A WOMAN from Bulawayo who stabbed her husband, kept the body for two days before dousing it with paraffin and burning it to conceal evidence, has been slapped with a 18-year jail sentence.
Lakela Sweswe (25) of Buena Vista suburb in Bulawayo said she committed the offence in self-defence as her abusive husband, the late Anofa Mlauzi, had tried to stab her with the same knife.
Mlauzi had accused his wife of committing adultery.
Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese convicted Sweswe of murder with actual intent. He said the court was taking into consideration that the accused was 23 years of age and was an immature young woman who had just been married.
“In sentencing the accused person, the court shall regard the battered woman syndrome. This must, however, be balanced against the sanctity of human life,” said the judge.
“This case brings out the scourge of domestic violence. It is my view that a lengthy prison term is appropriate. You are sentenced to 18 years imprisonment,” ruled Justice Makonese.
He said the act of self defence was not very clear as she was not under any imminent attack as she instead waited behind the door and stabbed her husband.
“Her conduct after the murder doesn’t show that she had no intention of killing him, if she panicked then why did she burn the body?” said Justice Makonese.
In mitigation, Sweswe’s lawyer, Ms Marygold Sibanda, said her client was young at the time of commission of the offence and has two children who are aged four and 31 months who still need their mother’s attention as one of them stays with her in prison.
Ms Sibanda argued that her client’s marriage was rocky from the beginning and she had endured frequent beating from the deceased person and her conduct was a result of the cumulative abuse.
“My Lord we submit that the deceased person should not be considered a saint in his death as he was a villain and abuser for three years,” said Ms Sibanda before Justice Makonese interjected.
He said the excuse of abuse should not be used as a defence to kill other people as it set a bad precedence.
“Why did she stay in an abusive relationship? Don’t use that as an excuse since it will set a wrong precedence because men will be finished in the homes as women would want to get rid of their problems. Some men are abusers physically and emotionally,” the judge said.
The defence pleaded for a lesser sentence of five years. The State represented by Ms Nonhlanhla Ndlovu said Sweswe behaved negligently in that after stabbing her husband she retired to bed leaving him bleeding.
“Furthermore, she went on to burn the body to conceal the evidence and lied about his whereabouts. Human life still remains sacred, no human being must be allowed to take the law into their own hands,” said Ms Ndlovu.
It is the State case that on June 8, 2016 at about 1AM, Mlauzi arrived home from a beer drink and a misunderstanding ensued between Sweswe and Mlauzi with the latter accusing his wife of adultery.
“The misunderstanding degenerated into a fist fight, thereafter Mlauzi left the house for a short while and upon his return, Sweswe, who had picked a kitchen knife and stood in wait by the door, stabbed him once on the neck and he fell down and later died.
The court heard how Sweswe dragged his body to a shack which was within their premises and after two days she poured paraffin on the deceased’s body and burnt it.
The matter came to light when neighbours discovered Mlauzi’s body in the shed leading to Sweswe’s arrest.
It’s three weeks to the elections and Zimbabweans have been raising several questions on the country’s preparedness for the watershed election.
The State owned Herald newspaper Political Editor, Tichaona Zindoga (TZ), sat down with ZEC chairwoman Justice Priscilla Chigumba (PC) to discuss these issues.
The full interview is as follows:
TZ: Can you walk us through the mandate of ZEC and where it derives its power and legality.
PC: ZEC is one of those commissions which were set up in terms of Chapter 12 of the new Constitution which came into place in 2013. ZEC derives it constitutional mandate and the basis of its powers from the Constitution itself which actually stipulates firstly that it shall be an independent commission and gives it the exclusive mandate to deal with the registration, voters and all electoral processes. So basically its mandate is derived from the Constitution and from the Electoral Act and attendant regulations.
TZ: What is the composition of ZEC and its secretariat?
PC: ZEC in terms of its organogram is made up of nine commissioners. There is a chairperson, who is myself, who takes the oath of office in terms of the Constitution. We have a deputy chairperson and other commissioners who among all nine commissioners each superintends one province. I am responsible for Harare Metropolitan Province. As you can see, it’s quite a large province. The secretariat is headed by the chief elections officer and we have other officers, directors in various departments such as voter education, knowledge management, ICT etc.
TZ: How do you respond to allegations that ZEC is militarised, allegations which are of a serious nature and have swirled for some time now?
PC: We take those allegations seriously. We do have former members of the army, Prison Service, ZRP, Central Intelligence, President’s Office officers. When I came in as chairperson I took time to sit and look at those allegations and found out that approximately 13.8 percent of secretariat staff has a security sector background.
I checked all the records and I satisfied myself that of all of them none is currently serving. I would like to emphasise the fact that ZEC actually advertised certain posts and we had of that 13.8 percent of our secretariat, these are the employees of ours that responded to advertisement. They actually went through the interviews and were selected. So when you hear members of the public saying that ZEC is militarised, it gives the false impression that we walked into an army barrack or ZRP and arbitrarily chose certain people to come and work for us. But the truth of the matter is that most of these people, of the 13, 8 percent, actually joined ZEC more than five years ago.
As you know, there has been a freeze on Government posts so we have not been able to recruit anyone. So we have had these employees for quite a while, they are our employees, they were employed in terms of the standard procedures and we have taken the position that there is no law in Zimbabwe which prevents us from employing someone merely because they have retired from the army or police.
Our position is that we intend to keep our employees until such time as there is a law which instructs us or guides us to say as an electoral commission we may not employ such people. But we are an independent commission and we independently recruited these people and they are here to stay.
TZ: Can you elaborate on the concept of independence. How is ZEC as an independent body supposed to work with Government and what is the nature of interaction between the two? Do you take instructions from anybody, let’s say from the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs?
PC: The Constitution guides us on the concept of independence and in a nutshell, the Constitution stipulates that ZEC “shall not” be under the direction or control of anyone. So that means in the discharge of our duties, we have absolute discretion in deciding what to do and how to carry out our mandate and our functions. In terms of our interaction with Government, we report to Cabinet through the Ministry of Justice, and when I say we report I don’t mean we seek permission from them to discharge our mandate.
What we basically do is that on a weekly basis we have a meeting with the Minister of Justice and we advise him of how far we have gone on our preparations for instance if we have had the minister briefed this week. It’s not only ZEC, but also other commissions, the Judicial Service Commission, the Prisons Service, the Attorney-General’s Office, we all meet the minister and we tell the minister that week’s activities.
For example, this week we would have told the minister that we have training for electoral officers in our province and what he simply does with the information is relate it to Cabinet. It’s a constitutional and legal way of actually keepingCcabinet informed about our activities and it benefits us in a way because for instance if we require money from the Treasury and if there is no money we go through the Minister of Justice, ask him to tell Cabinet to avail funds to Treasury. So it’s a reporting structure to keep Government apprised of all of our activities. We don’t seek permission from the Government through the Minister of Justice, he does not come to give us directions to say we should do XYZ, but sometimes he puts questions to us to say for instance, the question around the voters’ roll was raised in Cabinet and they would want to know what is happening with this and we respond to say this is how far we have gone.
TZ: Another important concept or tenet relates to transparency. To what extent is ZEC transparent given complaints for example, now that ZEC has not allowed political parties to participate in certain processes they need to scrutinise?
PC: It is my considered view that ZEC is more than 100 percent transparent and I will say so because of a few basic things. First thing is that we have what we call stakeholders engagements. We invite political parties to sit down with us and discuss. We invite civil society organisations and diplomats. Periodically, we do it at two months intervals. As we draw close to the elections, we will do these stakeholders engagement meetings once a month. We were doing them every two weeks and now we have a weekly chairperson’s briefing with the media where we sit with members of the media and advise them on what we are doing.
With regards to the question of ballot paper printing, what I will say is firstly, ZEC is an independent commission, that means it cannot be directed by anyone to do anything, it means it cannot be controlled by anyone to do anything. How we interpret that as a commission is to say in everything that we do, we must always be guided by the law.
So we start of from saying, what does the law say in regard to the ballot paper printing for instance?
The law explicitly says ZEC has the exclusive and sole mandate to design, print and distribute ballot paper.
So that is the legal position, the law is very clear; there are no grey areas. We have encouraged political parties during the time when the Electoral Amendment Bill was debated in Parliament to say look there is no legislative framework for these requests that you are making to us to be made part of these processes, so kindly go to Parliament and try to get these requests made part of the law. They did go to Parliament, if they want to be honest, they did try to get their requests made part of the law, it was debated in Parliament and the Parliament process, the legislative process itself didn’t work in their favour. And our position was, we must be guided by the law because we cannot be seen to be inventing arbitrary things which are not part of our law.
The basic problem that we are having with certain requests is that, where there is no legislative framework in place, it creates difficulties for us but in the interest of transparency we have said to political parties that, I will give an example. We have 55 political parties who successfully fielded candidates through the nomination courts.
So we have said look, we accept and admit there is no legislative framework, you tried to get the law passed in Parliament you failed, but in the interest of transparency why don’t you sit down as 55 political parties that are going to the election and try and reach consensus.
So we know that there is one particular political party which has concerns, why don’t you table your concerns amongst your peers as 55 political parties? We do have what are called multi-party liaison committees, whose constitutional mandate is to build consensus around disputes pertaining to elections. Those multi-party liaison committees are chaired by Commissioner Doctor Moyo.
So Commissioner Dr Moyo convened a meeting where he was supposed to discuss the modalities with the political parties to say, “What exactly is it that you like to see in the process of viewing the printing of the ballot paper or being included in the process?”
Before he could discuss the modalities, that meeting was disrupted and commissioners actually had to vacate the room because of what was happening there.
So this is now the bone of contention to say that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission was not transparent because it allegedly didn’t consult political parties; but in our defence I would like to say we did set up meetings; but that meeting was disrupted and as a result we then had to proceed with printing because the idea was parties would sit down, discuss modalities and then they could be there when printing started.
The reason why they were not actually there is because that meeting was disrupted but we had a printing schedule which we had to stick to in order to be ready for the election day on the 30th, so we really couldn’t wait for political parties to organise themselves, we started printing.
However, three days into printing, Dr Moyo then sent out invitations to political parties to say ‘Please come’. The parties that are complaining did not avail themselves at the meetings. No modalities were discussed, so the commissioner used his discretion and that is now water under the bridge because we are actually half way through printing.
TZ: There is this issue around pictures on the voters’ roll, which has been subject of controversy. Can you explain how the concept of pictures on the voters’ roll works and what is the legal position regarding that?
PC: Alright, the first thing that I would really like to communicate is that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission should be congratulated for availing a final voters’ roll to Zimbabweans for the first time; a good six weeks before election day. It has never been done before in the history of this country that the electoral management body actually availed a final voters’ roll that Zimbabweans could actually hold in their hands and say ‘This is our final voters’ roll’. So I think that we should be given some merit for doing that.
Now, the second thing that I would like to say is that it is actually not factually correct that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission failed to avail copies of the voters list prior to our availing the final voters’ roll. I will tell you why. The law in 2013, the New Constitution, was the one which actually gave the mandate to us as opposed to the Registrar General to say the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission should start a new voters’ list. That is why we started registering voters afresh using the biometric voter registration system. It’s also a myth that there are ghosts on that voters’ list, because all the people on that voters’ list actually walked up to a BVR machine; they had fingerprints taken, they had photographs taken. That is the second thing.
The third thing of note is that despite the fact that the Constitution gave us the mandate to make a new voters’ list, there is no attendant legislative framework to control access to the data; which we got.
So what we basically have at the moment is we are juggling competing interests. The Constitution guarantees the right to access to information, but that right to access to information is not absolute. The Constitution also guarantees the right to privacy, the right to privacy is also not absolute. When we registered (new) all our voters’ afresh and took their biometric features, we didn’t contemplate a situation where the release of that data in a voters’ list would potentially impinge on the right to privacy.
So initially, as a commission, we had found nothing wrong with releasing the voters’ roll as it was. We were then alerted by legal advice to say you need to be a little bit careful with the data that you release, especially if that data has the potential of being misused or abused; for instance, identity theft; security concerns. We had certain public statements to the effect that people intended to use those pictures to go and knock on people’s doors and ask people to verify whether their faces were actually on the voters’ roll. We found that unacceptable.
Now, the reason why we found that unacceptable is: the Constitution says we must provide a voters’ roll which is in analysable format and which is searchable. Now what that basically means is that in order to analyse a voters’ roll, it must be in a certain format. So, we put it in Excel format, we then put in names, addresses and ID numbers and it is our considered view that the inclusion of people’s pictures is not going to make the voters’ role any more analysable than it already is and moreover, we did open up the voters’ role for inspection for an eleven-day period if you recall and what we did during that eleven-day period is we actually printed hard copies of the voters’ roll and we said to voters ‘Look, all of our designated polling stations we have turned them into inspection centers. We would like Zimbabweans to physically go to inspection centres and take a look at the voters’ rolls’.
If you had gone to your polling station, which was an inspection centre, you could have seen a hard copy of the voters’ roll. You could have actually seen your picture on that voters’ roll because the hard copy which we availed during inspection is similar to the one which will be availed on polling day and that one will have pictures.
So, the criticism that people went to nomination court without benefit of having seen the voters’ role, in our view, is unwarranted because hard copies of those voters’ rolls, polling station-based voters’ rolls, were actually available. So those who wanted to see which of their neighbours they could actually ask to endorse their nomination, could have done that during the inspection period because those hard copies were available.
It is actually not true, I would like to emphasize, that we did not or we failed to avail even provisional copies. So, during the inspection period, the voters’ roll was availed in three forms. It was in hard copy at the inspection centres, which are our polling centres. It was there in soft copy, we had it on a link. It was there at all our provincial centres; at all our district centres and for your information, it’s actually, as we speak, available at all district and provincial centres. You can actually walk in and have a look at the voters’ roll.
So, the underlying thing behind our refusal to provide a voters’ roll with pictures is that we have provided it in searchable and analyzable form despite the lack of pictures and we have withheld the pictures out of legal concerns for the privacy of others. There are no rights in the Constitution which are absolute. Every right is subject to limits in a democratic society, and we believe that we have discharged our mandate to produce and provide a final voters’ roll, which is analyzable and searchable and we have fulfilled our Constitutional mandate at every stage of the electoral process we have availed copies of even the provisional voters’ roll.
TZ: Other concerns, and we have seen this, include people with multiple IDs or an improbable number of people staying at a particular address. How do you respond to such allegations?
PC: I will take that in two parts, let`s deal with the question of a large number of people apparently residing at one place on the voter`s roll. If you recall, when a potential registrant walked up to a BVR kit, there was certain information they were supposed to provide such as proof of residence. A lot of our residents, let`s take one particular case where there were 122 people registered at one place, they all brought sworn affidavits that they resided at that place. Now, we trained our kit operators to check that sworn affidavits were genuine and authentic. As long as there was a sworn statement from a person stipulating that they resided at a certain place, our kit operators would accept those affidavits. In terms of our administrative processes, there is absolutely nothing that we did wrong as a commission in accepting those sworn statements. It might be debatable whether or not those people ought to have been prosecuted for swearing to affidavits but with regards to that particular instance. By the way, (regarding recent reports of 400 people staying at a particular address) it is actually 122 people, it`s a church shrine we understand there are some residences there at the church shrine. It is not 400 or 300, it is 122 and they all brought sworn statements which was in line with our stipulated procedures so we did nothing wrong.
The second part of your question was with regards to identity particulars which appeared to not to be in order. We have been told there is a person who is 150 years old, we have been told that there are people with similar IDs. You will find that those people with ID particulars that were rejected by the system are actually on the exclusion role, not the voters roll. It is something which is beyond our control as a commission, because we actually don`t have a mandate to register citizens, we don’t issue ID. What we basically did with the data that we received is, wherever we flagged similar IDs, similar names or people who appeared to be shall I say to have an abnormal length of life, we referred all those cases to the Registrar General because he has the mandate to keep the register of citizens and he basically then said to us, this person is not in our system.
I do not want to speak for the Registrar General because I don’t have the mandate but basically I understand that there are some people who did some unorthodox things in order to register themselves as citizens of Zimbabwe. That is the mandate of the Registrar General, he is seized with these matters. What we did is that when those people were flagged by our system, we excluded them from the final voters` roll, they may have appeared on provisional voters` rolls but we excluded them from the final voters roll and referred them to the Registrar General for correction and investigation and possible further action which is within the purview of the Registrar General. Yes, we admit people walked up to our machines; they were registered but when they were flagged they were excluded. If you recall, one of the basic requirements of being registered to vote is that one must be a Zimbabwean citizen and we use our national IDs to show that we are citizens. The minute you have a problem or an anomaly with your ID, you are no longer eligible to be registered to vote. We do accept and we have encouraged people to say, if they correct those anomalies they can still reregister and appear on the 2023 election, so it is not necessarily fatal.
TZ: In the process of printing ballot papers, how safe are these ballot papers and their specimens from leaking to the public?
PG: The places that we have chosen for printing of ballot papers as you know, Printflow is printing our ballot paper for council elections and Fidelity is printing our papers for the presidential election and the National Assembly. We have absolute confidence in the security with both those buildings with regards to ballot papers that are in the process of printing.
The question of leaking to social media, nothing is ever a 100 percent foolproof but what I will tell you with regards to the process is that we are basically an administrative body. In terms of administration, the design of the ballot paper originates in a department here at ZEC. So, we have a ballot paper design department which is manned by experts who sit down and say this is how we are going to design the ballot paper, these are the colours that we are going to use, are we going to use A4 size paper or are we going to use A3. So, for instance, I will tell you that for the presidential election, ordinarily we procure what are known as ballot paper rolls but for the presidential election we now had to procure ballot paper sheets because of the high number of candidates. Human beings being what they are, there is a department here, all of our offices here I have a 100 percent confidence in their ability to keep our material confidential.
TZ: What happens if they do leak?
PC: If they do leak, we must find the source of the leak and prosecute the person.
TZ: Does it not compromise the process or otherwise a rethink of the process?
PC: No, I don’t believe that it compromises the process because the constitution gives us the exclusive mandate to design, print and distribute. So, we still have the exclusive mandate we are still in control and we will still print and go ahead and proceed. People can speculate on social media, we understand all sorts of things on social media, that the ballot paper if you put an X on one end it can migrate to the other end after 12 hours, a lot of the things being said on social media are mere speculation.
TZ: MDC Alliance, one of the contestants in these elections, has just reiterated that it will not participate in the coming elections if certain demands are not met. Can you highlight what demands have been made to you, at least formally, and what your response to the same is?
PC: The first thing I would like to say is that our electoral laws are persuasive, they are not mandatory. For instance, let`s take registration to vote; we don’t have laws that compel Zimbabwean citizens to vote. In certain jurisdictions, if you do not register to vote within six months of turning 18, certain things will happen to you. We do not have laws that compel citizens to participate in the electoral processes. Similarly, if you register to vote and you decide not to vote on election day, we do not have laws that follow you to your house to come and say, you are on the final voters’ roll why didn’t you exercise your right to vote?
The right to vote and the right to participate in electoral processes in Zimbabwe is voluntary. If I decide as the chairperson of ZEC to say I am not going to exercise my right to vote I am allowed to make that decision and the law does not come to look for me to ask why I did not exercise my right. It is actually my right to decide not to exercise my right to vote. I think I have answered your question without commenting directly on what other people may or may not have said. One is at liberty to exercise one`s right by deciding not to participate.
TZ: But we are talking about what is considered a major player in the process. If they decide not to participate will it not render the process a sham and its outcome?
PC: I would like to go back to the Constitutional Court and the judgment which they gave sometime I believe was in February 2018. The Chief Justice has given us guidance. Remember we said as an Electoral Commission we are always guided by law. Two political parties went to the Constitutional Court and asked the Constitutional Court to stop the election on the basis that they would like the law changed with regards to financing of political parties, they were of the view that the law was not fair to them.
They said dear Constitutional Court please stop the election so that we can change this law so that it is fair to all of us. I have said and I was paraphrasing what the Chief Justice said in that judgement, he said, once the President proclaims the election date nothing can stop that election because in proclaiming the election date, he is exercising an exclusive mandate which is derived from the constitution. Once an election date is proclaimed, those timelines which kick in up to this date cannot be stopped by a court of law. If you actually take that judgment – it`s a judgment of the full bench of the Constitutional Court – and you read it, the Chief Justice actually says that it would be incompetent for any court in Zimbabwean to make a court order to stop the election because an election is called in terms of the constitution.
I did paraphrase what the Chief Justice said, I said in other words he said nothing short of an earthquake will stop the election. I was telling stakeholders that we are guided by what the constitutional court said. To answer your question directly, I believe that we have been guided by the highest court in the land that once the election date has been proclaimed nothing can stop that election. It is a question of the law which has been interpreted for our guidance by the Constitutional Court; it is not ZEC playing games with anyone, it is the law.
TZ: Some people think you are being arrogant. What is your response to that?
PC: My response to that is that I am not being arrogant when I am merely interpreting a judgment of the Constitutional Court. I may have paraphrased what the ChiefJjustice may have said but in essence, that was the ratio decidendi of that judgment from the Constitutional Court in dismissing that application by political parties which said please stop the election because we need to do certain things. The Chief Justice said once a proclamation has been made nothing can stop an election, it is there in that judgement. I was merely paraphrasing those words in a bid to advise stakeholders that whatever legal remedies you may have, stopping an election is not one of them.
TZ: What is the role of foreign observers, do foreign observers and envoys influence the way you discharge your mandate?
PC: I will answer the last part of the question first, the answer is absolutely not. As I have already said; not even the Government of Zimbabwe can direct or control ZEC to do anything or not do anything. So, foreign observers or envoys cannot place us under their direction or control. We do have engagements with them, where they try and understand the electoral laws. We try and disseminate information saying in this jurisdiction this is what are law says with regards to such and such. We are not influenced by them although they are one of our vital stakeholders and we do have discussions with them.
TZ: How much are these elections costing us and are resources available to see the process through?
PC: As you know we submitted a budget of $198 million to Treasury. Treasury committed itself to releasing a $140 million to us and the deficit we are grateful to our funding partners UNDP, European Union, UN Women and others. So far, I really would like to acknowledge and thank the Government of Zimbabwe for putting their money where their mouth is because the primary responsibility for funding our election lies with the Government of Zimbabwe and they have fulfilled their primary responsibility. In fact, we are expecting the last tranche of all the money. We have procured ballot papers, ink, operational vehicles, all electoral and election material using money from Treasury. Of course, the deficit was made up by our funding partners.
TZ: Can ZEC and Justice Priscilla Chigumba be trusted to deliver a clean and acceptable process of election in Zimbabwe in the year 2018?
PC: Justice Priscila Chigumba is not above ZEC, Justice Priscila Chigumba is a servant of the ZEC; which means she is a servant of the Zimbabwean electorate. I would like to reassure Zimbabweans, those who are registered to vote and even those who are not registered to vote; we will deliver a free, fair, credible and transparent election. I would like to acknowledge and thank Zimbabweans for being very peaceful. We had a very peaceful pre-election phase, we are now in the election period, we did have isolated incidences mostly of intraparty violence. We had a few clashes around the primary election and mostly our country has been peaceful and I would like to thank Zimbabweans for that. Let`s encourage each other to be peaceful towards each other, we really need to be able to exercise our rights to choose our preferred leader without necessarily fighting with each other if we have different choices.
WINNIE NYANYIWA UPDATE. It was a dream come true for Winnie on Thursday afternoon as she submitted her application at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and she is currently waiting for placement. She was advised to bring her application by the Permanent Secretary Dr Sylvia Utete Masango. Said Winnie, “I don’t know how to thank everyone that donated. I am so grateful to each and every one that assisted me. Be blessed always.”
Elections will go ahead as scheduled on July 30 and no one has the power to reverse the proclamation scheduling voting on that date, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.
Addressing senior Cottco officials and Government officials who include Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at Cottco ginnery at Gokwe Centre, President Mnangagwa said questions over which presidential candidate was coming first or last on the ballot paper were not an issue.
He said the issue of where a name of a presidential candidate will be placed on the ballot paper would not stop the elections.
“Everywhere we have been to, the people are very clear. This confusion that there are no elections is only in Harare. The rest of the country, they are geared, they understand what they want to do,” he said.
The President said no one was born with a name. “This question of saying my name should be here or there or an alphabetical order must be used is null and void. When they saw my name on top of the ballot they said they should have used alphabetical order and therefore Mnangagwa’s name should not be on top,” he said.
“Elections will go ahead whether you start with the initial C or M on the ballot paper. Elections will go ahead. But you must remember that there is only one person who can decide to stop the elections and it’s me who proclaimed them and no one else made the proclamation. It’s only Zanu-PF which can decide whether elections are held or not”.
President Mnangagwa said the election observers should be allowed to observe the polls from anywhere in the country. He reiterated that elections will be peaceful, transparent and free and fair.
“When election observers visit you, allow them to observe, treat them well. Explain to them how we operate and assure them that we will hold credible, peaceful and free and fair elections,” he said.
The President later addressed a well-attended Zanu- PF rally at Mapfungautsi Primary School in Gokwe South yesterday where he said Zimbabwe was in a developmental mode that will bring prosperity to the people.
“Yesterday I was opening the Empower Bank which is aimed at capacitating young entrepreneurs with loans to start business projects. Last week I officially opened the Zimbabwe Women’s Micro Finance Bank which provides loans to women and small scale businesses. Everyday this current leadership is asked to officiate at ground breaking ceremonies or opening factories, this and that every day as we build our economy,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was an awakening socio-economic giant that needs the input of every Zimbabwean. He said the new dispensation was putting in place a conducive environment for businesses. “As a Government we work to ensure that the companies are supported locally and that investors are also given an opportunity to invest in all sectors of the economy. Now hotels are becoming very few as more and more tourists continue to visit the country which is open for business. Jerusalem which had been destroyed is now under reconstruction. A stone on top of a stone, we are building layer by layer and the home we are building as Zimbabweans will be very strong,” said the President.
He said the country will continue with its re-engagement drive to maintain friendly relations with all countries. “The last 20 years or so we were isolated as a nation and didn’t have any friends but now we are saying we are open to engagement and reengagement. Those countries we had strained our relations with, we are reengaging them and we are starting new relationships with those we previously had no relations”, said the President.
He said Government was committed to opening up closed companies like Ziscosteel in the Midlands Province. “We want to create a better Zimbabwe so that we leave a legacy for our children. Midlands Province almost has all the minerals we have in the country and as such we have a programme to assist small scale miners so that they have equipment to mine,” he said. “On infrastructure development we are going a head with developing roads from Beitbridge, Masvingo, Harare to Chirundu as well as the Beitbridge, Bulawayo to Victoria Falls road. These roads must be dualised. In Gokwe I hear DDF is busy rehabilitating roads so that they can be used by motorists.”
The Government, he said, was looking into sources of energy like solar, thermal and gas to move the economy.
“We need to see power here in Gokwe to push the growth of our economy. We are looking at hydro power, gas and solar programmes and we have investors or companies that are looking into that so that we take power to the people. There should be clean water to the people of Gokwe and passable roads as part of socio-economic development of this area. The school also should be well equipped and I am donating 50 computers,” he said. – State Media
A 29-YEAR-OLD man was found hanging from a roof truss in Emganwini suburb after a court ruling banishing him from his mother’s home for troubling her and his sister.
Chetjuma Nyoni was found hanging outside the house on a roof truss with a rope cut out from a blanket yesterday morning. His mother had allegedly sought legal action after she was having problems with him at home over his drinking habits.
Nyoni, who worked as a cook at a sports bar in Emganwini suburb was allegedly ordered by a local magistrate about three months ago not to harass his mother and when he defied the order, he was recently ordered to move out of the house.
Neighbours who spoke to The Chronicle said Nyoni had a habit of quarrelling with his mother and siblings whenever he was drunk, which led to his mother seeking a peace order against him.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that we are dealing with a case of sudden death in which a man was found hanging at Emganwini suburb. Investigations are underway,” said Insp Simango.
She encouraged people to seek counselling when they encountered problems.
When a Chronicle new crew arrived at the funeral wake in Emganwini suburb, the deceased’s family
was said to have gone to a funeral parlour for funeral arrangements.
A neighbour who was at the home who identified himself only as Mr Ndlovu said they never thought that the family feud would end in death.
“We know that sometimes families fight and have differences but I personally did not think that the family feud would escalate to this level and culminate in death,” said Mr Ndlovu.
A close friend to the deceased Mr Mthokozisi Nyokeni said he was with him the night before he died and he did not show any signs of having suicidal thoughts.
“He was my best friend and we went to the same primary school and grew up in the same neighbourhood. Right now we were the best beer buddies and people knew that we were so close. I am heartbroken by his death and I feel that his family could have done better than seek a peace order which demanded that he move out from his home,” said Mr Nyokeni.
He said the deceased had spent close to a month without a fixed home and spent some nights sleeping outside his mother’s house.
“I don’t understand how three people can fail to accommodate their own in an eight roomed house. How could they fall asleep not knowing where one of their own slept and what he ate?” he said. – State Media
Home return… DuduzaneFormer president Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane has returned to South Africa from abroad‚ in time to attend his brother Vusi’s funeral on Saturday.
“I can confirm that he came into the republic last night. He was briefly detained by the SAPS and it was confirmed there is no warrant of arrest for him‚” his lawyer Rudi Krause said on Friday.
“He is in SA for his brother’s funeral and to appear in court on the culpable homicide charges.”
He was detained because a look-out had been circulated for him on the SAPS system on a 2016 Rosebank case.
Krause said police did not want to identify what this case is in regard to. “At this stage‚ we do not know the nature of that case.”
The National Prosecuting Authority has told SowetanLIVE there is currently no warrant for Duduzane — only the summons for him to appear in a Johannesburg court on Thursday‚ July 12‚ to face two charges of culpable homicide related to a 2014 car accident.
Elaborating on Thursday night’s events‚ Krause said Duduzane Zuma was “briefly detained” at the O.R Tambo International Airport upon his arrival.
“No warrant of arrest was issued‚ he was therefore not arrested.”
The law enforcement officials‚ he said‚ were professional in their conduct.
“They acted responsibly and were completely fair‚” Krause said.
Nhlakanipho Vusi Zuma‚ 25‚ a lupus sufferer‚ died on Sunday. His funeral service will be held at the Rhema Recreational Centre in Randburg on Saturday morning‚ before being laid to rest at the Westpark Cemetery. He was the youngest of five children born to the former president and his third wife‚ the late Kate Mantsho. His siblings are the twins Duduzane and Duduzile.
The summons against Duduzane Zuma is in connection with the deaths of two minibus taxi passengers.
Phumzile Dube was killed in February 2014 after his Porsche collided with the taxi in which she was travelling. Her fellow passenger‚ Nanki Jeanette Mashaba‚ who was injured in the accident‚ reportedly died in hospital a few weeks after the crash.
In August 2015‚ the NPA decided not to prosecute the former president’s son‚ despite Magistrate Lalitha Chetty finding‚ during a formal judicial inquest into the death‚ that there was prima facie evidence that Dube’s death had been caused by the younger Zuma’s negligent actions.
But‚ after AfriForum and former prosecutor Gerrie Nel announced that they intended to pursue a private prosecution against Zuma‚ the state reconsidered that decision‚ and sought representations from Zuma on why he should not face charges.
– Sowetan
There will be no sixth World Cup crown for Brazil. The pre-tournament favourites have been knocked out in the quarter-finals following a 2-1 defeat to an impressive Belgium side, who dominated the first half and then clung on in the closing stages with Brazil pressing for an equalisier.
Group G winners Belgium will now face France having staged a miraculous comeback in the last 16 against Japan before preventing another from their opponents in the quarter-finals.
There was a touch of fortune to Belgium’s opener, a corner which glanced first off Miranda and then Fernandinho’s arm into the back of the net. Kevin Bruyne’s excellent finish to a lightning-quick counter-attack then doubled their tally, with Brazil scrambling at 2-0 down.
Tite’s substitutions had a positive effect with Douglas Costa and Renato Augusto, who pulled one back, adding real impetus. But Belgium were unbowed, with two desperate penalty attempts from a diving Neymar waved away and numerous Brazilian shots blocked and cleared to send Belgium through.
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has explained why they let Khama Billiat go at the end of his contract.
Billiat has joined rivals Kaizer Chiefs on a free transfer, signing a three-year-deal.
In an interview with KickOff.com, Mosimane said the club was not willing to meet Billiat’s demands and risk losing other players in the process.
“I think everybody knows that we look after our players well.”
“But, honestly speaking, if we gave Khama what he wanted we would lose Themba Zwane, Tiyani Mabunda, Gaston Sirino, even Percy [Tau], who is still our player remember.”
“I would lose Denis Onyango – African player of the year, Tebogo Langerman … I would lose all these players just for one man – no, it’s not possible.”
“I don’t want to talk about other teams, they know what they’re doing, but Denis Onyango is important to me. It means I must give all these players that kind of money. No, it’s not possible.”
Pitso also revealed that their offer to Billiat already exceeded the PSL’s record for earnings, but believes the Zimbabwean international was lured by an even more lucrative offer at Amakhosi.
“We gave him a good offer. Trust me, it was a big offer. The offer that we gave, he could have been the highest paid player, which would probably have taken four years for that record to be broken.
“Where he is now, I don’t know how many years it’s going to take to break his record.”
By Own Correspondent| The four men who were allegedly nabbed and found in possession of US$4 million and an estimated 100 kilograms of gold were arrested in Borrowdale Harare following a tip off that the quartet were allegedly going to smuggle the money out of Zimbabwe.
Police details recovered the money and gold which was stashed in suitcases.
The US dollars, in $100, $50, $20 and $10 notes was reportedly confiscated by the police pending on going investigations regarding the matter.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said he was still checking the details of the case.
This is a developing story. More details to follow.
FIFA has warned football legend Diego Marodona after he made controversial comments about referee Mark Geiger.
Geiger officiated England’s Round of 16 win over Colombia marred by squabbling, protests to the referee, play-acting and feigning injury.
The Argentine great described the victory as a “monumental robbery” and that the American referee “shouldn’t be given a match of this magnitude.”
“Following comments made by Diego Armando Maradona, FIFA strongly rebukes the criticism of the performance of the match officials which it considers to have been positive in a tough and highly emotional match,” said FIFA in a statement.
FIFA also said it was “doing everything within its power to ensure principles of fair play, integrity and respect are at the forefront of this World Cup and how the organisation is now run.”
The ruling party Zanu PF has challenged the ruling by the High Court on barring the ruling party from forcing pupils and teachers to attend its rallies.
The ruling party through its legal team has filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe arguing that in the new dispensation pupils and teachers have never been forced to attend political activities.
The ruling party has also slammed the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission for presenting biased information to the High Court.
According to a report compiled by the ruling party’s legal team, the details presented to the High Court were outdated and devoid of facts.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is clearly and unequivocally stated that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is totally against violence, hate speech and derogatory language.
As such nobody is compelled to attend political rallies. As a matter of fact that those who attend rallies do so voluntarily,” a member of Zanu PF’ s legal team said.
They said Nelson Chamisa is a Mnangagwa project.
Now they say Nelson Chamisa is a Mugabe project. They say he met Bob in Dubai.
Rubbish, it turns out Chamisa has never even been to Dubai all his life!!
By the way, why would it be bad for Chamisa to meet Bob if it was magnanimous for Mnangagwa to visit Tsvangirai?
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s decision to interact with ordinary Zimbabweans on twitter has backfired following a barrage of attacks from angry individuals.
” I had the honour to inaugurate Empowerbank, Zimbabwe’s first Youth Empowerment bank. A truly blessed initiative.
$12m will be made available to support young Zim businessmen and women.
Creating opportunities for our youth is my number1 priority. You are the future of this great nation! ” tweeted Mnangagwa.
Below are responses to his tweet:
“Tsvee zvekutonga nyika and sorting out cash crisis. You open a bank in a country with no cash – where you are failing to run the few banks already there ? Shame manhingi”
“$12m to a youth empowerment bank and $200m for billboards and t-shirts. What a focused president.
This is the longest July I have ever encountered!
First it was Command AgriBank
Then Women’s Bank
Now Youth’s Bank.”
“Action on Cash Crisis = 0
What’s next ? Powerbank ?”
” When do you think will be the right time to retire from politics Mr President?
President, are you not embarrassed that at this rate of opening banks we shall soon have more banks than cash? We have enough banks toda mari!!!”
” Unfortunately Mr President, us the youth see the future of this great nation without you at the helm.
Dai matonosasa ve team yeku colcom vawedzere nyama mu pie kwete zvema cashless banks.”
“War vets bank, rural bank, street kids bank the list is endless.
If you are serious about us being your #1 priority just resign.hamudiwe #coup prez.”
By Paul Nyathi|Very tight security was set up at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rally in Gokwe on Friday afternoon.
Members of the public were barricaded over 40 metres away from where the president was set. Hundreds of heavily armed soldiers and state security agents were deployed all around the venue.
The tight security around Mnangagwa comes after Mnangagwa escaped an assassination bid at the end of a similar rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo on the 23rd of June.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has chided opposition political parties saying they are mere curtain raisers in the July 30 elections.
Addressing Zanu PF supporters in Gokwe today Mnangagwa has described Zimbabwe as a democratic nation in which individuals are free to exercise their constitutional rights.
“We have so many pretenders in this race but as you know I am the main man in the polls.
We really need these curtain raisers because they are just like those who provide entertainment at traditional ceremonies. Can you hold a traditional ceremony without incorporating entertainers?
Tell your relatives who have decided to leave the ruling party to come back home,” said Mnangagwa.
He also boasted of the ruling party’s massive support in Midlands Province.
European Union election observation mission says they are not happy with the level of transparency over the printing and storage of ballot papers for the 2018 general elections.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is reportedly in the process of printing the ballot papers to be used in the election and had also invited the participating political parties to come and observe the process as was demanded by the opposition parties.
However, opposition parties dismissed the gesture claiming they were made to observe from about 20 metres away and were not even given the specimen of the ballot papers or even that of the paper that is being used.
Addressing the media at a press conference, the European Union Election Observation Mission deputy chief observer Mark Stevens said they are in favour of transparency of the printing process as it enhances transparency.
“Issues such as observation of the printing of the ballot papers, observation and storage of ballot papers comes out in quite a lot of elections, some countries provide for it, some countries don’t.
“But what we discovered in different cases is that when such access is provided it enhances confidence and it can enhance transparency and credibility which is why we are fully in favour of it.
“We went along to observe the printing of the ballot papers so we are aware of the opposition’s concern to that event because it wasn’t quite as we expected either so we encourage as much inclusivity and transparency as possible particularly around sensitive issues of printing of ballot papers,” he said.
Nelson Chamisa’s election agent Jameson Timba last week told the media that the printing of ballot papers must be stopped as parties were not given an opportunity to actually observe the process.
Timba said in a proper observation, political parties should have been given the sample of the paper that is being used, the specimen of the ballot paper being printed, and the rundown of the serial numbers and also be allowed to observe the actual printing process.
The election agent added that in so far as they are concerned there was no observation because the parties had no reference to the processes.
Speaking at the Making Election Make Sense debate series organised by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) United Democratic Movement Presidential candidate Violet Mariyacha concurred with Timba adding that they are likely not to contest if the issues are not solved.
MDC Alliance and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) have already organised a demonstration against ZEC demanding to demand transparency on ballot paper printing.
OPINION- This is Cde Butroes Butroes from Belvedere and totally unrelated to the person caught with $4million so machinja stop your stupid propaganda. Don’t tarnish someone name and Zanu-PF name for your political mileage.
By Own Correspondent| The Counselling Services Unit (CSU) has issued a statement refuting allegations that the organisation misappropriated and misused funding from the USAID.
The organisation revealed that as part of efforts to ensure transparency and accountability, any Zimbabwean or American national in the country was free to inspect the organisation’s books of accounts including its accounting system.
Below is the full text of the statement:
Counselling Services Unit statement on suspension of funding by USAID
The Counselling Services Unit (CSU) is registered as a health clinic in Zimbabwe to provide non-partisan medical and rehabilitation services to all victims of organised violence and torture in Zimbabwe. Since 2003 CSU has provided services to more than 25 000 victims
throughout Zimbabwe in often adverse conditions.
The current distressing situation created by a unilateral termination of funding by USAID on the United Nations International Day for Victims of Torture before investigations of fund usage are complete, and the subsequent lack of communication from USAID despite written requests, and the blanket Embassy statements, innuendo and allegations are deeply distressing to the Board, staff and survivors of torture in Zimbabwe. At no time have funds been misappropriated; diverted or put to misuse by CSU, all funds are entirely committed to promoting the treatment, rehabilitation, safety and re-integration back into communities for survivors of torture. CSU has annual audits by internationally credible audit firms appointed by the Board in agreement with USAID and has at no time had any adverse audits or questionable use of funds been raised, either by the audit firm or USAID or the Office of the Inspector General.
In the interests of transparency to both the Zimbabwe public who are beneficiaries of the services offered by CSU, and the American Public who are the donors to this program, the Board and management have resolved to make all the financial accounting and management of the funds open to inspection by any Zimbabwean or American citizen by appointment from today 4 July 2018.
It is our sincere hope that USAID will carry out investigations urgently with a view to reinstating the funding for the sake of the many clients who sorely need the medical
treatment and counselling services. In the meantime, CSU will endeavour to continue to provide the best possible services, in recognition of the needs of our clients.
Counselling Services Unit “Eliminating Fear; Building Courage”.
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
Elections will go ahead as scheduled on July 30 and no one has the power to reverse the proclamation scheduling voting on that date, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.
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.
