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.

FOLLOWING a week of fierce debate and a lawsuit threat to the school caused by the disclosure of his sexual orientation to pupils
at an assembly, St John’s College deputy head (sixth form) Dr Neal Hovelmeier yesterday resigned from his post.

The educator, who last week revealed that he was gay in a bid to pre-empt a newspaper article, released an apologetic statement
announcing his departure.
“I have to fully accept that I had no idea of the force of anger and resentment such a declaration would make, but I would like it known that I am a man who has the utmost
respect for people who hold strong views along the lines of custom, tradition, religion and other values.
“I am deeply apologetic for any distress I have caused and the manner in which I acted on Friday. I ask for forgiveness and understanding for the magnitude of this insult,” said Dr Hovelmeier.

Dr Hovelmeier, who had been with the affluent boys’ college dubbed “The Green Blazer” for a decade-and-a-half, claimed he was living in danger since he made his sexual
orientation known.

“In the past few days, I have unfortunately come under vitriolic attack from various quarters. I have been in receipt of death threats as well as threats of physical danger
to myself and my pets,” he said.State media

Shop owners in Harare’s central
business district (CBD) have
welcomed the joint exercise by the
Harare City Council and Zimbabwe
Republic Police to transfer vendors to designated vending sites.

The record number of illegal vendors
who had occupied the CBD of Harare
had not only made the streets
impassable but were unfairly eating
into the market of properly registered
business located.

Business owners who spoke to the
ZBC News applauded the joint
exercise not only as fair but provides
a conducive and orderly trading
environment.
“These streets were an eyesore, we
are not able to offload our stocks
and sales had gone down. Some of
the people were taking advantage of
the situation by stealing from our
shops and we lost due to this.
Those vendors selling clothes like us
were making a killing as they were
less than us because they do not
pay rent, salaries, taxes and the
like,” said some shop owners.

The authorities have not only
removed the vendors but have
identified sites where there is proper
infrastructure to conduct their
business legally- state media.

They arrived in a convoy of 10 vehicles, a bus and a South African traffic police escort.

The victims, among them a one-year-and-three-months-old baby, were killed when the driver of an Inter Cape bus they were travelling in lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road around the Westenburg area along the N1 Road, a few kilometres outside the City of Polokwane.

The bus was on its way from Harare to Johannesburg with 61 passengers.

Zimbabwe’s Consular-General to South Africa Mr Henry Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro said they had facilitated the repatriation process with the assistance of the host government.

“We are very grateful for the cooperation and assistance we received from various stakeholders during our darkest hour,” he said.

“The South African government through the Road Accident Fund paid for funeral services and the caskets while Inter Cape catered for transport costs for the relatives. Our Government through the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) provided other monetary and material support from Beitbridge Border Post until they got to their final resting places.”

The deceased are Memory Masara (25), Tafadzwa Nyatsine (22), Nokuthula Tiny Maarah (22), Tanaka Nhundu (22), Asichile Liwawanya (38) and Anenyasha Choga (a one-year-and-three-months-old baby girl), Peter Sithole (48), Joyce Chapingidza (58) and Aloise Tapiwa Chani (18).

The convoy arrived at the border post around 3pm accompanied by relatives and was welcomed by the Civil Protection Unit committee led by Beitbridge District Administrator Mrs Kiliboni Ndou-Mbedzi.

“Our hearts are heavy with sorrow and we would want to convey our heartfelt condolences to the beavered for their great loss,” said Mrs Ndou-Mbedzi.

National director of Civil Protection Unit Mr Nathan Nkomo described the accident as unfortunate.

He said Government will give each family $500 and 100kg of rice and other services.

“We have raised our assistance fund from $300 to $500 for each bereaved family and we will facilitate other necessary services so that they may bury our compatriots in dignity,” said Mr Nkomo.

The driver of the Inter Cape bus was on Monday morning arrested after he tried to skip the border to Zimbabwe. – state media

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.

A default judgment was erroneously granted in favour of an independent losing candidate Mr Noah Mangondo after the High Court was made to believe that Minister Matiza had been duly served with court papers, but deliberately chose not to attend court.

The rescinded judgment barred him from making threats to Mr Mangondo and his campaign team, but there was no proof that there was such intimidation.

It also barred Minister Matiza from threatening to withhold presidential inputs as a way of coercing village heads and Mr Mangondo’s supporters to vote him into office.

However, the judgment was issued on mere claims without tangible proof that the minister was guilty of such infractions.

High Court judge Justice Charles Hungwe this week set aside the judgment following a successful application by Harare lawyer Mr Nickiel Mushangwe of Mushangwe and Partners.

In the rescission application, Mr Mushangwe argued that his client was not aware of the default judgment until he was served with an election petition in which Mr Mangondo was basing his electoral challenge on alleged intimidation and threats.

Mr Mangondo, in the pending election petition, cited the default judgment to support his claims.

Upon discovery of the existence of the default judgment, Minister Matiza’s lawyers then sought the setting aside of the erroneous decision.

Mr Mushangwe told the court that his client was not aware of the urgent chamber application that led to the granting of the default judgment.

Minister Matiza, he argued, was never served with any papers for the case in question, hence the judgment was granted in error.

The court also heard that the certificate of service filed of record was defective as it did not meet the requirements set out in the rules of the High Court.

The case will now be reopened, Minister Matiza getting an opportunity to outline his defence.

Meanwhile, the petition in which Mr Mangondo is contesting Minister Matiza’s victory is still pending at the Electoral Court. – state media

MDC-Alliance principal Tendai Biti’s application for a temporary release of his passport was yesterday dismissed by Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo.

Magistrate Mapfumo said this is because he is a flight risk since he was arrested while attempting to flee the country.

Biti had applied for the temporary release of his passport to attend counselling sessions for post-traumatic disorder in South Africa and a conference organised by Pan-African lawyer’s Union in Tunisia.

Mr Mapfumo ruled that the release of Biti’s passport was too risky as the State was using it to ensure that he followed the court’s guidelines and appeared for his routine remand.

“The basis of the case lies on the fact that the accused was arrested while he was using the very passport he is asking to be released,” he said.

“He knew that he was wanted by the police and he chose to flee. If it was not for the Zambian government that returned him, he would have succeeded in fleeing.

“The passport is a way of ensuring that he shows his face before the court. Releasing it is too risky, therefore, the application is hereby dismissed.”

Biti was further remanded to October 3.

Through his lawyers — Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Messrs Alec Muchadehama, Harrison Nkomo, Gift Mtisi and Denford Halimani — Biti made an application for the release of his passport from September 26 to October 23.

The State represented by Mr Michael Reza opposed the application, stating that there was no need for him to go for treatment in South Africa since he was invited for medical treatment, yet he had not indicated that he was not well.

Mr Reza argued that in the case of the conference in Tunisia, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights can nominate another lawyer to represent them.

Biti is facing charges of inciting violence and contravening Section 66A (1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 2:13, which prohibits the unofficial or false declaration of election results.

He is alleged to have unlawfully declared opposition party leader Mr Nelson Chamisa as the winner in the presidential elections held on July 30.

Zimbabwe’s legislators across the political parties have said they are working under poor conditions and want an increase in their salaries, which is commensurate with their status.

The legislators poured their hearts out at an induction workshop on Monday saying they were living like paupers and beggars as they were not well- remunerated. MPs get around $1 500 a month.

Zanu PF legislator for Shamva North Oscar Goreno said they have to meet a number of financial demands from constituents with people seeking money on a daily basis.

“We are being asked to meet even the funeral costs of our party members, but we don’t have the money. We have become welfare officers in our constituencies and a laughing stock in constituencies that we don’t have the money,” he said.

“People in the constituencies don’t understand that we are poorly- paid. They still demand money from us, and we are asking government to increase our salaries, so we can be able to continue helping people who are always demanding money from us as their MPs.”

Norton legislator Temba Mliswa said lawmakers were sacrifising a lot of financial resources from their pockets in their constituencies without any help and needed more financial support from government to cater for their welfare.

He said the MPs were always queuing and scrambling to fuel coupons, which were in short supply to them.

“In Kenya, MPs are paid $15 000 per month and have been given land to build houses and vehicles have been bought for them. They also have constituency offices where they can do research with the assistance of 10 or more researchers, but in our country, constituency offices were closed long time ago,” Mliswa said.

Godfrey Sithole (MDC Alliance) said their conditions of service were poor and needed government’s intervention so that their social status can be upgraded.

Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda, said Parliament was seized with the matter and was going to write to government to avail more funds for lawmakers.

“We have communicated with government and have asked them to improve the welfare and service of conditions for the MPs.”

BusinessTimes

Walter Choga will not forget the accident which claimed his wife Asichile Liwawanya and their one year three months old daughter Anenyasha.

Last Thursday he was an excited husband and father waiting for his family to arrive from Harare.

However, it was not to be.

The two were on their way to Johannesburg when the Intercape Bus they were travelling on was involved in an accident which claimed 9 lives in Polokwane.

The South African and Zimbabwean governments worked together to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies.

Eight of the victims are from Harare while one is from Nyanga.

The families of the victims have received state assistance to give their loved ones decent burials.-state media

Paul Nyathi|Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to immediately remove the Bond Notes in order to rescue the ailing economy.

Chamisa wrote on his Twitter and Facebook pages after the US dollar rate to the Bond Notes shot up to more than 100%.

“CONCERNED by the dramatic drop of the RTGS & Bond Note against the USD in Zimbabwe.The fall to 110% as experienced earlier today points to serious trouble in the economy. Being the alternative, we insist, confidence must be restored by urgently removing the Bond and resolving the political problems & legitimacy crisis .#smarteconomics”

Terrence Mawawa| A farm employee has been arrested for bashing his wife and leaving her for dead after she had gone through his mobile phone messages.

Edson Maudzeni, a farm worker at Denolly Farm in Beatrice confronted his wife and severely bashed her for scrutinising his phone messages.

Beatrice Magistrate Yeukai Chigodora heard that on September 17, 2017, Maudzeni assaulted his wife with clenched fists all over her body for going through messages in his mobile phone.

“I assaulted her bacause she was influenced by her friends to go through my phone,” said Maudzeni.

He was fined $ 100 for the offence.

Terrence Mawawa| A senior member of the Muzenda Sports Foundation has expressed concern at the manner in which Zanu PF officials are falling over each other in a bid to seize the foundation.

The official who chose to remain anonymous said he was unhappy with the manner in which Zanu PF bigwigs, led by Masvingo Provincial State Minister Ezra Chadzamira, were meddling in the foundation’ s affairs.

“We are not happy with the Zanu PF officials’ interference in our programmes,” said the official.

Last week Chadzamira pledged to donate land to the foundation indicating there was need to amplify the foundation’ s activities.

The foundation was founded in honour of the late Vice President Simon Muzenda.

The MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has torn into President Emmerson Mnangagwa describing his address at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as a non event ‘full of nothing.’

President Mnangagwa addressed the UNGA yesterday evening where he continued with ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ mantra while committing to ensure that Harare attains middle income economy by 2030 among other issues.

Speaking to 263Chat in telephone interview today, Chamisa’s spokesperson, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda dismissed Mnangagwa’s address charging that he missed an opportunity to show the world how he wants the country to move towards complete legitimacy.

“What President Nelson Chamisa would have done is to show the world how he wants to move this country to full and complete legitimacy, not to try to carry out PR exercise but also to show case Zimbabwe as a country that has sufficient political stability to attract investment.

“He would have asked other countries to partner with this country to stabilize our economic situation so that Zimbabwe can graduate to the 21st century.

Sibanda added that Mnangagwa’s address was ‘cold’ and very thin on detail accusing his delegation made up of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Dr John Mangudya and Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube of sleeping on the job.

“Unfortunately, his economic advisers, including the Finance Minister and the governor of the Reserve Bank have also been doing a terrible job courtesy of UNGA.”

United Kingdom based lecturer and former Advisor to the late Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai during the inclusive government, Alex Magaisa had no kind words for the central bank boss after he struggled to explain himself in an interview with Bloomberg.

“It was a shoddy performance from the governor,” said Magaisa while posting on his micro blogging site Twitter today.

However, Zanu PF secretary for Information and Publicity Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo differed with Dr Sibanda saying President Mnangagwa’s speech at the 73rd UNGA was fantastic.

“It was a fantastic speech, very informative, very well tailored, very well presented and indeed articulated the vision of the second republic,” he said.

MDC-T Deputy President, Obert Gutu has also dashed to the defence of Mnangagwa’s speech at the UNGA saying it was a good address which confirms that Zimbabwe is in safe hands.

“Very good address by HE President Emmerson Mnangagwa @ UNGA 73rd Session yesterday.

“Zimbabwe is indeed in safe hands,” tweeted Gutu.

263chat

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Is Mnangagwa building the economy by lying to UN that 1 August is the only post election violence incident, ignoring the running military brutality in Kuwadzana, Chitungwiza, DZ, Muzarabani, Mutoko? @antonioguterres @nelsonchamisa @BitiTendai @DrNkuSibanda

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 27, 2018

Terrence Mawawa| A German woman was trampled to death by an elephant in a popular game reserve
in northern Zimbabwe as she tried to
photograph it, wildlife officials have revealed.

The attack happened on Wednesday at the Mana Pools Game Reserve after the woman(49) apparently left the protection of the vehicle she
had been travelling in.

“The information we have is that the tourists encountered a herd of elephants when they were entering the park and they started taking
pictures,” said Tinashe Farawo, spokesman of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
“We do not know what irritated the animals which resulted in the woman being attacked.She passed on last night (Wednesday) from injuries.”

The woman was not named by the officials.

By Paul Nyathi|The newly introduced Japanese luxury sedan the Toyota Wish is the new killer on Zimbabwe’s highways accounting for most of the fatal road accidents on the highways.

The family luxury vehicle designed to carry six people is being used as a public transport vehicle between most major cities carrying up to eleven passengers.

The rate at which the vehicle has been killing people on the roads has earned it the nickname Toyota Witch.

Scores of travelers who spoke to ZimEye.com indicted that the the vehicle must be banned from being used as a long distance public transport vehicle.

Jane Mlambo| Unconfirmed reports have indicated that the woman who was assaulted by riot police at Rotten Row Magistrates Court has received compensation of US13 500.

David Hofisi, one of the lawyers who handled her case posted the message below on his Facebook page:

When this image of the police assaulting an old woman at Rotten Raw Magistrates’ Court went viral, I tracked her down with the help of Fidelis Mudimu at CSU and Cde Patson Dzamara. I recall her unflinching dedication to the cause of democratic change and enjoyed preparing her papers right until the pre-trial conference stage (after which I left ZLHR). The police had argued that the images were either photo-shopped or depicted persons who were not in the employ of the ZRP. I was happy to learn today that the High Court granted judgment in her favour.

Jane Mlambo| Harare Magistrate Francis Mapfumo has ruled against an application by the opposition MDC Deputy Chairperson, Tendai Biti to temporarily get his passport in order to facilitate his trip to South Africa where he was invited for mental counselling.

Mapfumo said Biti was only in court following his deportation from Zambia where he had gone to seek political asylum adding that granting his application will jeopardize the interest of justice.

“Accused person is only in court because the Zambian authorities deported him from their country where he had flew to knowing that the police were looking for him,” said Mapfumo.

He also dismissed arguments by Biti’s lawyer, Harrison Nkomo that the accused should be granted his passport because has a lot of properties worth million dollars in the country, saying it is not convincing enough as he had earlier left the said properties and fled to Zambia.

Yesterday, Biti applied to temporarily have his passport to enable him to travel to South Africa and Tunisia.

He was arrested on charges of inciting public violence which resulted in the deaths of six civilians after soldiers opened live bullets against protestors.

MDC Alliance principal, Tendai Biti has written to the courts seeking his passport so that he can travel for counselling.

In his application, Biti presented the above document as evidence of his medical appointment in neighbouring  South Africa:

THE Kgalema Motlanthe-led commission of inquiry into the August 1 post-election violence has found its home at a Harare hotel, with permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice Virginia Mabiza serving as its secretary.

Through a notice, Mabiza invited members of the public with relevant information relating to the August 1 violence that left at least seven dead, to contact the commission at its offices or submit emails through a Gmail account.

“In order to assist the commission to make fair and appropriate findings, we hereby call upon members of the public with relevant information which may be of assistance to the Commission of Inquiry to submit written submissions with contact details to the secretariat at office number 136 Cresta Lodge, Samora Machel Avenue, Harare or email [email protected],” the notice read.

Mabiza said the submissions transmitted to the commission through her, would be protected and that the safety of witnesses would be guaranteed.

“The submissions to the commission will be protected by law and will be received on a ‘without prejudice’ basis. Necessary measures have been put in place to guarantee the safety and protection of potential witnesses,” she said.

A member of the commission, Lovemore Madhuku defended the location of the secretariat, saying this was the trend worldwide to operate from hotels as this was not a permanent commission.

He said Mabiza was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in line with the law to run the secretariat.

“She was not appointed by the commission, but by the President in line with the law. It should be someone who can be able to provide secretariat services since this is being funded by the government,” Madhuku said.

Not sure if l should call you Captains of Industry because l am not sure if there is something to captain at the moment – Dairibord CEO Anthony Mandiwanza to other CEOs at #CZICongress18

— C.E Mambo ?? (@cemambo) September 27, 2018