Jane Mlambo| The MDC Alliance candidate for Mwenezi in the just ended elections, Mr Kudakwashe Chasura Bhasikiti, wrote a letter to Zanu-PF seeking readmission into the ruling party.

Bhasikiti, a former Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister, claims was forced out of the party by former first lady, Amai Grace Mugabe and her G40 cabal.Bulawayo24 got sight of a letter written by Bhasikiti to the Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu in which he applied to be re-admitted in the party.

Wrote Bhasikiti:
I hereby request re-admission in Zanu-PF party. I was forced out of the party by the former President of Zimbabwe when he publicly denounced me in front of thousands, who had thronged Mucheke Stadium in the run-up to the 2013 harmonised elections because of my different views

I believe in the Zanu-PF ideology and pledge to work hard for Zimbabwe under the guidance of this revolutionary party. With the new political dispensation ushered in by the so-called Operation Restore Legacy, the party is surely poised for positive growth.
Contacted for comment, Obert Mpofu confirmed that they got the letter. Bhasikiti contested in the just ended parliamentary elections under MDC-A ticket and was heavily defeated by Omar of Zanu PF in Mwenezi.

Contacted on why he decided to leave MDC-A,Bhasikiti said,there is no future there and Zanupf is not going anywhere as long as there is no serious opposition .”It shall take ages for opposition to dismantle Zanu PF. We all thought that after the expulsion of Mai Mujuru, vaMugabe and the likes of vana Mtasa nana Rugare Gumbo, Zanu PF was going to tumble in the elections. There was no rigging. Rural vote is crucial and is controlled by Zanupf. You cannot talk of fun things like spaghetti roads in Murehwa or Binga” said Bhasikiti.

Jane Mlambo|Newly appointed Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube has embarked on a listening and consulting roadshow with stakeholders, starting with a private meeting with captains of industry.
Professor Ncube met with fifty chief executive officers of the leading businesses in Zimbabwe to consult and listen to the challenges they are facing in their operations.

Issues raised by Zimbabwe’s leading Chief executive officers who met today with Professor Mthuli Ncube include prohibitive cost of finance, shortage of foreign currency, high import duties, uncompetitive business environment and bureaucracy.

The Minister of Finance and Development and the captains of industry discussed possible solutions to the challenges the business leaders are experiencing operating in Zimbabwe. The Minister promised to take into account the issues raised and proposed solutions as he kicks off his mandate to make Zimbabwe a middle income country by 2030.

Chief executives and senior business leaders that met privately with the minister today came from the following companies: Anglo America, British American Tobacco, Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ), CDF Investments Trust, Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, Delta, Dulux Paints, Ecobank, EcoCash, Econet, Fast JET, FBC Bank, GEM Group, Imara, Innscor, La Farge, Levy Group, Lobels, Masimba Holdings, Meikles Hotels, Minerva, National Foods, Nedbank, NMB Bank Limited, Old Mutual Group, Pick & Pay, Pulse Pharmaceuticals, RioZim, Securico, Stanbic Bank, Standard Chartered, Steward Bank, TelOne, Total Zimbabwe, United Refineries, Zimplats.

Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe Republic Police has announced a ban on all public gatherings, a move they said is meant to contain the cholera outbreak currently ravaging Harare.

In a statement released this afternoon, Police Spokesperson, Charity Charamba said;

“The government has declared the cholera outbreak a state of emergence meaning that it is also a threat to human security.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police wishes to inform members of the public that in light of the declaration of the state of emergency, the police in Harare will not allow any public gathering

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing to members of the public to take heed of this warning and cooperate as this will assist in alleviating the continuous spread of cholera.

Controversial Zanu PF legislator for Goromonzi West and Deputy Minister of Information, Energy Mutodi has once again caused a stir on Twitter after he accused the opposition MDC run Harare City Council PF ‘breeding’ cholera and typhoid.

Mutodi who on Monday threatened MDC Alliance Presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa with violence accused opposition Councillors of sleeping on the job, urging residents to boot them out.

Cholera Alert! As we have always said, MDC councils are breeding homes for cholera, typhoid & other waterborne diseases. It’s happening in Harare of all the towns. MDC counselors are sleeping on the job. It’s high time residents say enough is enough & boot them out.

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) September 12, 2018

Staff Correspondent|Highly placed sources within the MDC Alliance have told ZimEye.com that the winning councillors in Gwanda town went against the directives of the party national office in the election of the Deputy Mayor of the new council.

According to the sources, the councillors could soon be joining the list of defiant councillors that will be purged by the party for standing against the resolutions of the party.

The sources who hold senior positions within the party in Matabeleland South, told ZimEye.com that the head office in Harare directed that the party elects the only female councillor Happy Moyo as the Deputy Mayor but the councillors would not have any of that and elected returning councillor Phumulo Mapala.

“It was emphasised to the councillors that for purposes of gender balance and Empowerment they should elect Councillor Moyo as the Deputy Mayor but for their own selfish reasons that boil down to discrimination against women, the councillors went on to elect Mapala,” said the party officials who claimed they have not yet been authorised to speak to the media on the matter as the party is still investigating the issue.

Councillor Mapala was elected unopposed in the election as none of the MDC Alliance councillors nominated Moyo as directed. Justine Mazhale was elected as the Mayor of the town beating ZANU PF candidate Knowledge Ndhlovu by six voters to four.

Gwanda joins the growing list of MDC dominated councils that defied the party directives on the elections. Masvingo, Bulawayo and Chegutu councillors are already in trouble with the party for choosing into office candidates that were not recommended by the party.

MDC Alliance’s sole councillor for Marondera Rural District Council (MRDC), Nelson Mukwenha recently tried the impossible when he nominated himself to contest in all committee positions available despite apparent lack of support from his Zanu PF colleagues.

Mukwenha of ward 10 is a lone ranger in the 22-member council with all, but one ward being held by Zanu PF.

During the swearing-in ceremony held recently, Mukwenha, a member of the Tajamuka/Sesijikile pressure group, attracted attention in the gallery as he nominated himself for the position of chairperson and leader of six committees.

However, he would not find any seconder before he was drafted into the audit committee as a committee member.

“I was born a leader and this is why I nominated myself. The unfortunate thing is that I am the only MDC Alliance councillor in a rural-based council. However, I am going to prove my capabilities as well as to work for those who elected me,” Mukwenha said.

“I wanted to be the council chairperson or at least lead a committee, but it didn’t work. The good thing is that I was sworn-in and it is time for action. My presence will be felt.”

Under a “gentlemen’s agreement”, the chairperson of the MRDC is supposed to rotate between Marondera East and Marondera West constituencies.

But for the second consecutive term, Marondera East provided the chairperson amid reports that Marondera West was being punished for losing a ward to the opposition as well as the defeat of President Emmerson Mnangagwa who garnered lesser votes than MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa in the constituency.

Taurai Chikukwa (ward 2) was unanimously nominated as the new council chairperson while Tonderai Kwaramba (ward 14) was appointed his deputy.

Meanwhile, MDC Alliance Marondera chairperson Chengetai Murowa took over as mayor of Marondera Municipality after defeating long-serving councillor Dominic Matangira on Friday.

The swearing-in ceremony was marred by chaos as MDC Alliance supporters blasted the party leadership for imposing candidates. Murowa is deputised by MDC provincial deputy organising secretary Boniface Tagwirei.

NewsDay

Statement By Mthwakazi Republic Party|A visit by Mthwakazi Republic Party leaders to the Gukurahundi mass graves in Bhalagwe revealed some shocking developments.

The delegation which was accompanied by victims and international journalists was shocked to discover that the inscriptions on the graves that reads “Mass Graves” have been erased by plastering on them. The concealing plaster is still new, indicating that this horrible act was done recently.

The delegation which comprised of President Mqondisi Moyo, National Chairman Mqondisi Ndebeles, Foreign Affairs Secretary Njabulo Ngwenya, Khethani Nxebalendoda Ndlovu, Partone Xaba, Elder man Albert Khabo, Marshall Sibanda and party security department found an erected comemoratry structure inscribed “Tomb of the unknown solder”. The victims of Gukurahundi were evidently pained with this blatant act of tempering with the evidence of the Genocide.

Bhalagwe is not a Heroes shrine, it is a Genocide victims site. The three freedom fighters Shoko Dube, Mguni and one unnamed, burried in the shrine were put there to conceal and divert attention from the mass graves. It is ironic that the names of the heroes of the struggle are visible, while those of the victims have been removed. The removal of the Mass graves inscription and the erection of the tomb of the unknown soldier might have been done during the heroes holiday in August because on the month of July the president led a team which comprised of a Spanish journalist to the site and the tombstone of the unkown soldier was not there and the inscription “Mass grave was visible on the graves.

It all started with the removal of the names of the victims burried at Bhalagwe and now they are eradicating all the traces of their heinous evil.
We will fight this traverse of justice for the victims of Gukurahundi.

We demand that those names must be returned as an act of remorse and solace to the families and relatives of the victims.

The perpetrators of the genocide are surely on a mission and are not relenting in burying the truths on Gukurahundi.

Hands off our fathers and mothers and allow them to sleep in peace. They can not be tormented while living and when dead.

For Peace and Justice in Our Lifetime

Khethani Ndlovu: MRP Mat South Information and Publicity Secretary

The Union leader was tracked from the Mary Chiwenga organised beauty contest. She was abducted by around 8 unidentified assailants at Mverechena shops in Domboshava and was interrogated and tortured for the rest of Saturday night.

The leader is injured and has been keeping this to herself for fear of further victimisation.

The Union is still to receive finer details on reasons for the abduction and torture.

The Union implores the state to guarantee safety of education practitioners in line with the Oslo Safe schools declaration of 2015. The security of education workers is critical for quality education delivery in our schools.

The case is still to be reported to police as Union leader is still afraid to even leave home.

ARTUZ INFORMATION DEPARTMENT.

Popular social media Twitter user Shadaya Tawona reports that he has been taken up by the police allegedly for retweeting a Twitter post from a page attributed to ZEC Chairperson Priscilla Chigumba.

As he recounted what really happened, Shadaya said he retweeted a ‘tweet’ from a parody account pretending to be Mrs. Chigumba.

The seriousness of the matter was highlighted by the fact that he was summoned by the police to report to their offices on charges of criminal assault to the ZEC Chairperson. Here is Shadaya’s account of the story;

Today I was called by the ZRP (CID department) to report to their offices on charges CRIMINAL INSULT. Apparently the charges were pressed by Mrs Priscilla Chigumba, according to the information I got from the police.

I spent the entire day at Morris Depot being interrogated with regards to this matter. The accusation is that I retweeted a tweet which sought to damage her personality. The tweet was from a parody account pretending to be Mrs Chigumba.

It’s alleged that my intention for retweeting was to not only tarnish her image but incite people. Fellow watch what you tweet or retweet, there are people who monitor these social media sites. You will unknowingly find yourself in trouble.

I was released on conditions that I’ll not leave the country & will have to report to the police at their request. The matter is said to go into court anytime, as I’m tweeting right now I don’t even know how long I’ll be a free man.

I’m not rich or powerful, I can’t afford lawyers, so basically the matter is out of my hands, all I can do is leave it up to God. But you’ve been warned, these social media streets ain’t safe anymore. Watch what you say.

I think I’m even going to be deactivating some of my social media accounts, I don’t feel safe anymore, I don’t know if the memes I put will be used against me by someone else. Watch yourself

While retweeting amounted to republication, a retweet does not do anything extra with respect to circulation as the original tweet is already available to the world.”

By Paul Nyathi|Veteran journalist, publisher, former Daily News editor and owner Wilfred Mbanga has silently sneaked backed into the country after fifteen years in exile in the United Kingdom.

Once declared by former President Robert Mugabe as the number one enemy of the country, Mbanga narrated in an article to the BBC how he was warmly welcomed in the country by members of his family with nothing done to him by state security as anticipated.

Below is the narration to the BBC by Mbanga:

“The last time I was at Harare airport I was leaving hastily in fear of my life having been arrested on a trumped up charge and locked up for a night in a filthy, overcrowded cell.

I had endured a six-month-long trial and was finally acquitted by one of the country’s few untainted magistrates.

Despite this, the harassment continued – I was constantly followed, on one occasion men in suits jumped over my garden wall to prowl around my house at night.

It was August 2003 when I left. I did not know when I would return – but I fully expected to be back within a year or so.

‘Mugabe was my friend’
There was a time when things worked in Zimbabwe, when the economy was booming, unemployment was not an issue, we had our own currency and the country was able to feed itself with some extras for the neighbours.

Robert Mugabe, who at the time was president and my friend, was regarded as a world statesman.

Everything started to sour as corruption, unbridled greed and economic mismanagement took hold.

It became a crime to criticise the head of state and I, even after I had left the country, was declared “an enemy of the people” for writing a critical column in a Dutch newspaper.

Fast-forward to September 2018, the queues in the arrivals hall at the renamed Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport were chaotic.

Nobody knew which queue was for returning residents, which for visitors and which for the elusive investors who were fulsomely welcomed on large shiny signs.

As a British passport holder I had been given a form to fill in on the plane.

As the British Airways jet cruised into a leisurely descent over Harare, I looked out of the window at the dry, dusty countryside and wondered what awaited me.

After an inordinately long wait I finally arrived at the desk. I had to pay $55 (£42) for a 30-day tourist visa.

My mouth was as dry as the dusty veld outside. I was expecting government agents to pounce at any moment, as the state-owned Herald newspaper and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation had reported two warrants for my arrest during my absence.

But absolutely nothing happened. My little granddaughters waved a colourful banner from the balcony with squeals of delight.

I walked out into the September sunshine and the welcoming embrace of the remnants of my family.

I could not stop glancing back over my shoulder, anticipating that at any moment somebody would demand that I follow him to a small office somewhere for questioning and heaven knows what else.

My lawyers later assured me that my case was “political” and was not criminal – and the fact that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had given his nod to my return was enough guarantee that I would be safe.

‘Shabby and rickety’
The car park was full of luxury 4×4 vehicles.

On the drive home from the airport, the first part of the new dual carriageway had just been completed and was beautiful. But the houses that lined it were shabby and dilapidated.

The only bright colours to be seen were on the remaining Zanu-PF election campaign billboards and the beautiful spring flowering trees.

Solar-powered street lights have replaced the national grid.

The suburb where I had lived used to have good roads, well-tended homes and verdant verges. Now there were only shrivelled shrubs, bare earth, and countless potholes.

Rickety tables stood at most street corners pathetically stocked with a meagre assortment of wares – a few tomatoes, sweets wrapped in scraps of newspaper, pop corn and pork rinds. This was never before seen in the suburbs.

The houses stand behind huge walls – an ugly testimony to the high rate of petty crime by hungry, impoverished citizens.

Everything looked dingy, tired, old – in desperate need of a lick of paint.

Elevated water tanks are now a common feature at most houses as the residents rely on borehole water delivered by lorry rather than the contaminated municipal offering – if that is available at all.

The delivery trucks have destroyed the suburban roads.

A drive into the city centre tests one’s patience and driving skills.

Overloaded, rickety minibuses overtake on both left and right at high speed and can stop abruptly in front of you without warning.

In some cases, the conductor hangs precariously out of the back door.

Drivers of the luxury SUVs seem to think they are above the law and don’t need to stop at street lights or give-way signs.

This irritated me beyond measure as in my day most drivers kept to the speed limit and obeyed the rules of the road.

A welcome development was the noticeable absence of fear among the people I spoke to.

The last time I was in Zimbabwe, people were reluctant to discuss politics with strangers and those that did spoke in hushed tones and looked over their shoulders for the secret police, real or imagined.

‘Tonic to my soul’
Despite the obvious hardships experienced in daily life here, such as having to queue for long hours to draw cash from banks, living without clean water, lack of services like regular rubbish collection and reliable electricity, it is still wonderful to be back home.

Some of my relatives, including my mother, have died while I was in exile. So have many of my old friends.

Cousins who had young children when I left now have grandchildren. Everybody I knew looks older.

The countryside is outstanding as it has always been.

The zebrawood trees, known locally as “msasas”, on the road to the eastern highlands have always meant a lot to me. To see them in their full glory at this time of the year, when their new buds turn red, is something to behold.

The majestic mountains and the deep valleys evoke indescribable emotions for me.

And above all, to be home with my family and friends listening to the familiar sounds and smelling Zimbabwean air, albeit briefly, has been a tonic to my soul. I will be back!”

Presentational grey line on Veteran journalist Wilf Mbanga:

Friend of Robert Mugabe in the 1970 and 1980s – they listened to Jim Reeves music together.

Founded The Daily News paper in 1999; it was closed by the government four years later.

Left Zimbabwe in 2003 and sought asylum in the UK after harassment and arrests
Branded “enemy of the people” the following year for an article critical of Mr Mugabe in a Dutch newspaper.

Founded The Zimbabwean in 2005 – a weekly published from UK and Johannesburg.

Launched the The Trillion Dollar Campaign in 2009 to highlight Zimbabwe’s economic problems.

Jane Mlambo| Newly appointed Defence and War Veterans Affairs minister Oppah Muchinguri (pictured) has pleaded with women to celebrate her historic appointment while promising to be equal to the task of managing a key ministry and being the chairperson of Zanu PF at the same time.

Muchinguri, who is a member of the Zanu PF presidium by virtue of being party chairperson, made history by becoming the first woman to preside over the Defence ministry.

Her appointment to the ministry also comes at a time President Emmerson Mnangagwa is under fire from women’s groups for appointing only six women in his 20-member Cabinet.

“A woman’s touch is always different and if you see there are all men at the top and I know women are looking up to me to ensure there is a gender balance across the board,” she said in an interview at State House on Monday during the swearing-in ceremony.

“This is not new to me and I have been at the helm of the women’s league and I have also been at the helm of the Women’s Affairs ministry which is a task and half. Fifty-two percent of the population is female and I being at the helm is a lot of work.

“Considering the journey that we have travelled as women, this is really a drop in the ocean. I am a war veteran, militarily-trained and I was a commander, and so this is not new.”

Muchinguri promised to improve the welfare of war veterans.

“As the economy grows, that will also open opportunities for war veterans. I am also looking at land redistribution and mining because war veterans really deserve the share,” she said.

-Newsday

By Jane Mlambo | Mahindra vehicles will soon be assembled in Zimbabwe at the Willowvale Motor Industry plant, the company’s local representative has said.

Mahindra has in the past years slowly penetrated the African market and recently set up a R10 million plant in South Africa.

Mahindra Zimbabwe Head of Business Development, Mr Prometheus Chiwara said the company aims at localizing its production of the brand in order to satisfying the local markets.

“As Mahindra we are here to stay and look forward to having Mahindra as a buy Zimbabwe product which we are going to be assembling here.

“We have plans underway to assembly the vehicles here of which they are now at a very, very advanced stage,” Chiwara said.

Currently the company said it is in the process of pushing the Mahindra brand in Zimbabwe and will be introducing new tractors and agricultural implements for the upcoming agricultural season.

“We are on a drive to market the tractor side of Mahindra and we also have different agricultural implements, combine harvesters as well construction equipment,” Chiwara said.

Zimbabwe currently needs more than 4 000 tractors to be able to fully utilize its arable land.

Mahindra has in the past enjoyed parastatal and government support through such companies as TelOne, NetOne and the Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED).

Mahindra started operating in 1945 where they were building Willys Jeep under a contract for Chrysler and the company slowly grew to claim a niche in the world market.

Currently the company has a 0,5 percent in the Zimbabwean market but Chiwara says with the current aggressive marketing strategies, they are looking to grow to a double digit market share in the near future.

-263Chat

By A Correspondent|Chief Gampu, Ashel Sithole (52) of Tsholotsho who has been in an open unpleasant relationship with former ZANU PF senator Soneliso Ndlovu has seen his love skirmish with the politician come to a very bad end as he is now seeking the court`s intervention to recover $34 000 swindled from him in a botched house deal.

Chief Gampu who has been living under one roof with Ndlovu since last year entrusted Ndlovu with his affairs, including his financial transactions.

In November 2017, the chief, a former Senator, received a lumpsum of $35 000 from government, as part of his outstanding allowances from parliament. He then instructed Ndlovu to facilitate the purchase of a house in Bulawayo`s Lobengula suburb.

Ndlovu informed Chief Gampu that she had negotiated to buy the house for $26 000 when she had actually negotiated for $24 000. Instead of transferring the amount to the seller as agreed, Ndlovu on three occasions between November 8, 2017 and December 12, 2017, transferred $13 400, $7 500 and $14 000 to her personal bank account without Chief Gampu`s authorisation.

On December 19, 2017, Ndlovu is said to have transferred $20 000 from her bank account into the seller’s account with the intention to purchase the property.

After the transaction had been completed, she transferred the ownership of the house into her own name.

The matter only came to light when Chief Gampus personal driver, Proud Mbambo went to Bulawayo City Council offices in Lobengula to check on the status of the house and discovered that the property in question had been registered under Ndlovus name.

The matter was reported to the police leading to Ndlovu`s arrest.

Ndlovu, on Tuesday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushowe facing fraud charges.

She was not asked to plead and is out on $200 bail.

She will be back in court on September 25 for commencement of trial.

By Paul Nyathi|ZANU PF inclined independent Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa has taken swipe at MDC Alliance leader Nelson saying that the youthful leader needs psychiatric help after the loss to Emmerson Mnangagwa in the July 30 elections.

Speaking to journalists after taking an unprecedented public HIV test in Harare on Tuesday, Mliswa said that the election loss threw the MDC leader into depression which could be healed through psychiatric help.

The relatively talkative former ZANU PF provincial chairman was speaking responding to Chamisa’s indications that his MDC Alliance party was planning his own mock inauguration at the weekend as the People’s President as he continues to dispute Mnangagwa’s controversial victory in the poll.

Mliswa said the planned inauguration was illegal and may lead to Chamisa being arrested.

“What Chamisa is doing is against the law. He is the breaking the law. He can be arrested,” he said.

“What he is planning is a threat to state security. That is the truth of the matter. Let us not get excited.

“I certainly understand when you lose, you go through a phase; a depression period that one goes through. It is not easy. They would need some form of psychiatric attention.

“He needs some help. I do not understand how people who lose an election would want to go further and be sworn in ministers, unless if he is going to swear shadow ministers.

“It is sad. I like Chamisa. He is a fine young man. But the more he talks, the more problems he causes to himself.”

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.