By A Correspondent| ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday addressed the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit where he bragged claiming he is imitating the late hero.

Mnangagwa’s claims come at a time when he is back home daily offloading violent riot-police officers onto his country’s 5 million plus vendors.

Mnangagwa made a claim to upholding the importance of global leadership as a tool towards realising the late South African icon’s vision of peace, equality, human dignity and justice.

A day before the start of the General Debate of the 73rd session of the General Assembly, the UN convened the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit whose focus is on Global Peace in honour of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela.

This Peace Summit offered the opportunity for world leaders to renew their commitment to global peace, conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, promotion and protection of human rights and long-term development initiatives as called for by the Secretary-General.

The Peace Summit also aimed at adopting a political declaration to reaffirm the values of Nelson Mandela.

Said Mnangagwa:

“Today at the UN, I addressed the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, emphasising the importance of providing global leadership to realise his vision of peace, equality, human dignity and justice.

At home and abroad, we will continue to honour his memory through these ideals! #Mandela100.”

Bitumen World, Civil Engineering Contractors based in Harare, Zimbabwe wish to address the confusion relating to the traffic circle recently built at the Harare Drive, Gaydon Road, Rolf Avenue intersection.

The Traffic Circle is a product of the contract between client, City of Harare and contractor, Bitumen World (Pvt) Ltd, funded by Zimbabwe National Roads Association (Zinara), agreed to in February of this year. The scope of the initial project was to rehabilitate Harare Drive between Borrowdale and Drew Roads, a total of 4.5km, by strengthening and widening the road to a full 10 metres.

Towards the end of the twelve-week project, Bitumen World was awarded the additional works to construct a traffic circle at the Harare Drive, Gaydon Road, Rolf Avenue intersection.

Further to the general construction of the Traffic Circle, Bitumen World were granted the rights by City of Harare to carry out horticultural services in and around the Circle.

Over and above any commitments Bitumen World took financial responsibility for the landscaping of the traffic circle and surrounding quadrants, implemented an irrigation system, erected solar powered street lights, manufactured elephant tusk furnishings and topped it off with blue lighting effects at no additional cost to client or rate payers. “It’s there for the community to enjoy,” says Bitumen World Managing Director, Andre Zietsman.

“This was a joint commitment from all three parties of which everyone fulfilled their role resulting in the beautification of Harare for the benefit of its road users.”

Bitumen World prides themselves in guiding their clients through the intricacies of the construction process, delivering outstanding results on time, within budget, to an international standard and will continue to do so.

Issued on behalf of Bitumen World (Pvt) Ltd

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have intercepted 250 bales of cloth, shoes and other items following an ambush in Chipinge along the border with Mozambique.

Smuggling is rife along the Zimbabwe Mozambican border in Chipinge as people take advantage of the porous border area to sneak their goods into the country.

ZRP Officer Commanding Chipinge District, Chief Superintendent Amon Ndou said they received following a tip off on the rampant smuggling activities along the Chipinge boarder area with Mozambique and decided to lay an ambush.

Chief Superintendent Ndou warned smugglers to stop the illegal activities or risk being arrested.

“We laid an ambush after a realisation that smuggling is rife along the Mozambican border with Chipinge. We are taking measures to reduce cases of smuggling that is bleeding the economy,” he said.

Meanwhile, police have arrested three smugglers while the driver of one of the trucks is still at large after running away with the case being investigated under Chipinge Urban C.R 83/09/18.

The accused will appear in court for contravening Section 182(1) of the Customs and Exercise Duty Act Chapter 20:03 on failure to declare goods or smuggling.

ZBC News

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has allayed fears that Zimbabwean authorities are auctioning the country’s resources and surrendering its sovereignty to China in exchange of loans running into billions of dollars being sourced from the Asian nation.

Responding to a question from a Zimbabwean concerned by what is happening in Zambia where citizens claim that the nation is being colonized by China through loans amounting to billions of dollars, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe is focusing on capital projects that generate funds for repaying Chinese loans.

Mnangagwa, who is in USA for the United Nations General Assembly and was addressing a gathering attended by Zimbabweans, said there is no need to abandon friends in good times.

“You have some fear emanating from our relations with the People’s Republic of China and fear is on what has happened to Zambia. Assuming that we do know the same and you know more than I do, I would reply relating to relations between Zimbabwe and China without mentioning Zambia. During the period of isolation very few nations outside the West assisted us. Some of the notable countries which came to our assistance were China, India, Brazil, Russia … And when things are good you don’t then forget your friends who stood with you during bad times. But you don’t sell your country because someone stood with you during bad times.

“All what is necessary when you get any loans for investment is that it must be structured. There are capital loans for investing in projects which can refinance themselves to pay the loans not based on the fiscus.”

He said Chinese loans are being effectively used to cater for Zimbabwe while generating funds for repaying loans.

“I went to the Republic of China in April and requested for support for (revamping) Hwange seven and eight plants costing about $1,2 billion. And the funds have come and we have starred drawing down on that amount. But the 600 megawatts we are going to get in 24 months’ time off the national grid it’s going to pay for itself for the next 15 years. Nothing is going to come from (state) finance. So, I don’t see any danger where you have a project which becomes productive in terms of revenue streams to pay for itself.”

He also cited another income-generating project in Kariba financed through Chinese loans as beneficial to Zimbabweans in the long run.

“We have also the Kariba South Extension where I think in January we commissioned it. It has put 300 megawatts into the (national energy) grid and we are paying because we are using electricity. The difference is that if we did not have that we would have been importing the 300 megawatts from South Africa and paying South Africa. But now we have the assets in Zimbabwe and even when we finish paying the loan … the assets will remain with us and we will continue using it. I don’t see the danger there but because you are younger you may see more than I do. Come and advise me where I do wrong. I’m a listening president …”

Zambians are fuming over the ballooning national debt, largely dominated by Chinese loans, saying their country is being colonized by the Asian nation, which is now the largest investor in the nation.

They claim that most public tenders are awarded to Chinese bidders and in Lusaka and other parts of the country China is busy constructing airports, roads, factories and police stations.

These projects are being implemented through Chinese loans amounting to billions of dollars.

According to the Associated Press, Zambian president Edgar Lunga has hit back at critics saying such “misleading headlines … seek to malign our relationship with China by mischaracterizing our economic cooperation to mean colonialism.”

The opposition United Party for National Development has described the replacement of Zambian workers with Chinese labourers as “a time bomb”.

Local people are also unhappy over being allegedly beaten up a work by the Chinese for failing to follow simple instructions, noting that their country is being slowly colonized by the Asian nation.

VOA

Two police officers and a nurse from Plumtree’s Tokwana village allegedly fatally assaulted a villager before throwing his body into a nearby dam.

The incident which took place on September 9, started off when the deceased, identified as Gift Dumani, was drinking beer at Makhekhe Bottle Store and he approached one Ellen Mudakuvaka, a nurse, and tapped her buttocks.

An argument ensued between the two before an irate Mudakuvaka reportedly left the bottle store to look for backup.

A source close to the incident who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mudakuvaka later came back in the company of two police officers.

“Mudakuvaka later showed up at Dumani’s homestead in the company of two cops,” the source said.

“The cops handcuffed Dumani and put him in Mudakuvaka`s car’s boot, they drove off and went to Makhekhe bottle store where they drank for several hours while Dumani was in the boot of their car”.

The source added that the trio was later that evening spotted at Godo dam, claiming that they were trying to locate Dumani who had escaped.

“The trio was spotted at Godo dam that same evening claiming to be looking for Dumani who had escaped. Six days later Dumani’s body was found floating in the dam,” said the source.

According to information received by CITE, Dumani`s body was found with stones in his jack pockets.

“According to the post-mortem results, Dumani’s cause of death was Asphyxia,” said the source.

Contacted for a comment, Mudakuvaka denied any involvement in Dumani`s death.

“I don’t have a comment pertaining to that issue,” she charged.

“You can contact Plumtree district Hospital or the police, besides who gave you my details? Stop calling and bothering me”.

Matabeleland south police spokesperson, Inspector Philisani Ndebele said he could not give a comment on the matter as he was out of office.

CITE

Correspondent|Rejected asylum seekers have accused Home Affairs officials at the Desmond Tutu Refugee Centre at Marabastad, Pretoria, of refusing to return their passports unless they show a Zimbabwe-bound bus ticket first.

According to Spiwe (name changed), who applied for asylum in 2016, hundreds of rejected refugee claimants have been ordered by Home Affairs to purchase bus tickets as a condition to obtain their passports.

“Our passports are held as bondage,” says Spiwe. “We only get them back if we purchase an international bus ticket to Zimbabwe and show proof of the itinerary to Home Affairs officers … They gave us receipts to show our passports are held and demanded we return with bus tickets in hand.”

Spiwe, who is from Harare and works as a dishwasher in a Johannesburg restaurant, says she is frightened to return to her home country. “It is against my will. There is a cholera disease outbreak. People have died, I fear to go back there,” she says.

Her friend Jane (name changed) was also refused asylum and instructed to buy a deportation bus ticket. Jane suspects that the election win of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has motivated Home Affairs officials to declare Zimbabwe safe for refugees to return.

“I was a member of the opposition. I fled to South Africa when ZANU PF militias put my name on a list. I dread returning. I will be arrested in Zimbabwe for ‘border jumping’ and sit in prison.”

Jane says she lives with two children who attend school in Johannesburg. “I applied for asylum five years ago. Imagine what will happen to my kids if forced to return to Zimbabwe.

She says that on the final verdict of her asylum claim is written: “fraudulent and abusive”.

There is a catch: Zimbabwe-bound bus coach operators normally refuse to accept money and print travel tickets for immigrants who do not show a passport first. Police on the N1 route from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe fine cross-border busses that ferry passengers who don’t hold valid passports.

“No bus operator will issue me a ticket till I produce a passport. They won’t even sympathise with me till I show a passport. And Home Affairs has confiscated my passport. How do I obtain the bus ticket?” asked Jane.

Nevertheless, by Thursday morning, Spiwe had managed to buy a ticket and informed GroundUp she would be returning to Zimbabwe on Friday. She was on her way to get her passport back from Home Affairs.

However, Thabo Mokgola, spokesperson for Home Affairs, rejected the allegations. “Home Affairs does not keep passports of failed asylum seekers. Failed asylum seeker passports are used to facilitate deportation,” he said in an email.

Mokgola said that rejected asylum seekers must self-deport or face forced removal by the state. “Bus ticket is the option exercised by clients who do not wish to be detained for deportation … If they cannot demonstrate that they are buying a ticket to return to their country, deportation, which was always the intent of the state, continues.”

Source Groundup Media

Terrence Mawawa|Former MDC Youth Wing Secretary General Promise Mkwananzi has described President Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s attempt to claim credit for the rehabilitation of roads in Harare as a desperate bid to attain legitimacy.

Mkwananzi who was arrested last week took a swipe at Mnangagwa for attempting to cajole the nation.

“You know the country is in trouble when a whole illegal President fights to get cedit over the rehabilitation of a roundabout. Ibasa racouncillor iro mhani # Ediot!” Mkwananzi posted on Facebook.

By Terrence Mawawa| Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda on Friday sent a plethora of derogatory messages to Roan PF Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili for criticising the way he “oversteps his mandate as Presidential spokesperson”.

Last week, Chanda featured on a special Sunday Interview in which he responded to the American State department and explained why government decided to deny Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Tandai Biti political asylum.

But Kambwili, after appearing for a court session the following day, told journalists that Chanda was overstepping his mandate, adding that his arrogance while on TV was
unnecessary.

This agitated Chanda who, after watching Kambwili’s reaction, could not resist but throw a bucket of insults at the former chief government spokesperson.

Below are the text messages, which Chanda and Kambwili exchanged on August 17: Chanda: I saw your despicable interview you gave after one of your many court sessions.

In that interview, you admit that when you were in government, you used to give slow poison to opposition leaders and, therefore, you are sure “Zimbabwe government poisoned Hon. Tendai Biti and he would die in ten years.

Now, that’s the reasoning of a buffoon like you that you see others through your dirty eyes. In my six years in government, I have never heard [or] seen anything like that, but I cannot argue with self-confessed killers like you.

In any case, killing is not new to you. In Chingola and Luanshya, you maimed and killed people who stood in your way of stealing copper and scrap metal and those who resisted your car-jacking.

Some of the victims of your crimes are still alive and can be presented anytime. With your forged degrees, what do you know about sophisticated diplomacy and international relationship’s that I don’t know! Keep your dirty vengeance-filled mouth shut and
focus on your health challenges that now seem to have migrated to your big, but empty head.

You rabid dog, can you find any other way of dying than dragging me (sic) to your self- inflicted problems?

Chanda: Don’t just read and keep quite (sic) and when you get in front on a camera again you get excited and make false allegations
against innocent people.

I am properly educated and understand my role and the President who appointed me is equally more educated than you are, so what is your beef about how I do my work; have [you] seen my contract and terms of reference for you to make it your business to bark at how I do my work. If you think you can go ahead and malign me each time you see a camera or microphone, this time you will see that it does not pay to use the media to bark at innocent people Kambwili: Thanks a lot boss Amos, most
educated man.

Kambwili: The hour of reckoning is near, very near.
Chanda: I am definitely more educated thanbaseless idiot like you. Respond your crimes
instead of sending empty threats.

Staff Reporter|Following reports last week that former ZANU PF heavyweight and local governmemt Minister Saviour Kasukuwere was wanted for questioning by police, reports coming through indicate that he has handed himself over to police in Harare in the company of his lawyer Jonathan Samukange on Monday morning.

Details are still sketchy but indications are that police are interviewing Kasukuwere on suspected involvement in the July 23 White City Stadium bombing of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Efforts to get hold of Kasukuwere by ZimEye.com have not been successful at this moment.

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga has downgraded the traffic branch into a section, in a move which made the top posts in the department redundant.

The creation of the traffic, minerals and anti-stock theft branches is alleged to have created problems by promoting corruption and introducing multiple chains of command.

A senior police officer who spoke to a local publication said:

“There were a lot of bosses doing nothing and most of these presided over massive corruption, especially at the minerals and traffic branches.

These had become cash lords in the force and collapsing the branches makes command structure easy and manageable.”

Announcing the disbanding of the Traffic Branch, Matanga said:

“Addressees are hereby advised that the restructuring exercise agreed on by the central planning committee (CPC) through CPC minute 8/2018 in respect of the Traffic branch is now underway, with immediate effect all traffic stations are to report both administratively and operationally to officers commanding district in which they are currently operating.”-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| ZEC boss Justice Priscilla Chigumba has hit back at MDC legislators who booed and labelled her “thief” when she briefly appeared in parliament recently for the swearing in of the Speaker of Parliament describing them as sore losers.

Chigumba attended parliament in the company of Chief Justice Luke Malaba and opposition legislators booed her in a development which saw parliamentary proceedings temporarily ground to a halt.

Chigumba, told a local weekly that those who accuse her of rigging the 2018 election on behalf of Zanu PF were sore losers as she scorned the behaviour of opposition MPs.

“Their behaviour can best be explained as political posturing meant to ingratiate themselves with their supporters for reasons best known to them,” she said.

The High Court judge denies opposition claims she manipulated the poll adding that the poll management authority’s “conscience is clear”.

She said she did not fault the MDC MPs for exercising their right to express their opinions but found everything wrong with them doing so on the basis of unproven claims.

“…Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and expression. However, I think it is grossly unfair to hurl unsubstantiated accusations at someone under the guise of exercising freedom of expression.”

During the period leading up to the polls, social media went abuzz with accusations the ZEC boss was out to steal the vote on Zanu PF’s behalf. Some comments bordered on bare insults on her person.

In her comments, Chigumba was evidently peeved by the abuse insisting her accusers, among them, individuals of repute, went beyond the normal to malign her for doing her work.

“…I hold the considered view that there is an invisible line which must never be crossed.

“Unfortunately, it was crossed not for purposes of achieving any positive outcome, but purely to feed misogynistic prejudices and to maliciously distort a well-managed process and its outcome by sore losers.

“The social media was used to peddle falsehoods, hatred and threats on a fellow commissioner and on my person. However, I was not physically harmed by anyone.”

Chigumba challenged elected opposition MPs to use their terms in the house to change electoral laws that they were unhappy with so that they could be better served in 2023.

“Those who are unhappy with the current law are encouraged to work towards changing it now so that it accurately reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people and so that the electoral law will never again be the root cause of polarisation in our electoral processes,” she said.

BULAWAYO Vendors Trust activist, Michael Mdladla Ndiweni, has claimed that people agitating for the ban of vendors from various urban areas were misinformed and had stable sources of income.

Ndiweni’s remarks came in the wake of forced eviction of vendors from most urban centres following a cholera outbreak in most parts of the country.

“Vendors are not to blame for litter in cities. I will start by saying that if there is a person who is advocating for banning of informal trading, they are doing so because they have alternative sources of income or they have formal jobs, although I can bet they have a relative or friend who is in informal trading,” he said.

Ndiweni said designated sites such as Highlanders market (Masotsha Avenue and Fife Street), have no high human and vehicular traffic which vendors depend on.

In Harare the designated vending sites on the outskirts of the city pose a health threat as they do not have vending stalls and adequate ablution facilities, exposing the vendors and their customers to communicable diseases.

Ndiweni said failure to settle rates impacted negatively on service provision. He also urged residents not to dump garbage on undesignated sites and slammed the practice of open defecation in sanitary lanes.

Local authorities, which are owed over $2 billion by ratepayers, are failing to meet their mandate including garbage collection, provision of potable water and sewer reticulation infrastructure, due to lack of resources.

Ndiweni said government has failed to support local authorities with grants to provide clean water and to refurbish sewer systems, but is shifting blame to unemployed ordinary citizens who are trying to eke out a living on the streets.

“We have failed to educate our children at elementary level to know that littering is wrong and that cleanliness should be our culture. We see grown up men and women in designer suits and make-up eating and throwing banana peels and take-away packs out of moving cars, but you blame vendors,” Ndiweni fumed.

“Let us stop blaming a section of our community and be all responsible and make suggestions on what we can collectively do to keep our cities clean. We are all guilty. Let us play our role in making sure that our city is clean.”

Meanwhile, Gweru Vendors’ Association chairperson Lovemore Reketayi has slammed the council for allocating the informal traders vending stalls on National Railways of Zimbabwe premises, resulting in the traders being evicted by the parastatal without compensation.

The vendors had been allocated trading bays at the Swift vending site which is along a railway line.

“The affected vendors are the ones who bowed down to the operation to flush them out of the central business district. They went to register at council and were given trading stalls near the NRZ line. They paid the required amounts of money to council in order to regularise their operations, but now they are stranded after NRZ came to evict them, with the city council doing nothing to help them because the land has turned out to be not theirs,” he said.

Reketayi said the vendors are now being forced back into the CBD.

Council spokesperson, Manford Gambiza admitted that the local authority erred, but insisted the stand-off between council and NRZ over the land had been resolved.

“There is no clash between GCC and NRZ. Instead, there is a very cordial relationship between the two entities. NRZ has come and showed us where to put the fence, which we successfully accomplished and our traders’ wares are now safe,” he said.

He said the situation will remain as it is until “council finds another alternative trading place” for the affected vendors.

Newsday

A 34-YEAR-OLD Shurugwi man last Friday appeared before Shurugwi magistrate Sangster Tavengwa facing allegations of stealing sofas from a sex worker after he was left alone at her house following a misunderstanding over payment.

Grace Ngwenya (32) allegedly went with Rashid Mdala to her house, but allegedly left him at her house after he had failed to pay for services rendered.

Mdala pleaded not guilty to theft charges and was remanded out of custody to today for trial.

The accused alleged that the complainant’s sofas were taken as collateral by a certain hospital employee, who was owed money by her (complainant).

The court heard that on September 7 at around 11pm, Ngwenya and Mdala left a local drinking spot and went to the former’s house.

While at the house, the complainant demanded cash from the accused.

Mdala refused to give the complainant the money and a misunderstanding ensued, resulting in Ngwenya storming out of her house to a nearby night club.

The court further heard that when she returned home at around 12:55am, she discovered that her sofas had been stolen and the accused had disappeared from the scene.

Bertha Bore prosecuted.

Newsday

UNITED Family International Church (Ufic) leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and his wife, Ruth, who are embroiled in a $6,5 million litigation over an alleged “false prophecy”, will now have to defend themselves in an open court following the setting down of the matter by the registrar of the High Court.

The litigation, which was filed sometime last year by former Ufic congregants, Upenyu Mashangwa and his wife, Blessing, after the latter allegedly fell prey to a prophecy which promised them a “debt cancellation miracle”.

The matter will now be heard on November 5, 2018.

“Take notice that this matter (Upenyu Mashangwa versus Emmanuel Makandiwa) has been set down for hearing on the opposed roll before Honourable (Owen) Tagu J on November 5, 2018 in Court L as Number 2 at 10am,” the notice of set-down signed by M Sithole for the registrar read.

After receiving the summons, Makandiwa and his wife, through their lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri, filed an exception application in September 2017, urging the court to decline entertaining the matter on the basis that secular courts could not deal with matters of faith, church practice and doctrine.

But High Court judge Justice David Mangota dismissed the Makandiwas’ application, saying Mashangwas’ claims were centred on alleged fraudulent activities.

The impasse between the two couples came about when Makandiwa and his wife were last year slapped with a multi-million litigation after the Mashangwas allegedly realised the so-called debt cancellation miracle had failed to come to fruition, but, instead, their business had started nosediving.

However, the Makandiwas filed a court application early this year, challenging the business couples’ litigation, saying the lawsuit against them was a “grandstanding to harass, vex and injure their reputation and good standing”.

In his affidavit filed through his lawyers Manase and Manase, Makandiwa denied ever making the couple’s “debt cancellation prophecy”, adding the business couple lost their house, if any, to a third party, which matter had nothing to do with the church.

Apparently, some correspondences between the business couple and the Ufic leader will show that at some point, the Makandiwas admitted their intention to refund the business couple after setting out some conditions, but later made a U-turn, claiming the couple’s tithes were non-refundable.

On February 13, 2017, Ufic’s finance director, one E Hwenga, after receiving a letter from the Mashangwas demanding their tithes back, responded acknowledging receipt of the same, but went on to set down some conditions under which the monies would be refunded.

“We, refer to the above captioned reference and to your letter of February 4 (2017) addressed to the Prophet (Makandiwa). Your letter has been referred to us for a response. We wish to categorically state from the onset, that any tithe from congregants in our flock is a free will offering which for all intents and purposes is non-refundable …

however, the prophet has instructed us to pay you back as you demand to ensure that you are satisfied and feel fully recompensed. He has, however, instructed us to pay you under the following conditions only,” Hwenga wrote outlining the conditions among them requesting that the Mashangwas produce receipts as proof of payment which they later did.

On March 6, 2017, Makandiwa’s lawyers again wrote to Mashangwa’s lawyers then, Messrs Mutamangira and Associates, emphasising and reiterating their client’s position regarding the demanded refund.

“As your client (Mashangwa) might be well aware, our client (Ufic) has no legal obligation to refund a free will offering and is well within its rights to do so. However, for purposes of peace, our client insists on all the conditions set out in its letter,” Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners said.

On March 14, 2017, Mashangwa’s lawyers hit back, insisting that the Ufic leaders had an obligation to pay, particularly considering their client’s basis for the claim.

“Your client (Makandiwa) specifically undertook to refund any person who claims all that he or she has given to the church. Your client being a person of integrity cannot surely deny what he publicly stated. We appreciate that this undertaking might have been made without anticipation that someone bold as our client would step up and out and claim all that she has given to the ministry which from the look of things is no means significant,” Mashangwa’s lawyers said, giving reference to receipts amounting to $700 000.

“For a sum of more than $700 000 to have been given by our client to your client during a period of harsh economic times, is shocking to anyone, more shocking will be how your client who claims to be a man of peace and understanding will want to fight, given the genuine reasons our client has raised.”

The lawyers further said: “… For the record, our clients has no intention of fighting Prophet Makandiwa and Prophetess Makandiwa. There might have been disagreements, but it is not within their nature to pick up unnecessary fights”.

Newsday

Staff Reporter|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed excitement at meeting with Zimbabweans  living in the United States  of America.

Wrote Mnangagwa on his Facebook page on Monday morning.

“Great to meet with members of the Zimbabwean diaspora in New York. The spirit in the room was both positive and proud. We truly are one nation, united in our hopes and dreams.

We are embarking on a new journey of growth and development for Zimbabwe. It won’t be easy, but we must traverse it together.

Together we are stronger.”

Newly-appointed Registrar- General Mr Clement Masango yesterday vowed to end perennial queues for various documents, fight corruption and instill a new work ethic to ramp up service delivery in line with the demands of the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa.

In an interview, Mr Masango said he would widen computerisation of the department to ensure efficiency by minimising personal contact between officers and clients, as part of efforts to combat corruption as well as making services affordable.

Mr Masango, who was Immigration Department principal director, replaced long-time civil servant Mr Tobaiwa Mudede, who was among several senior Government employees who were retired last week.

“Part of my vision is to improve computerisation in order to modernise our operations and improve efficiency. There is no reason why one should queue just to pick up an application form, say for a passport, that should be easily available online where they download, submit; only to be called for interviews,” said Mr Masango.

He said computerisation would also address the challenge of touts who have been a menace at the RG’s Office, fleecing unsuspecting members of the public of their cash.

Asked what he would do to end the challenge of passports being limited to a few applicants per day, Mr Masango said he would get to the bottom of the matter to understand the reasons.

“I need to know where the problem lies. Is it staff shortages or resources?

Once I establish that, I will ensure that the root cause is addressed. There are long queues of people seeking to get a passport and I understand a limited number of the travelling documents are issued per day. Some have to sleep in queues or get there early. These are some of the issues that ought to be addressed,” said Mr Masango.

“My word for those in the diaspora or all Zimbabweans is that I will respect one’s right to citizenship and everyone who is entitled to a passport will get it as long as he satisfies the provisions of the law. If unavailability of passports has to do with a problem of financial resources, authorities will be approached and have the situation addressed.”

Mr Masango said he would also accelerate decentralisation of the department’s services to the remotest parts of the country.

“There must be certainty that one’s application will be processed expeditiously; dispatched without delay. Another way of assuring clients is to give feedback at every stage of their application either through e-mail or mobile service’s short service message to say your passport application is now being considered, it is now going for printing or to say it is now ready for collection. I intend to introduce a hotline so that we get feedback,” said Mr Masango.

Asked how he feels about his new role, Mr Masango said he excited.

“I appreciate the trust my principal has demonstrated in me. I will discharge my duties to the best of my ability. I am not new to this kind of responsibilities because I have been head of immigration for 11 years and public offices are never made to be permanent. It is up to the appointing authority. For me, the 11 years that I served are enough time for someone to move and allow for rejuvenation of the organisation,” he said.

State Media

Correspondent|A TEAM of human rights defenders, data and science experts, Team Pachedu, has upped the tempo in the inquiry of the post-elections fatal shootings of August 1 which left seven people dead, by opening its own inquiry which will run parallel to the independent commission of inquiry appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Team Pachedu said it would be using modern science and investigative tools which would see the team recreate events that unfolded from the morning of August 1 until armed soldiers came in to quell opposition supporters’ demonstrations using lethal force.

Team Pachedu said it had a forensic sub-team which would be using geo-tagging, facial and pattern recognition to recreate a three-dimensional space-time model of the events and has since launched a crowd-sourcing platform to allow for the collection of pictorial and video evidence.

“Investigative crowd-sourcing will help us know who did what, when and where. There’s a lot of footage out there. Our hope is to be able to survey it to get an overall view and if we manage to get all the data, we will put it in the public domain so that fellow Zimbabweans can appreciate what really happened,” the internet-based team said.

Team Pachedu has indicated that it is worried that the commission of inquiry, led by former South Africa President Kgalema Motlanthe, could gloss over what happened, given that two of the three local members of the commission had alleged Zanu PF links. In a detailed graph, the team listed the close links that the three commissioners allegedly had with Zanu PF.

The MDC Alliance, which has been blamed by Zanu PF for instigating the violence, has already raised concern about the commissioners, particularly losing presidential candidate Lovemore Madhuku and Zanu PF member Charity Manyeruke, whom they want removed from the probe team.

Other members of the team are Rodney Dickson (Queen’s Counsel, United Kingdom), Davis Mwamunyange (former Chief of Defence Forces, Tanzania), Nigerian Emeka Anyaoku (former Commonwealth secretary-general) as well as Law Society of Zimbabwe former president Vimbai Nyemba.

Madhuku said there was nothing wrong with any interested parties conducting their own investigations into what happened on August 1.

“We understand the terms of reference are to investigate what happened and find facts relating to the violence of August 1. That is all that has to be investigated. The commission does not stop any person or Zimbabwean from still looking at other issues related to the violence. This is one attempt to say what happened and is coming from the commission and we will see what comes out, but others can still do their own investigations in their own frameworks and still publish their own results, this is not stopping anyone,” he said.

Information deputy minister Energy Mutodi said Team Pachedu could go ahead with its own investigation, but it is not official and will not guide the government’s response.

“It has nothing to do with government. Maybe they have their own audience, one which we cannot envisage, but government has appointed a commission whose findings will be official and will guide government response,” he said.

Source:NewsDay

CHINESE diamond miner Anjin Investment is set to resume mining operations in Chiadzwa after President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government allegedly bowed to pressure from Beijing.

Anjin and other diamond companies were barred from mining in the once rich diamond fields by former President Robert Mugabe’s government in 2016 following allegations of looting.

Other companies were forced into a merger to create the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), but Anjin resisted the move.

According to government sources, Anjin’s licence was restored following intense pressure from Beijing, and operations at the miner’s Chiadzwa site will resume soon.

The revelations were first made at a human rights workshop organised by the Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNG) and Bocha Diamond Community Trust (BDCT) last week amid protests by locals.

Moses Makwanda, a BDCT official, told the workshop that he had received a call from an unnamed ZCDC official who disclosed the developments.

CNG director Farai Maguwu said he was aware of Anjin’s return, describing it as a sad development.

“Yes, I am aware and they were seen loitering in Marange barely two weeks after (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa took over the reins of power (in November last year),” he said.

“It is sad that a company that was accused by former Finance minister Tendai Biti for not remitting anything to Treasury has been re-engaged to continue looting.”

Maguwu said the Marange community was not happy about the return of Anjin.

“Mnangagwa must tell us something good that Anjin did which we all don’t know,” he said.

Anjin is jointly owned by Chinese companies Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company Limited and Matt Bronze —an investment arm of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

Mines and Mining Development minister Winston Chitando last week demanded questions in writing but had not responded to them by the time of going to print.

Besides allegations of looting, the diamond companies were accused of polluting water sources and causing environmental degradation.

NewsDay

Staff Reporter|In a somewhat surprising stance recently elected Kwekwe mayor, Angeline Kasipo has opened up her heart to ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa and his erstwhile partner Local Government Minister July Moyo, sentiments which are contrary to her MDC Alliance boss Nelson Chamisa.

Kasipo who broke headlines as the only officially elected female mayor from the opposition party told weekend media that she recognised President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership and would work with him in pushing for the development of the City.

On the other hand, the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, who made sure that she was elected as the Mayor, has adamantly refused to recognise Mnangagwa as the elected President of the country claiming that Mnangagwa worked in cohorts with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to rig the July 30 election.

Kasipo did not only end at showing her adoration at Mnangagwa as she extended her affection to July Moyo who she said she will also work with closely since he is a resident of Kwekwe.

“The Minister of Local Government stays here in Kwekwe and we are going to be working with him,” she said.

“It doesn’t matter which party he belongs to. What is important is that he is the minister.

“He was appointed to that position by the president to implement government policies.

It doesn’t matter the party where the President comes from. What is important is that he is the President.”

“What is important is for us to deliver services to the people regardless of our political affiliations. The moment we get to be professional, then we will not have problems.”

Kasipo further defended Town Clerk Emmanuel Musara who lost the ZANU PF primary elections to contest the Kwekwe Central Constituency claiming that he got the council top job on merit.

POLICE Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga has disbanded the traffic section, rendering top posts in that department redundant, as he moves to create a lean structure at the top following indications the top brass has been milking the fiscus and burdening his budget.

In a memo dated September 13 and addressed to all stations, Matanga announced the restructuring of the traffic branch, which had become the cash cow, funding police operations and flashy lives of top officers in the force before the November military coup last year.

“Addressees are hereby advised that the restructuring exercise agreed on by the central planning committee (CPC) through CPC minute 8/2018 in respect of the Traffic branch is now underway, with immediate effect all traffic stations are to report both administratively and operationally to officers commanding district in which they are currently operating,” the memo read.

Previously, the Traffic branch had its own reporting structure with its own officer commanding at district, provincial and a national traffic co-ordinator, who was stationed at Morris Depot, but these posts have now been made redundant.

Former national traffic co-ordinator Assistant Commissioner Elliot Muswita has been transferred to Mutare.

Matanga opened a process to identify new leaders for the traffic sections under their command, saying names should be forwarded to him for consideration.

“As a preliminary step in the exercise, all officers commanding provinces are, therefore, directed to identify suitable members of the rank of inspector capable of heading traffic sections in their respective provinces, the list of nominees should be immediately submitted to this office,” he wrote in the memo.

The Minerals and Border Control branch together with Anti-Stock Theft have also suffered a similar fate after being reduced to sections as opposed to branches.

The creation of branches in traffic, minerals and anti-stock theft had created fat cats in the police and multiple reporting structures were creating problems and fanning corruption within the police, insiders said.

“There were a lot of bosses doing nothing and most of these presided over massive corruption, especially at the minerals and traffic branches. These had become cash lords in the force and collapsing the branches makes command structure easy and manageable,” a senior police officer said.

National Traffic, which operated the national highway patrol, drew massive allowances for accommodation, meals and did not respect the authority of officers commanding districts, according to insiders.

NewsDay

OPPOSITION MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday said he was ready to weigh any offers tabled by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to enable them to work together for the good of the country, but cautioned that dialogue would be centred around five key issues his party wants addressed first.

This follows Mnangagwa’s claim in New York, the United States, on Friday that he was proposing to officially recognise his nemesis as leader of the opposition leader and extend financial and material benefits due to him.

Mnangagwa told Bloomberg TV in an interview in the US that: “Under our Commonwealth parliamentary democracy, the opposition is recognised; we recognise the leader of the opposition in Parliament. This is what we are going to do ourselves.

“But under the former administration, there was no formal recognition of the opposition leader, but now under my administration, we are embracing the Commonwealth approach to parliamentary democracy, where we recognise the leader of the opposition, who is given certain conditions and perks in Parliament.”

Chamisa, however, yesterday said no formal offer to that effect had been tabled.

Through his spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda, Chamisa said the MDC’s national council had already given the greenlight for negotiations to unlock the current political and economic logjam.

“President Chamisa got authority from his national council to enter into negotiations around five key issues, which we consider important to help move the country forward. He has publicly made an announcement that he is open to national dialogue and since then, nobody has knocked on the door,” Sibanda said.

“If a formal move is made, it means that there will be material office with facts and what is being offered, only then can we respond. Right now, it’s speculation, nobody knows what ED is saying and what he is talking about, the only reasonable thing we can do is we are sending back to him the reality on the ground, that there are five key issues which need to be addressed first.”

The five key issues Chamisa wants to discuss with Mnangagwa include ensuring that future elections are safeguarded so that they are held in a transparent manner and can never be disputed again, that there are moves to ensure the country returns to legitimacy and normalcy following what the opposition claims was a stolen July 30 election.

The opposition leader also wants to have dialogue centred around the economy to avert a complete meltdown.

The fourth issue is around national healing, starting from the Gukurahundi massacres to the August 1 shootings.

The MDC Alliance leader also wants measures put in place to allow constitutional Chapter 12 and 13 institutions — the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, among others, — to have complete independence without undue influence from political players.

On this point, he includes implementation of devolution in full.

Mnangagwa’s climbdown has generated heated debate in the MDC Alliance, with some party hardliners saying Chamisa should not accept any such offer since the party has refused to recognise Mnangagwa’s electoral victory.

“He cannot accept that offer. It’s a kiss of death for the opposition. Remember, we walked out of Parliament when Mnangagwa was presenting his State of the Nation Address because we don’t accept his victory, so taking a salary and that recognition from Mnangagwa would be endorsing his presidency through a bribe. That should not happen,” a parliamentarian and senior official in the MDC Alliance said.

Other senior officials said it was not Mnangagwa speaking during that interview, but his public relations handlers, who asked him to act like a statesmen so that he secures the much-needed economic rescue package for his administration.

“Why would he make such pronouncements for the first time in New York? That line is not official. ED is known for lying. He just said that for the media and we are not yet sure what trick he wants to play. But his PR handlers have told him to appear as a statesman who is building the country, yet in reality, he is a repressive junta leader,” a highly-placed source said.

Other opposition sources, however, indicated that Chamisa was willing to recognise Mnangagwa as legitimate leader of Zimbabwe “in the interest of the nation”.

The sources said Chamisa wants Mnangagwa to approach him to end the current political stalemate.

“There are internal discussions between Chamisa and his inner circle. He is willing to compromise, never mind the public posturing. Chamisa is willing to put the country first.

The talk about dialogue is real, but, unfortunately, this seems to be coming a bit late because while Mnangagwa might have considered this just after the election, Chamisa squandered his chance with not only the Constitutional Court petition, but also his pronouncements against the legitimacy of the elections,” another insider said.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Chamisa’s call for talks was meant to provide Mnangagwa with the legitimacy the Zanu PF leader “badly needs”.

“The position of the president (Chamisa) is that there should be dialogue to deal with the legitimacy issue. That dialogue is not premised on us being in some governing arrangement with Zanu PF or that we should recognise Mnangagwa, but on the need to have a truly democratic nation. A need to have a clear road-map for reforms and the restoration of a normal economy,” he said.

“Anything else is mere speculation without basis. We note that Mnangagwa has been all over the world looking for legitimacy and still has none. We should remind him that legitimacy is acquired from the governed. We are the people he wants to govern, so he must sit down with us.”

NewsDay has been told that, in fact, the opposition has three options it would want to agree with Mnangagwa.

“There are three options that are being considered and that the MDC would be agreeable to. First, we can have a transitional authority with Mnangagwa as leader, but with a limited time frame of at least three years. There must be clear signposts that must be followed,” another source said.

“(Former President Robert) Mugabe imposed an election on the country in 2013 without reforms, which is where (late MDC leader Morgan) Tsvangirai had wanted to go when Mnangagwa visited him last year. We can then have concrete reforms. We raised the 10-point plan for reforms that was never agreed to by Zanu PF.”

Mnangagwa visited an ailing Tsvangirai early this year amid speculation the two had cobbled an agreement for a transitional government that would have deferred elections.

As fate would have it, Tsvangirai lost a two-year battle with cancer of the colon in February, paving the way for Chamisa to take over after an acrimonious battle with co-deputy president Thokozani Khupe, leading to another split.

The MDC-T, then under Tsvangirai, agreed to a Government of National Unity with Mugabe in 2009, but was waylaid into an election in 2013 in which it lost heavily.

While Chamisa is reportedly also considering this as an option, he, according to his lieutenants, is aware of the pitfalls of working with Zanu PF.

Reports have also claimed that former colonial master Britain is involved in behind-the-scenes talks to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa into a working arrangement. It has emerged that other Western countries seem to be nudging Chamisa in the same direction.

“This is what the British have been pushing for, a scenario in which Chamisa would assume a position as leader of the opposition in a Westminster style arrangement,” another source said.

By Paul Nyathi|THE Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe (GALZ) has come out in full support of a school teacher who on Friday made a bold disclosure to students and staff at school assembly that he was gay.

Neal Hovelmeier a 6th form teacher at St John’s College, said the decision to come clean on his sexual orientation was aimed at helping curb homophobia at the school.

GALZ director Chester Samba at the weekend came out in full support of the teacher’s disclosure claiming that his action would go a long way in helping those who feared coming out in the open about their sexual orientation do so.

“I think coming out will undoubtedly assist teachers in managing some of the challenges associated with learners such as dealing with student assumptions around heteronormativity,” Samba said.

“It will help in developing a classroom culture of inclusivity for other LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, intersex people) learners and how other students can be supportive of LGBTI students in ways that embrace diversity in the classroom.”

The GALZ director said the revelation will also help school teachers in addressing similar topics within the learning environment.

“Normally, teachers choose to skip topics in class that they find embarrassing to talk about,” he said.

“Coming out will help end social isolation within the school as he will now begin to feel a sense of community with the reported support and cheers he received from learners.”

We do not have a window reserved for diasporans, and a window reserved for people back home you are equal.

The Affirmative Action Group (AAG) has intervened in a mine ownership wrangle after senior Zanu PF officials and officials from the
Mines ministry attempted to wrestle a gold mine from Chief Sigodo in Silobela.

The officials include Silobela Zanu PF legislator Mthokozisi Manoki Mpofu, Nelson Munyanguri,
Midlands provincial mining director Ernest Mgandani, a mines ministry worker one Manhayi, a coordinator in charge of minerals and border control Munyonga, legal director at the ministry of Mines Apollo Mhlophe and Sibusisiwe Moyo, sister to former Mines deputy minister Fred Moyo.

Information gathered by the Daily News on Sunday shows that the takeover of Peace Mine started
during the reign of deposed President Robert Mugabe, after Sigodo was accused of being a
member of the Team Lacoste faction in the ruling Zanu PF.
As a result, Sigodo approached the courts over the matter and eventually won the case.

The “intruders” were ordered off the mine by High Court judge Nokuthula Moyo on August 23.
However, the illegal occupants resisted the order, forcing Sigodo — through his lawyer Dumisani
Dube of Mathonsi Ncube Attorneys — to file contempt of court proceedings against the ministry
of Mines permanent secretary and the provincial mining director.

The application is still pending at
the High Court. In a new twist to the dispute, the AAG has now waded into the wrangle, taking a position to defend Sigodo.
A letter penned by AAG principal officer Denzel Sita to provincial mining director Munyanguri, and
copied to the chief secretary to the President and Cabinet, Mines Ministry, the Minister for Provincial
Affairs, and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe said:“We write to you flabbergasted by your contemptuous disregard of a lawful court order
including your cabal of friends, Munyanguri, Munyonga and Mgandani.
“This therefore, confirms your involvement in the illicit mining activities and the criminal
externalisation of gold extracted from Peace Mine in the last three years.”

AAG said it was aware that Mgandani, Manhayi, Munyonga, Manoki Mpofu and Urayayi Marima had illegally mined over 40kg of gold and externalising it without declaring it to Fidelity Printers — the sole
buyer of all gold produced in Zimbabwe, irrespective of its origin.
“Your involvement in these dealings is a slur to the office you bear and disgrace to the civil service you
purport to represent.
“Your total disregard of a court order and continued criminal behaviour begs the attention of the President’s Office, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption
Commission and the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” Sita said.

AAG gave the mines ministry a 24-hour ultimatum to address the matter or face litigation.
“We therefore give you 24 hours to redress according to the court order or face the full wrath of justice as we take all measures within our arsenal
to remove you and all vermin from Peace Mine.
Forewarned is forearmed. It is prudent of you to advise your cabal accordingly.” Daily News.

INDUSTRY and Commerce Minister Cde Mangaliso Ndlovu has blasted retailers who are increasing prices of goods and services saying the price hikes are illegal as there was no justification whatsoever, other than profiteering and warned them to stop the price madness.

The minister was responding to calls by consumers who have been on the receiving end as there was an unexplained increase of many goods in shops and supermarkets throughout the country in the past week.

He said there was no justification whatsoever as to why prices suddenly shot up other than speculative behaviour which had no basis at all. He said he was having marathon meetings with stakeholders in the business sector to get to the bottom of the price frenzy that was hurting the ordinary people.

“The price hikes are not justified at all. People ride on speculation and that is really uncalled for. I urge the retailers to reverse their prices,” he said.
The minister said it was sad to note that manufacturers of the same goods had not increased their prices to guarantee price hikes but the retailers have increased theirs.
“If you check with the manufacturers of the goods and wholesalers too they have not increased their prices and you wonder at what point in the value chain is the price hike effected,” he said.

Minister Ndlovu also bemoaned the fact that some sections of the value chain were operating on speculative basis which he said was uncalled for and unnecessary.
“We are following these events with great concern and hopefully they (retailers) will just get back to proper business ethics and stop this profiteering tendency,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Corporate Capital Consultancy Zimbabwe will host a business forum under the theme “Meet the Industrialists” on Saturday where the Minister of Industry and Commerce together with his deputy Raj Modi will be the guest speakers.
Speaking to Sunday News, Miss Rejoice Mafukidze, the co-ordinator of the event said all sectors of industry were expected to come and be part of the event.

“This is a forum that we are having which is based on hearing the possible solutions to reviving our industry. We want expert brains in industry throughout the country to come and proffer their ideas on how we can get our industrial hub Bulawayo back on its feet,” she said.
She said it was essential that the citizens get confidence in the captains of industry as they speak out on how best the city could be transformed to be the industrial hub that it used to be in the not far away past.

“It is now time for action and everyone has to be in this bandwagon as we reinvent the industrial hub via this solution making forum,” she added.
The deputy minister Cde Modi said the forum was also an opportunity to have conversations with the captains of industry and hear their success stories and also the operational challenges that they were having and map the way forward- Sunday News

By Own Correspondent| Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe theological college Principal Pastor Lovejoy Chabata has been sucked into a sex scandal after he allegedly made sexual advances to his assistant, Victoria Phiri.

ZimEye brings our viewers and readers LIVE coverage Sunday morning scenes in Harare as the nation searches for the preacher Talent Chiwenga whose whereabouts were not clear after his meeting was violently disrupted Friday night.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

ZimEye brings out viewers and readers LIVE coverage Sunday morning scenes in Harare as the nation searches for the preacher Talent Chiwenga whose whereabouts were not clear after his meeting was violently disrupted Friday night.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa set an example of forgiveness when he gave a helping hand to the former First Family in their hour of need despite the hostility they showed towards him in the past, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Cde Sithembiso Nyoni has said.

Cde Nyoni was speaking during a party to celebrate the life of her family’s oldest surviving member, Mr Lazarus Nyoni (92) at Vaka Kraal in Zvishavane yesterday. The party was a double celebration, as the occasion was used to toast to Zanu-PF’s outstanding performance in the 31 July harmonised elections.

The ruling party put up an impressive showing in both Zvishavane-Runde and Zvishavane-Ngezi constituencies, coming out tops in the Parliamentary, local Government, Senate and Presidential elections. Cde Nyoni said President Mnangagwa had set an example for everyone to follow by extending an olive branch to the former First Family. President Mnangagwa helped facilitate former First Lady Mrs Grace Mugabe’s journey back from Singapore for her mother’s funeral.

“What I would like to tell the young that are at this gathering is that I have been following the example set by ED. Although former President Mugabe, who had taken the wrong path with both party and country, went against him, he never said anything back,” Cde Nyoni said.

She said that by extending a helping hand, President Mnangagwa had shown that one should always honour their elders no matter how much they wronged them.

“The lesson that I learnt is that you have to be lenient with your parent no matter how bad that parent is. A parent should be given their rightful place. Like ED learn from the people. Forgive and do good, do good things for even those who go against you. Focus on your agenda,” Cde Nyoni said.

She also took the opportunity to thank the community of Zvishavane for showing their support of President Mnangagwa’s vision by voting for him and other local Zanu-PF representatives in the 30 July poll.

“We have this party to thank the community for what they did for us when it was time to vote. We would like to send a message to the President that the Nyoni clan had a party to celebrate the oldest Nyoni and to thank them for voting for this perfect line up,” she said

Cde Nyoni’s sentiments were echoed by the Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Larry Mavhima, who said that the ruling party’s leadership would not take the support the people showed it granted.

“The people have the power to hire and fire. We are already looking ahead to 2023 and if we don’t do things for them they won’t vote for us again,” he said.

Cde Mavhima said that the country had to pull together in one direction, taking a cue from President Mnangagwa who was determined to set the country on a positive trajectory. More celebrations of Zanu-PF’s resounding victory were set to follow in Zvishavane, he added.

“In everything we do we have to place the President ahead. This is because he’s the head of the train. No train moves without its head. The President said let’s do things for people because that way they will vote for us.”

Zanu-PF National Youth League deputy secretary Cde Lewis Mathuthu said it was important to honour promises made in the run-up to the election. He said President Mnangagwa’s insistence on prioritising the economy over politics should be admired by all.

“We need a mixture of business and politics like the President has been saying. If it’s just politics without any business understanding then the country becomes ungovernable,” he said.

-State Media

THE City of Bulawayo will embark on temporary water shedding which will see most suburbs in the Western areas going for three days per week without water as the council battles to normalise and manage water supplies at the Magwegwe Reservoir.

This is the second such programme after the council introduced water rationing to some suburbs at the beginning of the month. In a notice, town clerk Mr Christopher Dube said the affected areas are suburbs that are fed from Criterion and Magwegwe Reservoir.

“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise members of the public that there is an ongoing exercise to normalise Magwegwe Reservoir level. The level has been critical for the past three weeks, due to erratic pumping from Nyamandlovu Aquifer.

Bulawayo City Council is working in conjunction with Zinwa to increase the borehole hours pumping to the City. In a bid to manage water supply from the reservoir, Council would like to advise that there will be an emergency interruption of water supplies to the following areas fed directly from Criterion and Magwegwe Reservoir and some surrounding areas,” he said.

Nkulumane, Nketa, Sizinda, Tshabalala, Bellevue, Newton West and West Somerton will experience water cuts on Monday from 8am and it will be restored Wednesdays at 6pm. It will be cut again on Friday at 8pm and restored the next day at 6 pm.

In Emganwini and Pumula, water will be cut on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8pm and back on Fridays and Sundays at 6pm.

Mr Dube said in Cowdray Park, Emakhandeni, Gwabalanda and Maplanka water will be cut at 8pm on Mondays and Fridays and pumped at 6pm on Wednesdays and Saturday.

In Luveve, Magwegwe, Njube, Entumbane, Mpopoma, Lobengula, Mabuthweni, Iminyela, Pelandaba and Matshobane water will also be cut on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8pm and restored on Fridays and Sundays at 6pm. The town clerk said the programme is subject to change if the reservoir level improves or deteriorates beyond critical level.

“All the high areas that are likely to be affected for more than 48 hours will have water supplied by bowsers.

“Residents are urged to conserve water until further notice and Bulawayo City Council wishes to apologise to its valued customers for the inconvenience caused,” said Mr Dube.

Bulawayo has a history of introducing water shedding as the city faces water shortages either because of lower dam capacity or failure to pump adequate water. In 2012, the city made international news after it introduced the “Big Flush”, a synchronised toilet-flushing programme on weekends, aimed at unblocking the city’s sewer system after prolonged water restrictions. The city also introduced water shedding in 2016 after some of the supply dams were decommissioned due to reduced water levels.

State Media

Featherstone Police Station’s backyard is not for the faint-hearted.

Accident-damaged vehicles, some blood-stained, can invoke scary images, fear and especially traumatic memories for survivors and relatives of deceased accident victims who perished on the treacherous Harare — Beitbridge highway.

The scrap yard can be seen from the Harare-Masvingo highway and has become a grim reminder of the countless deaths that occur on one of the country’s worst yet busiest roads everyday.

“Most of the road accidents between Harare and Chivhu occur around Featherstone and this could be the reason why we have so much wreckages in the police yard,” said fuel dealer Tinotenda Samuwi, who lives close to the road.

“I live around here and during the night we are used to loud bangs and crashes.

“The reason is that we have two stretches that are dangerous when it comes to head-on collisions.”

At the police station more than 15 accident-damaged vehicles were in the yard with most of them bearing evidence of either a side-swiping or head-on collisions.

Despite a 24-hour police roadblock, road accidents between Chivhu and Harare are on the increase as the highway’s condition continues to deteriorate.

According to police in Mashonaland East, the accumulation of accident-damaged cars at the police station is a result of vehicle owners who don’t bother to collect the wrecked cars after accidents.

“After an accident, the damaged vehicles are towed to the police station where officials from the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) do an inspection,” said a police officer, who requested to remain anonymous as he was not cleared to talk to journalists.

“The problem is that some of the owners or relatives of the dead do not turn up to collect the wreckages or vehicles resulting in a pile-up.”

According to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, about 90% of road accidents are a result of human error.

Panganai Motsi (47), a truck driver who uses the Harare-Beitbridge highway regularly, attributed the high number of accidents to the bad state of the road.

“This is the worst road I had ever used in my 10-year career as a truck driver,” he said.

“Most of the accidents are a result of side-swiping due to its narrowness.

“The head-on collisions are a result of motorists encroaching into each other’s lanes due to the bad surfaces.”

Following a deadly accident in 2016 that saw more than 30 people burnt to death in a Proliner bus after side-swiping with a haulage truck, the then Robert Mugabe-led administration vowed to start the dualisation of the highway.

Mugabe officiated at a ground-breaking ceremony at Chaka business centre near the accident scene amid high expectations.

The project was to kick-start in October that year but still remains a pipe dream.

Arrive Alive Awareness Campaign director Isaac Tsikai Simbarasi said the government must move fast to rehabilitate the highway.

“We pray that the new leadership will consider rehabilitating the highway to avoid loss of life in road accidents,” he said.

“We have cross-border traders who use that road almost every day using public transport and there is need for safety.”

The Standard

The Zimbabwe dollar is not likely to return anytime soon according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya.

Mangudya told Bloomberg Television that three things are required before the local currency is brought back.

The first thing is that Zimbabwe needs to improve its confidence, both business and consumer confidence.

The second is that Zimbabwe needs to ensure that it reduces the fiscal imbalances that are putting pressure on the financial services sector on the rate of exchange.

Thirdly Zimbabwe needs to have access to foreign finance.

“When those things are done, then we can have our local currency,” he said.

Asked about the timeframe, Mangudya said he was looking at three to five years.