President Emmerson Mnangagwa has suspended from office the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Professor Levi Nyagura (pictured) who is facing charges of criminal abuse of office.

Professor Nyagura (72) is accused of facilitating the awarding of a ‘fake’ PhD degree to former First Lady Grace Mugabe.

IN a letter signed by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr. Misheck Sibanda and dated Thursday 16 August 2018, Nyagura is suspended with immediate effect and with full benefits pending the finalisation of his case.

Reads the letter: “The suspension is in terms of section 340 (1) (f) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, read together with section 28 of the Interpretation Act and is with immediate effect with full benefits.”

Nyagura was arrested in February 2018 arrested for alleged criminal abuse of office for his role in the awarding of the degree to the former first lady. Harare magistrate Tilda Mazhande was told Nyagura single-handedly accepted the wife of former president Robert Mugabe’s application to study for the PhD without the knowledge of the UZ’s sociology department.

Prosecutor Oscar Madhume said in 2011 Nyagura approved Ntombizodwa G Marufu (Grace’s maiden name) application without the knowledge and recommendations of the departmental board and faculty of higher degrees committee in violation of UZ quality assurance guidelines and benchmark.

He said during the same period, Nyagura appointed Professor Claude Mararike and Professor Chaneta to supervise Grace without the knowledge and approval of the department.

Nyagura is accused of usurping the powers of the UZ senate by single-handedly appointing examiners for Mugabe’s research in violation of the UZ Act chapter 25:16 and Ordinance 1998/99.

Nyagura allegedly led supervisors and examiners to Mugabe’s Mazowe orphanage, where the defence oral examination was purportedly done without the knowledge and approval of the academic committee while in actual fact the examination is supposed to be done at the UZ premises.

The prosecution alleged that during the same year, Nyagura recommended to Mugabe that Grace should be awarded the PhD.

This was allegedly done without the knowledge of the UZ council and academic committee.

The sociology department distanced itself from both the candidate and awarding of the degree as it was done without their knowledge. Prosecutors said Grace did not meet the minimum requirements to study for the degree.

Nyagura, who is represented by advocate Lewis Uriri, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to March 5 on $200 bail.

As part of his bail conditions, Nyagura was ordered not to interfere with State witnesses who include lecturers.

Newsday

Veritus Publication|Remedies Open to Dissatisfied National Assembly and Local Council Candidates

Challenges to National Assembly and local authority election results are matters for the Electoral Court alone. If an unsuccessful candidate believes that he or she should have won, or that the election in the constituency/ward was so flawed that it should be nullified and re-run, that candidate has a limited choice of remedies:

a request to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC] for a recount where the only complaint is that votes were miscounted
Note: the time for making such a request has passed so it will not be dealt with in this bulletin

an election petition to the Electoral Court in the case of other complaints.
In both cases, there are strict time-limits to be observed and procedures to be followed, and failure may result in rejection. Time-limits are particularly important: our courts have held that time-limits in electoral cases cannot be extended.

Election Petitions to Electoral Court

14-day deadline for lodging election petition

An election petition challenging the election of a member of the National Assembly in a general election must be lodged with the Electoral Court within 14 days after the declaration of the results for the last constituency in the election.

An election petition challenging the election of a councillor in a general election must be lodged with the Electoral Court within 14 days after the declaration of the results for the last ward of the local authority concerned.

This is the effect of section 168(2) of the Electoral Act.

Who can lodge an election petition?

Only an unsuccessful candidate for the parliamentary or council seat concerned may lodge an election petition [Electoral Act, section 167]. Political parties and members of the public cannot do so.

On what grounds can an election petition be based?

Section 167 of the Electoral Act allows an election petition to complain that the election was not valid “by reason of want of qualification, disqualification, electoral malpractice, irregularity or any other cause whatsoever”. This is very widely phrased but the circumstances in which the Electoral Court can set aside an election are more limited, as will be pointed out later in this bulletin.

There is a definition of electoral malpractice in section 4 of the Electoral Act:

“electoral malpractice” means an intimidatory practice, corrupt practice, illegal practice or other offence in terms of Part XX [of the Act]

Intimidatory practices include intimidating people to vote for a particular candidate or not to vote, or compelling people to attend political meetings or other events; taking anyone’s identity documents to obstruct voting; and [a very recent addition to the list by the Electoral Amendment Act, 6/2018] persuading or attempting to persuade people that it will be possible to discover who they have voted for in an election
Corrupt practices include bribery, using undue influence to induce people to vote or not to vote, and impersonating voters or casting more than one vote in an election
Illegal practices include preventing the holding of lawful political meetings; destroying, defacing or removing political posters; conducting political activities within 300 metres of a polling station on polling day; obstructing voters from voting either at a polling station or on their way to or from a polling station.
Service of notice on successful candidate

Within 10 days after a petition is lodged, written notice of it must be served on the person whose election is challenged, either on him or her in person or by leaving it at his or her usual or last known dwelling or place of business [section 169 of the Electoral Act]. In previous elections many petitions were summarily dismissed for being served late or at the headquarters of the successful candidate’s political party.

Petitioner must give security for the respondent’s costs

Within seven days after lodging an election petition the petitioner must give security for the respondent’s costs. The amount of security is fixed by the Registrar of the court and, according to section 168 of the Electoral Act, must be not less than an amount prescribed by ZEC in terms of section 192 of the Act after consultation with the Chief Justice. It can be more than this sum but this can only be fixed by the Registrar of the Electoral court

The amount prescribed in section 28 of the Electoral Regulations is US $500. Six days ago the Chief Justice issued a Practice Direction in which he announced that the prescribed amount was now to be US $2 000 for National Assembly election petitions and US $1 000 for local authority petitions. The Practice Direction is probably illegal because the amounts have not been prescribed in regulations made by ZEC under section 192 of the Electoral Act, as they should have been. In any event the Direction probably does not apply to current petitions because section 157(5) of the Constitution states that changes to laws relating to elections do not apply to an election once it has been called. Whatever its validity the timing of the Practice Direction – issued just before election petitions are due to be lodged – is most unfortunate.

Procedure and evidence

The procedure to be followed in election petitions is laid down in section 171 of the Electoral Act and, for any matter not specifically covered in that section, is the same as the procedure for court applications under the High Court Rules.

The Electoral (Applications, Appeals and Petitions) Rules, 1995 (SI 74A/1995) should be complied with as well. Although they were made before the current Electoral Act was enacted, a judge of the Electoral Court in 2013 decided that they remained in force, and his judgment was followed in subsequent cases. The judgment is available on the Veritas website [link]. Veritas lobbied the Minister of Justice to update and simplify the procedural rules early this year. But this was not done.

Electoral Court’s Limited Power to Set Aside Election

Although the Electoral Act allows an election petition to seek the setting aside of an election “for any … cause whatsoever”, the Electoral Act makes it clear that not every malpractice will result in an election result being changed:

Under section 155 of the Act, the Electoral Court can set aside an election on the ground of electoral malpractice only if it was committed with the knowledge or consent of the successful candidate or his or her agents, and if the malpractice was such as to have materially affected the outcome of the election.
Section 156 of the Act reinforces this by stating that if malpractices were committed by a candidate’s agents, but neither the candidate nor his or her chief election agent sanctioned them and took reasonable precautions to prevent them, and if the malpractices were trivial, unimportant and limited, then the election cannot be set aside.
Under section 177 of the Act, the Electoral Court can set aside an election on the ground of mistake or non-compliance with the Act only if:
the election was not conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Act, and
the mistake or non-compliance affected the result of the election.
It is for the petitioner, of course, to prove both these things.

Despite what is said in the Electoral Act, the Constitution may have expanded the grounds on which elections can be set aside. Sections 155 and 156 of the Constitution lay down principles by which elections must be conducted. Section 67 gives citizens the right to free, fair and regular elections. Elections which are not free or fair, or which violate the principles laid down in the Constitution, are arguably not elections for the purpose of the Constitution and are void no matter what the Electoral Act may say. This was the line adopted by the Supreme Court of Kenya in a constitutional case decided last year. It is to be hoped that our courts may adopt a similar approach.

Time Limits for Deciding Election Petitions

Every election petition must be decided by the Electoral Court within six months of its presentation [Electoral Act, section 182].

Appeals against Electoral Court decisions

The Electoral Court’s decision on a question of fact is final and is not subject to appeal. But its decision on questions of law may be taken on appeal to the Supreme Court [Electoral Act, section 172].

An appeal to the Supreme Court must be decided within three months of the lodging of the appeal [this period was reduced from the previous six months by the Electoral Amendment Act, 6/2018].

The new section 182(3) of the Electoral Act empowers the Judge President of the High Court and the Chief Justice to give directions as to the filing of documents and the hearing of evidence, to ensure that the Electoral Court and Supreme Court meet these time-limits for deciding petitions and appeals.

The Electoral Court and its judges

The Electoral Court is a division of the High Court [Electoral Act, section 161(1) as enacted by the recent Electoral Amendment Act, 6/2018]. Its judges are High Court judges assigned by the Chief Justice.

Note: For the purposes of the recent general election, the Chief Justice appointed all 35 High Court judges, including Judge President Chiweshe, to be judges of the Electoral Court from the 8th June to the 31st December 2018: see General Notice 390/2018 [link]. So there will be Electoral Court judges available to hear election petitions lodged at any of the four seats of the High Court – Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo and Mutare.

An Electoral Court judge may sit alone, or in a particular case ask for the assistance of two assessors appointed by the Registrar of the Electoral Court from a panel of at least ten persons compiled by the Chief Justice and the Judge President. One of the two assessors in any case must be a woman [an amendment made by the Electoral Amendment Act, 6/2018]. Assessors are advisory only, meaning that – unlike assessors in High Court criminal trials – they have no say in the court’s decision.

Importance of Using an Updated Version of the Electoral Act

It will have been obvious to everyone reading this bulletin that anyone involved in bringing an election petition should use an updated version of the Electoral Act that includes the amendments made by the Electoral Amendment Act, 6/2018. An updated version of the Act is available for downloading on the Veritas website [link].

By Paul Nyathi|A police constable has been arrested while a manhunt for a senior officer has been launched in connection with the case in which gold worth nearly $1 million vanished from an armoury at Plumtree Police Station in Matabeleland South Province, as investigations intensify.

The gold, weighing 28,5kg worth over $970 000, was being kept as an exhibit at the station since September 2015. The yellow metal was being kept at the police station after Border Control and Minerals Unit intercepted it at Plumtree Border Post from a man who sought to smuggle it into Botswana.

The unknown suspect tore khaki paper in which the gold was wrapped and stole all of it, leaving the papers in a bucket in the armoury.

Police sources have confirmed that a police constable (name being withheld) has since been arrested in connection with the case and is assisting police with investigations.

More to follow…

By Paul Nyathi|Mystery surrounds Plumtree Police Station on how gold worth close to a million dollars and two fire arms vanished from the armoury at the police station.

ZimEye.com has been provided with a police outline of what could have happened to the gold with indications that the keys to the armoury were mysteriously duplicated.

The full outline by the police reads as follows:

MEMORANDUM
TO : COORDINATOR MBCU MAT SOUTH .
FROM : MBCU PLUMTREE
MEMO : /18
DATED : 15 AUGUST 2018

MBCU PLUMTREE

Amnesty International’s new leader said Wednesday his first act is writing to Zimbabwe’s next president about the disappearance of activist Itai Dzamara: “Whoever leads the new government must move to undo the injustices of the past.”

Kumi Naidoo, a South African-born former anti-apartheid activist, took office as secretary general of the London-based rights group on Wednesday. His focus on Dzamara, who was abducted by suspected state agents in 2015 under Zimbabwe’s former leader Robert Mugabe, puts further pressure on the government of President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s former enforcer, to acknowledge past abuses.

Dzamara is the highest-profile activist to go missing under Mugabe’s 37-year rule, which was marred by the Matabeleland massacre of thousands of people in the 1980s by a North Korea-trained military brigade, harsh repression against the opposition and sometimes violent land seizures from white farmers. The southern African nation eventually became an international pariah.

Last week President Donald Trump signed a law tightening the requirements Zimbabwe must meet for the lifting of U.S. sanctions, which include ordering an inquiry into the disappearance of Dzamara and other rights activists. It was a setback for Mnangagwa, who has tried to recast himself as a reformer since taking over after Mugabe’s military-enforced resignation in November. Mnangagwa himself remains under U.S. sanctions.

Instead of addressing the abuses of the past, however, Mnangagwa has urged Zimbabweans to let “bygones be bygones” and move on from the repressive era during which, at different times, he held the posts of minister of state security, defense and justice.

The 94-year-old Mugabe last month dismissed Dzamara as “that character” and denied knowing of his fate.

Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba on Wednesday said an investigation into the disappearance was still under way: “We will tell you if we make any progress.”

Dzamara, a former newspaper reporter, was abducted when he was having a shave at a barbershop near his home. Two days before that, he told a rally organized by then-opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai that Zimbabweans should rebel against Mugabe.

Patson Dzamara, the activist’s brother, was assaulted and arrested by state security agents after protesting the kidnapping by raising a placard in front of Mugabe when he was still president.

On Wednesday he tweeted that it was “humbling” that Amnesty International’s new leader decided to speak up for his brother in his first act in office. He was not optimistic, however.

“It is important for the international community to continue piling the pressure but we are not holding much hope that this government will be able to provide us with answers,” he said.

“The people who are in government now, including President Mnangagwa, were in government when Itai was abducted. We didn’t receive much help then and we have not received any help now.”

Associated Press

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita won re-election with 67 percent of the vote in a run-off against opposition rival Soumaila Cisse, the Ministry of Territorial Administration said on Thursday.

The victory hands Keita a second five-year term in the mostly desert West African country where militant violence and claims of fraud by the opposition marred the poll. Keita now faces the giant task of lifting Mali out of a spiral of Islamist and ethnic violence in the centre and north where attacks worsened in the months leading up to the vote despite the presence of UN and French troops.

Threats by jihadist militants forced nearly 500 polling stations – about two percent of the total – to stay closed during Sunday’s run-off, the government said.

One election official was killed in northern Niafunke, in Timbuktu region.

It also meant voter turnout of over 2.7 million people was a muted 34 percent of the electorate.

Cisse has accused the Keita’s campaign of ballot stuffing and tweaking electoral rolls to secure the win, accusations Keita denies.

Despite the bitter rhetoric leading up to Thursday’s results, however, the streets of Bamako and other main cities remained calm this week. The country exports gold and cotton.— Reuters.

LOSING Zanu PF council candidates in Beitbridge have blamed the enactment of Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016, which banned the importation of certain basic goods, for their defeat in the July 30 harmonised elections.

Zanu PF performed dismally against the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance, which swept clean the six Local Government seats in the border town.

MDC Alliance, led by national youth organising secretary Morgan Ncube, who is tipped to become Beitbridge mayor, will now be in full control of Zimbabwe’s youngest, but strategic municipality.

Incidentally, it is the first and only municipality approved and signed for by President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa after he took over from former President Robert Mugabe after a military intervention in November last year.

On July 1, 2016, government gazetted SI64 of 2016, meant to boost domestic production by protecting local industries from perceived unfair competition from cheap imports.

SI64/2016 resulted in the removal of 43 products from the Open General Import Licence, but drew criticism from Zimbabwe’s neighbours, who claimed that the instrument had adversely affected their economies and violated the Southern Africa Development Community Protocol on Trade, which seeks to promote free trade among member states.

At home, ordinary citizens felt it protected big chefs who accessed licenses and imported the same banned goods and sold them to the poor at exorbitant and exploitative prices.

Economists said the policy, while being a noble idea, needed to be complemented by increased local production through addressing the supply side constraints and other key production enablers.

Beitbridge, with a population of approximately 60 000, who rely on cross-border trading activities, was worst hit.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, for fear of being labelled as undermining the government’s policies, some Zanu PF members pointed at SI64/2016 as the main cause of their political misery.

“It took away the livelihood of many people in this town and even yonder. We have no industries and people here survive on border post-related activities, most of which ended with the introduction of that nasty policy,” one Zanu PF member said.

“It does not mean that all Beitbridge residents lived on buying and selling. Others cleared goods for those who imported. Others were just porters. The long and short of it is people hinged their livelihood on the imports of most goods banned by that legislation,” the member said.

On July 1, 2016, violent demonstrations against SI64/2016 rocked Beitbridge town, but later spread like a veld fire to other towns.

Millions of dollars worth of goods, a State warehouse, Beitbridge Municipality vehicles and infrastructure, including traffic lights were destroyed in the demonstrations, which resulted in a blockage of the border by sympathisers on the South African side a week before.

The violent demonstrations caught police napping, culminating in the entire 600 police officers and cleaners at Beitbridge being transferred from the border town for alleged dereliction of duty.

Scores of people later arrested for the violent protests were acquitted for lack of evidence.

“That was not a good sign. It is when powers that be should have gone back to the drawing board to look at what had caused that in a town that had never before taken such action,” another losing candidate said.

“We have now paid dearly for that. It is sad we are no longer in charge of the face of Zimbabwe, which Beitbridge is.”

Beitbridge, the busiest inland port in sub-Saharan Africa, handles the bulk of imports into Zimbabwe.

Besides, landlocked nations in the region use the post to relay goods to their respective destinations owing to its direct link to South African ports.

Beitbridge is the only direct official surface link between South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The losing Zanu PF members have a common feeling that going forward, their party has to revise that instrument and put bread back on people’s tables.

“We must realise this was one stronghold of the ruling party which has been snatched. From here, it will spread into our rural areas unless serious measures are taken,” another member said.

NewsDay

By A Correspondent|ZIMBABWE Electoral Commission (Zec) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba has indicated that she was ready for a legal showdown with MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, where she will shoot down the vote rigging allegations levelled against her.

Chamisa, in his recent presidential petition to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt), accused the Chigumba-led Zec of vote-rigging in favour of Zanu PF candidate President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa.

But Chigumba, in her response to Chamisa’s challenge, dismissed as “unsubstantiated” claims that Zec rigged the July 30 polls in Mnangagwa’s favour.

Chamisa approached the ConCourt last Friday, seeking to challenge Mnangagwa’s election victory, citing massive vote-rigging. The matter has been set down for hearing on August 22.

Chigumba accused Chamisa of failing to provide the electoral body with relevant documents to enable her office to properly respond to the application.

“Further still, the applicant’s (Chamisa’s) founding affidavit refers, in several instances, to compact discs (CD) that are said to be attached to the application. No such compact discs were served at the 23rd respondent (Zec) offices either on August 10, or 11, 2018 … it is these absent compact discs and separate bundle of evidence that the applicant avers contain the source material used …” Chigumba said.

In her founding affidavit through her lawyers, Charles Nyika and Tawanda Kanengoni, Chigumba said the electoral body followed due processes as provided for in the Electoral Act, especially on issues relating to collation, verification and announcement of presidential election results.

“The process as provided for in the electoral law relating to collation, verification and announcement of presidential election results was followed by the electoral commission as I have illustrated herein above. Any mathematical error that may have occurred in the process is neither gross nor sufficient to overturn the outcome of the presidential election and thus cannot ground the vacation of the declaration I made in terms of section 110(3)(f)(ii) of the electoral Act,” she said.

“I have, in my (Chigumba) deposition thus far, shown that not only were the original V11 and V23 forms used in the collation and verification of presidential election results at the national command centre, but also that the applicant (Chamisa)’s election agents were involved in that process and were given, upon request, access to any V11 and V23 forms for purposes of verification.”

Chigumba further claimed that Chamisa’s calculations pertaining to the total voter population for purposes of the 2018 general election were wrong.

“The applicant’s (Chamisa) calculations are wrong; the total voter population for purposes of the 2018 general election was 5 695 936 and not 5 659 583 as indicated by the applicant. The previously announced number before polling day had been 5 695 706, which figure was adjusted by the addition of 230 voters who had been registered on a BVR kit in Chegutu, Mashonaland West province, prior to the cut-off date for the 2018 general election, but had not been uploaded into the database,” she said.

Turning to the opposition’s claims that there were over 700 000 unaccounted for votes, Chigumba said Chamisa had also gotten his mathematical calculations wrong.

“… the 700 000 votes that the applicant alleges are unaccounted for are directly resultant upon the use of 72% as the final voter turnout in the presidential election and not the correct 85,1%. Furthermore, the figure that the applicant comes up with, 4 032 000, as 72% of the total voter population includes, by necessary implication, every vote that would be cast in a presidential poll including votes that would, on the count, be deemed to be invalid for one reason or another. The figures he indicates as the total votes cast from the announced results, 4 775 640, and from the data on the electoral commission’s CD, 4 774 878, both reflect the total valid votes cast in terms of the announcements and the data on the CD,” Chigumba said.

“The 4 032 000 on the one hand and the 4 775 640 and 4 774 878 on the other are thus totals representing two different kinds of things the former including every valid and invalid vote and the latter only the valid votes. The applicant then proceeds to subtract, in turn, the two elements of the latter category of votes from the former category of votes thus yielding in each instance the 700 000 alleged unaccounted votes without taking account, in that computation, of the difference between the two things he has subtracted from each other.”

Chigumba also said the process of collation and verification of the presidential results was done transparently, while Chamisa’s agents, Morgen Komichi and Jameson Timba “had full access to the results collation”.

“The collation of the results of some polling stations twice was a data capture error whose extent has no material effect on the results of the presidential election. After correction of the double entries the first respondent (Mnangagwa) still meets the statutory thresholds of 50% plus 1,” she said adding: “… the process of collation and verification of the presidential results was done transparently, and the applicant’s agents Mr Morgen Komichi and Jameson Timba had full access to the results collation at the electoral commission’s national command centre.

“As already averred Mr Timba during this process, had occasion to request V11 and V23 forms for several constituencies, he examined those forms and made whatever notes he wished to make, he did not raise any queries with respect to those V11 or V23s … the provisions of section 110 of the Electoral Act are such that the absence of any candidate or his/her election agent does not stop the process prescribed in that section from proceeding to its conclusion.”

Commenting on the V11 and V23 forms impasse, Chigumba said every political party had access to the forms as and when they requested for them but castigated Chamisa for sourcing V11 forms information on social media.

“Applicant also alludes to having sourced the V11 forms from social media, suffice to remind him that a v11 form is obtained through the provision of section 64(1) (d1) of the Electoral Act. The authenticity of his source of data is thus in doubt,” she said.

“As I have already averred, over the two day period, the applicant’s agents had unlimited access to all the original V11 and V23 forms relating to the presidential election and had the opportunity, at their discretion, to make notes from those V11 and V23 forms or to raise any queries with the electoral commission officials where they had problems with the information that was on the V11 and V23s being used by the electoral commission versus what they had through their own election agents from various polling
stations.

“Surely, if the applicant had polling agents at the unidentified polling stations he alleges did not have returns affixed, those agents would have been given V11 forms before the return for the polling station is affixed in terms of the law. The applicant does not in this context present his V11 forms and contends that the V11 forms that the electoral commission has are different from what he has …”

The Zec boss further said Chamisa did not indicate at which polling stations he alleges the election returns were not affixed and neither did he explain as to whether he had polling agents stationed at such polling stations, and if so, why no affidavits have been deposed to by such agents in support of his averments that 21% of polling stations were not affixed in terms of the law.

“Having made the allegations the applicant was enjoined to prove it in his founding papers; he has failed to do so … the conclusion made by the applicant, from this bare allegation, is that the electoral commission rigged the presidential election with no evidence furnished and no explanation given as to how the alleged rigging is said to have taken place,” she said.

“An application in motion proceedings ought to make out his full case in his founding affidavit and if, as he has done herein, he makes bald and unsubstantiated allegations, his application cannot possibly succeed.”

She urged the ConCourt to dismiss Chamisa’s application on the basis that it had not been filed in terms of section 93 of the Constitution as read with the ConCourt rules, 2016.
“No valid application has been filed by the applicant challenging the election of the first respondent to the office of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, in terms of section 93 of the Constitution as read with the ConCourt rules, 2016,” the Zec chair said.

“In terms of section 93(1) of the Constitution, a challenge to the validity of an election to the office of the President is instituted by way of a petition or application lodged with the ConCourt within seven days after the date of the declaration of the results of the election. Being a period prescribed by statute, the seven-day provided by section 93(1) of the Constitution are reckoned with the inclusion of Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The time for lodging a petition in terms of section 93(1) thus expired on the 10th of August 2018.”

“… Being peremptorily limited to the period of seven days after the declaration of the result of the election, any filing and/or service that is done outside that timeframe is, accordingly, invalid with the correlative effect of rendering the entire application fatally and incurably defective.”

Commenting on the alleged disappearance of polling stations on the polling date, Chigumba said: “No polling station disappeared on the polling day. The applicant does not state the names of the polling stations that he alleges to have disappeared on the polling day. No polling stations were created on the polling day. 1HRDC and 2HRDC that the applicant cites as examples of created polling stations are in fact not polling stations. The former stands for ward 1 Hurungwe Rural District Council and the latter stands for ward 2 Hurungwe Rural District Council.”

The party’s secretary general, Mr Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said they have requested that the presidential election challenge court case be broadcast LIVE.

Chief Justice Luke Malaba told MDC Alliance lawyers to make the application before the full Constitution Court bench. Mwonzora told the state media: “Our lawyers have made a request (for live broadcast) to the Chief Justice because this is a matter of national and international importance.

“They made a request to the Chief Justice that it is in the interest of the people of Zimbabwe, so that they are able to follow the process. The Chief Justice then said they will have to make that application before the full the bench. For me it is good for transparency.”

The June 2018 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Advanced Level results are out and centre heads will start collecting them from Zimsec regional offices on Monday.

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

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

“Centre heads will be able to collect results for their respective schools or centres from our regional offices from Monday, 20 August 2018.”

Prof Mwenje said the candidates recorded a 76,59 percent pass rate. “The total number of candidates who sat for the June 2018 A-Level examination was 8 577, as compared to 4 668 in June 2017, an increase of 83,74 percent.

“The number of candidates who obtained a Grade E or better was 6 569. This gives a percentage pass rate of 76,59.”

The number of candidates who sat for two or more subjects was 4 894, which is 57 percent of the total candidature of 8 577, while in 2017 the total number was 2 130, which was 42,52 percent.

According to Zimsec, the majority of the candidates wrote one subject, while just one candidate sat for five subjects.

School candidates who registered for two or more subjects were 1 473 and 1 077 obtained Grade E in two or more subjects, which translates to a percentage pass rate of 73,12. Private candidates who registered for two or more subjects were 3 421 and 1 605 obtained Grade E in two or more subjects, which translates to a percentage pass rate of 46,92.

Prof Mwenje said more private candidates registered for the examinations than school candidates.

There were 3 360 school candidates and 5 217 private candidates.

Prof Mwenje said this year’s A-level June examination session had eight candidates in three special needs categories, while the June 2017 session had no special needs candidates.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to all those who were involved in the June 2018 examinations process,” he said.

“Zimsec hereby takes this opportunity to wish all the candidates the best of luck in their future studies and endeavours.”

By Paul Nyathi|Prominent Zimbabwean personality and former employee of the ZBC Ezra “Tshisa” Sibanda has revealed that at least five Zimbabweans died in the United Kingdom in a space of a fortnight due to fatigue as a result of long hours at work.

In two sensitional posts on his Facebook page, Sibanda revealed that all of the deceased persons collapsed either at their work places or at their homes on return from work.

“My fellow countrymen, we lost four people in the last twelve days around UK,” wrote Sibanda.

Two of them collapsed and died at their work places while the other 2 collpased and died at home after returning from work.”

Its clear their deaths are related to over working possible some had underlying illnesses which they didn’t know.”

Sibanda reported another death

“I reported 4 sudden deaths of our brothers & sisters who died in the last week in UK not knowing there is a 5th person who also departed in similar circumstances from this world last Saturday.”

“Norman Mzenda Ncube was going on about his usual routine and work until sudden and unexpected turn of events.”

According to laws in the UK one can not work more than 48 hours a week on average – normally averaged over 17 weeks. This law is sometimes called the ‘working time directive’ or ‘working time regulations’.

One can choose to work more by opting out of the 48-hour week. If one is under 18, they can’t work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.

An appeal for funds to assist with the burial of the deceased persons has since been set up.

https://www.gofundme.com/7fdr8-funeral-expenses

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.

Fingaz

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.

State media

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.

Daily News

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!

Mnangagwa’ opposing court papers. Click link below.

mnangagwa-opposing-papers

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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.

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.

Hallelujah Magazine

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)

Women’s team Sibabone Mamwiri (Midlands), Sawujadi Phiri (Mat South), Tabeth Zhoya (Midlands), Svodai Nyika (Harare).

Veterans teams Men: Peter Mulukula (Mash East),Moses Ndlovu (Bulawayo). Women: Cecilia Nzonzo (Harare), Joice Mloyi (Midlands)

Youth Teams Junior men: Nashe Murambi (Harare), Brandon Ncube (Mat South). Junior women: Sibongile Nomsa Kagodora (Harare), Siphindile Moyo (Mat South)

State media

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“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:

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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.

State media

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.

NewsDay

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.

-AP

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.

Zbc

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.

Herald

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.

NewsDay

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.

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.

Chrispen