By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa this afternoon left Harare for Windhoek, Namibia, for the 38th Ordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government.
The two-day summit is running under the theme, “Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development”.
Namibian President Hage Geingob takes over leadership of the regional bloc from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the summit
President Mnangagwa was seen off at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi as well as Cabinet Ministers Perrance Shiri and Oppah Muchinguri.
By Paul Nyathi|Disputed Presidential election winner Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday afternoon left Harare for Windhoek, Namibia, for the 38th Ordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government.
Mnangagwa whose election victory awaits confirmation by the Constitutional Court declared himself president of the “new Zimbabwe” when he landed in Namibia.
“An honour to be in Namibia representing the new Zimbabwe at the 38th SADC Summit. We will discuss and debate, and we will listen,” wrote Mnangagwa in his social media pages.
Mnangagwa was seen off at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi as well as Cabinet Ministers Perrance Shiri and Oppah Muchinguri.
Chiwenga is Acting President.
The two-day summit is running under the theme, “Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development”.
Zimbabwean Civic Society Organisations have presented that the regional bloc discusses the political impasse in Zimbabwe which has put the country to a halt since the elections held two weeks ago.
Namibian President Hage Geingob takes over leadership of the regional bloc from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the summit
By Own Correspondent| MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa today met newly appointed US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols.
Ambassador Nichols who is on record revealing that his country was not sympathetic to any political party or political leader, met Chamisa in Harare to discuss human rights and election related issues.
Said Chamisa:
“Had a great meeting with the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe on norms, values and standards regarding human rights, free, fair and credible elections.”
ZIMBABWE’S ongoing political crisis — occasioned by the disputed July 30 presidential poll — is damaging the local economy’s revival prospects, as investors adopt a wait-and-see approach before taking firm positions on the country.
This comes as President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on Zimbabweans to move on and analysts say potential investors were adopting a cautious approach towards Harare in the aftermath of deadly violence, which rocked the country two weeks ago.
Economist Eddie Cross said the country’s stuttering economy was set to remain subdued until a resolution of the country’s political crisis.
“Businesses never like uncertainty and until the position of the president is resolved, we will see reduced business activity across all sectors,” he warned.
Chris Mugaga, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce chief executive, concurred saying the political impasse was “not good” for the country.
“It may prove detrimental to the country’s investment prospects and this would just be ironic given that they (politicians) also say they want investment for the country,” he said.
Another economist, John Robertson, said it was imperative that Harare resolved its political disputes quickly, as investors were getting weary of the on-going uncertainty.
“Investors expected that the ‘open for business’ mantra would happen immediately after the elections, but this has not happened. “We have seen soldiers killing civilians and an opposition that is determined to drag this thing out (political stalemate) for as long as they can,” he said, adding that “this is spooking investors”. “Over the seven months that Mnangagwa fought for legitimacy and recognition from the outside world, we saw renewed interest in Zimbabwe as an investment destination, but now this confusion is definitely putting investors off,” Robertson said.
Sifelani Jabangwe, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president, also said that the country’s continuing problems and misery were likely to affect both investor confidence and sentiment locally and internationally.
“We could have a bit of a challenge because investors and business would have wanted a smoother electoral process.
“All the things that happened were part of the electoral process, but this needs to be communicated properly to investors,” he said.
United Refineries Limited chief executive Busisa Moyo — also a former CZI boss — said all was not lost depending on what happens from now onwards.
“I believe investors are still keen on Zimbabwe as they need an alternative to South Africa in the region. I don’t think the MDC Alliance’s court case itself is a big issue … from what we are hearing investors are more interested in how the country handles the process from this point onwards,” he said.
“Institutions like the judiciary are key and are seen as an indicator or pointer on the prospects of accessing sound commercial legal redress by investors once they bring their funds into Zimbabwe,” Moyo said.
“In addition to that, our ability to maintain calm, peace, order and restraint as a nation will also be critical as the spotlight is still on Zimbabwe for all intents and purposes,” he added.
Meanwhile, European Union ambassador to Zimbabwe Philippe Van Damme has said Harare’s political environment must change for the country to realise its investment potential.
“Economic and political governance has to improve (for Zimbabwe) to take full advantage of these privileged trading conditions,” he said on his Twitter account.
Following the violence which rocked Zimbabwe on August 1, the South African-based investment mobilisation organisation — Zim Business Forum Link — called on its members to halt investments to the country in the short to medium.
“We do suspend all investment deals currently underway destined for Zimbabwe till further notice. We are not processing any business plans or packages for Zimbabwe,” it said.
And in another telling sign of tough times ahead for Zimbabwe, the Financial Times of London said last week that multinational companies, which had planned fact-finding missions to Harare after the elections, were postponing them.
“It has come to nought as fears rise over basic stability, especially the seemingly out of control security forces,” the respected publication said.
“Ever since soldiers fired at demonstrators claiming the July 30 poll was rigged … Mnangagwa has moved further away from reopening Zimbabwe to the world … The crackdown has exposed the fundamental flaw in any plan by Mr Mnangagwa’s ruling Zanu-PF to reopen the country to investors,” it added.
Zimbabwe desperately needs both foreign direct investment and foreign exchange.
This comes as America has dealt a major blow to the country’s economic recovery prospects after recently enacting the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment.
The law, which was initially crafted to punish ousted former president Robert Mugabe’s rogue regime, has set out stringent new parameters to be taken by the Zimbabwean government before the normalisation of relations with Washington.
By Own Correspondent| As violent soldiers who shot dead 6 people continue to walk scot-free, Costa Machingauta, the MDC Alliance party legislator for Budiriro has been arrested and is currently at the Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station for their crime.
Machingauta is being charged with public violence following the August 1 2018 violent incident in Harare which saw soldiers killing 6 people and injuring dozens others when they opened live ammunition at civilians.
To date none of the youths fully filmed on camera (full face and full body) stoning and burning a ZANU PF bus, has been arrested.
Analysts say they were mere ZANU PF stagers sent to fake-up the conditions for Emmmerson Mnangagwa’s personal presidential guard soldiers to commit mass murder. Yesterday the prolific Bishop Ancelimo Magaya said Mnangagwa must repent to prevent God’s judgement coming against him.(click to read more)
Machingauta, is being represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.
THE body of national heroine Cde Thokozile Mathuthu who died on Monday will arrive in Hwange tomorrow and pass through Bulawayo for a service on Friday before burial at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare.
Cde Mathuthu who died at the age of 61, was declared a national heroine and will be buried at the national shrine on Sunday.
The late heroine’s husband, Cde Jonathan Mathuthu last night said: “The body will be flown to Hwange on Thursday morning ahead of a service at Hwange Colliery Stadium at 9AM.”
Matabeleland North Provincial Administrator Ms Latiso Dlamini said the body will be in Bulawayo on Friday.
“The body will also be taken to Bulawayo either to Amphitheatre or Large City Hall before going to Harare for burial. We are however still waiting for finer details on the whole programme,” she said.
Heads of government departments, leaders of local authorities, service chiefs and other stakeholders met at the Provincial Administrator’s office in Lupane on Wednesday to plan for the programme.
Chicken Inn mentor Joey ‘Mafero’ Antipas has scooped the July Coach of The Month award.
The veteran coach is enjoying a fine run of form with the Gamecocks.
Chicken Inn star player
Obrey Chirinda was also named the player of the
month to complete the former league champions’ dominance in the league – at least in July.
Former Zanu PF member Noah Mangondo is set to lose a house after failing to pay money owed to Agribank.
According to a notice published by Choruma Marias Valuation and Estates Executives (Private) Limited yesterday, Agribank has instructed the auction of Mangondo’s property to service an unspecified debt.
“Duly instructed by Agribank of Zimbabwe Limited, we have on offer the following immovable properties for sale by public auction: on 24th August 2018 at Raylton Sports Club, Fifth Street and George Silundika Avenue…,” the notice reads.
The notice further showed that Mangondo is set to lose his property measuring 1, 8362 hectares in Harare.
“The defendant’s right and interest in certain piece of land situate in the district of Salisbury called Stand 18135 Harare Township measuring 1, 8362 hectares.
Improvements: incomplete sprawling three story house, 12 bedrooms, nine en-suite, four lounges, dining, three kitchens, scullery, hall, triple garage, four porches, three lobbies, playing room, games room, gym, gazebo, domestic quarters, triple garage, borehole shelter, walled,” the notice also reads.
Mangondo, a former ZANU PF central committee member, contested as an independent candidate for the Murewa South seat against Zanu PF provincial chairperson Joel Biggie Matiza in the just ended elections.
Paul Nyathi|Self exiled former cabinet minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has called on regional and international bodies, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) African Union (AU) United Nations (UN) and the International Community at large to slap Zimbabwe with more sanctions, charging that a government that deploys soldiers to kill civilians deserves punishment.
Writing on his micro-blogging Twitter account on Thursday, Moyo, said Zimbabwe must be punished for what he described as a ‘military government.’
Wrote Moyo:
SANCTIONS are the only peaceful means available to the international community to reign in a military govt that grabs power through violence, uses violence to stay in power & subverts the will of the people by sending its Army to massacre unarmed, fleeing protesters & bystanders! https://t.co/Bghqa2mo3i
The merchants of violence must face sanctions whether they are in or out if power. That’s the only way to end 38 years of impunity & o move forward to a truly new Zimbabwe under the rule of law; and not the rule of violent men!
By Own Correspondent| Costa Machingauta, MDC Alliance party legislator for Budiriro has been arrested and is currently at the Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station.
Machingauta is being charged with public violence following the August 1 2018 violent protest in Harare which saw soldiers killing 6 people and injuring dozens others when they opened live ammunition at civilians.
Machingauta, is being represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.
By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly fired senior Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) officers linked to former President Robert Mugabe.
The senior officers who were fired are alleged to be close allies of Mugabe and former CIO Director General Happyton Bonyongwe and are suspected of having leaked information to the former president.
According to a local publication, some of the fired members include, Director Counter Intelligence Musafare Nyamudahondo, Director Technical Affairs Charles Hwekwete and Director Economics Jimias Madzingira.
A source privy to the development said:
“There was need to align the organisation and ensure trusted lieutenants are put in place while those still linked to Mugabe are pushed out and that has since taken place.”
Mnangagwa also fired 17 senior operatives in the first major shakeup at the organisation after Mugabe had a meeting with his former deputy Joice Mujuru.
The 17 included then director of Security Albert Ngulube, then director for External Affairs, Andrew Muzonzini, and Mugabe’s aide de camp Wonder Nyakurima after they were accused of facilitating the meeting.-Business Times.
Reigning English Premier Soccer League Champions Manchester City have been caught in a racism storm after youth scout Dean Ramsdale used a discriminatory slur to describe black footballers.
According to The Daily Mirror, a UK newspaper, Ramsdale is said to have referred to black players as ‘BBQs’, meaning ‘big, black and quick’ in front of agents and City colleagues during a meeting about players in early June.
City are now investigating the matter after one of the people at the meeting felt offended and wrote a formal letter of complaint to the club.
Two months ago, the club was caught up in another racism row after Yaya Toure accused coach Pep Guardiola of “having problems with Africans”, but the gaffer, however, dismissed the claims as false.
By A Correspondent| A top Zimbabwe Electoral Commission boss has been killed in a horrific car accident and was carried off to Mvuma Hospital a dead man.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
The accident happened about 8 km from Mvuma.
Mr Syprian Chipere, 52, who is the ZEC’s top official in the Midlands province, ZimEye can reveal, was killed today Thursday after his car suddenly veered off the road on its own with him on the steering wheel. SEE PICTURE ZEC Boss Syprian Chipere
The full circumstances of the accident could not be established at the time of writing. While an official police report was not available, ZimEye can reveal, the man died on the spot.
Sources close to the investigation told ZimEye the man could have slept on the wheel.
“He must have slept because his car vered off the road on its own,” one impeccable source at the scene said.
Mr Chipere was carried off a dead man, to Mvuma Hospital while in a ZEC vehicle belonging to the District head, a Toyota Hilux owned by one, Mrs Dzimiri.
– THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY – REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR THE UPDATE
Paul Nyathi|Aretha Franklin, the self-taught piano prodigy, vocalist and songwriter who first conquered the charts in the late ’60s and never relinquished her throne, has died, her publicist confirms to the Associated Press.
She was 76.
The Queen of Soul had struggled with her health for years. A source told PEOPLE Monday that Franklin had taken a turn for the worse and that her death was “imminent.”
“She has been ill for a long time,” the longtime friend told PEOPLE. “She did not want people to know and she didn’t make it public.”
A musical phenomenon who crossed musical, racial and gender barriers, Franklin began her vocal career as a teenager, singing gospel hymns in her father’s Detroit church. From these humble beginnings she scaled to the very heights of stardom, scoring her first national chart-topper in 1967 with a searing version of “Respect.”
Since then, the artist has notched 77 Hot 100 chart entries, and earned an astounding 18 Grammys out of 44 nominations. In 1987, two decades after her first No. 1, Franklin became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and was later named the Greatest Singer of All Time by Rolling Stone.
By A Correspondent|Ecumenical church groups and the civil society of Zimbabwe have jointly released a statement in which they demand judiciary independence in the pending Constitutional Court Case where the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is challenging the July 30 presidential election which gave incumbent President E.D. Mnangagwa a 50, 8 per cent of the overall votes.
Addressing members of the media on Thursday afternoon at Media Centre in Harare, delegates from the Zimbabwe Divine Destiny (ZDD), United Citizens Alliance, War Veterans Peace Initiative Forum (WVPIF) and Zimbabwe Prayer Network (ZPN) blamed ZEC chairperson Justice Chigumba for the current unnecessary political mess that has led to the killing of innocent civilians by trigger-happy soldiers, saying she was arrogant and unaccommodating to very pertinent concerns.
Here is their full statement:
The Civic Society in conjunction with the Church would like to express its deep concerns over the unfolding events in our nation, particularly in the body politic. It started with the pre-election period characterised by complaints and a lot of bickering over ZEC’s inability to deliver a free and fair, non-contestable election result, the voting process that at face value appeared free and fair, the demonstrations by dissatisfied citizens over election results and the subsequent shooting of about 7 civilians by the army to the election dispute now under consideration in the constitutional court, are some of the sad developments that besiege our beleaguered nation Zimbabwe.
The 2018 election under serious dispute in the constitutional court is a result of the intransigence and ineptitude of the Electoral board particularly its chairperson who did not take heed at warnings flagged by contesting parties early enough. The MDC Alliance has disputed the ZEC results which gave victory to Zanu-PF’s ED Mnangagwa and we hold Justice P. Makanyara Chigumba accountable and responsible for this unnecessary political mess that has even led to the killing of innocent civilians by trigger-happy soldiers of the ZNA. There was abundant evidence from the onset that the issues raised by many opposition parties pointed to a very contentious election outcome but she was arrogant and unaccommodating to very pertinent concerns.
Now we have a dispute in the Constitutional Court arising largely from ZEC’s incompetence to play the impartial referee. Nevertheless, the nation looks forward to the judiciary, the third most powerful arm of the state to pick up the pieces, weigh the matter as judiciously as they can, bearing in mind above all, there is God in heaven, the first and Greater Judge is watching. We exhort the 12 judges currently seized with this matter to brook no interference from any quarter be it the executive with its long tentacles nor the opposition or anyone for that matter. This is particularly so given that recently the ED Mnangagwa intimated that he had given some instructions presumably to the courts in the raging Mr T Biti case, a position the nation deemed as clear interference with the independence of the judiciary.
We, therefore, in the same breadth would like to warn and urge President-Elect Cde ED Mnangagwa to uphold the sanctity of the separation of powers and allow the courts’ unfettered freedom to adjudicate without fear of any reprisals nor threat from those in power.
We want the constitutional court judges to know that they are the last frontier in the quest for true democracy and that you hold the nation’s hopes, therefore, do it for the love of Zimbabwe and not for power mongers from any of the political divides. We also would like the bench, the chief justice and his team that, much like what Justice Priscilla Chigumba did, the constitutional court’s determination has all the ingredients of peace or instability.
We also want to put it on record that our once esteemed army whom we celebrated with on November 17 2017, has let the nation down. To date, we shudder to think how a trained soldier can crouch to take aim at unarmed civilians. We still demand answers from those who love to be referred as Commanders in Chief, Commander Generals, VP cum Ministers of Defence, to say is this in keeping with the Oath any of you undertook upon swearing into office. Spare us this blame-shifting gibberish political football games where none of you takes responsibility over wanton killing of innocent civilians! What kind of leaders are you? You have no shame nor compassion towards your own people. Other countries protect their own citizens, but here you kill at the slightest of misunderstanding! What happened to the ideals of the liberation struggle? We want you to know that as sure as the sun rises from the east and sets in the west, time will come for some of you to account for these wanton murders. The nation cannot continue to experience murder and massacres with no one accounting for these crimes against humanity.
To President ED Mnangagwa, it is important to stress that you have not exhibited any departure from your predecessor in terms of fascism and repression. We say hands off form restraining peoples’ civil liberties! The nation takes no pleasure in leaders who indicate right but instead turn left. You rose through a coup on pretext you were going to usher in a new era of freedom and tolerance but you doing exactly the opposite. There was no need absolutely to call on the army as the police were coping with the situation.
More Churches have joined in the call on opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to “Accept the will of the People” & Let Go the Election Results Challenge.
As business and ordinary Zimbabweans alike begin to feel anxious over the current political stalemate, churches waded into the mix by challenging opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to “accept the will of the people” and move on.
Addressing members of the media in Harare on Monday, the Zimbabwe Amalgamated Churches Council (ZACC) warned that the stalemate was hurting business recovery and as such, Chamisa needed to “put the country first”.
“As the Church in Zimbabwe, representing apostolic sects in the land, we prayed for peace and we observed that the elections were held in a free and fair environment.
“Our members voted, and it was heart-warming to see people from diverse political backgrounds embracing and voting in peace and harmony.
“However, we are now surprised that Chamisa, who claims to be a pastor wants to foment chaos and suffering among Zimbabweans. It is trite that Zimbabweans are peace-loving and God-fearing people and do not want to be abused by political leaders who are more concerned with attaining their selfish goals,” Zacc patron Jimayi Muduvuri told the media.
Muduvuri, an avid Zanu PF member and a candidate in the senatorial elections on July 30, said ZACC was perturbed by acts of violence which led to a loss of lives and damage to property on August 1, when MDC Alliance supporters clashed with security agents.
Six people subsequently died when the army which had apparently been called in to help manage the situation, used live ammunition to break the ugly protests.
“We strongly condemn the MDC Alliance stance to ignore the people’s will and pray that sense prevails among their supporters who just recently went on a rampage, looting shops and disturbing our peace.
“Leaders of the church would like to tell all politicians that the country’s president was ordained by God. He was chosen by God and the will of God should be respected.
“When people play in any game some win and some lose but to our surprise, someone saw that he was losing and started causing chaos. As Christians we are calling for a thorough investigation because innocent lives were lost rather needlessly,” said Muduvuri.
In the historic July 30, elections Zanu PF kept its two thirds parliamentary majority, with Mnangagwa winning a tightly contested race by 50, 8 percentage points.
Chamisa is contesting President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa July 30, a victory which he alleges was achieved through ballot cheating and tampering.
On Friday, the youthful MDC Alliance leader filed papers at the Constitutional Court seeking to overturn Mnangagwa’s result.
Zanu PF reportedly countered the electoral challenge today.
Zimbabwe Christian Church(ZCC) leader Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi is among other Church leaders who have implored the MDC Alliance to accept results of the recently held elections and work together with ZANU PF for the good of the country.
“Those that are not happy with the results of the elections, there are rules to follow, there is the Constitution to guide us, there are courts to decide but we want it quickly over so that Zimbabwe gets to rebuilding the country,” Mutendi said.
Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has said he is unfazed by United States of America President Donald Trump’s decision to renew sanctions against Harare.
While Mnangagwa may not feel the direct pinch of the restrictions, it is the people of Zimbabwe who will be measures.
Briefing journalists soon after holding a meeting with United States Ambassador Brian Nichols, Mnangagwa said he was not bothered by the decision to renew illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe.
“Should I concern myself about what is happening in Washington? Do they
concern themselves about us?” argued Mnangagwa.
“These discussions are necessary. He is an ambassador from the United States to Zimbabwe. He must have correct appreciation of the
environment in the country. He came
into the country to have that
appreciation. We were able to share his views and my views on the current situation in the country and we are moving forward as a country,” added Mnangagwa.
A staunch Zanu PF supporter hanged himself in Bulawayo using Emmerson Mnangagwa’s trademark
scarf.
The 29-year- man used the scarf to hang himself following a domestic dispute.
Mathingson Gandawa, who was a staunch Zanu PF supporter, allegedly hanged himself at his home in
White City Suburb after a domestic dispute with his wife over allegations of extra-marital affairs.
The scarf was first worn by the First President of Zimbabwe the late Reverend Canaan Banana and former
President Robert Mugabe.
However, Mnangagwa has taken the scarf to business conferences, including the World Economic Forum
held in Davos, Switzerland in January this year.Since then it has become a form of identity for Zanu PF followers.
Controversial Buhera South MP elect Joseph Chinotimba has said the constitution should be amended to enable mature candidates to participate in future elections.
Chinotimba has said he will move a motion in Parliament- which will
increase the age limit for Presidential
candidates.
“I want the Presidential age limit to
change from 40 years to 55 or 60
years. I am going to introduce this
motion in Parliament.
This is because some of the Presidential candidates
are very young; they are not yet
mature to lead this nation. We want
people who know the history of this
country,” Chinotimba told Daily News.
Terrence Mawawa
Outspoken Zanu PF Youth League boss Pupurai Togarepi has said he will push for the introduction of a law that punishes all those who
call for sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Togarepi is also the newly elected MP for Gutu South Constituency.
United States President Donald Trump recently signed the ZIDERA Amendment into law.
“This Parliament will pass the Patriotic Act. Those who call for economic sanctions can be hanged and their political parties will be banned. It is going to be my first contribution in Parliament
so that it will come to fruition.
We know that Tendai Biti went to
America to call for sanctions. It’s not
good that you want to be a leader but
you are calling for sanctions. You are a Zimbabwean.
You want Zimbabwean people to suffer. This is not good.
People who are calling for sanctions
must not look for higher offices in
Zimbabwe. Why don’t we go to
Parliament so that we prohibit all those who are calling for sanctions?
Zimbabweans are suffering because of
Pupurayi Togarepi
these people, we want to stop this,” Togarepi told Daily News yesterday.
THE National Darts Association of Zimbabwe (Ndaz) is working round the clock to secure adequate funding for the team that will take part at the African Union Sports Council Region Five darts championship pencilled for Malawi later this month.
Ndaz, one of the well run national associations in the country in terms of adherence to good corporate governance, has already named an 18 member team that will be led by veteran darts master David Nyemba from Mashonaland West.
In a brief interview from his base in Harare yesterday, Ndaz president Meynard Moyo said his committee was busy working around the clock so as to ensure the players are well catered for while in Malawi.
“The association is busy with the preparations especially on the funding side of things as we are trying to avoid crisis management once we are in Malawi.
We however remain hopeful that we will get assistance from the various corporate bodies and indeed individuals that we have approached,” said Moyo.
He said they have already written to the Sports and Recreation Commission to get clearance as per dictates of the national statutes.
“Outside the administrative calls, we can safely say that the players that were selected are looking sharp and ready for the championship. We have been assessing them and the last assessment was during the Heroes Day tournament in Bindura where they looked sharp and ready for the challenge. We have a strong squad which can stand against any country,” said Moyo.
The championship will be held at Lake Malawi from August 27-31 and eight countries, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi have confirmed participation. South Africa are the defending champions.
“We expect to leave by road on August 25,” said the Ndaz president.
Zim men’s team Salesio Gunda (Manicaland), David Nyemba (Mash West) Simon Mujuru (Mash West), Caleb Sigauke (Manicaland), Michael Chikomba (Midlands), Modokai Dheka (Harare)
SPORT and Recreation Commission directors — Joseph Muchechetere, Patience Kabanda and Daniel Kuwengwa — continued to receive benefits, including holiday allowances, despite it being clear the regulatory body was struggling for sustainability and technically insolvent.
The trio of acting director-general Muchechetere, Kabanda the Director Corporate Services (Finance, Administration and Human Resources) and Kuwengwa who is Business Development and Marketing director, head the Sports Commission’s secretariat.
They report to a board chaired by Edward Siwela and Commissioners include vice-chairperson Lilian Mbaiwa, Titus Zvomuya, John Falkenberg, Nicholas Vingirai, Joseph Mungwari and Clement Mukwasi.
But, according to an audit report of the Sports Commission done by a Harare firm Nolands, the trio of Muchechetere, Kabanda and Kuwengwa were paid “$89 000 in emoluments and $38 000 in directors’ benefits”.
Muchechetere, who was elevated to acting director-general following the departure of Charles Nhemachena in April 2016, also serves as Director Sport and Recreation Development.
It is, however, the audit report, which raises a stink in the manner in which the Sports Commission has been managed in the last two years with the audit firm also warning on the sustainability of the sports body as a going concern.
The audit also exposed the same Sports Commission that has been quick to invoke statutory regulations on associations, flouting other statutes such as payments to ZIMRA and NSSA, which they have not been remitting.
Questions will also be raised about the authority which the Commissioners wield in superintending the Sports Commission’s management despite the board having been cited for contributing to the audit.
“The Commissioners are required by the Sports and Recreation Commission Act (Chapter 25:15) to maintain adequate accounting records and are responsible for the content and integrity of the financial statements and related financial information included in this report.
“It is their responsibility to ensure that financial statements fairly present the state of affairs of the Commission at the end of the fiscal year and the results of its operations and cash flows for the period then ended in conformity with international Financial Reporting Standards.
“The external auditors are engaged to express an independent opinion on the financial statements,” read part of the auditor’s statement.
The audit also revealed that the Sports Commission are technically insolvent with liabilities far exceeding the body’s current assets.
“We draw you to the fact that as at December 31, 2017, the Commission had accumulated losses of $1 387 415 and total current liabilities exceed total current assets by $1 026 317.
“The financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting policies applicable to going concern.
“This basis presumes that funds will be available to finance future obligations and that the realisation of assets and the settlement of liabilities, contingent obligations and commitments, will occur in the ordinary course for business.
“The ability of the institution to continue as a going concern is dependent on a number of factors, the most important of these is that the Board must continue to procure funding for the on-going operations of the Commission,” the auditors said.
That the Sports Commission’s total assets of $255 000 are much less than total liabilities of $1,1 million make the institution technically insolvent to the tune of $896 000.
Siwela and Muchechetere have presided over successive losses by the Sports Commission in the last two years that the former has been acting director-general and the latter remained chairman of the board.
The Sports Commission, who are backed by Government grants have, according to the audit, made successive losses of $236 000 last year and $63 000 for 2016.
Apart from the Government grants, the Sports Commission’s next major cash cow is football from where they raked in $118 000 in 2017 from the levies.
Ironically, in the audit report, the Sports Commission revealed they made a paltry donation of $3 000 to the Mighty Warriors cause, gave the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe $59 000 and the Netball Association $25 000.
Of the Sports Commission’s total income of $1,5 million, $689 000 and $136 000 went to employee costs and directors’ compensation respectively.
This left above $800 000 going towards enumeration at a ratio of more than 50 percent, when “normal acceptable practice remuneration must not be above 8 percent of revenue.”
Given the state of affairs obtaining at the regulatory body, the Sports Commission has literally existed to pay salaries and commissioners/ directors as most of its revenue go to non-sport development.
Unlike other parastatals, the Sports Commission has virtually been bleeding Government coffers through the grant of $1,3 million.
The audit noted that Sports Commission fundraising initiatives only raised $54 000 from investments.
“The Commission mainly relied on Government grants and did not fully exploit its other sources of income.
“These conditions, along with other matters set out in the financial statements, indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about the Commission’s ability to continue as a going concern,” said the auditors.
By Own Correspondent| Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo has said government regrets the August 1 2018 events that led to the unnecessary loss of 6 lives in Harare following the shooting of unarmed citizens by soldiers.
In an interview on the sidelines of the 38th SADC Summit in Windhoek, Dr Moyo said the August 1 incident is not reflective of the true Zimbabwean character.
“Let me assure you that the President and his Cabinet including the entire new dispensation actually regrets the incident of the 1st of August because that is not characteristic of Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe we want is the Zimbabwe that demonstrated itself on the 30th of July. What came out on the 1st of August is not the Zimbabwe we want and has never been part of our embedded values.”-statemedia
“We should make sure that the will of the people is respected…I don’t understand anyone who expects to run the country with “uri mbavha” on your head…”
“We need to ensure that whoever wants to run this country has a clean, full mandate of the people.” – WATCH LIVE VIDEO BELOW:
“We should make sure that the will of the people is respected…I don’t understand anyone who expects to run the country with “uri mbavha” on your head…”
“We need to ensure that whoever wants to run this country has a clean, full mandate of the people.” – WATCH BELOW
THREE people died and 31 were injured when three vehicles were involved in a pile-up near Umguza River Bridge along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road just before Kensington.
The fatal accident occurred at around 9PM on Tuesday when two vehicles driven by Omalayitsha travelling in opposite directions collided head-on and the third vehicle that was folllowing behind then crashed into one of the vehicles that had landed on its side.
One person died on the spot and two others died on admission to the United Bulawayo Hospitals.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the accident.
She said 31 people were injured but most of them were treated and discharged.
Chief Insp Simango said the names of the deceased were being withheld as their next of keen were yet to be contacted.
“The first party was driving a white Toyota Hilux Double Cab travelling due East while the second party was driving a PSV Iveco with an unstated number of passengers on board due West. The third party was driving a white Jasbro Foods Mazda 323 due East,” she said.
Chief Insp Simango said the driver of the Iveco vehicle tried to overtake a haulage truck and was involved in a head-on collision with the Toyota Hilux.
She said the Mazda 323 then crashed into the Toyota Hilux which had landed on its side in the middle of the road following the head on collision.
Chief Insp Simango blamed the accident on an overtaking error.
She said police did not find the driver of the Iveco when they arrived at the accident scene and were therefore looking for him.
The driver of the Iveco was said to have been travelling at a high speed and had just overtaken two other vehicles before the collision.
Zanu-PF party supporters and colleagues visited some of the injured in the White City blast who were admitted at Mpilo Central hospital in Bulawayo.In this picture Mr Cuthbert Makondo chats with Zanu-PF officials.
Dear Editor
Maduro (Venezuela) has just been accused of an actual or attempted self-coup (or autocoup, from the Spanish autogolpe). This is a charade in the form of putsch or coup d’état in which a nation’s leader, despite having come to power through legal means, dissolves or renders powerless the national legislature and unlawfully assumes extraordinary powers not granted under normal circumstances. Other measures taken may include annulling the nation’s constitution, suspending civil courts and having the head of government assume dictatorial powers.
Since the 1960s there have been more than 100 of these self-coup charades in Africa.
Do you think the White City Stadium “assassination attempt” was a self-coup (autocoup) charade? Do you think there will be another autocoup charade to dissolve or render powerless the national legislature and unlawfully assume extraordinary powers not granted under normal circumstances?
The president’s speech at the ZDF celebrations Tuesday was disturbing. I understood it in other words “dissent will not be tolerated, if anyone protests about anything they will be shot by the ZDF”.
ZimEye will be livestreaming proceedings at the Build Zimbabwe Alliance press conference where the party’s President Dr Noah Manyika will be responding to MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa’s election petition.
Follow live proceedings of the presser on our Facebook page.
Paul Nyathi|Zimbabwean striker Nyasha Mushekwi has been included in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier squad named on Wednesday.
Group G leaders Zimbabwe travel to Congo Brazzaville for the September 9 match, after thumping Liberia 3-0 in their opening game in Harare last year.
Mushekwi together with ex-Warriors captain Willard Katsande, Cuthbert Malajila and Matthew Rusike were banned from the Warriors by Zifa for allegedly inciting a protest over non-payment of bonuses last year.
The quartet was pointed out as ringleaders of a mutiny that saw players snub a send-off dinner just before their departure for the Afcon finals in Gabon.
This then saw the four being excluded from the Liberia win by then interim coach Norman Mapeza in June last year, their last game with the Warriors being in Gabon.
But with Mushekwi currently enjoying some scintillating form in the Chinese Super League, Zimbabwe coach Sunday Chidzambga might not be able to overlook the former Mamelodi Sundowns striker.
A hat-trick in last Friday’s 3-0 thumping of Guangzhou R&F upped Mushekwi’s season tally to seven goals in 10 league appearances.
For the fear of public backlash, Zifa appear to have backtracked on Mushekwi following a lot of noise in the Zimbabwean media which has amplified the player’s case.
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Katsande could not make the comeback, while Malajila and Rusike were sidelined due to loss of form.
Mushekwi’s return would bolster Chidzambga’s strikeforce which has captain Knowledge Musona and Evans Rusike as the most recognisable players.
The African National Congress (ANC) has issued a statement calling the Marikana massacre a tragedy that should never have happened.
Government is faced with a new report that police who killed the 34 striking miners were taking vengeance for two of their comrades killed two days earlier.
The ANC’s head of Presidency, Zizi Kodwa, says that government must urgently implement the recommendations of the Farlam Commission.
“As the nation remembers the tragedy of Marikana that came to pass six years ago, the ANC reaffirms its long-held view that this was a sad and unfortunate chapter in the life of our nation that should have never happened. There is no doubt about our commitment in ensuring that never again should such a tragedy befall our nation, and no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that measures are in place to achieve this,” the ANC statement reads.
The party has also called on mining companies to move with speed in implementing their commitment to improving the socio-economic conditions of mining communities.
“Our commitment to realising these policy objectives should never be found wanting. In the same vein, meaningful transformation of the mining sector must include a firm commitment to closing the wage gap between the lowest paid mine worker and management.”
Independent researcher David Bruce, working from pictures and witness statements, is unequivocal in his report for the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) on so-called scene two of the massacre that occurred away from media scrutiny.
“The SAPS members fired into the scene of the area. They were firing with the intention of shooting the strikers.”
Retired Judge Ian Farlam, who was at the ISS seminar where the report was released, says the commission found that prima facie evidence indicates that the police who fired at scene two were not doing so in self-defence and can be charged with attempted murder or assault.
LUPANE health workers say they are battling to contain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) amid revelations that at least 70% of males in the area have tested positive since the beginning of the year.
The revelations were made by Lupane business centre sister-in-charge Faba Sikhalo at the Defence Forces Day celebrations on Tuesday.
She said the small town had been a hot spot for diseases such as syphilis, even though they had managed to keep new HIV infections in check.
“We are screening for ingulamakhwa (STIs) legcikwane (HIV) as Health ministry, working with National Aids Council (Nac).What made us to take these campaigns to this event is because we have realised that most people now know about HIV, but we are lacking knowledge on STIs. Looking at the statistics at our clinic, most people are HIV free, but STIs are giving us a headache,” Sikhalo told the gathering, encouraging them to visit their tent for testing.
“What we have to know is that HIV infection enters the cells the same way as STIs if you have wounds, that is, when you get exposed to these infections.
“In Lupane centre, we have tried by all means to conquer HIV, but what remains and has been extremely on high risk are sexually transmitted diseases. According to our statistics, the most affected are males between the age of 25-35. Teenagers and elderly people are safe. Whenever we conduct tests, about 50% of patients come out HIV negative, but STI positive.”
Sikhalo blamed truck drivers, who ply the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo Highway, and the thriving nightlife for the STIs.
“The surge started at the beginning of the year and containing it has been difficult. In our various sampling methods, trying to find the reasons, we have established that many after testing negative shun from using protection, especially men of middle age. The ratio stands at 70% males and 30% females who test positive to (STIs),” she said.
Sikhalo said what needs to be done now was carrying out educational campaigns on STIs and one-on-one dialogues.
“There is a need for change of mindset, as I have stated that most of them are HIV-free and they take advantage of that while exposing themselves. We need to up our awareness campaigns in the area. We will be moving from community to community talking about STIs, their relationship with HIV together with the risks and possible ways to combat it,” she said, adding they were now giving out saliva home test kits for STIs and HIV and were encouraging those at risk of infection to test within six weeks of exposure and also seek medication and counselling.
CIVIL society groups under the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition are piling pressure on Sadc to put the country on the agenda of its upcoming meeting following the disputed July 30 elections and post elections violence which has far claimed at least seven lives.
The groups will be meeting at the 38th Sadc People’s Summit in Namibia that comes before this weekend’s 38th Sadc summit which will be attended by the heads of State and government in the regional bloc.
Soldiers on August 1 shot dead at least seven people during a protest in Harare against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, while the situation in rural areas has also deteriorated with opposition supporters reportedly being harassed and forced into hiding.
In its position paper to be tabled at the People’s summit, CiZC said a rescue package must be drawn as soon as possible to deal with the situation.
“The Sadc community together with other global players must institute discussions on the situation in Zimbabwe and develop a political and economic rescue package that is predicated on democratic progress,” read the document.
“We urge the regional community to continue standing and fighting in the corner of Zimbabwe and its people rather than political elites.”
The civic organisation said Zimbabwe must return to full compliance with modern statecraft where the military is subordinate to civilian authority and desist from interfering in political issues as it did in November 2017 and the post-election period.
“The military immediately returns and stays in the barracks through leaving communities and roads where it is present,” added the organisation.
The groups added that Zimbabwe must uphold the rights of citizens and international visitors in all respects including through upholding media freedoms, civil and political liberties.
“Sadc and the international community must continue to condemn the illegal infractions against people’s rights in Zimbabwe, including holding as sacrosanct citizens’ rights to life and protection by the State, as well as discouraging impairments of rights of the media and ordinary Zimbabweans.
“Sadc and the international community must call for and support dialogue between political actors as well as an inclusive conversation on Zimbabwe’s future.”
At their meeting before the heads of State, the civil society groups are expected to agree on a position to pile pressure on regional leaders to act on Zimbabwe.
The Minister of International Cooperation and Relations of the Republic of South Africa, Hon Dr. Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and Outgoing Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers on 13 August 2018 handed over the Chairpersonship of the SADC Council of Ministers to Hon Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Cooperation and Relations of the Republic of Namibia.
The handover took place at the opening of the meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers, ahead of the 38th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government to take place on 17-18, August 2018 at Safari Conference Centre, Windhoek, Namibia.
In her remarks, the Outgoing Council Chairperson, Hon Dr Sisulu congratulated Hon. Nandi-Ndaitwah for assuming the Chairpersonship and pledged her unwavering support as a demonstration of the collective commitment to the ideals and values of SADC.
Hon. Dr Sisulu said, under the leadership of South Africa, SADC maintained its focus on industrial development, promotion of regional value chains and value addition. On this note, Hon Dr Sisulu said the 37th Summit theme “Partnering with the Private Sector in Developing Industry and Regional Value Chains”, was chosen with the full realisation that SADC goals can only be attained with strong and meaningful partnerships with the private sector, which is part of the engine for sustainable economic growth.
Hon. Dr Sisulu noted that, while SADC has achieved a lot in pursuit of the 37th Summit theme, there is more work to be done. “We need to prioritise trade facilitation bottlenecks such as inadequate infrastructure and customs procedures, as well as weak logistics systems, which raise trade costs and hinder the ease of doing business,” said Hon. Dr Sisulu, adding that transport costs and transit delays in Southern Africa are reported to be particularly higher than in most other regions, and have a potential to reverse the gains in regional industrial development.
On her part, Hon. Nandi-Ndaitwah paid tribute to the outgoing Council Chairperson for the commendable work she has done during her tenure, saying that she will rely on the support and cooperation of the Outgoing Chair to ensure that SADC meets the expectations of its citizens.
On the theme of the 38th SADC Summit; Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development, Hon. Nandi-Ndaitwah said the theme was carefully chosen to draw attention to infrastructure and youth empowerment.
“It is a hard reality that we cannot industrialise the region or Africa unless we invest in infrastructure development. In order to ensure sustainable Industrialisation and development, we need to invest in our youth through education, skill training and motivate them to be innovative and entrepreneurs,” said the Council Chairperson.
Hon. Nandi-Ndaitwah cited the words of H.E Dr Sam Nujoma, Founding President of Namibia that, “The youth are the strength of this nation. They are our future leaders. They bring unique perspectives that we need to take into account when we plan our future destiny”. She said these words arein line with the SADC Declaration on Youth Development and Empowerment signed in 2014.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of SADC, Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax welcomed the Incoming Chairperson of SADC Council of Ministers, Hon. Nandi-Ndaitwah and assured Hon. Nandi-Ndaitwah of the Executive Secretary’s unwavering commitment and support in her efforts to steer the region to greater heights.
H.E. Dr Tax expressed optimism that, under the leadership of Hon. Nandi-Ndaitwah, SADC is set for yet another successful year, building on the successes made under the Chairpersonship of Hon. Dr Lindiwe Sisulu.
The Executive Secretary highlighted the progress that SADC has made towards deepening regional integration and development, particularly in promoting the SADC Industrialization Agenda. She cited the on-going work to operationalize the Regional Development Fund as a sustainable means of mobilizing resources for regional programmes.
She informed the Ministers that the Secretariat reached an agreement with the African Development Bank to support SADC in a number of areas including in the identification and categorization of priority bankable projects as contained in the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP); operationalization of the SADC Regional Development Fund; development of SADC economic corridors aimed at supporting infrastructure projects to facilitate Regional Value Chains; development of insurance to mitigate and address the impacts of climate change related risk; and the development of a Regional Strategy for Drug Abuse and cybercrime.
The SADC Council of Ministers oversees the functioning and development of SADC and ensures that policies are properly implemented. Itconsists of Ministers from each Member State, usually from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Planning, or Finance. It meets twice a year.
Preparations for the 61st edition of the Matabeleland South Agricultural Show are at an advanced stage amid revelations that exhibitors have occupied all available stands.
Over 80 exhibitors are expected to participate at this year’s event.
Briefing the media this Wednesday, President of the Matabeleland South Agricultural Show Mr George Chipengo said while the number of exhibitors has continued to grow over the years, the organisation is excited about the participation of stock exchange listed companies at this year’s show.
Mr Chipengo said this is a show of confidence in the exhibition.
“Stands uptake is now at 100 percent but there is still more space for exhibitors who wish to pitch up tents. The response is really overwhelming, all districts in the province have confirmed their attendance. Traditional exhibitors are coming, there are also new exhibitors that we are really excited about,” said Mr Chipengo.
Unlike last year where an outbreak of foot and mouth disease contributed to a low turnout in the livestock section, the situation will be different this time around as more communal and commercial farmers have expressed interest in showcasing their quality breeds.
“Animals this time are not being restricted unlike last year where we were saying all livestock are for direct slaughter. But now farmers can exhibit and take their animals back as long as they are coming from green zones,” said Mr Zondai.
The agriculture show which will run under the theme: ‘Sustainable Development through Agriculture’ will be officially opened by the Acting Managing Director of PPC Zimbabwe Mr Marvelous Sibanda on Saturday.
Paul Nyathi|Aretha Franklin‘s family have confirmed that the soul icon is “seriously ill”, as they continue to rally around the singer at her home in Detroit.
On Monday, it was reported that the 76-year-old singer, with close sources claiming that her family were preparing to say goodbye as she receives hospice care at home – prompting a huge stream of messages of well-wishers across the world.
Her family have now confirmed that she is “seriously ill”, and thanked fans for the ‘love and support’ being lavished upon her.
Aretha’s publicist Gwendolyn Quinn told People Magazine: “Aretha Franklin has been the Matriarch of the Franklin family since the passing of all of her siblings. The love she has for her family is above reproach and was evident in the warm smiles she was able to share with her nephew during his very brief visit two weeks ago.
“She is seriously ill and surrounded by family members who appreciate the outpouring of love and support they have received.”
Yesterday, nephew Tim Franklin revealed that the singer was in “good spirits” at home.
“She’s alert, laughing, teasing, able to recognise people. Family is there with her. She’s home. I saw her a week ago Friday and we talked for about 45 minutes to an hour”, he said.
“My brother was there on Saturday and she was alert, talking, laughing, joking.”
Remaining optimistic, he added: “We believe she’ll pull through it, she believes she’ll pull through it, and that’s the important thing.”
In a legendary career spanning more than five decades as a soul superstar, Aretha has won 18 Grammy awards, shifted more than 75million records and performed at three presidential inaugurations – including that of Barack Obama in January 2009.
Her last record came in the form of 2017’s ‘A Brand New Me’, shortly before she announced her retirement.
“I must tell you, I am retiring this year. I feel very, very enriched and satisfied with respect to where my career came from and where it is now”, she confirmed at the time.
Outgoing MDC-T Bulawayo South National Assembly member Mr Eddie Cross has resigned from the opposition party and quit politics.
He said his resignation had nothing to do with the ongoing political situation in the country.
“I am a retired Member of Parliament and I decided to take a break from politics. This decision has nothing to do with what is happening politically, instead I took the break so that I can take care of my wife who is not feeling well,” he said.
Mr Cross started his political career in 1965, as the general-secretary of the Centre Party, which opposed the Rhodesian minority rule led by Ian Smith.
He joined the Movement for Democratic Change in 1999 and was made secretary for economics in 2000.
Mr Cross served as the MP for Bulawayo South from 2008 to 2018. In February 2009, the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai designated Mr Cross for the position of Minister of State Enterprises and Parastatals as part of the inclusive Government, but he did not take up the post.
Mr Cross has been at loggerheads with the MDC-Alliance for predicting a resounding victory for President Mnangagwa in the July 30 elections. He also declared the harmonised elections as free, fair and credible, saying they were the most democratic since independence in 1980. He also called MDC-Alliance presidential candidate Mr Nelson Chamisa a political novice who needed more time to mature before dreaming of the high office.
A former top advisor to Tsvangirai, Cross was recently quoted as saying Chamisa was wasting time by challenging presidential election results as they were a true reflection of the people’s will.
This led to the MDC-Alliance leadership demanding his immediate expulsion from the party for “disregarding” party decisions and “undermining” it.
MDC-Alliance principal Tendai Biti was lawfully arrested in Zimbabwe last week following his deportation by Zambian authorities, the court heard yesterday.
Biti, who is facing charges of inciting violence and contravening the Electoral Act, is challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear his matter arguing that he was abducted by Zimbabwean authorities.
Through his lawyers — Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Messrs Alec Muchadehama, Harrison Nkomo and Gift Mtisi— Biti wants the court to determine whether his appearance in court was proper given the circumstances of his case.
Biti, who was denied asylum by the Zambian government after he tried to seek refuge in that country, also wants the court to determine whether the police complied with the law after he argued that he was unlawfully arrested in Zambia by unidentified Zimbabwean men.
The investigating officer in the matter Chief Superintendent Jealous Nyabasa yesterday took to the witness stand and gave his evidence-in-chief led by prosecutor Mr Michael Reza.
He chronicled events that led to Biti’s arrest adding that he lawfully arrested Biti on Zimbabwean soil dismissing his claims that he was arrested on the Zambian side.
The investigating officer said when Biti was denied asylum by the Zambian government, he was then handed over to the Zimbabwean immigration officials who in turn surrendered him to the police.
“Your Worship I arrested the accused person at Chirundu border post on August 9 after he was handed over by officials from Zimbabwean Immigration offices. They had a deportation order and handover a certificate from Zambian authorities,” he said.
“The accused is a Zimbabwean citizen who was lawfully arrested in Zimbabwe at Chirundu border post and lawfully brought to court within the stipulated time frame. Therefore, given the circumstances he is properly before the court.”
Chief Supt Nyabasa said Biti was on an outstanding warrant of arrest and he knew that he was wanted by the police but chose not to surrender himself.
After he was asked by the prosecutor what Biti was supposed to do after receiving a message that the police was looking for him, Chief Supt Nyabasa in response said he was supposed to report to his nearest police station.
“Biti did not heed police’s call instead he chose to send his lawyers to CID Law and Order to check if he was really wanted. They made an undertaking that they were going to bring him but never did,” he said.
In his evidence-in-chief last week, Biti said: “When Charity Charamba (Senior Assistant Commissioner) told journalists that they were looking for me, my lawyer Alec Muchadehama went to CID law and order intending to advise them that I was to surrender myself on that day at 2pm.
“The police officers he met there said they were not aware that he was wanted and he was told to leave his business card so they would contact him if they wanted me.”
However, Chief Supt Nyabasa dismissed his claims and told the court that Biti actually sent three different lawyers on separate occasions who all made an undertaking to accompany their client to the police but never fulfilled their promises.
Biti is alleged to have unlawfully declared opposition party leader Mr Nelson Chamisa as the winner in the Presidential elections thereby violating Section 66A (1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 2:13, which prohibits the unofficial or false declaration of election results.
Commenting on the charge, Chief Supt Nyabasa said In terms of the country’s electoral laws, only the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is empowered to declare the winner of an election.
Magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo rolled over the matter to today for continuation when the defence is expected to cross-examine Chief Supt Nyabasa.
ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s trademark scarf became an instrument of death after a 29-year-old Chinhoyi man used it to hang himself following a domestic dispute.
Mathingson Gandawa, who was a staunch Zanu PF supporter, allegedly hanged himself at his home in White City suburb after a domestic dispute with his wife over allegations of extra-marital affairs.
The scarf, which has been popularised by Mnangagwa, was first worn by the First President of Zimbabwe the late Canaan Banana and former President Robert Mugabe.
However, while the two former Presidents used to wear the scarf at weekends during soccer matches, Mnangagwa has taken the scarf to business conferences, including the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland in January this year.
By Paul Nyathi|In spite of army commander General Valerio Sibanda’s spirited defence of the uniformed forces after six people were killed inn Harare two weeks ago, the international community and even the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) have blamed the ZDF for its heavy-handedness in dealing with civilians.
In a damning report issued last week, ZHRC chairperson Elasto Mugwadi said the use of live ammunition and excessive use of force on civilians was uncalled for.
Mugwadi said while the commission does not in any way support violence, hooliganism or vandalism by any protester, constitutionally there were better ways of managing protests without infringing on the rights of citizens, especially the right to life which must be jealously guarded by all State institutions and at all times.
“ZHRC urges that the army only be deployed where necessary for law and order and in strict compliance with the relevant legal provisions and internationally accepted standards, including restrictions on the use of live ammunition against protesters.
“To us it is very much criminal. It is a criminal act to kill someone,” said Mugwadi.
“While there are investigations, there was a violation of peoples’ rights — the right to life.
“That is the fundamental right, the right of all rights. We will on our own part investigate and try to find out why this happened the way it did,” he added.
President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa has since made an undertaking to establish an independent commission to get to the bottom of the matter.
The pre-voting period had been characterised by peaceful campaigns and a camaraderie spirit.
But this was immediately sullied by the deadly clashes between opposition supporters and security agents.
MDC sources have reported that veteran party activist Fidelis Mhashu has died.
Below is a statement that has the been written by a senior party official:
Former Headmaster and MDC MP Mr Fidelis Mhashu is nomore.
Mr Mhashu served as the MDC MP for Zengeza Constituency.He was a powerful opposition figure who refused to be suppressed by the Mugabe led ZANU PF regime together with the late veteran leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mr Mhashu was once beaten up by Elliot Manyika at the town centre after ZANU lost dismally.Mr Manyika used a pistol to shove Mr Mhashu and threatened to kill him but that did not deter the man from representing the masses and airing his voice against a ZANU PF failed leadership.We say May His Soul Rest In Peace,Aluta Continua,the Struggle Continues…Famba zvakanaka Muchinja Ane rudo.
Controvesial Zanu PF Secretary for Youth Affairs Pupurai Togarepi has said his party will take MDC-Alliance leaders Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti to court for calling for the imposition of sanctions on Harare.
“The people of Zimbabwe voted in a very peaceful and free environment and fortunately for us, they voted for President Mnangagwa and our
MPs got more than two thirds majority,”Togarepi told The Herald.
“However, we now understand there are court applications from people who before the elections stated that they would not accept any other results except them winning. In our view, these people are trying to hold the people of Zimbabwe at ransom
and we feel that they are just wasting time.”
“What is worrying us and dismaying us as well is the renewed sanctions against the people of Zimbabwe after Mr Chamisa and Mr Tendai Biti
went to the United States prior to this election and asked for sanctions to be imposed on the people of
Zimbabwe,” said Togarepi.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority on Tuesday shot dead a crocodile that had become a threat to human life in Redcliff.
The crocodile attacked and killed a 14-year old boy who was swimming in Kwekwe River in the company of three of his friends on Sunday.
Ali Phiri’s body was retrieved from the crocodile’s mouth with missing body parts following the attack while his three friends escaped with minor injuries.
After the crocodile was shot, rangers slit it open to retrieve body parts for burial.
Ali, a Form One pupil, was buried at Torwood cemetery on Tuesday.
Parks and Wildlife spokesperson, Mr Tinashe Farawo, said the crocodile had to be put down as it had become a danger to people’s lives.
“Our rangers managed to kill the crocodile as it had become a threat to human life in the area. It was now classified under the problem animals hence we assigned our Bulawayo office to take care of the problematic croc,” he said.
Mr Farawo said it was unfortunate that a life was lost and warned people to stay away from water bodies.
“We are saddened by the loss of life. We are however, working on a schedule to educate people to stay away from water bodies,” he said.
Mr Farawo said the above normal rains received in the last rainy season had resulted in many water bodies being infested with reptiles.
“So our main message is that we urge the public to stay away from water bodies as most of them are infested by crocodiles due to heavy rains received in the previous rainy season,” he said.
Mr Farawo said his office had intensified outreach programmes meant to educate the public on the dangers of playing around water bodies.
Meanwhile, Mr Farawo tweeted that last year, 21 people were killed by crocodiles.
“Of the 34, 21 people were mauled by crocodiles, two by lions and those cases were recorded in Chiredzi. There were also cases of people gored by buffaloes to death while some were trampled by elephants,” he said.
Mr Farawo said they received 393 human-wildlife conflicts reports throughout the country.
“Of the 393 reports, we managed to attend to 300 cases and we had to put down about 88 animals – these include elephants and lions. We classify this as problem animal control,” he said. – state media
The controversial CID cop who once lied about the Baba Jukwa investigation, has been left confined to the Masvingo area.
Despite a massive reshuffle of 700 cops, Makedenge has obtained no promotion. He will be one of the few police officers to remain stationed at rural outposts.
The ZRP cop, was once one of the most feared inspectors countrywide.
The state media says that: Snr Asst Comm Elliot Ngirandi will remain at Police General Headquarters as chief staff (planning and development) while Snr Asst Comm Dorothy Kupara was transferred from Manicaland to PGHQ as chief staff (administration).
Asst Comm Shepherd Chiwoko moves from Support Unit to PGHQ, Asst Comm Panganai Sande moves from Matabeleland North to PGHQ (transport and logistics) and Asst Comm Ngonidzashe Chogugudza moves from Harare province to PGHQ (administration).
Snr Asst Comm Erasmus Makodza has been transferred from the National Anti-Stock Theft Unit to PGHQ as director ICT, Asst Comm Steven Kazingizi moves from PGHQ projects to PGHQ administration as acting finance director, while Snr Asst Comm Abigal Moyo from Mashonaland East province moves to Command Agriculture.
Snr Asst Comm Douglas Nyakutsikwa will remain at PGHQ, Asst Comm Charles Ndoro will move from Midlands to PGHQ, and Asst Comm Garikayi Masocha from Harare province to CID HQ as deputy director crime.
Asst Comm Ezekiel Munengerwa from PGHQ security and protocol services will move to National Traffic, Snr Asst Comm Charity Charamba to remain as chief staff officer press and public relations as well as Asst Comm Paul Nyathi as her deputy, while Snr Asst Comm Jonathan Chituku is the new National Coordinator for Anti-Stock Theft Unit and will be deputised by Asst Comm Simon Mwatsikesimbe from Harare province.
The new officer commanding Harare province is Snr Asst Comm Charles Nhete who replaced Snr Asst Comm Elias Mvere who was transferred to Masvingo Province, Snr Asst Comm Wiklef Makamache will head Manicaland province while Snr Asst Comm Rangarira Mushaurwa will remain in Mashonaland Central.
Snr Asst Comm Lee Muchemwa will head Mashonaland East province from Police Protection Unit, Snr Asst Comm Felistas Chikowero-Mjanga will remain in Mashonaland West and Asst Comm Crispen Makedenge will also remain in Masvingo as assistant commissioner responsible for operations.
Snr Asst Comm Patton Mbangwa will head Matabeleland North Province from PGHQ (lands inspectorate) while Matabeleland South Province will be headed by Snr Asst Comm Happymore Sigauke.
Snr Asst Comm Conneli Dube was moved from Masvingo Province to Midlands as officer commanding province.
Some of the senior officers were moved from different departments within the ZRP and the force has been on record saying the ongoing restructuring of the police was not a witch-hunt, but a deliberate exercise to improve service delivery.
Addressing senior police officers during a meeting held as part of his tour of Matabeleland North Province in Hwange recently, Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga assured police officers that no one will be made redundant owing to the restructuring exercise.
A total of 572 superintendents and chief superintendents were also reshuffled during the ongoing exercise and most of them were recently promoted.
“The MDC-Alliance are stuntmen who have presented no shred of evidence in a bid to retain the few remaining supporters that still believe in them. In fact there is no valid application before the court. Regardless, we addressed the merits of their defective process” Adv Uriri pic.twitter.com/qiUFLSLu4z
The commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), General Philip Valerio Sibanda, has blamed opposition political parties for the ugly scenes of violence witnessed in Harare just after the July 30 harmonised elections.
At least six people have since died from the violence after soldiers deployed to quell the disturbances used live ammunition in a bid to drive protesters out of central Harare.
This was after angry MDC Alliance supporters had besieged the streets of Harare to vent out their frustrations over what they perceived as bias on the part of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, accused of favouring Zanu PF.
While critics point accusing fingers at the military, the top dog at ZDF has passed the buck to the opposition parties, saying they incited the violence.
“Zimbabwe remains secure despite the recent politically-motivated violence that erupted a day after the harmonised elections on 30 July, 2018,” said Sibanda in his Defence Forces’ Day message.
“That notwithstanding, the country has continued to enjoy peace, security and stability during the harmonised elections.
“Had it not been for evil intentions of some opposition political players who went on to incite violent protests, unnecessary loss of life of six people who were caught up in the unfortunate shooting incidents could have been avoided.
“All the same, the ZDF remains resolute in its support for the ZRP as they continue to fulfil their constitutional mandate of maintenance of law and order to ensure peace, security and stability in the country.
“People are therefore, assured that they should feel free to go about their usual business.”
In spite of Sibanda’s spirited defence of the uniformed forces, the international community and even the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) have blamed the ZDF for its heavy-handedness in dealing with civilians.
Zimbabwe coach Sunday Chidzambga has named a 28-man provisional squad for next month’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier trip to Congro Brazzaville.
As expected, Chidzambga has called in-form Dalian Lifang forward Nyasha Mushwekwi who had been indefinitely banned by Zifa over indiscipline.
Mushekwi’s form in the Chinese Super League has been too good for Chidzambga to overlook the striker for the September 9 clash.
Fear of public backlash and noise made by the Zimbabwean press might have amplified Mushekwi’s case.
There was however no place for former captain and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande who was part of the four players banned by Zifa.
Chidzambga also included England-born Darikwa and left-back Chicksen, despite uncertainty over their availability due to citizenship complications.
Most players born in England are not ready to renounce their British-citizenship to obtain local passports as required by Zimbabwean law.
Zimbabwe team manager Wellington Mupandare said their biggest hope now is special consideration for dual citizenship from authorities.
“Yes we are always positive and we hope for the best and we will push until we get passports for the concerned players,” Mupandare told Goal.
Kelly Lunga of German fourth tier side SC Bonner has found his way into the team together with Tinotenda Chibharo who plays in the Serbian second division.
The bulk of players who took part at the Cosafa Cup in June make up the squad, while Tino Kadewere of French League 2 side Le Havre has been ruled out with injury.
Zimbabwe lead Group G after thumping Liberia 3-0 in their opening match last year in a pool which also includes DR Congo.
Zimbabwe squad
Goalkeepers: George Chigova (Polokwane City, SA), Donovan Benard (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Edmore Sibanda (Witbank Spurs, SA), Talbert Shumba (Chapungu FC)
Defenders: Tendayi Darikwa (Nottingham Forest, England), Alec Mudimu (Cefn Druids, Wales), Costa Nhamoinesu (Sparta Prague – Czech Republic), Teenage Hadebe (Kaizer Chiefs, SA), Kevin Moyo (FC Platinum), Adam Chicksen (Bradford City, England), Eric Chipeta (Cape Umoya United, SA), Divine Lunga (Golden Arrows, SA), Byron Madzokerere (Yadah FC)
Poverty can be increased by political leadership and as well poverty can be narrowed or reduced by Political leadership. To eradicate poverty takes not much of Government role but individual effort and the mentality of the citizenry effort. Empowerment means to help or facilitate the means for production to be accessible to the indigenous people.
Without entrepreneurial participation a nation may only enjoy services and infrastructure development but lacking ownership. If external investment is not balanced with entrepreneurial effort then the local people may only enjoy employment and improved services but unfortunately they will remain poor. Africans should invest in Africa, we need the means for production and to hire experts to Train our people. If Africa can borrow money to buy technology then that will help. Let the local people do the construction work and own the land, rent to buy technology and develop skills.
By Own Correspondent| Four suspects were arrested this morning in Westenburg outside Polokwane after the South African Police Service discovered a bakkie wrapped in snacks.
The bakkie, allegedly stolen in Gauteng was suspected to be enroute to the Zimbabwean border post.
Below are pictures of the bakkie:
This is a developing story. More details to follow.
MDC Alliance MP-elect for Zengeza West Constituency Job Sikhala has been accused of wrecking a marriage as he made his way back to the house of assembly recently.
Sikhala however, denied the claims.
“I don’t know anything about that. If there is anything relating to that (alleged love affair) make it known.
“I don’t know about it,” said Sikhala when contacted for comment.
Wiwa, as he is known in political circles, allegedly quenched his sexual appetite with Lydia Nyamidzi during 2018 harmonised election campaigns.
Lydia, 24, is a mother of two and married to Obey Bangizai, 28.
Sikhala said he did not know the woman although there are messages where a person understood to be him acknowledges knowing the woman.
In some of the messages, from a number known to have belonged to Sikhala, the person knows that Lydia was married when they refer to Bangizai as of low standing in society.
Lydia on Monday said she owed no one any explanation while threatening this journalist as well as sources of information.
“I don’t owe anyone any explanation. I will deal with you and your source,” she said.
Asked to comment on her request for ‘maiguru’s things’ from Sikhala, she said: “It is none of your business.
“I will deal with you.”
Bangisai and Lydia stays in Zengeza 2 which falls under Zengeza West Constituency where Sikhala was campaigning for the House of Assembly seat.
When the allegations surfaced, Lydia left her matrimonial home and went to the rural areas together with the couple’s two children.
Bangizai said his wife Nyamidzi had been having a secret phone at home where she would connect with Job and meet at Mubaiwa Hotel (formerly Hotel Nyamutamba) in Chitungwiza’s Zengeza 2 suburb.
“My wife could have met Job during campaigns and I later realized that my wife would go for campaigns with Job in the constituency.
“I firstly never knew what was happening because I would be at work,” said Bangizai who plaits hair for a living.
He said when he got wind of what was happening, Lydia confessed to have had been in love with Sikhala where they indulged in sex several times at Mubaiwa Hotel and at a lodge in town while Bangizai and Nyamidzi’s children were in Sikhala’s car.
“It is disheartening that my wife would go and meet Sikhala while I was at work and I used to respect Sikhala not knowing that he was seeing my wife behind my back.
“I took Job as a leader but he has ruined my marriage,” said Bangizai.
MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti is challenging his appearance before the Zimbabwean courts arguing that he was abducted from Zambia and there is a valid High Court order from Zambia where his matter for asylum was supposed to be heard.
Chief Law Officer Michael Reza led the arresting officer Chief Superintendent Nyabasa who maintained Biti was lawfully handed over to the police by ZIMRA officials after his repatriation from Zambia.
The matter continues tomorrow morning from 11am where the arresting officer will be cross-examined by Ms Beatrice Mtetwa.
Biti is being charged for contravening Section 36 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9.23 for public violence and also contravening Section 66 (a) (1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 2.13 for announcing unofficial results.
Last week Wednesday he crossed into Zambia in a bid to run away from justice and sought asylum which he was denied by the Zambian government that said his grounds were not worth the relief he sought.
He appeared in court on Fiday 10 August and was granted $5000 bail.
As part of his bail conditions, Biti was ordered to report twice a day to CID Law and Order and directed to surrender title deeds to his Chisipite house. – state media
By Mangosuthu Mbele| Nelson Chamisa’s court challenge is basically divided into two parts. The first argument is based mainly on the arithmetic/statistical errors (intentional or otherwise) comparing ZEC announced figures to the ZEC provided election results CD, the v11 and v23 forms. The second argument is based on the procedures followed by ZEC (and other interested parties) prior, during and after elections which might have compromised the election results.
MATHEMATICAL / STATISTICAL PROBLEMS.
Introduction
In the ZEC broadcast message of 3rd of August, Emmerson Mnangagwa was announced as having scored 50.8% of votes cast. The extra 0.8% gave him a win since a presidential candidate is declared a winner if they get 50% PLUS 1 vote. That 0.8%, in this case, represents about 30 000 votes. This means if it can be proven mathematically or otherwise that Mnangagwa fraudulently acquired 30 000 votes or more, then he cannot be declared the winner. Either the person who then reaches 50%plus line after recount becomes the president or there is a rerun for the top two candidates.
1…Unaccounted for results
According to ZEC 5 659 583 individuals were registered to vote. If 72% people voted (as alleged by ZEC) then around 4 032 000 people voted. However ZEC announced a total of 4 775 640 voters having exercised their right. This means 700 000 or so votes are unaccounted for.
2. CD information discrepancy
On announcing results, ZEC also gave the party representatives information on CDs. This information unfortunately differs with the one announced by ZEC on the national broadcaster e.g. in the CD 4 774 878 people voted yet ZEC announced on TV that 4 775 640 people voted.
3. Presidential and parliamentary total votes discrepancy
When a person enters the voting station, he is given three ballots to cast their vote: LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PARLIAMENTARY (House of assembly) and PRESIDENTIAL ballots. This means at any point during collating of votes, the presidential votes in total must be equal to the House of assembly total votes for a given area. This is inclusive of spoilt papers. If ever there is a discrepancy in the tally figures then further explanation must be given as to what happened at the polling station.
In the ZEC announced tally, presidential votes were more than house of assembly by 40 717 votes. This value was accounted for by 12 constituencies only out of 210.
4. Inflating and deflating of figures.
V11 forms are usedfor capturing information at the polling station. These v11 forms are then used to collate results which are entered in the v22 n v23 forms at ward and constituency command centers. However on looking at the v11 and v23 figures, apparently Chamisa’s votes were reduced by 19 722 while those of Emmerson Mnangagwa were increased by 10 343 votes.
5. Excess total voter more than registered voters in polling stations.
A Polling station, according to ZEC, is supposed to have at least 1 registered voter but not more than 1 000 voters. However Some polling stations brought returns of a plus a thousand votes. There are also some instances were more voters than the registered number ast thier vote.This discrepancy amounted to a total of 31 204 odd votes being gained mostly by Emmerson Mnangagwa.
ZBC current affairs interviewed one presiding officer in Mashonaland whose polling station had 600 odd registered voters yet he reported on camera that by 5pm “over 900 people had cast their vote.”
In some places e.g. Mashonaland central, over 400 000 votes were announced when in actual fact only 200 000 people voted. This means 200 000 votes were created.
6. Civil servants who didn’t vote
There are 40 000 plus civil servants, mostly teachers, whose right to vote was taken away by ZEC despite court ruling ordering ZEC to make sure all its officers on national duty vote. ZEC had employed over 130 000 officers for the voting process.
7. Double collation of results
There are some stations which were collated twice. Whether it was intentional, fatigue or a simple innocent mistake, this error caused an increase of 9 035 votes of which 7 703 were accorded to Mnangagwa.
8. 21 Polling station removed on polling day
On voting day, 21 polling stations were removed from ZEC list. No explanation given. New stations, whose location was secret until their returns came to command center, were created. These 21 ghost stations brought strange result with one station bringing a return of about 5 396 votes for Emmerson Mnangagwa (a figure well about the limit of 1000 voters per polling station).
9. Tempering with v11 forms
In one example of v11 tempering a v11 form for Gezi primary school had initially been completed with Mnangagwa having 9 votes. This was later changed by putting a 54 ahead of 9 making Mnangagwa’s tally to be 549. The total votes also was rubbed and clumsily amended to reflect the new tally.
PROCEDURAL ARGUMENTS:
These are arguments that mostly have to do with conduct of ZEC and other interested parties which may have directly or indirectly led to compromised results being announced.
1…Fair air play coverage:
Section 160G of electoral act states that “public broadcasters shall afford all political parties and independent candidates contesting an election FREE access to their broadcasting services as may be prescribed.” Chamisa feels the national broadcaster was unfair in its coverage. However ZEC, through its chair Chigumba had INSTRUCTED BAZ and ZMC to provide equal coverage to all political players after 14 June nomination court sitting.
To this effect, Chamisa claims that since over 60% of voters in rural areas receive information via ZBC, this breach has likewise a profound effect on electoral outlook as far as different political opinions are concerned.
2. Conduct of traditional leadership.
Section 281(2)(a) of the constitution of Zimbabwe states that traditional leaders must not be members of any political party or IN ANY WAY participate in partisan politics, further the interest of any political party or act in a partisan way. Chamisa brings to attention the breach of constitution by the traditional leaders where in some instances headman were logged in as polling agents for ZANU PF. He further alleges that in some instances village heads force marched people in a batches to vote.
3. Election SMS campaign messages.
Chamisa also puts into attention the unprofessional conduct of ZEC which he alleges gave ZANU PF access to BVR information which contained personal details of voters. This culminated in ZANU PF sending solicitation SMS to registered voters. This, he claims, was a breach of security and privacy on the voters which may have caused voter intimidation in some places.
4. Half-baked Voters roll supplied.
In regards to the BVR voters roll, Chamisa also brings to light that he was denied access to voters roll. On further inquiry he was given a half-baked voters roll which unfortunately was different from the one used on voting day.
5. Wearing of party regalia
He also alleges that on 5th of February 2018 (5 days after being appointed as chairperson of ZEC) Judge Priscilla Chigumba was photographed wearing a scarf (regalia used by one of the contestant Emmerson Mnangagwa). This he alleges shows the partisan approach of ZEC chair in its conduct.
6. Voter education
Chamisa brings to light the issue of voter education. He alleges ZEC ignored the case in which on the 26th and 27th of July several ZANU PF MPs were caught in possession of reams of sample ballot papers which ZANU PF has printed n distributed to its candidates for reasons unknown. Chamisa says there is accountability and proof that the ballot papers were used for educational purposes only as it was also possible some could be used for ballot stuffing.
7. Ballot paper design
On ballot paper design, Chamisa claims the design was in breach of section 3 (11) of Electoral Regulations SI 21/2005. He points out that such a design was done to give maximum advantage to one candidate only: Emmerson Mnangagwa.
8. v11 returns
On v11 returns, Chamisa brings to light the fact that only 79% (about 8678) polling stations out of 10 985 complied with requirement to affix v11 returns outside the polling stations.
9. Postal voting.
On postal voting, the electoral act states that anyone can apply for postal voting, but only uniformed forces need to apply via their commanding officer. Once approved, ZEC must send postal votes to each individual who must vote privately and post their ballot papers back to the national presiding officer. The national presiding officer would then send the postal votes together with rest of voting material to the respective polling stations.
This was not the case as officers as some police camps were turned into mini polling stations without zec knowledge and officers forced to vote in presence of their superiors. In some cases officers were given numbers before voting, numbers which corresponded with their ballot papers serial numbers.
10. Violence, threats
He also bring to light issues of violence, threats to citizens or loss of property especially in rural areas. This in most rural areas was coupled with partisan distribution of government farm inputs such as maize seed and fertilizer.
11. Announcement of unverified results
Chamisa also points out that the results announced on national broadcaster by Chigumba were not verified as his chief elections officer Komichi was dubbed by ZEC officials and kept waiting in a separate office while ZEC clandestinely announce the results without verification, as with the procedure.
12. Improper announcement of results
According to law, Chamisa claims, presidential results are announced by CONSTITUENCY and not by PROVINCE. ZEC announced presidential results by province, instead of by constituency as is mandated. The presidential results announcement were delegated to commissioners, Chamisa argues that it is against the law which states that “Chairperson of ZEC is the only one with mandate to announce election results.”
CONCLUSION:
With the above data and some which has been left out intentionally or otherwise, Chamisa is asking for nullification of ZEC declaration of Ed Mnangagwa as the winner. He seeks to be declare the winner if the new collated figured are above 50% plus 1 mark otherwise he seeks for a rerun.
Question is: Does Chamisa have a case? Can the figures topple ED from his throne? Will the judges give credible unbiased verdict?
ZPC Kariba FC are eager to punish inconsistent Harare Giants Dynamos when the two teams clash in a league encounter at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
Below are the match day 22 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Fixtures:
SATURDAY 18 AUGUST 2018:
Chicken Inn FC Vs Platinum Stars FC
(Luveve Stadium)
Nichrut FC Vs Highlanders FC (Ascot Stadium)
Herentals FC Vs Caps United (FC Rufaro Stadium)
FC Platinum VS Chapungu FC (Mandava Stadium)
Black Rhinos FC Vs Bulawayo City FC (National
Sports Stadium)
SUNDAY 19TH AUGUST 2018
Mutare City Rovers FC Vs Shabanie Mine FC
(Vengere Stadium)
Bulawayo Chiefs FC Vs Harare City FC (Luveve
Stadium)
Dynamos FC Vs ZPC Kariba FC (Rufaro Stadium)
Triangle United FC Vs Yadah FC (Gibbo Stadium)
All Matches kickoff at 1500 hours.
By Own Correspondent| Authorities here have suspended a nurse from employment after she allegedly criticised Zanu Pf for authoring the country’s agonising economic and political crisis.
In a letter written on 03 August 2018 to Senzeni Klaasen, Dr Lenos Samhere, the District Medical Officer at Beitbridge District Hospital accused the 47 year-old nurse, who is employed as Sister-In-Charge at Beitbridge District Hospital of misconduct after she was allegedly recorded in an audio clip circulated on social media uttering what hospital authorities considered to be some “abusive” words.
According to the purported audio clip, Klaasen allegedly accused Zanu Pf of causing the mass exodus of Zimbabweans who were going to neighbouring countries in search of greener pastures and seeking medical treatment in countries such as South Africa.
In suspending Klaasen, Samhere charged that he was implementing the provisions of the Health Service Regulations of 2006, which provides that a disciplinary authority may suspend from service a member who would have committed an act of misconduct or is subject to a criminal investigation or prosecution and whose continued attendance at work would seriously impair the proper administration or functioning of the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Meanwhile, Klaasen has engaged lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) after a Zimbabwe Republic Police officer reportedly called her relatives requesting to be furnished with information concerning the whereabouts of her children in a very suspicious manner.
In a letter written to the Officer in Charge at the Law and Order Section at Beitbridge Police Station, Klaasen’s lawyers Obey Shava and Tinomuda Shoko of ZLHR said they will hold a named police officer from the Law and Order Section at Beitbridge Police Station responsible should anything happen to their client’s children including their client, who has been receiving death threats from some unknown people.
Impressive Baroka FC winger Talent Chawapiwa won the Man of the match award in a 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old talented Zimbabwean was in top form yesterday, making crucial contributions from his flank despite his team failing to convert the crosses and setups he delivered especially in the second half. He also created numerous chances but couldn’t find the back of the net.
In a post-match interview with SuperSport TV, Chawapiwa who was receiving his second successive MOTM accolade lamented the Limpopo side’s finishing in front of goal.
“Firstly I want to thank God for today, it’s now the second (Man of the Match Award) in a row,” said Chawapiwa.
“Going back to the match I think in the second half we did better because of the instructions of the coach. The coach told us what we were not doing,” he said.
“That has been our main problem (scoring goals). In every game we get so many chances but our finishing is very poor. I think we’re going to work on it in the upcoming games,” he added.
By Own Correspondent| State witness Chief Superitendent Jealous Nyabasa today (Wednesday) told the court that MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti’s arrest at Chirundu border post was lawful as it was done on the Zimbabwean side.
Superitendent Nyabasa said this while responding to prosecutor Michael Reza where Biti appeared for his trial for contravening Section 36 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9.23 for public violence and also contravening Section 66 (a) (1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 2.13 for announcing unofficial results.
Said Nyabasa:
“The accused was properly arrested while he was on the Zimbabwe side and brought to court in Harare ten hours after his arrest.
Arresting the accused without a warrant does not remove the lawfulness of his arrest.
From Chirundu to Harare we only stopped in Karoi to check tyre pressure.”
Responding to whether the police confiscated the accused persons’ mobile phone and switched it off, Nyabasa said this was done to protect him since he had indicated that he was receiving threatening messages from a Zambian number.
“His rights were clearly spelt out to him. However, we had two reasons for not allowing the accused to use his mobile phone to make phone calls.
The accused was saying he was receiving threatening messages from a Zambian mobile number so it was prudent to switch his phone off, and uphold his safety.”
The matter is set to continue tomorrow at 11:15hrs at Harare Magistrates court.
ZPC Kariba FC are eager to punish inconsistent Harare Giants Dynamos when the two teams clash in a league encounter at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
Below are the match day 22 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Fixtures:
SATURDAY 18 AUGUST 2018:
Chicken Inn FC Vs Platinum Stars FC
(Luveve Stadium)
Nichrut FC Vs Highlanders FC (Ascot Stadium)
Herentals FC Vs Caps United (FC Rufaro Stadium)
FC Platinum VS Chapungu FC (Mandava Stadium)
Black Rhinos FC Vs Bulawayo City FC (National
Sports Stadium)
SUNDAY 19TH AUGUST 2018
Mutare City Rovers FC Vs Shabanie Mine FC
(Vengere Stadium)
Bulawayo Chiefs FC Vs Harare City FC (Luveve
Stadium)
Dynamos FC Vs ZPC Kariba FC (Rufaro Stadium)
Triangle United FC Vs Yadah FC (Gibbo Stadium)
All Matches kickoff at 1500 hours.
Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is already performing the duties of a head of state in spite of the fact that nation is still waiting for the Constitutional Court’ s verdict.
Mnangagwa will officiate at the burial of Thokozile Mathuthu on Sunday. Mnangagwa has also officiated at the Heroes Day and Defence Forces commemorations on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu yesterday said Mathuthu’s burial had been tentatively set for Sunday following consultations with her family.
Mathuthu(61) died on Monday at her home in Harare and was declared a national heroine. Mathuthu’s body will leave Harare on Thursday for Hwange where it will lie in state at her house and the body will be flown to Bulawayo on Friday to give people in the country’s second largest city an opportunity to bid farewell
to Mathuthu.
The final prayer service for Mathuthu will be held on Saturday by the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Harare ahead of burial on Sunday, according to government sources.
Former radio and television presenter Ezra Tshisa Sibanda has described the killing of innocent citizens by armed soldiers as very unfortunate and regrettable.
Sibanda said although soldiers were hailed for removing Robert Mugabe from office they “spoiled their reputation when they opened fire on innocent civilians.”
” ZNA troops did well when they removed Mugabe but messed up by killing
Soldiers Beat Up Civilian In Harare Protest
protesters. Now get back
to your barracks and sleep,” said Sibanda.
Six people died when soldiers opened fire on protesters in the capital, Harare two weeks ago.
Members of the apostolic sect aligned to the ruling party Zanu PF have congratulated Emmerson Mnangagwa following his disputed win in the July 30 polls.
Mnangagwa was controversially declared the winner of the hotly contested plebiscite prompting the MDC Alliance to challenge the results at the Constitutional Court.
In a statement, Council of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe (CACZ) president Bishop Clement Chisango congratulated Zanu-PF candidate
Emmerson Mnangagwa for winning the 2018 presidential election.
“Bishop Chisango hereby congratulates His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa for winning the
July 30, 2018 Presidential election. We wish you and your party, Zanu-PF, a successful and progressive five-year mandate bestowed upon you in
accordance with the Constitution of
Zimbabwe by the people of Zimbabwe,” reads
MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti has sensationally alleged that agents
working for the coalition were sexually abused by soldiers after refusing to sign new V11 forms.
Speaking in court, Biti said said female MDC Alliance election agents were sexually abused by soldiers as a way of punishing them for refusing to sign new V 11 forms.
” I felt that the regime – which had had just seven months in office had
escalated the abuses. There was
massive onslaught on our election
agents. In Buhera, a woman was raped after refusing to sign a V11
form. We also received reports of
onslaughts on our people being
sodomised and raped across the
country specifically in Mutoko, but
nothing has been done by law
enforcement agents in those respects.
I have been a rights lawyer and activist since 1999 and over the years, arrested on countless
occasions. My house has been
bombed twice but this time the levels
of attack are unprecedented,” said Biti.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces did not comment on the allegations. Biti is facing up to 10 years in jail if he is convicted of unlawfully announcing results of the July 30 polls election and inciting public violence.
Christine Hallquist, a former utility executive from Vermont, a Democrat, made history of her own. She became the first transgender candidate to be nominated for a governorship by a major party, beating three other candidates in Vermont’s Democratic primary, according to The Associated Press.
“Tonight, we made history,” Ms. Hallquist said, addressing supporters at an election night party in Burlington. She added, “I am so proud to be the face of the Democrats tonight.”
It is a remarkable milestone, even for an election year already dominated by an influx of women and a record number of candidates who identify as lesbian, gay, transgender or queer.
“Christine’s victory is a defining moment in the movement for trans equality and is especially remarkable given how few out trans elected officials there are at any level of government,” said Annise Parker, the chief executive of the L.G.B.T.Q. Victory Fund, which trains and supports gay and transgender candidates, in a statement on Tuesday evening.
“Yet Vermont voters chose Christine not because of her gender identity, but because she is an open and authentic candidate with a long history of service to the state, and who speaks to the issues most important to voters.”
Ms. Hallquist was not the only transgender candidate on the ballot in the country in recent days. In Hawaii on Saturday, Kim Coco Iwamoto, a lawyer, lost her bid to be the Democrats’ nominee for lieutenant governor.
And more transgender candidates will be on the ballot soon, including Alexandra Chandler, a former naval intelligence analyst who is running in Massachusetts’s Third District.
Ms. Chandler is trying to differentiate herself in a crowded congressional primary in early September by emphasizing both her national security bona fides and the historic nature of her candidacy. “I’m running for Congress,” she said in a recent campaign video, “to be a voice for trans kids out there.”
The Democratic primary in Vermont was a fairly sleepy affair, with no big-name contenders to block a first-time candidate like Ms. Hallquist. But from here, her path to the governor’s office could be a narrow one, even though she is a Democrat running in a deeply progressive state. She faces a Republican incumbent, Phil Scott, who is running for his second term with history on his side — Vermonters have not thrown out an incumbent governor since 1962. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the seat as “solid Republican.”
Mr. Scott’s popularity fell, however, especially among conservatives, after he signed gun control measures this year. Still, a poll in July by public media organizations in the state found two-thirds of Vermonters supported the law, and nearly half of Democrats had a favorable opinion of Mr. Scott. Only 18 percent of Democratic respondents in the same poll said they had a favorable opinion of Ms. Hallquist, and 55 percent did not yet know who she was.
That may change now that Ms. Hallquist is the nominee, and she is likely to draw national attention — and fund-raising dollars — because of the historic potential of her candidacy. “She’ll raise more money and her message will get out there more,” said Eric Davis, an emeritus professor at Vermont’s Middlebury College. “Even if she doesn’t get elected governor, the greatest contribution of her campaign could be to raise awareness about the issues transgender people face.”
Before she ran for governor, Ms. Hallquist spent 12 years as the chief executive of the Vermont Electric Cooperative, an in-state power utility that she helped to bring back from near ruin. Her transition from male to female took place in 2015, while she was at the helm of the company, and was the subject of a documentary film made by her son.
As a candidate, she made it part of her stump speech, drawing knowing laughs from her female supporters at a fund-raiser this summer as she talked about what it was like to experience life as a woman for the first time.
“I remember the first time after transitioning, a stranger walking by told me to smile — I’m like, ‘Who the heck are you to tell me to smile?’” Ms. Hallquist said. “What my transition has taught me is just how far we have to go.”
But she also emphasized her experience with energy and infrastructure, and made speeding up internet access, which lags in some rural parts of the state, a key campaign pledge. Previous governors have made similar promises, but failed to fully deliver. On Tuesday night, she also called for progressive keystones like universal Medicare and stemming climate change.
Ms. Hallquist — who voted for Mr. Scott in 2016, according to the newsweekly Seven Days — also sought to tie her victory to the broader Democratic backlash against President Trump.
“This,” she said, “is a reaction to 2016.”
With 96 percent of precincts reporting by late Tuesday night, Ms. Hallquist had easily beaten a Democratic field of other little-known candidates, including Ethan Sonneborn, a 14-year-old who garnered 8 percent of the vote.
In a statement, the Republican Governors Association posted an image of Ms. Hallquist and called her “wrong for Vermont.”
Vermont is a socially liberal state that in 2000 became the first in the nation to establish civil unions, and Ms. Hallquist’s gender identity seemed to fade into the background for many voters.
Deborah Billado, the chairwoman of the state’s Republican Party, suggested it would not figure into the general election in a major way.
“I’m not sure why that plays a part in this — we’re talking about two human beings that are running for an office,” Ms. Billado said, referring to Ms. Hallquist and Mr. Scott. “I think that’s as far as the conversation should go.”
By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has come under fire for failing to acknowledge and apologise for the loss of six lives following the opening of live ammunition on civilians by soldiers in protests which rocked Harare on August 1 2018.
Citizens urged Mnangagwa to stop sugarcoating the murder of innocent civilians by soldiers and shifting blame to opposition MDC Alliance if the new administration was indeed a “new dispensation” which was serious about turning around the country’s economic fortunes.
CAPE TOWN – The Northern Cape High Court has handed a triple life sentence to a child rapist.
Moses Monnapula, aged 45, was found guilty of two counts of kidnapping and three counts of rape.
In 2015, Monnapula held two children, aged six and eight, captive in his shack in Galeshewe, in Kimberley.
He held them for over 24 hours and raped them. Community members rescued the girls the following day, after receiving a tip-off on their whereabouts.
During sentencing proceedings, Judge Vernon Smith said Monnapula showed no remorse for his crimes.
The police’s Olebogeng Tawana says: “As the police, we’ll leave no stone unturned regarding the suspects who traumatise and persecute women and children. We’re putting measures in place to ensure women and children are safe and protected.
President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed the Shop Licenses Amendment Bill, 2018, into law.
The new law will enable local authorities to issue shop licences quickly and efficiently thereby encouraging domestic and foreign investment as well as revenue collection.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda gave notice of the enactment of the law in Friday’s Government Gazette.
“The following law, which was assented to by His Excellency the President, is published in terms of section 131 (6) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe — Shop Licenses Amendment Act, 2018 (No. 8 of 2018),” reads the gazette.
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Former Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda had on July 26 given notice that the Shop Licences Amendment Bill, 2018, had been transmitted to Mnangagwa for his assent and signature.
The Act amends the Shop Licences Act so that any person who operates more than one vending machine on any premises, the licensing authority shall issue one vending licence in respect of the vending machines on such premises.
The Act also relaxes duration of licence, fees and penalties.
VULTURES in the MDC led by Nelson Chamisa have reportedly started plotting to topple him ahead of the opposition party’s elective congress next year.
Highly-placed sources said there was a group of insiders who felt hard done by the MDC Alliance, which saw them losing power to party returnees, especially Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube and would want to push out Chamisa so that they reclaim lost power.
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Those against Chamisa are already proposing party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora as their candidate ahead of the 2019 congress to elect a leader following the death of founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai in February this year.
“The plan is premised on two pillars, one to blame Chamisa and the alliance for failing to deal with double nominations, which allowed Zanu PF to get a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and, secondly, to ramp up pressure on Chamisa by blaming his electoral defeat at the hands of Zanu PF on his campaign blunders,” the source said.
Those pushing for Mwonzora have already set up social media accounts pushing his 2019 agenda (It’s Mwonzora’s time), paving way for an internal bruising battle that could see another split in the party.
Daggers have already been drawn against Mwonzora, forcing him to take court action against media reports that linked him to the plot to oust Chamisa.
Chamisa’s backers have, however, said they were prepared to support him to stay in power and would mobilise the party base to retain him.
Youth secretary for security and Mabvuku incoming legislator, James Chidhakwa said the youth remained firmly behind Chamisa.
“Democracy will allow people to contest at the 2019 congress. That is what will happen, but make no mistake, for the youth, we are clear that he remains our choice. He ran a campaign that was second to none, performed better than all our candidates in all constituencies and won this election with little funding and overwhelming opposition. It is, therefore, clear that he is our best foot forward,” Chidhakwa said.
Party spokesperson Tabitha Khumalo said she was unaware of the jostling or any moves to dethrone Chamisa.
“I have not heard about it and I don’t know about it, so I can’t comment on that issue,” she said. Mwonzora was not immediately available for comment as he was said to have left his phone in Harare while he travelled to the rural areas, but he has since distanced himself from the reported jostling. “It (links to the ouster of Chamisa) also set up the plaintiff against his colleagues in the MDC Alliance,” Mwonzora said in summons against the The Herald.
By Own Correspondent| Zanu Pf President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legal team this morning successfully filed their opposing papers to Nelson Chamisa’s presidential poll petition challenging the July 30 results which declared Mnangagwa as winner.
MDC Alliance leader, Chamisa has approached the Constitutional court alleging that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) manipulated the presidential election results in favour of President Mnangagwa.
After filing the notice of opposition, Zanu-PF’s secretary for legal affairs Paul Mangawana said that the Chamisa’s challenge was based on speculation and not facts.
He also said that the application did not comply with the results of the Constitutional Court and promised to make the opposition eat humble pie.
One of the lead members of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s defence team, Advocate Lewis Uriri descibed Chamisa’s application as “political rhetoric packaged in an affidavit” which will be dismissed.
Said Uriri,
“They are no more than clowns coming to court to play a game that ought to be played elsewhere.
This is a waste of the time of the people of Zimbabwe, yet it is their right to be heard,”
By Own Correspondent| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has revealed that Zimbabwe remains “Open For Business” despite attempts by the USA to continue imposing sanctions on the country and punish citizens over “a mistake which can be corrected”.
VP Chiwenga said the new administration led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa would continue engaging and taking on board progressive nations willing to work with Zimbabwe in fulfilling its “Zimbabwe Is Open For Business” mantra.
JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir last week promoted his wife Mary Ayen to the rank of a major general in the army, according to the military.
The order issued by President Kiir, who is also the commander in chief of the SPLA army, did not specify what duties the First Lady would have in her new assignment as an army general.
Two other women were promoted from Brigadier to Major General in the army.
SPLA army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang confirmed that the women were promoted on 27 July.
“The promoted female officers are from Shield One and Shied two in the SPLA. They actually joined the movement since 1983 and they are from the Women’s Battalion known as Katiba Banat,” Lul said.
“General Nyankiir and General Aluel have also been promoted to the rank of a Major General,” he added.
Lul further said the promotions were based on merit and capacity.” It is the first time for female officers to be promoted to the rank of a major general,” he said. – News Agencies
By Own Correspondent| Failure by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to take responsibility and apologise for the deaths of at least 6 civilians after soldiers used live bullets on civilians and bystanders while dispersing opposition supporters who were protesting for presidentual election results exposes Mnangagwa’s irresponsible and untruthful behaviour.
MDC Alliance spokesperson Welshman Ncube dismissed Mnangagwa’s claims shifting blame on opposition as being responsible for the deaths arguing that the Alliance cannot be responsible since it does not have an army.
Said Ncube,
“Even in war-torn countries like Syria or Israel, nothing like that happens. How does he blame the MDC Alliance when we did not kill anyone? Did we shoot at anyone?
Do we have an army to kill? He is being irresponsible and untruthful. It is utter nonsense. Even in war countries like Syria, that does not happen.
We expected him to apologise at least and do so unreservedly.”
ZIMBABWEAN authorities have arrested two MDC Alliance party members taking the number of people arrested for allegedly participating in protests staged in Harare early this month over delays in announcing the results of harmonised elections to 31.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers arrested Last Vambe on Saturday 11 August 2018 and Jeff Chaitezvi on Monday 13 August 2018 and charged them with public violence as defined in section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors accused Vambe and Chaitezvi, who appeared at Harare Magistrates Court on Monday 13 August 2018, of participating in a demonstration held on 01 August 2018 in Harare to protest the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s management of the harmonised elections held on 30 July 2018, which reportedly resulted in the destruction of property and left six people dead after they were shot by some members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
Vambe and Chaitezvi, who were represented by Gift Mtisi and Kossam Ncube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights were granted $50 bail by Harare Magistrate Francis Mapfumo, who ordered them to report once a week at Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station, reside at their given residential addresses and not to interfere with state witnesses.
The arrest of Vambe and Chaitezvi brings the number of people arrested in connection with the elections protest to 31 including Tendai Biti, one of the MDC Alliance party leaders, David Zvavamwe Shambare, Shadreck Mashayamombe, Tapiwa Joni, Ngonidzashe Makazhu, Michael Mheta, Simbarashe Mujeye, Judith Chacha, Lilian Mahosi, Anna Chezhira, Angeline Mukoki, Agatha Mubaiwa, Chancellor Nyamande, Livenice Kachana, Tichaona Daniel, Farai Nyamhunga, Mercy Mataramvura, Munyaradzi Chibanda, Samson Nerwande, Raymond Machakaire, Tapiwa Naume Khamu, Tendai Torerwa, Christopher Nikisi, Tonderai Chakona, Justin Mugashu, Simbarashe Zvobgo, Trymore Mubaiwa, Searchmore Mutegude and Kudakwashe Katunhu, who are all out of custody on bail.
By Own Correspondent| Failure by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to apologise for the deaths of at least 6 civilians after soldiers used live bullets on civilians and bystanders while dispersing opposition supporters who were protesting reflects that he is irresponsible and untruthful, MDC Alliance spokesperson Welshman Ncube has said.
Ncube dismissed Mnangagwa’s claims that the opposition was reaponaible for the deaths of the 6 people adding that the Alliance never pulled the trigger neither did it kill anyone.
Said Ncube,
“Even in war-torn countries like Syria or Israel, nothing like that happens. How does he blame the MDC Alliance when we did not kill anyone? Did we shoot at anyone?
Do we have an army to kill? He is being irresponsible and untruthful. It is utter nonsense.
Even in war countries like Syria, that does not happen.
We expected him to apologise at least and do so unreservedly.”
Gweru Residents Forum Statement|The Gweru Residents Forum notes with concern the outbreak of typhoid in some of areas of high density of Mkoba which has claimed over 9 lives so far and over 300 have received medical attention .In this context the outbreak has been experienced in areas of Mkoba 13, 15, 18, 19 and 20. Reports emanating from Gweru City town house points to the notion that the source of the Typhoid outbreak cannot be clearly pointed out. However some unconfirmed reports from the Town house suggest that there was contamination of one of the council pumped water pipes in Mkoba which mixed with raw sewerage and hence people drank that sewerage and the water which was now fed with excess chlorine which has led to the current state of affairs that we are currently grappling with in Gweru.
They are high expectations that in the typhoid crisis that we are currently experiencing there be a coordinated approach towards addressing the problem between Gweru City council(GCC), Ministry of Health and child welfare(MOHCW) ,technical partners ,residents’ associations and the communities. What we are witnessing now is the issue of finger pointing and blame game between the council and the government (Ministry of Health) which is worrisome considering the magnitude of the problem beforehand. The public service delivery infrastructure including water roads, sewerage and refuse collection that Gweru City council is using cannot cope with the urban housing expansion that has been witnessed over the last five years. Equally state land that have been parceled out by land hawks for expansion purposes without the involvement of Gweru City as land sale revenue has greatly contributed to the crisis .This has led to the failure by Gweru City Council to cope with the demand for public services because the resources to expand the service delivery infrastructure was not availed to the local authority .The GRF is of the conviction that there was need for central government to parcel out the land to Gweru City Council for proper planning and investment in public services infrastructure to avoid such challenges and to expand the public service infrastructure in line with the population and housing development within Gweru City.
The GRF urges the central government through the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and Gweru City council and all stakeholders to find common ground and tackle the typhoid crisis head on and desists from accusations and counter accusations on the responsibility of the current situation that we find ourselves as residents. This should be done in line with the provisions in Part II, III, V, VI of the Public Health Act Chapter 15:09
The GRF reiterates the position of the general citizens of Gweru that:
– No to prepaid water meters
– No to arbitrary water disconnections by council employees
– Increase public health awareness programs in partnership with residents associations in sensitizing the residents on the typhoid outbreak.
– Improve public engagement forums to disseminate accurate information to residents rather than the speculation on vital health information that is currently being experienced.
By Own Correspondent| Trouble is brewing in the MDC T faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe following revelations by the national chairperson Abednico Bhebhe which portrayed the just ended polls as far from free and fair.
In an interview with a local online publication, Bhebhe differed with his party president’s view that the elections were free and fair saying the elections were rigged in Nkayi South where he lost his bid to retain his seat to Zanu-PF’s Stars Mathe.
Bhebhe also complained about vote buying and abuse of food aid by Zanu PF.
Said Bhebhe:
“In Nkayi South, we witnessed covert and very sophisticated rigging machinery. For example, there were a lot of people who voted whom we did not know where they had come from.
Social welfare food was used to buy votes for Zanu PF. Food manipulation played a very important role in Zanu PF’s victory in this election.”-NewZimbabwe.
A recent research has revealed that aspirin could significantly reduce inflammation associated with contracting HIV.
The pilot study, which was conducted by researchers from Manitoba, Waterloo and Nairobi universities, in addition to the Public Health Agency of Canada said, however, that it would take further studies and research to prove that aspirin, a cheap and widely used drug, was another effective tool for HIV prevention.
They warned that they were not yet suggesting that taking aspirin would prevent transmission of the disease until further research was carried out.
Since the early 1990s, researchers have been aware that HIV infection was associated with excessive inflammation.
Some researchers suspected that HIV-related inflammation weakened the immune system in particular and the body in general. One known drug that can partially reduce inflammation is aspirin.
For six weeks, the women were given either aspirin or hydroxychloroquine, another anti-inflammatory drug. The low dosage of aspirin was similar to the amount commonly used for long-term prevention of cardiovascular disease.
At no point in the study were the women exposed to HIV. Instead, researchers wanted to look at whether taking either of the drugs could lower the number of HIV target cells in the women’s female genital tracts.
The researchers’ hypothesis was that, by lowering activated immune cells – the cells proven to be more at risk of HIV infection – they could potentially lower the risk of the infection.
After six weeks on the drugs, researchers found that women who took aspirin saw those HIV target cells drop by 35%. Those taking hydroxychloroquine also saw a significant drop.
The findings were particularly promising, researchers said, because the number of HIV target cells among women who took aspirin were close to the number of HIV target cells among a unique group of Kenyan sex workers who, despite being regularly exposed to HIV, remain uninfected.
The study’s lead author Keith Fowke, head of the University of Manitoba’s department of medical microbiology and infectious diseases, said further research was needed to determine whether aspirin’s level of target cell reduction may actually prevent HIV infections.
“We just need to have the evidence that tells people that in addition to taking other HIV prevention measures, you could add onto that using aspirin,” Fowke said.
Kenneth Omollo, a PhD student with the University of Nairobi, who worked on the study, said the promising findings could make a major difference in his home country.
“It is a huge concern and there is a lot of efforts being put to towards halting new infections and getting those who are already infected on treatment,” he said.
FORMER Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko is yet to receive his pension, despite government undertaking to settle it four months ago.
Mphoko’s lawyer Welshman Ncube said his client, who still has his State security aides and government vehicles, has not yet been paid his monthly benefits, despite the State acknowledging that it was obliged to pay him.
“The irony of this issue is that what they had agreed to pay; they are not paying, but what they had refused to take responsibility for, they are doing it. I am talking about security details and the likes and yet they are still to pay him his pension, which is equivalent to a salary of a sitting Vice-President. We will take up the matter once these election issues are over,” Ncube said.
Mphoko lost his post last November after the military deposed former President Robert Mugabe and since then, his lawyers have been fighting to get the State to pay his pension.
Section 102 of the Zimbabwe Constitution stipulates that: “A person who has ceased to be President or Vice-President is entitled to receive a pension equivalent to the salary of a sitting President or Vice-President, as the case may be; and such allowances and other benefits as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament.”
Section 103 adds that: “The President and Vice-Presidents, and any former President or Vice-President, must not, directly or indirectly, hold any other public office or be employed by anyone else while they are in office or are receiving a pension from the State as former President or Vice-President, as the case may be.”
Besides his fat monthly pension payout, Mphoko is entitled to State security, an office and a government vehicle.
His former boss, Mugabe, has been given his constitutional benefits, but the latter claims that his pension benefits were far below expectation.
Former Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Jason Machaya has been further remanded to August 27 for the setting of his trial date on allegations which include abuse of office.
He appeared before Gweru magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa on Friday last week.
Machaya is on $1 000 bail.
The State’s case is that Machaya, who was employed as the Minister of Provincial Affairs for Midlands Province by the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, thus being a public officer, did and inconsistent with his duties intentionally allocated State land totalling 17 799 stands to land developers. This was despite the fact that he did not have any lawful responsibility to allocate State land to the developers in question, which is the sole responsibility of the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
Machaya, the court heard, further received 1 791 commonage stands from the land developers which constituted 18 percent of the total stands on the allocated State land.
It is further alleged that he did and inconsistent with his duties, disposed of 1 185 of the commonage stands, which could only be allocated and distributed by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
Machaya allegedly further allocated 192 commonage stands to the Apostolic Christian Church of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) when he did not have the power to do so.
Mr Andrew Marimo appeared for the State.
Appearing before the same court were the now Mashonaland West provincial administrator, Cecilia Chitiyo, who was Midlands provincial administrator, Gweru district administrator and five other senior Government officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for Midlands province facing charges of criminal abuse of office.
Chitiyo (50) is being accused together with Matilda Manhambo (59), Sherpard Marweyi (48), Sifelani Moyo (59), Ethel Mlalazi (65), Chisainyerwa Chibhururu (47) and Everest Nyamadzawo (33).
The seven, who are all on $200 bail each, have applied to be removed from remand.
Ms Maphosa deferred the case to Wednesday for judgment.
It is the State’s case that Chitiyo allegedly intentionally allocated State land totalling 4 469 stands to land developers by co-signing the offer letters for the transaction.
Manhambo, who is employed as the provincial projects officer by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for Midlands province, also allegedly intentionally allocated 2 000 stands to land developers.
Similarly, Marweyi, who is the district administrator for Gweru, allegedly intentionally allocated 5 199 stands to land developers. – State Media
Brazilian Student Danielle Breene is auctioning her virginity online to the highest bidder in order to pay her debts and buy a house for her mother and younger sister.
The 22-year-old student has revealed she is hoping to make £750K from selling her virginity online to the highest bidder despite being ‘very shy’, and never having been on a date.
Danielle was inspired to take extreme measures to tackle her growing debts after reading about other girls who have done the same.
Although completely confident she’s making the right decision, Danielle – who is concealing her face to protect her family – told Femail: ‘I’m a little anxious, and I’m nervous about how things are going to be, after all, it’s my first time.
‘I’ve never dated and I’m very shy. I hope the winner be a kind and polite person, a gentleman.’
Danielle hasn’t told her family what she’s doing and is obscuring her face to protect them. Only her best friend knows about the auction, and will be her point of contact on the day to make sure she’s safe
Danielle revealed her main motivation behind the drastic step is financial security.
‘I study and work part time. The money that I make doesn’t cover the expenses and the cost of living in my country is very difficult. I have debts that only grow,’ she explained.
‘I will use the money to buy a home to live with my mom and my little sister, pay our debts and also pay my student loans that I would probably take a lot of years to pay.
‘I also want to invest in my career building my own business, to secure my future. I hope with this I’ll be able to provide a life without financial difficulties for my family.’
The student has never dated and describes herself as ‘very shy’ but is confident that auctioning her virginity online to the highest bidder is the right decision for her.
The student has never dated and describes herself as ‘very shy’ but is confident that auctioning her virginity online to the highest bidder is the right decision for her.
Since setting up her website in June, Danielle has received two serious bids, the highest being for £220,000.
She’s hoping to attract an offer of £750 000, and says she won’t agree to anything unless she feels assured of her safety.
‘The auction is something I’ve been thinking about for several months, I’ve done a lot of research and I’m taking everything very carefully.
‘I expect to reach £750,000. It would be the best thing that could happen to me. Let’s see how it flows.
‘For the day of the meeting, I’m going to have a bodyguard. Security is very important to me, and I’m taking all the necessary precautions for this.
Danielle intends to hire security on the day she meets the winning bidder to have sex for the first time and insists that staying safe is her top priority.
“I also have my trustworthy person, and I will periodically report that I am well, where I am and with whom I am.
‘Being secure is a worry, so I put rules on the site that favour my security, and the bidder’s as well. Nothing will happen until everything is in order.’
Danielle’s family don’t know about the auction, but she has confided in her best friend.
‘She was a little nervous when I told her because she cares about my safety,’ she said.
‘I have explained to her all the precautions I will take to make everything happen safely and to I won’t be duped. She gives me support when I need to talk about it. She is my trustworthy person.’
Danielle says she has no qualms about negative comments about her decision and says that people’s opinions aren’t going to pay her bills.
One thing Danielle isn’t concerned about is the potential impact on future relationships.
‘I do not have to tell anyway, I can either make up a story or just tell the truth, and if he does not like it, he’s just not the guy for me,’ she explained.
‘I also do not care what people are going to say. The only thing I care about is my family reaction.
‘The mean comments I receive are not going to pay my bills and solve my problems. I don’t regret this decision and I’m fine with it.’
MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa reneged on his earlier pledge to attend all State functions, and chose to stay away from both the Heroes’ Day and Defence Forces Day commemorations in the past two days, saying he was “mourning” alleged theft of his election victory.
Chamisa, who took over from Tsvangirai, announced that they would be attending State functions, a complete shift of policy from his predecessor, the now late Morgan Tsvangirai who accused Zanu PF of conflating State events to Zanu PF functions.
Chamisa went on to attend the Independence Day celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in April this year and also encouraged his supporters countrywide to also attend national events. However, after the July 30 harmonised elections, Chamisa boycotted the Heroes’ Day and the Defence Forces Day celebrations.
Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said the current situation, emanating from the disputed elections, had made them shelve their policy for now.
“We are in the middle of a disputed election and, as such, the things we can do are conditioned by that, our context. When conditions allow, the president will maintain his decision. We are monitoring the environment and it doesn’t allow for that,” he said.
Zimbabwean former president Robert Mugabe’s late wife Sally and his sister Sabina’s graves were reportedly “abandoned” after “no single relative appeared to have turned up to visit them” on Monday during the country’s Heroes Day celebrations.
The two graves used to be the “centre of attraction” during the annual National Heroes’ Day commemorations presided over by the now ousted leader.
Thousands of Zimbabweans gathered at the country’s national shrine the Heroes Acre in Harare on Monday, as they celebrated the men and women who fought for the liberation of Zimbabwe, SABC reported.
The all-important day for the southern African country was the first not to be presided over by Mugabe, and took place after Zimbabwe’s historic 2018 elections.
The former ruler’s absence at the event was visibly seen, as the grave of his late wife Sally – who died in 1992 – was among the deserted ones.
In previous years, Sally and Sabina’s graves were at the centre of the country’s Heroes Day commemoration as the Mugabes would take time to visit and lay huge bouquets of flowers while his aides cheered.
It remained unclear whether the Mugabes would chose a different day to honour their loved ones as the former leader had made it clear that he was unhappy with the country’s new leadership.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa was the main speaker at this year’s commemorations.
Mnangagwa called on the country to move on from its disputed election, despite his victory being challenged in court over alleged fraud and his inauguration delayed.
“It’s now time to put the election period behind us and embrace the future,” the president-elect said.
“The task facing us today is a great one,” he added.
Zanu PF Marondera Central losing parliamentary candidate Cleopas Kundiona yesterday stunned residents and motorists as he went around mounting fresh campaign banners for President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa along the Harare-Mutare Road, saying they should remain visible long after the July 30 polls.
The educationist-cum-politician moved around town with some youths and erected canvas banners inscribed ED Pfee and #EDHasMyVote along the highway and on the way to Rudhaka Stadium where people gathered for the Defence Forces Day commemorations.
Kundiona, who lost to opposition MDC Alliance’s Caston Matewo, said he would continue marketing Mnangagwa even after the polls.
“This is about the Heroes Day holidays, ED (Mnangagwa) is the leader, and he is the President. The ED Pfee juggernaut is not going to stop, it is here to stay, it is moving,” he said.
Kundiona and Zanu PF’s Goromonzi South candidate Petronella Kagonye, were the only ruling party candidates who lost the election in Mashonaland East province, where the party won 23 constituencies.
declare a new winner, or order fresh polls- Reuters
moving forward as a country,” added Mnangagwa.
some of the Presidential candidates
asked for sanctions to be imposed on the people of
public violence.
