Government has declared the cholera outbreak in Harare a state of emergency as numbers of people dying or falling sick from the bacterial infection rise. By mid-morning yesterday, 20 people had been confirmed dead from the latest cholera outbreak.

Over 2 300 suspected cases have been recorded in Harare alone.

Isolated cases have also been reported in Masvingo, Manicaland, Midlands and Mashonaland Central provinces, all traced back to Harare as the epicentre.

Addressing journalists after visiting Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital, one of the treatment camp sites in Harare, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said declaring the outbreak an emergency allowed the State to quickly mobilise resources to contain the disease, adding that Harare was the source of all cases reported countrywide.

“We are declaring an emergency for Harare. This will enable us to contain cholera and typhoid in the city as quickly as possible. We do not want further deaths, so if we do not create this disaster emergency situation, we will continue losing lives.”

Dr Moyo took a swipe at Harare City Council which he said had failed to attend to sewer bursts in Glen View for the past two months, resulting in the contamination of boreholes.

“Someone slept on duty and this is one of the problems we must tackle as Zimbabwe. People must work. This whole problem is a result of blocked sewers and these were reported, but were never repaired for at least two months. Now we have the whole of Glen View and Budiriro being affected,” said Dr Moyo.

He said while he would seek audience with Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo on a permanent solution to these recurrent challenges, they had agreed with Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba to immediately clear all sewer blockages.

Dr Moyo said they were also clamping down on illegal food vending with the assistance of the police.

He said development partners were assisting with provision of water bowsers, medical supplies and other non-food items.

“We have a problem, which has to be solved. We need to improve services so that we stop the number of people dying from cholera. There must not be deaths at all,” he said.

Mayor Gomba, who accompanied the Minister on his tour, pledged to fight the outbreak.

“We are working on responsibilities that fall within our mandate but there are also other responsibilities that lie outside our mandate, which Government should also chip in to assist” said Cllr Gomba.

“For instance, for us to collect garbage, we need refuse trucks but we are failing to get foreign currency from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to get our refuse trucks, which have been in South Africa for the past 10 months,” said Mayor Gomba.

He said Government must also prioritise construction of Kunzvi and Musami dams to complement available sources of water for Harare and neighbouring towns.

Asked why the outbreak was spreading so fast both in Harare and across the country, public health specialist Dr Prosper Chonzi said there was a slow response by health officials to the first reported cases.

“The reason why it is spreading so fast is that they delayed in picking it up. Cases were picked up when people had already died and funerals held without supervision,” saaid Dr Chonzi.

“Mourners conducted the same rituals that we practice as Africans such as shaking hands, washing the body of the deceased and so forth and they went back to their homes. Again no follow-ups were done, resulting in the bacteria spreading,” said Dr Chonzi.

He said cases were picked up when people had already died.

Dr Chonzi said there was also a possibility that all ground water in Glen View area, where sewerage has been flowing for the past two months, was contaminated with faecal matter and therefore unsafe for drinking.

“We need to appreciate the mode of transmission of cholera. It is faecal orally transmitted, which means faecal matter would have found its way into the oral cavity of a human being,” he said.

“The natural habitat of cholera and typhoid is sewer. So if sewer finds its way into food or water, people will definitely get the disease,” said Dr Chonzi.

“Right now, I think underground water in Glen View and Budiriro is totally contaminated with salmonella and vibrio (bacteria that causes cholera). So people drawing water from boreholes or shallow wells are drinking water that is already contaminated and will definitely get the disease,” he said.

State Media

The MDC-Alliance has told newly-elected Chegutu mayor councillor Henry Muchatibaya to resign, and has since directed another newly-elected mayor in Masvingo, Advocate Collins Maboke, to do the same because both were not the party preferred candidates.

Cllrs Muchatibaya and Maboke were elected mayors last week ahead of candidates prescribed by the party, Cllr Mathias Shumba in Chegutu and Cllr Godfrey Kurauone in Masvingo.

In Chegutu, MDC-Alliance provincial chairman Ralph Magunje confirmed to state media that the party ordered Cllr Muchatibaya to resign, saying anyone who defied the national directive faced expulsion.

“As a province, we stand guided by national directives,” he said. “Any further defiance leads to expulsion from the party and recalling of those councillors.

“All councillors are expected to adhere to party directives with regards to election of mayors, deputy mayors and committee chairs in all towns and cities we control. Failure to do that leads to party membership suspension for five years and continued defiance results in expulsion.”

The decision to force Clr Muchatibaya to step down has irked councillors, with some of them threatening to defy the party directive.

In Masvingo, the party has since told Clr Maboke to immediately resign, accusing him and his backers of defying a party directive to vote for Ward 4 Clr Kurauone as mayor. MDC-Alliance Masvingo provincial chair Mr James Gumbi confirmed that Clr Maboke has been ordered to step down.

“It is true, that decision was made on Friday last week, it was resolved that Councillor Mberikunashe (who is said to be Mr Chamisa’s nephew) takes over the mayoral post in Masvingo in place of Advocate Maboke,” he said.

Clr Maboke was last week elected mayor after beating Clr Kurauone by seven votes to three, resulting in party supporters erupting in protest as they argued over who should have been elected.

Zanu-PF Ward 6 Clr Wellington Mahwende was voted the deputy mayor on the same margin as Clr Maboke.

He beat MDC-Alliance’s candidate Clr Selina Maridza (Ward 1). MDC-Alliance has seven seats in the council, as compared to Zanu-PF’s three.

There was drama in the National Assembly yesterday as opposition MDC Alliance legislators heckled and booed Chief Justice Luke Malaba, calling him a “thief” after he entered the House to swear in returning Speaker Jacob Mudenda and other presiding officers.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba, who was in attendance in the National Assembly, suffered the same fate until she was whisked out of Parliament by deputy Clerk of Parliament, Hellen Dingani.

Malaba led a full Constitutional Court bench that unanimously ruled against a petition brought by MDC Alliance leader and presidential candidate in the July 30 election, Nelson Chamisa, and confirmed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory.

When he entered the House clad in his full judicial robes for the swearing-in ceremony, MDC Alliance MPs burst into song, attacking the country’s top judge, while Zanu PF MPs hit back by shouting “ED Pfee”. Malaba was visibly shaken.

Mudenda was retained as Speaker, with Tsitsi Gezi elected as his deputy in elections conducted by Zec.

The ruling Zanu PF party has 180 MPs in the National Assembly, while the MDC Alliance has 88 MPs.

Both independent MP Temba Mliswa (Norton) and NPF legislator Masango Matambanadzo (Kwekwe Central) voted for Mudenda.

In his acceptance speech, Mudenda urged MPs to unite and work together.

“The most important thing is that, through our committee system, we should be able to build consensus and build Zimbabwe,” he said.

-Newsday

Harare City Council has decommissioned two boreholes in Glen View after the water tested positive for Vibrio cholerae, a cholera causing bacteria. City corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme confirmed the development in an interview with The Herald yesterday.

“Yes, I can confirm that we have decommissioned two boreholes in Glen View because we suspected they were the epicentre of the spread of cholera in the area,” he said. “The water was positive when it was tested for the bacterium.”

Mr Chideme said the development was part of the measures that the Harare City Council was implementing to curb the spread of cholera.

He said repairs to damaged sewer pipes was being done.

“Besides decommissioning of boreholes, we are also replacing all collapsed sewer pipes in Glen View and Budiriro for a start, then we will soon move to other areas,” said Mr Chideme. “The work has already started and is in progress.”
Government has since activated the national response mechanism to combat the dual outbreaks of cholera and typhoid.

The national response taskforce comprises of representatives from the Ministries of Health and Child Care, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Defence and War Veterans and the Department of Civil Protection, local authorities and other inter-agency representatives.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care is coordinating the national response, while City of Harare is coordinating on the outbreak in Harare.

Chitungwiza, Midlands, Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland Central provinces have since reported sporadic cases of cholera — all traced back to Harare.

State Media

By A Correspondent|Government has ordered the temporary suspension of lessons at Glen View 5 Primary School in Harare to pave way for the provision of adequate sanitation facilities. This followed reports that two pupils had died, while over 20 others received treatment for suspected cholera.

A visit by The Herald to the school, which is located in the cholera epicentre, showed that the school’s sewer system was in a bad state.

Glen View 5 primary school pupils coming from cholera screening centre in Harare yesterday. (Picture by Innocent Makawa)
By end of day yesterday, the sewer system had not been attended to. Parents thronged the school yesterday demanding a test of borehole water at the institution.

There are fears borehole water in Glen View is contaminated.

“They must also test the borehole water, which could be another source of this outbreak,” said Mrs Jennifer Karonga, whose two children were complaining of headache and stomach pains.

“We already have one person who died of cholera in our street and several others are still receiving treatment from Nazareth (also known as Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital BRIDH). I am very worried with their condition,” said Mrs Karonga.

She said although the school and health authorities had earlier on screened children with suspected cholera symptoms, hers were only given oral rehydration solution (ORS) satchets, which they were asked to take home.

“They were given these satchets to make the rehydration solution from home, but as we speak, all taps are dry. There is no water,” said Mrs Karonga.

She said no water bowsers had been deployed in the area. Other parents who spoke on condition of anonymity, urged Government to ensure provision of safe and adequate water.

“All the boreholes that we were relying on have been condemned. The taps are dry and we do not have alternative water sources,” said the residents.

Speaking to journalists earlier on, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said lessons at Glen View 5 Primary School were suspended to enable restoration of proper sanitation facilities and clean water.
“We have decided that we will suspend classes while we bring in fresh water. If we do not suspend classes, pupils will continue drinking water from the same contaminated wells, making it difficult to contain the outbreak,” Dr Moyo said.

“It is inconvenient, but relevant to save lives,” he said.

-State Media

Jane Mlambo| A Cholera outbreak has been reported in Mbare National though the number of affected people is not yet known.

According to Community Water Alliance (CWA), the outbreak was reported in Mbare National along First Street and Second Street with the organization saying it is finalizing details of the number of affected people.

Government yesterday declared cholera outbreak a national disaster following Minister f Health, Obadiah Moyo’s visit to Beatrice Road Infectious Disease hospital.

Close to 20 people have been reported dead with thousands affected in one of the most deadly outbreaks since 2008.

By A Correspondent|In a case reminiscent of the former president Robert Mugabe era, where several citizens were dragged to court for undermining his authority, a commuter omnibus driver here, David Ndlovu, has been arrested for insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Ndlovu, 31, who was arrested on Friday and spent the night at Bulawayo Central Police cells, appeared in court the following day before magistrate Gladmore Mushowe facing charges of disorderly conduct in a public place. He was not asked to plead and was remanded out of custody. He was set to appear in court on Tuesday for commencement of trial.

Ndlovu of Sauercetown suburb is being represented by Dickson Abraham of Tanaka Law Chambers who was seconded to the case by the Christian Legal Council. According to the State papers, on September 6 at Puma Service Station situated at corner Lobengula Street and 6th Avenue, the complainant Sibekezile Jele, a nurse aide in Hillside approached a vendor intending to buy paraffin. The State papers noted that Jele queried that the paraffin was too expensive. The accused person then interjected and said in Ndebele language, Wena hantso wavota wathi ED Pfee, sizabona ukuthi inja yenu leyo izalenzelani (loosely translated to mean you voted for ED, we will see what that dog of yours is going to do for you.)

The complainant immediately proceeded to Mzilikazi Police Station where he made a police report. A follow up was made leading to the arrest of Ndlovu. However, in his warned and cautioned statement, Ndlovu denied the charge. “I was talking to my friend called Banda, who is a parafin vendor. I always greet him by saying ED pfee”

By Paul Nyathi|A recent random sample test of City of Harare water has revealed that some of the water samples contained particles of human faeces making the water unfit for human consumption a report has revealed.

Below is the expert report condemning the water supplied to the residents of the capital city which is currently embroiled in a dire cholera epidemic.

At least twenty people have died of the waterborne disease in the last week with thousands more infected.

THE MDC Alliance should focus on service delivery in areas where it controls local authorities instead of making debates about the legitimacy of the Government, Alliance for People’s Agenda president, Dr Nkosana Moyo, has said.

In a televised interview with SABC News on Sunday, Dr Moyo expressed confidence in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new Cabinet saying it represented the country’s demographics.

The APA president said the Constitutional Court put to finality Nelson Chamisa’s presidential election victory claim hence they should focus on their mandate.

“I think the MDC A has to deal with, firstly I don’t want to debate the issue of the election results, because a process has taken place, this thing was taken to court and the courts decided. So let’s leave that out,” said Dr Moyo.

“But where the MDC has control for instance of local government, I think it’s up to them to demonstrate that they have capacity, that they put people who are able to deliver what the people want, what the people need, in local communities, in local councils.”

He said it was neither here nor there for the main opposition to accept the new Government, but they have an obligation to deliver services.

“Whether they approve or disapprove what Zanu-PF does, it’s completely irrelevant. The MDC has got an opportunity in places where they are in control to demonstrate that they have got the capacity and can deliver. The debate of whether Zanu-PF is legitimate or not, I don’t think is relevant to their ability to demonstrate delivery and capacity,” Dr Moyo said.

He said the country is facing a myriad of challenges and Government should address unemployment and a bloated budget.

“Zimbabwe suffers from inordinately high levels of unemployment. Zimbabwe suffers from a budget which does not make sense. When you are spending more than 90 percent on salaries it means the budget is bloated, it’s not the correct size. There is no resource left for investing in infrastructure for instance,” Dr Moyo said.

State Media

A HARARE City councillor, Jacob Mafume (MDC Alliance), has proposed a pay hike for city employees as a way to retain skilled and experienced staff at a time service delivery is at its lowest.

Mafume (pictured) has also been appointed the new MDC Spokesperson by party leader Nelson Chamisa.

Officiating during a handover ceremony of firefighting equipment donated by Operation Florian, Mafume, who was standing in for the new Harare mayor Herbert Gomba, said council should pay its staff more so that they do not leave the local authority.

“After training these people with such high skills, they are now sought-after because they are good. They leave council for better pastures. This is one area we need to look at,” Mafume said on Monday.

“We need to pay them well, improve the conditions of service for the workers so that we can keep the best.”

Harare council is considered to be one of the highest-paying institutions, with most of its workers earning more than their counterparts in central government, while its wage bill is more than the recommended 70:30 ratio to service delivery.

Mafume told the gathering that the new council would prioritise establishment of new firefighting stations and emergency reaction services within suburbs as a way of alleviating damage to property and lives in cases of accidents and fire outbreaks.

Operation Florian, a United Kingdom-based humanitarian organisation, conducted a training programme for the city’s fire fighters as well as its emergency response team.

“I understand that we need more than 10 sub-stations within our communities so that we could cover the greater Harare when it comes to firefighting and accidents. The sanctity of life and preservation thereof, and that of properties, relies largely on a well-equipped, adequately protected and well-drilled life-saving team,” Mafume said

“To this end, our partners have donated three fire tenders, two heavy vehicles, personal protective equipment and an array of equipment over the past five years.”

NewsDay

By Paul Nyathi|MASVINGO City Council (MCC) has begun supplying water to residents at some designated collection points after a residents association petitioned the High Court seeking to compel the local authority to alleviate the water shortages.

Through its lawyer, Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA), filed an urgent chamber application in the High Court on Thursday 30 August 2018 seeking an order compelling MCC to provide running tap water to residents in the ancient city.

MURRA took legal action after MCC had failed to supply running tap water to residents following a breakdown of one of MCC’s water pumps at Bushmead Waterworks, which resulted in a 50 percent reduction in water pumping capacity.

In its urgent chamber application, MURRA argued that MCC had violated residents’ constitutional rights by failing to supply safe, clean and potable water as provided in section 77 of the Constitution.

In court, during a hearing presided over by Justice Joseph Mafusire, MCC agreed to supply water to residents to all affected areas through water bowsers and other containers pending the restoration of running tap water supplies.

In addition, MCC has now published a list of water collection sites in the city and a time schedule, where residents are currently accessing water supplies. MCC is also supplying water to some affected schools in an effort to mitigate the current water supply water shortages.

By Paul Nyathi|National People’s Party strongman and National Chairman Dzikamai Mavhaire has also resigned from the troubled party led by former Vice President Joice Mujuru.

Mavhaire becomes the fourth top official of the party to quit within the last two days sending warnings that the party could be on its way to oblivion.

Mavhaire joins party Vice President Samuel Sipepa Nkomo who resigned together with National Spokesperson Jefferson Chitando on Monday. The two were immediately followed by Gilbert Dzikiti a principal to the People’s Rainbow Coalition which Mujuru leads.

While Nkomo and Chitando announced their return to the MDC Alliance, Dzikiti went back to his original home in the ruling ZANU PF.

Mavhaire who founded the NPP with Mujuru after splitting from ZANU PF in 2015 tendered his resignation to Mujuru without stating his next move.

In a letter dated 11 September 2018, Mavhaire writes: “I hereby resign from the National People’s Party as national chairman and member of the party. It was a pleasure working together as a team.”

ZimEye.com efforts to get a comment from Mujuru on the spate of resignations from the party have not yet been successful.

A 32-year old man has been charged for allegedly removing his cellmate’s pants and fondling his buttocks when they were detained at Pumula Police Station in Bulawayo.

Godknows Simbarashe Pfumbi allegedly demanded sex from a 40-year-old cell mate with whom he was detained.

A court yesterday heard how on Friday last week, Pfumbi demanded to sleep next to the victim saying that he looked young and the victim thought it was a joke.

Pfumbi appeared before Western Commonage Magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube facing charges of indecent assault and was remanded in custody to September 20.

He denied the allegations stating that the two only fought over some space to sleep.
The prosecutor, Mr Nathan Marime, told the court that as soon as the other inmates fell asleep, Pfumbi removed his pants and demanded sex from the victim.

“After removing his pants, Pfumbi started fondling the victim’s buttocks demanding sex from him,” he said.

“The victim refused to have sex with Pfumbi and started insulting him. Other inmates woke up as they heard the two exchanging insults.”

A few minutes later, Mr Marime said, police arrived at the cell and after hearing of what had happened, removed the victim from the cell.- stats media

A Bulawayo man allegedly paid two bouncers $2 000 to assault his wife’s suspected lover in a love triangle that has sucked in a city businessman who was beaten up by the duo.

Nkululeko Masuku allegedly hired the bouncers to beat up Mr Elias Zozolex Mweneziko who features in some photos involving Masuku’s wife named as Dudu.

It is alleged that in July, Dudu and Mr Mwezeziko’s girlfriend only identified as Ms Hazvinei, both employees of a mobile communication company, travelled to Victoria Falls on work commitments and tagged along their respective lovers Mr Archford Chonzi and Mr Mweneziko.

The lovers allegedly took pictures enjoying themselves in Victoria Falls.

Later, Masuku reportedly retrieved the pictures from his wife’s Icloud account, a backup platform for Iphones.

After learning of the “illicit affair”, Masuku allegedly hired the two bouncers to deal with his wife’s lover.

A 47-second video of Mr Mweneziko being assaulted by the bouncers for “his role in the scandal” has gone viral on social media and on Monday he visited Chronicle to clarify the case.

He said the incident occurred on September 2 at a local bar as he was interrogated while being assaulted for more than 35 minutes

Mr Mweneziko said his assault happened in the presence of Masuku who was recording the footage.

“The reason why I was being assaulted is that Masuku said I knew his wife yet I allowed Chonzi to go out with her to Victoria Falls. He wanted me to reveal whether his wife had sex with her boyfriend but I couldn’t reveal that as I didn’t know,” he said.

“He wanted to know why I was in photos involving his wife, but I told him I was with my girlfriend who works with his wife. He already knew because he had seen me coming to pick my girlfriend while he was picking his wife at their work place. He said I knew that he had a child with his wife yet I allowed her to have a boyfriend. But it was not for me to tell his wife what to do and what not to.

“They assaulted me for almost 35 minutes but Masuku only shot a 47-second video which he widely circulated on social media. Because I knew one of the bouncers, when Masuku exited the room where they were beating me from, I asked him why they were doing it and he said they were paid $2 000 for it. But I had no links to Chonzi.”

He said on the following day, Masuku located Mr Chonzi who runs a bar in the city and the bouncers severely assaulted him that he had to be stitched on the mouth at a local surgery.

Mr Mweneziko said he filed a report on his assault to the police.

“But Masuku has been trying to persuade me to drop the charges promising me $5 000 as compensation. Chonzi has also reported the case. I can’t drop this matter. It has affected me in my business. I run a successful car sales. My clients will end up not trusting me,” said Mr Mweneziko.

Contacted for comment, Masuku denied knowledge of the case.

However, one of the bouncers confirmed that Masuku hired them. state media

By Paul Nyathi|Leader of the opposition Democratic Assembly for Reform and Empowerment (DARE) Gilbert Dzikiti has joined the ever growing number of people dumping the Joice Mujuru led National People’s Party and its coalition the PRC.

Dzikiti who joined the PRC as one of the principals wrote to Mujuru on Tuesday informing her that he was dumping both the coalition and the party he founded to rejoin ZANU PF.

Things haven’t been very rosy for Mujuru since the election of July 30. Some of her top officials including Vice President Samuel Sipepa Nkomo have been dumping the party since the party’s poor performance in the July 30 elections.

Dzikiti’s resignation letter reads as follows:

President Mujuru

Gilbert Taona Dzikiti

Jane Mlambo| Masvingo City Council (MCC) has begun supplying water to residents at some designated collection points after a residents association petitioned the High Court seeking to compel the local authority to alleviate the water shortages.

Through its lawyer, Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA), filed an urgent chamber application in the High Court on Thursday 30 August 2018 seeking an order compelling MCC to provide running tap water to residents in the ancient city.

MURRA took legal action after MCC had failed to supply running tap water to residents following a breakdown of one of MCC’s water pumps at Bushmead Waterworks, which resulted in a 50 percent reduction in water pumping capacity.

In its urgent chamber application, MURRA argued that MCC had violated residents’ constitutional rights by failing to supply safe, clean and potable water as provided in section 77 of the Constitution.

In court, during a hearing presided over by Justice Joseph Mafusire, MCC agreed to supply water to residents to all affected areas through water bowsers and other containers pending the restoration of running tap water supplies.

In addition, MCC has now published a list of water collection sites in the city and a time schedule, where residents are currently accessing water supplies. MCC is also supplying water to some affected schools in an effort to mitigate the current water supply water shortages.

By Jane Mlambo| Youth associations registered under the Zimbabwe Youth Council have blasted MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa over what they termed derogatory and sexist remarks aimed at new Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister, Kirsty Coventry.

Chamisa torched a storm over the weekend when he appeared as if demeaning Coventry referring to her using a word said to be as vulgar by a section of society, while addressing a rally in Chitungwiza over the weekend.

That word “mudhidhi” mukuru was however nowhere near vulgar, since in his native Karanga it means a great swimmer.

“We note with great concern the speech by Mr Chamisa over the weekend, a speech which was riddled with unfortunate and seditious remarks that cannot go without a word of reprimand,” said Primrose Miga, Executive Chairperson of Young Miners Foundation.

“As organisations that represent the youth, we feel the sexist, racial and vulgar pronouncements made by Mr Chamisa are not only ingenious but also dissipated and unwelcome,” she further stated.

However, asked on whether the meeting had the blessing of the newly appointed Minister, the grouping denied having consulted her, further cementing the notion that they were playing politics despite urging the opposition leader to desist from politicking.

Meanwhile, the MDC-USA Presidential Representative’s Office has thrown its weight behind Chamisa saying his statement was not inflammatory.

“There is need for a definitive response to the discrediting social media remarks to President Nelson Chamisa’s recent speech.

Shona is not the only language with words that bear more than one meaning. No matter how well-meaning, some interpretations will confirm an individual’s own bias.

“We find it deeply disturbing and stand by President Nelson Chamisa.

“In Zimbabwe, we may diverge in opinions, but opinions should be respected. Including our President’s opinion. We applaud him for venturing into uncharted waters and his continued use of humour in speeches to convey his message to party supporters. An excellent speaking skill. With support from party followers, he will make headway,” reads part of the statement.

Coventry has, however, remained mum over the issue.

-263Chat

Jane Mlambo|The MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa has appointed Professor Welshman Ncube as one of his co-vice Presidents together with Morgan Komichi and Elias Mudzuri in a move aimed at strengthening the opposition movement ahead of the make or break congress slated for next year.

The youthful politician has also promoted party spokesperson Thabitha Khumalo to the position of National Chairperson deputized by former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Tendai Biti while Ward 17 Councillor Jacob Mafume landed the Spokesperson post.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters today, Presidential Spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda said the party’s highest decision making body had armed Chamisa with power to restore the originality of the party by opening doors to all the former members.

“The president is working hard to retain the party to its original strength by integrating members of the MDC Alliance into the MDC. The president is doing all this on the basis of the constitution and after meeting with the national executive yesterday. He is guided in doing this by the directions that were made by the national council earlier this year.

“The national council recently instructed the president to give effect to the integration and consolidation resolution. These resolutions were followed by line member’s resolution

Chamisa also made a number of changes redeploying some senior members in various positions in both council and parliamentary affairs while Jacob Mafume another prodigal member has been redeployed as the party spokesperson.

Dr Sibanda further said the MDC Alliance and MDC T names were employed as the electoral vehicle and therefore the party now returns to its original name with a vision to galvanize the party.

The MDC heads for congress next year for the first time without its founding President the late Morgan Tsvangirai who succumbed to the cancer of the colon in February this year.

“President Chamisa made his commitment that the party will rebuild, galvanize and prepare to run this country as effective as possible and he has begun this process as you can see what used to be many factions of the MDC is no longer there we now have a unified Movement for Democratic Change,” said Sibanda.

Meanwhile, the new party spokesperson, Mafume said the main focus of the 19th Anniversary event set for this Saturday is to take stock of the journey the opposition party has travelled while also looking into the election outcome particularly on the presidential election outcome the MDC insists was rigged in favour of the incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa.

-263Chat

The Provincial Medical Director of Masvingo province, Dr Amidius Shamhu has refuted claims that there is a cholera outbreak in the province.

Dr Shamhu said one person has died of cholera in Masvingo and that person is reported to have travelled from Glen View in Harare to Masvingo.

“It is therefore assumed he acquired the cholera disease from Glen View; so we can safely say the cholera was imported from Harare,” said Dr Shamhu.

Dr Shamhu urged Masvingo residents to practice cholera preventive measures that health workers are teaching them.

“I urge all Masvingo residents to wash their hands before preparing food, practice safe disposal of waste and to urgently seek medical attention where cases of diarrhea have been noted,” he added.

Dr Shamhu also added that borehole water is not 100 percent safe as it can be contaminated easily therefore people should boil drinking water from boreholes or use water treatment chemicals and tablets to kill any bacteria which might be in the water.- state media

Jane Mlambo| Former Deputy Speaker or the National Assembly and Zanu PF senator, Mabel Chinomona has been elected President of the Senate after defeating Morgan Komichi who had been nominated by the opposition MDC Alliance.

Chinomona won with 52 votes against Komichi’s 22.

Retired General Mike Nyambuya was elected Deputy President after defeating Lillian Timveos who had been nominated by the MDC Alliance.

Jane Mlambo| Zanu PF’s Mabel Chinomona is battling against MDC Alliance nominated Morgan Komichi for the position of President of Senate in the elections currently underway in the upper house.

Earlier in the day, Jacob Mudenda was retained as Speaker of Parliament after defeating Paurina Mupariwa who had been nominated by the MDC Alliance.

With Zanu PF also dominating the senate, Chinomona is likely to sail through with little resistance from the opposition.

Keep refreshing for more details on the outcome of the elections.

By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday announced a shock cabinet in which several long serving Ministers were dropped and replaced by fairly new faces in local politics.

One of the long serving Ministers to be dropped was Former Health and Child Care minister Dr David Parirenyatwa who has since indicated that he will revert back to his private practice after his fall from grace.

Parirenyatwa who has been the Minister for close to two decades appeared shocked to have been dropped from cabinet besides massive pressure from civil society for Mnangagwa to drop him even before the July 30 elections.

“I have done my best, the best of my passion, remember I am a trained medical doctor so for now, I will take a break and consider many options available,” said Parirenyatwa in an interview with news reporters.

“I really support what the president has done and I look forward to supporting his team…I will consider going back into practice as a member doctor or many other options, but I really support the president’s vision to move the country forward.”

By Paul Nyathi|Newly appointed Deputy Minister of Information Energy Mutodi has warned MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa that government will not take lightly his supposed inauguration set to take place on Saturday.

Chamisa revealed to MDC Alliance supporters at the weekend that he will have himself inaugurated as the People’s President at Gwanzura Stadium on Saturday when the MDC holds its 19 years celebrations since its founding in 1999

Mutodi took to his Twitter account to fire shots at Chamisa.

“Gvt is following with keen interest the inflammatory statements being passed by Nelson Chamisa including his claim that he will be inaugurated on Saturday. Any attempt to delegitimize gvt will not be tolerated and those bent on causing anarchy will be dealt with mercilessly,” said Mutodi a top aide to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

By Paul Nyathi|The MDC Alliance national youth Organising Secretary Morgan Ncube has been elected as the Mayor of the new Beitbridge Town Council.

Ncube’s deputy will be Munyaradzi Chitsunge.

The MDC Alliance won all the six wards in the Beitbridge town council. The town has been a ZANU PF dominance since the coming together of PF ZAPU and ZANU in the 1987 Unity Accord.

Meanwhile, in Gwanda a lecturer at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic Jastone Mazhala was also on Monday elected as the Mayor of the Municipality. His deputy is Ponolo Maphala also of the MDC Alliance.

Mazhala defeated outgoing ZANU PF Mayor Knowledge Ndlovu by 6 votes to 4 in an obvious result where the opposition MDC Alliance has six councillors against four for ZANU PF.

Jane Mlambo|Advocate Jacob Francis Mudenda has been elected Speaker of Parliament of Zimbabwe for the 9th Parliament after trouncing MDC Alliance nominee Paurina Mupariwa.

In the elections conducted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, 263 parliamentarians voted with Mudenda polling 179 against Mupariwa’s 79 while 5 ballots were spoilt.

By Paul Nyathi|Former minister of Higher and tertiary education, Professor Jonathan Moyo has offered a piece of advice to the newly appointed Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube warning him to stop talking too much as the astute ZANU PF politicians will turn against him soon.

The former ZANU PF heavyweight warned Ncube against announcing his plans before consulting the Zanu PF politburo and cabinet who eventually have the final say in how the country will be run.

Moyo added that the portfolio Ncube holds requires a politician and not a technocrat as he will not be able to stand and defend his decisions in platforms which he will not be part of.

Former Industry Minister Nkosana Moyo who was once regarded as the biggest brains the country needed to turn around the economy unceremoniously quit his ministerial position under former President Robert Mugabe after serving a very short time because the ruling party structures resisted his textbook policies that were affecting their political aspirations.

1/5 Since @MthuliNcube is finance minister as an outsider, it may please him to note these key tidbits about ZanuPF & its govt: First, don’t announce any major initiative, like phasing out bondnotes, before it’s been approved by the president, politburo & cabinet in that order.

2/5 Just like the sun will rise tomorrow, and given murphy’s law, rest assured that your ZanuPF detractors will use Barbican Bank, AfDB & dual citizenship residue against you. The question is not whether they will, but when & how they will do it. You are forewarned; be forearmed.

3/5 A minister of finance is not a technocrat but a politician. You will need political clout that comes from being a ZanuPF member, an MP and, crucially, a central committee & politburo member. If you are not these things, it’s a disaster & if you are, your technocratic CV dies!

4/5 You must remember that while the late Morgan Tsvangirai, and before him the late VP Joseph Msika, saw you as a prospective RBZ Governor given your banking history, you are minister of finance in charge of fiscal & not monetary policy. Stick to your job & let others do theirs!

5/5 The Ministry of Finance does not have the high-end skills necessary for an economic ministry in a country with Zimbabwe’s intractable socioeconomic problems; compounded by political malaise. There’s no craft-competence from the permanent secretary, down to the shop floor!

By A Correspondent|TWO Guruve teachers appeared before resident magistrate Shingirai Mutiro yesterday for allegedly drinking illicit beer (kachasu) in class.

The State alleges that on August 3, Hardlife Ziuchi (41) and Letmore Dambajena (38) drank the illicit brew while conducting lessons.

The teachers allegedly sent a student to buy the illicit brew at a nearby village.

One of the students alerted the school head, who found the bottle of kachasu hidden in a cardboard box.

The head ordered the teachers to write a report, confirming that they were drinking while on duty.

In their defence, the pair told the court that their headmaster was fixing them on political grounds since they supported different political parties.

“Your worship, this case has turned to be political.

Our school head does not want us there, hence he is fabricating all sorts of stories,” they said.

By Paul Nyathi|While the nation was celebrating President Mnangagwa’s reduced twenty men cabinet, the President is on fact gradually growing the cabinet.

Mnangagwa appointed the Zimbabwe Diabetic Association President Dr. John Chamunorwa Mangwiro as the new deputy minister of Health and Child Care on Tuesday to take the number of deputy ministers to 14.

Dr. Mangwiro is the Member of Parliament for Chikomba West Constituency where he won in the 2018 elections as a Zanu-PF candidate.

Mangwiro Will deputise Obadiah Moyo who was appointed together with nineteen other cabinet ministers and nine provincial ministers on Friday.

Mangwiro could be coming as a consideration to back up Moyo who alleged to have fabricated his medical qualifications.

The president is yet to name the Minister of State for Harare Province.

At 35 Doubt Ncube is the youngest councillor at Gweru City Council sworn in on Tuesday. However, his feat is not his age but the fact that he is just a garden boy although he vehemently refutes it.

The City is abuzz with talk that Ncube is a garden boy at former MP Sesil Zvidzai’s residence in Daylesford and he rose from that position one of Gweru’s City father. For the next five year he will be sitting in the chambers and making decisions that affect over 200 000 people in the town.

Ncube was elected councillor Ward 3 after trouncing Lovemore Gono who was Zanu PF’s candidate. Ward 3 is an elite area covering Delsford and Kopje area which are in essence low density suburbs.

“Many people think that I am Zvidzai’s garden boy. The fact is that I only stay with him and for that matter I do domestic chores at the house. That does not make me his garden boy.

“I actually work at Water Glass as a general hand and this company is owned by Zvidzayi. I don’t want to be called garden boy because some people are trying to denigrade me,” said Ncube.

He said he joined the party in 2002 and rose through the structures until he became portfolio member in the main wing, a position he holds today.
Ncube said he is raring to go and ready to serve the people of Gweru.

Gweru Times

In a shock move that serves to show that Zanu PF will never change, the party’s chairman for Masvingo Province Ezra Chadzamira has told supporters that 10 000 of the 29 000 hectares of irrigable land at the recently opened Tugwi-Mukosi Dam have been reserved for party leaders.

He said 2 000 Zanu PF leaders, all from Masvingo including councilors, chairpersons, district and provincial executives are earmarked to get 5 hectares each.

Most of these leaders already own several farms each, sugarcane plots and are land barons with swathes of urban stands from earlier Government empowerment projects.

Chadzamira’s utterances come as a surprise to many Zimbabweans who had hoped that the new dispensation under President Emmerson Mnangagwa would usher in a new era of fairness, economic prudence and justice.

Chadzamira’s populist stance is contrary to earlier sentiments that land at the US$260m Tugwi-Mukorsi Dam would largely be allocated on commercial lines in order for the country to optimize benefits from exports and foreign currency earnings.

Experts also hoped that priority would be given to thousands of unemployed degreed agricultural graduates.
Chadzamira was speaking at a party inter-district meeting at Chitsanga Hall in Chiredzi on Wednesday last week.
Chadzamira himself recently pushed a 70 year old white woman Yvone Goddard out of her $500 000 farm house of 45 years and he is now staying there as the new owner. Goddard has since been living close to destitution.

Politburo member, Lovemore Matuke who was at the meeting emphasised that Zanu PF was going to get the land.
Chadzamira said the new Zanu PF programme at Tugwi – Mukosi is taking place as part of the devolution of power from Harare to Provinces.

An economic expert who declined to be named told The Mirror that it is such populist stances that are bringing down the economy.

“We want to see all our leaders having something to do in life. They must benefit from their party. I sat down with the Minister of State and will sit with all council executives over that issue.

“Tugwi Mukosi master plan is now out and there are 29 000 hectares of irrigable land. Our party leaders in Masvingo are less than 2 000 in number so what is wrong if all the leaders are given 5 hectares each at Tugwi Mukosi and that will only translate to 10 000 hectares of the 29 000 hectares. We are working on achieving that as a province,” said Chadzamira.

The Mirror is informed that Masvingo Development Trust (MDT) which is wholly owned by Zanu PF is also looking at getting 15 000 hectares from the same scheme and this will leave just 4 000 hectares for anyone else who may want to come in outside the party ticket.
Tugwi –Mukosi is Zimbabwe’s biggest inland dam built on tax payers’ money. It holds 1.8 billion cubic metre of water when it is full and there are several other activities that are planned for the Dam including hotels, water games, fishing and a wildlife park.

The irrigable land is mainly targeted for sugarcane.

Masvingo Mirror

Jane Mlambo|The opposition MDC Alliance has appointed party spokesperson Tabitha Khumalo and Vice President Elias Mudzuri to lead the opposition in National Assembly and senate respectively.

In a statement released after a joint caucus of MDC parliamentarians today, the party said appointed Khumalo who will be deputized by Paurina Mupariwa.

In the senate, Mudzuri will be deputized by Morgan Komichi while Lilian Timveos was appointed chief whip.

In the National Assembly, firebrand Dangamvura Chikanga MP will be the chief whip.

Chamisa warned his legislators against corruption saying if members follow Zanu PF corrupt tendencies, they will be punished by the people in the next polls.

He also reiterated the need for outstanding behavior from leaders which he said will be a conscious demonstration of the desire by the party to address the nation’s problems.

*COMMUNITY WATER ALLIANCE ALERT*

11/09/2018

Glen View 5 Primary has been temporarily closed after the death of 2 kids.

20 kids at the school have been affected by cholera.

Harare has been declared state of emergency. We advised government to declare Harare a health disaster during our press conference held at the Media Centre on 07/09/2018.

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to which Zimbabwe is a signatory provide for access to safe, clean and adequate water for children.

It is pathetic that the Government of Zimbabwe has not learnt anything from the 2008/9 cholera epidemic. *THE PALTRY BUDGET ALLOCATION TO WATER AND SANITATION DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE IS NEGLIGENCE TO FULFIL, PROTECT AND RESPECT THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE, RIGHTS TO HEALTH AND CLEAN SAFE POTABLE WATER*.

#HumanRightsCitiesCampaign

HILDABERTA RWAMBIWA
NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON
COMMUNITY WATER ALLIANCE

A soldier from the Air Force of Zimbabwe was yesterday dragged before the Harare Magistrate’s court on charges of murdering his colleague over paternal dispute.

Taguma Chakanyuka (36) who resides at Manyame Air Base is accused of killing a man (name with-held) following an altercation over the paternity of a child.

It is the court case that on 7 September this year, the accused was having fun and drinking beer in the company of his friends when an argument over the paternity of one of his children ensued.

The court further heard that the now deceased told Chakanyuka that the baby he was keeping was his.

This did not go down well with the accused who assaulted the now deceased until he fell unconscious and was declared dead upon admission at a local health institution.

The Magistrates court also heard that surveillance cameras in the beer-hall where the fracas happened, which is now being used as evidence assisted in the arrest Chakanyuka.

Chakanyuka was denied bail with the Magistrate urging him to appeal at the High Court.

The matter was deferred to 24 September for routine remand.

Jane Mlambo| Norton legislator who promised to do a public HIV test has displayed his test results as proof against his alleged infection of a school girl with Sexually transmitted infections.

Mliswa who said he doesn’t date young girls but prefers older women most single mothers posted his picture holding results in a twitter post shortly after undergoing an HIV test at New Start Centre.

I have tested negative but even if I had tested positive it means nothing. HIV is not a death sentence and I will be launching a foundation focusing on the stigmatisation issue. pic.twitter.com/7fRK2QW2wD

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) September 11, 2018

Jane Mlambo| It’s reaching boiling in the feud between Professor Jonathan Moyo and National Patriotic Front (NPF) Spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire with the latter calling his former colleague a snake.

The fight that started following remarks by former First Lady Grace Mugabe during her mother’s funeral that President Emmerson Mnangagwa should be forgiven with the former Higher education minister labeling Mrs Mugabe an inexperienced politician, has now escalated to new levels.

Mawarire and Moyo were once colleagues but it appears they have lost each other and battle lines have been drawn.

After being asked by a Twitter user on what had gone wrong between him and Moyo, Mawarire laughed a vitriolic attack on the former Tsholotsho North legislator calling him a snake.

“I stopped talking to that snake in April. I had nothing to do with him until today when he started lying about NPF and Mai Mugabe,” tweeted Mawarire in response.

Twitter is exploding since yesterday when the two started fighting and pointing fingers at each other.

Jane Mlambo| Newly appointed Minister of Health and Child Care, Obadiah Moyo has told journalists that government is declaring the current cholera outbreak that has resulted in the death of 20 people while thousands of cases have been reported, a state of emergence.

Speaking during a tour of Beatrice Infectious Disease hospital today, Moyo said, “We are declaring it an emergency for Harare so to enable us to contain Cholera and other diarrheal diseases.”

He added that the outbreak could have been caused by someone who would have slept on the job, though he insisted that they are still looking into the causes of the problem.

Zimbabwe is currently battling to contain a cholera outbreak that has been reported in Gweru, Kwekwe, Harare and other cities.

SCORES of patients in need of minor surgeries in the southern region have been left stranded as theatres in the two referral hospitals in Bulawayo have not been operational.

The southern region covers Bulawayo, Midlands, Masvingo, Matabeleland North and South provinces.

The chief executive officer of the United Bulawayo Hospitals, Mrs Nonhlanhla Ndlovu, yesterday said the institution has only been doing emergency surgery and caesarean operations since April because they are renovating.

She said they have been sending patients to Mpilo Central Hospital for serious surgery.

Dr Solwayo Ngwenya, the clinical director at Mpilo Central Hospital, on the other hand, said they are only attending to emergency cases as some of the theatres last worked six years ago.

Patients have had to seek services from private health institutions whose prices are very high for most members of the public.

Mrs Ndlovu said the theatres are undergoing renovations which are likely to end by the end of September this year.

“Our theatre air conditioning systems were dilapidated and had become so inefficient we decided to repair them. People should note that this kind of air conditioning is quite complex as it should ensure that those who enter theatre rooms do not get infections hence we need time to complete the repairs,” she said.

Mrs Ndlovu said members of the public who needed theatre services were being referred to Mpilo Central Hospital, UBH’s sister hospital.

“Mpilo is as good as UBH and we advice members of the public to go there since it is also a Government-run institution. We have not referred anyone to private hospitals as we know that Mpilo can offer the services while we work on repairing our air conditioners,” she said.

Dr Ngwenya, however, said theatres at the institution were also down as they have no anaesthetic machines.

“Our A theatres have been down for about six years and it is a struggle as we have no anaesthetic machines. We have a serious challenge when it comes to theatres as the functional B ones are reserved for major and emergency surgeries,” he said.

Dr Ngwenya said the hospital had a back log of people who are in need of surgeries which the hospital cannot offer at the moment.

One affected resident Mr Noel Magutshwa said he went to UBH last week and was told that theatres had been down for the past six months.

“I suffered a dislocated shoulder and doctors had recommended that I go for an operation. I was surprised when officials at UBH said theatres were down and I am stranded because I cannot afford to pay $5 000 for the same procedure at Mater Dei Hospital,” he said.

Mr Magutshwa added that they put a plaster on his arm and advised him to come back after six weeks for consultation.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Retired Major General Dr Gerald Gwinji, could not be reached for comment.

State Media

In less than 15 minutes from now, the world will discover Norton MP, Temba Mliswa’s HIV status. Watch LIVE below –

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Jane Mlambo|The trial of MDC Alliance chairperson Morgen Komichi, who stands accused of attempting to disrupt the announcement of presidential election results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has been set for October 3.

Komichi (54), who is represented by Obey Shava and charged under Section 186 of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2.13), appeared before magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.
The State alleges that on August 2, Komichi was at a Harare Hotel where Zec was announcing the July 30 presidential election results.

After a break, Komichi went to the podium reserved for commissioners, grabbed the microphone and announced that the MDC Alliance rejected the results.
Komichi said ZEC had not followed due process when announcing the results. Zec, the complainant in the matter, was represented by its security officer Concree Chivinda.
-Newsday

MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa’s Spokesperson, Dr. Nkululeko Sibanda will address journalists at 11:30hrs today.

Follow ZimEye to watch the presser LIVE

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. It has become a trend for women to blast their spouses on social media to let the world know about their haggling.

Barely a year ago, Wicknell Chivayo’s wife Sonja Madzikanda was enjoying the flashy life, taking trips and shopping sprees outside the country, something that comes along with being married to a wealthy tycoon.

But it seems the marriage is no longer rosy. In a series of videos, Madzikanda blasted Chivayo and has accused him of infidelity and mistreating her.

She narrated her story explaining how she had an encounter with one of Chivayo’s alleged mistresses hours before the recently held Miss World Zimbabwe pageant.

“Whoever told you that this life and lifestyle was gold and glittery lied to you. I am telling you my pre-Miss Zimbabwe drama.

“Marrying a crazy psychopath who thinks this is cute. I know I will have people that will be coming at me like (saying) ‘no do not talk about your marital wars online’. Listen, this stuff is real.

“Women are out here being oppressed in this thing called marriage,” she ranted.

Madzikanda added that Chivayo’s sisters were advising her to take the high road and forgive her husband, something that did not go well with her.

“On top of that his sisters are here sending me voice notes about how I need to seek forgiveness and be a better person.

I catch all types of feelings because I have been through enough. I have been through social humiliation. I have been through the problems in this relationship,” said Madzikanda.

Upon hearing this, Chivayo’s sister, Moe, who has publicly confirmed that she was against the marriage from the beginning added salt to the wound.

“You do not love that man. You wanted the lifestyle and it kills you that he did not live up to what you expected. At the end of the day, dust yourself up and go to parties because you are not heartbroken.

“You are financially disappointed but be glad he bought you that Land Rover and sends petty EcoCash to your phone,’’ said Moe.

Whilst playing Jah Signal’s current hit “Shinga Muroora” in the background, Moe continued to bash her sister in-law and accused her of making things up.

“Every time you try to go to your parents’ house, they send you back and when you get home, he is driving off. I will be mad too if I were you. I will be posting things on social media making things up.”

Contacted for comment, Chivayo professed ignorance on the matter. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” he retorted and hung up.

State Media

Jane Mlambo| Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has re-appeared in parliament where she is conducting elections for the speaker of the National Assembly.

Chigumba who in July oversaw the harmonised elections which were marred by irregularities leading to a Constitutional Court challenge by the opposition MDC Alliance, was booed by legislators from the opposition who shouted her saying “mbavha yema elections.”

The elections for the speaker of parliament are pitting Jacob Mudenda while the opposition nominated Paurina Mupariwa.

Zanu PF is expected to use its two thirds majority to retain Jacob Mudenda to the speaker’s position while the MDC’s nomination of Mupariwa is more of a protest against having the former being elected unopposed.

We will soon give you the results of the elections keep refreshing.

A CHOLERA outbreak has hit Manicaland province with three cases confirmed by the Health ministry.

Manicaland provincial medical director, Patron Mafaune confirmed the new development yesterday, but said the situation was under control.

She said that there was no reason to panic, but urged people in the province to exercise caution.

“We have recorded three cases of cholera in Manicaland, we recorded two cases at Murambinda Hospital and one at Rusape Mission Hospital, but they are now in stable condition and they are managed well,” he said.

“There is no need to panic, but I am urging members of the public to exercise caution and should wash their hands using running water,” she said.

Mafaune said they had embarked on awareness campaigns in all districts.

“We are urging members of the public that if they have signs and symptoms of cholera they should report at their nearest hospital or clinic,” she said.

The cholera outbreak that began in Harare last week and has claimed about 16 lives has also spread to the Midlands province.

The Health ministry is also battling to contain a typhoid outbreak in Masvingo and Midlands provinces.

Newsday

By A Correspondent|Newly sworn in Defence Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri says she is not afraid of her new role and will not allow her gender to deter her zeal to work in the defence and security ministry.

Speaking to reporters at State House today, Muchinguri-Kashiri, who became the first female Minister to hold the post, said she is not scared of taking up one of the critical portfolios- held by men since the country attained independence 38 years ago.

“I’m not afraid of this task. How can I be afraid when I was in the war with the army commanders who are there now? I was also a commander together with them.

Hon. Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri with Hon. Victor Matemadanda at State House today
“This appointment was long overdue. This is despite the fact that I did not serve in the army because I took a different route. It’s not a new post but I still need to learn more and catching up. I understand all the army dynamics because I got the skills during the war…” she said.

Muchinguri-Kashiri, who prior to this appointment was Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Ministry, noted that economic development hinges on the security of the nation.

Zimbabwe has largely enjoyed a peaceful environment since 1980 despite the gukurahundi atrocities in Matebeleland in the early 1980s with the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has been deployed in several peacekeeping missions in and around the continent as well as under the United Nations (UN) banner.

At the Ministry of Defence, she is deputised by Hon. Victor Matemadanda.

The plane that was used to fly former First Lady Mrs Grace Mugabe from Singapore to attend the funeral of her mother, Ambuya Idah Marufu, was paid for by well-wishers and not by Government, it has been said.

In the past few days, social media was awash with unverified reports claiming that Government splashed money on chartering the plane for Mrs Mugabe.

In an interview with State Media yesterday, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba clarified the issue, saying Government did not pay a single cent towards the chartering of the plane.

He said the plane was chartered by a group of business people who were approached by President Mnangagwa to fly former president, Robert Mugabe, who was scheduled to travel to Singapore for urgent medical attention. On the day when Mugabe was scheduled to depart for Singapore, the condition of Ambuya Marufu deteriorated, forcing him to cancel his travel arrangements because Mrs Mugabe was also out of the country.

Charamba said it had to be noted that Government had a statutory obligation to take care of the welfare of a former president, including health care.

“The former First Family could not attend the inauguration of the President because both the former President and the former First Lady were unwell,” he said.

“The former First Lady had in fact left the country for Singapore for medical attention.

“That is precisely why they had to send their daughter (Bona) and son-in-law (Simba Chikore) to represent them at the inauguration ceremony. In terms of the plans (that were there), the former President was due to leave the country for urgent medical attention in Singapore that week (of inauguration).

“But as fate would have it, the mother-in-law’s condition took a turn for the worse initially and as we now know for the worst. Meanwhile, Government mindful of its obligation in terms of the conditions of service of a former Head of State, and those conditions include medical care and expenses associated with that care, including travel.

“Except, Government did not have a plane to fly the former President or the means for chartering such a plane.

“Aware of the Government obligations and realising the urgency of the whole matter, President Mnangagwa approached a group of business people and pleaded with them to assist with the movement of the former President.

“Consequently, the group of business people committed resources for chartering a private jet to fly the former President to Singapore and back. As fate would have it, on the eve of the former President’s departure, the condition of Ambuya Marufu deteriorated leading to her sad passing on.

“That forced the former President to cancel his travel arrangement given that Amai Grace Mugabe was also not just unwell, but out of the country.

“The President then pleaded with the same business people to allow the private jet, which had been paid for anyway, to still proceed to Singapore as per the original schedule, but this time with a view to collecting Amai Mugabe back home in the light of the bereavement.

“Again, the business people were charitable enough to accede to the request which is how the jet was then availed to Amai Mugabe.” Mr Charamba said President Mnangagwa was grateful to the business people who extended the helping hand to Government.

“The President wishes to express his profound gratitude to those well-wishers who rose to the occasion when the need arose,” he said.

“As it turned out, the need became even more urgent in view of the tragic passing on of Ambuya Marufu, which is what doubles the gratitude.”

State Media

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

The High Court has dismissed as not urgent an application by a group of small scale miners who are accusing former Zifa chief executive officer, Ms Henrietta Rushwaya, of defying a court order by allegedly masquerading as the president of the Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation (ZMF).

The ruling by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Thompson James Mabhikwa followed an urgent chamber application filed by the group of miners under the banner Zvishavane-Mberengwa Miners’ Association (ZMMA) citing Ms Rushwaya, Mr Wellington Takavarasha, the ZMF chief executive officer and ZMF, as respondents.

Justice Mabhikwa ruled that there was no urgent in the matter. The matter will, however, be heard as an ordinary court application.

“Whereupon, after reading documents filed of record and hearing, it is ordered that the matter be and is hereby removed from the roll of urgent matters,” ruled the judge.

ZMMA filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court last week, accusing Ms Rushwaya of taking over the leadership of ZMF through unorthodox means.

ZMMA is being represented by Mr Tawanda Tavengwa of Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys while Professor Welshman Ncube of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers is the respondents’ lawyer.

Ms Rushwaya contested in the ZMF elections which were conducted in July and was duly elected president of the organisation.

ZMF was formed in 2003, mainly to champion the interests of small scale and artisanal miners.

In June, the High Court under case number HC1652/18 blocked the ZMF from holding its elections for a new leadership in which Ms Rushwaya intended to contest as a presidential candidate.

The ruling was made by Justice Nicholas Mathonsi following an urgent chamber application filed at the Bulawayo High Court by ZMMA citing ZMF as the respondent.

ZMMA accused Ms Rushwaya of attempting to take over the leadership of ZMF through unorthodox means. The miners argued that the process was fraught with irregularities and vote- buying by Ms Rushwaya and wanted the elections for a new ZMF national executive postponed indefinitely citing interference by members of the federation’s general council.
In the latest urgent chamber application, which was dismissed by Justice Mabhikwa, ZMMA wanted an order interdicting Ms Rushwaya from misrepresenting or portraying herself to the public or any institution as the ZMF president.

They also wanted the court to nullify all contracts entered into and signed by Ms Rushwaya purportedly on behalf of ZMF.

In his founding affidavit, ZMMA chairperson, Mr Thembinkosi Sibanda, said Ms Rushwaya is violating a court order by continuing to masquerade as the president of ZMF and signing agreements on its behalf.

“The first respondent (Ms Rushwaya) and second respondent (Mr Takavarasha) are seemingly masquerading to the public as the duly elected officials of the third respondent (ZMF) in direct contempt of the provisional order granted on 14 June 2018. Ms Rushwaya is misleading the public by stating and behaving as if she is an elected president of ZMF,” he said.

Mr Sibanda said Ms Rushwaya recently entered into an agreement with Metbank Limited in her purported capacity as president of ZMF. “The first respondent must be held in contempt of court. She is wilfully and intentionally contravening the provisional order, and thus circumventing the integrity of this honourable court and undermining its authority,” said Mr Sibanda.

He said in light of the upcoming 2018 edition of the Mine Entra in Bulawayo, there are fears that Ms Rushwaya and Mr Takavarasha could enter into lucrative deals purportedly on behalf of ZMF.

“There is no doubt that if Ms Rushwaya is not sanctioned she will mislead foreign investors and lure them into signing void contracts purportedly binding ZMF hence suffering irreparable prejudice,” he said.

Mr Sibanda said in his papers that Ms Rushwaya has been accused of corruption before and fears were that if allowed to masquerade as president of ZMF, she was likely to defraud the public.

ZMMA said ZMF unproceduraly admitted 13 new associations to join the federation.
The organisation also queried Ms Rushwaya’s intention to run for the ZMF presidency yet she is not affiliated to the organisation.

Ms Rushwaya is alleged to have paid $6 500 affiliation fees for the 13 new associations whose admission was irregular and a violation of the ZMF constitution.

Mr Sibanda said the circumstances under which Ms Rushwaya joined the ZMF were questionable and shrouded in controversy and called for an investigation.- state media

Media enquiries have drawn my attention to a front-page story in today’s Standard newspaper in which the former first lady, Mrs Grace Mugabe, is said to have called on her alleged followers, presumed to be associated with the so-called G40, to forgive Mnangagwa, recognise him as President, pray for him and move on, as she and former President Mugabe have apparently done; after Mnangagwa hired a fancy private plane to fly Mrs Mugabe from Singapore for her mother’s funeral whose cost was fully covered by the government.

I’m told that the verbatim report which has prompted some sections of the media to seek my comment is that Mrs Mugabe said:

“Yes, what happened indeed happened. We must move on. We must learn to forgive each other. I have forgiven them. If the person who was affected the most can forgive, how about you? I’m talking to those who are busy attacking Mnangagwa, let us move on and support him”.

I extend my condolences to Mrs Mugabe on the sad loss of her mother, Ambuya Idah Marufu. May her soul rest in eternal peace and the good God be with the Marufu and Mugabe families.

Otherwise I wish I had been able to convey my condolences privately and directly to Mrs Mugabe; but, alas, I was not able to do so after she blocked me from all communication contacts with her on 10 June 2018. She did this in an angry response to advice I had respectfully and privately offered to her in writing, against her toxic and polarising wishes to lead the National Patriotic Front (NPF) in general and, in particular, against her then active but divisive push to be seconded by the NPF as a vice president in what had been proposed as a Grand National Union (GNU) of opposition forces ahead of the 30 July election. My contact with Mrs Mugabe was slim prior to 10 June, and none since then.

The fact that the Standard article in question mentions my name, and that the media enquiries I have received have sought my comments on Mrs Mugabe’s focus on those she said, “are busy attacking Mnangagwa”, has necessitated my statement. This is because some in the media have interpreted her comments to include me, if not targeted at me. For the avoidance of doubt, and for the umpteenth time, I place on record my respect for former President Mugabe as our country’s founding leader and an iconic and respected nationalist and pan Africanist. As a proud African, I have understood that my respect for President Mugabe does not mean I have no disagreements with him. Also, as an African, I have understood that my respect for him extends to my respect for his family; especially his spouse, Mrs Mugabe. I remain clear about this.

Reasonable people, more so among Africans, understand only too well that when we extend our respect for our national leaders to their spouses; that does not mean we are extending leadership qualities or responsibilities to the spouses. In this connection, while I know and respect the fact that President Mugabe has legions of followers and admirers, not only in Zimbabwe but also across and beyond the
African continent, it is news to me that Mrs Mugabe has followers. I consider it an insult that some circles, especially in the media, refer to some leaders who worked with and supported President Mugabe as followers of Mrs Mugabe. That’s not only false but it is also nonsensical. Mrs Mugabe cannot be a leader simply because she’s the spouse of our iconic founding leader. President Mugabe himself has said on many occasions, including during the funeral of Ambuya Marufu, that Mrs Mugabe could not have been his chosen successor because she lacks political experience to be a national leader.

Mrs Mugabe’s lack of political experience has always been self-evident and is known by everyone who has interacted with her. The remarks attributed to her in the Standard story are significant only in so far as they betray her lack of political experience, and the toxic, polarising and damaging consequences thereof.

According to the Standard Mrs Mugabe says her so-called followers should forgive and support Mnangagwa, pray for him and move on because of two things: one that Mnangagwa hired for her a state of the art private plane to fly her from Singapore and paid the cost of her mother’s funeral; the other is that Mrs Mugabe claims to have suffered the most from the November military coup; and that if she forgives those behind the coup, then all the other victims should also do like her because she claims to have suffered the most.

Mrs Mugabe’s sentiments as reported by Standard are most unfortunate. They are unfortunate because they are false and insensitive. People who are national leaders or who aspire for national leadership must, above everything else, be truthful and sensitive. This is a fundamental human quality that has eluded politics in Zanu PF which remains dominated by the old-guard and stockholder mentality of entitlement for selected individuals and their families. Not only Zanu PF but the country is then supposed to be synonymous with these individuals and their personal and family interests. If these individuals and their families are fine, Zimbabwe must also be fine. It is an absurd corruption of public morality, values and ethos for Mrs Mugabe to claim that Mnangagwa’s gesture to hire a fancy private plane to fly her from Singapore and to pay for her mother’s funeral constitutes a political paradigm for the country to move on. Narcissism cannot be the basis for politics. Mrs Mugabe was indeed well within her rights to thank Mnangagwa for assisting her family at a time of need, but she had no rhyme or reason or right to turn that into a national cause.

Even worse, it is shocking to hear that Mrs Mugabe claims to be the one person who was affected the most by the November military coup. Honestly? On what basis does she make this insensitive claim? Is she aware what happened to Dr Ignatius Chombo and his wife? Is she aware what happened to Kudzai Chipanga? Is she aware what happened to thousands and thousands of Zimbabweans who were internally and externally displaced? Is she aware of Zimbabweans whose homes and sources of livelihood were destroyed? How about Zimbabweans who were tortured and killed? Has she heard of Peter Munetsi and how he lost his life? Has she heard of the ordeal that Mrs Munetsi and her family went through? Does she care about how these victims of the coup have fared since that fateful November day? What does she think moving on means for these people? Does she think it just means hearing that she has been flown in a fancy private plane by Mnangagwa who also
ordered the government to foot the bill of her mother’s funeral? Is that what it is all about? Has Mrs Mugabe thought about how Mrs Munetsi and her family struggled to bury her husband?

On 29 July 2018, Mrs Mugabe was urging Zimbabweans to vote for Nelson Chamisa. Two days later, on 1 August 2018, soldiers whose commander-in-chief was Mnangagwa killed in cold blood at least 10 unarmed civilians, most of whom were fleeing, by shooting them in the back. Many more were injured, some of them critically. The demonstrators were protesting the election theft that was underway on that day on Mnangagwa’s behalf. Does Mrs Mugabe know the names of these victims? Does she know how the massacred victims were buried? Did Mnangagwa provide transport to these victims? Did he pay for the funerals? Did he pay the medical bills for the hospitalised victims? Does Mrs Mugabe care about all this, or she just wants everyone to move on, simply and only because she has moved on after receiving Mnangagwa’s largesse?

It is important for those who claim to be national leaders to show some empathy with, and understanding of, the plight of the ordinary person. It is important to be truthful; to be honest. It is important to be sensitive. It is important to have a sense of proportionality. It is important to be humble. It is important to be grounded. It is important to have principles. It is important to be with the people and for the people.

Mrs Mugabe can move on with Mnangagwa. But the people are not going to be part of that movement. The people are moving in a different direction. Their vote was stolen. Their compatriots were murdered in cold blood and some were maimed; and their livelihoods were destroyed. This happened last month. The victims are still crying for justice. Decent Zimbabweans want to see justice done; and they want to see the people’s vote respected.

If Mrs Mugabe’s association with the so-called G40 was genuine and grounded in the real world, she would have been aware that young people are sick and tired of the self-indulgent, self-centred, and self-serving politics of individuals who think only they are entitled to Zimbabwe’s political power and resources because of who they are in history, marriage, parentage or relationally. The time has gone for Zanu PF’s old-guard and stockholder politics of entitlement for individuals and their families who claim to have fought the liberation struggle alone, died in it alone, and who must enjoy the fruits of independence alone. That time is gone.

Mrs Mugabe will be well advised to understand that, going forward, there’s need for mutual respect to enable mutual understanding. And the basis for that is respect for the country’s new Constitution enacted in 2013. As a citizen, Mrs Mugabe is free to associate and support Mnangagwa or whomever she chooses as her constitutional right, other Zimbabweans will exercise the same right—using the same freedom— without reference to her.

Prof Jonathan N Moyo

By Paul Nyathi|After being huge accolades for taking drastic moves to retire some old ZANU PF political heavyweights from cabinet, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced that he had re-assigned some of the former ministers who were retired from government to full time heads of departments at Zanu PF party headquarters.

This was revealed by Zanu PF spokesperson Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo soon after the extraordinary Politburo meeting.

Top on the agenda of the extraordinary Politburo meeting was the issue of rebuilding and transforming the party following its victory in the July 30 harmonised elections and the appointment of a new cabinet.

The extraordinary Politburo session resolved that 11 departments will now be manned on full time basis by most of the former ministers who were retired from government recently.

Dr Obert Mpofu, Patrick Chinamasa, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Dr Chris Mushohwe are some of the former ministers who have been re-assigned.

Other cadres who have been assigned to conduct party business on full time basis are Paul Mangwana to head legal affairs, Lewis Matutu full time youth affairs, Douglas Mahiya war veterans, while head of security and one for women affairs will be named in due course.