Below is the Canadian government’s statement concerning Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court verdict on MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa’s lawsuit against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa:

‘Embassy of Canada Statement following the Zimbabwe Constitutional Court’s decision on the July 30 presidential election

“Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court has rendered its decision on the merits of a challenge to the conduct and results of the July 30 election decision confirming Emmerson Mnangagwa as the winner of the Presidential election.

“We commend all actors for their decision to put forward their differing positions in a peaceful manner, respecting the Zimbabwean Constitution and the rule of law. We hope they promote calm and restraint in responding to the verdict. We also take note of calls for dialogue to promote peace such as from the Zimbabwe Council of Churches.

“All political parties campaigned on platforms which acknowledged the need for a process of ongoing reform including political, electoral, human rights and economic. Indeed, at observer missions, domestic and international, have pointed to the need to rectify a number of systemic challenges to the electoral process. We call on the new government to move quickly to formulate a plan to identify and enact reforms based on discussions with all Zimbabweans.”

By Paul Nyathi|Uncompromising MDC Alliance Member of Parliament for Zengeza Job Sikhala has issued a sensational warning against efforts to arrest his party leader Nelson Chamisa.

Posting on his Facebook page without elaborating, Sikhala warned that there will be no peace if Chamisa is put under house arrest for disputing the July 30 elections.

“Any attempt to put our President Adv Nelson Chamisa under house arrest because he refused to recognise stolen elections will be suicidal. Be warned,” he wrote.

ZimEye.com efforts to get further explanations from Sikhala on his post were not successful at the time of writing.

By Paul Nyathi|ZANU PF supporters have taken to the social media to castigate the state run Herald Newspaper on the paper’s continous negative coverage of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

In a highly sensational trend on Twitter, the ZANU PF supporters blame the Herald Editor Caeser Zvayi for continuously giving Chamisa media coverage albeit with the paper thinking that they are destroying Chamisa.

“The guys at Herald need to know that the election is over. @caesarzvayi please let’s move on to more substantive issues than this pointless Chamisa-bashing. What’s the relevance now? wrote the ruling party supporters on a Twitter page @EDNews.

The Herald Newspaper editor Zvayi was however not amused nor shakeable on the call by the ZANU PF supporters.

“Don’t tell me how to do my job. As long as Chamisa behaves like a spoilt brat, he has to be told so. You expect us to look aside while he urinates in the communal well? Come on,” responded Zvayi.

The ZANU PF supporters responded:
“We respectfully disagree. Your brand of shrill propaganda in fact helps Chamisa. It doesn’t help ED, at all. That you don’t realise this fact, recognised by even those in support of the President, is quite revealing.

By Paul Nyathi|Reports have emerged that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has heavily clashed with his deputy Constantino Chiwenga over who should be in the new cabinet.

Highly placed sources around the presidency indicated that Mnangagwa rejected a cabinet list proposed by Chiwenga which was made up mostly of senior army officials.

The sources further indicated that the two could also not agree over the inclusion of Obert Mpofu in the cabinet.

Chiwenga is reported to haven been strongly against Mpofu being included in the cabinet a proposal which Mnangagwa threw away.

Meanwhile, reports also yet to be confirmed indicate that Mnangagwa is highly interested in including opposition MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa on his administration.

The sources claim that Mnangagwa has already presented his proposal to Chamisa who has not yet responded.

A BULAWAYO man who fondled his wife’s younger sister and undressed in her presence, has been sentenced to three months in prison.

Onias Moyo, however, breathed a sigh of relief when Western Magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube wholly suspended the sentence on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.

In passing the sentence Mr Ncube said Moyo’s conduct was shameful and he could not be trusted.

On August 13, Moyo was sent by his wife to collect the sister-in-law so they could go to a church camp meeting.

On arrival at home his wife had already left.

Prosecuting Mr Kenneth Shava told the court Moyo took his sister-in-law to the shops where they bought some meat for supper.

When they got back home Moyo locked the door and placed the keys on the table before fondling his sister-in-law’s breast.

She tried pushing him but Moyo threatened her saying he would get her deported back to South Africa where she was attending school.

Moyo stripped naked before his sister-in-law and dragged her to the bedroom.

She managed to escape to her aunt’s place at Entumbane.

A family meeting was held before the matter was reported to the police.

State Media

Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) June 2018 Ordinary Level results are out and centre heads can start collecting them from Zimsec regional offices tomorrow.

Zimsec board chairman Professor Eddie Mwenje made the announcement in a statement yesterday.

“The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council board and management would like to advise the nation of the release of the June 2018 Zimsec Ordinary Level results,” he said.

“Heads of examination centres will be able to collect the results for their respective schools or centres from our regional offices on Wednesday, 29 August 2018.”

Prof Mwenje said there was an increase in candidature this year as compared to last year.

“A total number of 141 246 candidates registered and sat for a range of subjects from one to 10 compared to 78 655 in June 2017,” he said.

“Of the 141 246 registered candidates, 136 were special needs candidates. The total candidature increased by 75 866, a percentage increase of 79,58.”

According to Zimsec, 17 232 school candidates and 124 014 private candidates sat for the June 2018 examination.

Prof Mwenje also highlighted the increase in candidates who sat for five or more subjects.

“The total number of candidates who sat for five or more subjects was 10 974 which is 7, 77 percent of the total candidature while 130 272, (92,23 percent) sat for four or less subjects,” he said.

“In the June 2017 examinations, the number of candidates who sat for five or more subjects was 3 045 constituting 3,89 percent of the total candidature of 78 655.

Prof Mwenje did not indicate the pass rate.

State Media

ZANU PF secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana (pictured) yesterday said they were in no hurry to sever ties with former President Robert Mugabe and to rename the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport as requested by the war veterans.

The developments came in the wake of Mugabe’s decision to send representatives to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration on Sunday.

Mugabe, who has previously snubbed national gatherings, sent his daughter Bona and son-in-law Simba Chikore to represent him at his successor’s installation.

Mangwana said there was need for maturity and wisdom in dealing with the war veterans’ demands given that Mugabe appeared to be softening towards the new administration by “showing statesmanship”.

“It is gratifying. That is the kind of message Zimbabwe has been expecting. You heard the applause, we expect that as our founding President, he must occupy that respectable place and today, he behaved just exactly as we expected,” Mangwana said.

“There has been a request to change the Robert [Gabriel] Mugabe International Airport, but government has not taken a decision and so has the party not taken a position. It is a request which has come from some sections within the party, but that request would be considered in light of behaviour and conduct made today (Sunday) and going forward.”

The development was likely to put Zanu PF and the war veterans association on a collision path, with the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association secretary-general Victor Matemadanda insisting that Mugabe should be banished even after his endorsement of Mnangagwa’s administration as he was a “sellout”.

“We are not convinced with that. I am not sure if he is sincere. I think he is doing that to avoid the name change that we are undertaking at the airport. I don’t see any good reason why he should congratulate ED when, in actual fact, he said he would not vote for him,” he said.

Matemadanda said Mugabe should do more before his former allies rethink their relationship with him, otherwise they would stop at nothing to have him excommunicated and his name removed from the international airport.

Mugabe has previously expressed dislike for his successor’s administration since his ouster in November last year.

On the eve of the July 30 polls, the former head of State announced that he would not vote for Zanu PF, but would throw in his lot with MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.

News Day

A 30-YEAR-OLD unlicensed commuter omnibus driver was on Monday remanded in custody for cutting off Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s motorcade in Borrowdale, Harare, causing serious damage to the vehicles.

Silent Hungwe was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa, who remanded him in custody to September 4 pending finalisation of investigations.

Allegations are that on August 24 along Borrowdale Road at the intersection of Kingsmead, Hungwe was driving due south and, in his bid to avoid vehicles that had blocked the road, hit Chiwenga’s vehicle on the rear side.

Although no injuries were recorded, both vehicles sustained serious damages.

Linda Gadzikwa appeared for the State.

NewsDay

A 29-YEAR-OLD man from Mvuma who had been on the run for seven years after raping and robbing a passenger in his vehicle, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Patrick Chakuwamba of Mucheri village, Chaka in Mvuma appeared before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa facing rape and robbery charges

Chakuwamba had been on the run since 2011 when he committed the offence.

He denied the charges claiming that he had consensual sex with the complainant (name withheld to protect her identity) accusing her of being a lady of the night.

Mrs Msipa convicted Chakuwamba after a full trial and sentenced him to 20 years for rape and 5 years for robbery.

Chakuwamba will, however serve an effective 18 and half years in prison after six and half years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

During trial, a friend of the complainant said she was the target of the rape but Chakuwamba turned to the first complainant after learning that she was on her menstrual period.

“I was seated in front when he said he wanted to sleep with me. I told him that I was on my menstrual period and because he doubted me, he forced his fingers down my private parts,” she said.

Chakuwamba, the complainant said, then tied her friend with a cable before raping her twice.

It is the State’s case that on May 19, 2011 Chakuwamba met the first complainant at Chicken Slice Complex in Mvuma where she was looking for transport to Beitbridge.

Chakuwamba offered to transport the complainant and her friend who boarded his vehicle before he drove off towards Masvingo.

On approaching the 223km peg along Harare-Masvingo road, Chakuwamba pulled off the road and disembarked.

He armed himself with an iron bar and took an electrical cable from the bonnet of his car.

The court heard that Chakuwamba initially wanted to rape the complainant’s friend but she was saved by being on her menstrual periods.

Chakuwamba tied the friend up with an electrical cable and ordered the complainant to lie down on the back seat of the car and raped her once using a condom. After 30 minutes of rest, he raped her once more but without using a condom.

The accused person robbed the complainant and her friend of $25, two pairs of trousers, two Samsung cell phones and a bottle of perfume.

Chakuwamba forced them off his vehicle and drove off. Total value stolen was $120 and nothing was recovered.

A report was made to the police but Chakuwamba fled before he could be arrested.

He was however, arrested this year following a tip off. Mr Kelvin Guveya appeared for the State.

State Media

By Paul Nyathi| One of the two Zimbabwean awaiting trial prisoners, who escaped while being transported in a State vehicle in Limpopo South Africa, was rearrested on Friday.

South African Police spokesman Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said Petrus “Small” Moyo was rearrested at Ga-Mushi village, outside Lephalale on Friday evening.

Moyo and fellow Zimbabwean Witness Simango were arrested for murder and house robberies. They cut open the roof of the moving police truck, jumped off and vanished in the bushes earlier on Friday. Police were transporting the prisoners from Lephalale to Polokwane when the incident happened.

Moyo faces charges of murder, house-breaking, and theft. He was confirmed to have entered South Africa illegally. Simango was linked to a series of house robberies and burglary in Lephalale and surrounding areas.

Simango was linked to a series of house burglaries in Lephalale and surrounding areas. The search for him continued.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) yesterday said it was relishing the ruling of the Constitutional Court and reports from observer missions that it superintended over a credible election.

The Constitutional Court on Friday ruled against MDC Alliance presidential candidate Advocate Nelson Chamisa who had filed an application challenging President Mnangagwa’s victory, alleging electoral malpractice.

He however, failed to produce evidence to support his case resulting in the Chief Justice Luke Malaba sitting with eight other ConCourt judges dismissing his case with costs.

The court upheld President Mnangagwa’s electoral victory declaring him the President of Zimbabwe and he was sworn into office on Sunday.

In an interview yesterday, Zec Acting Chief Elections Officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana said the apex court’s ruling dispelled unfounded claims that the commission rigs elections.

“ZEC has been vindicated by the Constitutional Court which shows that Zec conducted this election in terms of the Electoral Law. The election was credible hence it was also proved through the petition which went through the Constitutional Court,” said Mr Silaigwana.

He said inviting international observers was a plus for the commission as preliminary reports by most observer missions have credited Zec for running the election in a professional manner.

Government invited international observers to watch as the country’s citizens chose their political leaders.
The pre-election environment was peaceful serve for post election violence sparked by the MDC Alliance that was refusing to accept results, before most of them had been announced. The incident in Harare claimed six lives.

“The lessons we are learning through inviting observers is that it is important to have observers as most of them have given us the thumbs up on the electoral process. It’s a lesson that we need to stick to the Electoral Law as was done,” Mr Silaigwana said.

“We are still to get the full reports. But from the preliminary reports we have received, the observers are saying the elections were conducted professionally.”

The Acting Chief Elections Officer said Zec was also impressed with the upsurge in the number of people who voted.

He said more than 85 percent of registered voters voted on July 30 compared to past elections which attracted just over 50 percent of the registered voters.

Mr Silaigwana said the electorate should accept the poll outcomes as the country’s democracy was enhanced.

“I think it’s important for our citizens to accept the outcomes of the elections, particularly an election like this one which was observed by the whole world. It was confirmed by the observer missions that the election was credible. So it is important for us to accept the outcomes of a credible election,” he said.

Dr Khupe’s party claims it is the legitimate MDC-T and that Mr Chamisa illegitimately received the funds because he contested the poll using a different name.
Under the Political Parties Finance Act, only serious political parties who would have garnered at least five percent of the total vote were eligible for the funding.

MDC-T, which was led by Mr Tsvangirai, in terms of the Act, is the one entitled to the funding.

However, after the demise of the former party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai in February, a leadership wrangle ensued between Mr Chamisa and Dr Khupe.

Ultimately, Dr Khupe registered to contest in this year’s election under MDC-T while Mr Chamisa chickened out and opted to participate as leader of the MDC Alliance.
Under unclear circumstances, Mr Chamisa’s MDC received $1,8 million funding from Government despite the fact that it was no longer part of the MDC-T.

In an interview, MDC-T deputy president Mr Obert Gutu said that his party had since instructed Professor Lovemore Madhuku to sue the MDC over the $1,8 million fraud.
“We have since instructed our lawyer Professor Madhuku to file a claim for the $1,8 million.
“The money was wrongly disbursed to Mr Chamisa’s MDC when it was meant for the MDC-T which participated in the 2013 election.

“I am yet to meet Prof Madhuku and we map the way forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zanu-PF lawyers said they also intend to sue Mr Chamisa’s party over legal costs in the hyped presidential petition which was dismissed by the Constitutional Court on Friday with costs.
Mr Chamisa sought to overturn President-elect Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa’s July 30 election victory, but the ConCourt unanimously dismissed his challenge.

Speaking to our Harare Bureau on Saturday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Paul Mangwana said the ruling party’s lawyers were quantifying the exact amount due to them, but they had indicated an approximate bill of $3 million.

That figure excludes the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s legal bill.
Cde Mangwana said the final bill required approval of the Registrar of the Court.
He said in the event Mr Chamisa failed to pay, the opposition leader risked losing his personal property.

Meanwhile, the cash-strapped opposition MDC Alliance has once again sent begging bowls to raise $3 million to foot the legal costs for their Constitutional Court electoral petition and is seeking more money to fund its case at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

The judgement handed by the Constitutional Court carried a punitive condition requiring Mr Chamisa to pay the legal costs of everyone involved.

In bid to raise this money, the party launched an ‘I donate to protect our vote’ campaign on the Gofundme website on Sunday, appealing to both Diaspora and local supporters to donate for a “good cause.”

The Alliance, which has hit hard times, survived the election period from hand-outs from well-wishers who funded its campaign.

The MDC’s situation has been worsened by donor fatigue and a series of blunders over the years, its poor performance in the inclusive government that ran between 2009 and 2013 key among them.

In a Facebook post, MDC National Deputy Treasurer Mr Chalton Hwende said people can send their donations via EcoCash or make their donations online at gofundme.com .

He has also appealed to well wishers across the world to support it with the costs of suit at the Constitutional Court and African Union appeal, whose bill is not yet known.

MDC Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa has taken his fight to overturn President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent electoral victory to the African Commission for Human and People’s Rights following the dismissal of his petition last Friday.

After the declaration of Cde Mnangagwa’s victory by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on August 3, Mr Chamisa filed a ConCourt application challenging the victory, arguing that the whole electoral process had been marred by irregularities and massive poll fraud.

But his petition was dismissed with costs by the full bench of the ConCourt led by Chief Justice Luke Malaba on grounds that he failed to provide sufficient primary evidence to prove the alleged irregularities.

But in a statement that goes against the $3 million appeal, the Alliance has said the estimated figure is too high and the legal costs “can’t exceed $20 000”.

“The costs are taxed and allowed by the Registrar of the court, taking into account the exact hours spent. It can’t even go up to $20 000. Besides, the costs awarded are not on a higher scale. It’s just costs on an ordinary scale. People like Paul Mangwana must stop inciting our people,” said Mr Hwende on social media.

The MDC Alliance said they will meet tomorrow (Wednesday) to plot a way forward. The party has rejected the call by President Mnangagwa to put differences aside and move forward together as a nation.- state media

By Paul Nyathi|The City of Bulawayo continues to dominate as the best council I the country addreess after scooping the award yet again.

The City won the following prizes at the 2018 Local Government Megafest Awards held recently.

Winners in the following categories

• Fire, Rescue and Ambulances of the year Category
• Best Urban Local Authority Category
• Public Lighting of the year Category
• Outstanding Local Authority Urban

Other Awards

• Water Production and Management Category, 1st Runner Up
• Social Amenities, Sports Facilities and Community Spaces Category, 1st Runner Up
• Sewerage Removal and Treatment Category, 2nd Runner Up

Leadership Awards

• Town Clerk of the Year, Mr Christopher Dube
• Head of Treasury, Finance Director, Mr Kimpton Ndimande
• Head of Housing and Community Services, Director of Housing and Community Services, Mr Dictor Khumalo
• Head of Town Planning and Development Control, Acting Deputy Director of Engineering Services (Town Planning) , Mr Wisdom Siziba
• Head of Fire and Ambulances, Chief Fire Officer Mr Richard Peterson
• Communication and Public Relations Category, 1st Runner Up, Senior Public Relations Officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu

By Paul Nyathi|The City of Bulawayo has sent a warning to citizens of the second capital that it will be resuming stringent water rationing programme in some of the areas in the city.

The City blamed the water rationing on pumping challenges on the popular Magwegwe water reservoir.

“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise members of the public and stakeholders that there is an ongoing exercise to normalise the Magwegwe Reservoir level. The level has been critical for the past two weeks, due to erratic pumping from Nyamandlovu Aquifer,” said the Town Clerk Christopher Dube in a statement.

The statement further reads:

“The boreholes have been affected mainly by power failure. ZETDC is working to restore the power supply and therefore increase the boreholes pumping to the City.

In a bid to manage water supply from the Reservoir. Council would like to advise that there will be an emergency interruption of water supplies to the following areas fed directly from the Criterion and Magwegwe Reservoirs and some surrounding areas.

• Nketa
• Nkulumane
• Cowdray Park
• Mganwini

Residents are advised that the programme is subject to change should the Reservoir level improve or deteriorate beyond the critical level.

All high areas that are likely to be affected for more than 24 hours will be supplied by water Bowsers.
Consumers are urged to conserve water.

The City of Bulawayo apologises to its valued customers for the inconvenience caused.

Advert No.6770 ​​ C. DUBE
TOWN CLERK”

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MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s plans to roll out protests in the wake of Friday’s decision by the Constitutional Court (Con-Court) to uphold President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hotly-disputed victory in last month’s polls might spectacularly backfire, social and political analysts content.

They also believe this action is misdirected and a wrong strategy because whipping up emotions will not get him to State House, at least for now.

On Saturday, Chamisa told a media briefing: “It is a constitutional option (demonstrations) and very viable. We have demonstrated two or three times successfully without any problems. We just want to put mechanisms to make sure that we don’t have people who come and disrupt our programme. I can tell you we have the right to demonstrate. This is going to be one of the routes which we are going to take among others.

“Victory can’t be certain twice, victory was certain before election and secured during the Election Day. We won, what we are doing now is protecting that victory; we will continue to pursue democratic means to make sure that result is respected. We cannot afford five more years in this kind of hardships, people want answers.”

Chamisa said they are ready to sacrifice their lives in defending people’s votes.

“They think that perhaps they will intimidate people like myself but I am dead already, by merely challenging dictatorship you have signed a death warrant so they can’t kill me twice. We are very clear and we are not going to be intimidated that’s why we are ready for any eventuality they can’t run the country by terror.

“The legal door is not the only door to happiness and democracy, there are many other doors, and the political doors are going to be opened very soon using our Constitution. We have the right to peaceful demonstrations and protests that is going to be done in the shortest period of time.”

Political analyst MacDonald Lewanika said if Chamisa wants to fight on, it is well in his rights to do so, but the consequences of such actions must find him prepared.

“Politics is also the art of the possible, and at the moment the cake he says he won’t share with Mnangagwa is actually a cake that he doesn’t have — he has nothing to share.

“A real danger is that this need for continued resistance will not be matched by a similar appetite from his supporters and Zimbabweans in general, who see this presidential fight as lost and would like to move on to focusing on how to survive under the Zanu PF regime and continuing economic challenges.

“Zanu PF will push the narrative that he is petty and a sour loser, while others will see him as an unrepentant fighter for his just desserts.

“At the end of the day it is about Chamisa staying in touch with the pulse of a people, who are generally not known to be persuaded to the kind of radical positioning he is pitching.

“Zimbabweans have been known to be risk averse and the likelihood is that the onward march to challenging the presidential results through mass action, which has already proved to be not just futile but also fatal, will be a march that he will make with less and less people.

“History has recorded that Chamisa believes he won the election but was cheated out of victory, the legal process denied this claim but the court of public opinion largely agrees with him.

“If I were Chamisa, I would bank the public sympathy and turn it into future political capital — attempting to spend it now through mass action will prove to be a waste, and come across as lacking the political maturity to roll with the punches, taking your hits and living to fight another day,” said Lewanika.

He added that Zanu PF and its “varakashi” will portray this as intolerance and a total disrespect of political and democratic processes that Chamisa entered into willingly and knowing the odds against him.

“It will feed into a bad narrative that Chamisa cannot lose, and believes that everything but a win for Chamisa is a wrong outcome — such traits are not attractive and will begin to undermine the formidable political capital that he had built over the last six months.”

Media and political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said the right to protest is constitutionally-guaranteed and protected.

“As a political strategy the MDC Alliance must however, consider its effectiveness in achieving the desired end. In my view Chamisa must keep his power base energised through mobilisation and political awareness.

“The Con-Court case is sufficient basis to seek electoral reforms that could make the 2023 election far better. Age is on Chamisa’s side and all he needs are equally capable lieutenants to prepare for the next election.

“The MDC Alliance must use its presence in Parliament to monitor Zanu PF actions and use its dominance in urban councils to address residents’ issues. Political mobilisation is more sustainable than protests.

Political analyst Piers Pigou said protests are not unexpected tactics in the circumstances, but they must be tied to a clear strategy that pushes a reform programme tied to constitutional deficits, realignment, institutional reform and that holds Mnangagwa to his reform commitments as laid out in GoZ presentation in DC in April.

“Peaceful protest is important expression, but can Zimbabwe’s security forces be trusted to act professionally. This is a major worry after post-election events.

“Mnangagwa says his door is open to Chamisa. He is now president and must proactively reach out, not sit his hands.

Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said after running a successful campaign on a shoe-string budget and “you garner over two million out of five million votes and for some reason your victory is stolen, and you go to the nation’s apex court you knew was captured and lost, the logical thing to do is not mobilising people to oppose a court decision. That will border on illegality.

“What I would advise Chamisa if I was in his inner-circle is to use whatever resources and popularity he has now to do the following: quickly call all party leadership at all levels to a strategic retreat and genuinely reflect on what happened, where the party did well and areas in need of improvement, including 2013 lessons not learnt from. Then do a party elective congress, have a proper leadership structure, formalise a party name, go to rural and urban areas to set and strengthen structures. Then start selling your message of alternative policies and approaches to your supporters first so that they know exactly how different you will be from the current regime.”

Saungweme said let the mobilisation for an action be bottom-up and not top-down. “Top-down protests tend to be urban-based and negate the views and wishes of where the bulk of the voters are — rural areas. “With the level of organisation shown by the MDC Alliance during polls where they could not field council and MP candidates in all constituencies and polling agents at all polling stations, unorganised demonstrations will not be sustained and will fizzle within a few weeks, if not days, with blood of the innocent people potentially lost from heavy-handed State responses.

“Zimbabwe is our home and leaders should be acting in manners that build national cohesion than dividing us. Look at the November 2017 coup; it was a Harare thing that did not get buy-in from people in the rural areas, hence contributed to Mnangagwa’s poor showing in the presidential poll.”

Human rights lawyer Dewa Mavhinga said: “As human rights activists we do not prescribe what political strategies political leaders should take save to note that the route to approach the Con-Court is enshrined in the Constitution, just like the right to peacefully demonstrate which is protected by section 59 of the Zimbabwe Constitution.

“Whichever political strategy one pursues, it is important that the rule of law and human rights are protected in the process. The violence and use of excessive force by the security forces on August 1 should not happen again.”

Elections Resource Centre director Tawanda Chimhini said demonstrations are a constitutional expression of political rights.

“The decision by the opposition to use such an option in the aftermath of the decision of the Con-Court is an opportunity for the new administration to exhibit the respect for the rule of law and protect the Constitution. The option to demonstrate must also be approached with the necessary responsibility to abstain from any action that may be deemed as illegal. Regardless of what options political stakeholders take, Zimbabwe must definitely find a sustainable way to extricate itself from a cycle of failed electoral and democratic processes. “All options adopted must put Zimbabwe first,” said Chimhini.

Political analyst Vivid Gwede said without a doubt it is within Chamisa’s democratic rights to express himself on both the outcome of the election and the court.

“This is important in highlighting the reality of captured public institutions in Zimbabwe and the need for the continuation of the democratic agenda. Everyone gave the Zec and the courts the benefit of doubt but these institutions do not seem to have lived up to their duties satisfactorily. In light of this reality, the Constitution affords citizens, including the aggrieved MDC Alliance leadership, political rights to campaign for a cause which their conscience justifies.

“As you can see, the MDC Alliance has taken varied post-election strategies to put its grievances on the table, including that they will approach the African Commission for Human and People’s rights to protest the outcome of the Constitutional Court. Chamisa is right that in all this struggle, there is need to mobilise and explain to the people how he thinks they have been shortchanged because in the final calculation the people matter going forward.”

Daily News

Paul Nyathi|Former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe says he and his wife Grace are unwell.

The 94-year-old revealed this in a surprise congratulatory message sent to President Emmerson Mnangagwa at his inauguration ceremony on Sunday. Mugabe apologised that he and his wife couldn’t be at the inauguration ceremony.

In a letter read out by Mnangagwa, the former president said his wife is unwell and in Singapore. He also said he wasn’t well, which is why he sent his daughter Bona and her husband Simba Chikore to stand in for them.

Mugabe gave no details on what he and his wife were suffering from. But his congratulatory note took many by surprise.

The late Chief Mapanzure who died on Wednesday evening has been laid to rest at his homestead in the Mapanzure area near Zvishavane.

Mourners who include top government officials joined the Mapanzure community at the burial of Chief Mapanzure.

In his address at the burial, President of the Chief’ S Council Chief Fortune Charumbira said the Mapanzure family should remain united and celebrate the legacy left behind by a hero in traditional leadership.

“The death of Chief Mapanzure should not bring sorry instead it should bring jubilation for the people of this area who voted for ED,” said Chief Charumbira.

Chief mourner Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Cde July Moyo said the death of Chief Mapanzure is a blow as he was a fountain of knowledge.

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda paid tribute to all individuals and corporates who stood with the Mapanzure family during trying times.

“As a family we are humbled by the gesture shown by the people in taking responsibility of the funeral,” said Dr Sibanda.

Addressing mourners on Friday, President-elect Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa who hails from the Mapanzure clan said they is no rush to talk of the replacement to the chief as Collen Shonhayi will hold fort for two years.

Chief Mapanzure died at the age of 96.

He is survived by 10 children and 61 great grandchildren.

ZBC News

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In the latest most ironic of ironic developments, a top ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa family member has telephoned ZimEye revealing they do not at all support Mnangagwa. The elderly male (name withheld) also said he is preparing to put in over $20,000 into Nelson Chamisa’s account for the 40 year old politician’s legal expenses. He asked on advice on how to make the donation without being detected. For his protection, ZimEye has had to redact and obfuscate his details.  WATCH THE BELOW VIDEO FOR MORE… 

By Paul Nyathi|The ruling ZANU PF says that it has learnt a lesson from the recent Constitutional Court on the outcome of the Presidential election appeal by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

The party Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana told weekend media that the party learnt a lesson that it must never leave elections to chance.

Mangwana said that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is the one that has got to be worried on issues raised by the court not themselves as a party.

“For Zanu PF, the whole test was useless because it had no basis. The lessons learnt are not for Zanu PF, but probably to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec),” he said.

“The only lesson we should draw from that is that we should campaign harder and win resoundingly next time because the MDC Alliance was taking advantage of the slender margin we had to think that they should have been victorious.”

Mangwana expressed concerns at the ZANU PF “bhora musango” tactic which saw members of parliament get far much more votes than their presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“We now need to sell our presidential candidate in a stronger way and ensure that in the future he wins by the same margin like in the parliamentary elections.”

Mangwana disputed on-going speculations that ZANU PF are involved in any talks for a unity governmemt with the MDC or Chamisa indicating that the opposition party could “go and hang.”

“We do not need to talk to them because we have the mandate to rule from the people of Zimbabwe. They can go to hang.

People elected Mnangagwa as president. He is the father of the nation, and he wants his children to live in peace.

The president did not offer the MDC Alliance a coalition government,” he added.

By Paul Nyathi|The South African High Court has sentenced Gugulethu Thwala and Koketso Moyo were today sentenced for burning to dearth 19 year old Boitumelo Dlamini in 2015.

The two ladies in the company of two others who are yet to meet their fate burnt Dlamini to death while recording a video of her screaming while they laughed for dating one of their ex boyfriends Tokelo Makhelepho.

They were sentenced to 18 and 14 years respectively for murder and both got a added 5 years for kidnapping.

Mosopi, Koketso Moyo, Gugulethu “Sharon” Thwala, and Victor Pilane have been charged with kidnapping and murdering Boitumelo Dlamini.

The four allegedly kidnapped Dlamini at Eletsa High School in Letlhabile near Brits on June 18, after Mosopi accused her of dating her boyfriend.

Dlamini was allegedly doused with petrol and set alight. Thwala, 26, told the court that Mosopi poured petrol from a five-litre container over Dlamini in the bushes near Klipgat.

“She [Cynthia] pulled Boitumelo out of the car and slapped her, she asked her whether she was in love with Tokelo [Cynthia’s former boyfriend]. She apologised, but Cynthia asked her for what reason she was apologising,” Thwalwa told the court.

She went on to say that when she saw Cynthia pour petrol over Dlamini, she pulled Dlamini and she too was sprinkled with petrol.

“At that moment I saw Victor Pilane [Cynthia’s then boyfriend] recording the incident [on a cellphone video]. I screamed to him to help free Boitumelo from Cynthia…I then heard flames and when I turned, I saw Boitumelo burning.”

She said Mosopi’s feet was burning and she ran to her boyfriend (Pilane) for help, while Dlamini ran in the opposite direction.

By Farai D Hove| Nelson Chamisa’s former spokesman, Luke Tamborinyoka caused a stir Monday morning when he posted the above tweet, with many casting eyebrows on what on earth he is trying to say. IS HE ABOUT TO BETRAY CHAMISA?

“It was Lenin who believed that it may be necessary sometimes to embrace enemies and throw friends under the bus, ” Tamboronyoka wrote.

At the time of writing, he had not explained himself, it at least as yet.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HE IS SAYING?

An Emmerson Mnangagwa supporter has written saying MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa “was bitten (not beaten)” by ED. FULL TEXT

ZimEye, you are in the forefront destabilizing our country. Chamisa was bitten fair and square, when not satisfied he went to court on his on accord and still bitten fairly. The 3ml was invited by Chamisa himself.

— Kollen Tembo (@mtabusi) August 27, 2018

Opposition United Democratic Movement leader and former MDC-T national chairman, Lovemore Moyo, has called on his former party to accept the Constitutional Court’s Friday ruling upholding President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s election victory.

Moyo’s remarks came as MDC Alliance presidential hopeful Nelson Chamisa on Saturday rejected the ConCourt ruling and petitioned the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights for recourse.

“However, it is our plea to the ruling party to be chivalrous in its victory. Equally so, we encourage the MDC Alliance to accept the outcome handed down by the honourable court,” Moyo, who leads the United Movement for Devolution (UMD), said on Saturday.

Chief Justice Luke Malaba dismissed Chamisa’s petition that had sought to overturn the result of the hotly contested polls.

Moyo applauded the manner in which the whole court process was handled by the apex court.

“The UMD notes and respects the decision handed down by the honourable court and we hope that this will put to rest the presidential contestation,” Moyo said.

“This indeed was an applausible act that conveyed strongly the respect of the constitutional right of the aggrieved parties to approach the court for just redress.

“In light of the above, we, however, want to caution the idea that the judiciary is there to resolve political contestations.”

While he applauded the role of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in the just-ended plebiscite, Moyo, however, said: “with great concern the glaring electoral inadequacies and lack of transparency as exposed by the applicant’s legal counsel.”

“We believe that this court case should be used as a learning curve to correct such inadequacies and close any loopholes for rigging. Accordingly, Zec should not be quick to celebrate the judgement handed down by the Constitutional court as a victory.”

Above all, Moyo said they were looking forward to the new government to do its best for the long-suffering Zimbabweans.

“As we look forward to a new political dispensation, we strongly urge both parties to recognise and priorities that Zimbabwean citizens have their dreams which ought to be respected,” he said.

“In other words, the rights of the people ought to be given precedence over personal and party interests. Henceforth, the people of Zimbabwe deserve to be governed fairly and justly.”

He said since elections have come and gone, it was now time for the ruling party to deliver on its campaign promises of devolution, economic growth, jobs and attracting foreign direct investments as well as the fight against corruption.

NewsDay

President Mnangagwa was yesterday sworn in as the third President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Second Executive President since the Constitutional amendments of 1987.Canaan Banana was the first ceremonial President from 1980 until 1987 when former President, Robert Mugabe took over as the first Executive President after the Constitution was amended.

Taking oath of office, President Mnangagwa promised a new Zimbabwe in the Second Republic underpinned by servant leadership where corruption and unnecessary bureaucracy in service delivery will not be tolerated.

The Second Republic was born yesterday following President Mnangagwa’s inauguration as the Second Executive President of Zimbabwe at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.

In the new Zimbabwe, he said, all citizens will be equal before the law and prosecution of corrupt cases will be done without fear or favour.

Addressing a bumper crowd at the giant National Sports Stadium, President Mnangagwa said those appointed to serve in public offices should also adopt his servant leadership approach to transform the country.

“I am your listening President, a servant leader,” President Mnangagwa said.

“In this vein, those who will occupy public office at any level, under my Government will be required to exercise servant leadership in the execution of their duties and to be humble and responsive in their interactions and dealings with the citizenry.

“Equally, the bureaucracy in the Second Republic will be expected to be development oriented, responsive to the people’s needs as well as exhibit high principles of professional ethics and integrity.

“My administration will therefore expect public sector officials to deliver quality and timely services to the people as well as facilitate business, trade and investment. Bureaucratic bottlenecks, unnecessary delays, lethargic and corrupt activities will not be tolerated.

“We must as a society encourage and inculcate the culture of hard honest work. The prosecution of perpetrators of corruption will be carried out without fear or favour. In the Second Republic, no person or entity will be allowed to steal, loot or pocket that which belongs to the people of Zimbabwe. No one is above the law. This is a New Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe we all want.”

Mnangagwa continued: “As per our pledge during the campaign trail, my Government will be implementing the Constitutional provisions with regards the devolution of Government powers and responsibilities. Provinces will now be expected to plan and grow their provincial economies.

“Economic development at every level is the ultimate goal. I therefore challenge local authorities in the Second Republic, to be the engines of local economic development and growth. My Government will not stand by and watch people suffer due to dereliction of duty, corruption or incompetence within our local authorities.

“It will not be easy, but as the Holy Bible teaches us: ‘For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.’

“We have indeed endured; we have toiled; and now as we walk in unity the path that lies ahead, we will reap a better and more prosperous future.

“As I have repeatedly said in the past months, real change does not happen overnight. However, inspired by our national anthem, we must work together, nothing is beyond our reach. With love and unity, we will reach the Promised Land, we will build the Zimbabwe we all want, brick upon brick, stone upon stone.”

President Mnangagwa said he was humbled by the confidence reposed in him by the people of Zimbabwe and would do everything in his capacity to bring positive change in the country.

“I am emboldened and inspired by your collective hopes, dreams and desires; and the trust reposed in me. I will work tirelessly, as a servant leader, to improve the quality of life for all of us,” he said.

“To all my colleagues and other political parties who contested in the just ended harmonised elections, especially those represented in Parliament, I exhort us to commit ourselves to collectively develop our motherland. We are all Zimbabweans; what unites us is greater than what could ever divide us.

“Let me assure you that tomorrow is brighter! Let us look forward to the journey ahead, a journey we will walk together as one people, a united people. A journey of development, progress and prosperity in our New Zimbabwe. Together, let us explore new frontiers in every facet and sphere of our economy and society. Let us endeavour to climb new heights. Let us arise and shine, for indeed our light has surely come.”

State Media

The Second Republic was born yesterday following President Mnangagwa’s inauguration as the Second Executive President of Zimbabwe at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
In the new Zimbabwe, all citizens are equal before the law and prosecution of corrupt cases will be done without fear or favour.

Addressing an overflowing crowd at the 60 000-seater giant stadium, President Mnangagwa said those appointed to serve in public offices should also adopt his servant leadership approach to transform the country.

“I am your listening President, a servant leader,” said President Mnangagwa.
“In this vein, those who will occupy public office at any level, under my Government will be required to exercise servant leadership in the execution of their duties and to be humble and responsive in their interactions and dealings with the citizenry.

“Equally, the bureaucracy in the Second Republic will be expected to be development oriented, responsive to the people’s needs as well as exhibit high principles of professional ethics and integrity. My administration will therefore expect public sector officials to deliver quality and timely services to the people as well as facilitate business, trade and investment. Bureaucratic bottlenecks, unnecessary delays, lethargic and corrupt activities will not be tolerated.

“We must as a society encourage and inculcate the culture of hard honest work. The prosecution of perpetrators of corruption will be carried out without fear or favour. In the Second Republic, no person or entity will be allowed to steal, loot or pocket that which belongs to the people of Zimbabwe. No one is above the law. This is a New Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe we all want.”
President Mnangagwa continued: “As per our pledge during the campaign trail, my Government will be implementing the Constitutional provisions with regards the devolution of Government powers and responsibilities. Provinces will now be expected to plan and grow their provincial economies.

“Economic development at every level is the ultimate goal. I therefore challenge local authorities in the Second Republic, to be the engines of local economic development and growth. My Government will not stand by and watch people suffer due to dereliction of duty, corruption or incompetence within our local authorities.

“It will not be easy, but as the Holy Bible teaches us: ‘For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.’

“We have indeed endured; we have toiled; and now as we walk in unity the path that lies ahead, we will reap a better and more prosperous future.

“As I have repeatedly said in the past months, real change does not happen overnight. However, inspired by our national anthem, we must work together, nothing is beyond our reach. With love and unity, we will reach the Promised Land, we will build the Zimbabwe we all want, brick upon brick, stone upon stone.”

President Mnangagwa said he was humbled by the confidence reposed in him by the people of Zimbabwe and would do everything in his capacity to bring positive change in the country.

“I am emboldened and inspired by your collective hopes, dreams and desires; and the trust reposed in me. I will work tirelessly, as a servant leader, to improve the quality of life for all of us,” he said.

“To all my colleagues and other political parties who contested in the just ended harmonised elections, especially those represented in Parliament, I exhort us to commit ourselves to collectively develop our motherland. We are all Zimbabweans; what unites us is greater than what could ever divide us.

“Let me assure you that tomorrow is brighter! Let us look forward to the journey ahead, a journey we will walk together as one people, a united people. A journey of development, progress and prosperity in our New Zimbabwe. Together, let us explore new frontiers in every facet and sphere of our economy and society. Let us endeavour to climb new heights. Let us arise and shine, for indeed our light has surely come.” – state media

A TOP Bulawayo lawyer Mr Mlweliwenkululeko Ncube faces civil imprisonment over a debt of more than $4 400 in unpaid legal costs.
The legal costs emanate from a four-year legal battle in which Mr Ncube was fighting Bulawayo businesswoman Ms Sipiwo Nkomo who sold him a BMW X5 in 2013.

Mr Ncube has since 2014 been fighting a $12 000 claim and denying that he failed to pay for the car, which cost him $23 825, claiming Ms Nkomo had brought forward a malicious claim.

In papers before the court, Mr Ncube was cited as the defendant while Ms Nkomo is the plaintiff under case numbers HC 2281/18 and HC2282/18 filed at the Bulawayo High Court.

The debt emanates from taxed costs which were recovered by Ms Nkomo from a bill of costs dated July 5, 2017 following High Court judgments delivered in her favour on January 24, 2014 and March 3, 2015.

A writ of execution signed by the assistant registrar of High Court on behalf of Chief Justice Luke Malaba was in June this year issued directing the Sheriff of the High Court to attach and take into execution the movable goods of Mr Ncube.

Mr Ncube, is obliged to either pay $4 419,70 or face civil imprisonment of up to 90 days in jail.
The court will conduct an inquiry into Mr Ncube’s financial position and depending on the circumstances, it may commit him to prison or alternatively give him further time to pay the money in instalments over a specified period.

In 2015, Ms Nkomo filed an application at the Bulawayo High Court for a rescission of a default judgment which was erroneously ruled in favour of Mr Ncube on October 12 in 2014.

The late Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Andrew Mutema rescinded the judgment and subsequently ordered Ms Nkomo to file her notice of opposition and opposing affidavit under HC548/14

According to court papers, Mr Ncube paid a deposit of $11 000 for the car but the balance of about $12 000 plus £109 was to be paid before September 30 in 2013 at an interest of five percent per annum.

Mr Ncube allegedly failed to pay the balance until October when he was charged a further $1 200 collection fee.

The lawyer, in reply to Mr Nkomo’s claim, said at some point he offered to return the car to Ms Nkomo and her son and that she retains $3 000 of his $11 000 deposit but she refused.
Instead, the lawyer claimed, Nkomo offered to extend the payment period by six months.

Ms Nkomo’s lawyer, Mr Godfrey Nyoni of Moyo and Nyoni Legal Practitioners said Mr Ncube has been evading paying the balance including legal costs prompting the plaintiff to issue summons for civil imprisonment against the defendant.

Mr Ncube was in January 2014 ordered by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva to pay Ms Nkomo $12 175 together with five percent interest and legal costs. – state media

Zimbabwe’s justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi provided no solid grounds for his refusal to grant permission to SA lawyers Jeremy Gauntlett, Dali Mpofu and Tembeka Ngcukaitobi to represent MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa in Wednesday’s constitutional court hearing, fresh details have emerged.

This comes as the nine-member constitutional court bench will on Friday deliver judgment on Chamisa’s application to nullify President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory in the July 30 election.

Gauntlett told Business Day South Africa that he was denied permission to argue in the court despite having previously appeared before Zimbabwe’s courts a number of times.

“I have appeared [with Law Society support and ministerial assent] on eight previous occasions in Zimbabwe’s courts.

“I have only once before been refused the right to appear. This was when I was briefed against the government of Zimbabwe in 2008 to have the Sadc [Southern African Development Community] tribunal’s award against land seizures registered in the high court in Harare.

“By statute, any foreign legal counsel appearing in a Zimbabwe court must have the support of the Zimbabwe Law Society and the assent of the minister of justice. This assent requires the minister to consult a member of the Legal Education Council and to confirm that the country in question is a ‘reciprocating country’ with Zimbabwe as regards admission,” he said.

Repeated efforts to contact Ziyambi on Thursday night were fruitless. Mpofu and Ngcukaitobi could also not be reached.

Sources from Harare told Business Day Ziyambi’s actions were inconsistent, after he appeared to have granted Gauntlett permission, before making a U-turn.

In a letter on Monday to Chamisa’s attorneys in Harare, the minister’s office had first suggested it had not been given required supporting documents for the admission applications. However, it conceded this did not apply to Gauntlett.

“Thereafter, the minister said there was a delay because the Legal Education Council member needing to be consulted was ‘out of the country’. It was not explained why the ‘consulting’ could not be done by e-mail or telephonically,” said Gauntlett.

“Shortly before 10am he [the minister] notified the Chamisa attorneys, as the challenge was about to start, that he in fact had refused all the applications on the grounds that these had been made too late and because South Africa is not a ‘reciprocating country’ with Zimbabwe,” Gauntlett said.

In an interview in Harare, Chamisa’s spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda, said denial of permits to the SA lawyers was not a surprise as Ziyambi acted as Mnangagwa’s electoral agent in the election.

“The minister involved was the election agent of President Mnangagwa and he was certainly compromised.

“The law in Zimbabwe also clearly states that no-one should be denied the chance to use a lawyer of their choice, and this provision was clearly breached,” he said.

Business Day SA

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