Mohadi, Laing beseeched the presidium to work towards ensuring that all stakeholders’ voices are heard.
This comes at a time when Mnangagwa is under pressure to accommodate Chamisa — his rival in the July 30 elections — who has insisted that he is the legitimately-elected president despite losing his electoral challenge at the Constitutional Court (Con-Court).

“There have been many positive changes but there are still some huge changes ahead. We talked about the elections and the positive steps around peaceful elections and the high turnout but also some concerns that the playing field is not completely even and the fact that the opposition has not accepted the results creates some challenges for Zimbabwe in terms of coming together as a country and moving forward,” said Laing.

Chamisa, who polled 44, 3 percent of the vote, losing to Mnangagwa who garnered 50, 6 percent, challenged the victory in the Con-Court, claiming the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission rigged the elections.

Although the Con-Court threw out his challenge and upheld Mnangagwa’s win, observers insist the Zanu PF frontman still suffers a legitimacy crisis.
To get the country’s economy to work again, there have been calls for the two leaders to find common ground.

While Mnangagwa, who is currently in the United States – attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York –has revealed that he is ready to accept Chamisa as the official opposition leader, his rival has rejected the arrangement, throwing the whole plan into disarray.

The European Union and Britain have particularly been linked to behind-the-scenes manoeuvres to get Mnangagwa to recognise Chamisa as the official opposition leader in order to placate the youthful politician who is refusing to accept the poll outcome.

Currently, the country is experiencing serious problems that include foreign currency and cash shortages.

Prices of basics are shooting through the roof and the bond note is fast losing value, owing to inflated exchange rates on the black market.
The unemployment rate, believed to be over 85 percent, continues to increase, as companies are facing serious viability problems.

“I urged the acting president to try and ensure that everybody’s voice is heard in Zimbabwe. He, of course, has an important role to play as the person responsible for National Peace and Reconciliation Commission. He updated me on the work that is planned and we are very supportive and encouraging that process,” Laing told journalists on Thursday.

Zimbabwe has been facing serious problems, owing to divisions based on political and tribal lines.
From the Gukurahundi massacres, where at least 20 000 civilians were killed, observers say nothing meaningful has been done to bridge the political and tribal gaps, which aspects have been militating against unity and the general growth of the country.

Since then, there have been allegations of political violence by the ruling party against the opposition, especially after the formation of the MDC in 1999.
Only recently, at least six people were shot dead by the army, following protests that took place in Harare on August 1, 2018.

Mnangagwa has since sworn in a seven-member commission of inquiry to look into events that led to the deaths.

It is headed by former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe.
“We will also be following very closely the work of the commission of inquiry into the tragic events of August 1. We are encouraged that the commission of inquiry has been sworn in and there are very eminent people on that commission and we will be watching closely and look forward to seeing the results published and recommendations acted upon,” Laing said.

Meanwhile, Chamisa – through his spokesperson – has called for national dialogue with Zanu PF and other stakeholders to repair the current economic and political mayhem.

Nkululeko Sibanda, the spokesperson for the MDC leader, said his boss has a five-point plan capable of improving the country’s fortunes if implemented.

“We have a five-point plan for a national dialogue that would help boost confidence in our political processes and in our economy; the problem is if Mnangagwa does not listen,” said Sibanda.

“The five-point plan is well thought and aimed at easing the economy and I think Mnangagwa will be well advised to think about that because what is coming and what is happening right now is a total disaster”.

He said in order to move the country forward elections should produce a legitimate result that cannot be disputed, adding that independent commissions must be reviewed to make sure that they are entirely autonomous.

Sibanda said the capture of State institutions by sections of the military and government is contributing to the economic meltdown because it scares away investors.

Chamisa’s spokesperson spoke as Zanu PF’s secretary for legal affairs Paul Mangwana has highlighted that Mnangagwa is open for dialogue.

“Mnangagwa wants to speak to every Zimbabwean who means well for this country. If Chamisa means well for this country, the door is open for him to have dialogue with the president.

“Zimbabwe is not owned by one political party or by one individual, anyone who can add value to the well-being of our country is welcome to the table,” said Mangwana this week.

He said Chamisa should follow the proper channels for dialogue.

“I do not know how the approach will be, he has indicated that he wants dialogue, I’m sure he knows the channels used to reach out.

“The attitude of president Mnangagwa is very simple, every Zimbabwean who means well for this country should come to the table, the time for politicking and campaignis over we are now running a country,” he said. – Daily News

Staff Reporter|Local football giants Dynamos hold very high chances of finding themselves relegated from the country’s elite soccer league.

The now glamourless Glamour Boys lost a crucial encounter against FC Platinum on Saturday by two goals to nil in Zvishavane pushing the former champions to just one point above the relegation zone.