The EU Observer Mission during their press conference Friday morning said that the demand by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa to be furnished by ZEC an analysable BVR and to be involved in the printing, storage, transportation and distribution of ballot papers, is in order as it enhances and improves transparency and openness.
Below was their statement – REFRESH TO READ
EUROPEAN UNION ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION
REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE HARMONISED ELECTIONS 2018
Chief Observer Brok: “The 2018 harmonised elections are a critical test of Zimbabwe’s reform process”
HARARE 6 July — “These elections are a critical test of Zimbabwe’s reform Process. Given the context of past elections, great efforts need to be made to ensure public and political confidence in the 2018 polls” stated Elmar Brok, Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission, in a press conference in Harare on Friday. Mr Brok added: “Necessary efforts include transparency and inclusivity, confidence in the integrity of the voter roll, emphasis on secrecy of the vote and the peaceful conduct of the polls.”
The Chief Observer concludes today his first visit to Zimbabwe. During his stay, he met with the President of Zimbabwe, the Chair of the Zimbabwe Election Commission, political parties and candidates, civil society and other stakeholders.
“The presence of the EU Election Observation Mission demonstrates the European Union’s commitment to the conduct of peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible elections in Zimbabwe. The EU wishes to accompany Zimbabwe in its transition to satisfy, the legitimate expectations of the Zimbabwean people and stands ready to engage further if the appropriate conditions are met. Elections are in this regard, an essential step in a long and challenging reform process.”
We hope the presence of EU observers can be a source of support for the conduct of credible elections. Our observation focuses not only on the election day but on the entire electoral process, including the environment for the polls, conduct of the campaign, results transmission and the resolution of any election-related legal disputes after voting has finished. In making our assessment we will consider the environment and context for the polls alongside election day itself”, said Mr Brok.
A core team of ten analysts arrived in Harare on 6 June 2018. Forty-four long-term observers arrived two weeks later and are deployed to all ten provinces to observe the process in urban and rural areas. A further forty-four short-term observers will reinforce the mission before Election Day. They will be joined by a Seven-person delegation from the European Parliament, as well as by diplomats of EU Member States and partner countries, bringing the mission’s strength on and around Election Day to some 140 persons.
The EU EOM conducts a comprehensive and impartial analysis of the whole electoral process. This includes assessing the legal framework, the performance of the election administration, voter registration, candidates’ nomination, campaign activities, respect for fundamental freedoms, access to and conduct of the media, voting and the counting and transmission of results, and the period after the Polls. If a second round of voting is required, the mission will remain in Zimbabwe for this.
The EU EOM is bound by a code of conduct, which requires strict neutrality and no interference in the process. The mission undertakes all its work in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and cooperates closely with national and other international observers. The EU EOM will publish its initial findings in a Preliminary Statement, which will be presented about two days after Election Day. A final report will be published within two months.
RE: ADF Chairman Marc Gbaffou relocates to France.
This serves to inform members of the media that African Diaspora Forum Chairman, Marc Gbaffou, has relocated to France with his family.
Gbaffou, who has been the ADF’s leader and main media contact person since the organisation’s formation 10 years ago, left South Africa on June 27 2018, leaving Dr Ur Kuomba – the ADF Deputy Chairperson, as the Acting Chairperson of the organization for the next six months, ahead of our next Annual General Meeting.
We appreciate the role that Gbaffou played in leading the ADF since its formation in 2008, during which time he grew the organisation into a true advocate of both migrants’ rights and Pan-Africanism, at a time when our people found themselves being turned against each other by a slew of challenges, especially here in South Africa.
The ADF will continue with its mandate of safeguarding the rights of migrants and fostering the spirit of social cohesion and will render Dr Kuomba its unconditional respect and support he needs as he steers the organisation on during this transitional period.
The organisation has also beefed its structures with new blood as it seeks to transform itself into a giant in fighting xenophobia, curbing crime and pushing the ideals of One Africa, Ubuntu and Pan-Africanism going forward. New initiatives will be launched and revealed to members of the media in due course.
The ADF’s new contact persons are now Dr Kuomba (Acting Chairman) at 079 *** ****, Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena (Media Manager) at **********, Mxolisi Ncube (Acting Secretary) at 073 ******** and Kennedy Khabo (Official Spokesperson) Mabe at 072 *** ****.
Members of the media are however, advised that Kennedy Khabo is the official spokesperson of the organisation and all correspondence should be directed to him.
MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa yesterday claimed that they he had met Sadc and the African Union (AU) officials to register his displeasure over poll irregularities, and assured them that he would not boycott the elections although the ground was uneven.
Addressing scores of party supporters at Garwe Stadium in Chivhu, Chamisa said: “The reason why I am late (to the rally) is that I was engaging the Sadc and AU over irregularities ahead of the polls. I even told them that [President Emmerson] Mnangagwa will not get 25% or 20% of total votes. We will not boycott the election. I know all their tricks to bring in fake ballot boxes,” he said.
The MDC Alliance is currently pushing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to be transparent on ballot paper printing, among other demands.
“It is not going to happen (election). You won’t threaten or harass me. I am like a tick, if I bite I won’t leave. I have told Sadc and AU that there is a misfit in the country. The process by Zec to print ballot papers is disputed,” Chamisa added .
The youthful leader said his move was triggered by Mnangagwa’s refusal to engage all parties for a dialogue on how to move the country forward.
Chamisa’s assurance that he would not boycott the polls came amid reports that he had told other MDC Alliance principals on Tuesday that he was now considering the option given Zec’s intransigence.
The youthful opposition leader also hailed the army for pledging to respect the country’s Constitution and not to involve themselves in partisan party politics.
“I am happy to hear that the army has vowed to follow the Constitution. That is good, they are there for the people. When Mnangagwa and Chamisa tussle in the political ring, they should step aside. But when Chamisa wins, they should salute, they will be saluting the government, not me,” he said.
By Paul Nyathi|Splinter Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T Deputy President Obert Gutu says that he finds nothing wrong being done by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ZEC, in the preparations for the harmonised elections set for July 30.
Speaking in an interview with the state run ZBC TV news on Thursday, Gutu blamed rival Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance for not giving the electoral body time to execute its mandate in the preparation for the elections.
The MDC Alliance has been up in arms against the electoral commission over the production of the ballot papers to be used in the election and the voters roll being provided to contesting parties.
The MDC Alliance claims that ZEC is denigrating on an earlier agreement that all political parties will be involved in the designing and printing of the ballot paper. The party is also demanding for a comprehensive voters roll with pictures of the voters to be circulated to contesting parties.
In the interview Gutu said that his MDC-T is satisfied with the way ZEC is producing the ballot paper claiming that it is the sole mandate of the commission to design and print the ballot paper.
“ZEC is a constitutional commission tasked with running the elections and should be given the opportunity to run the elections undisturbed,” said Gutu.
ZANU PF Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs Fortune Chasi also echoed Gutu’s sentiments in a seperate media interview claiming that ZEC is doing a wonderful job as the country heads towards the watershed elections.
“The MDC Alliance demands to sit and watch the printing of ballot papers for twenty hours and seven days is extremely illogically,” said Chasi.
The MDC Alliance is threatening to go on nation wide demonstrations next week against ZEC on the ballot paper production and the voters roll. The opposition coalition also accuses ZANU PF of using members of the army to campaign for the ruling party in the rural areas.
Chasi challenged the MDC Alliance to furnish the nation with evidence of the soldiers campaigning for the ruling party. The army also gave a disclaimer on soldiers campaigning for the ruling party in a press statement early in the week.
By Discent Collins Bajila|If ever the English adage “a man is as good as his latest performance ” matters, it is in Zimbabwe political campaigns that it matters most.
Over the years, the average Zimbabwean voter has stopped worrying about the history of the candidate they vote for. The average voter is now concerned about how the candidate made them feel during the campaign period. Did they make us dance in huge crowds? Did they bring us something nice? Did they promise fire and brimstone if we don’t vote them and explicitly demonstrate that? Did they make us laugh? Did they make us chant a slogan?
The average voter doesn’t read manifestos. He doesn’t care if a candidate was a bully at High School or is the one who translated the Ten Commandments to indigenous languages. The average voter is rather concerned about how the candidate made them feel during the campaign period.
If a candidate doesn’t do rallies, he/she doesn’t attract the average voter because the average voter has herd mentality. The average voter decides well within a group.
The above average voter rarely attends rallies but they have so much connections that they get to analyse every speech and every event by every candidate. While the average voter is attending rallies, interfaces and demonstrations, the above average voter is studying manifestos of every candidate and listening to commentary. At times the above average voter gets to be called an expert or an analyst by centrist media houses.
The above average voter is also concerned about academic qualifications of candidates and their employment history or administrative capacity.
Then there’s the below average voter. It is for lack of a better term that I have to call them below average. This voter votes for someone of a particular race, particular tribe, particular gender, particular residential address. They listen to all speeches and manifestos within the prism of their race, tribe, gender, street name or village. They look at a candidate’s nuclear team and ask begin to analyze population dynamics in therein. What percentage of his/her core team are from my village? Where was each and every member of that team before they joined the the team? Such are the interests of the below average voter.
They care less about manifestos but will attend rallies to pick racial, tribal, chauvinist, ageist and regionalist innuendo in speeches, songs and regalia.
The majority of the voters of Zimbabwe are in the average and below average cohort.
The media subconsciously and unanimously identifies politicians who appeal to the average and below average voters and terms them “top contenders “.
I wish I had known this in 2013, but as I have been saying recently, we all make mistakes in life. Those who are clever than some of us will learn from our mistakes yet those less clever will prefer to learn from their own share of mistakes.
Discent Bajila is the Welshman Ncube Youth Secretary General.
Battle rages on, Thokozani Khupe and Nelson Chamisa
By Paul Nyathi|Advocate Thabani Mpofu says that the MDC-T faction led by Nelson Chamisa remains the genuine MDC-T and entitled to all the benefits associated with the party.
In an wide ranging interview with the media on Thursday, Mpofu said that the splinter faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe can not claim to be the genuine MDC-T previously led by the late MDC founding President Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mpofu said this responding to statements by the Khupe led MDC-T Deputy President Obert Gutu that they have since adopted the genuine MDC-T following a withdrawal from the High Court by the Chamisa led faction.
Advocate Mpofu threw away Gutu’s claims that Chamisa withdrew contesting the name case from the High Court indicating that the case is still being heard at the High Court.
“The case is still at the High Court with Chamisa indicating that he is leading the MDC-T as Khupe and her collegues were dismissed from the party,” said Mpofu.
“We only withdrew the case from an urgent court hearing to a normal roll and we wait for a court date to be given where we will bring witnesses. Gutu and their lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku are aware of that,” said Mpofu.
Responding to claims that the Khupe faction is demanding Chamisa to pay back to them $1. 8 million advanced to the party by government under the political parties funding, Mpofu said that the Chamisa led faction rightfully received and used the money as the genuine MDC-T.
“The money was directed to the party that runs the MDC-T headquarters and its the party led by Chamisa. Even the Bulawayo regional office is run by Chamisa which clears to who the funds should be directed to,” said Mpofu.
“Every Zimbabwean who is serious about life knows who the genuine MDC-T is,” said Mpofu.
“The MDC-T name which Khupe is using is not the MDC-T referring to Tsvangirai that everyone knows but its MDC Thoko referring to Thokozani Khupe,” said Mpofu.
ZimEye.com could not get a comment from Gutu and Madhuku on the claims by Advocate Mpofu.
A 22-YEAR-OLD man from Mbizo suburb in Kwekwe was fatally stabbed with a knife by fellow patrons outside a night club following a misunderstanding over a suspected prostitute.
Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the murder of Alex Katambarare on Monday at Mbizo Inn Nite Club.
“Police in Mbizo suburb in Kwekwe are investigating a case of murder in which Alex Katambarare of Mbizo in Kwekwe died after being stabbed to death with a knife following a dispute over a girlfriend at Mbizo Inn Night Club on Monday,” she said.
Asst Insp Mukwende said on the night in question Katambarare was drinking beer in the company of his friend Takawira Chaitezvi.
She said during the beer drink, Katambarare went outside the club and started talking to a suspected hooker.
“A man only identified as Kelvin who was with his friend confronted Katambarare and slapped him on the face accusing him of talking to his girlfriend. The now deceased then ran way but the suspects chased him and then tripped him,” said Asst Insp Mukwende.
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa launched a new bank for young people on Thursday with government injecting $12.5 million.
The bank to operate under the name EmpowerBank will provide low interest business loans to young people between the ages of 18 and 35.
The bank is being launched in the background of a similar fund which was looted by the ZANU PF youth under former President Robert Mugabe’s Youth Development Fund which was introduced in the run up to the 2013 elections.
Launching the bank, Mnangagwa said that his government will not accept corruption and dishonesty as was done with the Youth Development Fund where millions of dollars were dispatched to ZANU PF youth and never paid back.
“. . . the youth and other beneficiaries of the bank packages must be honest, straightforward and responsible and pay back the loans advanced to them,” said President Mnangagwa.
The Empowerbank, which is capitalised to the tune of $12,5 million, is seen as yet another election campaign tool to hook the youth to vote for the ruling party.
Mnangagwa allayed fears that the bank is a campaign tool claiming that the bank is a futuristic financial institution.
Said President Mnangagwa: “I am thus optimistic that this institution will, in the long-term, birth the top entrepreneurs, millionaires and multi-millionaires of tomorrow.”
President Mnangagwa said the banking sector, and all other sectors, should harness the “immense potential” that resides in youths, as the country strives to achieve its vision of becoming a middle-income economy by 2030.
“To this end, my Government stands committed to ensure that its young citizens showcase and develop their talents, inherent creativity and innovation for sustainable economic development.
“It is envisaged that this financial institution will mitigate the limited access to credit finance, which for a long time has been an impediment to youth empowerment and emancipation,” said the President.
Added President Mnangagwa: “Let us re-inculcate a culture of savings and that of rewarding depositors through payment of interests as this will go a long way in rebuilding confidence and ultimately enhancing stability in the financial services sector.”
EmpowerBank board chairman Mr Raymond Njanike, said the bank will be a deposit taking micro-finance institution which will provide a number of services such as SME accounts, school fees loans and agri-business accounts, among others.
Two branches of the bank are expected to be opened in Harare and Bulawayo by September this year.
EmpowerBank becomes the sixth deposit taking micro-finance institution, including the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank that was launched last week.
The four women (Thokozani Khupe, Joice Mujuru, Violet Mariyacha and Melbah Dzapasi) candidates who are vying for the Presidential post in the upcoming general election say they have no money to field a minimum of about 20 000 election agents.
According to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), there is going to be about 10 000 polling stations across the country for the 2018 elections and generally, a candidate is expected to deploy at least two agents taking the tally to 20 000.
In previous elections, the country’s main opposition party MDC-T before the split used to face challenges when it comes to deploying election agents especially in rural areas owing to various reasons that range from intimidation and lack of resources.
Election agents are an important component in guarding against alleged vote rigging at polling stations.
Speaking at a Making Election Make Sense debate series part 6 organised by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) MDC-T faction leader Thokozani Khupe said while the security of the vote was the most important thing, the cost of deploying election agents is her current nightmare.
“My major concern and worry is the security of the vote, we need to secure the vote and it can only be secured by polling agents which we are supposed to deploy to polling stations but the cost is a nightmare.
“We need about 20 000 election agents for the 10 000 polling stations, to train these agents you need something like US$400 000 and then to deploy them across the country it costs not less than US$600 000.
“So we are looking at about US$1 million just for deployment of election agents that is a nightmare for some of who are operating from a zero budget and would like to appeal to all funders to make sure that they give us the support so that we are able to train our polling agents and at the same time deploy them,” she said.
Violet Mariyacha of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) echoed the same sentiments and appealed to the international community to lend a helping hand.
“We are facing the same challenge as others since we are not getting anything from the government because of the current Political Parties Financing Act.
“The situation is even worse because of the donor fatigue that is being experienced in the country and so we are also appealing to well-wishers and the donor community to come to our assistance,” she said.
While the Political Parties Financing Act prohibits political parties from being financed from outside the country, it, however, compels the government to only fund political parties that are represented in Parliament.
Various parties have however complained against the Act arguing that it gives Zanu PF and MDC-N and MDC-T (Chamisa) an advantage over other parties and want it repealed or revised.
Speaking at the same debate, #1980 Freedom Movement of Zimbabwe leader Melbah Dzapasi acknowledged the problem adding that while the number of polling agent might be too big and the financial requirement also too big but the with the sacrifice of her party members they can do it.
People’s Rainbow Coalition Presidential candidate Joice Mujuru said her supporters have been sustaining other party programs and meetings and she is confident they will continue to do the same on the issue of polling agents.
While the candidates are competing against each other, they are however united in calling for people to vote for a woman candidate.
There are 23 candidates fighting for the Presidency and for the first time since independence, there are four women who are trying their chances.
It is widely believed that if women are elected to high ranking posts in government, it will go on to ensure women’s issues are given priority.
Women constitute about 54 per cent of the Zimbabwean population but Parliament only has 35 percent women as legislators thanks to the temporary Proportional Representation clause which will expire in 2023.
By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed excitement on being connected on social media platform WhatsApp for the first time.
The President opened his public WhatsApp chat page on Wednesday which he says he will use to connect with the people of Zimbabwe and to promote dialogue.
For one to join the WhatsApp chat group, he or she should send a message on mobile number +263 776 910 469.
President Mnangagwa confirmed the authenticity of the WhatsApp platform on Thursday speaking at his Munhumutapa offices. Mnagwagwa said one of his friends came up with the idea to connect him on the social media chat platform.
“Yes, we now have a WhatsApp chat platform. A friend of mine came and asked for my WhatsApp number and I told him that I was not on WhatsApp.
“He also asked for my email address and I told him that I did not have one. I said I don’t need all that and he laughed. He said there was need for me to connect with the modern world and talk to the people,” he said. “He came back a few minutes later asking for my mobile phone to install the WhatsApp software,” the President said.
President Mnangagwa said he finally accepted the new technology. “I am now on WhatsApp and I will let it operate for some weeks and see how it goes,” he said.
Early this year, the President opened his official Facebook account and invited followers to message their thoughts as part of “a new national dialogue”.
Three unknown assailants attacked, forced-marched a man to his home and took turns to rape his wife without protection before robbing him of $150 in Esigodini, police have confirmed.
The 45-year-old man (name withheld) of Low Density Suburb was attacked while on his way from work at around 8PM on Wednesday. Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident.
He said the suspects were still at large. “I can confirm we received a report of a case of rape and robbery. The three unidentified assailants were armed with stones, axe handles and knives.
“They attacked a 45-year-old man, assaulted him as they pursued him to his house where upon arrival the trio forced him to open the doors at knife-point.
“They manhandled him as they woke up his wife (42) and took turns to rape her before demanding cash. They got away with $150 that was stashed in the couple’s suitcases,” he said.
Insp Ndebele appealed to members of the public that may have any information concerning the suspects to contact their nearest police station. A source that preferred anonymity said the victim was coming from his workplace, a local night club, when the trio pounced on him.
“They attacked him with stones and chased after him until they caught him. They force-marched him to his home and forced him to open the doors.
“Once inside, they manhandled him at knife-point while one of them walked to his bed where he raped his wife. They all took turns to rape her while her helpless husband who had a knife pointed to his throat, sadly watched on,” said the source.
The source said the robber went on to demand all the money that they had in their house and the couple produced the $150 that was stashed in the bags.
“The quickly left the house and fled into darkness. The couple reported the matter and police attended the scene. No arrests have been made so far,” said the source.-state media
President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday literally broke his arms traditionally for the European Union chief election observer Mr Elmar Brok who visited him yesterday. The president can be seen in his mukwasha pose in the below pictures.
This is not the first time the head of state has broken his arms for foreign dignitaries. He has done the same for the Ambassadors of Great Britain, and the one of Australia.
The EU election delegation boss paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa and briefed him on the purpose of their visit to Zimbabwe.
State Media: The head of the EU observer mission in Zimbabwe visited the President in the company of his deputy Mr Mark Stevens and the EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Phillipe Van Dame.
Mr Brok said he had had fruitful discussions with President Mnangagwa. “I have explained to the President why we are here. We believe in free and fair elections which brings people together.
“It is most important for a peaceful country and it does not matter who wins. We would like to see that happening. It should not only be a creation of fairness on the election day but fairness must also prevail even in the run-up to the elections.
“Our findings will determine which type of elections we will have here in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Brok.
EU has deployed 44 long-term observers throughout the country ahead of the harmonised elections on July 30.
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Mrs Federica Mogherini also appointed Mr Brok, member of the European Parliament, as chief observer of the EU EOM to Zimbabwe.
In a statement, Mrs Mogherini said the Zimbabwean elections were key for the country.
She said the future President, Parliament and local Government councils would have the responsibility of steering the transition process in the country. Mr Brok said the elections, to be held under a new electoral framework, represented an important step in the country’s political transition.
The EU said the 44 observers team was the second contingent, following the core team consisting of 10 analysts which arrived in Harare early last month.
The team will stay in the country until the completion of the electoral process and then prepare a comprehensive final report. Together with diplomats accredited in Harare, the EU EOM is expected to deploy on election day about 140 observers from all 28 member states as well as Norway, Switzerland and Canada.
A further 44 short-term observers will be deployed a few days prior to election day.
A delegation of the European Parliament and diplomats from EU Member States accredited to Zimbabwe will also reinforce the mission on election day.
DHL Zimbabwe is being accused of forcing workers to reveal their Ecocash transactions.
Some workers have since left the organisation for being forced to reveal their transactions while others have been questioned by company authorities after revealing their Ecocash transactions.
The human resource manager Violet Kadye said she could not comment on the issue.
“No comment. Bye,” she said before hanging the phone.
Efforts to engage her again were fruitless as she was not picking the phone and questions sent to her via WhatsApp went unanswered.
“The officials are forcing us to surrender our Ecocash transactions to them because they think we are stealing from them.
“It started in March when we were called by the HR department and each person was asked to show them their Ecocash transactions and we were not comfortable doing so. Those who refused to hand over their phones were threatened.
“The officials said they would deal with anyone who fails to cooperate and this is forcing everyone to just surrender their phones of which I believe this is private.”
It is said some people have resigned because of this.
“We were called to the police station around March and when we got there, there were a lot of stories that had been fabricated against us and this forced me to resign because I couldn’t stay at such a place,” said a former worker who resigned.
“One cannot even understand what they are doing but it is not fair for one to invade someone’s privacy.
“Now I don’t know what will happen because they haven’t given me my money yet and I don’t even know when they will give us.” H Metro
ManyikaBy Farai D Hove| The outgoing Harare Mayor Ben Manyenyeni has poured his tears of grief upon the passing on of the popular podium toaster, Emmanuel Manyika.
Wrote Manyenyeni, “We all share the shock of his passing on.
“What a distinguished compere and event host!
“I wouldn’t say MC, (maybe M.Sc.) – as he had perfected the SCIENCE of directing ceremonies.
“He was peerless in stature, competent and consistent in his delivery with finesse.
“Our loss too – our prayers are with his family at this time of grief.”
Could the below predicament which the then opposition party, Zanu PF faced in February 1980, be MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s blast from the past set to last past July 30th 2018?
Is This Chamisa's Blast From The Past Set To Last?
Reports suggest that Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo might leave Real Madrid for Juventus this summer after seeing a transfer request granted.
Juventus are prepared to pay the 33-year-old €30m-a-year.
The Italian giants are said to be willing to hand Ronaldo a four-year contract worth €120m (£101m).
Earlier reports suggest that the 33-year-old refused to sign a new contract at Real Madrid as the player seeks a way out of Madrid.
Initially Ronaldo’s former club Manchester United were originally regarded as the favourites to sign him when his club future was cast into uncertainty.
Highlanders winger Gabriel Nyoni is undergoing trials at Township Rollers in Botswana.
Nyoni left the country on Tuesday. He is expected to feature in a friendly match against South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
The club confirmed the news with a statement posted on their official Twitter page.
“We wish all the best to our speedy forward and vice captain Gabriel Nyoni who commenced trials with Botswana side Township Rollers today. The sky is the limit.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Nigel Makumbe who is on loan from FC Platinum is also set to go to South Africa for assessment at Supersport United.
The popular master of ceremonies and public speaker, Emmanuel Manyika has died. He passed away in the early hours of Thursday 5 July.
Mr Rabison Shumba described Manyika as “a prolific speaker & MC. We learnt from him to be who we are today. The Godfather of Professional Emceeing in #Zimbabwe. He handled my wedding with precision. Great man. His legacy is huge. I will miss Emmanuel M Manyika. Voice that had an Invoice.”
Former Disk Jokey, Tich Mataz said, “I’m really heartbroken to hear about the passing on of the legendary Mr Emmanuel Manyika, a Maverick in the MC’ing industry and an irreplaceable master of the game. Gone but will never be forgotten.
Rest in Eternal Peace my brother ?? Zimbabwe has lost a shining star.”
A Gutu man has been arrested for fondling his daughter’s breasts and licking her her private parts.
The man, Livingston Mbizvo(39) of Magombedze Village in Gutu District appeared at the Magistrates Court in Mupandawana Town last week.He was charged with indecent assault.
According to the State outline, the incident happened in 2016 and Mbizvo’ s 13-year- old daughter was afraid of disclosing the matter to her mother.
Mbizvo followed his daughter to her bedroom and forcefully opened the door while the girl was fast asleep. The incident happened when the girl’s mother had had gone to a funeral.
When Mbizvo entered his daughter’s bedroom, the girl tried to run away but her father overpowered her.
He forcibly removed her clothes, fondled her breasts and licked her private parts.
The girl later disclosed the issue to her mother who reported the matter to the police.
The European Parliament has rejected controversial EU copyright law proposal termed, “draconian.”
The proposed bill had Beatles legend Paul McCartney going against internet giants and the creators of Wikipedia.
It was firmly resisted by major US tech giants as well as advocates of internet freedom, with some campaigners warning it could even spell the end of viral “memes” or jokes.
“Today’s vote represents a victory for democracy,” said Siada El Ramly, head of EDiMA, a lobby representing Google, Facebook and other US tech giants.
The ruling party Zanu PF has ordered sugarcane farmers to make donations in cash and in kind towards its political programmes before the July 30 polls.
According to sources in Chiredzi ruling party officials met with the leadership of Commercial Sugarcane Farmers Association of Zimbabwe and demanded donations towards Zanu PF activities.
“Every sugarcane farmer under the association is compelled to make contributions towards Zanu PF political events.
A meeting was held at the weekend and sugarcane farmers were instructed to fund ruling party activities,” sources revealed to ZimEye.com yesterday.
However an official at the association has said the donations will be made out of ” out of goodwill and voluntarily.”
“This is not a new thing, it is our obligation to support political programmes,” said the official.
Outspoken Zanu PF critic Antony Taruvinga has sensationally claimed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s Zanu PF is funding 21 Presidential aspirants in a bid to dilute MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’ s support.
Taruvinga argues Mnangagwa is terribly afraid of Chamisa’ s growing influence.
“Nearly 21 candidates are an extension
of Mnangagwa’ s Zanu PF. They are being sponsored to participate in
the elections and in the event the MDC Alliance boycotts the polls, they will endorse the rigged plebiscite.
They are not complaining about ZEC and Mnangagwa voters’ roll and ballot printing shenanigans,” said Taruvinga.
“Some of them have already
endorsed the ongoing fraudulent processes.
The end is not looking good for
Mnangagwa and Chigumba but
we will not let them steal our mandate.”
Irate mobile phone users have lambasted the government for pestering Econet Wireless over its alleged failure to slash down service charges.
The government is accusing the country’s leading mobile phone service provider of deliberately defying a directive from POTRAZ on the reduction of tariffs.
Below are comments from angry mobile phone users on the looming showdown between government and Econet:
Dady VaAngie:
Eco-cash is not a government programme and Econet is under no obligation to explain its modus operandi to Zanu PF.
Fix cash problems and stop relying on other people to fix your mess.
Kukue Haripo:
If Ecocash is down we must use cash zve nhaimi..
Where is the cash you promised us.
Gift N Ndlovu:
Hehehehe…we are a sick nation,the government must solve the cash crisis rather than seeking clarification from Econet,this is happening at a time our clueless leaders are boasting of the introduction of plastic money.
Gotwe Siza Wekwachizinga:
Leave Econet alone. You are failing to solve the cash crisis and instead of thanking Masiyiwa you want to give him the burden of your mess. That’s an insult and unacceptable.
By Farai D Hove| President Emmerson Mnangagwa speaking shortly after opening Zimbabwe’s first Youth Empowerment Bank, promised to finance the institution with $12 million.
He said, “this morning, I had the honour to inaugurate Empowerbank, Zimbabwe’s first Youth Empowerment bank. A truly blessed initiative.
“12 million USD will be made available to support young Zimbabwean businessmen and women.
“In the New Zimbabwe, creating opportunities for our youth is my number one priority. You are the future of this great nation!”
By A Correspondent| “There are people who want to see me dead, they want me to die so that they can win Buhera [elections]”, the Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba has said.
Speaking on his first ever media appearance since his accident on Sunday, Comrade Chinoz said some people were delighted upon hearing the news that he has been involved in an accident in Birchenough Bridge.
He also spoke about how the accident happened saying that he truly veered of the road.
” Of course I veered off the road but it was not such a bad thing for people to publicise it like that,” Chinotimba told ZimEye.com. AUDIO:
” Of course I veered off the road but it was not such a bad thing for people to publicise it like that,” Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba tells ZimEye.com following his accident on Sunday afternoon in Birchenough Bridge. AUDIO:
By Farai D Hove| The British Prime Minister Theresa May has openly announced to President Emmerson Mnangagwa that there will be no support until he reforms.
In an open message at Westminster, May answered the chair of the parliamentary portfolio committee on Zimbabwe, HON. Kate Hoey saying, “I say to the honourable Lady, I commend the excellent work that she does..she continues to do as chair of the APPG on Zimbabwe and obviously we welcome the announcement of the date of the election the 30th July but we are urging all parties involved to pursue free and fair, peaceful elections, cause that I think that is what the Zimbabwean people deserve and we will certainly trade carefully to see how those elections are conducted and consider obviously the conduct of those elections as appropriate.
“And we have repeatedly said if the Zimbabwean government can demonstrate commitment to political and economic reform then the UK stands ready to do all it can to support its recovery. But obviously that commitment is essential.”
By A Correspondent| Nelson Chamisa seems to be building a SMART team of brilliant young intellectuals around him. This surely dispels all the myth that he is a one man show. Not long ago he brought in Dr Nkululeko Sibanda as his spokesperson. We can also confirm that he has of late roped in the South Africa based Dr Tapiwa Shumba as his Technical Advisor. Word is that there are more to follow.
Dr Tapiwa Shumba specialises in international business transactions, economics law and policy; legal research; regional integration and law in general. He is an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and the Founder and Director of a consulting firm Brainlords Business & Legal Consultants with crosscutting knowledge ranging from law, politics and economics.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Cum Laude); Master of laws in international Commercial law from the University of Cape Town (LLM UCT) and a Doctor of laws Degree in Mercantile Law from Stellenbosch University (LLD Stellenbosch).
He has received various awards and has been involved with various organisations. He has published a book, peer-reviewed articles, presented papers at conferences and provided analysis for local and international media on various topics ranging from international economics law, criminal law, politics and other legal matters.
He is also currently a Senior Law Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at University of Fort Hare.
Picking Dr Shumba to join his team, shows a mark of brilliance on Chamisa especially after signing Dr Nkululeko Sibanda.
Dr Shumba is a former spokesperson for the MDC in South Africa which not only grounds him into Zim politics but also means Chamisa is retaining internal MDC talent.
During his undergraduate studies, He was expelled from a government scholarship after he led a protest against the politicisation of government grants.
We understand Chamisa managed to convince him to let go an Associate Professor in Law appointment at a South African university to come and join his team as his Technical Advisor.
Of course Zim is not short of young brilliant minds, but it takes a brilliant leader to take out those in their comfort zones and bring them back to the trenches.
There is no better way of explaining the known special qualities of Dr Tapiwa Shumba except to say he is a special young man with a hawk-eye analysis on issues, a brilliant mind and incredible passion for hard work. Those who have worked with him say he sees issues like a magician.
He was the youngest Doctor of Laws in Zimbabwe when he finished his LLD at 26.
Added to his incredible intellect, his levels of hard work and commitment are something that will certainly lift Chamisa’s team. The fact that Dr, Adv Shumba is always happy to sit behind the scenes and to claim no personal glory is his mark of collegiality. You won’t know he exists unless you look for him.
A leader is as good as the company he keeps. Those who say Chamisa is not an economist or scientist should now know that it is the team he builds that matters more than himself as an individual. But still Chamisa himself is not a pushover. A strong team simply complements him. As they say, iron sharpens iron.
Chamisa is building a SMART Team around him and it appears results are starting to show. Whether he will be able to keep this talent is a waiting game. For now, credit must be given where its due.
Media Statement|On June 4, 2018 the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) addressed a press conference in Harare during which they assured the nation of their non-involvement in the country’s political and electoral affairs.
Army spokesperson, Colonel Overson Mugwisi in his address seemed to move away from previous sentiments by the late General Vitalis Zvinavashe that the army will not support anyone without liberation war credentials to lead the country saying that the military will abide by the country’s constitution.
He also dispelled reports of the army being deployed in rural areas to campaign for the ruling party, Zanu (PF).
Given the long history of the army’s involvement in politics, Zimbabweans can only take such assurances with a pinch of salt.
That the army and other institutions such as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) have in the past, especially during election periods, acted as appendages of Zanu (PF) is a public secret.
Presidential Advisor, Christopher Mutsvangwa clearly testified to this in December 2017 when he publicly announced that the ruling party, in a bid to win the upcoming July 30 elections, will be campaigning with the assistance of the army.
To add on to this, Zanu (PF) Member of Parliament for Harare East, Terrence Mukupe in May 2018 declared that the army will block the ascendancy of the opposition to power even if they defeat the ruling party, Zanu (PF) in the upcoming 2018 elections.
It is also in the public domain that Zimbabwe has a history of bloodshed during election periods with the army being among the major perpetrators. The army played a major role in campaigning for Zanu (PF) during the 2008 elections and in the process, victimized opposition activists both in rural and urban areas.
To make matters worse, the current government, ushered in through a military coup, is led by former senior military personnel who were at the forefront of openly defying the constitution and campaigning for Zanu (PF) and in the process perpetrating violence against opposition activists countrywide.
These include the current Vice President, Rt General Constantine Chiwenga who in March 2008 threatened to overthrow the constitutional order in the event that the then Zanu (PF) leader, Robert Mugabe lost elections. In 2009, Chiwenga went on to declare that the opposition MDC-T, then led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai was foreign driven and would not be allowed to take over power.
Current Zanu (PF) Political Commissar, Rt Lt General Engelbert Rugeje in January 2012 described the then Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai as a security and suggested that the army should step in to deal with him. In January 2018, Rugeje, while addressing Gutu villagers, warned to unleash violence in the event that Zanu (PF) loses elections.
Masvingo Minister of State, Josiah Hungwe in December 2016 publicly stated that Zanu (PF) would hire the army in order to safeguard their stay in power.
Given the above, the recent assurances from the army can best be described as mere politicking.
It has to noted as well that even during the bloody 2008 elections, in which the army played a major role, the nation had received assurances from the military and police that they were going to ensure peaceful polls yet they went on to perpetrate rights violations against opposition supporters.
On top of that, the current dispensation is a product of a military coup and it is justifiable to conclude that the army will continue on the same path of partisan politics by supporting the incumbent President, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Given the fact that President Mnangagwa is a beneficiary of a military coup, it is quite clear that the army will most likely remain as one of his pillars of support and this has been evidenced by utterances from his lieutenants who have publicly exposed the role of the army in ensuring Zanu (PF’s) continued stay in power.
It is foolhardy to believe that the Zimbabwean military can be apolitical yet the so called “Operation Restore Legacy” of November 2017 which deposed former President, Robert Mugabe was as a result of internal fights within the ruling party, Zanu (PF) and at the time, General Chiwenga revealed that the army are stakeholders within the party hence their intervention to save the revolutionary party from collapse.
Chiwenga openly declared that the military would ‘step in’ if Zanu (PF) does not stop its alleged purging of war veterans and this is clear testimony to the fact that the army is more of an extension of Zanu (PF).
As we go forward, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ZEC has reinstated six of the eight MDC Alliance candidates previously listed as having withdrawn from contesting the parliamentary elections set for July 30.
The six — Clifford Nhamburo (Gorromonzi West), Knowledge Mupini (Gutu West), Ernest Mandigo (Gutu Central), Justin Makota (Masvingo South), William Zivenge (Zaka West) and Francis Mangwendedza (Bulawayo South) — registered to participate in the poll under MDC Alliance in the constituencies where another MDC Alliance candidate had already listed.
Their nomination resulted in the Alliance having two candidates for each of the six constituency.
The MDC-T leadership wrote to Zec informing that the six had voluntarily withdrawn from the race.
Their names were then published in the press on Tuesday as candidates who had agreed to withdraw from the election.
Zec was later notified that the six had not voluntarily withdrawn and went on to correct the error by reinstating them as National Assembly candidates for their respective constituencies contesting under MDC Alliance.
Reads the notice by Zec: “It is hereby notified that the notice specifying the names of candidates who withdrew from the 2018 general elections published in the local newspaper of July 3 contained errors.
“The candidates listed below did not withdraw their candidature, but remain as contestants in the 2018 general elections.”
In an interview, MDC-T presidential spokesman Dr Nkululeko Sibanda confirmed the matter, saying some of the candidates had tricked them into believing that they had indeed withdrawn.
“The candidates told us that they were voluntarily withdrawing, but it now looks like they have gone back behind our backs with a different story,” he said.
Dr Sibanda said the Alliance also suspected that the development might be a result of fraud.
“We suspect that it can be the work of some people working on the other side who forged signatures with an intention to cause confusion within the Alliance,” he said.
“The party is looking at it and those found to be behind the fraud will be brought to book.”
BULAWAYO City councillors resolved to suspend water disconnections to residents until August 31 and proposed the slashing of water bills by 50 percent to cushion residents from the economic challenges prevailing in the country.
According to the latest council minutes, councillors said council already has a standing resolution not to disconnect water to defaulting residents.
They argued that residents were facing serious economic challenges that were making it difficult for them to honour their bills hence the need for residents to come up with payment plans.
The councillors condemned the city council management for disconnecting water to force residents to pay their bills despite a standing resolution not to disconnect water.
The council is owed $93 million by residents, $62 million by industrial and commercial entities while parastatals and some Government ministries owe it more than $3 million.
Councillors directed the finance department to assess the impact of writing off 50 percent of the bills before a final decision can be made on the proposed reprieve.
They also ordered council management to apologise to residents through the media for disconnecting water against a council resolution.
Ward 9 Cllr Charles Moyo said residents were saddled with bills due to the economic challenges they were facing.
“Disconnecting water during this period would have a negative impact on council considering the prevailing political environment. The timing is wrong and we should remember that there is a standing council resolution not to disconnect water.
“The disconnection of water was never agreed on. I suggest that affected residents should be exempt from paying water bills for the next two months. It’s unfortunate that council which is failing to service residents citing manpower and transport challenges, managed to avail a fleet of cars and staff to disconnect water,” said Cllr Moyo.
Ward 15 Cllr Tamani Moyo said while she appreciated that residents were facing economic challenges, she did not support Cllr Charles Moyo’s suggestion to exempt the affected residents from paying bills for two months.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to exempt residents from paying water bills for two months. I suggest that residents pay 50 percent of their bills and the other 50 percent be written off,” said Cllr Moyo.
Ward 27 Cllr, Alderman Siboniso Khumalo said he wanted to find out why management misled residents by saying council had resolved to disconnect water supplies to defaulters.
He said an advertisement informing residents about the disconnection of water and payment plans was flighted after water supplies to defaulters had already been disconnected.
Ward 19 Cllr, Alderman Clayton Zana said councillors wanted to find out who had ordered council staff to disconnect water which was against a council resolution.
“I was actually surprised by the sudden increase in the number of vehicles which ferried staff to disconnect water yet council has always said it has challenges with breakdown of vehicles, fuel and paying staff overtime,” said Alderman Zana.
Ward 1 Cllr Mlandu Ncube also suggested that council reconnects affected residents and slash bills by 50 percent.
“Residents should pay 50 percent of what they owe and the remaining balance should be written off. Water disconnections should also be suspended until August 31.
“Council management should also apologise to residents through the media for the water disconnections,” said Cllr Ncube.
By Paul Nyathi|The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba says that the electoral commission can not continue attending to issues raised only by the MDC Alliance when there are over fifty other political parties taking part in this year’s elections.
Speaking in an interview on national television on Wednesday night, Chigumba said that the commission is concerned that only one or two political parties are raising complaints on the electoral processes while the rest are silent.
“We need to get a consensus from all the fifty five participating parties on the issues raised by the MDC Alliance,” said Chigumba.
She was speaking reacting to queries raised by the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa over the printing of the ballot papers for the elections.
The MDC Alliance threatened an election boycott of the issues around the printing of the ballot paper are not sorted.
Chigumba said that her commission is doing everything in the run up to the election set for July 30 within the confines of the law.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is today set to launch a Youth Empowerment Bank and also meet tertiary students to discuss challenges they face.
The President will first officially open the youth bank at Tendeseka Office Park in Eastlea, Harare, before proceeding to Celebration Centre in Borrowdale to launch it.
He would then address the students at the Harare International Conference Centre.
Government has set aside $12 million for the establishment of the young people’s financial institution. Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kazembe Kazembe yesterday said all was set for the two events.
“Our youths are academically empowered and all they have been waiting for is an opportunity to be financially capacitated so that they can showcase what they are capable of doing and contribute to this country in view of the President’s 2030 vision,” said Kazembe.
Kazembe said youths representatives from across sectors, corporates and technocrats would be part of today’s proceedings.
The empowerment bank will only release money to suppliers of equipment and implement that the applicants want to acquire using the loans.
By Talent Gondo| The Voice of the People Economic Empowerment Group (VOPEEG) has called for the convergence of all entrepreneurs regardless of their political affiliation as a strategy of ensuring the successful implementation of economic policies that develop the country.
VOPEEG, a pressure group that was formed with the aim of augmenting government’s efforts in empowering indigenous people said while there exists huge investment opportunities, the contribution of entrepreneurs is still below par hence the need to unite and work together.
Below is the full statement by the organisation’s President Nyasha Munangwa.
Our major thrust as an organization is to help our government in its endeavor to empower indigenous people through different economic programmes and interventions e.g. facilitating joint ventures between local businesses as well as foreign investors.
2.Offering business training programmes to both existing and aspiring entrepreneurs.
3.Sourcing funding for business upstarts.
4.Advocating for liberation from certain economic policies that have been negatively impacting on businesses.
It is our cogent belief that government initiatives as outlined by HE President E.D Mnangagwa are driven to a large extent by us the indigenous entrepreneurs. It is wise for both existing and aspiring entrepreneurs to converge, regardless of our political persuasions to implement economic policies that are of national interest.
Since the inception of the new dispensation /political order under the able leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe is awash with unlimited investment opportunities which need to be harnessed for our beloved country to realise maximum economic benefits.
We believe that without shunning the evil tendency of of sabotaging sound economic policies as a way of creating animosity between the citizens and the government of the day we will become a lost people never to find each other again.
In his inauguration speech, President Mnangagwa made it abundantly clear that attracting Foreign Direct Investment must be made a priority because it’s only then that the government’s desire to create many jobs will become a reality. President Mnangagwa also made it clear that the task ahead of us demands our collective efforts as no single person can tackle it successfully.
We believe we are living in exciting times where technology has taken centre stage in all serious business deals hence the need to migrate from old ways of doing business and embrace technology.
We want to help create a generation of innovators that will turn our country upside down and in the process help our government achieve its set goals. Together we can make things happen.
By Own Correspondent| The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has called on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to facilitate and guarantee that teachers recruited as polling officers for the upcoming polls are not disenfranchised.
In a letter dated July 4 2018, the organisation wrote to ZEC urging the elections body to set up mechanisms that ensure that teachers who have been deployed far away from their polling stations are able to vote.
RE: REQUEST FOR THE FACILITATION OF TEACHERS DISPLACED FROM THEIR POLLING STATIONS TO VOTE.
1. The above matter refers to the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) which is set up in terms of section 65 of the Zimbabwe Constitution and a duly recognized Public Service Association, in terms of Public Service (Formation and Recognition of Associations and Organizations) Regulations (1998), representing the secondary and primary school teachers employed by the government of Zimbabwe and working in rural schools.
2. ARTUZ notes that according to the Electoral Act, ZEC recruited both Primary and Secondary teachers to be polling officers in the forthcoming general elections.
3. We have established that some teachers who were recruited as polling officers were deployed far away for the polling stations they were dully registered during the BVR process which practically makes it impossible for them to vote on the 30th of July 2018 general elections.
4. ARTUZ is a clearly interested party in this process as it has a legitimate interest to represent a constituency of teachers who fall under its membership in that process.
5. It is against this background that we request your office to urgently facilitate that all teachers recruited as polling officers and displaced from their polling stations are enabled to vote.
5.1 Our request is made in terms Chapter 4, Part 2 of the Declaration of Rights in the Constitution of Zimbabwe, particularly Political rights in terms of Section 67 (3) (a) which guarantees that every Zimbabwean citizen who is of or over eighteen years of age has the right to vote in all elections and referendums to which the or any other law applies, and to do so in secret;
6. We look forward to your positive and prompt response on this urgent matter.
By Talent Gondo| MDC Alliance Presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa has welcomed both regional and international observers who arrived in the country over the past weeks for the upcoming harmonised elections slated for July 30.
Speaking at a press conference at Morgan Tsvangirai House in Harare Tuesday, Chamisa said:
“We want take this opportunity to publicly welcome our guests, the regional and international observers who have come from around the world to bear witness to our historic election on 30 July 2018. This is the first post-Mugabe election. This election presents an opportunity to correct and undo past electoral misdemeanours and transgressions known by all of you.
They (Observers) are here because they know an election is not an event which starts and ends in a single day. It is a process that begins well before polling day and continues well after it, until at least there is transfer of power, which we are confident will happen this year. It is necessary and long overdue.
Thank you for being here with us and I hope you will, during your time here, also enjoy our traditional Zimbabwean hospitality. Our people are kind and generous, please feel at home. And as you travel around our country, please take time to enjoy the gifts of nature that God, the Almighty has bestowed on this wonderful country.”
Chamisa said Zimbabweans are a hopeful people with so much passion for the development of their nation hence the importance of a free, fair and credible election.
“I see great hope and deep passion in the eyes of the people, the young and old, men and women, even boys and girls whose future is at stake in this election,” he said.
We are a nation of kind and generous people with great courage, big hearts, resilience and creativity. These qualities have seen us through extremely tough times and we bank on them once again to see us through.
Zimbabwe, attained its independence from the blood of revered and courageous brave men and women who fought and some died for the right of each and every one of us as citizens to have a right to vote for a leader of our choice in an inclusive, free, fair and credible election.”
A 25-year-old Bulawayo woman who stabbed her husband following an adultery dispute says she kept the corpse for two days before dousing it with paraffin and burning it to conceal evidence as she was in shock.
The woman, Lakela Sweswe from Buena vista who was 23 years old when she committed the offence, said she was acting in self-defence from her abusive husband, the late Anofa Mlauzi who had initially wanted to stab her with the same knife.
Mlauzi had accused his wife of committing adultery. Appearing before High Court judge, Justice Martin Makonese, Sweswe told the court that she had no intention of stabbing her husband.
Sweswe said her husband came home at around 1AM in a drunken stupor and they had an altercation.
She said he assaulted her using fists and then dropped the knife which she said she believed he wanted to use to stab her before going outside.
“When he went out of the room, I thought he was going to arm himself so that he could beat me so I picked up the knife and hid behind the door and when he came in I stabbed him in the throat instead of the arm as I had intended.
“I did not want to stab him but I was overcome by anger, I was angered by his continued physical abuse,” said Sweswe. She said after stabbing him, she tried to help him get up but failed and she poured water on him so that he could regain consciousness before she retired to bed.
Sweswe said the abuse started in March 2013, a month after they got married.
She said she had on several occasions reported the abuse at Hillside Police Station but each time she reported, police only advised them to resolve their issues amicably.
Sweswe said at one time the matter went to court and she withdrew the case because she loved her husband.
Appearing for the state, Ms Nonhlanhla Ndlovu asked Sweswe why she did not report the matter to anyone if she had killed her husband in self-defence.
She also asked the accused why she lied when she was asked about her husband’s whereabouts.
“I admit I lied because I was scared and in a state of shock. The reason was that the act was haunting me and eventually I was going to disclose it to someone. I got scared when I saw the body because it was my first time seeing a body,” she said.
The court heard that after realising that her husband was dead, she dragged the body into a shed. Two days later she doused the body with paraffin and burnt it.
“I regret killing my husband because I loved him very much. I also realise that I did a bad thing by burning his body. It was a desperate attempt to conceal evidence as I thought the fire was going to reduce the body to ashes,” she said.
Ms Ndlovu said there were no independent witnesses to the murder and all the evidence the court was relying on was from the accused person.
“From her own version the accused person acted recklessly on the night in question. She did not make an effort to stop deceased person’s bleeding but instead retired to bed,” she said.
Ms Ndlovu said Sweswe’s actions were not consistent with that of a person who had erroneously killed someone. She said after realising that her husband was dead the following morning, she did not raise any alarm but kept the corpse and later burnt it to conceal evidence.
For the defence, Mr Kucaca Phulu and Ms Marygold Sibanda said their client had no evil desire to kill and cited a number of cases of battered women who behaved similarly under such circumstances.
They however conceded that Sweswe acted negligently in failing to get help for her bleeding husband.
Justice Martin Makonese sitting with assessors adjourned the court to today for judgement.
A 34-YEAR-OLD Masvingo man will spend the next four years in prison for having sex with his 14-year-old daughter after his uncle told him it would end poverty in his family.
The incestuous relationship spanned four months. The man from Ndiweni Village under Chief Mapanzure brought business at Masvingo criminal court to a halt when he suddenly broke into tears while defending himself before provincial magistrate, Mr Langton Ndokera yesterday.
The drama had started earlier when the victim who cannot be named because she is a minor, told the court that she had consented to sex with the father, as she also believed that it was the only way their poverty could end.
The man was convicted on his own plea of guilty to having sex with a minor and sentenced to five years in jail. Mr Ndokera suspended one year for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The accused wept uncontrollably saying he started having sex with his daughter when an unnamed uncle told him that it would end the family’s poverty.
“My uncle advised me that if I sleep with my daughter the poverty that is bedevilling our family will end,” said the man as he burst in tears.
Prosecutor Mr Fidelicy Nyamukondiwa told the court that the accused would take advantage of his wife’s absence to be intimate with his daughter in his bedroom hut. He said the man would call the juvenile to his bedroom hut and tell her that if they had sex, they would become rich.
“Between February and May this year accused person was left in custody of his child when his wife was going to nearby villages for some odd jobs. He called the girl to his bedroom where he lied that having sex would end their poverty.
“He said that was the only way he could be able to take care of her disabled sibling,” said Mr Nyamukondiwa.
He said the man would threaten his victim with unspecified actions; if she dared tell anyone about the abuse and the accused went on to have sex with her on several occasions.
However, the abuse came to light last week when an anonymus caller alerted the police at Ngomahuru base.
Police conducted investigations and arrested the accused. -state media
The 25-year-old son of South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma died from lupus‚ a family spokesperson has said.
Linda Makatini said in a statement that Vusi Nhlakanipho Zuma had died on Sunday after complications from the disease, which can cause chronic inflammation.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects many parts of the body, including the skin, joints and internal organs.
Lots of people can have the condition for a long time without knowing before they get a sudden flare-up.
The symptoms include extreme tiredness, rashes (especially on the face, wrists and hands) and joint pain and swelling.
Vusi Nhlakanipho was the youngest son of Mr Zuma and his late wife Kate Mantsho.
A source close to the former head of state told the BBC earlier this week that Mr Zuma was distraught over the passing of his son.
His funeral is expected take place on Saturday in Johannesburg. According to medical websites‚ lupus is an auto-immune disease. Normally‚ the immune system protects the body from infection. With lupus‚ however‚ the immune system inappropriately attacks tissues in various parts of the body. This abnormal activity leads to tissue damage and illness.-state media
The Rugby Africa organisation has come out guns blazing blaming Zimbabwe for being allegedly petty and picky, leading to the Zim Sables team sleeping on the streets after landing in Tunisia earlier this week. Below was their statement –
Rugby – Zimbabwe – Tunisia: Statement by Rugby Africa.
Rugby Africa and Tunisia Rugby Union would like to express their sincere apologies to the Sables team and management for this unfortunate situation.
Zimbabwean Rugby players sleeping in the street.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 3, 2018/ — Rugby Africa has been made aware of the difficulties encountered by the Zimbabwean Rugby team – the Sables – with regards to their accommodation in Tunisia. We would like to reassure the Zimbabwean Ministry of Sports, Zimbabwe Rugby Union, and all partners and fans that the situation was addressed immediately, and an acceptable solution has been found this morning. Tunisia Rugby Union took the Sables management to visit another hotel which was accepted.
Rugby Africa and Tunisia Rugby Union would like to express their sincere apologies to the Sables team and management for this unfortunate situation. This does not reflect the standards of the Rugby Africa Gold Cup competition and we sincerely regret any prejudice caused.
Mr Khaled Babbou, Executive member of Rugby Africa, is currently on his way to Beja to inspect the facilities and meet with the Sables team. “I apologise on behalf of Tunisia Rugby Union, we pride ourselves in hosting Rugby Africa tournaments every year and make every effort to meet the best international standards in terms of accommodation and other infrastructure. Something went wrong for which I am sorry, but this was corrected this morning in consultation with the Sables management team. I can assure you that there was absolutely no intention to destabilise our opponents and we will make every possible effort to ensure they have a good preparation ahead of Saturday’s match.”
The President of Rugby Africa Abdelaziz Bougja confirmed “our hosting agreements are signed by the six participating unions in the Rugby Africa Gold Cup and are very clear and strict in terms of accommodation standards. We rely on our unions to make sure the requirements are met and it is unfortunate that it seemed not to be the case with this hotel in Tunisia. However Tunisia Rugby Union has our trust, they are long term partners to Rugby Africa, hosting several matches and tournaments on our behalf every year, I know for a fact that hospitality matters to them and they have taken this issue very seriously and are rectifying it. Player welfare is at the heart of our preoccupations so we are not taking this lightly. We wish both teams the best for Saturday’s game. The Gold Cup has been a huge success so far, helping to raise standards of African rugby, and popularity of the Game, we would like to thank the six teams , six hosting unions, ministries of sports, our broadcaster Kwese Sports and all our partners and sponsors for their support and assistance.”
CAPS United utility player Hardlife Zvirekwi will be registered for the remainder of the season, according to The Herald.
The player missed the first half of the season recovering from an injury sustained in a car accident four months ago.The accident resulted in the amputation of his left wrist.
The 31-year-old defender started rehabilitation three months ago and has fully recovered.
Club CEO Cuthbert Chitima confirmed Zvirekwi’s return for the final half of the season.
“He has recovered and has been recommended fit to play. Hardy (Zvirekwi) has been working very hard to keep fit,” said Chitima.
Another defender Method Mwanjali is also back in the Makepekepe fold. Mwanjali missed out after some delays in the issuance of his reverse international clearance.
Meanwhile, CAPS United have not signed any new players yet.
“We haven’t made any move yet. We expect to meet the technical team any time this week to hear their plans,” Chitima revealed.
“We only work according to their recommendations but what I am sure of is that Hardlife Zvirekwi will be registered during this window.”
Parents of pupils and students at Victoria High School have petitioned Primary and Secondary Education Ministry Permanent Secretary, Sylivia Utete-Masango to fire the head, John Muzamani for gross incompetence and maladministration.
The parents are demanding the immediate removal of Muzamani from the elite school.The disgruntled parents accuse the head of failing to maintain the high standards expected at the school.
“We have since written a petition to Utete- Masango and we expect her to address our grievances as soon as possible,” one parent told ZimEye.com yesterday.
The parents have also called for a total shutdown to force Muzamani to resign from his position.
“We will stage a demonstration this week and we have also agreed that our children will not attend lessons until the matter has been resolved,” said another parent.
Nelson Chamisa on a flight from Dubai with Killer T
By Paul Nyathi| ZimEye.com readers have questioned MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s genuineness on his reaction on him having visited Dubai last week.
Responding to rumours that he had met with former President Robert Mugabe in Dubai, MDC Alliance Presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa said that he had never visited Dubai at all in his life.
Three days prior to that, the youthful MDC-T leader posted on his Twitter page somewhat indicating that he had met with Zim DanceHall musician Killer T on a flight from Dubai.
ZimEye.com has been trying to get an official comment from the MDC Alliance president spokesperson Dr Nkululeko Sibanda on the issue to no avail.
Dhuma dhuma naChairman Killer T mundenge on my way back home..KillerT is on his way from a show in Dubai.Zimbo has real talent!This young artist is rare talent!Happy happy mundenge. The Zimbabweans I’m with here are so happy .I just love Zimbo warmth..#Zimbowarmthpic.twitter.com/ReDS4dIgUS
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) wishes to advise its stakeholders within and outside Zimbabwe that The Herald in its July 3, 2018 edition (front page) misled and tarnished the image of the organization through peddling speculative predispositions as facts.
The paper falsely states that the Coalition approached the USAID leading to investigations on its grantees. The state controlled publication is quoted as saying “…Sources said investigations were instituted after some board members and the management committee of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition raised concern on how the funds released under the US democracy and governance were being abused by some directors and their friends.”
The afore said statement, is not only misleading, but malicious in as far as it is aimed at tarnishing the name of the Coalition. The state-owned publication published the story without seeking the comment of the organization against such grave allegations. This is unethical journalism which is associated with captured institutions which are bent on furthering yet to be clear agendas.
For the record, CiZC never engaged in any of the issues/actions mentioned above and has no jurisdiction and power to influence USAID processes, systems, actions and decisions. We demand that the Herald retracts the overtones of this misleading statement, giving the retraction same prominence to the misleading allegations. In the same spirit we have also lodged a complaint with the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ).
We welcome the statement today by our Armed forces that they will salute @nelsonchamisa when he gets elected on the 30th of July to be the State President as per the dictates of the law. Our Army is a people’s army ,professional and patriotic
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), an association of Christians from mainline denominations, has urged political parties participating in the July 30 elections to uphold the fundamental values of the country’ s Constitution.
ZCC yesterday launched a programme called I Pray I Vote in Masvingo. The programme seeks to promote peace and sanity before, during and after the July 30 elections.
” Under the I pray I Vote Campaign our thrust is to call for tolerance and sanity before, during and after the elections.
As ZCC our focus is on four areas- mobilisation, agenda setting, election observation and post election commitments,” said a ZCC programmes officer.
“We are also fervently appealing to all political parties to campaign in a peaceful manner,” he added.
By Terrence Mawawa| The Zimbabwe National Army is the most trusted institution in the new dispensation, a survey carried out by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and its partners has claimed.
Presenting the research findings at a breakfast meeting held in Masvingo yesterday, a ZCC legal officer said the army was the most trusted institution in the new dispensation because of the role it played in removing former President Robert Mugabe from office.
Army officers marched in solidarity with the disgruntled people of Zimbabwe at the heigh of nationwide protests against Mugabe.
“According to the findings of our survey, the army is trusted by the majority of the people of Zimbabwe.
This has been attributed to the role played by soldiers during the country’ s peaceful transition,” said the ZCC legal officer.
Imagine entering court and suddenly finding out you’re being tried by a well known serial liar, how does that feel?
By Farai D Hove| The notorious ZANU PF activist who lied that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was last year poisoned by Health Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has been given a job as a prosecutor (intern).
Mutodi has for over 4 years been a key trouble causer, at first publishing dangerous falsehoods claiming that former Vice President Joice Mujuru planned to kill the former President Robert Mugabe using juju and later writing a claim that Parirenyatwa and Sydney Sekeramayi fed Mnangagwa samosas laced with poison leading to him being airlifted from Gwanda last year. Below is Mutodi(picture) presenting his new job:
Fellow Zimbabweans, I come before you to express my gratitude for the tremendous support, solidarity and kindness that you have shown to the cause, to us, particularly myself and my esteemed colleagues in the MDC Alliance.
I cannot thank you enough for the inspiring courage, bravery and commitment that you have demonstrated in the last few months, as we prepare for the forthcoming elections.
The spirit of freedom abounds across the land and I am humbled to be walking hand in hand with you to our inevitable final victory.
I also want take this opportunity to publicly welcome our guests, the regional and international observers who have come from around the world to bear witness to our historic election on 30 July 2018. This is the first post-Mugabe election. An opportunity to correct and undo past electoral misdemeanours and transgressions known by all of you.
They are here because they know an election is not an event which starts and ends in a single day. It is a process that begins well before polling day and continues well after it, until at least there is transfer of power, which we are confident will happen this year. It is necessary and long overdue.
Thank you for being here with us and I hope you will, during your time here, also enjoy our traditional Zimbabwean hospitality. Our people are kind and generous, please feel at home. And as you travel around our country, please take time to enjoy the gifts of nature that God, the Almighty has bestowed on this wonderful country.
Fellow Zimbabweans, the last few months have been truly phenomenal. As the MDC family, we rose from the depths of mourning and despair when, in February, we lost our icon and father of democracy, Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai to begin to dream and believe once again. His funeral became a seed to the renewal of the spirit of the struggle that he guided with impeccable and courageous leadership.
As I traverse the country, I see great hope and deep passion in the eyes of the people, the young and old, men and women, even boys and girls whose future is at stake in this election. We are a nation of kind and generous people with great courage, big hearts, resilience and creativity. These qualities have seen us through extremely tough times and we bank on them once again to see us through at this historic moment.
There can be no doubt that we stand at an important juncture in the history of our country. We can choose to be progressive, taking a path that is guided by inter-generational consensus or to look backwards and continue with the old politics and old economics that have left the nation broken, divided, impoverished and desperate beyond measure. The choice is ours and I know we will choose the correct path.
This country, Zimbabwe, attained its independence from the blood of revered and courageous brave men and women who fought and some died for the right of each and every one of us as citizens to have a right to vote for a leader of our choice in an inclusive, free, fair and credible election.
Our forefathers who staged the crusade for the liberation of all African countries and built, to the credit of their legacy, epic institutions such as the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as drivers of prosperity on the continent did so with the wisdom that democracy was the only way by which good governance would be assured.
The challenges of Zimbabwe are way bigger than party politics and go well beyond partisan politics – including my own.
A divided nation is even more destabilizing to a national vision because more important than the vision is ability to execute such vision.
It is clear to me that Zimbabwe is ready for the fulfilment of the message of change that the MDC has been preaching for a long time. There is no doubt in my mind that the people of Zimbabwe are ready to give us the mandate to lead the country to prosperity. We are ready and willing.
However, and regrettably, certain forces that are inimical to progress and reform are standing in the way of the people of this country. This is not new but it cannot be allowed to defeat the will of the people.
An inclusive, free, fair and credible election is the ONLY route to legitimacy, which Zimbabwe desperately needs. Without legitimacy and stability, there can be no economic recovery, let alone progress in this country. But, as I have already said, certain forces are threatening the attainment of that legitimacy and much required stability.
The fulcrum of a free, fair and credible election is the referee. Our referee is the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The referee must not only be fair but it must be seen to be fair. We have serious concerns over the conduct of our referee which we believe is acting in a manner that is inconsistent with the standards of fair play.
The practice of democracy requires that citizens are afforded a free, fair, credible and legitimate process of electing their leaders Over the past two decades Zimbabwe has gone through a series of disputed elections that have plunged the country into a persistent crisis of legitimacy.
Our people are yearning for a fresh start, a new beginning and have a renewed hope and faith in the potential of their country. Zimbabweans want to move forward towards transformation, opportunities and prosperity.
We have come a long way to be here today. The current government which took over from former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017 did so under the pretext that it was going to ensure a free, fair and credible election in 2018.
What we are currently witnessing is a regime that simply talks but does not intend to hold credible elections. We are moving towards a violent free but illegitimate election.
The Zimbabwe constitution in s156 on the conduct of elections and referendums states that:
At every election and referendum, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission must ensure that-
(a) whatever voting method is used, it is simple, accurate, verifiable, secure and transparent;
…
(c) appropriate systems and mechanisms are put in place-
(i) to eliminate electoral violence and other electoral malpractices; and
(ii) to ensure the safekeeping of electoral materials.
Our supreme law clearly envisages a verifiable, secure and transparent election. No one can therefore deny Zimbabweans this entrenched right.
Because of our history of manipulated elections in Zimbabwe, the crisis of credible elections is born out of the mistrust between the government and the people which can only be cured if ZEC and government conducts electoral processes in the utmost transparent manner.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which is constitutionally charged with the administration of elections has shown that it is either incapable or unwilling to provide Zimbabweans with a verifiable, secure and transparent election as required by our law and international standards governing democratic elections.
There has been an insensitive disregard for the principles of transparency. Among other very pertinent issues;
1. ZEC has refused to provide stakeholders with a proper Voters’ Roll as compiled and required by the Electoral Act.
2. ZEC has refused parties an opportunity to observe the printing of ballot papers and proceeded to print without the knowledge and input of stakeholders.
3. ZEC has not put in place mechanisms for joint storage of the printed ballots in a secure manner.
4. ZEC has not put in place mechanisms of transparent distribution of printed ballot papers.
5.ZEC has allowed the state media to run a smear campaign against opposition candidates.
Our Constitution is very clear in section 155 that a candidate must “have reasonable access to all material and information necessary for them to participate effectively”. These materials include the voters roll in its final form and the process of printing ballot papers. ZEC has so far failed to meet these requirements.
Furthermore, section 156 makes it clear that ZEC must ensure that “whatever voting method is used, it is simple, accurate, verifiable, secure and transparent”. We do not believe ZEC has put in place measures to fulfil this obligation, particularly regarding verification, security and transparency of materials used in the election.
Our Constitution is clear. We are not demanding new rights or new laws. We are simply demanding that existing laws and rights be given full effect. That is not too much to ask. ZEC should be working hard to satisfy contestants, instead of ridiculing them by casting aspersions and suggesting that demands are trivial.
It is constitutional for any citizen or candidate to request any information. s62(1) of the constitution – everyone has a right to access information held by the state which information is needed for the exercise of a right
One great concern is over the state of the voters roll. The process of getting the voters roll as required by law has been as painful and excruciating as extracting a tooth. What we got, late and after pressure, was not consistent with the law.
When we push ZEC, it is not because we are being difficult, no. It is because there is a well-known record of non-compliance by ZEC and the State generally. Need we remind everyone that only 5 years ago, ZEC utterly failed to provide the voters roll. This time we have been vigilant and persistent and we will continue to do so.
But even what we got from ZEC falls short of a credible voters roll. We have said so before and repeat it today, with more emphasis. There are many problems with it, including multiple registrations, wrong names and addresses of voters and serious inconsistencies.
In our view, the voters roll is not fit for purpose. It is not legally compliant and cannot credibly be used as a record to conduct the voting process. It is the document which is used to determine who can or cannot vote and we are not convinced that in its current state it can fulfil that purpose and still lead to a legitimate outcome.
Instead of undertaking to correct the numerous errors and inconsistencies in the voters roll, ZEC has chosen to adopt an arrogant and nonchalant approach which demonstrates that it takes Zimbabweans for granted. Instead of promising to correct problems in the voters roll before the election, the ZEC Chairperson sought to downplay the anomalies, as if it is not necessary to correct them. They were aware of the problems and tried to pre-empt challenges before the election.
Another critical issue of concern, and red line relates to ballot papers. We have long argued that there must be fairness and transparency over the printing and distribution of ballot papers. ZEC has again fallen short on this point, making it impossible to ensure there is fairness and transparency.
Fully cognisant of the fact that it is a function of ZEC to design, print and distribute ballot papers in terms of s239 (g) of the Constitution. That function must not be exercised to the negation and invalidation of the inherent fundamental rights of citizens and election candidates to be involved in a fair and transparent process. (see section 62(1); 67(1) & (3) (a); and (b);155 & 156 of the Constitution).
Their promises have been false, designed to cheat and deceive only to create a false impression of compliance when there is none. This practice of box-ticking is mere tokenism which hoodwinks no one if not only a few. Creating a facade of compliance cannot and will confer legitimacy on this election process.
The people at ZEC must know that the authority they exercise is borrowed from the people of Zimbabwe. The Constitution makes it clear that authority to govern comes from the people and those who exercise State functions are mere agents, not principals. The principals are the people. As principals, the people can withdraw that authority from those who abuse or take it for granted.
We want to make it clear that we will not stand in the way of the people should they seek to exercise their constitutional rights to withdraw that authority from those who fail to exercise it in accordance with the law.
We are embarking on a process of consulting stakeholders across the country and in the region to decide on the way forward in light of the intransigence we are facing from a stubborn, partisan and arrogant referee. We will listen to the genuine aspirations of the people because ultimately they are the repositories of all authority.
In 2013, after ZANU PF stole the election, the late icon, Dr Tsvangirai said the costs of electoral theft to the nation would be enormous. He was right as the evidence around the country shows. It is the ordinary men and women who have had to carry that cost, not the ZANU PF elites and their families and associates. Another illegitimate election in 2018 will simply add the amount of costs.
Unfortunately, ZEC and their associates are not doing enough to prevent illegitimacy. This is why we insist that they must change. We will not stand in the way of the people in their demand for peace, stability and legitimacy.
I have requested to meet with his Excellency the President of Zimbabwe over these issues.
Of course the stakes are huge.
So let’s engage on the very real discrepancies in question. This accomplishes the trust and builds the structures that are lacking in a transparent election. We will accept the victory of any other provided it is done freely and fairly. We simply request the same.
To the people of Zimbabwe, we are with you all the way. We will not allow your democratic will to be diluted or thwarted once again. Your courage in the face of obstacles is well known. Your desire for freedom and economic prosperity is common cause.
My team and I are ready to lead you to demand the legitimacy that is needed for this country to move forward. Freedom lies in our hearts, in our hands and in our legs. It is not going to be delivered on a silver platter. We have to demand it. We cannot allow the current charade to go on unchallenged.
Once again, we wish to impress upon our beloved neighbours under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and our dear brothers in the African Union (AU) to ensure that this election is truly free, fair and credible in terms of the standards guiding democratic elections.
For this election to pass the barest minimum standards of verifiability, security and transparency around the Voters’ Roll and ballot papers, ZEC must ensure that:
I.The full version of the Voters’ Roll is immediately provided to the parties and independently audited.
II. There is transparent printing of ballot papers and observation of the printing process by candidates.
III. The printed ballot papers are stored in a secure place where there is inclusive stakeholder participation and joint security.
IV. The distribution of ballot papers to the polling stations is done in an inclusive, transparent and traceable manner where stakeholders participate.
This election is crucial in allowing Zimbabweans to move forward. However, only a true and democratic election can afford the people of Zimbabwe opportunity to choose their own leaders.
We are not by any chance disillusioned in our demand for transparency. We are quite informed on the mechanisms used in the past to manipulate the vote using the Voters’ Roll, ballot papers and polling station deployments.
Our constitution guarantees us the right to access information held by the state and its organs. The vote must be secret but the election must not held in secrecy. Section 62(1) of the Constitution clearly states:
Every Zimbabwean citizen or permanent resident, including juristic persons and the Zimbabwean media, has the right of access to any information held by the State or by any institution or agency of government at every level, in so far as the information is required in the interests of public accountability.
We want to make it clear, that anything short of a free, fair and credible election as envisaged by our constitution will not be allowed to take place in Zimbabwe.
In the absence of procedural certainty, verifiability of the election will be put into question. If the content and process of this election does not pass these key requirements, then there will be no election.
In 2018, our country certainly does not afford yet another disputed election lest our people begin to lose hope in democracy as a system of governance. Our people are tired and cannot take it anymore. We are therefore prepared to defend our people’s right to a free, fair and credible election in Zimbabwe.
It is clear that we have an election process stalemate arising out of the ballot scandal and the Voters’ Roll inadequacies and omissions. This has culminated in an election crisis.
For the avoidance of doubt, we do not and will not accept the current ballot paper that has been printed without our participation.
As a way forward –
a. the unilateral, illegitimate and illegal ongoing printing of sham ballot papers must stop immediately.
b. An inclusive transparent process of designing, printing, storing and distributing of ballot papers must be agreed by all stakeholders.
c. There must be an emergency meeting with ZEC to resolve all these urgent issues.
d. An urgent meeting with President Mnangagwa in his capacity as the head of state and as a candidate.
e. Embarking on a nationwide stakeholder consultation on the correct path to resolve the impasse.
f. Dispatching special envoys and messages to SADC, AU and the international community.
g. Briefing all the international observers on the current electoral logjam.
We therefore call upon SADC, the AU and the international community to intervene and save a collapsing process and abate am imminent legitimacy crisis.
Kudakwashe Bhasikiti At An MDC Alliance coalition rally
Terrence Mawawa
Angry Zimbabweans have castigated MDC Alliance candidate for Mwenezi East Kudakwashe Bhasikiti for uttering racist comments about Zanu-PF candidate for the constituency, Omar Joosbi.
Responding to Bhasikiti’s remarks Ishmael Mazorodze wrote on twitter:“I am shocked by this level of racism! Reign in on this malcontent.”
Luke Chuma wrote:
“Please focus on winning and connecting with the people, Omar is a Zimbabwean.” Takura Ndhloko commented: “ I am a Mwenezian (An MDC supporter and voter since its formation). You need to work hard.”
Shelton Samaita tweeted:
“Take this stupid tweet down, its doing a huge disservice to the logo of the party of excellence. Black, white, Indian- we’re all Zimbabweans. “
Zimbabwe Defence Forces Director Public Relations Colonel Overson Mugwisi addressing a media briefing on the role of the ZDF during the 2018 harmonised elections.
Below is a list of MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa’s rallies he has covered between the 21st January and the 4th July 2018 (51)
Epworth 21 January
Mutare 28 January
Chitungwiza 4 February
Masvingo 11 February
Chinhoyi 4 March
Cross Dete 10 March
Plumtree 11 March
Kwekwe 17 March
Gweru 18 March
Mrehwa 24 March
Umzingwane 24 March
Chiweshe 25 March
Bulawayo 7 April
Nyika Growth Point 13 April
Jerera Growth Point 14 April
Makoni 14 April
South Africa 15 April (diaspora)
Chipinge : 21 April
Ruwangwe Business Centre, Nyanga 22 April
Seke 28 April
Mhondoro 29 April
Harare South : 3 May
Chegutu 5 May
UK : 6 May (diaspora)
Murambinda 12 May
Makoni South 12 May
Marange : 13 May
Maboleni Business Centre, Vungu 17 May
Tongogara Business, Shurugwi South 18 May
Maphisa Business Centre, Matobo 24 MAY
Pelandaba Stadium, Gwanda 25 May
Dulibadzimu Stadium, Beitbridge 26 May
Mtoko : 31 May
Msasa Business Centre, Chikomba 1 June
St Mary’s, Hwedza : 2 June
Mahusekwa Business Centre, Chihota 3 June
8 June
Muchakata Business Centre, Masvingo
9 June
Chingwizi, Masvingo
Ngundu, Masvingo
Rutenga, Mwenezi
10 June
Tshovane Stadium, Chiredzi
16 June
Manjolo, Binga North
Lusulu, Binga
17 June
Chinotimba stadium, Victorial Falls
Hwange
21 June 2018
Sanyati, Kadoma
Nembudziya, Gokwe
22 June
Chitekete
Gokwe centre
23 June
Silobela
Redcliff
24 June
Kadoma
Areas still to be covered (24)
-Chivhu, Mvuma, Bindura, Guruve, Insiza, Mazowe, Mt Darwin, Mukumbura, Muzarabani, Shamva, Goromonzi, Mudzi, UMP, Rushinga, Mhangura, Hurungwe, Kariba, Makonde, Zvimba, Tsholotsho, Umguza, Bulilimamangwe & Chirumhanzu & Nkayi
PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES from Nelson Chamisa’s party previously deleted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission have been restored. Below is the ZEC statement
By Paul Nyathi|Thousands of Zimbabweans are going hungry after failing to pay for their groceries due to a technical problem with the country’s major mobile money service provider Ecocash.
ZimEye.com random checks around the country’s major supermarkets saw hips of groceries left behind in shops after buyers failed to execute their transactions.
Econet Wireless the company running Ecocash has assured their clients that the matter is being attended to.
PROPERTY worth thousands of dollars went up in flames on Monday after a fire razed down a NetOne shop in Marondera.
Residents watched helplessly as the fire engulfed the building, with the police blocking bystanders from looting mobile phones and recharge cards.
Mashonaland East acting police provincial spokesperson Assistant Inspector Tendai Mwanza said he was waiting for a report from police officers investigating the incident.
Efforts to get a comment from NetOne officials were fruitless, with a junior employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, saying the fire destroyed goods in the storeroom and kitchen.
“The destruction mainly occurred in the storeroom and kitchen. It is in the storeroom where there are machines that deal with network systems,” the employee said.
ABOUT 7 200 people have applied for postal voting ahead of the July 30 elections, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has said.
Applications for postal voting for security officials and others that will be away on national duty on the day of voting closed last Thursday.
In a statement on Tuesday, Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said applications for postal voting were being processed.
“The Commission has received about 7 200 postal vote applications and they are being processed. However, this does not mean that all applications will be considered as some of them may not be on the voters’ roll,” said Justice Chigumba.
In an interview, Zec acting Chief Elections Officer, Mr Utoile Silaigwana, said the majority of the applicants are diplomats who are deployed outside the country.
“We have received 7 200 people who applied, most of them diplomats as well as Zec officials but we are yet to verify some of those who applied,” said Mr Silaigwana.
The country will be holding a ward-based election on July 30.
According to the law, postal voting is only available to individuals who will be outside Zimbabwe on Government business on the polling day and their spouses.
Postal voting is also only open to such people who apply to do so within 14 days after the sitting of the Nomination Court.
The successful applicants will be furnished with the voting material in advance and will be required to send their votes in sealed packets to the Chief Elections Officer at Zec at least 14 days before the actual date of the poll.
The Chief Elections Officer will then distribute the postal votes to their respective constituencies in their sealed envelopes within seven days of the date of the actual poll.
The postal votes are further dispatched to their respective ward centres before the actual poll. They are only opened for counting at the ward centre at the time of counting the votes for the ordinary poll.
A Gweru man has been fined $200 after being convicted of pulling down MDC Alliance campaign posters.
Emmanuel Mangena (31) of Ridgemont suburb in Gweru appeared before Gweru provincial magistrate Mrs Phathekhile Msipa for contravening the Electoral Act by defacing or destroying campaign posters.
Mangena pleaded guilty and was fined $200 or two months in prison if he fails to pay the fine.
For the State, Ms Memory Chitsunge told the court that on July 1, Mangena removed and destroyed posters of MDC Alliance presidential and parliamentary candidates, which was in violation of the Electoral Act.
Ms Chitsunge said on the said date at around 1800hrs, Mangena was drinking beer at Northlea Shopping Centre in Gweru when he started defacing and destroying MDC Alliance campaign posters.
She said Mangena went around the shopping centre destroying the posters and pulling down some of them from street light poles.
The court heard that fellow patrons tried to stop him, but he threatened them with unspecified action.
Ms Chitsunge said the matter was reported to the police ,leading to his arrest. In mitigation, Mangena said he was drunk and was not in total control of his actions and pleaded with the court to be lenient.
An aspiring MDC Alliance Member of Parliament for Bulawayo South Mr Muvirimi Francis Mangwendeza is in limbo after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission yesterday published his name among a list of candidates who have withdrawn from the harmonised elections slated for July 30.
In a notice, Zec published a list of 48 candidates from both the National Assembly and the Local Authority who withdrew from contesting in the July 30 polls. Addressing a press conference in Bulawayo yesterday, Mr Mangwendeza said he had not withdrawn from the race.
“I note with concern that my name has been listed as a having withdrawn my candidature for the National Assembly seat in the Bulawayo South Constituency. Let me categorically state that I did not withdraw my candidature,” he said.
Mr Mangwendeza said the notice was likely to cause confusion among his supporters and derail his campaign programme.
“The Zec advertisement has the effect of causing consternation and confusion among the electorate and I have been inundated with calls seeking clarification. It is evident that this is the work of people who are trying to derail my campaign and cause confusion within the voting public,” he said.
Mr Mangwendeza said when he contacted Zec provincial offices in Bulawayo, there was no record of his withdrawal.
“I therefore request the immediate withdrawal of the Zec notice and its replacement with a notice clarifying my candidature in all media that carried the advert,” he said.
Zec acting chief elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana said the notice could be an error, adding that his organisation would look into the issue.
He however, said no political party has power to withdraw the candidature of an individual.
“It is only an individual who can withdraw his or her candidature not the party,” said Mr Silaigwana.
Zimbabwe is heading towards a July 30 plebiscite and President Mnangagwa has appealed to contesting candidates to ensure that the polls will be violence-free.
According to the list of names, one of the National Assembly candidates who withdrew their candidature was Zanu-PF’s Martin Dinha who had filed his nomination papers to contest in Mazowe North constituency, while eight candidates were from the MDC Alliance including Mr Mangwendeza.
Dinha withdrew his candidature from the Mazowe North National Assembly race, leaving Zanu-PF with Campion Mugweni.
A total of seven independent candidates and two MDC-T members also withdrew as well as two National Patriotic Front (NPF) members.
The People’s Progressive Party of Zimbabwe (PPPZ), the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) and Zapu had one member each withdrawing from contesting in the elections.
For the Local Authority candidates, 12 independent candidates withdrew, while three MDC-T members and two members of the MDC Alliance also withdrew.
Two NPF and two NCA candidates also withdrew their candidatures while United Republic Party (URP), People’s Rainbow Coalition of Opposition Political Parties (PRCOPP) and Build Zimbabwe Alliance (BZA) had one member each withdrawing.-state media
Police Commissioner General Godwin MatangaPolice Commissioner General Godwin Matanga yesterday said two suspects were arrested in Bulawayo in connection with the White City Stadium terror attack at the beginning of an intense investigation to sniff out the perpetrators of the heinous atrocity which killed two security operatives and injured 49 people.
On June 23, a grenade that was targeted at President Mnangagwa went off at the stadium, causing pandemonium.
The President escaped unhurt but two aides to Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi sustained serious injuries and later died in hospital.
Addressing senior police officers during his first tour of Bulawayo province since his appointment as the police boss, Comm Gen Matanga said a joint investigative team would continue updating the nation on progress made in the bombing investigations.
He described the attempt on the President’s life as a “nefarious” and “horrendous” act but assured the nation that the perpetrators would be brought to book as police would leave no stone unturned.
“As the Zimbabwe Republic Police, we will never rest until all those behind this heinous act have been accounted for and have had their day in court. We will do whatever it takes within the precincts of the law to ensure that this objective is met. At the risk of over emphasising, I wish to reiterate that no stone will be left unturned,” Comm Gen Matanga said.
“To this end, I would like to applaud the level of co-operation and support that the joint investigation team has so far received culminating in two suspects being accounted for. We really appreciate this collaborative effort and continue to appeal for more information which may enable us to bring to book whoever had a hand in this nefarious act beyond the two suspects we have nabbed.”
He said they were closing in on those behind the assassination attempt.
“To the perpetrators of this callous act I say, be warned that we will certainly sniff you out from wherever you are hiding and you shall face the full wrath of the law,” said Comm Gen Matanga.
The Officer Commanding Bulawayo Province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Learn Ncube, vowed that his team would work tirelessly until the would-be-assassins were arrested.
“As a province we would like to assure you that we will leave no stone unturned to account for the assassins,” said Snr Asst Comm Ncube.
He said the province was fully behind the new dispensation and through police services, they will create an environment attractive for investors.
Among those injured in the attempt to assassinate President Mnangagwa were Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Zanu-PF national chairperson, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and national commissar, Lieutenant General (Rtd) Engelbert Rugeje.
President Mnangagwa described the bomb blast as an act of cowardice and it has been condemned globally.
Zanu-PF has said the terror attack was satanic.
Meanwhile, Comm Gen Matanga has said law enforcement agents are receiving training on Electoral laws so that they employ high levels of professionalism on Election Day.
He lauded various arms of Government for preaching peace ahead of the July 30 elections.
“As the ZRP, we heartily applaud the Government stance on zero tolerance to political violence and tirelessly preaching the need for the country to hold free, fair, credible and transparent elections,” he said.
“By equal measure, we also express our profound gratitude to the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) for their apparent effort towards promoting national peace by facilitating the presidential candidates to commit themselves and their respective political parties to a peaceful campaign ahead of the plebiscite through the signing of a high level peace pledge.”-state media
Mnangagwa voters’ roll and ballot printing shenanigans,” said Taruvinga.
A 34-YEAR-OLD Masvingo man will spend the next four years in prison for having sex with his 14-year-old daughter after his uncle told him it would end poverty in his family.
