Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has reiterated his call for the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) to withdraw from Parliament. He stated that they will only make empty noise in parliament as they are unable to stop the ruling ZANU PF party from making decisions due to their majority.

Chin’ono argues that staying would give legitimacy to ZANU PF’s corrupt rule. Fadzayi Mahere, a prominent CCC member, responded by saying that if instructed by the Citizens’ National Assembly, the party’s legislators would withdraw from parliament. However, Mahere highlighted the potential consequences of withdrawal, such as ZANU PF amending the constitution and creating a one-party state. She also questioned the effectiveness of parliamentary committees and the lack of citizen input in legislation.

Chin’ono remains unconvinced of the opposition’s usefulness in parliament. In a post, the journalist said:

It makes a lot of sense for ZANUPF to want CCC to stay in parliament because an immediate CCC mass withdrawal from parliament will create a massive international political crisis of legitimacy and credibility for ZANUPF and the regime. It will affect reengagement sideshows and international financial debt relief talks. It will also bring back the issue of the sham election on the table, something that ZANUPF has successfully hidden through the Tshabangu fraud by putting CCC in survival mode. Mnangagwa and ZANUPF know that they will immediately become Southern Africa’s North Korea if CCC pulls out! Imagine a parliament with just ZANUPF MPs and a few Tshabangu MPs. ZANUPF is going to bribe anyone who can influence CCC to stay in parliament because it knows that CCC won’t be able to stop anything on the ZANUPF parliamentary agenda now that it has Two-Thirds majority. CCC will be going to parliament just to make empty noises, that is why CCC is needed in parliament by the regime to create a facade of democracy.

Chin’ono further expressed his belief that countries whose ambassadors have close ties with ZANU PF will persuade the CCC to remain in parliament. He said these countries and their governments would not want to engage with a pariah state without opposition in parliament. They would want to show success back home, so they would encourage the CCC to stay.

In addition to foreign nations’ influence, Chin’ono believes that the CCC will face difficulties from MPs who are primarily motivated by salary, perks, and personal gain, including those using parliament as a stepping stone for international jobs. He argues that few politicians in Zimbabwe’s opposition are genuinely committed to the struggle, and many are more interested in personal opportunities. 

Zimbabwe held special elections on Saturday for nine seats in Parliament after opposition lawmakers were removed from their positions and disqualified from running again.

The opposition called it an illegal push by the ruling Zanu-PF party to bolster its parliamentary majority and possibly change the constitution.

This may allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 81, who was re-elected for a second and final term in August amid international and regional criticism, to run for another term.

All nine opposition lawmakers from the Citizens Coalition for Change party that were removed were elected in the national vote in August.

But an official claiming to be the secretary-general of the party recalled them from their positions in the weeks after that election.

CCC leader Nelson Chamisa said the official, Sengezo Tshabangu, held no position with the party and his instructions should be ignored.

But Zimbabwean courts recognized Tshabangu’s authority, ruled to remove the opposition MPs and declared them on Thursday ineligible to run.

“This is not an election. This is not democracy,” opposition deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba told The Associated Press.

Another late-night court ruling Friday left the ZANU-PF candidate set to win one of the seats in the capital, Harare, uncontested.

The CCC said on the eve of the special elections that it had launched an appeal with the Supreme Court, demanding that eight of its candidates appear on the ballots.

It didn’t list a name for the Harare seat.

The main opposition party said the removal of its lawmakers is a brazen attempt by the ruling party to increase its control in Parliament and has accused Zanu-PF, which has been in power since the southern African country’s independence in 1980, of using the courts to help it do that.

The CCC said ZANU-PF was using Tshabangu and the courts to “decimate” the opposition.

“The battle lines have been clearly drawn,” the CCC said Saturday in a statement on social media site X.

“The actions of the court officials who contributed to the demise of democracy in Zimbabwe will be recorded in the country’s history.”

Zanu-PF won 177 out of 280 parliamentary seats in the national election but needs another 10 seats to gain the two-thirds majority it requires to change the constitution.

That would allow it to remove term limits for presidents, among other things.

Saturday’s special elections are just the start.

Tshabangu has recalled dozens more opposition lawmakers, local councilors and mayors. More elections are due in the coming months.

Rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have said Zanu-PF is using institutions like the courts and the police force to suppress opposition and criticism.

The U.S. State Department said last week in the run-up to the special elections that it was placing visa restrictions on Zimbabwean individuals “believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Zimbabwe.”

It said they had been involved in “excluding members of the political opposition from electoral processes,” but didn’t name anyone.

Zanu-PF has denied any links to Tshabangu and his recall of opposition lawmakers, calling it an internal squabble in the CCC. The ruling party’s spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said Zanu-PF is not responsible for the “chaos and disorder” within the opposition.

Mnangagwa’s term is due to end in 2028 and some within his party have called for him to remain past the current two-term limit.

He came to power in 2017 following a coup that removed autocrat Robert Mugabe, who was Zimbabwe’s leader for 37 years.

A 17 year old teenager from Harare has started a Save A Child organization which seeks to assist children suffering from cancer.

President of the organisation Shaun Chiworeso said the Save a Child programme started in September and is a registered organization.

He noted that it has been self-sponsored ever since it started, and they can’t exclude other individuals who have been assisting us financially through donations.

“Save a child does not have any physical branches but we are connected online, it has recruited young people from all around Zimbabwe from Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo and Gweru, we work online,” Chiworeso said.

He said there is a total number of about 85 members in the programme, it has a team that distributes goods around the country, and through their interactions, they come across patients.

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu says the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s appointment of two vice presidents before his death is to blame for the chaos engulfing the opposition.

Tshabangu (ST), who has become infamous for recalling CCC elected representatives while claiming that they were no longer members of the party, made the claims on the platform In Conversation with Trevor hosted by Alpha Media Holdings chairman Trevor Ncube (TN).

He was trying to make a link between CCC and MDC Alliance, which he claims birthed the Nelson Chamisa-led party.

Below are excerpts from the interview.

TN: Sengezo Tshabangu, welcome to In Conversation with Trevor.

ST: My pleasure Uncle Trevor. It is pleasing to be here.

TN: It is a pleasure having you here. In the introduction there, Sengezo Tshabangu, claims to be the interim secretary general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

A number of people are saying you were never elected interim secretary general.

There was never a gathering where you were elected to be the interim secretary general? What do you say to that?

ST: Well, Trevor the issues are before the courts, but I will scratch from the surface. There are so many people who have challenged my authority, challenged my existence, some are even failing to pronounce my name, which is a direct indictment to the people that I represent, to the tribe that I come from.

So yes…

TN: Some are spelling your name with a ‘c-h’?

ST: Yeah with a ‘c-h’. It is unheard of. Yes, there are people who do not know Tshabangu, but these people I have worked with them for years so I think it is a direct attack to the the region, to the people, to the clan where I come from.

So, I do not expect that people that I worked with for so many years can still misspell my name, pronounce it in an unreasonable fashion, it’s an unheard of, but well I will come back to that.

Now, to the point of my appointment, the same process that really appointed president Nelson Chamisa to be the president of the CCC, and also to be the presidential candidate is the same process in which I was elected.

The strategy of ambiguity, so we will discuss these things after the court because they are at the centre of our courts, so it would be unfair for me to really discuss those matters.

TN: So you say you are the interim secretary general as a result of the strategy of ambiguity? Strategic ambiguity as it is?

ST: Absolutely.

TN: Do you want to unpack that? What does that mean?

ST: Well you see we represent the party.

We are an offshoot of the MDC Alliance. I sat in the national council, the national executive, that decided the departure point from the MDC Alliance to the CCC, because there was a challenge that we were going to the elections and Douglas Mwonzora and his team they had taken the name.

So part of the resolutions was that let us have an election strategy, let us form a political party, let us have a new slogan, let us have a different name altogether, different colour.

That is what we agreed.

We were using the constitution of the MDC Alliance, that is what gave birth, that is the paternity process that gave birth to the CCC that we find ourselves in.

But along the way, you realise that that leadership had the likes of Welshman Ncube, had the likes of Tendai Biti, Kore as the deputy, a third deputy president, Amos Chibaya and all you name them.

Along the way the strategy of ambiguity came into play.

We had another CCC, these people, their positions were taken off.

You go to a rally, you would have a president of the party sitting on the floor, you have the president of the party launching the campaign as if he is launching an independent campaign.

There was no organic chemistry of the party working together.

The organs of the party were dissolved.

So there was within the CCC a formation of this structure, which is structureless.

I think it is before the court maybe, but that’s the surface of it.

So, we have this kind of  an animal, a creature which you do not even understand the head, the tail of it which is running within the CCC, so that is the strategy of ambiguity that produced the results that we find ourselves in today.

That even failed to even produce candidates that produced the flawed election that produced the result that is still questionable even today.

That produced an incomplete electoral process. So through this strategy…

TN: But some people would say Tshabangu that you are saying the CCC was an offshoot of MDC-A.

And yet some people say No, that it was a completely different organisation.

I think Nelson Chamisa actually pronounced that No this is something completely different, it is not related to MDC.

 Am I getting things wrong there?

Although I must admit that what has happened in the past three or so years, in particular the past two years and last six months has totally confused me.

So some of the questions I am asking are genuinely wanting clarification. Was it a new party or is it an offshoot of MDC-A?

ST: We are an offshoot of MDC-A  because what gave birth to this new outfit it was the constitution.

We registered the constitution, which we changed and put the CCC but with the same organs that we were using in the MDC Alliance.

 So we never came from heaven, we were born by MDC Alliance.

There was MDC-T… I will take you through from when we started this party.

In 1999 there was a convention where we formed the MDC without a name, without people’s face as a symbol, but it was an MDC which comprised of the churches, labour unions. I’m a student of labour.

We are the people who formed the MDC, we are the umbilical cord of the MDC.

We ran with MDC until 2005, where we started to question the leadership of Morgan Tsvangirai the late. May his soul rest in peace.

 There was no collective decision process.

We went to the senate in 2005, there was a debate, and that caused the split where the professor Welshman Ncube walked away from the MDC and he remained MDC and then we formed MDC-T to differentiate between us and Welshman Ncube.

So that was the departure point, the first split of the MDC.

We moved on and we had a caveat that we are the MDC-T, we identified ourselves with the leader not with the constitution [or] with the values [and] with the principles where we formed from.

Then in 2014 the same dark cloud that visited us in 2005 visited us again in 2014.

We had Tendai Biti walking away, again forming PDP. Morgan Tsvangirai remained with the MDC-T.

Fast forward, we brought these forces together.

MDC, green, PDP [and] we formed MDC Alliance.

We went to the election in 2018 under the MDC Alliance banner.

We contested the election, the elections did not produce the desired result.

 Morgan somehow, he fell ill and he was not in a position to continue with his duties.

He created this mess that we find ourselves in today.

He appointed president Nelson Chamisa and engineer (Elias) Mudzuri into the mainstream of the MDC as the vice-president, we had a vice-president who was elected through a congress which was Dr Thokozani Khupe.

There were fissures there to a certain extent that Thokozani Khupe was almost burnt in a hut in Buhera during the funeral of the late Morgan Tsvangirai.

So that was MDC Alliance, that was the journey.

And there was Douglas Mwonzora who claimed that the MDC Alliance was his and we were [also] MDC Alliance so it was difficult for us because that was the convention of political parties, so there was nothing like MDC Alliance [as] it was a covenant of the political parties coming together.

So we had a problem right?

 So given those matrices then we decided that let us form a political party.

We ran an election under MDC Alliance, president Chamisa ran as the presidential candidate of the MDC Alliance, the structures, organic structures from district, provincial to national level, and if you compare the results Mr Trevor in 2018 were quite reasonable figures.

That was when we reached a two million mark that we had never really reached before.

So we formed CCC from MDC Alliance.

So we are an offshoot of MDC Alliance.

So, there is nothing we can say which can disassociate ourselves from MDC Alliance, we are MDC.

It is just a change of name, change of character, a change of colour, change of logo, change of symbol.

That is what defines us from MDC Alliance, our umbilical cord, our DNA, we are MDC.

TN: So you have been alive to these issues all along?  I get the sense you actually are deep into it.

ST: Yes.

TN: Why now? Why have you decided to raise these issues now?

ST: Well…

TN: What are you trying to fix now?

ST: We claim that we are an alternative, and the reason why we are in these politics is that there is an agreement that Zanu-PF has deviated from the principles and values of the liberation struggle.

We thought that as an alternative we need to complete the unfinished business of the liberation struggle, but we cannot do that without a constitution.

We cannot do that without a collective a decision-making process. I am coming from labour.

We cannot do that without debating and exhausting these issues.

 We cannot do that without having a thorough debate on issues, fundamental issues for that matter.

Be it policy, be it political mantra.

So we find ourselves in a situation that we cannot replace Zanu-PF, we cannot see the errors of Zanu  PF, yet we are doing worse than Zanu-PF.

Under Robert Gabriel Mugabe we never witnessed a situation where people can operate without a constitution.

 Where people can go into a politburo bureau and Robert Gabriel Mugabe decides without really having this decision discussed at the cabinet.

 Even if he had a theory of a policy that he wants to push he would put it in for a discussion and debate it…

TN: But still my question is why now? Why now?

ST: The elections are gone.

TN: Yeah.

ST: Done and dusted.

TN: Yes.

ST: So we rather put our house in order before 2028. We should not wait for 2028 and raise these issues.

 Let us raise them now so that we build a force, so that we do the [introspection] and see how the gaps that we can close as a movement and move forward.

Pick ourselves, look at the election, how did we lose the elections?

Are there issues that we are doing right? Are there issues that we are not doing right?

Are we off the path from when we started this movement?

What are those issues and these are the issues that we are raising now so that by the time we get to 2028 we have got an oiled machine which is a movement, which is an alternative which is ready to take the political path.

“In Conversation With Trevor” is a weekly show broadcast on YouTube.com//InConversationWithTrevor.  The conversations are broadcast to you by Heart and Soul Broadcasting Services. The conversations are sponsored by WestProp Holdings.

By A Correspondent- Former Kambuzuma Member of Parliament Tinashe Maduza of Zanu-PF appeared before magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa on Friday facing fraud charges.

Maduza (35) and his accomplice Rasta Phiri (48) were remanded in custody to December 12 for bail application.

The complainant is Victor Magenga (38).

Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje said sometime in 2014, Maduza  and his co-accused invaded some open space in Harare’s Warren Park and started illegally selling stands for residential purposes as a private entity called Gracelands Housing Co-operative with more than 300 beneficiaries.

Sometime in October 2019, they sold a piece of un-serviced land to Magenga for US$6 000.

They failed to fulfil their promise to service the stand, and Magenga became suspicious as the duo was evasive.

Magenga later discovered that the duo did not own the land in question and made a police report, leading to their arrest.

The Mayor of Bulawayo and prominent member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), David Coltart, found himself at the center of a political storm after urging voters to support ZAPU candidates in the upcoming by-elections. The move drew sharp criticism from former Cabinet Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, who accused Coltart of illegal campaigning on election day.

Coltart took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration after CCC MPs were allegedly barred from contesting in the December 9 by-election. He tweeted, “Now that our 5 MP candidates in Bulawayo have been unlawfully barred from standing for election, I urge citizens to vote where possible for @ZapuPublicity ZAPU MP candidates. ZAPU is a democratic party and they will serve our interests much better than Zanu PF or pseudo Zanu PF candidates.”

The tweet immediately caught the attention of Professor Jonathan Moyo, who responded with a scathing rebuke. Moyo accused Coltart of knowingly engaging in illegal campaign activities, highlighting Coltart’s legal background and extensive political experience.

“AND HERE YOU ARE CAMPAIGNING ON ELECTION DAY. It’s illegal, you know it; not least because you are a lawyer and a politician who has contested in many elections before,” Moyo remarked.

Moyo went on to criticize Coltart for what he perceived as a blatant disregard for the law, accusing him of considering himself above the rules. “Shame on you, David Coltart. You can say and scream all you want, with all the support of Chamisa’s trolls, but you and your lot are an embarrassment and a danger to society BECAUSE you never ever play by the rules; no, you are always a law unto yourselves.”

The former Cabinet Minister also took the opportunity to highlight what he characterized as Coltart’s history of bending the rules to suit his own interests. Moyo referenced a past incident where Coltart allegedly claimed victory in a community candidate selection caucus despite finishing last among all candidates. Moyo asserted that Coltart’s actions epitomized a dangerous mindset contributing to the current state of Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe is in a mess because of your type: one law for yourselves, as the self-proclaimed demo,” Moyo’s response abruptly ended, leaving room for speculation on the continuation of his thoughts.

David Coltart later deleted the tweet on X.

The exchange between Coltart and Moyo has ignited a debate on the role of politicians in adhering to election laws and whether advocating for alternative candidates on election day is a violation of electoral norms.

By A Correspondent- Two men who were part of a group that had been hired to erect a perimeter fence at a mine in Filabusi were trapped underground and died after they had sneaked into a shaft to steal gold ore.

The deceased were identified as Nobert Banhu (24) and Naison Moyo (31), under Chief Skhobokhobo, Nkayi.

ZRP spokesperson in Matabeleland South Province Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident to the Southern Eye. She said:

I can confirm that I received a report on an incident in Insiza Mine in Filabusi. The circumstances are that on December 4, the two deceased with other mine workers spent the whole day fencing the mine.

It is reported that during the night the deceased connived to steal gold ore from the mine and entered the shaft.

A security guard who was doing routine checks realised that one of the mineshafts had collapsed.

The security guard alerted other mine workers who then retrieved the bodies.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has reclaimed 7 National Assembly seats from the 9 vacant seats following recalls by opposition CCC self imposed secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu.

The party won the Mabvuku- Tafara seat uncontested after Tshabangu failed to field his preferred candidate and the CCC candidate who had been recalled and filed his nomination Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi was barred from contesting.

Zanu PF won Beitbridge West, Binga North, Bulawayo South, Lupane East, Cowdray Park and Nketa. Tshabangu’s CCC won Lobengula Magwegwe and Mpopoma Mzilikazi.

By Showbiz Reporter | In a somber announcement today, Hamlet Matavire revealed that his grandfather, the esteemed father of the late singing legend Paul Matavire, has peacefully passed away at the age of 101.

The elder Matavire, renowned for penning the iconic phrase “Nhaiwe mwanangu Paurosi, wodyiroko?”, was not only a patriarch to the Matavire family but also a significant contributor to Zimbabwe’s musical legacy.

In an emotional statement, Hamlet Matavire expressed his grief, saying, “Yes, this is Paul Matavire’s father. This is the man who brought to the world the jewel of entertaining music in Zimbabwe.”

The legacy left by Paul Matavire’s father extends beyond his familial ties, resonating with the broader community that cherished his contributions to the country’s cultural tapestry.

“Rest in peace sekuru! You have lived,” Hamlet Matavire concluded, honoring the life and influence of the late patriarch. The nation mourns the loss of a cultural icon and extends condolences to the Matavire family during this difficult time.

By- Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) self-imposed interim secretary general Mr Sengezo Tshabangu has said the party will accept the outcome of the by-elections as to the CCC, what was key was seeing democracy at play.

So far, Zanu PF has grabbed three seats, which Nelson Chamisa’s aides won.

Tshabangu told the state media that elections were part of a democratic process which needed to be embraced and acknowledged, especially when the process was conducted in a free and fair set up without anyone being intimidated and coerced into participating.
“To us any outcome will be accepted although everyone knows that when you go into any contest, the objective is to win but also everyone knows that in this political game, it’s either you win or lose and you must be prepared to accept especially the losing part. It’s all part of democracy,” said Mr Tshabangu in an interview last night.
He said a free a fair election whose outcome was accepted by all participants was all what those who got into the struggle before them always wanted.
“These by-elections presented an opportunity for a democracy foundation as we look forward to 2028. We are of course concerned about the reported voter apathy because we know that any voter apathy has always benefited Zanu-PF,” said Mr Tshabangu.

Tshabangu caused tremors within the Zimbabwe body politic when he went on a recalling tirade after the August harmonised elections, which he said were necessitated by how his party conducted it’s selection process for the August 23 elections candidates.
-State media

By James Gwati- Poor voter turnout has hit a series of by-elections orchestrated by CCC impostor Sengezo Tshabangu, with Zanu PF successfully clinching three parliamentary seats, further fueling suspicions of collaboration between Tshabangu and the ruling party to weaken the opposition.

The constituencies of Mabvuku-Tafara, Cowdray Park, and Bulawayo South have all fallen into Zanu PF’s hands, a result of the Nelson Chamisa supporters’ widespread boycott of the by-elections.

Tshabangu Friday donated Mabvuku-Tafara seat to Zanu PF’s Pedzai Scott Sakupwanya.

In Cowdray Park, Zanu PF’s Mujeyi Arthur secured victory with 1,765 votes, defeating Tshabangu’s Vusimuzi Chirwa.

The voter turnout was notably low, with less than 4,000 people casting their votes out of over 20,000 registered voters.

Similarly, in the Bulawayo South Constituency, Zanu PF’s Rajeshkumari Modi emerged victorious with 1,608 votes, dealing a blow to Tshabangu’s candidate Sithole James, while the voter turnout remained disappointingly low.

These by-elections were prompted by Tshabangu’s recall of CCC Members of Parliament (MPs), claiming they were no longer party members.

The CCC has expressed concerns that Tshabangu’s actions may be part of a collaboration with the ruling party, aimed at securing a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Such a majority would potentially pave the way for smoother amendments to the Constitution, raising questions about the integrity of the democratic process.

By James Gwati- Self-imposed CCC Interim Secretary General Tshabangu has handed over three parliamentary seats to Zanu PF in a by-election he triggered.

The latest additions to Zanu PF’s portfolio are Cowdray Park and Bulawayo South, clinched by Zanu PF’s Mujeyi Arthur and Rajeshkumari Modi, respectively. Notably, these victories were secured as supporters of Nelson Chamisa boycotted the by-elections.

On Friday, he donated the Mabvuku-Tafara seat, previously held by CCC, to Zanu PF’s Scott Sakupwanya of the Goldmaffia scandal.

The backdrop for these by-elections was the recall of CCC Members of Parliament (MPs) by Tshabangu, who asserted that they were no longer party members. However, concerns have been raised within the CCC, suggesting that Tshabangu may collaborate with the ruling Zanu PF to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament. Such a majority could facilitate smoother amendments to the Constitution, raising eyebrows about the motives behind these political manoeuvres.

By A Correspondent- A 30 year old man from Chasamba Village under Chief Pashu in Binga, Givemore Munsaka, appeared before Hwange Magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Yolanda Kabasa on Tuesday morning, pleading guilty to charges of assault in a case stemming from a family conflict.

According to State papers, the incident unfolded on November 6 when a dispute erupted between Mandlenkosi Ngwenya, the complainant, and Munsaka’s young brother, Last Mumpande, at Chasamba Shopping Centre. The disagreement escalated to the point where Ngwenya bit Last Mumpande on the finger.

Upon hearing about the incident, Last Mumpande reported the matter to his elder brother, Givemore Munsaka. Seeking retribution, Munsaka confronted Ngwenya and unleashed a violent assault. Reports indicate that Munsaka used open fists to strike Ngwenya multiple times across his body and, finally, resorted to using a brick to hit him on his back.

The incident was reported to ZRP Kamativi, leading to ongoing investigations to apprehend Munsaka. During the court proceedings, Hwange Magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Yolanda Kabasa found Munsaka guilty as charged.

As a penalty for his actions, Munsaka has been ordered to pay a fine of USD$50 by December 29. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a two-month imprisonment for the convicted assaulter.

The case underscores the importance of resolving conflicts through peaceful means, highlighting the potential consequences of resorting to violence in personal disputes. Authorities encourage community members to seek mediation and legal avenues to address grievances rather than taking matters into their own hands.

By James Gwati-In a startling revelation, self-appointed CCC interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu, is under scrutiny for admitting to an error that handed Mabvuku-Tafara to Zanu PF.

Tshabangu’s acknowledgement has sparked accusations of collusion with President Emerson Mnangagwa in a bid to dismantle the opposition CCC.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) abruptly terminated the Mabvuku-Tafara by-election on Friday, proclaiming Scott Sakupwanya of Zanu PF as the uncontested victor.

The High Court’s Thursday ruling in favor of Tshabangu’s directive to exclude CCC candidates, including Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, further intensifies suspicions of a coordinated effort to weaken the opposition.

Tshabangu, through his lawyer Nqobani Sithole, asserted this week that Kufahakutizwi was not intended for recall, raising questions about the transparency of the process.

“My client advises that there was never an intention to recall Febion Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi as an MP. Consequently, we have not cited him as a respondent in our court action. He is unaffected by court ruling on the recalled people,” clarified Tshabangu’s lawyer.

The far-reaching consequences of the High Court’s decision extend to several CCC-won constituency seats in August, including prominent figures like Prince Dubeko Sibanda, Vanya Bright Moyo, Raphael Pashor Sibanda, Jane Nicola Watson, Ereck Gono, Morgan Ncube, Obert Manduna, and Desmond Makaza. The unfolding events suggest a complex political landscape and potential collaboration between Tshabangu and Mnangagwa to undermine the CCC.

By James Gwati-Self imposed CCC interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu has admitted that he erroneously recalled Mabvuku-Tafara MP, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, resulting in the seat going to Zanu PF.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Friday called off the Mabvuku-Tafara by-election and declared Scott Sakupwanya of the ruling party, Zanu PF, as the uncontested winner.

This was after the High Court Thursday ruled in favour of Tshabangu’s order to bar CCC candidates, including Kufahakutizwi, from participating in the upcoming by-election.

Through his lawyer, Nqobani Sithole Tshabangu this week said that Kufahakutizwi was not supposed to be recalled.

“‘My client advises that there was never an intention to recall Febion Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi as an MP. Consequently, we have not cited him as a respondent in our court action. He is unaffected by court ruling on the recalled people,” said Tshabangu’s lawyer

The High Court’s decision affects several constituency seats won in August by CCC members, including Prince Dubeko Sibanda (Binga North), Vanya Bright Moyo (Lupane East), Raphael Pashor Sibanda (Cowdray Park), Jane Nicola Watson (Bulawayo South), Ereck Gono (Lobengula Magwegwe), Morgan Ncube (Beitbridge West), Obert Manduna (Nketa), and Desmond Makaza (Mpopoma Mzilikazi).

By- Potential CCC voters in today’s by-elections say they are confused after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) withdrew ballot papers in eight constituencies that were affected by a ruling by High Court judge Justice Never Katiyo, who nullified the nomination of recalled Citizens Coalition For Change (CCC) candidates.

Justice Katiyo Thursday granted the party’s self-declared interim Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu an application to bar recalled CCC candidates from participating in the upcoming by-elections.

CCC’s deputy spokesman Gift Siziba on Thursday said that the party had appealed against the decision by Justice Katiyo at the Supreme Court.

In a statement, ZEC Chief Elections Officer, Utoile Silaigwana said that they are going to reprint ballots for Binga North, Lupane East, Cowdray Park, Bulawayo South, Lobengula-Magwegwe, Beitbridge West, Nketa, Mpopoma-Mzilikazi constituencies in compliance with the court order.

The recalled CCC representatives who were affected by the recent ruling by Justice Katiyo are:

• Sibanda Dubeko Prince
• Moyo Bright Vanya
• Nkomo Veliswe
• Toffa Jasmine
• Mlilo Stabile
• Sibanda Pashor Raphael
• Watson Nicola Jane
• Gono Ereck
• Zana Evidence Sunungurai
• Ncube Morgan
• Manduna Obert
• Dube Janeth
• Makaza Desmond
• Shoko Gideon
• Sibanda Tendai
• Moyo Anastasia
• Gabuzza Joel
• Chimhini David
• Ncube Siphiwe
• Sibanda Felix
• Zivira Helen
• Madzikana Mativenga

The CCC candidates who were nominated for the direct first-past-the-post elections are:

Sibanda Dubeko Prince (Binga North), Moyo Bright Vanya Lupane East (Cowdray Park), Watson Nicola Jane (Bulawayo South), Gono Ereck (Lobengula-Magwegwe), Ncube Morgan (Beitbridge West), Manduna Obert (Nketa), Makaza Desmond (Mpopoma-Mzilikazi).

Silaigwana said the named individuals will not have their names appearing on the ballot paper in the Saturday by-elections. He said:

Consequently, the said persons are not candidates for the by-elections on 9 December 2023. In terms of the court order, the Commission has been ordered not to include the names of the said persons in the preparation of ballot papers to be used in the by-elections.

The Commission is thus withdrawing all ballot papers that had been printed and distributed to the respective Constituencies and will reprint and redistribute ballots that are in compliance with the court order.

Kindly note that this will not affect the number of ballots to be printed and the number remains as notified in the notice published on 27 November 2023. The printer remains Printing and Minting Company.

By- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed John Mushayavanhu as the new Governor of the Reserve Bank.

Mushayavanhu will take over from John Mangudya in April 2024.

Mangudya is moving to the new Mutapa Investment Fund as chief executive.

The President appoints the Governor of the Reserve Bank in terms of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act and the head of the Mutapa Investment Fund in terms of the Sovereign Wealth Fund Act.
He can reappoint a Governor once for a second five year term, but at the end of a maximum of 10 years there has to be a new person.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, made the announcements of the changes at the Reserve Bank and Mutapa Investment Fund in a statement yesterday.
Dr Mushayavanhu is a career banker with over 30 years banking experience, having worked at Standard Chartered Bank and FBC Bank in senior capacities.
He holds several educational qualifications, including a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a PhD in Business Administration.
“These senior appointments have been made in line with the dictates of good corporate governance on succession planning for forward guidance of the market,” said Dr Rushwaya.
In another Presidential appointment, the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Ambassador Albert Chimbindi becomes the new Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade taking over from Ambassador James Manzou who is due to retire tomorrow but has been appointed by the President to the Commission of the Public Service Commission from January 1 next year.
Ambassador Manzou holds a first degree in Public Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration.
He joined the foreign service as a desk officer in 1980, and rose through the ranks to counsellor, under secretary, deputy ambassador and ambassador in stations that included Russia, Germany, Angola and Geneva.
Ambassador Manzou was subsequently elevated to the post of Director Regional and Continental Integration in 2014 and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2018.
Ambassador Manzou, who has served in Government for over 43 years, possesses extensive knowledge and experience in public administration, with a pointed focus in the management of foreign or diplomatic service.
Dr Rushwaya said his vast experience will greatly enhance the work of the Public Service Commission with regard to foreign service.
Ambassador Chimbindi holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Politics and Administration and a Master of Science Degree in International Relations.
He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an administrative officer in 1986, and rose to deputy director and director in the same ministry.
Ambassador Chimbindi was first secretary and head of chancery at the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Dakar, Senegal, counsellor at the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Paris, France, and subsequently Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Brussels.

By James Gwati-Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-imposed interim secretary general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has relinquished the Mabvuku-Tafara parliamentary seat to Scott Sakupwanya of the ruling Zanu PF party.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Friday, declared Sakupwanya as the uncontested winner after the High Court, Thursday ruled in favour of Tshabangu’s order to bar CCC candidates from participating in the upcoming by-election scheduled for tomorrow.
CCC had fielded Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi for the Mabvuku seat. Kufahakutizwi is one of the 14 MPs illegally recalled by Tshabangu in October and won the Mabvuku seat in August.

The High Court’s decision affects several constituency seats won in August by CCC members, including Prince Dubeko Sibanda (Binga North), Vanya Bright Moyo (Lupane East), Raphael Pashor Sibanda (Cowdray Park), Jane Nicola Watson (Bulawayo South), Ereck Gono (Lobengula Magwegwe), Morgan Ncube (Beitbridge West), Obert Manduna (Nketa), and Desmond Makaza (Mpopoma Mzilikazi).

ZEC Deputy Chairperson Rodney Kiwa, Thursday, confirmed that all preparations for the by-elections are in place.

Despite the controversy surrounding Tshabangu’s recall of CCC MPs from Parliament, ZEC remains confident in the readiness of the electoral process.

“We have been able to mobilize all the resources, and election materials are available. Most of the materials have been deployed to Bulawayo, where the majority of the voting will take place. So, yes, I can confidently say we are ready,” stated Ambassador Kiwa in a recent interview.
A total of 266,150 ballot papers are expected to be printed for the by-elections, catering to at least 248,347 voters in the National Assembly. This development follows Tshabangu’s recall of 18 CCC legislators last month, prompting another round of by-elections scheduled for February 3 in six National Assembly constituencies: Pelandaba, Goromonzi South, Seke, Chegutu West, Zvimba East, and Mkoba North.
The Nomination Court is set to convene on December 18 to receive the names of candidates interested in contesting in the upcoming by-elections. However, the court order barring expelled legislators from standing again is likely to remain in effect, adding a layer of complexity to the political landscape in Zimbabwe.

By James Gwati- Self-imposed CCC interim secretary general, Sengezo Tshabangu, has donated the Mabvuku-Tafara parliament seat to Zanu PF’s Scott Sakupwanya.

Friday, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared Sakupwanya as the uncontested winner of the parliamentary seat after Thursday, the High Court ruled in favour of Tshabangu’s order to bar CCC candidates from partaking in the Sartuday by-election.

CCC had fielded Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi for the Mabvuku seat. Kufahakutizwi is one of the 14 MPs illegally recalled by Tshabangu in October and won the Mabvuku seat in August.

Tinashe Sambiri

CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has exposed Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hypocrisy.

In a strong statement, President Chamisa accused the Zanu PF leader of blessing corruption and rampant looting of resources.

According to President Chamisa, the whole system is fraught with irregularities and fraud.

See statement below…

BEHOLD A BANANA REPUBLIC

Somewhere in a country which is essentially a Banana republic, State institutions are moved by lies.

An incorrigible criminal and fraudster engages in a criminal and fraudulent act.

A blatant lie is acted upon by and moves the whole government, the whole Parliament, the whole Judiciary, the whole Electoral Management Body & a whole ministry( Local Government, Justice & Finance).

The whole electorate and citizenry is abused and taken for fools.

A whole President is moved to gazette a fraud , criminal act and a lie!

The whole nation loses revenue to this lie in a state where hospitals have no medication, schools have no books and roads have craters of potholes.

The whole scheme is diversionary so as to shift the citizens’ focus from the stolen and rigged election! A classic case of a rapist telling a rape victim to forget about the assault and move on !!

This nation must return to majority rule and find a new national consensus through a broad based settlement and pact. #OnePeople

YOU CAN’T RECALL A CALLING…A delay is not a denial. Mkoma, don’t waste state resources for silly pursuits and foolish exploits.

We will emerge out all of this even stronger and purer. So indomitable and uncontainable

Cowards deploy and abuse tortoises! This level of cruelty invites bad omen..

By A Correspondent- Revelers at night clubs around Chikanga’s TM area in Mutare were lucky to recover their stolen cellphones which had been tucked in knee-high socks of a thief who was fatally assaulted by his colleague after refusing to share the loot in the late hours of last Friday.

The nasty incident happened at a night club in Chikanga.

Police confirmed the death of McDonald Muparutsa (31) of New Chisamba, Sakubva, at the hands of his colleague, Lovemore Biggie Nyanzou (26) of Muchena section of the same suburb.

Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, said Nyanzou allegedly murdered his colleague after the latter refused to share the stolen kitty.

“The incident occurred at Rio Night Club at Chikanga TM area in Mutare. On the fateful night, the two were drinking beer together and Nyanzou saw Muparutsa snatching a cellphone from a patron’s pocket and went outside the night club. Nyanzou followed him and demanded a share of the loot. MacDonald refused to give him anything. After that, Nyanzou head-butted Muparutsa. When Nyanzou saw that Muparutsa had collapsed, he ran away.

“However, onlookers gave chase and apprehended him. When police attended the scene, they found Muparutsa’s body lying in a pool of blood and Nyanzou was arrested,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.

However, when imbibers dialled their numbers, they heard their phones ringing from the deceased Muparutsa’s socks.

A witness, Mr Lawrence Zvamunongoda, told our Mutare Bureau: “It was shocking to see cellphones being retrieved from the deceased person’s socks.”

“Following Muparutsa’s murder, police attended the scene. People who were enjoying themselves in other night clubs around the area rushed to witness the incident.

“Those who had lost their phones during that night, dialled their numbers using other people’s phones. They heard the phones ringing from Muparutsa’s socks. I noticed five cellphones being retrieved from the socks,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Female lawmakers are pushing for the tabling of a Sexual Harassment Bill  to protect women in politics against persecution by their male counterparts.

The calls were made during a recent sensitisation workshop for women leaders by the Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence.

The women leaders had the opportunity to air out the challenges they encounter while discharging their political duties in their various constituencies.

Budiriro North constituency legislator Susan Matsunga said she hoped that such a Bill would be tabled soon.

“We have come up with a motion that we have moved to debate in Parliament as we find that it is not necessary to commemorate these 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence of which the whole year women will be facing challenges with no one to take care of them. GBV is not only in our communities that we lead, it is everywhere even in Parliament,” she said.

Epworth Local Board’s recalled chairperson Anna Sande said there was need for several institutions to be sensitised against harassment of women in politics.

“We really need to sensitise all institutions that work with women; calling for the establishment of a sexual harassment Bill to protect female politicians is a noble cause.

“Female politicians face many challenges than an average male politician faces, hence women ought to be protected from any form of sexual harm,” she said.

Sande said the policy would enable women to effectively carry out their mandate as policymakers and duty bearers.

Chairperson of the Parliament of Zimbabwe’s Women’s Caucus, Senator Maybe Mbowa, said the Bill would strive to cater for men who are also victims.

“It’s not only women who are harassed sexually. These days men are also harassed so all forms of harassment should be dealt with according to how bad they are. We no longer want sexual harassment; we want a Parliament which is well visioned,” she said.

Sexual harassment in workplaces in Zimbabwe has been described as a pervasive and insidious problem too familiar to many women in Zimbabwe.

A recent study by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, indicated that as many as 30% of women have experienced sexual harassment at work leading to an outcry by various gender activists to end the scourge.

Two Zimbabwean nationals were arrested on allegations of human trafficking, after they were found on a bus with 14 undocumented children.

This is the second incident of human trafficking involving children in the past few days.

Over the weekend the commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA) Mike Masiapato said they intercepted 443 children, under the age of eight, who were allegedly trafficked from Zimbabwe into South Africa.

It is alleged on Tuesday night the two suspects – a 46-year-old male and a 41-year-old woman – were seen boarding boarding a bus in Midrand with 14 undocumented children.

Provincial Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said there were eight boy and six girls, aged between six and 14-years-old.

“Police were alerted to the incident by a vigilant passenger in a bus from Midrand in Johannesburg en route to Cape Town.

“The bus made a stopover in Kimberley, the passenger called an off-duty police officer, who in turn alerted the multi-disciplinary team.

“The suspects claimed to be taking the kids to their parents in Cape Town, information the police could not verify, leading to the arrest.”

Thebe said the victims were inspected and looked dirty, without any additional clothes or bags, and looked hungry.

“Provincial Trafficking in Persons rapid response team lead by Department of Social Development was contacted to assist with placing the kids at a place of safety and providing food.”

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Northern, Cape Major General Steven Mabuela appreciated the information from the vigilant caller and the efforts of the off-duty police officer, Sergeant Phumla Mpolokeng, which lead to the police’s timely intervention.-IOL

In a defiant stance against the ruling party’s conditions for dialogue, Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), declared that he would not congratulate President Emmerson Mnangagwa for his victory in the August 2023 elections.

This comes as the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) insisted that any discussions with Chamisa hinge on a public acknowledgment of Mnangagwa’s win and a cessation of allegations of electoral fraud.

Chamisa, who has persistently sought a meeting with President Mnangagwa since 2018, responded to a call for congratulations from an X user, Cindy Shoko, with a resolute refusal. “I don’t celebrate crime. I don’t congratulate fraud! I’m not a pretender!!” Chamisa stated, emphasizing his unwavering belief that the elections were rigged.

The CCC leader’s reluctance to extend congratulations follows a longstanding and unsuccessful effort to engage with the ruling party. ZANU PF had set forth conditions for dialogue, requiring Chamisa to publicly recognize Mnangagwa’s victory and refrain from contesting the legitimacy of the electoral process.

By A Correspondent- Aspiring legislator for Mabvuku Tafara constituency representing Zanu PF in tomorrow’s by elections Pedzisai Scott Sakupwanya on Thursday doled out freebies to residents which include bread, mealie meal and flour.

Residents received a 10kg bag of maize meal, 2kg packet of flour and a loaf of bread each.

Sakupwanya, a former councillor in Harare, was defeated by the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi in Mabvuku-Tafara at August’s General Elections.

The two men’s names are on the ballot paper again for the by-election following the recall of Kufahakutizwi by Sengezo Tshabangu, a CCC activist who claims to be the party’s interim secretary-general.

The event was attended by ZANU PF Harare provincial chairman Godwills Masimirembwa and ZANU PF Treasurer Patrick Chinamasa.

Chinamasa stood in for Vice President Constantino Chiwenga as Guest of Honour.

Chiwenga was at the Harare Magistrates Court, where his ex-wife Marry Mubaiwa’s attempted murder case was being heard. Said Chinamasa:

The fights in the CCC are an opportunity for us to win, let us win on Saturday. Their issues are not ours, those are their problems.

Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono urged CCC members to assist Kufahakutizwi to ensure that he reclaims the seat. Chin’ono posted on X:

Everyone who can MUST assist the CCC candidate for Mabvuku-Tafara to win back this constituency, this man needs to win it!

… I urge ALL opposition leaders in Harare to go and campaign in Mabvuku, the symbolism of winning this seat will keep our HOPE alive!

By-The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has withdrawn the candidature of 22 CCC legislators recalled in October from contesting for seats under the party banner in tomorrow’s by-elections in compliance with a High Court order which has nullified their nomination.
Several of the recalled MPs and Senators wished to stand again, but the High Court has said that since they were recalled by being expelled from the party, they could not re-contest under the party label.
Of the 22 recalled legislators, eight were directly elected under the “first past the post system” while others were elected under the proportional representation system for the National Assembly or Senate.
In a statement last night, ZEC chief elections officer, Mr Utloile Silaigwana said they had since withdrawn the ballot papers printed and distributed earlier and would reprint and redistribute new ones that excluded the barred candidates.
“Kindly note that this will not affect the number of ballots to be printed and the number remains as notified in the notice published on the 27 November 3023. The printer remains Printing and Minting Company.”
Those who won constituency seats in August and who are now barred from standing in by-elections are Prince Dubeko Sibanda (Binga North), Vanya Bright Moyo (Lupane East), Raphael Pashor Sibanda (Cowdray Park), Jane Nocola Watson (Bulawayo South), Ereck Gono (Lobengula Magwegwe), Morgan Ncube (Beitbridge West) Obert Manduna (Nketa) and Desmond Makaza (Mpopoma Mzilikazi)
In an interview earlier, ZEC deputy chairperson Ambassador Rodney Kiwa said all was set for the by-elections.
The by-elections came after self-imposed CCC interim secretary general, Mr Sengezo Tshabangu, recalled the MPs from Parliament saying they had ceased to members of the party.
“We have been able to mobilise all the resources and election materials are available. Naturally most of the election material have been deployed to Bulawayo where most of the voting will be taking place. So yes I can confidently say we are ready,” said Ambassador Kiwa.
A total of 266 150 ballot papers are expected to be printed for the conduct of the by-elections for the National Assembly which is expected to serve at least 248 347 voters.
This comes as another round of by-elections has been fixed on February 3 in six National Assembly constituencies after Tshabangu recalled 18 CCC legislators last month.
The Nomination Court will sit on December 18 to receive names of candidates interested in contesting in the by-elections. The court order barring expelled legislators from standing again will probably still apply.
The by-elections will be held in Pelandaba, Goromonzi South, Seke, Chegutu West, Zvimba East and Mkoba North.
-Herald