Letters to the Editor.

Anyone who personally know the relatives of those who died on the unfortunate shooting please contact Zimbabwe Council of Pentecostal Churches, and advise us on the funeral arrangements, We need to help in a small way. Call +263 7 19382058, 0772601820, +263 7 72414902.

 

Media Statement|Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) condemns the Zimbabwe Government’s deployment of the army into the country’s major centres and mounting of roadblocks in cities and across the country’s major highways. This follows the disputed 30 July polls that have so far claimed 6 citizens following protests in Harare.

The response by the military to fire live ammunition into crowds on 01 August 208 is regrettable.

The Commissioner General of Police’s attempts to justify the deployment of soldiers arguing that the police had invoked section 37 of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) is both unconstitutional and ill-advised.

As Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, we firmly hold the view that the military must not usurp policing duties from the police.

We remain greatly worried on the safety of citizens following the shootings and the beatings of civilians in Harare and Chitungwiza.

The continued presence of the army in the streets only confirms our view that since the military coup of 15 November 2017 human security in Zimbabwe is at stake.

We are equally worried with the intimidation and assault of media personnel covering an MDC Alliance press conference at Bronte Hotel in Harare. In addition, both local and international journalists have been assaulted by the army and police while carrying out their constitutionally guaranteed duties.

Such undemocratic actions confirm our fears that the Mnangagwa administration is not sincere with ensuring that the country moves towards a more open and democratic society through reforms to state institutions and the political environment.

The events of the past 3 days after the July 30 polls are an indictment on the part of the Zimbabwe Government and the military contingent and indicate that the military government has upped its game since the June 2008 state sponsored terror which claimed more than 200 lives.

Following the military coup of November 2017, we have been clear as Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition that the only way for Zimbabwe to return to its constitutional order is to uphold the dictates of Chapter 4 of the Constitution and repeal of legislation that curtails human freedoms guaranteed by the constitution.
We reiterate our position that Zimbabwe is now a fully-fledged military state and that unleashing the military on unarmed civilians can only plunge Zimbabwe into a deeper crisis.

As CiZC, we implore regional, continental and international partners to intervene in resolving the Zimbabwean crisis which if unabated, is a potential threat to peace and stability in the SADC region and the globe at large.

For and on Behalf of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

Tabani Moyo

CiZC Spokesperson

MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa did not at all say thay he has conceded to Emmerson Mnangagwa, as claimed by the ZANU PF controlled, Herald newspaper FULL VIDEO:

The use of the Zimbabwean military to respond to political protests, or the use of the police force to disrupt press conferences, does not signal a new era, rather it echoes a dreadful past.

WASHINGTON – U.S. By Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, today released the following statement on the July 30, 2018 election in Zimbabwe:

“Over the past several days, I have had the privilege of observing Zimbabwe’s historic elections. After decades of misrule by Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe deserves to have a government worthy of its people.

“After a day of peaceful voting on July 30th, the violence on August 1st that claimed the lives of at least six people and injured many more was a throwback to the old days. The use of the Zimbabwean military to respond to political protests, or the use of the police force to disrupt press conferences, does not signal a new era, rather it echoes a dreadful past.

“In order to instill confidence in the election results, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission must now make good on its commitment to release comprehensive polling data in a transparent manner that includes results from each polling station signed off by party agents who were present for the casting of ballots and the tabulation of results. Challenges to the results must be pursued through legal channels.

“During my visit to nearly a dozen polling stations scattered throughout rural Zimbabwe, I saw citizens, some young and agile, others bent with age, walking miles for the chance to cast a vote that mattered. I saw representatives of ZANU PF and MDC Alliance sitting together, chatting amicably and helping each other keep proper tallies. In everyone I encountered, I saw the hope for a brighter, more democratic and prosperous future for Zimbabwe.

“Here’s hoping that future is at hand.”

Nelson Chamisa latest message to Zimbabweans on Twitter:

“I’m aware of your anxieties, concerns and worries.Your hopes & aspirations I so dearly carry. We won but they declared the opposite. You voted but they cheated.Over 2.5 ml votes can’t be ignored.We’re doing all to secure your vote & defend your WILL. Change is coming!#Godisinit”

By Nkosana Moyo|The message below, as much as it appears to have resonated with a lot of people on social media, was NOT authored by me or any of our APA officials.

I wish to make it clear to all that it did not come from me, and is expressed in a way I would not necessarily articulate.

If you do not see a statement on my or Alliance for the People’s Agenda – APA’s Facebook or Twitter accounts, it is probably unauthentic.

…………………………..
Nkosana Moyo’s statement below is very true

PEACE

Never take politics too seriously. The power of politics to change lives is overstated. If the fundamentals in your own life are not correct then it doesn’t matter who is the President. Work your own life and stop fighting for other people to get political Jobs.

Every Zimbabwean has to know that, the biggest beneficiaries and losers of these elections will be the politicians themselves.

You, me and every other ordinary voter will still be wearing the same clothes, sleeping on the same bed, eating the same meals and mingling with the same friendships after the polls.

As such, I would be a fool to let these elections steal away my friends and acquaintances, or destroy my social circles, or strain my professional life.

These elections may mean the end of the political careers of Joyce Mujuru, or Nelson Chamisa, or Emmerson Mnangagwa, or other politicians, but your professional career will still go on; and has to go on.

It’ll be folly to hitch your future and that of your family to the wagon that’s carrying your favourite politician’s future.

To those who do politics; Yes, be very active and vigorous in pushing for the success of your favorite politician, but equally be mindful of the fact that it’s merely politics.

It’s not war; it’s just a battle for support. Whoever wins these polls may not change the quality of your life to the same extent as your close friends, family and acquaintances do.

Remember ED, Chamisa, Chiwenga, Khupe, Nkosana etc are not even sworn enemies. They all know it’s politics. Don’t take this personally, or seriously. You’ll ruin your relations for no good reason.
After all God appoints Kings and rulers of this world.

Report on Visit to Zimbabwe by Kate Hoey MP and Conor Burns MP May 31th to June 4th 2018

Our visit sponsored by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK branch had two aims
To report on possibilities of a free and fair election and to see what the CPA branch might do to further links with Zimbabwean parliamentarians after the election.

We met with a wide range of people from Government, political parties, business and civil society as well as speaking to Zimbabweans going about their daily life both in Harare and Bulawayo. A list of who we met formally is attached.

The British Embassy arranged two specific meetings for us -one with President Mnangagwa and one with the Head of the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission (ZEC) Judge Priscilla Chigumba. Foreign Minister Moyo contacted us the day we arrived and asked us to meet him that afternoon. We had met with him during his visit to London a few weeks previously and he was keen to assure us that we would see the President. All other meetings were arranged by us through our various personal contacts from the APPG and previous visits.

It is worth remembering that elections in Zimbabwe since 2002 have been both violent and rigged. In 2008, the ZEC took more than 5 weeks to declare a result and more than 270 activists, almost all belonging to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were killed. The last national polls in 2013 were relatively peaceful but internationally regarded as rigged. There was gross manipulation of the voters roll in favour of rural voters where Zanu PF have the greatest support.

Without doubt there is a different atmosphere in Zimbabwe. Gone is the open presence of police and army. Indeed the once common police road blocks where drivers had to hand over money were virtually non-existent. The ousting of Mugabe last year by the military led to hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans coming out onto the streets to celebrate. The feeling that change had happened was widespread and overall there was an optimism amongst the general public that this would continue. The most common remark of the ‘man/woman on the street was “We want real change”!

There were a number of common concerns expressed to us about the elections.

1. ZEC and the Electoral register.

The electoral roll has been compiled with approximately 5.7 million names on it. While we were there was concern that there still was no access to the full electoral roll in an electronic form suitable for campaigning. We raised this with the ZEC and were assured that at the earliest it would be available on June 7th and at the latest June 14th. Delay was put down to the huge task of cleaning up the countless names of those who had died or never existed. (It got released to political parties over the weekend of the 14th/15th with the opposition MDC alliance only getting theirs officially on the 17th/18th June. Nominations closed for the parliamentary/Council and presidential on the 14th June and as a result of no official roll some candidates were ruled out in Matabeleland because of not being able to check properly their nominee’s names and details on the electoral roll.

We also raised with ZEC concerns that many of their employees were ex-Army and that this was perceived as not being truly independent. Justice Chigumba did not deny this but said it was perfectly legitimate for retired military to be working at the ZEC and that the opposition’s fears were unfounded.

2.Polling Stations.

The decision had been taken to limit the number of electors per polling station to 1000. This was presented as a way of preventing large queues and people being turned away to go to another polling station. The worry expressed to us was that particularly in rural areas it will be very easy for the voting intentions of a small community to be known and that there will be reprisals as happened last time when an area did not support Zanu PF. This combined with the reports that soldiers discarding their uniforms have been deployed in the countryside (where more than half the voters reside) to monitor voting behaviour and then be able to hand out punishments like withholding food handouts.

3. Access to state media

Although the majority of newspapers support the current Government the opposition get some coverage in Harare but usually of a negative kind. However in rural areas the radio is the principle means of communication and this is very much in the control of the state. Election Law and the constitution say that during the campaign period which started the day we arrived all parties must be given equal coverage. But with a multitude of Parties standing, this means tiny ones will get the same amount of time as the main opposition. State television and state radio were not covering any of the MDC rally’s at which Nelson Chamisa spoke.

The main roads leading into Bulawayo and Harare are full of large billboards and posters of Mnangagwa and there is little doubt that the blurring of the state with Zanu PF means huge extra resources for ZanuPF. The MDC Alliance has not got the funding to in anyway start to compete with the Governing Party. Their rallies are huge and they have held some in rural areas where they have never been able to be before.

4. Ballot papers

This is another controversial area. The Government refused an open tender for their procurement and there were calls for observation of the printing of the ballot papers. This was allowed but there are still concerns that they will not be distributed fairly with bundles being kept for double voting. When this was raised with the ZEC they stuck to the same mantra-“Give us evidence of abuse and we will deal with it”

5. Role of Parliament

There are 23 candidates for President and around 2000 for Parliament as well as huge competition for the Council seats in local municipalities. Many of the incumbent Zanu PF and MDC MP’s have stood down or were deselected. There are also some very credible independents standing for Parliament. So whatever happens in the vote for President the expectation is that Parliament will become much more important than it has been for a long time. Many of the politicians we spoke to said they would welcome involvement from the CPA UK branch in their role.

Some of the suggested areas for support were

(A) help with ways of enhancing scrutiny of Government departments.

(B) Role of MP’s working with constituents —casework, campaigning

(C) Working across the Party political divide to achieve better results.

The decision of Zimbabwe to apply to re-join the Commonwealth was broadly welcomed by all who we met. Some people seemed to think the decision to allow them back in would be down to the UK Government. We reminded them that it was up to all the member countries of the Commonwealth and that it would be two years before any decision would be reached.

We were disappointed at how every element of civic society and politicians outside Zanu PF had the belief that the UK Embassy- and in particular the Ambassador is biased in favour of the incumbent regime.

Huge offence was taken that our Ambassador wore a Mnangagua scarf outside 10 Downing Street earlier this year on her visit to the UK. This offence and fear of bias was compounded when the first person to retweet it from his official account was Mnangagua himself. The Embassy organised a dinner for us to meet some Zimbabweans and we found that most were supporters of ZanuPF. Indeed prior to the dinner the Ambassador was openly ridiculing the leader of the MDC Alliance.

The coming election will have more foreign observers than ever before and they will play a vital role. At previous elections observers from the African Union and the Southern African development Community gave them a clean bill of health! This time there will also be a European Union team-already in the country and a joint mission from America run by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican. Institute (ITI). The Commonwealth have been invited but it is still unclear how many they are sending and as Zimbabwe is not in the Commonwealth it will be a different type of monitoring than in other elections. The UK government is being allowed to register as official observers but this is being carried out by Embassy staff already there.

There needs in our view to be continuing and rigorous scrutiny both into the election arrangements and what follows on from July 30th. Questioning those responsible for the electoral process and for administration more generally-media included- is one of the best ways HMG and UK parliamentarians can show real friendship towards Zimbabwe and help move the country forward. Being prepared to accept second best or flawed processes is patronising and sends the signal that our care and concern for Zimbabwe are not genuine. It is important that even if this election turns out to be freer and fairer with no violence any re-engagement with the current administration should only be on the basis of rigorous caution and healthy scepticism?

LOCAL Government minister and President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa’s close confidant July Moyo was “buried” in the July 30 parliamentary polls after losing to a Redcliff Municipality employee, Lloyd Mukapiko (pictured) of the MDC Alliance, who is a full-time undertaker of the local authority.

Mukapiko will now walk into Parliament while Moyo, the boss of all local authorities, will have to await the goodwill of close ally President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa to name him into his Cabinet.

Speaking after taking on his boss, Mukapiko said despite facing Moyo, who appeared to have a huge war chest, he had faith in the electorate.

“I went into an election against a well-resourced candidate, a minister with access to funds. He put up billboards, used his position as minister to make promises and held sports festivals and even had access to council resources, but the people were not fooled,” Mukapiko said.

Months before the election Zanu PF had pledged to romp to victory, saying it was going to be an easy ride as nobody would vote for an undertaker ahead of an educated and organised Moyo.

Zanu PF Midlands spokesperson, Cornelius Mupereri was upbeat soon after nomination court processes about Moyo’s prospects.

“How do they expect to win when they field an undertaker as a candidate? We have a tried and trusted person who delivers. He has hit the ground running and pushing developmental projects at schools and is already solving the water problems that have hit Redcliff over the years,” Mupereri said.

In 2013 Moyo, who was eyeing Senate fell by the wayside after failing to find his way into Parliament when MDC-T grabbed two Senatorial seats against Zanu PF’s four.

Moyo is among Mnangagwa’s top allies who fell by the wayside together with outgoing Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, the President’s adviser Christopher Mutsvangwa and Labour minister Petronella Kagonye making up the numbers

Zoom Zimbabwe

By Paul Nyathi|Vendors in Harare woke up to a sorrow scene with all their vending bays demolished by soldiers in an overnight blitz.

The vendors were not previously warned of the pending action on them by the soldiers.

In his interface meeting with the vendors couple of days before the elections, President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised the vendors that his government was not going to evict the them from the streets.

Chief Zimuto from Masvingo has died three days after his installation.
He was 94.

Chief Zimuto, who was buried in Zimuto village on Wednesday and born Mhumhi Mapfumo, was installed on July 24 and died on July 27.

Masvingo Provincial Administrator Mr Fungai Mbetsa confirmed his death saying the province had suffered a huge loss.

“I can confirm the death of our newly installed chief, Chief Zimuto. We are saddened by such a loss,” he said.

Mr Mbetsa said the community of Zimuto had suffered a huge loss considering that he had just been installed.

“Chief Zimuto was installed last week and in three days’ time, he was no more. He has left a governance vacuum in Zimuto community and largely in Masvingo District,” he said.

Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Senator Josaya Hungwe also sent a condolence message to the Zimuto family.

“Our hearts and indeed our thoughts are with the Mapfumo family and the rest of the Zimuto family at this difficult moment. Let me hasten to assure you that this is not your loss alone but what we have together. We therefore share in your grief,” he said.

“Let us however, take comfort in the fact that this man lived a full and blessed life during which he accomplished everything that any person could wish to achieve.”

Sen Hungwe urged surviving family members to be united.

“Let this tragic moment not be the cause of divisions and conflict as this will only serve to retard developmental efforts. Let us therefore do everything that is necessary to ensure that there is continuity of leadership as required and provided for both by our customs and the laws of the country,” he said.

Born in April 1924 in a family of five, the late chief is survived by his wife, Getrude, five children and several grand-children and great grand-children.

Chief Zimuto was also a member of the Johane Masowe WeChishanu Apostolic Sect. — state media

JAILED former Energy minister Samuel Undenge has been granted $1 000 bail to challenge his four-year jail term for corruption.

High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewere on Wednesday ruled the former energy minister was a suitable candidate for bail and as part of his provisional freedom’s conditions, the court ordered him to continue residing at his Harare Glen Lorne house, report once every week at his nearest police station and to surrender title deeds of his house.
Undenge, who is being represented by Aleck Muchadehama, was last month convicted by a Harare regional magistrate on charges of criminal abuse of office after prejudicing the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) of the sum of $12 000.

In his bail pending appeal application, however, Undenge said Zanu PF MP, Psychology Maziwisa and broadcaster; Oscar Pambuka used him in their plot to defraud the power utility.
Undenge further said Harare regional magistrate Hosea Mujaya had misdirected himself when he convicted him of the offence “for merely signing a letter which was dictated to him by Pambuka and Maziwisa” on behalf of the duo’s company, Fruitful Communications.

Undenge further said the magistrate also erred in ignoring that the said letter, which formed the basis of his conviction, was motivated by Pambuka, Maziwisa and Fruitful Communications with an intention to defraud the power company. It was the State’s case that sometime in January 2016, Maziwisa and Pambuka took Undenge’s signed letter to ZPC, directing the power utility company to work with Fruitful Communications at intervals of six months per engagement.

It was the State’s further contention that on March 8, 2016, Maziwisa and Pambuka, with the same intention of defrauding ZPC, presented to one Chisveto, an invoice claiming they had hosted various programmes on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, National FM and Power FM.

Following Undenge’s letter, the power company engaged Pambuka and Maziwisa following which it then lost $12 000. Newsday

Harare businessman Wicknell Chivayo yesterday appeared in court on allegations of defrauding the Zimbabwe Power Company of over $5 million.

He appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Mr Elisha Singano charged with fraud, money laundering and contravening sections of the Exchange Control Act.

He was remanded in custody to today for continuation of bail application. The State indicates 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 deliver on the project despite getting $5 607 814,24 from Government. The State also indicated that Undenge, who was recently convicted of another charge, would also be arrested and prosecuted in connection with Chivayo’s case.

Prosecuting, Mr Michael Reza together with Mr Zivanai Macharaga and Ms Venranda Munyoro, both from the Special Presidential anti-corruption unit, represented the State.

Lead prosecutor, Mr Reza opposed bail on the basis of interference, abscondment and seriousness of the offence, among other reasons.

“Fraud is a crime of deception and the total prejudice is $5 607 814,24 and of that amount, not even a single cent was recovered,” he said.

“The accused and his accomplices have managed to hide that money. The State papers indicate that Undenge is yet to be apprehended and your Worship, he would be apprehended soon and jointly charged with the accused person.

He said if released on bail Chivayo was likely to abscond. “The likely sentence of fraud is a maximum prison term of 35 years. If that will not induce a man to run away, then I do not know what would,” he said.

“The docket is almost complete and it is most likely that on his next remand, the State will furnish him with a trial date. The State has a strong watertight case.”
Mr Reza said granting Chivayo bail would not be in the interest of justice.

“There is this public perception that people who have money can buy their freedom hence this court should lay that perception to rest and show that the law is fair regardless of one’s position in the society,” he said.

The prosecution called the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Benjamin Nyahema to the witness stand.

He narrated how Chivayo was arrested at Robert Mugabe International Airport on his way to South Africa. He said Chivayo was a flight risk and should not be freed. Chivayo’s lawyers, Advocates Lewis Uriri and Onias Takaindisa, argued that their client was a proper candidate for bail.

Adv Uriri dismissed the State’s claims that Chivayo was a flight risk. They argued that it was published in local press that Chivayo was wanted by the police and even though he was in America at the time, he returned to Zimbabwe.

“Even when he came back, no one contacted him and, through his lawyers he wrote to the Prosecutor General telling them he was not on the run and that they knew where to find him than to look for him through the press,” he said.

Adv Uriri said when he was arrested at the aiport, his client had bought a return ticket meaning he was not running away.

The court heard on October 23, 2015 that the ZPC acted on the misrepresentation and signed a contract with Chivayo’s company for implementation of the Gwanda solar project.
It is alleged that the ZPC released $5 607 814, 24 into an Intratrek bank account for the project to take off.

Chivayo is said to have converted the money to his personal use. The court heard he was also authorised by the RBZ to load $849 479 into his Visa cards for importation of earth moving equipment from America and nothing came into the country.-state media

State Media – President Mnangagwa yesterday castigated attempts by the Zimbabwe Republic Police to bar journalists from covering a press conference by losing MDC Alliance presidential candidate in Monday’s harmonised elections, Mr Nelson Chamisa, saying such actions have no place in society.

He tweeted soon after the incident: “The scenes today at the Bronte Hotel have no place in our society and we are urgently investigating the matter to understand exactly what happened. Over the past nine months we have protected freedom of speech, of assembly and the right to criticise the Government.”

The ZRP also released a statement yesterday apologising profusely.
Riot police ordered both local and foreign journalists off the venue of the press conference before Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Acting Minister Dr Simon Khaya Moyo intervened.

A statement from the Police General Headquarters said the ZRP regretted the inconvenience caused.

“Given the prevailing security situation and events that unfolded on the 1st of August 2018 and intelligence at hand, the police responded purely on the basis of tenets governing meetings and gatherings according to the country’s laws,” reads part of the statement.

The ZRP also stated that it respected the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.
“The ZRP sincerely apologises and wishes to state that we respect freedom of the media, freedom of expression and freedom of association as provided for by the Zimbabwean laws,” said the police.

“This isolated incident should not be misconstrued to mean that we are heavy handed. We have a constitutional mandate to ensure that law and order is maintained.”- state media

State Media – The Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Chief Air Marshal Perrance Shiri (Retired) has approached the High Court seeking an eviction order against a company that is unlawfully operating Gwaai Halfway Hotel in Hwange district.

Minister Shiri, through the Attorney-General’s Office, filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court, citing Tetra Heights, as respondents.

He is seeking an eviction order against Tetra Heights and all those claiming any right through the company. He has deposed an affidavit on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Mr Ringson John Chitsiko.

“The property in dispute was formerly owned as one business entity together with the farm prior to acquisition of the farm by the State. Upon acquisition of the farm, my Ministry decided to excise the hotel and service station from the remainder of the farm with the intention of creating a separate business entity which would be leased off to qualifying tenants who intended to utilise the same for business purposes,” he said.

Mr Chitsiko said the remainder portion of the farm was left out to a qualifying indigenous beneficiary to continue with the agricultural business.

In an effort to find a suitable tenant for the hotel and service station, the Ministry flighted an invitation to tender for the lease of the properties.

Tetra Heights was one of the companies that responded to the tender for the lease of the hotel and service station and its application was turned down.

In its submission, Tetra Heights argued that it was already in occupation of the hotel and service station through a lease granted to it by the former farm owner.

However, Mr Chitsiko argued that the lease is not enforceable at law due to the fact that farm is State land. He said the former farmer had no authority to lease out State land. Mr Chitsiko said no one has power to occupy any portion of land which was acquired by the State without a written consent of the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement.

“I submit that the property in dispute is acquired State land and is wholly administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Resettlement on behalf of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. It is clear in this case that the respondent does not possess any consent in whatever form from the applicant to use, occupy and possess any portion of the property herewith. Accordingly, the applicant has locus standi and a legal right to pray for an order in terms of the draft,” he said.

In February this year, Tetra Heights, through its lawyers Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys, filed a chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court citing Rtd Chief Air Marshal Shiri as the respondent.

The company sought an order directing the Minister to suspend the notice ordering it to vacate Gwaai Halfway Hotel.

Tetra Heights also wanted Minister Shiri to be compelled to provide written reasons for rejecting its application to lease Gwaai Halfway Hotel.
The company argued that it has been in occupation of the premises since August 2016 with the blessing of former Lands Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora following the eviction of former owner,

Mr Rob Sterling, as part of the land reform programme.
Tetra Heights said it was advised that they should possess the property until such a time that the Government of Zimbabwe would have nominated a new tenant to occupy the premises.
When Mr Sterling was removed from the farm, his employees continued running the hotel until the Government brought Tetra Heights.

The Government flighted a tender in December last year inviting interested persons to apply to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement for a lease agreement. Tetra Heights, which was one of the applicants, was not successful.

Tetra Heights was on January 4 this year given a notice to vacate the premises.
Tetra Heights has since last year been locked in a legal wrangle with former workers, who have invaded Gwaai Halfway House Hotel wanting to control the property.

Tetra Heights was allocated the farm by Dr Mombeshora, but has faced resistance from six former workers, who have seized part of the farm, including a hotel, kiosk, service station and a workers’ compound.

By Paul Nyathi|The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance is set to announce its own presidential results soon despite the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announcing President Emerson Mnangagwa as the winner on Thursday night.

The ZEC announced that Mnangagwa had received 50.8% of the votes while his political opponent Nelson Chamisa secured 44.3%.

The commission announced the final presidential results four days after Zimbabweans cast their ballots in a crunch election that drew interest from around the world.

The MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa made the announcement at a press conference in Harare on Friday.

Meanwhile in the capital city of Harare it was business as usual on Friday.

Unlike on Thursday, people are going about their business, shops are open and there is no sign of the army.

Outside the MDC Alliance headquarters, there are scores of police officers in a police truck.

They’re on standby while Nelson Chamisa plans to release what he calls the true verified election results – which confirm him as president.

In a tweet on Friday morning, he referred to the results announced by the ZEC as fake.

By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has criticised members of the police who disrupted an MDC Alliance press conference at the Bronte Hotel on Friday afternoon.

The press conference was addressed by the MDC Alliance losing Presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa but not before the police tried to stop the gathering and chased away the journalists from the hotel.

“The scenes today at the Bronte Hotel have no place in our society and we are urgently investigating the matter to understand exactly what happened. Over the past nine months we have protected freedom of speech, of assembly and the right to criticise the government,” said Mnangagwa in a statement.

Mnangagwa said that his government was not hiding anything from anyone by stopping other elections stakeholders from talking to the media.

“This is an indispensable part of the new Zimbabwe. It is non-negotiable and will not change. We won the election freely and fairly, and have nothing to hide or fear. Anyone is free to address the media at any time,” he said.

President Mnangagwa sent a senior ZANU PF official Senator Simon Khaya Moyo to the hotel with a message to the police to stop disrupting the press conference.

By Paul Nyathi|An independent election observers group is urging the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to urgently release results from individual polling stations to allay concerns about possible irregularities in Monday’s vote.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network says the commission should post the information on its website “to enhance transparency and accountability.”

The commission overnight announced that President Emmerson Mnangagwa won a free and fair election, but the opposition alleges the vote was rigged.

In a statement issued on Friday after all the election results were announced, the election watch group however said the elections were generally held to expected standards.

By A Correspondent| ZimEye is getting reports that soldiers last night descended on civilians in Chitungwiza.

Scores were this morning being nursed at Chitungwiza General Hospital.

The development appeared to be a continuation of attacks by the military which happened in the capital city Harare on Wednesday and have seen over 6 people killed by servicemen. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga yesterday claimed that civilians were killed by MDC protesters, in what has seen the MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti and youth leader Happymore Chidziva being named as suspects by police. But clear videos show that soldiers were the brutal culprits and they are seen indiscriminately shooting civilians. SEE CHIWENGA’S INTERVIEW BELOW:

Meanwhile, on the Chitungwiza story, ZimEye was at the time of writing gathering more details on the attacks. – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY –

By Paul Nyathi|South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa urged all Zimbabweans on Friday to accept the election of Emmerson Mnangagwa as president after a poll marred by violence.

“President Ramaphosa has appealed to all political leaders and the people of Zimbabwe to accept the outcome of the election and should they have challenges, they must follow legal remedies provided for in the constitution and electoral law,” the presidency said in a statement.

Ramaphosa is also the Chairperson the Southern African Development Community.

Meanwhile, the streets of the capital city Harare were quiet early on Friday, with traffic thinner than usual. Water cannons and anti-riot police remained outside the MDC offices, a reminder of the clashes between opposition and the security forces this week.

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) website was yesterday temporarily shut down after unknown hackers posted images of the MDC Alliance-fuelled mayhem in Harare on it to replace official communication from the electoral body.

The hackers allegedly tampered with official 2018 Harmonised Election results which were on the website and posted controversial updates.

Zec commissioner in charge of public liaison Dr Qhubani Moyo yesterday confirmed that the organisation had pulled down the website 11 minutes after realising that some ‘foreign’ pictures were being posted.

He also said the Zec technical team was working tirelessly to restore the website. By time of going to press had been restored.

“Yesterday some hackers attacked our website and posted some pictures that were not from Zec. At exactly 11 minutes from the development, we decided to pull down the website so that we avoid spreading false hoods that were being spread by hackers on the Zec website,” said Dr Moyo.

“We are working on reconstructing it and this time it will be more secure. I don’t know why they did it and I will not get deeper into how we will secure it and it is safer to say it will be up soon”.

Dr Moyo said Zec is seized with the matter and investigations are under way.

“Our technical teams are seized with the matter and they are investigating so we find out what really happened. We’ll also trace where the hackers originate from so we catch the political criminal elements,” he said.

Dr Moyo said the intention of the hackers was to destabilise the smooth running of the election programme and urged people to be responsible in what they circulate on social media as it has a bearing on stability. “We want to urge our people to be very patient during these delicate times and rely on information from the commission regarding the 2018 harmonised elections,” he said.

“They should not rely on any other information that is not official. They should also stop spreading unverified information that creates anxiety.”

State Media

FLAMBOYANT businessman Mr Wicknell Chivayo has been arrested over the $5 million payment he received for the Gwanda Solar Project but undertook nothing meaningful at the site, police confirmed yesterday.

The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) entered into a contractual agreement with his company Intratrek Zimbabwe and its technical Partner, Chint Electric Company on October 23 in 2015 for the project whose cost was estimated at just over $183 million.

Officials from ZPC said a sum of $5 644 130.80 for pre-commencement works was released by ZPC to Intratrek without a bank guarantee and the entire amount was released within a period of six months from December 2015 to July 2016.

Mr Chivayo, who calls himself “Sir Wicknell”, often boasts on social media about his riches, and that he always laughs last.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed Mr Chivayo’s arrest but did not give finer details on the charge.

“I can confirm the arrest of Wicknell Chivayo but I don’t have much detail as of now,” she said.

Police sources said Mr Chivayo’s docket was completed months ago but suspended Prosecutor General Mr Ray Goba had allegedly been reluctant to prosecute.

“Mr Goba was handed Chivayo’s docket by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the police but he refused to prosecute saying he was still going through the docket for months,” said the source.

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy chaired by Norton legislator, Mr Temba Mliswa, carried out an inquiry into the award of the tender to Mr Chivayo and exposed several irregularities in the deal.

The mines committee also toured the project site in Gwanda, Matabeleland South Province and found two wooden cabins.

The committee in its report recommended that ZPC must immediately terminate its contract with Intratrek as Mr Chivayo has a criminal record and does not qualify to be a managing director of a company registered in Zimbabwe.

The committee said the tender awarded to Intratrek needs to be rescinded in light of violations of the Companies Act and the repealed Procurement Act.

“ZPC should terminate the contract with Intratrek given that that Mr Chivayo has a criminal record and does not qualify to be a managing director of a registered company in Zimbabwe. ZPC must take over the Project,” read the report.

It also recommended that the Zimbabwe Republic Police should conduct an investigation on Ministers and deputy Ministers implicated in the scandal at the Gwanda Solar Project.

Recently, President Mnangagwa hinted that Mr Chivayo faced prosecution with the risk of doing time behind bars saying the mistake made in awarding him the Gwanda solar project tender should not be repeated.

The President said this soon after touring Nyangani Renewable Energy, a solar power project in Mutoko, Mashonaland East.

President Mnangagwa said Government had learnt a lesson from the Chivayo debacle compared to the success of the Nyangani project.

“Both experiences are good because we should never repeat what happened in Gwanda,” he said.

State Media

By A Correspondent| Contrary to claims by president Emmerson Mnangagwa, MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa has not at all met or dicsussed anything with him.

Before the announcement of presidential elections last night, Mnangagwa had posted claiming that he is in discussions with Chamisa. Many Zimbabweans rushed to assume that perhaps there were unity government discussions ongoing. But Chamisa revealed he has not discussed anything with Mnangagwa.

“No, I have not met Mnangagwa,” said Chamisa. He said the only person he has conversed with via phone is Mnangagwa’s deputy, Constantino Chiwenga.

SEE VIDEO:

Chamisa was speaking while at Parirenyatwa Hospital while visiting victims of the military brutality on Wednesday which has seen 6 people being killed.

TOP army and police officials yesterday visited the family of one of the six people fatally shot in Wednesday’s demonstrations in Harare and allegedly ordered them not to entertain the media to avoid “politicising” the matter.

Sylvia Matambo-Maphosa (52) of Waterfalls was fatally shot from the back while coming from work in the city centre as soldiers indiscriminately opened fire on MDC Alliance activists who were demonstrating against alleged electoral fraud by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).

The late mother of two and her husband Robert Maphosa both grew up in Mbare before relocating to Waterfalls after they got married.

Yesterday, teams of army and plain clothes police officers visited the deceased’s family members in Mbare and Waterfalls and allegedly ordered them to “zip up” over the matter.

The deceased’s nephew, Fungai told NewsDay that they were left disturbed by the visit and gag order.

“But why come to our homes when they have already killed our relative. We were shocked to see them here while a helicopter was hovering in the sky. We are living in fear,” a distressed Fungai said.

“She lived here and never at any time did she get involved in politics. She was not in any party structure but died because of a reckless soldier. It’s bad and sad.”

The other family members in Waterfalls refused to be interviewed, saying they would issue a statement later.

But, national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said she was unaware of the alleged gag order.

“I have not heard anything like that. I will need to find out with the Harare team if they dispatched anyone to do what they are alleging,” she said.

Wicklord Manyimwa, who claimed to have witnessed the shooting incident, said the deceased was gunned down when she was trying to explain to the soldier that she was not a protester, but a Zinwa employee doing part-time duties at Zec.

This came as President Emmerson Mnangagwa condoled the deceased’s families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

“I wish to extend my sincere condolences to the families of the victims of yesterday’s violence. All human life is sacred, and their deaths are a tragedy, irrespective of the circumstances. I would also like to wish a speedy recovery to all those injured in yesterday’s events. They, alongside the families of the victims, are in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. The most important thing for us now is to move beyond yesterday’s tragic events, and to move forward, together,” Mnangagwa said in a statement.

He also called for an independent investigation into the matter.

Newsday

https://www.facebook.com/ZimEye/videos/1961658877228634

By Paul Nyathi|Social media activists have already started spreading the Mashonaland West election result before ZEC makes the announcement. Is it true? If true the result confirms President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory in the elections.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has reversed the results for the Chegutu West parliamentary seat. Zanu-PF candidate Dexter Nduna had been initially announced as the winner with 10 932 votes.

However, Gift Konjana of the MDC Alliance who had polled 10 828 challenged the result and was able to provide evidence that there had been counting anomalies. Zec has now declared Konjana as the winner of the Chegutu West Seat. In a letter to the MDC Alliance, Zec wrote,

RE: DISCREPANCY OF ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED IN RESPECT OF CHEGUTU WEST

The above matter refers

The source documents of the results do indicate that there is a discrepancy in results announced in respect of Konjana Gift Machoka of Chegutu West Constituency. The discrepancy occured due to a transcription error from V23A to V23B at the Constituency during data capturing.

The data capturers explained that the results of Konjana Gift Machoka (MDC Alliance) and Kache Simon (UCADGZ) were interchanged. That is, instead of capturing Kache’s results as one (1) and Konjana’s as one hundred and twenty-one (121) they were reversed giving Kache (121) and Konjana (1)

The transcription error resulted in Konjana Gift getting ten thousand eight hundred and twenty eight (10 828) votes against Nduna Dexters’s ten thousand nine hundred and thirty-two (10 932).

If the error is corrected Konjana Gift’s result would be ten thousand nine hundred and forty eight (10948) votes against Nduna Dexter’s (ZANU-PF) ten thousand nine hundred and thirty-two (10 932). This makes Konjana Gift (MDC Alliance) the winner instead of Nduna.

By Paul Nyathi|After a huge win in the House of Assembly elections, ZANU PF is enjoying a huge chunk of the proportional representation seats in the Senate, Women’s Quota House of Assembly and the provincial councils.

Initial senate results for two provinces announced by ZEC on Thursday are as follows:

Senators for Matabeleland South Province

1. Phuthi Meliwe (Female) – MDC alliance
2. Mpofu Bekithemba (Female) – MDC alliance
3. Mohadi Tambudzani (Female) – Zanu PF
4. Moyo Simon Khaya (Male) – Zanu PF
5. Mkwebu Alma (Female) – Zanu PF
6. Mathuthu Themba (Male) – Zanu PF

Senators for Masvingo Province:

1. Maluleke Ottillia Muhlava (Female) – Zanu PF
2. Matuke Lovemore (Male) – Zanu pf
3. Shumba Clara (Female) – Zanu PF
4. Hungwe Josaya Tumira (Male) – Zanu pf
5. Rwambiwa Esnath (Female) – MDC alliance
6. Mavetera Tichinani (Male) – MDC alliance