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OPINION: MDC Were Their Own Enemies At The Polls

Opinion By Derek Matyszak|An opinion poll conducted just a month before the election by Afro Barometer gave Mnangagwa a slim lead. This evidence was brushed aside.

The response of Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)-Alliance, to the defeat of their presidential candidate suggests that its supporters might be victims of their own propaganda.

Nelson Chamisa lost with 44,3 percent of the vote to Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF), who garnered 50,8 percent.

Zimbabwe’s elections are won and lost in rural areas, home to about 70 percent of the voter population.

The 2018 harmonised elections were no different.

Viewing elections through an urban lens can be highly misleading, as rural voters are often motivated by different considerations to those of their urban counterparts.

Without ignoring the fact that Zanu-PF has considerable and ardent support among rural voters, it is clear that clientelism plays an important role.

Many rural voters in Zimbabwe seem to view elections as an opportunity to show fealty to those in power rather than an exercise of democratic choice.

Loyalty is rewarded in the form of food aid and free agricultural inputs.

Backing the “wrong” candidate can attract harsh reprisals – an election “promise” ZANU-PF has a reputation for keeping.

A rural voter then may make a pragmatic and carefully considered calculation as to who will win, and vote with head rather than heart.

To win an election, the candidate needs to look at if he or she will win.

The MDC-Alliance did a remarkable job at persuading many that Chamisa had massive nationwide support.

It was aided and abetted by opposition-leaning political analysts who willingly spread the alliance spin…

Deposed ex-president Robert Mugabe, it was claimed, enjoyed massive residual support in some provinces.

Mugabe’s statement on the eve of polling that he would not vote for his “tormentors” was seen as a cue to this support base to vote for Chamisa.

Chamisa, only just the minimum age for a presidential candidate at 40, was presented as the natural choice for the 60 percent of the voter population under 40, rather than the 75-year-old Mnangagwa who represented the old order.

Insiders, it was said, knew the rural population was “fed up” with Zanu-PF’s misgovernance and that Zanu-PF had lost its ability to command the rural vote.

The mood throughout Zimbabwe was one of euphoria, not experienced since Independence in 1980.

The election would be the country’s second liberation. There was scant evidence to support this spin.

An opinion poll conducted just a month before the election by Afro Barometer gave Mnangagwa a slim lead.

This evidence was brushed aside.

If Chamisa didn’t win, the MDC-Alliance insisted, it could only mean that the election was rigged.

Zimbabwe’s elections are won and lost in rural areas, home to about 70 percent of the voter population.

The MDC-Alliance appears to have been convinced by its own propaganda.

Chamisa declared that he had won resoundingly before the tally of the votes had been completed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

Then, as soon as it became apparent that Mnangagwa had won, MDC-Alliance supporters claimed the election was rigged.

The evidence? Of course Mnangagwa couldn’t have won because of the mood in the country, and the “large number of Mugabe supporters”, “fed-up rural voters” and the youths who would have voted for Chamisa.

There was, however, the small problem of conflicting evidence in the form of X’s on ballot papers.

The votes are tallied at the polling stations and the results entered onto a V11 form. Party representatives are invited to sign the V11 form and are given a copy.

The V11s go to the ward-counting centres. The totals from the polling stations in the ward are calculated and entered on a V23.

The process is repeated as the tallies are forwarded to constituency and provincial levels.

Despite these safeguards, the MDC-Alliance alleged that ZEC had altered the numbers on the returns…

The allegation was readily believed, as throughout the latter part of the electoral period, ZEC seemed to go out of its way to earn the distrust of opposition parties…

MDC-Alliance officials, said they would render the country ungovernable if they didn’t get their way.

In response, ZEC published spreadsheets showing all the totals at each level of counting, inviting anyone with documentary evidence showing an incorrect entry to come forward. No one did.

This didn’t stop Chamisa from claiming he had copies of returns proving fraud, but then declining to reveal them.

Before the polling, MDC-Alliance officials said they would render the country ungovernable if they didn’t get their way.

Chamisa had threatened that if the vote were stolen, he would get what was rightfully his, not through the courts, but through people taking to the streets in anger.

By refusing to accept the election results and alleging fraud, Chamisa has kept tensions high.

He has also retained support among party cadres that might otherwise have dissipated had he conceded defeat.

This has been accomplished at considerable cost.

These are excerpts from an article by Derek Matyszak, senior research consultant, Peace and Security Research Programme. The original article was published by ISSAfrica.org

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MDC Supporters Get 1 Year Imprisonment On Violence Charges

MUTARE magistrate Tendai Mahwe has said there is need to arrest cases of post-electoral violence in Manicaland by giving custodial sentences to perpetrators after sentencing two MDC Alliance supporters to one-year each behind bars for assaulting a Zanu PF activist.

Lincolin Muradzikwa (22) and Patrick Murauro (23), from Mundenda village, Manica Bridge, in Mutasa Central, appeared before Mahwe who, however, suspended four months each on condition that the two do not commit similar offences in the next five years.

The duo will serve an effective eight months.

In passing judgment, Mahwe said he was worried that politically-motivated violence was on the rise.

“There is need to give a custodial sentence to send a statement and there is need to stop that,” he said.

The prosecution said on July 13, the complainant, Providence Maunze, was drinking beer at Manhende business centre with his friends when he decided to go home.

When he was 800 metres away from the business centre, the complainant observed that someone holding a torch was following him before the convicts emerged from the bush and attacked him.

The complainant fell and Murauro picked up a stone and hit Maunze on the back.

The two accused persons also tore a Zanu PF T-shirt which he was wearing and took it away.

As a result of the assault, complainant sustained some bruises on the back and was left bleeding from the mouth.

NewsDay

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Chamisa Hasn’t Yet Submitted Election Court Challenge Due To Frustrations By Police And Military

By A Correspondent| MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has not yet submitted his court challenge, it has emerged.

There have been several state engineered abductions, beatings and killings since the concluding of the last week’s national elections. These abuses have included the systematic hunting down of MDC Alliance election agents by ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s emissaries, so that V11 form documents are either altered, reversed or altogether destroyed.

In addition to this, Chamisa’s offices have been surrounded by police officers since last week, another move clearly meant to frustrate the court application.

Senior sources inside Chamisa’s office 2 days ago told ZimEye, ” we are fully aware the military wants to physically stop the court application and so we will not announce the date and time we will submit it.”

To add to the systematic bullying, yesterday Emmerson Mnangagwa revealed that he has extra judicial powers to intervene in court judgements. He publicly boasted that he personally intervened in the release of MDC Alliance principal, Tendai Biti.

There are numerous embarrassing figures showing that in constituencies Mnangagwa won, there were more voters than those who registered to vote. Some examples are below:

Chamisa’s lawyers have as a result struggled to hand in their court application. – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY

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Chamisa Set To Expose ZEC Massive Results Discrepancies

Discrepancies in election figures contained in the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec)’s own documents and signed by acting chief elections officer, Utloile Silaigwana, are expected to be put to test by MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa’s legal team led by Thabani Mpofu at the Constitutional Court on Friday as the opposition leader seeks to overturn President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory.

Chamisa, challenging the presidential results released by Zec, pointed out that most of them did not add up, further denting the credibility of the electoral body and raising more questions to the final tally announced late last Thursday.

The seemingly embarrassing errors have been flagged by a team of technical experts in the MDC Alliance and an independent human rights and science data group Team Pachedu in separate reports.

Team Pachedu, which is not linked to the alliance, noted that in a number of polling stations — using data from Zec source documents — the total votes cast, votes rejected and total valid votes, did not match.

In Bikita East ward 16, which had six polling stations where a total number of votes cast were 2 189, votes rejected were 54 — the total number of valid votes was captured as 2 183, instead of 2 135.

These discrepancies are replicated in various constituencies including Gokwe-Sengwa, Gokwe-Kana and other polling stations in Harare.

In Zaka, a phenomenon that could make world records is displayed in the results published by the electoral commission, where the number of voters who cast their votes in two different wards is identical at all polling stations and the voting patterns are also similar.

Team Pachedu said the Zaka West phenomenon was statistically improbable and could only point to figures being “cooked up”.

“Zec defies probability theory, a sample of a duplicate entry from Zec presidential data the example is statistically improbable. The presidential results announced were, thus, inaccurate and there may be need for an auditor to look into these figures,” Team Pachedu said.

In Zaka West ward 23, at Chiringeno Primary School polling station, 330 people cast their votes, while the total number of valid votes was given as 321.

In ward 22 at Harava business centre tent, 330 votes were cast and 321 votes were valid, according to Zec.

Presidential candidates also got similar number of votes at different polling stations, with Mnangagwa getting 160 votes at Harava and Chiringeno, while Chamisa polled 139 votes at both polling stations.

Both ward 22 and 23 had four polling stations and each of them had results in sync with another, same number of spoilt ballots, votes for each candidate and same number of voters who turned up to vote.

In total, ward 22 recorded 1 438 voters, 58 spoilt votes and 1 380 valid votes.

Mnangagwa polled 835 votes, while Chamisa got 447 votes, which figures were similar to those recorded in ward 23, with no variation.

A presidential results projection from sample-based observation report released by Zimbabwe Elections Support Network, (Zesn) notes that there were polling stations where more votes, than registered voters were cast.

“The SBO data shows overall turnout at 84,7%, with a margin of error of 0,7%, with all provinces with turnout over 80%. There were 11 (1,5%) polling stations with turnout over 95% of which 5 (0,8%) had turnout of 100% or more,” the report, based on a sample of 750 polling stations, read.

One of the polling stations which had over 100% voter turnout was in Zaka West in Masvingo at Manatsa business centre tent polling station, which had 484 registered voters, but a total of 542 votes were cast on election day.

Elections Resources Centre director Tawanda Chimhini said the figures released by Zec were partial and showed some discrepancies, which was a cause for concern.

“The figures have some discrepancies and this will be detailed in our full report, however, it’s important to note that announced results must tally for them to be credible. All release of results must be accompanied by all necessary and official source documents to allow for verifiable of the same. Such release must also include key details such as the complete voters’ roll used on polling day,” he said.

Chimhini said this should be done in line with Zec’s constitutional obligation to run the elections transparently.

“A partial release of information may easily be viewed as an attempt to mask some inadequacies which will be unfortunate given the growing tensions arising from the election,” he said.

NewsDay

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Mnangagwa Reveals He Is The Supreme Court Judge

By Own Correspondent| ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed that he controls all courts.

Mnangagwa yesterday clearly said that the MDC Alliance Principal Tendai Biti, arrested in Zambia, was released Thursday night following his intervention.

This follows his earlier proclamations where he has clearly stated that those who oppose his ideas “will continue barking and barking” while he continues to rule and rule the country, “kutonga tichingotonga, tichingotonga!”

He made this announcement in his official statement released below:

STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF TENDAI BITI

“Tendai Biti was released earlier today following my intervention. At such a crucial time in the history of the new Zimbabwe, nothing is more important than unity, peace and dialogue.

Equally important, however, is an adherence to the rule of law. I repeat – no one is above the law. Thus due to the serious nature of the allegations of incitement, due process will continue.

I call on all parties to immediately cease from all forms of incitement to violence, and to conduct all activities solely within the framework of the law. All Zimbabweans must join us now in striving for unity, peace and reconciliation. Peace is paramount.”

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Kutonga Kwaro, Bread Price Set To Shoot Up

INTERNATIONAL suppliers of wheat have reportedly hiked prices by $35 per metric tonne in response to rising shipment costs, a development likely to trigger a sharp increase in the prices of flour and bread among net importing countries such as Zimbabwe.

Although Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe chairman Tafadzwa Musarara declined to comment over the matter yesterday, saying he would release a statement Monday next week, a local miller, who declined to be named, confirmed the development.

“We are going into a meeting on Thursday with all the millers and I will release a statement on Monday,” Musarara said.

The miller who spoke on condition of anonymity said global wheat prices had increased by between $30 and $35 per tonne.

“The global wheat prices have increased by between $30 and $35 per metric tonne meaning that you now need to pay $405 per metric tonne from the $370 we were previously paying, and also this depends on which port you are loading from,” the miller said.

“So, we are set to experience an increase in bread and flour prices because we have to import as we are not self-sufficient in terms of wheat production. We must be able to avoid panicking mode among people, which can result in bulk buying.”

Economic analyst Gift Mugano said the price increase would affect the whole value chain and demand for foreign currency.

“We are producing about 40% of national demand and this means we are not self-sufficient because for the remaining plus 60%, we import. So this increase in the price of wheat will automatically translate into an increase in the price of wheat per tonne,” he said.

“For a number of years, we have not been able to meet the national demand for wheat and we only import to meet our demand. Zimbabwe should work extra hard to ensure that we produce enough wheat and curb the import costs. Wheat contributes 70% of the country’s flour.”

Mugano said the import bill would increase by 15% and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe should be ready to avail more cash for wheat imports.

“The import bill will increase by 15% and this means the RBZ should be ready to avail hard cash to millers for the import of wheat, as the situation will affect mainly departments and these includes the millers, bakers and consumers,” he said.

“We are not only projecting an increase in bread and flour prices, but also biscuits and buns, as these are somehow used by our children at schools. So there is urgent need to look into our budget.”

Local millers have sourced 200 000 metric tonnes of wheat from Germany and Canada, a consignment that is coming in instalments until the winter harvesting season.

So far, 30 000 tonnes have been received amid fears that the remaining 170 000 tonnes could also be affected by the new pricing regime.

Zimbabwe requires an estimated 400 000 tonnes of wheat per year to meet its demand of about 950 000 loaves of bread per day. Local annual production capacity stands at 200 000 tonnes, leaving a shortfall of 200 000 tonnes, which has to be met by imports.

Newsday

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US Government Issues Concern Statement On Biti Deportation And Arrest

Press Statement
Heather Nauert
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC

The United States government is gravely concerned by credible reports of numerous detentions, beatings, and other abuses of Zimbabweans over the past week, particularly targeting opposition activists. There should be no role for violence, intimidation, or harassment in the new Zimbabwe.

We are also deeply concerned that Zambia chose to hand over former Minister of Finance Tendai Biti to the Zimbabwean authorities, and in the face of a reported Zambian court order blocking his expulsion from Zambia.

This decision is particularly disheartening given the courage that Zambia showed in sheltering thousands of Zimbabwean freedom fighters from Rhodesian aggression in the days of Zimbabwe’s independence struggle. We will be discussing this matter with Zambia’s leaders and reviewing certain aspects of our cooperation with the Zambian government.

The Government of Zimbabwe is now responsible for Tendai Biti’s safety and welfare. We call on Zimbabwe’s leaders to guarantee Mr. Biti’s physical safety and ensure his constitutional and human rights are respected, consistent with the rule of law and Zimbabwe’s international obligations and commitments. In Washington, the United States has convoked the ambassadors of both Zimbabwe and Zambia to register our gravest concerns.

While Zimbabwe had a historic opportunity to move the country toward a brighter future for all its citizens, an electoral process marred by violence that does not respect constitutional rights and procedures is not a step toward that future.

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Acting PG Says Biti Was Treated With Respect At Arrest

Acting Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi said MDC-Alliance principal Tendai Biti’s rights have been upheld from his arrest to the time of appearing in court and that observers still in the country were free to attend court and witness the criminal justice system at work.

Biti was arrested in Zambia on Wednesday and brought to court to answer to the charges of prematurely announcing election results and inciting political violence.

In a statement, Hodzi said Biti was taken to court in a comfortable top-of-the-range vehicle and was treated in a humane manner.

He added that his office was apolitical and that Biti’s case was being handled professionally without any form of bias.

“We want to categorically emphasise that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is an apolitical institution and is not an agent of persecution against any politician or citizen. Zimbabwe is a peaceful country with law-abiding citizens and our duty as an agency that is involved in the preservation of law and order is to ensure that peace prevails.

“As regards Mr Biti, he was arrested by the police and brought to court for initial remand.

“We believe that he has been treated in a befitting and humane manner while in the custody of the police. He was brought to court safely and unharmed as should be the case. Due process was followed and his rights were upheld,” said Hodzi.

The prosecution boss said thousands of election observers in the country were free to observe the court proceedings in the spirit of transparency.

“There are close to 6 500 international observers and almost 1 000 journalists present in our country and they are welcome to see Zimbabwe’s criminal justice system at work.

“We believe that we have maintained a rigorous respect of human rights during the entire election period. We certainly have nothing to hide,” he said.

Hodzi expressed concern at the behaviour of Biti of fleeing the country after being invited to the police. He described the conduct of Biti, a senior lawyer, as political posturing.

“We are, however, of the view that Mr Biti’s conduct was regrettable. He is a legal practitioner who knows the law and what due process entails.

“If a citizen is asked to report to the police to assist with investigations, he ought to do just that. Mr Biti chose to run away and seek asylum in Zambia instead of reporting to the police to assist them in their investigations.

“We believe that Mr Biti’s conduct is tantamount to political grandstanding. Acts of political grandstanding will not be allowed to usurp public peace and good order. If such conduct is contrary to the law, then the National Prosecuting Authority will not hesitate to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. We will do so in an apolitical manner, without fear or favour,” he said.

Hodzi said Biti’s colleagues in politics were safe in Zimbabwe and that his fleeing to Zambia was unwarranted.

“We believe there was no need for him to flee to Zambia. He was not in any danger. Other politicians are here and have come to no harm. They are still enjoying the peace in our country like everybody else,” he said.

The State did not oppose bail in Biti’s case.

State media

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Chamisa Court Challenge, Commissions To Run Local Authorities

Paul Nyathi|Realising the inevitable presidential election challenge by the opposition MDC Alliance that will delay the swearing in of president elect Emmerson Mnangagwa and consequently that of councillors, government has appointed commissions that will preside over local authorities around the country, an outgoing Cabinet Minister said yesterday.

In an interview with the state media, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, July Moyo, said the appointments of the commissions to run rural and urban councils was with immediate effect.

He said Section 143 of the Constitution as read with Section 158 of the Rural District Councils Act (Chapter 29:13 and Section 80 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) provides that local authorities will be presided over by commissions prior to the swearing in of new councillors.

“Yes, its necessary (the appointment of the commissions) because oversight must never be lost in these rural district councils, local boards, town councils, municipalities and cities in the absence of councillors,” said Min Moyo.

“So Government has tasked able people who we think can work for the best of the rate payers prior to the swearing in of new councillors.”

Members making up commissions include businesspeople, traditional, church and community leaders who will be assisted by District Administrators in their respective districts.

“The (commissions) should be guided by the following terms of reference, namely to preside over local authorities on an interim bases until a new council is sworn in and to strictly adhere to existing statues in all council activities and operations.

“To avoid making far reaching decisions on behalf of the local authority without consulting the Ministry. They shall not engage in land or stands allocations, not to enter into agreements involving joint ventures, not engage in acquisition and or disposal of council property, not employ new staff and not deal with tenders,” reads part of the appointment letter.

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Mnangagwa Says He Knows The White City Bombers And Will Deal With Them

People behind the June 23 bombing at White City Stadium in Bulawayo which killed two people and left scores of Zanu-PF members with severe injuries are now known and will be dealt with soon after the current electoral processes are over, President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

The bomb was detonated soon after Mnangagwa finished addressing a ZANU PF really and members of the VIP were leaving the stage. The bomb almost wiped the party’s top four leaders.

Mnangagwa revealed this while addressing ZANU PF candidates who won in the July 30 harmonised elections.

“We now have the knowledge on who did it. We want the current (electoral) processes to pass then we will deal with that matter,” said Mnangagwa.

But we want to thank God that Vice President Kembo Mohadi who was also injured in the bombing is here with us today otherwise we could have died together in Bulawayo in that incident.

“We lost two colleagues and some were seriously injured. We still have two who are still in a critical condition. Our chairperson (Oppah Muchinguri) Kashiri was also seriously injured. Our doctors here recommended that they be transferred to South Africa. Muchinguri-Kashiri was the first to be discharged and we are happy that she is also back with us here.

“Marble Chinomona also went to South Africa, but she said she is now fine. Uyu limping Jack watave naye pano (VP Mohadi) is coming in the public for the first time. He was in great pain and he has not yet fully recovered but because he is a soldier we are with him here today. He lost his brothers during that time and we encouraged him to take a rest. We hope that he we will quickly recover because we want him back at work. So Cde Mohadi we love you and get well soon,” said Mnangagwa.

State media

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Mugabe’s Child Caught Cheating, Ends Relationship

Robert Mugabe Jnr and his South African model girlfriend Tshego Moloto may have broken up after he cheated on her.

Although it could not be established when Mugabe started dating his new girlfriend, the new relationship gave Moloto a huge heartbreak.

Moloto revealed her break up with Mugabe Jnr through a question and answer segment on her Instagram page where she revealed how she dealt with the breakup and what she knows about the new girlfriend.

One follower asked the former Miss SA regional finalist whether she was single or taken and she replied that she’s single prompting her followers to probe with questions concerning her relationship with Mugabe as they constantly publicly displayed affection.

Moloto said she had finally gotten over the heartbreak and was now ‘fully’ single.

“If a lady is going through a break up, girl cry, surround yourself with genuine positive energy, buy yourself a new book, get into the gym, keep your mind busy and most importantly God, speak to the highest power.

“But when you feel like breaking down and crying just cry, I promise you will be okay, I mean look at me now!” said Moloto hinting that she went through a torrid break up.

Moloto said she knows Mugabe Jnr’s new girlfriend describing her as a ‘very nice girl who is breathtakingly beautiful.’

“When you genuinely love an individual you respect their choices and give them space to live how they want.

“After a break up, an ex-partner is not responsible for your feelings, it’s really up to them to do what they want. I’m not an enemy of progress and I genuinely want to see him fully happy,” said Moloto.

However, Moloto seems to be still holding on to some hope of a reunion. Asked whether they will get back together or not, Moloto said “What is meant to be shall be, God is in full control.”

Moloto has since deleted her pictures with Robert Mugabe Jnr on her Instagram page.

Regardless of the break up, the 22-year-old model confirmed that she is still a model at XGX, Robert Mugabe Jnr’s label.

DailyNews

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Chivayo Goes To The High Court

Businessman and Intratrek Zimbabwe Private Limited director Wicknell Chivayo’s lawyers have approached the High Court seeking bail pending appeal, arguing bail is a statutory right, which derives from the Constitution and cannot be denied unless they are compelling reasons.

Chivayo, who is being accused of defrauding Zimbabwe Power Company of over $5 million, money-laundering and violating exchange control regulations, was denied bail by Harare magistrate Mr Elias Singano.

Denying Chivayo bail, Mr Singano said the businessman was a flight risk.

Lead defence counsel Advocate Lewis Uriri confirmed filing the application for bail pending appeal at the High Court yesterday.

“We contend that there is no prospect whatsoever for a conviction,” said Adv Uriri. “To hold, as the magistrate did, that a remand court is only concerned with the allegations, which by description are serious, is such a gross misdirection that no court acting properly would have reached that conclusion.”

Adv Uriri said the finding that Chivayo was fleeing was not supported by evidence.

“The finding that surrendering of the passport and reporting conditions would not serve the interests of justice because of the porous nature of Zimbabwe’s borders and the overall determination that the applicant is a flight risk are on the facts, the evidence and the law, so grossly unreasonable as to suggest that the learned magistrate must have taken leave of his senses,” he said.

“The misdirection is so gross that it has to be vacated in the interest of justice and the applicant admitted to bail on the terms set out in the draft order.”

In his ruling, Singano said Chivayo was a globetrotter and could skip the country to dodge prosecution.

Singano also noted in his ruling that Chivayo attempted to flee the country when he was fully aware that the police were looking for him.

Chivayo, he said, never tried to surrender himself to the police despite knowing that the police were looking for him.

Chivayo was remanded to August 17, pending trial.

The State said the charges arose after Chivayo’s company, Intratrek Zimbabwe, was corruptly awarded the Gwanda Solar Power plant tender by ZPC at the instigation of the then Minister of Energy and Power Development, Samuel Undenge.

It is alleged Chivayo failed to execute the project despite getting $5 607 814, 24 from Government.

State media

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Botswana’s Sitting And Former Presidents To Grace Mnangagwa Inauguration

By Own Correspondent| The Botswana government has confirmed that President Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi, and Former Presidents Festus Mogae and Seretse Khama Ian Khama will be attending the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa which has been scheduled for Sunday 12 August.

In a statement, the government of Botswana said,

“PRESIDENT MASISI TO ATTEND MNANGAGWA INAUGURATION WITH FORMER PRESIDENTS

The Office of the President wishes to inform that His Excellency Mr. Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi, the President of the Republic of Botswana, will travel to Harare, Zimbabwe on Sunday, 12th August 2018 to attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the President-Elect of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Mr. Emmerson Dambuzo Mnangagwa, following that country’s historic elections held on 30th July 2018.

Accompanying His Excellency the President on the trip will be Former Presidents H.E. Mr. Festus G. Mogae and H.E. Lt. General Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama aboard the Presidential Jet, OK1, at His Excellency’s invitation.

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, and the Deputy Secretary General of the Botswana Democratic Party, Honourable Shaw Kgathi, will also be part of the President’s entourage.”

His Excellency the President and delegation will return to Gaborone on the same day.”

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US President Donald Trump Signs ZIDERA Into Law

By Own Correspondent| U.S President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Ammendmend Act of 2018.

Wrote the White House:

“On Wednesday, August 8, 2018, the President signed into law:

S. 2779, the “Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act of 2018,” which amends the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001.”

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Mnangagwa Says Biti Was Released After His Intervention| Does This Make Him A Hero Or Zero?

ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has claimed that MDC Alliance Principal Tendai Biti was released following his intervention.

He made this announcement in his official statement released below:

STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF TENDAI BITI

Tendai Biti was released earlier today following my intervention. At such a crucial time in the history of the new Zimbabwe, nothing is more important than unity, peace and dialogue.

Equally important, however, is an adherence to the rule of law. I repeat – no one is above the law. Thus due to the serious nature of the allegations of incitement, due process will continue.

I call on all parties to immediately cease from all forms of incitement to violence, and to conduct all activities solely within the framework of the law. All Zimbabweans must join us now in striving for unity, peace and reconciliation. Peace is paramount

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Mnangagwa Says: “Biti Was Released Following My Intervention”: | THIS MAKES ED A HERO OR A ZERO?

By Own Correspondent| ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has claimed that MDC Alliance Principal Tendai Biti was released following his intervention.

He made this announcement in his official statement released below:

STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF TENDAI BITI

“Tendai Biti was released earlier today following my intervention. At such a crucial time in the history of the new Zimbabwe, nothing is more important than unity, peace and dialogue.

Equally important, however, is an adherence to the rule of law. I repeat – no one is above the law. Thus due to the serious nature of the allegations of incitement, due process will continue.

I call on all parties to immediately cease from all forms of incitement to violence, and to conduct all activities solely within the framework of the law. All Zimbabweans must join us now in striving for unity, peace and reconciliation. Peace is paramount.”

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“Everything Points To A Too Powerful Chiwenga”

A national army should be a beacon of peace and discipline, an epitome of protection and professionalism writes Frazer Muzondo.

He queries why the “trigger happy” army is so keen to intervene in the slightest of civil protests arguing that the force behind all this is a “too powerful Vice President Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga”.

Below is the full text of his opinion piece:

“The overbearing influence of the Zimbabwe National Army on the daily operations of the Zimbabwean government must stop forthwith.

Cocky Chiwenga and other ‘retired’ army generals are covertly subjecting the country to military rule. Recently, trigger-happy soldiers usurped the duties of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and needlessly rushed to the streets where they gunned down six unarmed innocent civilians.

The level of impunity and arrogance being displayed by members of the national army is barbaric, ghastly and uncultured.

A national army should be a beacon of peace and discipline. An epitome of protection and professionalism. The army must essentially focus on protecting the country’s borders and maintaining peace.

The army must only be called in to quell a civil unrest where it is apparently and extremely a violent disturbance. And where police have exhausted all the means at their disposal.

Why is the Zimbabwean army so keen to get involved even in the slightest of civil disobedience? The influx of ‘retired’ army generals into the Zimbabwean government is a major cause for concern.

Notably Messrs, Constantino Chiwenga, Perrence Shiri, Sibusiso Moyo and two other ambassadors have recently been appointed to high ranking government positions and to the position of Vice President in the case of Mr Chiwenga.

While all these ‘retired’ senior army officials possess great experience in shooting and directing wars, they are apparently not well informed in leading a modern-day democratic society such as Zimbabwe.

Why is the constitution being abused to hire political illiterates from the army and parachuting them to ministerial and ambassadorial positions? These ‘retired’ army generals are clueless when it comes to modern-day governance, democratic tenets and the practical intelligence for international business.

With their constant disposition to using brutal force and their wanton disregard of constitutional democracy, the ‘retired’ army generals are taking Zimbabwe backwards. Who is going to free our beloved Zimbabwe from this veiled yet domineering influence by the ‘retired’ army generals?

The recent events in Zimbabwe seem to point to the fact that the coup plotter and now Vice President Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga has become too powerful and he is the one in charge. Unfortunately Chiwenga, doesn’t possess civilian skills but military skills.

It was wrong to take Chiwenga straight from the barracks straight into a civilian powerful office like that of Vice President. Chiwenga seem to be calling the shots since after the elections and he is using his military skills which must be confined in the barracks.

When soldiers killed civilians, Emmerson Mnangagwa promised to appoint independent investigators to find out who authorised the deployment of the soldiers in the streets of Harare. The riot police tried to disrupt a press conference, the president elect again sent Simon Khaya Moyo to stop them.

Therefore, the president elect is always holding a mop to try and clean up, but who is messing up? Everything points to the too powerful VP Constantino Chiwenga who Katie Hoey has rightly called for his removal from the VP post and relieve him of Defence Ministry duties that he is holding onto against the constitution of Zimbabwe as a precondition for any international support.

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Mapeza Upbeat About CAF Champions League Glory

FC Platinum players celebrate

Terrence Mawawa

FC Platinum head coach Norman Mapeza believes his current squad is capable of competing with the continent’s best teams in the CAF Champions League.

The 2017 Champions did not do well in the 2018 campaign as they were knocked out in the preliminary round after losing 5-1 on aggregate to Primero de Agosto of Angola in February.

Pure Platinum Play made just one signing during the mid-season transfer window, adding Thomas Chideu who was a free agent.

According to NewsDay, Mapeza is confident the players at his disposal can still compete at the highest level.

“I have confidence in the squad that I have. I may have wanted to rope in one or two players with champions league or international football experience, but I still believe the current squad can compete,” he said.

“It is also a chance for us to gain exposure at a continental level.”

FC Platinum were handpicked to represent the country in the continental club competition by virtue of being the defending champions following adjustments on the CAF calendar.

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I Still Have A Long Way To Go – Dzvukamanja

Terrence Mawawa

Bidvest Wits striker Terrence Dzvukamanja says he still has a long way to go although he is in top form.

Dzvukamanja is cautious not to be flattered by his dazzling form.

The 24-year-old joined the Clever Boys from Ngezi Platinum Stars in June and scored his first goal on Tuesday. He has also made two assists in the two games he played so far.

In an interview with The Herald, Dzvukamanja said he would remain modest.

“I am happy to have started my Absa Premiership debut season on such a high note, this is what I have been praying for,’’ he told the newspaper.

“Here the competition is stiff, but when you start the season like this way, you can only hope to continue like that.

“But what is very crucial at this stage is the fact that it is still too early to start talking about big things.”

“I just hope I won’t be flattered by what I have done which I think is not the best that I can deliver,” he added.

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Mnangagwa Dumped By Own Ally As Political Tension Soars

 

Terrence Mawawa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s long time business partner Peter Hain has castigated the Harare authorities for heavy handed treatment of MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti.

In a Twitter message Hain attacked Mnangagwa for failing to fulfil his promise of a new Zimbabwe.

“Treatment of Tendai Biti is terrible and oppressive: with army killings last week and police forced dispersal of journalists at MDC press conference Emmerson Mnangagwa is not fulfilling his promise of the new Zimbabwe era.”

Hain has also denied having a business relationship with
Mnangagwa although it is understand he is involved in some business dealings with Mnangagwa
through South African businessman Zunaid Moti who owns the Moti Group.

Mnangagwa, his deputy Constantino Chiwenga and the Zimbabwe
Defence Forces are believed to have helped the Moti Group to set up the African Chrome

Emmerson Mnangagwa

Fields (ACF) in the Midlands Province.

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Chamisa Urges Ramaphosa To Resolve Zim Political Crisis

 

Terrence Mawawa

As political pressure continues to mount, MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa has contacted South African President and SADC chairperson Cyril
Ramaphosa to stop the harassment of opposition politicians in the country.

Last week six civilians were shot by military personnel in the capital, Harare while several people were assaulted during a ruthless post election crackdown.

In a tweet, Chamisa said the persecution of MDC Alliance officials by the State was totally unjustified and unacceptable. He urged Ramaphosa to intervene in the current political crisis

Soldiers Beat Up Civilian In Harare Protest

“The persecution of leaders Tendai Biti, Komichi, Chidziva and other party officials by the state is unjustified and unacceptable.I raised this matter with President Cyril Ramaphosa whom we count on to persuade the perpetrators to halt this unmerited persecution. The weak terrorize!”

Biti was arrested at Chirundu Border Post yesterday. He was deported from Zambia as he sought asylum in that country.

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BREAKING- Biti Charged With Inciting Violence, Announcing Poll Results, Granted 5k Bail

By Own Correspondent| MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti was this afternoon hauled before a Harare magistrate and charged with inciting violence and illegally announcing poll results.

Biti, who appeared handcuffed at the Harare magistrates court was granted $5 000 bail and ordered to surrender his passport and title deeds.

He was also ordered to report twice daily at the police station, not to interfere with witnesses and not to address any political gathering.

The State did not oppose bail.

This is a developing story. Mire derails to follow.

Refresh this page for updates.

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‘We Denied Biti Asylum Because SADC Endorsed Zim Polls’

 

Terrence Mawawa

Zambia’s Information and Broadcasting Services Minister and Chief Government Spokesperson, Dora Siliya has said that the government of that country has denied asylum to Tendai Biti because
there is no threat to the lives of citizens in Zimbabwe.

Her remarks come at a time hundreds of opposition supporters are being harassed by government agents. Last week six civilians were shot by Zimbabwean troops, sparking international outcry.

Siliya also claimed there was stability in Zimbabwe and added the
elections had been described as free and fair by SADC.

However, she did not explain why the
Zambian government had defied a court order from its own High Court and handed over Biti to the Zimbabwean authorities

“Govt denied Tendai Biti asylum
because there is no breakdown of law and order in Zimbabwe. Citizens lives not under threat.SADC said elections were free and
fair,” wrote Siliya on Twitter.

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MDC Agent Flees Zanu PF Terror

Terrence Mawawa

An MDC election agent is fearing for his life following numerous raids by Zanu PF youths at his homestead.

The MDC Alliance agent, Tinashe Javangwe, of ward 3 Zaka North has since sought refuge in Masvingo after several attempts on his life.

“I was an agent at Chimedza Primary School Polling Station and senior party officials requested a report on the situation on the ground.

As I was in the process of compiling the report, a group of Zanu PF youths led by one Tinashe Mashuku raided my house.

MDC agents are being tormented by Zanu PF youths and state security agents,” said Javangwe.

Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development Programmes Manager Zivanai Muzorodzi yesterday expressed concern at the increased incidence of political violence.

“We would like to appeal to political parties to exercise restraint in the aftermath of the harmonised elections. We condemn violence in the strongest possible terms,” said Muzorodzi.

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BREAKING- New Twist To Biti’s Case As Lawyer Requests For His Immediate Return To Zambia

By Own Correspondent| MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti’s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has formally requested for her client to be returned back to Zambian immigration authorities to enable her client to lodge his appeal for political asylum at the country’s High Court.

In her argument, Mtetwa said the return of Biti to Zimbabwean authorities and the ZRP was not only unconstitutional but a breach of SADC protocol and various other international law on the protection of refugees.

Below is the full text of Mtetwa’s correspondence:

 

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Ramaphosa To Grace Mnangagwa Inauguration

By Own Correspondent| South African President will this weekend be in Zimbabwe to attend the inauguration of President elect Emmerson Mnangagwa.

President Ramaphosa revealed that he will from 09 to 10 August 2018 undertake Working Visits to the Republic of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to hold consultative meetings with President Edgar Lungu and President Joseph Kabila respectively before proceeding to Zimbabwe to attend President elect Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration in Harare.

Pencilled for the 12th of August 2018, Mnangagwa’s inauguration follows the declaration by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission that he won the just ended harmonised polls by 50.8 percent.

However, the MDC Alliance Presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa is challenging the elections outcome arguing that he won the election. Chamisa’s lawyers are however yet to lodge their constitutional court challenge.

Said President Ramaphosa:

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UK Engages Zimbabwean And Zambian Authorities Over Biti’s Safety

Tendai Biti

By Own Correspondent| UK diplomats have revealed that they are closely following MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti’s case engaging the Zimbabwean and Zambian authorities over his safety after he was denied political asylum in Zambia yesterday and handed over to Zimbabwean authorities.

Tweeted the UKinZimbabwe:

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“Zimbabwe Is A Stable Country And There Is No Threat To Citizens’ Lives”: Zambian Chief Government Spokesperson

Dora Siliya

By Talent Gondo| Zambia’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government Spokesperson, Dora Siliya has revealed that her government denied asylum to MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti because Zimbabwe was a stable country whose recently held harmonised elections had been declared free and fair by SADC.

Siliya said the deportation was also premised on the fact that “there existed no threat to the lives of Zimbabwean citizens”.

However, she did not disclose why the Zambian government had defied an order from its own high court to stay all deportation procedures until the matter was heard at the High Court a development which saw Zambia handing over Biti to the Zimbabwean authorities.

Writing on Twitter, Siliya said,

“Govt denied Tendai Biti asylum because no breakdown of law and order in Zimbabwe. Citizens lives not under threat reason no influx of asylum seekers. SADC said elections free and fair. Post-election violence suspects (6 died) to appear before courts and is internal matter.”

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ZEC In A Fix Over Chegutu West Election Results Error

By Talent Gondo| The country’s elections body (ZEC) has been plunged in a legal battle after it erroneously declared Zanu PF candidate for Chegutu West Dexter Nduna as the winner of last week’s elections ahead of MDC Alliance’s Gift Konjana.

The error, which was committed by the district election officer identified as Maisiri, has left the commission faced with a legal challenge which could add more questions around the election’s credibility.

According to information availed to a local publication, Konjana is dragging ZEC to court after the commission “erred” by announcing Nduna as the MP and refused to reverse the result, saying only an electoral court could do so.

“At law, once a person is declared a winner, no one other than the court can reverse that. What is now clear is that if Konjana is very sure that he won, he could go to court and push for either re-election or him being declared winner,” a senior ZEC official said.

Initially, ZEC provincial officer Austin Ndlovu confirmed that Chegutu district election officer told him that there was an anomaly in the tallies announced and said that he was waiting for a comprehensive report on the issue.

Pressed further if ZEC was going to reverse the final results, Ndlovu said it was too early to comment, but insisted that if it turned out that there was an anomaly, ZEC would rectify the mistake.

According to a V23 form — the basis upon which the declaration was made — Nduna won the seat by 10 932 votes ahead of Konjana who garnered 10 828.

The MDC Alliance candidate has alleged a tabulation error occurred and prejudiced him of 120 votes erroneously awarded to one Simon Kache of UCADPGPZ. Information at hand suggests that Kache got a single vote at a polling station while Konjana polled 121, but the data was mixed up. Had the mix-up not occurred, Nduna could have lost the race by four votes, but he won by a margin of 116 votes.

The Zanu PF MP and his lawyers are challenging the attempt to reverse the victory, saying the district election officer should be held liable for failing to do his work properly and such a failure should not affect their victory.-Newsday

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Military Men Assault Biti’s Lawyer, Also Deflate His Car’s Tyres | BREAKING NEWS

NATIONAL, BUSINESS, BREAKING

“Zimbabwe Military Intelligence assaulted Unite Saizi, the lawyer and the person he (Tendai Biti) is with. They were in a vehicle which was following the vehicle Tendai Biti is in. They deflated his tyres and confiscated the phone of his companion. This happened about 50 minutes ago…They are driving in the direction of Harare. I spoke directly with Saizi,” said MDC official Yvonne Mahlangu Gwashavanhu.

WATCH VIDEO:

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“Treatment Of Tendai Biti Terrible And Oppressive”: Peter Hain

By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s business partner and former British Cabinet minister, Peter Hain has described as terrible and oppressive the treatment of MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti alleging that recent political developments in Zimbabwe are not fulfilling the promise of a new era in Zimbabwe.

Hain, who is an ex officio member of the Moti Group, which is a major shareholder of African Chrome Fields (ACF),  a company which operates in Kwekwe, Midlands province was in Zimbabwe in May 2018.

WATCH VIDEO:

Said Hain:

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Suspended Prosecutor General Goba Resigns

Susoended Prosecutor General Advocate Ray Goba who was set to appear before a tribunal to ascertain whether he was still fit to continue as the country’s top prosecutor, has resigned.

Adv Goba tendered his resignation letter yesterday.

Justice and Parliamentary Affairs permanent secretary, Mrs Virginia Mabhiza confirmed the development but referred all questions to the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda who was not immediately available for comment.

Sources said Adv Goba tendered his resignation to the Chief Secretary yesterday.

Adv Goba was facing charges of failing to prosecute high profile corruption cases forwarded to his office by investigating agencies, sneaking out of the country without Cabinet authority, entering Namibia despite being a prohibited immigrant in that country and using abusive language as well as insulting lawyers. The PG’s suspension followed recommendations made by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to the President to set up a tribunal to investigate him for alleged misconduct.

Adv Goba was suspended from office in terms of Section 187 (10) of the Constitution.

“Please be advised that by virtue of provisions of Section 259 (7) as read with Section 187 (3) of the Constitution, His Excellency the President has appointed a tribunal to inquire into the question of removing you from office of Prosecutor General,” read the suspension letter.

“Accordingly you are suspended from office with immediate effect in terms of section 187(10) of the Constitution until the President on the recommendation of the tribunal either revokes the suspension or removes you from the office of the Prosecutor General.”

The JSC during its Extraordinary General Meeting held on July 12, noted that the allegations against Advocate Goba necessitated the need to have an inquiry into his suitability to continue holding the office of Prosecutor General.

Adv Goba is alleged to have on more than one occasion travelled out of Zimbabwe to Namibia without obtaining the necessary Government approval.

He also on more than one occasion allegedly entered Namibia despite him being a prohibited immigrant in that country.

Adv Goba was also alleged to have violated his constitutional obligation by refusing to prosecute corruption related cases initiated by investigating agencies. He is alleged to have given various excuses for failing to prosecute the cases. Among the high profile corruption cases Advocate Goba was alleged to have refused to prosecute is that of former Higher Education Deputy Minister, Dr Godfrey Gandawa and that of former Home Affairs and Finance Minister, Ignatius Chombo.

The dockets of the two accused are among many that were completed long back according to sources.

Adv Goba was declared a prohibited immigrant in 2011 while working in Namibia as Deputy Prosecutor-General and legal services director in case number A118/2011 but was allegedly travelling to that country without Cabinet Authority. The PG was also accused of putting his office into disrepute by trading insults with lawyers and there are claims that he allegedly insulted Prophet Walter Magaya’s lawyer Mr Nyikadzino Simango.

President Mnangagwa appointed a three-member tribunal to establish whether or not suspended Prosecutor-General Adv Ray Goba is still fit to continue as the country’s prosecution boss. The tribunal that was to be chaired by retired High Court judge Justice November Mtshiya, also had Advocate Takawira Nzombe and another lawyer Ms Wendy Chingeya.

State media

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Zambian Courts Intervene In Biti Case

By Paul Nyathi| Despite failure in the end, a ‪Zambian court briefly put on halt Tendai Biti’s deportation back to Zimbabwe after the Zambian government refused to grant him political asylum on Wednesday.

According to international laws on asylum of the country denies him asylum they should allow him to go to another country and not deport him to the country he is fleeing from.

The court will decide on Thursday on how to handle the matter.

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State Security Agents Harass Chamisa’s Lawyers

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s lawyers yesterday claimed they were under siege from suspected State security agents, who were trailing them in a bid to instil fear and scuttle their plans to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent victory.

Chamisa’s chief lawyer, Thabani Mpofu, told journalists in Harare that his team of lawyers had been subjected to nocturnal visits from suspected State security agents since last Monday when they rejected the “fake results” announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), confirming Mnangagwa as winner of the presidential race.

“There are, however, attempts to harass our team. I am harassed, my team is harassed. I wish to let those who are involved in the harassment to know that we are unperturbed. We do not fear them, we are not intimidated, we do not fear people who fear us,” he said.

Mpofu vowed his team would not be distracted from pursuing the matter at the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) as they seek to overturn Mnangagwa’s election victory.

“We also are not afraid of ensuring that the backbone of our democracy, namely the electoral process, is given full effect.

“This is something we are prepared to do and if it means addressing the ConCourt while wearing prison garb, we are happy to do so. If it means addressing the ConCourt while on death beds, we are happy to do so. If it means addressing the Constitutional Court with half our limbs, we are happy and ready to do so.”

Mpofu added that the security agents stormed the party headquarters last week in a bid to “steal” the evidence the opposition had gathered to prove that the polls were rigged in favour of the ruling Zanu PF party.

“You will also notice that there has been an attempt to destroy our evidence. Too late guys, you should have done that before the elections. The evidence is secure and there is nothing that is going to happen.

“You will also notice that there are some warrants that purport to deal with matters of violence and yet, when you look at those papers, they talk about computers. What kind of computer would be used in the commission of acts of violence and aggression? You can see the intention is to access the data that we have.”

Chamisa’s team, which includes local and foreign lawyers, believes the tailgating, harassment and panic buttons pressed by the security agents point to the fact that they were aware of the manipulation of the vote.

“Those desperate attempts speak to the fact that there is something that these people want to hide. It’s that something that they want to hide that we are going to fully expose, so many people are going to be embarrassed,” Mpofu said.

But Zanu PF has dismissed Chamisa’s election rigging claims and dared him take the matter to court if he had evidence.

The ruling party has already started preparations for Mnangagwa’s inauguration on Sunday in case Chamisa fails to file his court challenge by tomorrow.

But Mpofu insisted the situation was under control and they were ready for the challenge.

“The anti-rigging mechanisms have taken effect and have assisted us greatly in showing where things went wrong. They have assisted us in establishing that there was mammoth theft and fraud. The theft is both gross and crass and for that reason and taking into account that Zimbabweans are entitled to a proper election, the results announced and declaration made by Zec are going to be challenged.

“The evidence that we have amassed is so clear, it’s so convincing. We are happy with it, but this being a matter of processes and legal procedures, we are going to place all that evidence before the courts.”

Chamisa’s lawyers said they would seek to discredit figures released by Zec through subjecting them to a mathematical test to prove that they do not add up.

They will also move further to query gaps reflected at polling stations where votes amassed were more than registered voters.

“The evidence derives from source documents and from Zec’s own figures, which in our view are grossly made up [and] mathematically fail to tally. Apart from that, we also have our secret weapon, which we are going to unleash through this court challenge and you are going to see it,” Mpofu said.

A report released by Zimbabwe Elections Support Network shows that at more than 2% of polling stations, the figures of votes cast are above those of registered voters.

Newsday

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Bulawayo Resident Sues Minister On Water Supply

A RESIDENT from Bulawayo’s Pelandaba West suburb has taken Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to court over delays in connecting water and sewer to some parts of the suburb.

Mr Nylon Gatsheni (50) has through his lawyers Dube Banda, Nzarayapenga Legal Practitioners, filed a court application at the Bulawayo High Court citing Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri, BCC and Edmund Campion Takawira Shonhiwa, the land developer of Pelandaba West Housing Project, as respondents.

In papers before the court, Gatsheni is also seeking leave to institute a class action in terms of section 3 of the Class Actions Act and section 85 of the Constitution allowing him to rope in 37 other residents to collectively mount the legal challenge.

Gatsheni wants the court to direct the respondents to speed up the connection of water and sewer, arguing that the delay was a health time bomb ready to explode.

In his founding affidavit, Gatsheni said due to the respondents’ delay to connect water, he is now forced to buy water from neighbouring suburbs at an average cost of $15 per month.

“The lack of water and sewer connection at Pelandaba West is a recipe for a health disaster. They are 37 individuals who are members of the class of persons aggrieved by the actions of the respondents in failing or neglecting to connect water to the residents of Pelandaba West Housing Project,” he said.

“I am a pensioner and will mostly encounter serious challenges to enforce my claim as an individual since I do not have enough resources to mount a legal challenge against the respondents. A class action is the appropriate recourse to enforce my right.”

Gatsheni said the respondents’ actions were a violation of his fundamental right to safe, clean and potable water.

“The State is obligated to take reasonable legislative and other measures within the limits of the resources available to it, to achieve the progressive realisation of this right. The positive duties are imposed on the State by section 7 (a) of the constitution as read with section 6 of the Water Act and section 183 of the Urban Councils Act,” argued Gatsheni.

He said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri is expected to fulfil her obligation by taking meaningful steps to address the issue of water.

“The Government must ensure that organisations such as BCC that has a responsibility to supply and distribute water in accordance with the law are afforded the resources to enable them to do so. The Minister has the primary responsibility to ensure that the institution that she delegates to supply water is equipped to carry out the mandate,” he said.

Gatsheni said the class of people whom he is representing in this case, are low income earners.

“I submit that in all the circumstances of this case a class action is appropriate and I pray for an order in terms of the draft,” he said.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri, in her notice of opposition filed through the Civil Division in the Attorney General’s Office, said the applicant ought to have exhausted internal remedies first before engaging the courts.

She said it is BCC’s obligation to supply treated water to its residents although the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) plays a restricted role of providing raw water.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate, Ms Grace Tsitsi Mutandiro said her ministry has taken steps to improve the provision of water services and is negotiating several agreements on the construction of dams and water projects.

She said Mtshabezi Dam and pipeline project, which was commissioned in October 2016, will help further boost supply to Umzingwane Water Treatment Plant thereby improving BCC’s water supplies.

“It is on that basis that the Minister cannot be said to have failed to avail water in terms of the Water Act, the constitution and international law,” said Ms Mutandiro.

She said her ministry has initiated Command Water Harvesting by drilling boreholes across the country to alleviate water challenges.

“The first respondent (Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri) is seized with the plight of Pelandaba West residents and would intervene accordingly as well as engage BCC to address the water crisis,” said Ms Mutandiro.

State media

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Gweru Typhoid Death Toll Rises

The typhoid death toll in Gweru has risen to five amid reports that more than 350 residents who contracted the water-borne disease have been treated.

Government has since taken urgent measures to address the problem which includes providing water treatment pills to every household in the city.

The move to provide water treatment pills comes after Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa condemned borehole water in the city which he said is unsafe for human consumption.

More than 350 residents have been treated for typhoid and many others are still admitted at different health institutions in the city. The first case of typhoid in the city was recorded on July 23.

Dr Parirenyatwa who visited patients admitted at Gweru Provincial Hospital, Mkoba 1 Clinic and Mkoba 13 Clinic to assess the impact of the outbreak, said patients admitted or seeking treatment for typhoid were spread across the city contrary to earlier council report that the outbreak was confined to just a section of Mkoba suburb covering Villages 15, 18, 19 and 20.

He said all households in the city should be given water treatment pills immediately as part of measures to contain the outbreak.

“We have been to the patients and it is clear that Gweru tap water and that from boreholes is not safe for drinking. We have patients some from Mkoba 1, Mtapa and Mkoba 15, 18 and 20 who are saying they fell sick after drinking water from either the tap or from the borehole. I am therefore overriding any other statement that has been issued before and declare that water in Gweru is unsafe for human consumption. We are going to provide water treatment pills and council must start providing water to residents through bowsers so that they have water to drink,” he said.

Dr Parirenyatwa said many people could not afford to buy bottled water hence the need to provide water treatment pills.

He said bottled water is at times not safe for drinking and residents should therefore embrace household water treatment for their drinking water. “We are aware that there are many illegal water connections here by residents who built houses and connected illegally to council water lines. That is also another source of contamination and council must start tracing such illegal water connections. Gweru water and sewer pipes also run near each other and that must be addressed to avoid seepages,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.

He said patients had also shown some signs not related to typhoid, a sign he said could mean that there were some harmful chemicals in Gweru water.

“We are not ruling out anything and therefore the need to be extra careful so as to leave no stone unturned. I want you to have a taskforce that meets every day as we battle to contain this outbreak,” he said.

The Gweru City Council on Monday declared an outbreak of typhoid in the city and appealed for outside assitance to contain the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Owen Ncube said yesterday that council should foot the burial bills for victims of typhoid.

“Council should have alerted residents on time and this outbreak could have been contained and probably deaths avoided,” he said.

State media

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Tafadzwa Mushunje Wins Against ZRP And Prosecutors After Being Arrested Over False Charges

By Simba Chikanza | A Harare model, Tafadzwa Mushunje has won a 3 year lawsuit against the Zimbabwe Republic Police over unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution.

Mushunje was arrested after being accused in a Facebook rumour created by a UK based woman who calls herself Viomak. The latter did not just manufacture the malicious story, she went on to report to the ZRP so they open a file, all based on her rumour. Tafadzwa Mushunje was as a result treated like a criminal, arrested and assaulted while in custody. She also suffered harassment and humiliation across the world particularly on social network forums.

She was represented by Mberi – Chimwamurombe Legal Practitioners.

– (the full story will be published on ZimEye on Thursday morning). BELOW IS A SNAP COMMENTARY … 

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Justice Minister Says ED Inauguration Preps Are In Place

Preparations for the inauguration of President elect, Emmerson Mnangagwa are in progress and the exact date will be determined by whether the opposition MDC Alliance, which is contesting the presidential outcome, files its appeal within the seven days after the announcement of the results.

The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi says even if the opposition files their appeal before the deadline on Friday, the President elect can be inaugurated within a space of 48 hours if the Constitutional Court rules in his favour.

“It is our mandate as the government to prepare for the inauguration of the President elect, and so far, we have been checking if the MDC Alliance has appealed. Up to now they have not, so we are progressing with the preparations. If the opposition fails to beat the deadline, the law is straightforward, the President elect can be inaugurated with 48 hours,” explained Minister Ziyambi.’

In the event that the MDC Alliance files before the deadline, then the constitutional court will have the final decision to stop the inauguration or allow it to be conducted within a period of 14 days.

“If they contest the outcome, the court will have two weeks to decide, but if it happens that the court decides quickly in favour of the MDC Alliance, then the inauguration is stopped to pave way for probably a runoff, but if the ruling favours the incumbent president, then inauguration will take place within 48 hours,” he emphasised.

The MDC Alliance legal team has up to Friday the 10th of this month to appeal and failure to do so will see Mnangagwa being inaugurated on Sunday the 12th of August as per government notice.

Zbc News online

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MDC Ready To Meet Court Deadline

Nelson Chamisa’s lead counsel, Advocate Thabani Mpofu says the legal advisory team is now ready to challenge in the Constitutional Court (Concourt) presidential results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, but did not specify when exactly they will be approaching the courts.

At numerous other press conferences, the MDC Alliance has indicated that they have gathered enough evidence but they continue to appeal to ordinary citizens to bring forth any evidence that might assist them in their case.

In yet another one of its now familiar press conferences, the MDC Alliance through Advocate Mpofu said it has now completed gathering information for the Concourt challenge against the presidential election outcome and they are going to approach the courts before the lapse of the seven days after declaration of results as permitted by law lapses.

Advocate Mpofu maintained that they have enough evidence and will also bring to the courts an anti-rigging mechanism that is going to prove that the results announced by ZEC do not reflect the will of the people.

“Results have now been announced and my client’s view is that the results reflect a total negation of the will of the people. The anti-rigging mechanisms have taken effect and they have assisted us greatly in showing where things went wrong, establishing that there was mammoth theft and fraud, gross and crass and for that reason and taking into account that the Zimbabweans are entitled to a proper election. That evidence derives from source documents and ZEC’s own figures which in our view are grossly made up and mathematically fail to tally,” he said.

Advocate Mpofu said they have roped in a huge team of local, regional as well as international lawyers.

While claiming that they have enough evidence, he went on to appeal to Zimbabweans who might have evidence to approach them with the data so that they use it in court.

“I wish however not going to put a bar to any citizen who wants [to bring forward evidence] in order to show the world what really happened. But from a legal perspective from an evidentiary angle, we have what we require to mount a credible challenge,” he added.

The MDC Alliance has also accused the courts of being captured and claimed that they have other means to resort to in the event that they lose the court challenge, but during the press conference, Advocate Mpofu appealed to the same courts that they have been condemning, to deliver a fair judgement.

Advocate Mpofu went on to allege that since they made it known that they will be contesting the results, they are being harassed, threatened with arrests and even trailed by some unknown people, but he said they are not going to be intimidated.

Sounding more of a political activist than a lawyer, Advocate Mpofu said he is happy and willing to be imprisoned for the party.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson, Mr George Charamba responded, saying lawyers file cases, they do not address press conferences.

Other political parties and independent candidates who contested in the presidential race have since graciously accepted the election outcome.

The MDC Alliance and its legal team has been spoiling for a fight even before the polling day and has been accusing ZEC of being conflicted and favouring Zanu PF, but they have not been able to produce the evidence to prove that.

Zbc News online

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“Zambia’s President Was The First To Congratulate ED”, Is This Linked To Biti Being Denied Asylum?

By Own Correspondent| Questions have been raised on whether there is a link between failure by the Zambian authorities to harbour MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti and give him political asylum and  developments where Zambian President was one of the first African presidents to congratulate President elect Emmerson Mnangagwa when he took power from former president Robert Mugabe.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu was one of the first African presidents to send a congratulatory message to President Mnangagwa following his inauguration on November 24 2017.

 

 

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Netone CEO Who Sued Supa Mandiwanzira Suspended

STATE-OWNED mobile network operator, NetOne, has suspended its chief executive officer Mr Lazarus Muchenje with immediate effect.

The company’s board chair Mr Peter Chingoka yesterday confirmed the suspension of Mr Muchenje but would not be drawn into divulging the reasons behind the suspension of the NetOne boss.

“It’s true (Mr Muchenje’s suspension with immediate effect and without benefits) but I am constrained to say more. I am sure you understand,” he said while responding to questions from Business Chronicle.

“Mr Muchenje has been suspended without benefits pending a hearing”.

Meanwhile, NetOne managing director for the mobile financial unit Mr Nkosinathi Ncube will be the firm’s acting chief executive officer.

Mr Muchenje was appointed NetOne chief executive officer on April 1 this year taking over from Mr Reward Kangai who was dismissed in September 2016.

The former NetOne boss was sacked for allegedly looting $11 million from the mobile phone service provider through Firstel Cellular, a company that he owns together with the firm’s other executives.

The parastatal’s board, which at the time was led by Mr Alex Marufu, resolved to fire Mr Kangai after a forensic audit linked him to several underhand dealings, including flagrant disregard of procedural airtime distribution and salary payment.

Following his appointment to the helm of the mobile network operator, Mr Muchenje was expected to stabilise the firm and increase its earnings.

A fortnight ago, Mr Muchenje was reported to have, under unclear circumstances, fired the company’s nine executives, including Mr Brian Mutandiro who was the acting chief executive officer following the departure of Mr Kangai.

Last week, Mr Muchenje was reported to have reinstated the fired executives following a directive from the board.

He was now in the process of suing six board members, the nine fired executives, Information Communication Technology and Cyber security Minister Supa Mandiwanzira and the Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet for allegedly breaching corporate governance rules.

State Media

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Biti Safe In The Hands Of The Zambian Gvt Says Zambian Media

ZIMBABWEAN opposition figure Tendai Biti is in Zambia seeking political asylum

Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji has confirmed that Senior Zimbabwean opposition figure Tendai Biti was in Zambia, but his grounds do not meet merit asylum.

He said the opposition leader has been kept in safe custody and is out of danger but emphasised that he has to go back to his country to answer charges levelled against him.

Mwebantu Zambian News

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ZANU PF Aligned Council Workers Cleared From New MDC Run Council

UNCERTAINTY has gripped a number of Zanu PF party supporters employed as casual workers at the MDC Alliance-dominated Marondera Municipality after they received text messages advising them not to report for work on Monday.

The move came after the ruling party lost massively to the MDC Alliance, which claimed 11 out of the 12 contested wards.

The casual workers were engaged in 2013 when Zanu PF took control of the municipality.

Outgoing workers’ committee chairperson Kennedy Muraicho confirmed the development.

“I heard that some workers received messages that they should not report for work. However, I heard that a dialogue was held and that a consensus has been reached to the effect that they should continue working,” he said.

A worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed receiving a text message and said they had since been advised to report for work by their party superiors.

“I got a text message on Monday morning to the effect that we should not report to work. However, today (yesterday), our ward councillor said there is nothing like that and that we should resume working,” the worker said.

Re-elected ward 7 councillor, Dominic Matangira, said the previous council resolved to trim the number of voluntary workers who were gobbling thousands of dollars in wages monthly.

“At first, we wanted to have 93 voluntary workers who are paid $4 per day. We did this under the food for work mantra, but the numbers ballooned to hundreds such that they gobbled around $80 000 per month. The voluntary workers outnumbered those on contracts, hence we resolved to trim the number,” Matangira said.

“These voluntary workers report to their ward councilors, not to council.”

Efforts to get a comment from Marondera town clerk Josiah Musuwo and chamber secretary Munashe Nyamuzihwa were fruitless yesterday.

NewsDay

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Losing Opposition Candidate Says Let ZANU PF Rule

New Patriotic Front presidential candidate Engineer Peter Munyanduri says political parties should not fan divisions and accept the outcome of July 30 harmonised elections.

In an interview early this week, Eng Munyanduri said the number of National Assembly seats won by Zanu-PF were well-deserved for a party that invested so much into the just-ended election.

Zanu-PF retained its two thirds majority in the National Assembly after winning 145 out of the 210 constituencies while the party’s presidential candidate, President Mnangagwa, received 50,8 percent of the presidential votes.

His closest rival, Mr Nelson Chamisa of the MDC-Alliance was a distant second with 44,3 percent of the total votes.

Eng Munyanduri added that there was no need for violence after a peaceful election period.

“I am equally saddened by the loss of lives and destruction of property that happened in Harare. We say no to violence. Let us accept results for now,” he said.

“In terms of victory, I think Zanu-PF deserved it. They had more campaign material than any other party in the election, including posters and fliers all over the country. They did manage to lure many voters as elections are a game of numbers.”

He said by virtue of having more than two players in the harmonised elections only one had to emerge victorious, while the rest should concede defeat.

“As long as there are two different parties involved, it become like any other game where there is a referee and rules to be followed,” he said.

“In this case Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is the referee so let us respect its decision as there will always be one winner.”

Mr Munyanduri is famous for saying he would establish a Fruit Authority of Zimbabwe aimed at providing a forest of fruit trees in the country if voted into office on July 30. “If NPF manages to come into power, it will strive to provide the following: extend/improve life expectancy through (a) 100 percent access to free and quality medical/health care for every citizen in need (b) 100 percent access to a balanced diet to all citizens and food on the table for every Zimbabwean, at least an egg, beacon and milk for every breakfast,” he said during the campaign period.

“Access to adequate food, housing and friendly health facilities. To that effect, a parastatal called Fruit Authority of Zimbabwe (FAZ) will be established. The intention is to create a fruit forest i.e. forests of fruit trees.”

Mr Munyanduri also promised to nationalise public and private firms.

“We want to nationalise all indigenised and privatised companies to ensure all companies are owned by all Zimbabweans and not just a few as promoted by the Zanu-PF indigenisation policy,” said Mr Munyanduri in his election manifesto.

He also pledged to reduce the cost of upmarket houses to less than a $1 000 for first time buyers.

Herald

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Mugabe Released After Paying $7,500 Ransom

A Ugandan businessman from Nakasongola district has regained his freedom from kidnappers after his family reportedly paid $7,500 ransom.

Robert Mugabe, a resident of Busoni village in Kituba parish, Nakasongola district of Uganda was traveling with three other business people on August 3 when he was kidnapped.

Mugabe was travelling with Patrick Bukora, a businessman from Migyera in Nakasongora district, Julius Saturday from Busia in eastern Uganda and Sauda Nassolo, a businesswoman from Kiyola, Nakasongola district.

Gunmen dressed in suspected Congolese military uniform waylaid their victims who were travelling in a truck reg. no. UAB 196J near the Southern Gate Army Barracks in Kanungu district. They were transporting fish from Kasese to Ishasha in Kanungu district.

The gunmen who emerged from Queen Elizabeth national park reportedly started shooting randomly and injured three of their victims. They kidnapped Mugabe and later contacted his family later using his mobile phone number demanding for a ransom of $20,000 for his release.

Kigezi region police spokesperson Ely Maate says Mugabe’s family negotiated with the kidnappers to reduce the ransom money from $20,000 to $7,500. He says Mugabe’s family sent the money prompting his kidnappers to escort him to Ishasha border in the wee hours of Tuesday morning where they set him free.

The Ugandan Observer

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“Attempts To Destroy Evidence That Chamisa Won The Polls Is Too Late”: Thabani Mpofu

Thabani Mpofu

By Own Correspondent| Attempts to tamper with electoral evidence which will expose how the presidential results were manipulated in favour of Zanu Pf will not succeed, MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu has said.

Advocate Mpofu said this while briefing journalists on developments regarding the Constitutional court challenge against the country’s elections body ZEC which the MDC Alliance has prepared to contest the declaration of Zanu Pf’s Presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa as winner of the just ended harmonised polls.

Said Advocate Mpofu:

“You will notice that there has also been an attempt to destroy our evidence…too late guys too late, you should have done that before the elections.

The evidence is secure and there is nothing that is going to happen. You will notice that there are some warrants which purport to deal with matters of violence and then when you look at those papers, they talk about computers. What kind of computers will show the commission (ZEC) of acts of violence and aggression?

You can see that the intention is to access the data that we have. That data cannot be accessed. That data is going to be seen for the first time in the application.

But those desperate attempts speak to the fact that there is something which these people want to hide and it is that something which they want to hide which we are going to fully expose.”

Watch the video below for the full details of the presidential results Constitutional challenge by MDC Alliance Presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa.

https://www.facebook.ZimEye/videos/1971855286208993

 

 

 

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Kabila Agrees To Step Down

Paul Nyathi|After years of uncertainty, president Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo will not run for re-election.

The government announced former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary will be the nominee for the ruling coalition’s party in the upcoming December polls. It ends speculation over whether Kabila would run again or who would replace him as leader of the central African nation if he stepped down.

Kabila came to power in 2001 after his father, Laurent, was assassinated. Subsequently, he won elections in 2006 and 2011.

He is, however, constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.

His opponents have accused him of clinging to power, and the political standoff since 2016 has seen riots and violence break across the country leaving dozens dead. The government has also blocked the internet and clamped down on social media to quell dissent. Amid the instability, investors in DR Congo’s lucrative cobalt industry begun looking elsewhere. The December 2018 elections are also coming two years behind schedule.

Speculation about a replacement for Kabila came yesterday after the 47-year-old leader held a meeting with senior coalition members at his farm outside the capital Kinshasa. In recent days, candidates have also been trickling back into the country to submit their candidature ahead of the national electoral commission’s deadline today. These include the ex-vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was recently acquitted of war crimes at the International Criminal Court.

But one key candidate still remains locked out of the contest: millionaire businessman and opposition leader Moise Katumbi has been denied entry into the country both through air and land to register for the polls. “In trying to block me, they want to deny the rights of the Congolese to a real election. I will fight,” he said.

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BREAKING – Tendai Biti Denied Asylum By Zambian Govt

NATIONAL, BUSINESS, BREAKING

MDC Alliance Principal Tendai Biti has been denied asylum.

Zambia’s Foreign Minister Joe Malanji was quoted by the BBC saying “he wanted to seek asylum but his grounds are not meritorious.”

He continued saying, “as it is, we are just keeping him for safe custody before he heads back to Harare.”

“It is not up to us to tell when he’s going back; it’s up to the Zimbabwean authorities,” he added.

ZimEye is going LIVE on the development shortly – REFRESH THIS PAGE TO WATCH

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“I Am Harassed, Our Team Is Harassed”: Chamisa’s Lawyer Thabani Mpofu

By Own Correspondent|  Advocate Thabani Mpofu who is representing MDC Alliance Nelson Chamisa in his Constitutional court challenge against the declaration by the ZEC that Zanu Pf’s Presidential candidate won the just ended harmonised polls has revealed that he is being harrased over the presidential results court challenge.

Advocate Mpofu revealed this at a press briefing in the capital Harare Wednesday morning.

Said Advocate Mpofu:

“I am harassed. My team is harassed. I wish to let all those involved in the harassing… let them know that we are unperturbed.

We do not fear them, we are not intimidated, we do not fear people who fear us. We also are not afraid of ensuring that the backbone of our democracy namely the electoral process is given full effect.

This is something that we are prepared to do and if it means addressing the Constitutional court while wearing prison garb we are happy to do so.

If it means addressing the Constitutional court whilst on death bed, we are ready to do that. If it means addressing the Constitutional court with half our limbs, we are happy and ready to do so.”

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Tendai Biti Released?

Terrence Mawawa

MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti has been released after his arrest at the Chirundu Border Post today, a South African Television Station has reported.

Biti was apprehended when he presented himself to the Zambian immigration officials where he was heading to seek political asylum.

However, as Biti had already crossed from the Zimbabwean side onto the Zambian side, he was technically on that country’s soil. This means that Zimbabwe has no jurisdiction – after this was highlighted, Biti was released and allowed to continue with his journey. He is reported to be on his way to Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka, where he will face an asylum hearing, according to the television station.

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Chicken Inn Secure Mega Sponsorship Deals

 

Terrence Mawawa

Chicken Inn Football Club have clinched four new sponsorship deals that are set to benefit their players and members of the technical staff, it has emerged.

The Gamecocks have entered into partnerships with Blackshark Protection Services, Bonvie Medical Aid, Zibuko Capital and National Foods Limited.

Indications are that Telecel is also likely to sign another deal with the Gamecocks.

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Chidzambwa To Name Warriors Squad For AFCON Tie

Terrence Mawawa

Warriors gaffer Sunday Chidzambwa is likely to announce the provisional squad for the AFCON Qualifier against Congo on Friday.

The game is set for September 7 in Brazzaville.
In an interview with Chronicle, Chidzambwa said he would be able to call up a provisional squad on Friday, but was also keen to have finality on his British based players.

“On Friday we ought to be calling up our squad, which we will later trim to 20 ahead of the trip to Brazzaville, but we are still waiting for feedback from the relevant authorities regarding those guys (British based) that we have identified and are keen to have,” said Chidzambwa.

The coach has previously indicated that the bulk of his squad will be made up of players that defended the Cosafa Cup in South Africa but did not rule out additions.

Zimbabwe lead Group G due to a superior goal difference after their 3-0 win over Liberia in June 2017 while DRC lie second following their 2-0 win over Congo Brazzaville

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Mnangagwa Will Shoot To Stay In Power: Hungwe Reverses Own Words Although There Is A Clear Video Evidence

By Terrence Mawawa| Despite the existence of clear party statement video evidence, the controversial Minister of State for Masvingo Province Josiah Dunira Hungwe has reversed comments he made about Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ability to use the gun to stay in power.

In May this year, a Masvingo based provincial weekly publication quoted Hungwe on what he told Zanu PF supporters that Mnangagwa had the capacity to shoot dissenting elements.

In an article titled “Mnangagwa will shoot to stay in power”, Hungwe said,”Do you know that I am the leader of the new dispensation here in Masvingo and I say ichi chinhu chedu chatakaita (this is our thing that we did). Our leader Mnangagwa is a soldier and you know that a soldier is always equipped with a gun to do whatever he wants.

If you want to run away from him he can shoot you so you should always know that.”

There is also clear video evidence at party level, of Emmmerson Mnangagwa’s own spokesman Chris Mutsvangwa making the same statement. Before a large host of foreign dignitaries in Harare on the 24th November 2017, Mutsvangwa said the army woukd assist Mnangagwa stay in power past the 2018 elections. (THE VIDEO WILL BE RESTREAMED TODAY).

But last week Hungwe denied ever making the remarks.

Josiah Hungwe

“You cannot make a story out of it, that is
not fair. I was not there when what you are reminding me was allegedly said, it is your creation so look for other people to talk to not me,” Hungwe told a daily paper yesterday.

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“We Have All The Evidence”: Chamisa

By Own Correspondent| The Presidential results announced by the country’s elections body (ZEC) which saw Zanu Pf’s Emmerson Mnangagwa being declared winner of the just ended harmonised polls are a total negation of the will of the people, the MDC Alliance Presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa has claimed.

Chamisa’s lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu said this to journalists in the capital Harare Wednesday morning revealing that all is in order for the launch of the court challenge to contest the announced presidential election results.

Said Advocate Mpofu:

“We wish to assure everyone concerned that the situation is under control. We have our secret weapon which we will unleash through this court challenge and you are going to see it. You will see what the people of Zimbabwe said on the 30th of July 2018.

We urge the nation to be calm, to go about their business. The matter has assumed a legal dimension in terms of bringing the court application.

We wish to assure everyone concerned that the situation is absolutely under control. All the evidence that we require is available.”

Watch the video below for the full statement by Advocate Mpofu.

 

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Mwonzora Sues Herald Over Mugabe Story

 

Terrence Mawawa

MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora told is suing The Herald for an undisclosed amount of money, it has emerged.

The Herald published a story
alleging there was serious bickering within the MDC Alliance over former President Robert Mugabe’s role in the coalition.

Mwonzora accused the state run paper of publishing falsehoods.

” I have formally sued The Herald
over the false story it published
yesterday (Monday). I seek exemplary damages over the malicious story.

While as a constitution maker, I respect freedom of expression, I think malicious reporting must be punished,” said Mwonzora in an interview with a daily paper.

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Biti Lawyer Reveals Chilling Details…

 

By Terrence Mawawa| MDC Alliance Principal Tendai Biti’s lawyer, Nqobizitha Mlilo has revealed shocking details of how state security agents have been harassing the outspoken politician over the past three days.

Tendai Biti

Biti was briefly arrested today at Chirundu Border Post as he was travelling to Zambia to seek political asylum. He was later released with the help of Zambian officials.

Speaking in an hour interview with a South African Television Station Mlilo said Biti ‘ s motor vehicle was shot at by suspected state security agents while his mother was harassed several times.

“Men driving unregistered vehicles have been frequenting Biti’ s residence for the past three days.

His car was shot at by state security agents and his mother was interrogated several times,” Mlilo said.

“There is no doubt that his life is in danger,” added Mlilo.

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We Won Through Hard Work- Chadzamira

Terrence Mawawa

Zanu PF Provincial Chairperson, Ezra Chadzamira has said the ruling party won the July 30 polls through hard work and commitment.

Addressing party members at a roadshow that was held to celebrate the party’ s disputed victory in the July 30 elections, Chadzamira said court processes would not stop the ruling party from celebrating its landslide victory.

Chadzamira also said President elect Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s inauguration would be held on Sunday as scheduled.

“We are on the crest of the wave as they say – because of our convincing victory in the July 30 elections.

We are mobilising thousands of party supporters to travel to Harare for the President’ s inauguration,” said Chadzamira.

The MDC Alliance is disputing Mnangagwa’ s victory citing electoral theft.

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Local, Regional And International Legal Experts On Chamisa’s Election Challenge Case

By Own Correspondent| MDC Alliance Presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa’s elections results challenge is being lodged with the input and expertise  .of local, regional and international legal experts, ZimEye has learnt.

Over 1 000 lawyers are currently working on the case which will be lodged at the Constitutional court “within the prescribed time” Chamisa’s lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu revealed.

Advocate Mpofu revealed this while addressing the media in Harare Wednesday morning.

Said Advocate Mpofu:

“This (elections results) challenge will expose ZEC. People are going to be embarrassed and exposed at the same time. The evidence in our possession is so overwhelming. ”

Watch the video below for the full statement:

 

 

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WATCH: ZRP Attempt To Destroy Chamisa’s V11 Evidence

“You will notice that there has also been an attempt to destroy our evidence. Too late guys, too late. Should have done that before the election.

“The evidence is secure and there is nothing that is going to happen. You will notice that this are some warrants which purport to deal with matters of violence and yet when you look at those papers they talk about computers. What kind of computer would show the commission of acts of violence and aggression? You can see that the intention is to access the data that we have. That data cannot be accessed. That data is going to be seen for the first time in the application. But those desperate attempts speak to the fact that there is something which these people want to hide. And it is that something which that they want to hide which we are going to fully expose.

“So many people are going to be embarrassed but ultimately, the will of the people of Zimbabwe is going to prevail. The votes cast by the Zimbabweans are going to be vindicated.”

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BREAKING- Chamisa Update On Election Results

 

By Own Correspondent| MDC Alliance Presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu will address the media today at 11:30 hrs.

ZimEye will be livestreaming proceedings at the presser.

Refresh this page to follow live proceedings of the event.

 

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New York Times Commentary: Zimbabwe’s Dubious Election

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has yet to prove that the vote was fair, creating a problem for international donors and investors whose help is desperately needed to revive the country.

Last week’s national elections in Zimbabwe were a critical test of whether President Emmerson Mnangagwa was really prepared to lead the revival of a country brought to ruin by his autocratic predecessor, Robert Mugabe. So far, the aftermath of the elections that gave Mr. Mnangagwa and the governing ZANU-PF party at least five more years in power has given little reason for celebration.

International observers charged that the playing field was not even, with coverage on state media, misuse of state resources and intimidation working in the government’s favor. Even before the results were in, Mr. Mnangagwa’s 40-year-old opponent, Nelson Chamisa, claimed fraud and pledged to challenge the results.

Still, huge numbers of voters turned out on July 30, and a host of observers spread across the country reported that the voting was a marked improvement on the systematic rigging and violence that characterized elections under Mr. Mugabe. But a delay in announcing the results of the presidential race sent suspicious opposition members into the streets, where soldiers opened fire and killed at least six. And when the electoral commission announced four days after the voting that Mr. Mnangagwa had secured 50.8 percent of the vote — just over the threshold for an outright victory — tensions rose even further, with numerous reports of beatings and harassment of opposition members.

Mr. Mnangagwa has pledged to investigate the violence, and it may be that he and his party did win roughly what the official vote count claimed. But victory was only one of Mr. Mnangagwa’s goals in the elections. The other, potentially more important, was to offer free and fair elections as convincing proof to the international community that Zimbabwe was ready to start anew.

That was a tough sell from the outset. Mr. Mnangagwa had been Mr. Mugabe’s enforcer (hence his nickname, “Crocodile”) and lieutenant for decades and so shared responsibility for many of the disastrous and brutal policies that had decimated Zimbabwe’s economy, despite its mineral riches and well-educated work force.

Mr. Mnangagwa also assumed the presidency and the leadership of ZANU-PF last November after a power struggle with Mr. Mugabe’s wife, which was resolved in his favor by a military coup. Not surprisingly, many Zimbabweans were not convinced that there would be a major difference between the 94-year-old despot and his 75-year-old ex-sidekick.

There is little likelihood that Zimbabwe’s electoral commission or courts will overturn the results, posing a difficult choice to the International Monetary Fund and other donors and investors whose help is desperately needed to sort out an economic mess that has sent more than a quarter of Zimbabwe’s citizens abroad to work.

Mr. Mnangagwa, ZANU-PF and the military have not yet struck out. They still benefit from the hope that Mr. Mugabe’s fall turned the page for Zimbabwe, and the country can finally reclaim the stability and prosperity its natural resources and educated population should have.

To keep what remains of that hope alive, Mr. Mugabe’s successors must urgently lift the questions and doubts that the elections only intensified. If he is to have any credibility, President Mnangagwa must urgently rein in the military, condemn and halt the harassment of his opponents and make the election tabulations publicly available.

New York Times

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Tension As Valerio Demands Answers From Mnangagwa On Army Deployment Against Citizens

Zimbabwe’s armed forces chief is demanding to know who ordered troops last week to break up protests against the ruling party’s election victory and why he wasn’t informed about the decision, according to three senior government officials.

General Philip Valerio Sibanda asked for an explanation from President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa, his advisers and intelligence chiefs of the events on Aug. 1 that left six people dead in the capital, Harare, and raised questions about who controls the security forces. No one shed light on what happened, according to the officials, who have details of the Aug. 3 meeting but asked not to be identified because they aren’t authorized to comment.

The military dramatically intervened in Zimbabwe’s political scene in November when it briefly took control of the southern African nation and prompted the ruling party to force long-time President Robert Mugabe step down and replace him with Mnangagwa. The commander at the time, Constantino Chiwenga, was appointed deputy president.

At the meeting with the president, Sibanda, a respected figure who commanded a multinational peace-keeping force in Angola, also wanted to know the identity of armed men dressed in ragtag uniforms that were shown on social media beating people and riding in military vehicles. He said publicly that no Zimbabwean soldier was ordered to fire on unarmed civilians and no such directive would ever be given.

“We’re witnessing what are purported soldiers, but they’re not soldiers, and we’re very busy investigating this,” Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo, a retired general, said Tuesday by phone.

Mnangagwa, who was declared the winner of the presidential vote on Aug. 3, told reporters the police were legally entitled to request the army’s assistance to maintain public order when they were overwhelmed. He ignored a question about whether he was told in advance of the deployment and promised to set up an independent probe into the violence. Army spokesman Overson Mugwusi didn’t answer calls seeking comment.
Military Affairs

The officials said Sibanda, 61, also demanded that Mnangagwa, who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, ensure members of the ruling party don’t involve themselves in military affairs and the police do their job without relying on the army’s support.

Mnangagwa dismissed suggestions that rogue elements within the government may have orchestrated the operation, possibly as part of a plot to oust him, and the national intelligence agency has thus far been unable to explain how the events unfolded, they said.

The protests erupted after the electoral commission declared the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front the winner of almost 70 percent of the directly elected parliamentary seats, an outcome the opposition said was rigged. Western and local observers said while the campaign and vote were largely peaceful, the electoral process was badly flawed.

Human rights organizations have also received numerous reports from Harare residents that men in military uniforms went door-to-door seeking members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and beating up many of them.

“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces has not deployed soldiers in any residential area to beat people up at night or any time of day,” army spokesman Mugwusi was cited by the Harare-based Daily News newspaper as saying. “If there are individuals masquerading as our members committing crime, these might be criminals bent on tarnishing the image of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.”

The police and army were scheduled to address a joint press conference on Sunday afternoon, but it never took place. The state broadcaster later cited police spokeswoman Charity Charamba as saying the briefing had been postponed to a later date due to circumstances beyond the security forces’ control.

– Bloomberg

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Magistrate Hands Out Most Interesting Judgement On MDC Activists

Paul Nyathi|One of the most interesting judgments you will read all year was delivered by Harare Magistrate Nyasha Vhitorini on Tuesday in the case of the MDC 27, who were seeking bail

In granting bail to the activists, Vhitorini said: “The state must have indicated what each particular person did. The state instead bundled all the accused into a group forgetting the court deals with individuals not groups.”

Prosecutor Michael Reza opposed bail saying that the suspects were likely to re-offend considering that MDC Alliance is still contesting the election. “Things are not normal out there,” he said.

The magistrate then delivered this devastating put down to end all arguments: “The state is trying to reduce this court into a political ring. The political situation is volatile out there not in the courts.”

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Zimbabwe Needs Help, But Must First Help Itself

Bloomberg Opinion|Zimbabwe’s hopes for an election free of violence and manipulation have been dashed, and President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa is preparing to take office under a cloud. Zimbabwe’s friends and neighbors shouldn’t look away. They still have a chance to help the country’s long-suffering people.

In the euphoria surrounding last year’s unseating of Robert Mugabe, the autocrat who crushed Zimbabwe’s economy, peaceful change at the ballot box was a beguiling prospect. But the idea that Mnangagwa (Mugabe’s vice president and one of his fiercest enforcers) and his ruling Zanu-PF party would let themselves be voted out was always a long shot. U.S., European and local monitors faulted the electoral process on numerous fronts. And the opposition coalition had problems of its own.

Under Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s output has halved since 2000. Its once-prosperous private farms were expropriated, then ruined. Unemployment swelled to 90 percent. Hyperinflation came and went, leaving a wrecked financial system with too much debt and almost no foreign investment. The government cannot go to multilateral institutions for help until it clears $1.7 billion in arrears and adopts a program of structural reform. U.S. sanctions are still in place.

Help with all this requires Mnangagwa to make the first move. For starters, he should heed calls to let legal challenges arising from the election play out and hold accountable those responsible for violence.

Beyond that, he needs to deepen and accelerate economic reform. Zimbabwe has more than 100 dysfunctional state companies that should be privatized or shut down. Government payrolls are stuffed with patronage jobs whose wages eat up almost all the national budget. Strict fiscal discipline is needed. The government should try harder to lure back more of Zimbabwe’s skilled expatriates – including those who’ve taken foreign citizenship. Stronger property rights would spur investment in agriculture.

Efforts like that could draw in the sustained external support needed to fix the bizarre currency regime that underlies so many of Zimbabwe’s economic problems. They would also serve a larger purpose, by loosening the ruling party’s grip over the economy.

Mugabe’s exit provides, even now, a real opportunity. For all its defects, this election was a significant improvement over previous contests. Over the long run, giving Zimbabweans a greater stake in their economic future will raise their expectations, increase their power at the ballot box, and improve their chances for a future as rich as the land they inhabit.

Outsiders can help, but they should tell Mnangagwa to lead the way.

Source: Bloomberg Opinion

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What The Law Says On Challenging The Presidential Election Result

In the early hours of the morning on 3rd August, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC] declared Mr Mnangagwa to have been duly elected as President of Zimbabwe. The MDC Alliance has said the result will be challenged in court.

This Election Watch outlines the time limits for bringing a challenge, the form the challenge might take and what remedies could be granted if it succeeds.

Time Limits for Challenge

According to section 93 of the Constitution, “any aggrieved candidate” may challenge the election of a President by bringing a petition or application to the Constitutional Court within seven days after the declaration of the results of the election. So Mr Chamisa and any other aggrieved candidates have until close of business on Friday 10th August to lodge their petitions or applications.

Note that under section 93 of the Constitution:

· only an unsuccessful candidate can bring a challenge.

· only the Constitutional Court can hear a challenge to a presidential election. The Electoral Court cannot do so.

Under rule 23 of the Constitutional Court Rules [SI 62/2016] the challenge must be served on the respondent [i.e. President Mnangagwa] within seven days after the declaration of the election result. So the time-limit for lodging the challenge and serving it on the respondent are the same in this case, Friday 10th August.

The respondent then has three days to file his notice of opposition with the Registrar and to serve it on the applicant. If he doesn’t he will be barred from taking any further part in the proceedings.

The applicant then has another three days to file an answering affidavit, if he wishes to do so, and file his heads of argument.

How Quickly must the Constitutional Court Hand Down its Decision?

After a challenge has been lodged and served, the Constitutional Court has just 14 days to hear and decide it [section 93(3) of the Constitution]. Its decision is final.

Constitutional Court’s Powers on Challenge

The Constitutional Court’s decision on a presidential election challenge can take any of the following forms [section 93(4) of the Constitution]:

· it can declare a winner, which means it can confirm ZEC’s declaration or declare another candidate the winner

· it can invalidate the election, in which case a fresh election must be held within 60 days – note this probably means a new election rather than a run-off, or

· it can make any other order it considers just and appropriate. This is very broad, and could cover:

o ordering a run-off election, if the court finds that none of the candidates in fact gained 50 per cent or more of the votes

o ordering a recount of the votes, if the applicant has asked for this.

Note: It is too late for the MDC to ask ZEC directly for a recount – this would have had to be done within 48 hours of the results being declared.

o making an order of costs

Note: security for the respondent’s costs in an amount of at least $5000 must be provided by the applicant within seven days of lodging his petition [section 168(3) of the Act, as read with section 28 of the Electoral Regulations, 2005].

Election Act Provisos

Although the court’s powers seem very wide, the Electoral Act puts several hurdles in the way of an applicant who asks the court to exercise them:

· The court will not set aside an election on the ground of mistake or non-compliance with the Act unless the court considers 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 [section 177 of the Act]. This will be not easy for any challenger to establish. For example, the MDC Alliance may be able to show that ZEC did not conduct the election as transparently as it should have done, and may be able to prove further that ZANU-PF misused State property for electoral purposes, dragooned schoolchildren into attending rallies and suborned traditional leaders; but it would then have to prove that all these irregularities actually affected the result.

· And on the question of transparency, the Electoral Act itself is not clear about the grounds on which a presidential election can be successfully challenged. For example, section 155 of the Act states that an election is void if electoral malpractices were committed with the knowledge, consent or approval of the winning candidate or his or her agents – but the section may not apply to presidential elections.

Overriding Constitutional Provisions

The Constitution obliges the State – which includes the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary – to take all appropriate measures to ensure that effect is given to the principles of the electoral system set out in section 157(1) of the Constitution. Those principles include that elections must be peaceful, free and fair, and free from violence and other electoral malpractices. The Constitution takes precedence over any Act. Section 3 of the Electoral Act reiterates that elections are subject to the Constitution and section 3 (a) says “the authority to govern derives from the will of the people demonstrated through elections conducted efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently and properly”. The Constitutional Court will have to read section 177 of the Electoral Act in the light of the principles laid down in the Constitution. Hence if the Court finds that there were egregious and blatant departures from constitutional principles then it will have to set aside the election whether or not the departures can be shown to have affected the result.

When will a President-elect be Sworn in?

If an electoral challenge is lodged:

If a petition or application challenging the validity of the presidential election is lodged, the President-elect’s swearing-in takes place forty-eight hours after the Constitutional Court has announced its decision on the challenge.

If no electoral challenge is lodged:

Under section 94 of the Constitution a President-elect must take the oath of office on the ninth day after he or she was declared elected. This means that the President-elect will take the oath of office as President on Sunday 12th August.

Veritas

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Kenyan Man Wanted By ZRP Insists He was Sent To Chamisa By Odinga

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s former aide Silas Jakakimba says he has never been an employee of the party.

In a tweet on Tuesday, he rubbished ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen’s reaction to events that unfolded after Jakakimba was linked to the Zimbabwe poll violence.

Ong’wen said claims that Jakakimba was sent to Zimbabwe by Raila are utterly misplaced.

But Jakakimba hit back and said he has never been an employee at Orange House.

“Whereas I’m a life member of ODM, I’ve never worked at Orange House neither am I an employee of the party,” Jakakimba said.

“I also do not answer to Oduor Ong’wen and, therefore, I will not grace his statement with a response.”

Oduor said Jakakimba travelled to Harare on his own volition and was neither representing ODM nor Raila.

He also said Jakakimba was not part of the ODM secretariat. However, Jakakimba refutes that.

“Oduor must know from today that Silas Jakakimba is formally engaged at the Raila Odinga secretariat, which has elaborate structures including, but not limited to, a highly efficient communication department,” Jakakimba said.

“It’s not his province to comment on issues he has no idea about,” he added.

Reports have been rife that Jakakimba is being sought by Zimbabwean police for interrogation after his visit during the July 30 disputed election. He dismissed the claims, saying his involvement “is not even remotely possible”.

He further said Raila had asked him to convey his goodwill message to the MDC Alliance during its last public rally before the election.

The Star

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LIVE – Military Sources Say Tendai Biti has Been Arrested At Chirundu Border

By Own Correspondent| High level military sources at Chirundu Border post have told ZimEye that MDC Alliance Principal Tendai Biti has been arrested.

Biti, they said, was arrested at just before 8am Wednesday morning.

He was in a white Toyota Fortuner with South African registration numbers, they said.

“He was about to cross over into Zambia at the time seeking to get his passport stamped,” the sources said. SEE THE LIVE SATELLITE MP:

ZimEye could not at the time of writing interview customs officials, but the sources who are usually reliable told ZimEye Biti was at the time of writing, already under police custody.

They even read out the alleged vehicle’s registration numbers which are South African. – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY – REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR MORE. – ALSO WATCH THE LIVE COMMENTARY BELOW:

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MDC Member Arrested For Burning ZANU PF Supporter’s House

AN MDC Alliance activist, who last week allegedly torched a Zanu PF supporter’s thatched hut in Watsomba, was yesterday denied bail by Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe.

Oswell James Chitere (35) was remanded in custody to August 20 after he denied the arson charge levelled against him.

It is the State’s case that last Thursday, the complainant’s daughter, Linnet Kagweda (22), who is a Zanu PF supporter, met Chitere at Watsomba business centre.

Chitere allegedly approached Kagweda with the intention of showing her videos of MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa, but the Zanu PF activist refused.

Chitere allegedly took offence and threatened to burn down her home.

Kagweda left the accused and went home to inform her mother, Raviro Kagweda (56), about the threat.

Prosecutor Fletcher Karombe told the court at midnight, the complainant woke up to find her hut on fire.

The hut was allegedly razed to the ground and she lost all the property which was inside.

– NewsDay

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Chiwenga Extends Soldiers Retirement Age, 70 Year Old Grand Fathers In The Army

Paul Nyathi|Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who doubles as Defence and War Veterans Affairs minister, last week extended soldiers’ retirement age from 65 to 70 years and classified them as “specialist military personnel.”

Chiwenga announced the changes in a Government Gazette.

“It is hereby notified that the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs in terms of Section 113 (2)(a) of the Defence Act Chapter 11:02 and after consultation with the Defence Forces Services Commission has made the following regulations: The regulations maybe cited as the (Defence Forces Regular Force) Specialist Members Amendment Regulations 2018 (No2).

“Section 2 of the Defence (Regular Force) (Specialist Members) Regulations, 1979 published in Rhodesia Government Notice 92 of 1979 (hereinafter called the principal regulations is amended by the deletion of the definition of specialist member and the substitution of ‘specialist member’ means a member of the Defence Force who holds a professional or other qualification the commander may deem to be necessary,” the notice read.

Under the new regulations, soldiers can now continue to serve in the force for up to 70 years at the whim of the President.

“The principal regulations are amended by the insertion of a new section after section 4 as follows — a member who is a specialist and has continued to serve shall retire on attaining the age of 60 years. Provided that if the President considers, that it is desirable in the public interest he or she may allow that the member who is a specialist continue to serve for another five years until he or she attains the age of 70 years,” the notice added.

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Gweru Residents Die After Using Contaminated Water

Five people have died in Gweru’s Mkoba high density suburb in a suspected case of an outbreak of typhoid.

Health authorities suspect the typhoid outbreak has been caused by use of contaminated borehole water.

The outbreak has been reported in Mkoba 15, 18 and 20, and the Gweru City Council has already declared a typhoid outbreak in the area following laboratory tests.

The city’s health authorities are urging residents to drink safe running water from the tapes but the people are not taking heed.

The ZBC News visited the affected areas where residents were attending funerals of two teenage boys suspected to have succumbed to typhoid.

The people however queried whether the disease is indeed typhoid considering that it has claimed only males between the ages of 18 and 23.

All the five people killed are male adults within that age range.

A distraught mother of one of the deceased narrated how his 21 year old son died, adding that her other son aged 18 is battling for his life at Gweru Hospital.

Due to the high number of families in need of medical attention, residents have implored health care authorities to set up a treatment camp in each suburb to cater for the affected people who are struggling to get to the nearest health care facility.

Gweru General Hospital has been overwhelmed by the number of patients and Mkoba clinic is also assisting while a treatment camp has been set up at Mkoba Polyclinic, treating victims free of charge.

Meanwhile, the local authority is continuing with investigations to establish the source of the bacteria causing the typhoid.

Zbc News

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Court Demands $5k Deposit To Appeal Presidential Election Results

LOSING presidential candidates wishing to challenge the outcome of the July 30 harmonised elections are required to fork out a security deposit of $5 000 upon filing their petitions.

Those challenging the results of the National Assembly will have to pay $2 000 while petitions lodged by candidates who took part in the local authority elections are supposed to pay $1 000.

According to Practice Direction Number 1 of 2018, signed by Chief Justice Luke Malaba, the Registrar of the Electoral Court is, in terms of section 168 (3) of the Electoral Act as read with section 28 of the Electoral Regulations of 2005, required to fix an amount of security for costs being not less than the amount prescribed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) after consultation with the Chief Justice.

“After the necessary consultations, the amount prescribed for petitions filed consequently to the 30 July 2018 harmonised elections is: (i) US$1 000 for local authority election petitions (ii) US$2 000 for National Assembly election petitions and (iii) US$5 000 for Presidential election petitions,” read the document signed by Chief Justice Malaba.

The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance claimed that it had gathered enough evidence to challenge electoral results in 20 constituencies, while results in other constituencies were still being “analysed” as the opposition seeks to overturn Zanu-PF and President-Elect Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory in the just ended polls.

Mnangagwa received 50,8 percent of the total votes cast but Chamisa, who garnered 44,3 percent of the vote, has rejected the results announced by Zec, alleging that they were manipulated.

– State media

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LIVE – BREAKING NEWS: Fresh Evidence That ZESN Is In Bed With ZANU PF

ZimEye brings fresh evidence that the so called independent NGO, Zimbabwe Election Supoort Network(ZESN) which endorsed the just ended sham elections, is actually in bed with Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ZANU PF party.

The below is brought out in the public interest to stop the shedding of blood and to also assist victims of brutality and terror. It is also to assist victims of the electoral fraud and intimidation to obtain justice.

Soldiers have on the basis of the ZESN’s endorsement, since Wednesday last week, been assaulting people perceived to be opposing the election results.

In the below, a female ZESN official reveals that she is a party member of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF party.

VIDEO LOADING…

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Zanu PF Engages 12 Lawyers To Defend Election Fraud

Zanu-PF has assembled a 12-member legal team to prepare responses to litigation by MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa, who is set to challenge results of the July 30 presidential election won by President Mnangagwa.

Chamisa has refused to accept defeat and claims to have evidence the polls were rigged in favour of Zanu-PF by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec). Chamisa has been threatening multi-thronged action ever since he lost, including litigation.

In an interview yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Finance Patrick Chinamasa confirmed the setting up of the 12-member legal team, saying the MDC Alliance’s threat of litigation was unwarranted.

“Zanu-PF has assembled a 12-member legal team to prepare responses to the unwarranted litigation being threatened by the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa challenging the validity of the Presidential vote,” said Chinamasa.

The legal team include Zanu-PF Secretary for Legal Affairs, Paul Mangwana, himself a veteran lawyer just like Chinamasa.

“Zanu-PF will defend the will of the Zimbabwean people as expressed through free, fair, transparent and credible elections that took place on 30 July,” said Chinamasa.

He said the legal team was also unhappy about the behaviour of MDC Alliance towards the judiciary.

“The Zanu-PF legal team is gravely perturbed by the utterances of the legal practitioners representing the MDC Alliance leader which are in utter contempt of the judiciary,” said Chinamasa.

“Statements by the MDC Alliance lawyer suggesting that the judiciary is under capture and biased are a direct attack on the independence of the judiciary and should be considered disgraceful, especially coming from legal practitioners, who as officers of the court, should know better.”

Chinamasa said the lawyers will soon be reported to the Law Society of Zimbabwe.

“In due course, Zanu-PF will lodge complaints with the Law Society of Zimbabwe against the legal practitioners who have crossed the line in so far as their duties to the court are concerned,” said Chinamasa.

– state media

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MDC Has Not Yet Filed Court Papers

By Paul Nyathi|The opposition MDC Alliance has not yet filed its papers with the electoral court challenging the results of the general elections held last monday.

Secretary for Legal Affairs of the Welshman Ncube led MDC a partner in the MDC Alliance David Coltart settled the matter when he issued a statement disputing reports and speculations that the Alliance had submitted its papers to the court.

Coltart did not disclose when the papers will be submitted only insisting that they will be submitted within the confines of the constitution.

The constitution stipulates that a challenge to the elections must be submitted within seven days of the election.

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Court Releases 27 MDC Members Accused Of Wed Public Violence, Magistrate Says, “The Court Can’t Be Reduced Into Political Rhetoric Best Left For Politics And The Media”

in pictures- the arrested MDC supporters.

Harare Magistrate Mr Francis Vitorini has granted US$50 bail to each of the 27 MDC Alliance supporters charged for public violence which rocked Harare last Wednesday.

Vitorini ruled that the state led by Chief Law Officer Michael Reza had failed to prove personal circumstances of each of the accused persons on the day the offence took place and also failed to pursue compelling reasons for denial of bail.

In his ruling, Vitorini also castigated the state for a systematic failure to prove the compelling grounds for denial of bail to the accused.

He said the court cannot be reduced into political rhetoric as that is best left for politics and the media.

He added that the state had failed to prove what each single individual accused persons did but only asserted that the accused had a propensity to cause disturbances whereas the defence had proved each of the accused person’s personal circumstances.

He said the state had sought a warrant of search and seizure for computers seeking subversive material at Harvest House only to arrest 19 of the accused persons who were at their place of work.

He finally ruled that bail is a constitutional right which must not be tampered with unless that there are compelling reasons and admitted the 27 to US$50 bail each.

One of the accused persons lawyers Mr Danford Halimani was upbeat following the court’s findings and said their clients had been vindicated by the sober ruling. zbc

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5 Injured As House Is Gutted By Fire

The Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mr Richard Petersen (left) and his Fire Officers inspect the Flat that was burnt at Paddonhurst suburb yesterday…. – state media
Five people were yesterday injured while property worth thousands of dollars was reduced to ashes after their house was gutted by fire in Bulawayo’s Paddonhurst suburb.

It is suspected that the fire may have been caused by a gas heater because the gas tank’s knob was open.

The Bulawayo Fire Brigade suspects that the fire started in the sitting room and spread to the kitchen.
Bulawayo chief fire officer Mr Richard Peterson said five people have been admitted to United Bulawayo Hospitals.

Two were injured while escaping from the house and three others had complications related to inhaling a lot of smoke. Mr Peterson said they received a call about the fire at around 2AM.
“Investigations into the cause of the fire are still underway although we suspect that a gas heater may have been the cause because its knob was found on. We’re suspecting that the gas heater was left on throughout the night and something happened resulting in the outbreak of the fire,” he said.

Mr Peterson warned the public against leaving gadgets such as heaters and stoves on when people retire to bed.
“It is fortunate that no lives were lost in this incident, hence, we continue to urge people to cross check both gas and electrical appliances before they retire to bed. People should never be tempted to sleep with heaters on as this is very risky. Sadly, this family has lost entirely everything to fire but we are grateful that no life was lost,” he said.

When The Chronicle news crew arrived at the scene, the fire brigade had already put out the fire.
The roof was almost collapsing.

Neighbours said the owners of the house were away at the time of the incident; the woman was attending a funeral at her rural home and the husband was at work out of town. A neighbour said family members only noticed the fire when it got to their bedrooms upstairs and they became trapped.

Neighbours had to place mattresses outside the double storey house and ordered the occupants who included four minors below the ages of 12 and a female adult aged 30 to jump out of the house through the bathroom window which did not have burglar bars.
During the process, the aunt (30) was injured and one of the children was injured on both hands.

“We thank the Almighty for sparing these children’s lives, although they have lost all their property. It is, however, surprising how the house burnt down without any of the neighbours seeing the flames,” she said.

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MDC-T Says MDC Alliance Officially Over

By Paul Nyathi|Now that elections are over, the MDC Alliance coalition is over.

This is according to a Twitter message below attributed to the MDC Alliance Deputy Treasurer General Charlton Hwende.

ZimEye could not immediately substantiate the message as Hwende was not reachable to comment on the matter.

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Is Knox Mutizwa’ s Goal Better Than Ronaldo Strike?

 

Terrence Mawawa

Warriors forward Knox Mutizwa scored a spectacular overhead kick on Sunday and the effort has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale’s goals.

Ronaldo and Bale netted similar goals during the previous season of the Champions League. The Portuguese international was the first to strike during the quarterfinals against Juventus. He went about 1,6 m airborne to connect a cross from full-back Dani Carvajal.

Bale delivered his finish during the final of the tournament against Liverpool, but the Welshman’s goal went a little higher than Ronaldo’s.

Now Zimbabwe international and Golden Arrows striker, Mutizwa emulated the two superstars, scoring an equally brilliant goal against Maritzburg United in ABSA Premiership season opener.

Unlike the two former Madrid team-mates, Knox had to control the ball with his chest first as the deflected cross was too low before going airborne.

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ZNA, ZRP Distance Selves From “Rogue” Soldiers Beating Civilians, Says They Are Criminals

Soldiers Beat Up A Civilian In Harare CBD

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have issued a joint statement denying reports that the army unleashed soldiers to beat up citizens describing these soldiers as “criminals masquerading as soldiers who should be reported to the police.”

Police Spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba and ZDF’s Director Public Relations Colonel Overson Mugwisi said the army and the police were disturbed by reports alleging that soldiers were beating up civilians in suburbs urging citizens to capture such acts on camera and immediately report the perpetrators to the police.

Said Commissioner Charamba and Colonel Mugwisi:

“We have set up standby teams that are ready to swiftly respond to such incidences.

Where possible without endangering yourself, try and capture the images of such assailants.

Some of these individuals could be criminals masquerading as soldiers. We assure the nation that we are ready to protect them through the efficient discharge of our duties.”

Below is the full statement from the ZDF and ZRP:

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Khupe Says This Was The Best Election Ever

MDC-T president, Dr Thokozani Khupe has endorsed the just-ended harmonised elections as free and implored stakeholders to move forward in rebuilding the country.

Addressing journalists in Harare, Dr Khupe said the polls were the best she had ever experienced since she started participating in elections in 2000.

She said despite the skirmishes that were orchestrated against her party by the MDC faction led by Mr Nelson Chamisa, the polls were largely peaceful.

“I have participated in elections since 2000. I can honestly say that this was my first ever election where I have slept in my bed. Since 2000, we never slept in our homes; we would move our children to South Africa. I moved my twins out of this country in 2002.

“But in this particular election, I want to honestly say that we did not have any problems. I slept at my house, most of our candidates slept at their homes. So this is the freedom that we experienced as a political party. “Whilst as a political party we had problems of violence, skirmishes, all of which were from our erstwhile cousins (Chamisa led faction), we can safely say this was largely peaceful election,” said Dr Khupe.

More to follow…

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Mnangagwa Inauguration Going Ahead On Sunday

By Paul Nyathi|President elect Emmerson Mnangagwa will apparently be sworn in on Sunday.

An invitation to the diplomatic community in the country from the President’s office was provided to ZimEye.com by sources confirming that the inauguration will definitely be taking place on Sunday.

The inauguration preparations take place at a time when the opposition MDC Alliance is threatening to lodge a court appeal against the results of the presidential election which was held on Monday last week.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission declared Mnangagwa a winner with 50.8% of the votes against close rival Nelson Chamisa who got 44.3% of the votes.

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Freelance Scribe Richmore Tera Dies

Richmore Tera

By Own Correspondent| Freelance journalist and renowned arts reporter Richmore Tera has died.

Tera reportedly collapsed and died this morning at Chitungwiza referral hospital from a yet to be disclosed ailment. He was in his early 40s.

A gifted writer and researcher, Tera worked as a freelance journalist for several media houses including Alpha Media Holdings, Zimpapers and News Of the South.

Colleagues in the media took to various social media platforms sending their condolence messages to the Tera family describing their late colleague as a soft spoken but very gifted journalist.

Mourners are gathered at Number 16610 Unit M in Chitungwiza and details of the funeral arrangements were not yet available by the time of writing.

This is a developing story. More details to follow.

Refresh this page for updates.

 

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MDC 27 Granted Bail, Magistrate Upset At The State

Harare Magistrate Mr Francis Vitorini has granted US$50 bail to each of the 27 MDC Alliance supporters charged for public violence which rocked Harare last Wednesday.

Vitorini ruled that the state led by Chief Law Officer Michael Reza had failed to prove personal circumstances of each of the accused persons on the day the offence took place and also failed to pursue compelling reasons for denial of bail.

In his ruling, Vitorini also castigated the state for a systematic failure to prove the compelling grounds for denial of bail to the accused.

He said the court cannot be reduced into political rhetoric as that is best left for politics and the media.

He added that the state had failed to prove what each single individual accused persons did but only asserted that the accused had a propensity to cause disturbances whereas the defence had proved each of the accused person’s personal circumstances.

He said the state had sought a warrant of search and seizure for computers seeking subversive material at Harvest House only to arrest 19 of the accused persons who were at their place of work.

He finally ruled that bail is a constitutional right which must not be tampered with unless that there are compelling reasons and admitted the 27 to US$50 bail each.

One of the accused persons lawyers Mr Danford Halimani was upbeat following the court’s findings and said their clients had been vindicated by the sober ruling.

Zbc News

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‘Shabba’ Joins Dembare

Terrence Mawawa

Former Tanganda FC playmaker Joseph’Shabba’ Takaringofa has joined Harare Giants Dynamos.

Takaringofa was at Mutare City during the first half of the season. Ironically he will work with his former teammate at Tanganda FC, Lloyd ‘Samaita’ Mutasa.Takaringofa is the new assistant coach for Dembare.

The gaffer was fired by the Eastern Highlands side in May due to poor results.During his olden days Shabba was an influential player on the soccer pitch.

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“Elections Largely Peaceful”: Khupe

By Own Correspondent| MDC-T president of the breakaway faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe has described the just-ended harmonised elections as free and the best since she started contesting for political office in 2000.

Addressing journalists in Harare (Tuesday), Dr Khupe said the polls were the best she had ever experienced since 2000 revealing that save for the skirmishes that were orchestrated against her party by the MDC faction led by Mr Nelson Chamisa, the polls were largely peaceful.

Said Dr Khupe:

“I have participated in elections since 2000. I can honestly say that this was my first ever election where I have slept in my bed.

Since 2000, we never slept in our homes; we would move our children to South Africa. I moved my twins out of this country in 2002.

But in this particular election, I want to honestly say that we did not have any problems. I slept at my house, most of our candidates slept at their homes.

So this is the freedom that we experienced as a political party.

Whilst as a political party we had problems of violence, skirmishes, all of which were from our erstwhile cousins (Chamisa led faction), we can safely say this was largely peaceful election.”

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Mnangagwa Under Pressure To Dismiss Chiwenga

 

Terrence Mawawa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is under relentless pressure to fire his deputy Constantino Chiwenga who is seen as an impediment to democratic processes in Zimbabwe.

United Kingdom legislator Katey Hoey has urged her government, the European Union (EU) and the United States government not to change their policies regarding Zimbabwe until Chiwenga is removed from government.

Speaking on Twitter, Hoey who is a Member of Parliament for Vauxhall said:

“There should be no change to @P_VanDamme_EU or

President Emmerson Mnangagwa

@UKinZimbabwe or American government policies to Zimbabwe government until at the very minimum Chiwenga is removed from his Vice Presidency and his control of the military.”

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Human Rights Commission Condemns Shooting Of Civilians

 

Terrence Mawawa

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has condemned the opening of fire on innocent civilians.

Below is the commission’s statement:

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC/Commission) joins the nation and other peace-loving Zimbabweans in condemning, in the strongest sense, the use of live

ammunition and excessive force on
unarmed protesting citizens by the
army on 1 August 2018.

Regrettably, we understand there was unnecessary loss of souls and property. While the Commission does not in any way support violence, hooliganism and vandalism by the protesters, constitutionally there are better ways of managing protests without infringing on the citizens’ right to life, which must
be jealously guarded by all State
institutions at all times.

The ZHRC believes that the army should be deployed when necessary for the maintenance of 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.

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Koffi Annan Speaks On Post Election Violence In Zimbabwe

Kofi Annan

By Own Correspondent| Former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan has added his voice on the ongoing violence in the country calling on the perpetrators of this violence to guarantee citizens a peaceful transition to democracy.

Annan, who was in the country from July 19 to 21 2018 where he led a delegation of “The Elders” including Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Lakhdar Brahimi, former Foreign Minister of Algeria and UN diplomat said violence was completely unacceptable calling on “those responsible to step back from the brink and give the people of Zimbabwe the opportunity of a peaceful transition”.

Said Annan:

Citizens however took to Twitter castigating Annan for failing to name the perpetrators of the violence which rocked Harare describing him as a “biased” man.

Below are some of the responses to his tweet:

https://twitter.com/jinjika_farai/status/1025290575564754944?s=19