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.

Staff Correspondent|A high school principal allegedly told her female students that the length of their skirt and shorts made male teachers ‘uncomfortable’.

Furious students from Francis Greenway High in northern New South Wales, were told to change into longer shorts because their current shorts or skirts could put males in an ‘awkward situation’, the Newcastle Herald reported.

Female students from years eight to 11 were called into a meeting with the school’s principal, Jo Edwards, who allegedly said their length of skirt could attract unwanted attention.

After the meeting, 20 students were sent home from school, while other students spent the day feeling victimised after the conversation.

The parents of the public school are now calling for a change in leadership after female students felt ‘ashamed’, ‘targeted’ and ‘worthless’.

Mrs Edwards allegedly told female students the length of their shorts and skirt could lead to the girls being categorised as provocative and may put them at risk of being sexually assaulted.

Parents have now bound together to broach the topic with claims the principal was ‘victim blaming’ and should be kicked from the job.

Kerri Field was shocked when her daughter Alexis came home from the school assembly.

‘The principal proceeded to have a talk about the uniform which then turned to how the male teachers feel uncomfortable with girls in such short shorts and the boys are distracted,’ Mrs Field told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Alexis wore trackie pants to avoid anyone wanting to measure her. I’m happy with the sports shorts she normally wears, they are not too short and have the modesty lining inside them so nothing is ever visible,’ Mrs Field said.

‘I feel disgusted, because we are trying to empower those girls,’ Mrs Field added.

Another concerned mother said the tone of the assembly was ‘not appropriate for impressionable young teenagers’.

‘We don’t have a problem with the school wanting to enforce the uniform policy. But the whole way they’ve gone about it was wrong – making these children feel like every male is looking at them like they want to do something to them.

‘It sexualises them,’ she told the Newcastle Herald.

Since the meeting, students have said they want the principal to apologise for the comments.

Sufiya Walks, who is a student at the school said the comments were derogative.

‘We feel anger, frustration – girls are worried what our male teachers and students are thinking. We should be feeling safe in school, not threatened. We’ve been treated like objects, not people,’ Miss Walks said.

In a statement to the Daily Mail Australia, Francis Greenway High said, ‘The principal has reiterated the importance of students wearing the correct uniform to school according to the policy endorsed by the school community.

‘It was not her intention to reflect on the character of students addressed earlier, and she has apologised if her choice of words caused offence. The Principal did not refer to rape in connection with the issue.

‘The school takes great pride in its uniform and recognises that the school community sees it as important to the school.’

HARARE mayor Herbert Gomba has challenged government to avail funds towards decongesting Harare roads, saying the situation was unattainable, with traffic accidents now rampant.

Speaking after touring road rehabilitation programmes in the city, Gomba said government should help the local authority deal with potholes and decongest traffic through the construction of traffic circles and flyovers.

“We have projects that ought to be financed by government. We are appealing to the Ministry of Transport to assist,” he said.

“I am talking about the project to decongest the Mbudzi roundabout, government should play ball and ensure that we have a flyover so that traffic, be it commercial or private that would be in transit, does not mix with the local vehicles. We are losing business because of this congestion.”

The mayor visited road constructions works in Budiriro, Gaydon and at Mbudzi roundabout, and was accompanied by senior council officials and various contractors.

Since end of last year, council has embarked on road rehabilitation programmes with a target budget of $13 million mainly within the central business district.

Now the programme has been moved to residential areas, where roads have become impassable due to potholes.

“This project is part of our 100-day plan. These projects we are funding them from our own resources and we have opened talks with Zinara [Zimbabwe National Roads Administration], banks and other capital developers so that we could give our city life. Harare should be Harare again and we are committed to that,” Gomba said.

“We are saying government should also come to the party and help us. This is our city.”

Council wants to spend at least $5 million and hopes that Zinara would bring in more funds to ensure that roads in residential areas are usable, while street lighting and other amenities are in place.

“We are not going to be cry-babies, but we shall start to do something while we lobby for more funds from government because it is the people who should enjoy the money they pay to Zinara,” Gomba said.

At least 800 000 vehicles drive through Harare City Council’s 4 000km road network daily, with 80% of the road network said to be in a bad state.

Council has been lamenting that of the 800 000 licensed motor vehicles that move around Harare, the city could raise $10 million per quarter or $40 million per year, if it was allowed to collect vehicle licence fees directly.

Harare is among several cities and towns lobbying central government to allow them to collect vehicle licence fees.

Newsday

An explosion which rocked Gweru Rural Police Station last week, sending tremors across the central business district, was caused by a suspected war time anti-tank mine planted inside the station.

According to a memorandum from the police, the explosion, which occurred at the police station at the corner of Leopold Takawira Road and Eighth Street uprooted a huge tree and left several vehicles’ windscreens shattered.

It also affected surrounding buildings.

It is suspected that the anti-tank mine could either have been buried or planted during the liberation struggle.

“This memorandum serves to put on record circumstances surrounding the explosion,” reads part of the memorandum. “Circumstances are that on September 27 at around 1000hrs, Master Ndirwo (46), a general hand at ZRP Gweru Rural Police station was burning litter which was in a rubbish pit near the perimeter fence of the police station.

“The pit is about 25 metres from the charge office. At around 1445hrs, Ndirwo went to put out the fire that had spread out of the pit towards the fence. When he was about four meters towards the pit, an explosion occurred in the direction of the pit.

“He managed to flee from the scene unhurt.”

Zimbabwe National Army engineers attended the scene and suspected that the explosion was a result of an anti-tank mine because of the magnitude of the explosion’s impact which uprooted a big jacaranda tree stump and shook nearby buildings.

“There were no fragments of the anti-tank at the blast scene,” reads part of the memorandum. “The explosion could have been a result of the heat generated by fire and sun. They also stated that the anti-tank mine has no life span, that is, it remains armed as long as it has not exploded.

“Seven cars, which were parked along 8th Street closer to the scene had their windscreens and door glasses shattered by fragments from the uprooted tree stump. Ceiling paint of the charge office peeled off as a result of the tremor. Five roofing tiles at Lutheran Church situated about 120 meters from the scene were hit by fragments from the blast and fell inside the church.

“Heritage Housing Project building situated along 8th Street, about 30 metres from the scene had some of its windows shattered,”

Acting Midlands police provincial spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said she was still to receive details of the explosion.

Correspondent|$2 million Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès edition landed at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare on Friday – the second inside two months.

The supercar, whose owner is as unknown yet, arrived shortly after 3.30PM aboard a KLM cargo flight from the Netherlands.

Bugatti says on its website that this particular Bugatti, first released in 2008, is “highly exclusive”. Just 40 were manufactured.

In August, a Bugatti Veyron by Mansory Vivere Diamond Edition was delivered to Harare – then said to be the only one in Southern Africa.

The $3,5 million car, owned by Zunaid Moti, the controversial chrome miner and associate of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was registered in Zimbabwe before being flown to South Africa.

The delivery drew condemnation from Zimbabweans who accused the businessman, currently in jail in Germany awaiting extradition to Russia on fraud charges, of flaunting obscene wealth in a sea of poverty.

Zimbabweans will be urgently seeking the identity of the owner of the latest Bugatti to land in Harare, a city currently in the grips of a cholera outbreak and a developing economic crisis marked by rising prices and foreign currency shortages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2JxaaHqOYU

A suspected anti-tank mine exploded at Gweru Rural Police Station on Thursday, shattering windows of buildings and wind shields of several vehicles parked nearby.

According to a leaked police internal memo gleaned by Southern Eye, at around 10am, Master Ndirwo (46), a general hand at ZRP Gweru Rural Police Station, was burning litter in a rubbish pit near the perimeter fence of the station.

At around 2:45pm, Ndirwo went to put out the fire that had spread out off the pit towards the fence.

“When he was about four metres towards the pit, an explosion occurred in the direction of the pit. He managed to flee from the scene unhurt,” the memo read.

“The scene was attended to by both DUB [duty uniform branch] and Police Criminal Investigations Department details. The Zimbabwe national engineers for Midlands province were summoned. The army engineers suspected that the explosion was a result of an anti-tank mine owing to the following observations: a big jacaranda tree stump was uprooted, the magnitude of the explosion which shook nearby buildings, the fact that there were no fragments of the anti-tank at the blast scene and the explosion could have been a result of the heat generated by fire and sun.”

The memo said an anti-tank mine remains lethal as long as it has not exploded.

“Seven cars which were parked along 8th Street closer to the scene had their windscreens and door glasses shattered by fragments from the uprooted tree stump,” the memo said.

“During the time of scene attendance, the following vehicles were still present: A Toyota Corolla — rear windscreen was shattered and a Ford Bantum — front windscreen was shattered and a Nissan Elgrand had a shattered front windscreen.”

The memo said some nearby buildings were affected by the tremor caused by the explosion, including the charge office.

“Five roofing tiles of Lutheran Church situated about 120 metres from the scene were hit by fragments from the blast and fell inside the church. Heritage Housing Project building situated along 8th Street about 30 metres from the scene had some of its windows shattered and the value of the damage is yet to be established. No one was injured following the blast,” the police said.

“It is suspected that the anti-tank mine could either have been buried or planted during the liberation struggle. The explosion could have been ignited by the heat emanating from the rubbish pit, which is about four metres from the point of blast.”

Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Ethel Mukwende referred questions to her superiors in Harare.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the blast, but said they were still carrying out investigations.

“What I can confirm is that a general hand was burning litter at a rubbish pit and in the process, there was an explosion, which the police are still conducting investigations with a view to establishing what transpired. Once we get to the bottom of the matter, we will apprise members of the public,” he said. –

PRICES of basic commodities, among other crucial daily requirements like fuel, have continued to skyrocket, with the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) warning that the cost of bread is likely to go up again from the current $1,10 if government does not urgently respond positively to their wheat import subsidy request.

Following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s re-election on July 30, which the opposition MDC Alliance is challenging, prices of basic commodities have continued to skyrocket amid indications that the hikes are in response to the instability on the parallel foreign currency market.

While government insists that the bond note, which was introduced as a stop-gap measure following the disappearance of United States dollars on the formal market, has the same value with the greenback, on the streets, it is pegged at between $180 and $190 against US$100 on the informal market.

GMAZ this week warned of another bread price hike owing to the low wheat supply, with chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara on Thursday saying this could only be averted if government accedes to their request for a subsidy.

“We have requested for a subsidy of $50 per tonne from government and for the bakers to get $7 million per month for them to buy other ingredients other than flour so that the bread price comes down to $1. We are still waiting for a response. We submitted our request just before the new Cabinet was appointed,” Musarara said.

The price of bread recently went up to $1,10 due to the low supply of wheat, a situation further compounded by high operational costs and foreign currency shortages to purchase other raw materials.

Bakers argue the cost of production of bread keeps going up, leaving them with no choice, but to increase its price.

Reports say the price of wheat has in the past 90 days increased by about 10% from $375 per metric tonne to $415.

Wheat and fuel are products that are on the priority list of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in terms of allocation of foreign currency.

Musarara said the $1,10 bread price was untenable and would result in the product disappearing from shop shelves unless the price is further increased or government intervenes.

“And while we are waiting for that intervention to happen, we are now facing two tough choices: one, if we maintain the prices, bread will not be available, and two, if we increase the prices, the product will be available and we felt that increasing prices is a better devil (because) at least the product is available while other interventions happen,” Musarara said.

Nearly the prices of all basic commodities such as mealie-meal, meat, soap, toiletries, rice, sugar and vegetables are spiralling out of control due to a currency crisis fuelled by foreign currency shortages.

NewsDay

Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo is failing to cope with the high number of maternity patients resulting in some of the expecting and new mothers sleeping on the floor, a situation described as deplorable by Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo.

Hospital authorities say this is a result of the scrapping of maternity fees by Government at public hospitals which has seen all patients flocking to Mpilo without referral from council clinics which continue to charge maternity fees.

Patients on the other hand, say the situation may escalate maternal mortality in the country.
An average of seven women die while giving birth in Zimbabwe weekly.
The country’s maternal mortality rate stands at 614 deaths per every 100 000 live births and remains one of the highest in the region.

The World Health Organisation defines maternal mortality as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.

Speaking at the Mpilo Hospital 60th anniversary celebrations yesterday, the hospital’s chief executive officer, Mr Leornard Mabandi, said the institution was overwhelmed with the high number of expectant mothers turning up.

“The hospital is complying with the policy of removal of user fees for pregnant women who present themselves to our institution. The numbers are overwhelming and we are failing to cope. Now there are over 1 000 pregnant women on the waiting list to book for Ante Natal Care (ANC) services,” said Mr Mabandi.

He said deliveries had moved from an average of 25 to close to 40 per day since the scrapping of the fees. “Infection control is now a challenge to manage as we now experience floor beds. There is no longer space to waste. We are not advocating for the removal of the policy but strengthening of the referral system” said Mr Mabandi.

Dr Moyo, who attended the Mpilo celebrations, said the situation was unacceptable and had to be collectively rectified.

“I was shocked today when we visited the ward, we had patients who were sleeping on the floor, mothers who had delivered, on the floors. We have floor beds all over the place, we have congestion and that is unacceptable. We have to improve that and ensure that we look after our patients properly,” he said.

Dr Moyo said the new dispensation was working on improving the health care system in the country, hence his visit to Mpilo Central Hospital.

“The situation there is deplorable. I don’t blame the staff but it’s something which we all have to work towards improving,” he said.

Turning to developments at the hospital, Mr Mabandi said the institution requires high level diagnostic and treatment equipment and the 10 theatres that have been renovated lack equipment like anaesthetic machines and other relevant gadgets which have affected their performance.

“Our suppliers fail to deliver when we engage them and cite foreign currency as their biggest hurdle. We are hoping this area will improve in the new dispensation and our patients will smile all the way to the theatres and radiology services,” he said.

Mr Mabandi said Mpilo Central Hospital faces a critical shortage of specialists as there are no cardiologists, dermatologists, among others and patients have to be referred to Harare.

In terms of infrastructure, he said, efforts have continued to be made to renovate wards.

Mr Mabandi said the hospital’s management was grateful for the support they receive from Government, the community, corporate world, religious organisations and individuals in their endeavours to have a meaningful health delivery system.- state media

THOUSANDS of people are expected to gather at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda for the fourth edition of the Gwanda International Gospel Music Festival (GIGMF) taking place next week.

Takesure Zamar, Mathias Mhere, Vocal Ex and Indosakusa are among the local artistes expected to perform.

The GIGMF organised by Big Time Strategic Group will be held from October 5 to 7 under the theme, “The Walls of Jericho Did Fall”.
Entrance is free.

South Africa Spirit of Praise duo of Pastor Neyi Zimu and Omega, as well as Thinah Zungu will take turns to minister to the people of God at the festival.

The festival is the brainchild of Big Time Strategic Group CEO Justice Maphosa who grew up in Gwanda before moving to South Africa to build his empire.

Addressing members of the media in Bulawayo yesterday, Alson Darikayi, Big Time group corporate affairs director, said this year’s festival was meant to celebrate that the walls of limitation on Zimbabwe have fallen.

“Our theme this year is quite foretelling especially as we work towards rebuilding the economy of our beautiful nation, Zimbabwe. We believe the walls of limitation that have kept the nation of Zimbabwe stagnant are tumbling as we lift our praise to the Mighty Man of War – Jehovah. Zimbabwe shall rise again,” said Darikayi.

He said the GIGMF was the place to be for gospel music lovers who prefer to “experience” live music while ‘reclining’ in the sweet presence of the living God.

“Once again, we’ll gather in Gwanda to give praise to the living God because He is absolutely deserving. We consider this as a calling and our desire has always been that Gwanda becomes an altar for the nation of Zimbabwe where people from all parts of the country converge to call on God free of charge.”

This year’s line-up, Darikayi said, features a diverse range of gospel music heavyweights from either side of the Limpopo River.

“We’re excited to have this year’s line-up of gospel artistes with a genuine hunger for God and a deep inclination to worship Him. Our desire is to see the banner of God lifted high as we passionately praise and worship Him.”

“As a way of empowering young people in Zimbabwe, we have roped in three youthful groups — Hybrid Psalmz from Gwanda and Vocal Ex co-founded by Eric Moyo of Joyous Celebration. For Iscathamiya fans, we have Indosakusa, who recently released their sizzling 13-track album.

“Such is the diversity of this year’s festival,” said Darikayi.

Since the country is on high alert in terms of cholera, when asked about measures they are putting in place to curb an outbreak, Darikayi said: “We’re fully aware that there’s a cholera outbreak in the country. We’ve been working in consultation with the relevant health authorities to monitor the situation.

“Also, we’ve put points around the stadium with sanitizers and more than adequate ablution facilities in terms of mobile toilets.”

The festival attracts nearly 40 000 people annually.

Compared to previous editions where tonnes of equipment were imported into the country for the staging of the festival locally, Darikayi said they had contracted Harare’s Event Solutions to provide sound, lighting and stage equipment.

“This is part of our drive to empower the local service providers. Our technical team was meticulous in choosing Event Solutions as they came to Zimbabwe from South Africa and canvased for the best here.

“So from six service providers who were shortlisted, they chose Event Solutions. They have the capacity to bring the best sound and experience for the size of Phelandaba Stadium,” said Darikayi.

SA gospel queen Rebecca Malope was turned away from the border twice because her papers were not in order, but this time, Darikayi said all artistes had been cleared.

“Everyone has been cleared by the relevant authorities. We learnt from our mistakes and we’ll do better this year as we’ve done our homework.”

Manicaland has so far recorded 4 cholera deaths.

Three of the four people who died are from Buhera and one is from Makoni district.

The province has recorded 170 suspected cases of cholera and 17 cases have been confirmed.

All the cases are suspected to have been caused by people who recently visited areas in Harare where the epidemic started.

Speaking during a Manicaland Provincial Development Committee meeting held in Mutare, Manicaland Provincial Administrator Mr Edgar Seenza raised concern over the alarming rate of the increased cholera cases in the province.

“Cholera cases are on the rise in the province with Buhera recording the highest number of cases. We are trying to make sure that cholera does not spread throughout the province. We have banned all public gatherings and we are urging people to practice good hygiene. We also want council to provide safe drinking water to places that do not have access to clean water. We also call upon our development partners to assist with safe drinking water,” said Mr Seenza.

Mr Seenza also raised concern over the high numbers of school drop outs in the province indicating that Manicaland has the highest number of school drop outs and highlighted that it was due to mostly early child marriages amongst other factors like poverty.

He also implored for stiffer penalties to perpetrators of environmental degradation after pointing out the increased cases of veld fires in the province.

“We cannot continue complaining about veld fires without acting on it. Drastic measures should be put in place to deter people from committing the same offences,” Mr Seenza added.

The provincial development meeting was aimed at reviewing the progress that different stakeholders in the province have made during the 2018 3rd quarter.

Zbc News online

Own Correspondent|ZANU PF youths have hauled over the coals, party legislator and lawyer Jonathan Samukange for offering his legal services to former party rival Saviour Kasukuwere who is being accused of corruption.

“We have been inaudited with questions about Mr Samkange’s political standing and we will continue to seek answers to those questions,” said the party’s Youth League in a statement Thursday.

Kasukuwere is a former Zanu PF political commissar who was among a handful top officials who were elbowed out of the party when then Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa orchestrated a coup against the now former President Robert Mugabe and his G40 backers November last year.

He has since been dragged to court on four counts of abuse of office charges.

However, Mudzi South MP, Samukange has infuriated the party’s youth wing through offering his services to the former Local Government Minister.

Said the youth league, “It is morally and politically irreprehensible for him (Samukange) to stand up and associate himself with our President and First Secretary while at the same time fighting to release those, we as a party led by HE are fighting to end corruption.”

Kasukuwere appeared in court early this week and is out on $3 000 bail.

But Zanu PF youths find everything wrong with Samukange over alleged attempts to throw spanners in the wake of a party bid to fight corruption as enunciated in its 2018 election manifesto.

They insist they will not sit idle and watch an MP who was elected on the same principles turning around to defend someone accused of corruption, even so, a party enemy.

“Fighting corruption is one of the stated objectives of the party as stated by our campaign manifesto and he, Cde Samkange ran with that manifesto too or perhaps he didn’t,” said the youths.

“Now that we have a person arrested under same charges, for him to actually represent and defend corrupt people or people arrested on corruption does bring into question not only his personal credibility but his political and moral standing.

“We castigated opposition members such as Job Sikhala for representing former Zanu PF members arrested on graft charges, not because we wanted to see them in jail but because we argued it doesn’t not make sense to stand in Parliament and in public and accuse one of being corrupt and then go to court and represent him against same charges.

“So now, as we hereby do, we demand that Mr Samukange state where he stands politically, what his principles and allegiance are.

“It now looks like we arrest people with our left hand and release them with our right hand, and that does not look good at all.

“He must come out in the open and say if he isn’t for Zanu PF and certainly not for our fight against corruption. It’s morally and politically irreprehensible for him to be representing such people and how does it look to the world?

Samukange has insisted his controversial client was “innocent until proven guilty” hence he had the right to be represented by anyone, including himself.

Former Zanu PF Highfield West MP Psychology Maziwisa has approached the High Court seeking to sell one of his properties registered in his son’s name to foot school fees for the minor child.

In the application, Maziwisa, who cited the Master of the High Court as the respondent, also said that he wants to dispose of the Tynwald property in order to buy a smaller one.

According to court papers, Maziwisa is seeking the appointment of Pamellah Musimwa as a legal representative for the 12-year-old boy, born on June 19, 2006.

“I am the biological father of the minor child (name withheld) … The minor’s mother is Thandeka Zimu, a South African citizen, whose supporting affidavit is accompanying this application. In 2006, I purchased a piece of land being stand number 14063 Tynwald Township of stand number 12 891 Tynwald Township for our minor child, which property is registered in the said minor’s name…

“I now seek to sell and dispose of this property in order to purchase a smaller and cheaper property for the minor as I require the extra funds…to contribute towards (the child)’s education and other expenses,” he said.

He added that he approached the Justice for Children and requested for the appointment of a legal representative, who will ensure that the sale of the property will be in the best interest of the minor child.

“It is just, desirable and in the best interests of my child that the appointment of Pamellah Musimwa as curator ad litem in respect of (the child) be confirmed to enable the matter to proceed,” he said.

Musimwa, who is a legal officer at Justice for Children, also filed a supporting affidavit, accepting her appointment as the minor child’s legal representative.

“I confirm and verify that I am prepared to accept such appointment as curator ad litem on such terms and conditions as this honourable court may deem fit and appropriate and I will make myself available for attendance before this honourable court if for any reason the court wishes to inquire as to my suitability as curator ad litem,” she said.

The Master of the High Court has not yet responded to the application filed on Wednesday.

DailyNews

Correspondent|Harare City Council (HCC) is mulling setting up a tollgate along Harare Drive to generate revenue that would be channelled towards road maintenance.

Council engineer Gilbert Munyonga said the city fathers are not anticipating any resistance, saying residents appreciate high quality products considering how they will benefit from e-tolling.

“Knowing Harare residents, they do not go for cheap things or for poor quality. Once you put something of poor quality, even for a stop gap measure, you will see they will talk about it,” he said.

“When they want something of high quality, by virtue of being high quality people, I think they should be in a position to sustain that kind of lifestyle, and the only way to do that in the roads sector is to pay road user charges,” added Munyonga.

Mayor Herbert Gomba said residents will be engaged to make them realise the importance of road rehabilitation and to dissuade them from dodging the tollgate.

“It’s only a question of talking to our people, engaging them and making them aware of the importance of financing the road rehabilitation programme. It’s going to be citizen participation in the governance of the city,” said Gomba.

HCC has already completed the construction of a roundabout at the Gaydon and Harare Drive intersection.

Council has also partnered with Bitumen World in refurbishing more roads and roundabouts around Harare to control traffic within the next five years.

DailyNews

CHINA has downplayed and rejected the oft-repeated charge that it is building a colonial empire in Africa in the same way European powers did in the 19th century, blaming Western countries for lying to the world that it was stripping poor countries of their national assets when they fail to clear debts owed to the Asian economic powerhouse.

China — Africa’s biggest trading partner — has frequently been accused of pursuing a predatory, unethical resource-driven colonialism which included extracting the continent’s mineral wealth at knockdown prices to propel its economic growth.

Criticism grew in the aftermath of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) summit which saw African heads of state trooping to Beijing early this month, where they were promised US$60 billion worth of loans to support development projects in their countries for the next three years.

This is despite the fact that many countries, including Zimbabwe, have failed to repay loans and rrears extended to them under a previous facility of the same value.

Reports that China was seizing a national airport in Zambia and claiming a 60% stake in the Zambian state broadcaster as a way of recovering the loans have triggered global outrage. Zambian information minister Dora Siliya later denied the reports.

Zimbabweans have similar concerns after it emerged that Harare owes Beijing upwards of US$300 million in arrears from previous loans.

The news of China taking over Sri Lanka’s strategic port and 15 000 hectares of land on a 99-year lease recently also raised questions and debate on the African continent about the kind of agreements African presidents are signing with China.

Fearing the worst, the South African parliament, led by the minority leader from the Democratic Alliance (DA) Mmusi Maimane, demanded to know from President Cyril Ramaphosa terms of Eskom’s US$2,4 billion loan with the Chinese Development Bank. Maimane gave President Ramaphosa 14 days to table the terms in parliament “in the interest of openness and transparency.” Eskom is South Africa’s electricity public utility.

Amid raging tempers, a senior diplomat from the Chinese Embassy in Harare this week dismissed reports of Beijing’s new conolial agenda as propaganda peddled by Western countries rattled by the Asian giant’s dominance on the African market.

In a detailed briefing, the diplomat told the Zimbabwe Independent in an interview on Wednesday China has no plans to seize any Zimbabwean assets despite the country failing to settle arears. He also said the loan deals did not involve host countries mortgaging their resources to China.

“In the case of Zimbabwe, there is no mortgage of resources for now between China and Zimbabwe, and we never force any conditions on any country. We are equal, we are brothers and sisters,” he said.

“Zimbabwe has debts and arrears to China, have we seized any assets? We have never done that. I can tell you, we will never seize assets from Zimbabwe, although there are arrears to China. We provided loans to Zimbabwe and many other African countries. I admit the debt burden is increasing, but we never seize assets. What should be done is that if you borrow loans, you put them to good use such as invest in infrastructure and you develop the economy. If you get loans and you squander the money on consumption, and you have no projects and the economy does not develop, that is terrible. Good investments will mean that you are able to repay the loans. We have full confidence that if you wisely invest and come up with good policies and bankable projects, in two or three years, you will be able to clear the loans,” he added.

Western powers, the diplomat said, were spreading false information to tarnish China’s image.

“We never seized the port in Sri Lanka, how can we do that? We never do that. That information came from the opposition parties in Sri Lanka and some Western countries that do not want to see us developing very close relations with our neighbouring countries because, if we go there, our influence will be expanding to the Indian Ocean and they feel threatened. So they always try to create stories. Here in Africa, it is the same thing. Since 2015, we have provided US$120 billion to finance operations in African countries.

Africa and China have become closer; they (Westerners) are afraid of us. They can not sleep and therefore they create all kinds of stories.

“Zambian leaders and South African president have both refuted the allegations, saying China has never had any such debt-trap diplomacy. They are jealous of our co-operation and they always want to create a sense of fear between China and Africa. We have to take care of our relations jealously.

“They say that we want to use the loans to colonise Africa. They came here with guns and clerics and their companies. I know what they did in Zimbabwe; they occupied the land; they cheated King Lobengula into signing concessions and they killed a lot of people.

Then they say the Chinese are colonialists. I am a little bit curious; do Chinese come here with guns, do Chinese kill a lot of Zimbabweans, many Africans, do Chinese ship a lot of Africans to South America, North America, to work as slaves? I raise these questions. Have we launched attacks against one North African country and seized a head of state and killed him? Do we send any fighter planes to any African country, have we launched any missiles? In Sudan, they launched a missile at one pharmaceutical company. We have never done that, so who are the colonialists here? I think it is very clear that they always want to create trouble between us.

“They are scared, that is why they are creating fake news. We will never give up. We will never accept being bullied. We are not afraid of anyone. Success is in our hands and even some of their intellectuals have agreed that China is advancing. We call upon them to lift sanctions and provide more loans to Zimbabwe without any conditions or political strings attached and help the Zimbabwean people to develop,” he said.

In his address to Zimbabweans based in the United States where he is attending the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting this week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said there was no risk that the country would fall into a Chinese debt trap since it was attracting self-financing investments.

Independent

The opposition MDC Alliance has alleged that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s trip to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly was full of lies and misrepresentations.

Full statement by MDC National Deputy Spokesperson Bekhithemba Mpofu on the trip reads as follows:

The MDC is irked by Mnangagwa’s misrepresentation of the Zimbabwean situation in front of the whole world in a shameless attempt to sugar coat his limited capacity.

MDC Information Department

Jane Mlambo| The opposition MDC has described President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s trip to the United Nations General Assembly as ‘shameless and full of lies’ accusing the newly sworn in leader of embarrassing himself and the country over his remarks that Zimbabwe’s Gross Domestic Product per capita rose to $1500 in the first 7 months of his reign.

In a statement released this afternoon, MDC National Deputy Spokesperson Bekhithemba Mpofu, accused Mnangagwa and Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube of using unofficial figures to score cheap political gains.

“In New York Mnangagwa lied with a straight face that GDP per capita in Zimbabwe rose to $1500 in the first 7 months of his reign of shame. Zimbabwe’s per capital income is $890 according to the United Nations’ country statistics.

“The African Development Bank places it at $840 while the World Bank using the Atlas method places per capita income at $840,” said Mpofu.

He added that Mnangagwa could have saved himself embarrassment by using official figures from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

“In May of 2017 while he was still the vice president, he claimed that Zimbabwean banks were seating on US$9 billion with no viable projects to fund.

“In its latest report on the banking sector at the time, the RBZ had released information to the effect that only US$6 billion was in the banking sector,” added Mpofu.

He also blasted Prof Mthuli Ncube of mismatching figures in his address to the Zimbabwe Investor Forum on the side-lines of the General Council.

“His Finance Minister Prof Mthuli Ncube seems to be learning fast, he also lied and mismatched figures while addressing the Zimbabwe Investor Forum on the sidelines of the General Council.

“He overstated statistics on the ZSE’s cumulative return since March 2009 to 2000% whose variance to the actual 600% return is just too much of an irreconcilable gap.

“Then in a clear sign of selling his soul and committing integrity suicide, Ncube supported Mnangagwa’s claim to create a medium income economy of $3500 GDP per Capita by 2030. This cannot be reconciled with Mthuli’s projections of 6% annual growth rates.

“Achieving the above per capita income by 2030 will require an average growth rate of 11% considering population growth does not go beyond 16 Million,” added Mpofu.

Terrence Mawawa|Deputy Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Energy Mutodi has literally taken control of the state run broadcaster ZBC.

Addressing senior ZBC employees at the broadcaster’ s headquarters in Highlands, Harare Mutodi said he would unveil his expectations and vision in his quest to transform the national broadcaster.

“I am now acquainted with the system and very soon I will avail my expectations,” said Mutodi.

Mutodi did not mince words as he further expressed his desire to supervise the day to day business at the state broadcaster.

“The government’ s rapid results initiative requires us to be in touch with what is happening on the ground,” added Mutodi.

Terrence Mawawa|Hundreds of DSTV subscribers have been disconnected because Multi Choice Zimbabwe Agents are refusing to process monthly subscriptions using bond notes.

The DSTV bouquets are popular in Zimbabwe as they provide a variety of entertainment and sports channels.

Many Zimbabweans shun the state broadcaster and they opt for alternative news sources.

Disgruntled subscribers told ZimEye.com they were taken by surprise as they were suddenly told they could no longer make payments using bond notes.

“We no longer accept bond notes,” one lady abruptly said when asked to clarify the matter.

No comment could be obtained from Multi Choice Zimbabwe.

Harare Magistrates court has ended the two-day detention of Conrad Gweru, a freelance journalist, who was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers on Wednesday 26 September 2018 and charged with criminal nuisance as defined in section 41 of the Criminal (Law and Codification) Act for allegedly taking photographs of some traffic police officers. Gweru, was granted $30 bail on Friday 28 September 2018 after his lawyer Gift Mtisi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights applied for his release on bail.

Gweru returns to court in 25 October 2018.

Jane Mlambo| A gay teacher at a top Zimbabwean boys’ school has resigned after death threats and pressure from parents.

Neal Hovelmeier, deputy head for St John’s College’s sixth form, came out to his students last week.

He was encouraged to do so as a Zimbabwean newspaper was planning on outing Mr Hovelmeier, the school’s chairman wrote in a letter.

Some parents threatened legal action against him in a country where homosexual acts are illegal.

“I will not submit myself to a sham trial,” Mr Hovelmeier wrote in his resignation letter.

The teacher, who has worked in the elite school for 15 years, apologised for the distress caused by revealing his sexuality, saying it has since led to “death threats as well as threats of physical danger to myself and my pets”.

“I have come to realise that my current position as deputy headmaster is now untenable,” he wrote in the resignation letter.

Mr Hovelmeier came out to the student body on 21 September when the school, which is based in the capital Harare, released a statement by him.

He wrote that former students had confided to him that they had felt intimidated and ostracised at the school amidst a homophobic atmosphere.

He said he could only deal with the issue if he was “open and transparent about it myself”.

BBC

Harare City Council has locked out tenants at Matapi Hostel in a bid to recover rental arrears, amid reports that some of its occupants have “not paid a cent” since the 2013 debt write-offs.

Council officials from Matapi District Offices were locking houses at Block 4 and 5 Matapi Flats for tenants with rental arrears.

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) yesterday claimed that city officials were only allowing tenants back after payment of $20.

“Section 51 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe gives every citizen the right to human dignity, while Section 68 guarantees right to administrative justice that is reasonable, proportionate, impartial and both substantively and procedurally fair,” said CHRA in a statement.

“Residents claim that the authorities are ambushing tenants who are not at home and then add another lock in a bid to coerce tenants to service their debts with the local authority.”

The city’s corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme confirmed the development, saying the city was engaging the affected tenants.

“Residents whose apartments were locked this morning because of non-payment of municipal bills have honoured their part of the deal and the apartments have been opened,” he said. “The remaining few are making payment arrangements.”

Harare City Council is owed almost $800 million by various debtors who include residents, Government and business.

Recently, council offered a 50 percent discount to residents as an incentive for residents to pay their bills.

The city says service delivery will improve if it manages to collect $400 million from what it is owed rather than continue, saying it is owed about $800 million which the city will never be able to recover.

Newsday

GWERU provincial magistrate Charity Maphosa yesterday dismissed former Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Jason Machaya’s application for a case in which he is co-charged with Midlands provincial planning officer, Chisainyerwa Chibururu, to be tried at the Gokwe courts.

Machaya (65) and Chibururu (47) are facing criminal abuse of office charges and are alleged to have fraudulently acquired stands in Mupfungautsi, Gokwe.

The two, through their lawyers Alec Muchadehama and Ambrose Dururu, had requested that the trial be referred to Gokwe, arguing that the Gweru Magistrates’ Court had no jurisdiction over the matter.

In her ruling, Maphosa said Gokwe was in the Midlands province, hence it was within the confines of the law for the trial to be heard in the Midlands capital.

She remanded the matter to October 24, when the defence counsel indicated they wanted to make further applications in the case.

It is the State’s case that sometime in 2013, the Gokwe Town Council requested for 3 000 residential stands around Mapfungautsi Extension from the Local Government ministry and the request was granted.

Machaya, as chairperson of the provincial lands committee, allegedly made a request of commonage allocation from the 3 000 stands, which entitled him to receive 10% of the allocated stands in line with the Commonage Law.

The State further alleges that during the period between 2011 and 2017, Machaya abused his power by demanding an allocation of 1 000 residential stands knowing that he was supposed to get 300.

As a result, Gokwe Town Council lost revenue in respect of 700 stands. It is further alleged that Machaya hired a private land developer, Striations World Marketing Property Developers, to service the land in question.

In a related matter, Maphosa on Wednesday ruled that Machaya, who is on $1 000 bail together with Mashonaland West provincial administrator Cecilia Chitiyo, Gweru district administrator Sherpard Marweyi and five other senior government officials from the Local Government ministry, Midlands province, who are facing charges of abuse of office, had a case to answer.

Maphosa said Machaya, Chitiyo (50), who is the former PA for Midlands province, Matilda Manhambo (59), Marweyi (48), Sifelani Moyo (59), Ethel Mlalazi (65), Chibururu (47) and Everest Nyamadzawo (33) will be tried from November 12 to 16.

Chitiyo and the five other accused persons are all on $200 bail.

Clemence Chimbari prosecuted.

A KENYAN wildlife conservationist, Jimu Justus Nyamu (pictured) arrived in Bulawayo on Wednesday after walking a gruelling 400km journey from Victoria Falls to raise awareness on the dwindling elephant population.

Nyamu, who is on a 42 000km walk from east to southern Africa, left Nairobi in July with a team from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

The eight-man team has so far covered over 3 000km from Kenya to Tanzania, Zambia and now Zimbabwe as they raise awareness on the need to preserve elephants.

Nyamu arrived in Bulawayo yesterday and was welcomed by mayor Solomon Mguni at the Large City Hall.

“We are simply creating awareness on the importance of elephants,” he said.

Nyamu said he completed another awareness campaign walk in the United Kingdom in December last year.

Nyamu’s team next week travels to Botswana, before proceeding to South Africa on a similar mission.

Nyamu decried the decreasing number of elephants in Africa.

“In 1970, Africa had 3,5 million elephants but according to 2016 wildlife statistics, the continent has now 415 000 elephants. In a span of 40 years, we have lost 3 million,” said Nyamu.

“This is because of us human beings. We must accept that this is our mistake. God placed these animals in the world so that we all benefit.”

The Bulawayo mayor concurred.

“This decline of elephants is an indication that we need to protect our wildlife and strive to maintain our current population. The elephant was used as an emblem by King Lobengula as his royal seal and in that regard we highly respect an elephant,’’ Mguni said.

Nyamu said their campaign is being held under the theme “Ivory belongs to Elephants.”

He said his team will take their awareness campaigns to schools in Bulawayo till Monday.

According to Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, the country is home to the second largest estimated elephant population in the world at 84 000, exceeding the carrying capacity of 50 000 jumbos. It comes after Botswana, which is estimated to hold over 130 000 elephants.

Southern Eye

SEVERAL senior police officers have again been transferred as the Zimbabwe Republic Police seeks to re-organise itself under the new leadership of Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga.

Among those affected by the latest transfers include Senior Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Chituku, who was in charge of anti-shock theft, and now moved to the police headquarters as head of the land inspectorate department.

Chituku will be joined by Assistant Commissioner E Munengerwa, who has been moved from the anti-stock theft unit to be the senior staff officer in the land inspectorate department.

Also moved from his position is Assistant Commissioner C Masepa, who was responsible for border control and minerals unit to the police headquarters as a senior staff officer in the planning department.

A memo dispatched by police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba on behalf of Matanga said Assistant Commissioner Crispen Makedenge, in charge of crime Masvingo, would remain.

He will be joined by one Assistant Commissioner T Mudzimirema, who is moving from the border control and minerals unit to be in charge of administration in the province.

Assistant Commissioner Margaret Ngwenya-Gono, who was recently moved from Mashonaland Central to Masvingo, will remain as head of operations.

Assistant Commissioner Simon Mwatsikesimbe has been moved from the anti-stock theft unit to police headquarters and will be in charge of economic surveillance.

Newsday

Jane Mlambo| Vice President Kembo Mohadi’s ex-wife Tambudzani Mohadi has petitioned the High Court seeking $1.5 million in damages she emanating from the former State security minister’s adulterous affair with his current wife, Juliet Mutavhatsindi.

Tambudzani filed summons against Mohadi’s new wife, who is yet to enter an appearance to defend.

According to Tambudzani’s court papers, “Since July 2017, the defendant [Mutavhatsindi] unlawfully and intentionally committed adultery with the plaintiff’s husband [Mohadi] and inflicted contumelia on the plaintiff; she alienated Kembo Mohadi’s affection for the plaintiff and caused plaintiff’s loss of Kembo Mohadi’s companionship, comfort and service,” Tambudzani said in her declaration.

“As a consequence of the defendant’s conduct, the plaintiff has suffered damages in the sum of $1 500 000 made up as follows; (1) contumelia inflicted on the plaintiff by the defendant — $250 000 and (2) alienation of affection, loss of comfort, society and services of Kembo Mohadi — $1 250 000.”

Tambudzani also said she was claiming interest thereon at the prescribed rate from date of judgment to date of payment plus costs of suit.

Early this month, Mohadi was granted a protection order by a Harare magistrate, barring Tambudzani from issuing threatening messages and influencing the couple’s children to turn against him.

Jane Mlambo| Zanu PF has finally swallowed its pride and admitted that they need opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to solve their legitimacy crisis.

This follows admission by Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs, Paul Mangwana that they are trying to start meetings with Chamisa.

“We are trying to start meetings once Chamisa clears the confusion in his head,” Mangwana told Newsday yesterday.

“The confusion relates to accepting parliamentary results and not accepting Presidential results when elections were happening at the same time. His Members of Parliament have been sworn in as MPs and taken up their seats in Parliament and he continues to say he doesn’t recognise the presidential elections,” added Mangwana.

He added that the dialogue meeting will look at issues of mutual concern among the two parties and map a framework of working together to move the country forward.

“We want to look at issues of mutual concern among political parties and things that we can work together and see how we can move our country forward, from the economic front and legislative front, if there are any laws we feel we must improve, then we negotiate that.”

However, MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said they stood ready to dialogue, but would not accept being given conditions by Zanu PF.

“We are ready for dialogue, but it must not have conditions. So we totally disagree with Zanu PF when it wants to set conditions for the dialogue. It must be dialogue without conditions,” he said.

Mwonzora said the interparty dialogue meetings were fruitful in bringing about the biometric voter registration issue and crafting the code of conduct for the political parties that was used in the elections.

-Newsday

FORMER Botswana President, Ian Khama says no Cabinet minister, permanent secretary or even the head of State in his country is allowed to make decisions on procurement, a key lesson that Zimbabwe could adopt in a bid to fight corruption.

Giving a presentation on the topic: “How Botswana Leveraged Diamonds for Economic Development: Lesson for Zimbabwe” during the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) annual congress in Bulawayo yesterday, Khama said corruption hindered economic development.

“We have reinforced this through independent entities. We have also got an independent public procurement entity. In our country, no member of the Cabinet even the President make decisions on procurement. No permanent secretary can make a decision on procurement. Those decisions are made by an independent entity,” he said.

According to the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index, Botswana is the least corrupt country in Africa, compared with neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe.

There are very few reports of crimes and bribery.

Zimbabwe was ranked 157 out of 185 on the World Corruption Index released recently by TI.

Botswana even has a whistle-blower hotline where one can call and report corruption. If someone is convicted of corruption, they are looking at time in prison and hefty fines.

The fight against corruption has contributed immensely to Botswana’s economic development, Khama said, adding that it was not proper for public office bearers to make decisions for political expediency.

“It is so easy in a democracy to throw money at issues that are populist that at the end of the day come back to haunt you because you run out of budget. It is very important to resist the urge to do so and eventually over time you will be rewarded for doing the right thing,” he said.

Khama said they have been accused sometimes of being overregulated and having too much bureaucracy when it comes to checks and balances.

On foreign direct investment, Khama said they do not entertain fly by night investors, targeting only those who add value to the economy and create employment for local people.

“That’s very important,” he said.

Khama said it was not sustainable for any country to depend on one market, hence the need to diversify the markets.

“Do not just depend on one market, in one country for your exports, you must attempt to diversify the markets as much as possible,” he said.

The central bank of Botswana is independent and vibrant, Khama said.

Southern Eye

THE recently crowned Miss World Zimbabwe queen, Hajirah Belinda Potts, has responded to the emergency cholera and typhoid outbreak in the country by choosing to focus on the waterborne diseases as part of her Beauty with a Purpose project to be presented at the 68th edition of the Miss World pageant set for December 8 in Sanya, China.

Miss World Zimbabwe queen Hajirah Belinda Potts leans against the car that came as part of her winning prize

Potts said she will sink 50% of her $20 000 prize money into the project, themed My Duty, Your Duty, Our Duty, as she joins hands with other stakeholders fighting the epidemic which government said has so far claimed 49 lives.

“For my prize money, I am going to invest half of it on my Beauty with a Purpose project that will be focusing on cholera and other charity projects,” she said.

Speaking at the Miss World Zimbabwe prize handover ceremony at Miss Zimbabwe Trust (MTZ) offices in Harare on Wednesday, Potts urged citizens to throw their weight behind the campaign to fight the epidemic.

Potts also indicated that she will turn her gaze upon vulnerable girls and play her ambassadorial role with dignity.

“As the new ambassador, I promise to help at least one underprivileged girl child to become an independent somebody tomorrow, and I promise to hold the duties with dignity and grace,” she said.

MTZ administrator Christine Matambo said since her crowning, Potts has been to several places affected by cholera, having visited the camp site at Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital.

Meanwhile, MTZ yesterday handed over prizes to this year’s winners and finalists, who will also get their monetary prizes upon submitting their banking details to the trust.

Potts, who is a holder of a provisional driver’s licence, won a luxurious car worth $41 000, which she will get upon acquiring her full licence. She also got a Miss World finale dress valued at $10 000, a national dress valued at $6 000, an air ticket to China courtesy of LaChelle Travel and Tours plus a one-year job placement at LaChelle Travel and Tours as a tourism ambassador.

First princess Patricia Muchenje and second princess, Canada-based Kuzivakwashe Mujakachi, who also scooped the People’s Choice award, will both pocket $15 000.

THE Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) is running a Red Cycle Campaign, which seeks to create awareness around menstrual hygiene and get the public to contribute towards collection of sanitary pads through donations.

The institute has brought in actress and TV host Mbo Mahocs on board to be the face of the campaign, which is also aimed at influencing government to craft a policy to facilitate raising a budget for sanitary pad dispensers in schools.

Mahocs will attend the Umcimbi Wabantu on Saturday where she will speak about the campaign.

WILD executive director Samukeliso Khumalo said through the partnership with Skyz Metro FM, WILD seeks to collect at least 5 000 packets of sanitary pads which will be donated to underprivileged girls in selected schools in rural Matabeleland.

“The high cost of sanitary pads has resulted in many girls using rags, tissue paper, tree leaves, cow dung, old socks and stockings as substitutes. These options can be highly hazardous. Some girls even miss classes if their red days fall during school days. Instead of celebrating menstruation as a life-giving process, our societies still ignorantly attach taboo and myths that are not only bizarre, but terrifying too,” she said.

“We invite the public to be part of the Red Cycle Campaign to help girls enjoy and celebrate their entry into womanhood! Men and boys too are invited to take an active role in this campaign.”

The eTV Scandal actress, who is currently in the country to do courtesy visits at local media outlets and her former school, Eveline High, will attend the Umcimbi Wabantu.

Mbo Mahocs encouraged people to attend the event and also bring something to donate towards the campaign.

“We encourage everyone to come through at Umcimbi and also bring a pack or two, and even donate a dollar or more towards the initiative,” she said.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Paper Bag Africa said the initiative has come as a measure to counter the high levels of poverty in rural Zimbabwe.

“WILD is interested in partnering with companies, individuals and groups in the drive to improve access to sanitary wear to the girl child in rural Zimbabwe through public awareness, education and supporting policy on Sexual Health Rights,” read the statement in part.

“The campaign also seeks to influence government to scrap value-added tax, on sanitary pads to reduce the burden of cost that ordinary girls and women bear every month in buying them. The government and other stakeholders should contribute towards menstrual hygiene as much as it does towards other necessities such as condoms.”

Newsday

A gold panner from Zhombe was allegedly murdered in cold blood at the Kwekwe city interchange rank on Wednesday afternoon following a misunderstanding.

Police confirmed the murder of Comment Moyo, an alleged gold panner, from Vulamachena village in Zhombe, who was stabbed five times with a suspected Okapi knife at the rank around 4pm by a seven-member gang.

The crime scene report shows that Moyo, who was in the company of his brothers Obert (18) and Macdonald (24), was drinking beer at Judith’s shebeen at the rank when a fight broke out.

“His brother Obert was being attacked by a person wielding a pool stick. It was at that point that he stepped in, but was mobbed by a gang of unknown assailants,” the report read.

The report indicates that Moyo was stabbed five times, twice in the left shoulder, once on the left elbow and twice on the back, killing him instantly.

His brother, Macdonald, was struck on the head with a pool stick and is currently battling for life at Kwekwe General Hospital. Witnesses who refused to be named, said the two gangs had outstanding differences emanating from previous encounters.

“It appears that they knew each other because they were accusing each other of having stolen gold ore at one of the mines, that is what triggered the fight,” one witness said.

Kombi driver Felix Jachani said a number of fights had been reported at the rank over the past months, as the number of shebeens increased inside the terminus.

“Council has to act because these shebeens are making this place unsafe. Gold panners come to drink here and when they get drunk, they start fighting, throwing stones and wielding weapons,” he said.

Illegal gold panners have become a menace in Kwekwe, with over four people having been hacked to death since November last year, according to the police.

Police have issued a machete ban in the city, but it has been largely ignored.

Meanwhile, a 37-year-old gold panner from Zvishavane on Sunday fatally stabbed his colleague following a dispute over sharing of mining proceeds, acting Midlands police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Ethel Mukwende has confirmed.

Joseph Mapasure, of Gudo village under Chief Mazvihwa in Zvishavane, allegedly stabbed Samson Gurazhira (36) with an Okapi knife on the chest, leading to his death.

Mukwende said on September 18, Mapasure and Gurazhira shared proceeds from the gold ore they had sold. However, a misunderstanding arose days later after Mapasure began claiming a bigger share, arguing the equipment used in the mining activities was his.

On September 23, Mapasure went to see Gurazhira, who was drinking with a friend at Gudo business centre, to discuss the money-sharing issue.

“It is alleged that a misunderstanding arose and the suspect withdrew a knife from his trousers pocket and stabbed Gurazhira once on the left side of his chest. After being stabbed, he (Gurazhira) ran away, but fell a metres away from the scene.”

He died on the way to a local clinic.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is studying a forensic audit report on Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) amid indications that more than $3 million could have been taken from the fund in suspicious circumstances.

Higher and Tertiary Education minister Amon Murwira said the report was now with Mnangagwa and action will be taken after his approval.

“A lot of issues were raised and recommendations made, but at the moment, I cannot divulge as to what will be done to anyone until the President has finished studying the report and given directions. This is a forensic audit and by its nature, it makes recommendations,” Murwira said.

The audit was undertaken amid suspicion that former Higher and Education minister Jonathan Moyo had abused the fund for personnel gain.

In the run up to the audit in December, Murwira sent six top managers at Zimdef on forced leave to allow the probe to go on without challenges.

The managers include chief executive officer Fredrick Mandizvidza, principal finance director and administrator Nicholas Mapute; human resources manager Ignatius Kanjengo; chief accountant Ropafadzo Mukamba and senior revenue manager, James Gombarago.

Moyo, currently in self-imposed exile and his former deputy, Godfrey Gandawa were accused of siphoning over $400 000 from Zimdef.

Zimdef funds are meant to support students at tertiary institutions.

At one point, Gandawa allegedly bought personal furniture using Zimdef funds, while Moyo confirmed buying bicycles for his then Tsholotsho North constituency. The Zanu PF youth league then led by Kudzanai Chipanga was also a big beneficiary of Zimdef funds.

Information at hand also suggested that auditors unearthed questionable procurement of some properties by Zimdef.

It was alleged that the parastatal purchased Pandhari Lodge for $2,2 million after outbidding other potential buyers, and also bought another property along Tongogara Street in Harare for over $2 million.

The auditors were also reportedly interested in knowing how Zimdef monies were spent on the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme.

“In 2016, ZITF related gobbled $1 million compared to $22 000 in 2015 and these are some of the documents that were requested by the auditors,” a preliminary report read.

It is also believed that managers were allegedly getting 460 litres of fuel per month, $2 500 school fees per child with a maximum of three children being covered, $300 telephone allowances and $120 airtime per month.

NewsDay

VICE-PRESIDENT Kembo Campbell Duggish Mohadi, is embroiled in an adultery storm which has seen his estranged wife, Tambudzani Bhudagi Mohadi (nee Muleya) petitioning the High Court seeking $1,5 million in damages from his alleged current girlfriend, Juliet Mutavhatsindi.

Mohadi and Tambudzani are in the middle of a nasty divorce and the matter is still pending at the High Court.

However, on Wednesday, the Zanu PF Beitbridge Senator filed summons against Mutavhatsindi, who is yet to enter an appearance to defend.

Tambudzani, under case number HC8792/18, and through her lawyers Scanlen and Holderness, said she was still married to Mohadi in terms of the Marriage Act.

Mohadi, who is currently the Acting President while President Emmerson Mnangagwa is attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States, has said he married Tambudzani in 1981 and they lived together before separating in 1999.

“Since July 2017, the defendant [Mutavhatsindi] unlawfully and intentionally committed adultery with the plaintiff’s husband [Mohadi] and inflicted contumelia on the plaintiff; she alienated Kembo Mohadi’s affection for the plaintiff and caused plaintiff’s loss of Kembo Mohadi’s companionship, comfort and service,” Tambudzani said in her declaration.

“As a consequence of the defendant’s conduct, the plaintiff has suffered damages in the sum of $1 500 000 made up as follows; (1) contumelia inflicted on the plaintiff by the defendant — $250 000 and (2) alienation of affection, loss of comfort, society and services of Kembo Mohadi — $1 250 000.”

Tambudzani also said she was claiming interest thereon at the prescribed rate from date of judgment to date of payment plus costs of suit.

Early this month, Mohadi was granted a protection order by a Harare magistrate, barring Tambudzani from issuing threatening messages and influencing the couple’s children to turn against him.

In terms of the court order, whose details have been kept a secret by court officials and Mohadi’s lawyers, but were confirmed by Tambudzani, who said she has also been barred together with her children from selling the couple’s matrimonial property before finalisation of the divorce.

The granting of the protection order in Mohadi’s favour followed his petition urging the court to determine the case as a matter of urgency, saying he feared for his life because Tambudzani had been calling him on his mobile phone and issuing threatening messages.

In September last year, Mohadi approached the High Court in Bulawayo seeking nullification of the couple’s marriage, claiming their marriage had irretrievably broken down.

On August 10 this year, Mohadi petitioned the court in Harare seeking a protection order against his wife on the basis that violence against him had escalated to an unprecedented level.

He said he started witnessing harassment and violence just after Tambudzani received summons seeking divorce against her.

Mohadi said Tambudzani had even gone to the extent of influencing the pair’s children to turn against him and to dispose of the couple’s matrimonial property.

Meanwhile, the Vice-President has also decided to transfer his divorce matter from Bulawayo High Court to Harare, where the case has been allocated a new case number as it awaits determination by a Harare judge.

NewsDay

KEN Vincent Grant-Cocker, a British investor who was deported in May this year for not regularising his stay in Zimbabwe, has appealed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to help him return to the southern African country.

The Briton, who claims he wanted to bring multi-billion dollar infrastructure development investments into Zimbabwe before he was ejected, said he resorted to engaging the leader after failing to get responses from various ministers.

“Over the past four months, I have written, in some detail, to the Minister of Home Affairs regarding the matter. I wrote to the minister on the 26th of May, the 30th of May, 6th of June and finally on August 28 2018. To date, I have not had a response or even the courtesy of an acknowledgment. According to my information, no action has been taken against the officers and directors of the cartel that runs the immigration department for its personal benefit,” he said in a September 2018 letter addressed to Mnangagwa and seen by The Financial Gazette.

“In addition to writing to the minister, I previously, some six months ago, contacted the Zimbabwe anti-corruption office regarding these officials and again to date nothing appears to have happened, despite repeated reminders via WhatsApp messages,” he added.

The latest development comes at a time United Kingdom-based investment firm 360° Time World Development has indicated to government that it would halt its intended project in Zimbabwe, if its point man — Grant-Coker — is not allowed to return to Zimbabwe.

360° Time World Development, through its subsidiary 55°Time, is on a mission to position and develop 24 Timepiece Ultra Luxury Towers in 24 leading cities of the world.

The company plans to construct an iconic Tower plaza, a new tourist city in Victoria Falls, an offshore financial centre and a new all-purpose marina on Lake Kariba and “these, together with ancillary infrastructure developments, will bring massive investment into Zimbabwe that will exceed $100 billion over the next 5-7 years”.

Grant-Coker said arising out of the proposals for Victoria Falls were proposals for the revamping of waste management in Zimbabwe which involved a major international company responsible for 40 percent of the waste management in the United Kingdom.

“Their representative visited Chinhoyi, Chitungwiza and Harare sewage facilities. Following these visits, I wrote to the various councils and to Minister (July) Moyo at local government. Needless to say, I got no response or even acknowledgment.

“The irony of all these proposals is that the billions of inward investment generated would have cost Zimbabwe nothing; they were self-financing vehicles, which would have no effect on Zimbabwe’s integrity or indebtness, which is quite the opposite of what is currently happening in Zambia and its problems with the Chinese taking over its infrastructure,” he said in the missive.

He added that the draft contract for the Victoria Falls development submitted to the Tourism ministry included specific stipulations by investors that corruption would not be tolerated.
“The waste management proposals have been highlighted by the current cholera epidemic, the current sewage system leaves much to be desired. It suffers from lack of management and is starved of investment and modern technology which will do much to alleviate the problems. The plants we inspected were just not running, their equipment lying idle and in the case of Crowborough, sewage being barely treated before being distributed on the council farms.

“I would respectfully request and urge you/and your office investigate this matter as a matter of some urgency and ensure that immediate and necessary action is taken to clear out the cancer of corruption in the immigration dept and that the officers concerned are stripped of all benefits, convicted and imprisoned for their crimes. This would be a clear sign to potential investors that action is being taken and that corruption will not be tolerated at any level,” the Briton said.

“I… respectively ask that my illegal prohibition order be immediately lifted in order that I can return to my family. Everything I have is in Zimbabwe, I cannot access my assets or even draw money,” Grant-Coker said.

Fingaz

ZIMBABWEAN scientists working in collaboration with their counterparts at the University of Edinburgh (UK) have discovered a rare disease – systematic lupus erythematosus – that affects mainly black people.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex chronic autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs, including the skin, joints, hematopoietic system, kidneys, lungs and the central nervous system.

Previous studies report differences in the prevalence and severity of SLE in different ethnic groups.

SLE-associated mortality in Black American patients is 24 percent, compared with five percent among Asians with comparable demographic and clinical features.

SLE diagnosis in Africa remains challenging and true disease and mortality rates are unknown.

Treatment is often complicated by side effects, so accurate, and early diagnosis (which can be facilitated by characterising autoantibody reactivity) is key to successful disease management.

In a statement to our Harare Bureau, the scientists said the discovery of lupus could help manage the disease in African patients.

Professor Francisca Mutapi of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences, a Zimbabwean who led the study, said: “For the first time, we have highlighted the importance of two variants of systemic lupus that affect black Africans, including one which was previously not defined in detail.

“Thanks to our research, we also have the means to diagnose and distinguish them.”

Professor Elopy Sibanda, of the Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Clinic in Harare, Zimbabwe, who led the clinical aspects of the study, said: “These findings will be valuable in diagnosing SLE in affected patients. It is currently difficult to diagnose lupus erythematosus, as many symptoms overlap with those of other locally prevalent conditions, including HIV.”

State Media

A BULAWAYO businesswoman, who had been on the police wanted list for allegedly externalising more than $6 million to Botswana, appeared in court yesterday.

Delny Deanna Ashley Davies (41) of Morningside suburb appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Trynos Utawashe facing charges of contravening the Exchange Control Act or alternatively Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime, Chapter 9:24 after allegedly externalising $6 314 006, R500 100 and 39 500 Euros.

She was remanded out of custody to October 24 on $2 500 bail.

Prosecuting, Ms Caroline Matanga said between January 14 and April 9 this year, Davies, who is a holder of a foreign currency bank account at Stanbic Bank in Botswana, allegedly crossed into the neighbouring country through Plumtree Border Post in her personal capacity and through other couriers who are all Zimbabwean passport holders with large amounts of cash.

She allegedly deposited a total of $6 314 006, R500 100, EUR39 500 into her three foreign accounts in Botswana.

“On all these occasions, the accused person and her couriers did not declare the money at Plumtree Border Post. They would however, declare the cash at Ramokgwebana Border Post in Botswana,” said Ms Matanga.

The court heard that Davies deposited all the money into her foreign bank accounts namely Stanbic Bank (South African rand) account number 9060001687994, Stanbic Bank (Euro) account number 9060002320067 and Stanbic Bank (United States dollar) account number 9060001680000 and 9060002620435. Investigations by police established that the exportation of the foreign currency to Botswana by Davies was done without the approval of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

The money was not repatriated.

Davies together with Farid Shahadat (45) and Ryan Gregory Joseph (29) were on the police wanted list and the country had to activate Interpol in its quest to locate the trio.

During the period between February 23 and April 11 this year, Shahadat, who is the director of a gold mining and milling company, Yakuts Marketing (Pvt) Ltd in Bulawayo, with the help of other couriers, crossed into Botswana and deposited a total of $1 197 080.

On April 12 and 13, Joseph deposited a total of $331 700 into his personal foreign Stanbic Bank Account.

Davies is being represented by a team of lawyers comprising Messrs Admire Rubaya of Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, Tanaka Muganyi, Maclean Mahaso and Tinashe Runyanya all from Tanaka Law Chambers.

In July, police raided a Harare property and recovered US$4 million in cash and 98 kilogrammes of gold that was stashed in suitcases.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year gave an ultimatum to those who externalised funds and assets to repatriate them within three months. The ultimatum expired in February and a list of those who defied returning the funds and assets was published. At least $850 million of the looted $1,4 billion had since been returned to the country.

A BULAWAYO businessman has appeared in court for discharging a firearm in a public place for no apparent reason.

Job Mushunje- popularly known as ‘Cash only’ due to his penchant for paying cash for everything- and is the owner of Foundation Engineering and Sales (Pvt) Ltd in Thorngrove appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure who remanded him out of custody on free bail to October 22.

He was not asked to plead as he failed to talk and looked traumatised in the dock.

Mushunje resides in Northend suburb.

He is being charged with knowingly and without lawful cause discharging a fire arm in a public place.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said: “On September 23 at around 3:30PM Mushunje in the company of three unnamed companions at Thorngrove produced his pistol loaded with one round and fired in the air once.”

“Mushunje apologised to his friends for shooting when they approached him saying he didn’t know the gun was loaded,” said Mr Dlodlo.

The court heard Mushunje took his pistol from his waist and fired a single shot into the air through his car window and later apologised for his actions, although threatening to fire more shots.

“The gun was for protecting his company money,” said Mr Dlodlo.

The court heard Mushunje drew the ire of his companions who disarmed and reported the matter to the police leading to his arrest.

Government has received 500 000 doses of cholera vaccines and will start vaccinations next week, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro has said.

“We received 500 000 doses of the cholera vaccine yesterday (Wednesday) and preparations are at an advanced stage to initiate vaccination in the next week,” he said.

“In the short-term, the rapid response activity is to vaccinate at risk populations in Glen View, Budiriro, Glen Norah and Mbare suburbs.”

Dr Mangwiro was speaking during a handover of donations by Stanbic Bank and Potraz towards the cholera outbreak at the Beatrice Infectious Disease Hospital in Harare.

He said all provinces and city health departments were on high alert and had activated their rapid response teams to deal with any outbreak.

“We hope we will be able to mobilise more vaccine before the end of the year to reach a larger part of the vulnerable populations,” said Dr Mangwiro.
Government has applauded the efforts made by Potraz, Stanbic Bank, Food World and the Iranian Embassy towards containing cholera.

“Today (yesterday) we are accepting more from Potraz, Stanbic Bank, Food World and the Iranian Embassy,” said Dr Mangwiro. “We are very grateful for your gesture, I assure you that these donations will be used appropriately for the purpose of cholera control.”

Speaking at the same occasion, Stanbic Bank head of marketing and communications Mr Palmer Mugavha said they were joining the fight against cholera.

“As we join hands to restore the well-being of those who have unfortunately contracted the disease and assist in preventing further infection, we have come here today with our contribution of 5 000 litres of IV fluids, 10 000 plastics aprons for the health care workers, 50 000 face masks, latex gloves, 100 pairs of gumboots and 5 000 containers,” he said.

“We are also in the process of importing water treatment tablets, which we expect to arrive by Wednesday next week and we will hand them over to the Ministry for distribution as soon as they arrive.”

Potraz donated $200 000.