By Paul Nyathi|Joanna Mamombe the MDC-T Alliance candidate for Harare West has challenged her biggest rival Jessie Majome describing her as a blatant liar bent on discrediting her reputation ahead of the elections.

Mamombe made the outburst on her Facebook page on Thursday.

Following successive press statements by Hon Jessie Majome, many of which raise clearly false and libellous statements it has become necessary that I set the record straight. It is disconcerting that Hon. Jessie Majome can continue to peddle lies and in the process willfully, impugn and malign my reputation.

I promise to be a true ambassador for Harare westerners in the House of Assembly to further the legislative and development agenda as mandated. As a Public Health Specialist, I particularly want to focus and further the agenda for reforming our archaic public health laws and systems. Further, our constituency faces many challenges which require urgent attention. I promise to provide leadership so that collectively we can find solutions.

Highly opportunistic former Zifa chief executive officer, Henrietta Rushwaya has been taken to court by a group of small scale miners who are accusing her of attempting to take over the leadership of the Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation (ZMF) through unorthodox means.

Ms Rushwaya intends to contest in the organisation’s elections for the post of president.

The group of miners under the banner Zvishavane-Mberengwa Miners’ Association (ZMMA) through their lawyers Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys, filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court citing ZMF as the respondent saying Ms Rushwaya may win through rigging.

They want an interim order interdicting ZMF from proceeding with the elections, arguing that the process is fraught with irregularities and vote buying by Ms Rushwaya.

ZMMA wants the elections for a new ZMF national executive postponed indefinitely citing interference by members of the federation’s general council.

ZMF was formed in 2003, mainly to champion the interests of small scale and artisanal miners.

In his founding affidavit, ZMMA chairperson, Mr Thembinkosi Sibanda said ZMF unprocedurally admitted 13 new associations to join the federation.

He queried Ms Rushwaya’s intention to run for the ZMF presidency yet she is not affiliated to the organisation.

Mr Sibanda said Ms Rushwaya paid $6 500 affiliation fees for the 13 new associations whose admission was irregular and a violation of the ZMF constitution.

“(Ms) Henrietta Rushwaya was during the general council meeting held on June 1, 2018 announced to be the person running for the post of ZMF president in the national executive committee. This was my first time since I have been in the federation to learn that Rushwaya was an affiliate of ZMF, a miner or member of any miners’ association. Is she a miner and which mine does she own?” he queried.

Mr Sibanda said the circumstances under which Ms Rushwaya joined the ZMF was questionable and shrouded in controversy.

“I find it odd that she (Ms Rushwaya) paid subscription fees for the 13 new associations. One wonders what her relationship is with any of or all of these associations to the extent of paying their affiliation fees. This is suspicious and clearly there could be a relationship between the 13 associations and Rushwaya,” he said.

Mr Sibanda said the voting process has already been tainted with impropriety.

“There must be an investigation to establish who the 13 associations are, when did they register and join ZMF and what links do they have with Rushwaya. I submit that voter confidence has been lost in these forthcoming elections, and if the elections are allowed to continue on 14 June 2018 without a proper vetting exercise there is bound to be a likelihood of rigging,” he said.

“My suspicion is strengthened by the fact that Rushwaya is not new to being accused of corruption. She is a former boss at Zifa and was dismissed on allegations of corruption. In light of her previous corruption allegations coupled with the present circumstances, one is bound to keep guard and protect the reputation of ZMF.”

In 2016, Ms Rushwaya was fired as Zifa chief executive officer after a disciplinary tribunal appointed by Zifa ruled that she be dismissed for mismanagement and insubordination. She had been found guilty on the majority of the charges levelled against her.

In February 2012 ,Ms Rushwaya was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) on allegations of bribery and match-fixing linked to the Asiagate scandal. She was found guilty of failing to account for a loan made to Zifa of $103 000 and authorising a 2008 trip to Malaysia where elite club Monomotapa masqueraded as the Zimbabwe national team. Ms Rushwaya and her two accomplices, the late former Zifa board member Mr Edzai Kasinauyo and fired Warriors assistant coach Mr Nation Dube were also accused of conniving to fix the Afcon qualifier matches between Swaziland and Zimbabwe. They were however, later cleared of match fixing by a Harare regional magistrate Ms Lucy Mungwari who ruled that the State failed to prove a prima facie case against the trio. She said there was no evidence linking the trio to the scandal.

Chronicle

A 21-YEAR-OLD woman from Bulawayo has been sentenced to an effective 30 months in prison for dumping her five-month-old baby outside her brother’s house before disappearing for four days, only to be apprehended in a bar.

Vanessa Thabisile, who is of no fixed abode, dumped her infant daughter outside her brother, Tarven Ncube’s house in Nkulumane suburb during the night on Wednesday last week.

Thabisile disappeared and was apprehended at Sathelene Sports Bar in Nketa suburb four days later.

She pleaded guilty to neglecting a child when she appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.

Thabisile she told the court that she dumped the child out of desperation.

“My child fell sick and I did not know what to do with her,” she said.

Ms Dube convicted her on her own plea of guilty and sentenced her to 36 months in prison.

“Six months will be suspended for five years on condition that the accused person does not commit any offense including neglecting or abusing a child.” said Ms Dube

Thabisile will serve an effective 30 months in prison.

Prosecuting, Mr Petros Shoko told the court that on Wednesday last week, Thabisile took her five-month old daughter to her brother’s house in Nkulumane suburb at around 7 PM.

“She dumped the child outside the house and went away,” said Mr Shoko.

“On Sunday at around 9 PM, Thabisile was located at Sathelene Sports Bar in Nketa 6 by Elder Dube and Sikhulile Ncube who apprehended her and took her to the police.”

Chronicle

By Temba P. Mliswa|My rivals for the Norton parliamentary seat have gone into overdrive, with social media posts casting me as an unprincipled politician. Of “concern” to them is my purported “continued” links to ZANU(PF). The narrative is that I am a fork-tongued person, who, according to them, claims independence by day and is ZANU(PF) by night.

May I turn into a political lecturer for once, hopeful that my rivals will come out of this lesson well-schooled in issues of political allegiance and the separation of individual politicians and the political parties they might be aligned to.

Over and above that, I hope this will also clear the consciences of those who believe in me as a people-servant, not the wolf-in-sheep-skin Temba that is being sold to them by rival job seeking politicians.

Strangely, even those who belong to other parties besides ZANU(PF) and the MDC Alliance subscribe to the narrow political theory that you can not oppose both ZANU(PF) and the MDC. Their mistaken belief is that if you raise anything against one of the two parties, you automatically belong to the other.

As is in the public domain, I was unconstitutionally disowned by ZANU(PF) in 2015. I accepted my fate and began charting my own political path outside the ruling party. The party even employed unorthodox means against me, cheating its way to “victory” in the Hurungwe West by-election of that year. My supporters there, to this day, carry physical and psychological scars of the violence that was unleashed on them for supporting me. Refusing to take that lying down, I challenged the party in the Norton by-election in 2016. I prevailed, thanks to the people of Norton, who recognised my track record as a representative and left the ruling party with no room to repeat its Hurungwe West cheat feat.

That experience, which I relive every time I visit my farm in Hurungwe, made me make a bold decision, which I have always repeated. I repeat it here too: ZANU(PF) is the only party I have known in my political career. However, as long as ZANU(PF) fails to admit to its violent past, work positively towards making amends for it, and restore constitutionalism to its operations, I, Temba Peter Mliswa, will never want to be associated with them as an institution. Hence my continued standing as an Independent candidate in the forthcoming elections.

Now, a political party is not homogenous. Within ZANU(PF), there are people who do not subscribe to its institutional excesses. Within the MDC Alliance, there are people who do not subscribe to its institutional shortcomings. I may share a common interest with such people, without necessarily approving of the institutions they belong to. The joy of doing so as an Indendent is that I am not criminalised for it. I can do so without the threat of being fired from a party for associating with a rival institution.

My belief in the capabilities of His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa does not equate to an approval of ZANU(PF) as a party. My belief in the generational consensus as touted by Hon Nelson Chamisa does not equate to an endorsement of the MDC Alliance as an institution. Recently, the NPF party insinuated that it would back Hon Chamisa’s presidential bid. But they have not joined the Alliance, meaning they will most likely field parliamentary and local authority candidates against the Alliance, while backing the Alliance leader for the presidency.

The reason we have separate ballots for the presidency, parliament and local authorities is precisely that it is possible for a voter to vote for a presidential candidate but reject that candidate’s party in other ballots. Had that not been the case, we would simply vote for a president, whose party would then take up all the parliamentary and local authority seats.

Such is my support for ED. It is not support for ZANU(PF). Remember he was also at one point sacked by ZANU(PF), a clear illustration of the separation of the individual from the institution! He is not the personification of ZANU(PF). He happens to be in it, able to be fired from it. When Hon Chamisa says “Godisinit”, it does not make him God. Neither does it turn the Alliance into a religious organization.

Going forward, I have always believed that *youths* must eventually play a larger part in the governance of their country. That is why I support the concept of a generational consensus. In fact, even before it became a convenient campaign phrase, I made clear my ideological leaning to it by founding and leading to this day, the Youth Advocacy for Reform & Democracy (YARD).

Recently, I went back to Hurungwe West, in solidarity with my sister, Mary Chikoka-Mliswa, who was bidding to represent ZANU(PF) in the coming elections. She was successful. To some, that solidarity with a ZANU(PF) candidate is proof that I am tracing my steps back to the party. Yet no one has volunteered an incriminating piece of media with me chanting a ZANU(PF) slogan!

That is an unfortunate bid to entrench the politics of non-tolerance, even to one’s own kith and kin, that has made Zimbabwe a polarised society at all levels. A type of politics that defines political allegiances by the colour of one’s T-Shirt, instead of one’s conscience. Zimbabweans deserve better! There is a reason why the number of T-Shirts has never equated to the number of votes.

Maybe my upbringing makes me inherently tolerant and accommodating. I was raised in a family of political extremes. My father was ZIPRA while my mother was ZANLA. Tribally too. My mother is a MuManyika while my late father was of Karanga-Ndebele blood.

The joys of being an Independent derive from a freedom from institutional servitude that relegates people-service to the periphery. I can ally with any other politician, from whichever party, without the risk of a “party recall”. Being an Independent allows me to work with any politician I might share development ideology with, without being accused of betraying the party.

Let us meet in the next lesson.

By Paul Nyathi|The opposition MDC Alliance is at a serious risk of a major shake up with reports that the MDC-T who are the senior partners in the coalition agreement have gravely denigrated on the coalition candidates allocation agreements.

Sources from the smaller partners to the agreement told ZimEye.com in confidence that the MDC-T spent the whole day realigning its own candidates into the Alliance partners reserved areas.

According to the sources, the MDC-T who were the only signatories to the nomination forms on Wednesday shifted goal posts and replaced some seconded Alliance candidates.

ZimEye.com is following up the matter as the Nomination Courts proceed.

HOW MNANGAGWA HAS RIGGED THE 2018 HARMONIZED ELECTIONS – By Professor Jonathan Moyo

Mnangagwa’s candidacy on July 30 is illegitimate, not only because he’s a product of a military coup, but also because he was the brutal CHIEF ENFORCER of what he has described as the OLD ORDER for 38 years. The ENFORCER can’t be the REFORMER!

As the Chief ENFORCER for 38 years, Mnangagwa was used by the Army’s Command Element, which is leading his election bid, as the ugly face behind atrocities such as Gukurahundi, the looting of DRC minerals & $15Bn of Chiadzwa diamonds!

Mnangagwa has crafted an appeasement strategy, that targets the business & international communities based on a disinformation scheme, learnt from British intelligence in his CIO days, whose design is to SAY right things & DO the opposite!

In January at Davos, Mnangagwa lied to the world through the BBC that unlike in the OLD ORDER, in which he was the CHIEF ENFORCER, Govt no longer runs elections as they are now run by ZEC. This was disinformation since Govt runs ZEC!

Asked by the BBC at Davos in January if EU & UN election MONITORS will be invited Mnangagwa lied by confusing OBSERVERS who see little, not everywhere & do nothing, with MONITORS who must see all, everywhere & correct wrongs on the spot!

In the first 20 years of the OLD ORDER, when Mnangagwa was the CHIEF ENFORCER, Govt ran elections through the Registrar General under an ad hoc Election Directorate & Electoral Supervisory Commission that had Election MONITORS as observers!

ZEC run by Govt to run elections is not set up in terms of the Constitution. Most of its full time staff are former or current Army, CIO & ZRP. ALL of TECHNICAL staff is 100% from security organs & ALL polling officers are civil servants!

On the back of the Nov coup, and the fact that Zimbabwe is under military rule, it’s unreasonable to expect a Govt run ZEC to run free, fair & credible elections. With securocrats managing its TECHNICAL operations, ZEC is a rigging tool!

While s235 of the Constitution says ZEC should “protect the sovereignty of the people” & s233 says it should “promote transparency & accountability”, proof Govt runs ZEC is the failure by ZEC to bring to order Rugeje, Hungwe & Mukupe!

ZEC’s has turned deaf & blind to ZanuPF’s threat to “repeat June 2008” if the Army run party loses the election on 30 July. Unlike the Rugeje, Hungwe & Mukupe rants, this threat was made on 6 June, AFTER election proclamation!

The plot is to rig on an industrial scale. The rigging is centered on:

(1) Manipulation of the BVR Voters Roll;

(2) Manipulation of Polling Stations by ZEC technical staff from security organs &

(3) Army intimidation of voters in villages!

Govt has seconded to ZEC a team of Chinese BVR & cyber experts from the People’s Liberation Army linked to a top Chinese university. Their remit is to manipulate the voters roll through shadowy & virtual polling stations & fake voters!

Chinese team seeks to manipulate the BVR system & create virtual polling stations to guarantee victory for Mnangagwa, whose appeasement strategy of disinformation would be used by UK govt to justify declaring the poll free, fair & credible!

Some 11 days after BVR closed for 2018 poll & a day before sitting of Nomination Court, ZEC continues to deny the opposition access to the roll, yet it has given ZanuPF hard copies.

ZEC has always done this & I can confirm it under oath.

#HandeyiKwekwe #KwekweHimJuly30
#NyamaYegarweKunaka

– Via Twitter

By Paul Nyathi|THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it is now ready for Thursday nomination court ahead of the July 30 harmonised elections.

ZEC provincial elections officers from Matabeleland region said that the commission was all systems go.

The nomination court will open at 10.00 am and close at 4.00pm country wide.

In Bulawayo Metropolitan Province the nomination court for the National Assembly candidates will sit at the magistrate’s court at Tredgold Building.

Bulawayo provincial elections officer Mr Innocent Ncube said, “We are very much prepared. We’ve already processed quite a number of papers. Those whose papers have gone through can go to the court at 3.00pm while those who are yet to submit their forms can come at 10 am when we open.”

In Matabeleland North Province, Zec was by yesterday afternoon still setting up at Western Commonage Magistrate’s court for the National Assembly candidates.

Zec provincial election officer for Mat North Mr Mark Ndlovu said the commission had secured all local authorities chambers in the province as venues for the nominations courts for Local Government Candidates.

“We are in the process of setting up here at Western Commonage Court where the nomination court will sit for the National Assembly candidates.

“For local government we have secured all the respective local authority chambers in the province as the venues,” he said.

In Matabeleland South Province the nomination court for the National Assembly candidates will sit at Gwanda Magistrates’ Court.

Zec provincial election officer for Matabeleland South Mr Rabson Nyoni said the province was all set for tomorrow’s nomination court.

“All our basic equipment and material are in place. Our staff has been trained and as I speak we are now setting up for tomorrow. All the venues have been secured,” he said.

The nomination for the presidential candidates will be conducted at the High Court and this is the first time the process has been carried out at Mapondera Building.

In previous elections, nomination for presidential candidates was conducted at the Mashonganyika Building, which is under renovations.

One hundred and twelve political parties have so far notified the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of their intention to participate in the 2018 polls.

ZEC said even though more parties are registering daily they still have to go through a vetting process by the nomination court for them to be allowed to participate.

There seems to be a rush by many parties to register to participate in the 2018 harmonised polls as evidenced by the daily increase in numbers of new political parties which are now at 112.

ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said the continued increase in number is not the measure of those going to participate given the rigorous vetting process done by the nomination court after the proclamation by the President.

“Parties register in their numbers usually because of the mistaken impression that they will be paid money for participating, but there is a process of vetting serious parties and candidates at the nomination court

The vetting includes the payment of $1 000 for aspiring presidential candidates and security clearance as convicted persons,” said Justice Chigumba.

By Paul Nyathi|Outgoing MDC-T Member of Parliament for Harare West Jessie Majome has indicated that she will be submitting nomination forms as an independent candidate disputing internal party claims that she had reached a compromise with the party leadership.

Majome dismissed reports within the MDC-T that she had accepted to be a women’s quota proportional representation candidate claiming that no such deal was ever presented to her.

“There had been reports that I had been offered a Senate seat or Proportionate Representative in the National Assembly. It is simply not true that the MDC-T ever negotiated with me regarding my decision withdrawing from the sham election. At no point did the party negotiate with me,” said Majome.

“At no point did the party even acknowledge the issues or that they were addressing the irregularities that led to my withdrawing. That is if unless that Press conference was the negotiation. I have made a decision to run as an independent.”

“I disagreed with the party because the party’s guidelines were vandalised . . . right now there were no primary elections that were held in Harare West in respect for both councillors and Members of Parliament yet there were contenders.”

Majome is set to battle for the MDC-T vote with youthful Joanna Mamombe in the election where they are certainly going to share the vote and may see the two of them lose the seat to rival ZANU PF candidate.

The nomination court seats on Thursday morning.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has denied allegations made by Prof Jonathan Moyo that it is working in cohorts with Chinese cyber experts to manipulate the BVR system and create virtual polling stations to guarantee victory for Mnangagwa.

ZEC says it is at the moment carrying out a second round of the de-duplication exercise of the voters’ roll to deal with people who registered during inspection of the BVR and expects to finish the process soon, according a state media reports.

ZEC also denied that it had already availed a physical copy of the voters’ roll to Zanu-pf after Former Higher Education Minister Prof Jonathan said he can testify under aoth that the copy has been availed and it is customary for ZEC to give Zanu -pf copies in advance while denying other parties access to the voters’ roll.

“That is false and mischievous (that ZEC has availed the voters’ roll to zanu-pf). The voters’ roll will be furnished to all political parties and candidates once the commission avails it in line with the provisions of the (Electoral) Act. At the moment, we are doing a second round of de-duplication using AFIS after we had registrants during the inspection of the BVR, we expect to be finished very soon.”

The elections management body denied that there were Chinese experts that had been seconded to work with them.

“That is false, we do not have any Chinese nationals working with ZEC in any capacity,” said ZEC.

“The allegations are purely malicious.”

Kudakwashe Masunda a Form One pupil at Rafomoyo Secondary School in Gutu is appealing for a wheelchair.

The pupil, who is disabled, is currently being pushed to school by his young sister Lucia Masunda in a wheelbarrow loaned to the family by the school.

According his grandmother Mbuya Masunda, Kuda was born disabled and has to crawl when doing household chores.

On some days he leaves school late because the wheelbarrow is also used for duties around the school.

Mbuya Masunda does not have a phone. However, those wishing to assist can contact Kudakwashe’s teacher Mrs Edith Chiyaka on her mobile number 0773 541162.

A WIFE-BASHER from Bulawayo has pleaded with a court not to give him a custodial sentence as he would not want to miss the FIFA World Cup which kicks off in Russia tomorrow.

Collias Mutungamiri from Cowdray Park suburb pleaded with a court for a fine.

“I pray that you give me a non custodial sentence as I am a working man and the World Cup is around the comer your worship I would not want to miss it.”

SOURCE State Media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa says he has instructed police to act swiftly and bring to justice the murderers who abducted and killed a two-year-old boy at Greendale, Mozowe North.

2-year-old, Professor Lumbe was reportedly abducted and brutally killed by suspected Zanu PF activists at the weekend, after his father Rambai Lumbe defected to the opposition National People’s Party (NPP) where he is Mazowe North parliamentary candidate.

Today, President Emmerson Mnangagwa sent a message of condolences to the Lumbe family sayinfg he is shocked and appalled by the heinous crime.

“I am shocked and appalled by the horrific murder of two year old Professor Lumbe this weekend in Glendale. My sympathy, thoughts and prayers are with Professor’s parents, Rambai and Nomatter, and the entire family in this difficult time.

“There can be no tolerance for such wanton acts of violence, let alone against children. We as a society must categorically reject all violence in the strongest possible terms. I have instructed the police to investigate this heinous crime as a matter of urgency, to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“As we approach the election, I call on all candidates, supporters and members of the public to be peaceful at all times, and to ensure that the values of love, unity and tolerance dominate our political and civil discourse.”

By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa affectionately known as The Crocodile amongst the ZANU PF supporters has sent a message of condolences to the Lumbe family following the horrific murder of two-year old Professor Lumbe in Greendale on Saturday.

“I am shocked and appalled by the horrific murder of two-year old Professor Lumbe this weekend in Glendale. My sympathy, thoughts and prayers are with Professor’s parents, Rambai and Nomatter, and the entire family in this difficult time,” said President Mnangagwa, in a statement.

President Mnangagwa said such wanton acts of violence cannot be tolerated, let alone against children, adding that “society must categorically reject all violence”.

The President has instructed the police to urgently investigate this heinous crime to bring to justice the perpetrators.

Cde Mnangagwa said has urged all candidates, supporters and the public to be peaceful at all times as the country approaches the harmonised elections next month.

He urged Zimbabweans to ensure that the values of love, unity and tolerance dominate the country’s political and civil discourse.

The Lumbe family which is aligned to the Joice Mujuru led National People’s party has accused the Mnangagwa led ZANU PF supporters for the abduction and murder of the toddler.

A report by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy said Government only realised $300 million in the form of royalties while police recovered 2 800 carats, which were due for smuggling.

Committee chair Mr Temba Mliswa presented the report in Parliament and made recommendations that a forensic audit be immediately conducted on all mining companies that operated in Marange.

“The forensic audit should be conducted as a matter of urgency on all companies that were operating from Marange. The Permanent Secretary of Mines and the Auditor General should engage in earnest all the joint venture partners that were involved in the mining of diamonds in Marange,” read the recommendations.

The committee also recommended that the police’s Minerals and Border Control unit be given adequate resources that include vehicles to curb the smuggling and theft of diamonds.

“The Minerals and Border Control Unit (MBCU) informed the committee that for the period 2013 to 2016, they recovered approximately 2 800 carats and a few arrests had been made.

The MBCU expressed disappointment in the manner in which diamond cases were handled by the police because most of the accused were acquitted as a result of loopholes in the Precious Stones Act,” read part of the report.

Police attributed smuggling and leakages to a number of factors: porous border lines, shortage of vehicles for police to conduct effective surveillance and lack of scanners and drone technology to monitor the Chiadzwa area. The committee says that it was informed by the Minerals and Mining Corporation of Zimbabwe that for the period 2006 to 2017, the country produced just over 51 million carats of diamonds with a value of approximately $2,4 billion.

“Out of that figure, the Government received approximately $300 million in the form of royalties. This is in sharp contrast to the projections that were made by Honourable Obert Mpofu in 2011 that on annual basis the country would generate revenues worth $2 billion,” read the report.

Source: State Media

By Paul Nyathi|Zimbabwe Development Party (ZDP) leader Kisinoti Mukazhe who lost in the 2013 presidential elections says that he will not be contesting this year’s elections.

Mukwazhe said the elections would not be free and fair because of “numerous electoral practices.”

“The outcome of these elections won’t be a reflection of the true will of the people of Zimbabwe, but of the manipulated, hoodwinked, suppressed and helpless electorate,” said Mukwazhe in a statement he issued jointly with Moreprecision Muzadzi leader of little known Voice Of The People (VOP) party.

“Observer missions like Sadc and Comesa have already indicated that elections will be free, fair and credible without mentioning grievances and ignoring concerns raised by most political stakeholders.”

Mr Mukwazhe and Mr Muzadzi recently approached the constitutional court seeking to be considered for funding under the Political Parties (Finance) Act, despite that they did not qualify.

Chief Justice Luke Malaba dismissed the application, saying a political party was not an income generating project, hence upstart political outfits should not burden the courts with claims of a share from the election campaign fund awarded in terms of the Act.

According to ZEC’s election roadmap, the electoral body has appointed constituency election officers and was yesterday busy holding nomination court training and set up.

By Paul Nyathi|The ZANU PF commissariat has thrown away submissions by the Matabeleland South Provincial Coordinating Committee on candidates to represent the party in the forthcoming national elections.

The PPC met in Gwanda on Monday and rejected a list of candidates presented to it by the head office in Harare. The list of candidates included Minister of Provincial Affairs for the province Abednico Ncube who lost primary elections to ZBC staff member Omphile Marupi.

The province also disputed the inclusion of estranged wife to Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Tambudzani, who the province replaced with Provincial Chairman Rapelang Choene.

Presenting the final list of the ZANU PF candidates going into the nomination court on Thursday, the party Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu ignored the submissions made by the province retaining Ncube as the candidate for Gwanda South.

The move is likely to cause serious clashes between party members at the nomination court.

THE Ferret team has arrested two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials at Beitbridge Border Post after they facilitated the smuggling of building material worth $20 200 that was destined for Bulawayo.

The Ferret team is made up of the police, other security agencies and the Zimra Anti-Smuggling Unit.

Wisdom Matsekedza (35) and Muchineripi Hokonya (32), who are both Revenue Officers, were still in custody by end of day yesterday reportedly assisting police with investigations.

Matsekedza and Hokonya are accused of facilitating the smuggling of 500 chromatic IBR roofing sheets from the neighbouring country after pocketing a R200 bribe from a man who was transporting the contraband.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Inspector Philisani Ndebele, could not comment on the matter yesterday referring all questions to national spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi who was not reachable.

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission’s (Zacc) commissioner responsible for investigations, Mr Goodson Nguni, commended the police and the border authorities for the arrest. “We commend the police for a job well done and we will continue working with them in bringing all perpetrators of corruption to book and taking them to court for prosecution,” said Mr Nguni.

Sources close to the investigations said the contraband and a South African registered truck had been impounded by Zimra under notice of seizure numbers 017344 and 017 345. “The two will be appearing in court soon facing charges of criminal abuse of office,” said one source.

Another border authority said allegations against the duo arose on June 10 when Hokonya was approached by one Peter Bhobho who was transporting building material from Midrand (South Africa) to Bulawayo.

The official said Hokonya was offered R200 not to subject the man’s vehicle to searches within the border.

“He then took the customs document to his colleague (Matsekedza) and they connived to allow the vehicle a smooth passage on condition Bhobho paid them a bribe of R2000.

“They then agreed to stamp the customs documents without searching the truck and that Bhobho would pay them the full amount of R2000 soon after leaving the border arena. The trio also exchanged contacts.

“Unfortunately they ran out of luck when the truck driver was intercepted by the Ferret team at the last check point before leaving the border, where it was discovered that the bulk of the consignment had not been declared,” said the official.

According to the border official, Bhobho failed to explain how he had managed to navigate through commercial mobile scanners without properly declaring his consignment.

He pretended to be collecting more customs documents from the vehicle before fleeing, leaving the keys in the ignition.

“Police detectives later caught up with Bhobho who then implicated Hokonya and Matsekedza. The duo was arrested late on Monday afternoon and the truck was taken for physical examination. It was then discovered that the IBR sheets were concealed under iron coils,” said the source.

Zimra’s commissioner general Ms Faith Mazani confirmed the arrests.

Chronicle

By Paul Nyathi|The clerk of parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda has cleared fears that the eighth parliament of Zimbabwe has been dissolved in a situation that would have left President Emmerson Mnangagwa ruling by decree without the legislatures in place.

Chokuda explained in a statement on Tuesday that the two houses have only adjourned to allow members time to go out and campaign.

The Clerk took time to explain the on going situation after wide spread speculations that the houses had dissolved leaving the country in a constitutional crisis that may have seen President Mnangagwa having the sole ability to pass laws and run the country as an individual.

Zimbabwe was exposed to a near rule by decree in 2013 when then President Robert Mugabe remained in office alone after parliament dissolve on June 29 before elections were held in July 31. This was despite an urgent court applications by one Jealousy Mawarire for elections to be held on June 30 to avoid the constitutional crisis.

The full statement provided by parliament reads as follows:

DISSOLUTION OF THE EIGHTH PARLIAMENT AND COMMENCEMENT OF THE NINTH PARL

Kennedy M. Chokuda
Clerk of Parliament.

Self exiled Former Higher Education minister Prof. Jonathan Moyo says he can confirm under oath that Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has, and always has given hard copies of the voters roll to Zanu PF whilst it denied opposition parties access.

Prof Moyo who has been in both government and Zanu PF during previous deadly elections that kept Mugabe in power says Zanu PF has already received the 2018 voters roll whilst opposition parties are still yet to and are being denied access by ZEC.

Updating Zimbabweans through his twitter account about 2018 voters’ roll, Prof Moyo said:’Some 11 days after BVR closed for 2018 poll & a day before sitting of Nomination Court #ZEC continues to deny the opposition access to the roll, yet it has given #ZanuPF hard copies. #ZEC has always done this & I can confirm it under oath’

MDC Alliance has been calling for the voters roll to be availed for audit and inspection by all parties before the sitting of the Nomination court, but ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba dismissed those demands last week.

Addressing a press conference in Harare on the 1st of June, Alliance principal Tendai Biti had said it was absurd that the voters’ roll would only be available after the sitting of the nomination court.

“We are not being provided with the (voters’ roll) yet the nomination court sits on the 14th of June and we have to be nominated by persons who are on the voters’ roll,” he said.

“ZEC has indicated that it would only avail the voters’ roll after the nomination court.

“We find that absurd because the roll is a key cog in the nomination process particularly the nomination of the president.”

If the allegations by Former Higher Education Minister Prof Moyo are true the credibility of ZEC and the elections is at risk and could possibly jeopardize the whole process.

Self exiled Former Higher Education minister Prof. Jonathan Moyo says a plot to rig elections is underway and government has romped in Chinese cyber experts to work with ZEC in the manipulation of Bio-metric Voters Roll to give Zanu PF victory.

On Tuesday Moyo had promised to expose critical information on collusion to rig elections that’s going between Zanu-PF and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

Prof Moyo has just posted through his twitter account the plot to rig the elections as cataloged below:

11/14 The plot is to rig on an industrial scale. The rigging is centered on (1) Manipulation of the BVR Voters Roll; (2) Manipulation of Polling Stations by #ZEC technical staff from security organs & (3) Army intimidation of voters in villages!

12/14 Govt has seconded to #ZEC a team of Chinese BVR & cyber experts from the People’s Liberation Army linked to a top Chinese university. Their remit is to manipulate the voters roll through shadowy & virtual polling stations & fake voters!

13/14 Chinese team seeks to manipulate the BVR system & create virtual polling stations to guarantee victory for Mnangagwa, whose appeasement strategy of disinformation would be used by UK govt to justify declaring the poll free, fair & credible!

14/14 Some 11 days after BVR closed for 2018 poll & a day before sitting of Nomination Court #ZEC continues to deny the opposition access to the roll, yet it has given #ZanuPF hard copies. #ZEC has always done this & I can confirm it under oath.

A 24-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo was arrested after he allegedly broke into a house in Pumula South suburb and “took a nap.”

Nqobizitha Dube from Pumula South suburb allegedly broke into a house in the same suburb at midnight on Saturday, selected a comfortable sofa and took a snooze.

Mrs Nomaswazi Tshabalala, the owner of the house, screamed for assistance from neighbours when she woke up around 1AM and found an intruder snoring in the house.

Yesterday Dube appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube to answer to charges of unlawful entry.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to Friday for trial.

Dube told the court that he did not break into the house.

“I had visited my friend and I got lost on my way back home. I was drunk on the night in question so I just wandered into her yard,” he said.

“I was looking for a place to hide my groceries and while I was inside the yard, I might have hit the French door with my groceries but I did not break it.”

Allegations by the State are that on Saturday at midnight, Dube proceeded to Mrs Tshabalala’s house in Pumula South suburb.

He allegedly jumped over the fence and proceeded to break a glass on a French door and entered the house.

The court was told that Dube took a nap on the sofa.

At about 1AM, the complainant, who had heard some noise, went into the dining room to investigate and found Dube asleep on the sofa.

Mrs Tshabalala alerted neighbours who helped in apprehending Dube and called the police.

Mrs Memory Ndlovu represented the State.

Source State Media

By Paul Nyathi|Opposition MDCT Alliance has lost a tricky case at the courts over the imposition of a parliamentary candidate.

Blessing Nhende a member of the party youth wing took the party to court for imposing a candidate in a Ward previously declare as reserved for youths in Mabvuku.

The MDCT had imposed Barnabas Ndira who is over the age of thirty five being the cut off age for the youth to be candidate for ward 21 in Mabvuku after previously declaring it reserved for the youth.

The court ruled that the MDC-T should hold a primary election in the ward urgently before the 14th of June to get a youth candidate for the ward.

The ruling is likely to cause a mayhem in the party where several similar concerns were raised.

By Paul Nyathi|The ZANU PF Matabeleland South Provincial Coordinating Committee has outright rejected Minister of State for the Province Abednico Ncube contest as the party candidate for Gwanda South.

The PCC met in Gwanda on Monday and rejected a list sent to the province by the party commissariate with names of candidates who lost primary elections being squeezed in as candidates.

Ncube lost the primary elections to ZBC staff member Ompile Marupi in the primary elections but was brought back to contest the seat by the national commissariat who disqualified Marupi with no explaination given.

Addressing the PCC members, Zanu PF provincial chairman Rabelani Choene distanced himself from the list produced by the national commissariat saying it had a number of irregularities.

He said some losing candidates had been clandestinely allocated posts in districts where they do not come from, while in some cases losing candidates had been declared winners.

“Please note that I have nothing to do with this list, this document came from the national commissariat. If you have any concerns do not direct them at me but to Harare,” said Choene.

PCC members immediately rejected the document and drafted the final list of winners for the national assembly, women’s quarter, senate and provincial council candidates.

“Chairman, we will not accept anything that is not endorsed by this PCC, let us come up with our final list that we will send to Harare. We say no to imposition of candidates,” they said.

Speaking soon after emerging from a closed door meeting with the provincial leadership, Vice President Mohadi commended the province for ensuring transparency and fairness prevails, saying the focus should now be on winning the elections.

He reminded party cadres that there was no winner or loser in the intra-party polls, adding if there are any concerns by any individual they should be raised after the elections.

“The PCC is the authentic body so they have the right to come out with the finalist of their candidates. Those who are grumbling, there is nothing to grumble about, we are Zanu PF, we are not voting for individuals but the party. So your little battles are over,” he said.

Other changes that were made to the previous list saw Rabelani Choene becoming the Beitbridge senatorial candidate instead of Tambudzani Mohadi.

Alma Mkwebu will no longer be the senate candidate for Gwanda after Rennie Kibi was declared the winner.

MBUSO Fuzwayo, secretary-general of civil rights group Ibhetshu LikaZulu, has filed robbery charges against a suspected Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative who allegedly confiscated his mobile phone on Saturday after finding the activists constructing a memorial plaque at a Gukurahundi mass grave at Bhalagwe, Kezi district.

Fuzwayo yesterday told Southern Eye that the incident occurred while they were erecting a memorial plaque at the mass grave site, together with villagers from Kezi.

He said four CIO operatives arrived in a white Nissan twin cab at the site and allegedly identified themselves as police officers.

“I introduced myself to them and asked them who were they since I had told them who I am. They told us that they were police officers. They started taking pictures of us at work and I also took their pictures as well,” Fuzwayo said.

“That is when an argument arose over why I was taking their pictures and I also asked why they were also taking pictures of us. They then took my mobile phone, forced us to throw away the mortar we were using, before they drove away. They later came back in the company of three uniformed police officers and two others in civilian clothes.”

Fuzwayo said the CIO operatives accused him of constructing the plaque without engaging local traditional leaders.

He said the operatives ordered them to stop the programme.

“I reported the matter to the police in Kezi on Saturday under case number 1606/2018 – RRB 3102163. That is when I was given back my mobile phone,” Fuzwayo, who claimed that he reported the matter at Kezi Police Station in the company of his lawyer, Nqobani Sithole, said.

Sithole said they were now waiting for the police to advise them on the court date.

“Fuzwayo approached us saying he was robbed of his mobile phone by the police and the CIOs and we went to Kezi to recover the phone,” Sithole said.

“When we arrived there the police officers denied the accusations and it only emerged that the person who took the mobile phone was a CIO operative only identified as Kudakwashe. So we filed robbery charges against him. We are waiting for the police to advise us on the court date. However, the police gave us the phone.”

Newsday

THE July 30 election campaign trail has claimed the life of a two-year-old who was reportedly abducted and brutally killed by suspected Zanu PF activists at the weekend after his father Rambai Lumbe defected to the opposition National People’s Party (NPP) where he is Mazowe North parliamentary candidate, NewsDay has learnt.

Addressing mourners at his Sunridge Farm in Glendale yesterday, the distraught Lumbe, said he was finding it difficult to stomach the death of his son, Professor, whose heavily bruised body was recovered about two kilometres from the family home on Sunday.

The incident has raised fears of a repeat of the bloody 2008 presidential run-off election where over 300 opposition MDC-T supporters were killed and thousands others internally displaced by suspected State security agents and Zanu PF militia.

Lumbe, who defected from Zanu PF in 2014 to join former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s ZimPF and later NPP where he is Mashonaland Central provincial secretary, said prior to the incident some local ruling party activists had visited his home and warned him to leave opposition politics or risk losing his family.

“My son, Professor went missing on Saturday afternoon, but was only found dead by some kids harvesting soya beans on Sunday. This came as no surprise considering that we are living in a politically-charged environment where I receive a number of threats on my family,” Lumbe said.

“There are a number of cases where Zanu PF activists came and threatened me saying I was not a member of Zanu PF anymore, so I didn’t deserve to stay on the land that I was given by Zanu PF. I was told clearly that my involvement in opposition politics endangers my family.

“I started receiving threats in 2014 when I joined the then ZimPF (Mujuru’s first opposition party). At one point, Zanu PF youths came to my plot and tried partitioning it amongst themselves claiming since I was in opposition politics, I was supposed to leave. Their warning was straight-forward that I was putting my family in danger and I was supposed to make a choice.”

His wife, Nomatter Midzi said it was unfortunate that her son died under unclear circumstances although she suspects that their political rivals who always subjected them to all sorts of intimidation were responsible.

“I am convinced that my son was murdered because for some time, Zanu PF people were telling us that my husband’s political activism will endanger my family at some point. They failed to destroy him and then chose to attack my son aged two years, seven months,” she said.

She added: “I am convinced it’s Zanu PF people because in many cases, since we stay close to the road, they would pass through shouting that if my husband continues with opposition politics, then they will not spare us.”

She, however, said it was unfortunate that political differences would get to this level.

Like her husband, Nomatter said everyone should be allowed to express their political views without any form of intimidation.

Mourners gathered at the funeral said it was deplorable that people could attack each other over political differences. They said since the national political leadership, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa were preaching the gospel of peace, it was only prudent to follow his wise counsel.

Contacted for comment, Zanu PF Mashonaland provincial chairman Kazembe Kazembe dismissed the allegations as “false”.

“I don’t know about that. I even don’t know NPP candidates. To be honest, I have never heard about that kind of intimidation. People must appreciate the message from our President and all of us we don’t condone violence at all. However, I have no idea of such an incident,” Kazembe said.

NPP national standing committee member and People’s Rainbow Coalition provincial elections director Julius Musevenzi condemned the intimidation and physical violence against the opposition by suspected ruling party activists.

“Whilst ED and Zanu PF are talking about free and fair elections, for us this has just become a talk of the day and artificial. The reality is that people on the ground particularly in the farming community of newly resettled areas suffer a lot of intimidation from Zanu PF. This means any former Zanu PF member who joins another party becomes an enemy,” Musevenzi said.

“These people are a threat to Zanu PF and they have a huge following. As PRC, we do condemn such kind of violence.”

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Petros Masikati said although police were investigating a case of suspected murder, he had no knowledge of the involvement of any political party.

Newsday

By Paul Nyathi|MDC-T Masvingo provincial chairperson James Gumbi has resigned from his position, very reliable sources within the party in Masvingo have told ZimEye.com.

Gumbi is reported to have submitted his resignation letter to the party provincial Secretary on Tuesday morning after he saw his efforts to impose his own choice of candidates in the province go up in smoke.

Earlier this year Gumbi had vowed that he was going to have the final say on who was going to be the candidates for the opposition paying no regard to the MDC Alliance coalition agreements.

Gumbi, who claimed that he influenced the late MDC-T founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai to appoint Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri as vice presidents in 2016, always indicated that there was no one within the party and Alliance qualified enough to tell him what to do when it comes to the selection of candidates to represent the party in the province in the upcoming elections.

Addressing aspiring MPs and councillors at party provincial offices in Rhodene in March Gumbi said the buck stopped with him. His antics took a drastic direction when he refused to present the MDC Alliance candidate for Chivi North to the MDC-T Vice President Mudzuri last week claiming that the candidate was not favoured in the electorate.

“I have the final say; I’m the one who put the final signature and no one even from national can tell me what to do,” Gumbi was quoted telling the MDC Alliance structures.

The sources indicated that Gumbi seemed to have this courage from the claims he made that he footed the late Tsvangirai’s medical bills as well as influencing the appointment of Chamisa and Mudzuri as VPs.

Gumbi’s moves threatened to shake the grass root support base of the party, leading to loyal party members turning against him in numbers resulting in his resignation from the chairman’s position in frustration.

ZimEye.com efforts to get a comment on the resignation from the MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora were not successful at the time of writing though party sources in Masvingo insisted that Gumbi had resigned. Gumbi could also not be reached on his mobile phone which was continuously unreachable.

By Paul Nyathi|The Zimbabwe Election Support Network an electoral process watchdog has questioned the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ZEC’s, silence on the printing of the ballot papers in its election roadmap released last week.

ZESN released the following statement in reaction to the roadmap published by the commission last week.

ZESN STATEMENT ON THE 2018 ELECTION ROADMAP RELEASED BY ZEC

ZESN remains committed to the promotion of democratic elections in Zimbabwe.

By Paul Nyathi|Zimbabweans will know their new leader by 4 August according to the elections roadmap released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

The roadmap says it will take the commission five days to collate and announce the results of the elections which will be held on 30 July. Below is their officially published schedule:

By Paul Nyathi|Former cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere has appeared in court on charges of flouting the country’ immigration laws.

The former ZANU PF commissar pleaded not guilty to the charges of violating the country’s immigration law by unlawfully leaving Zimbabwe using an undesignated port.

Kasukuwere skipped the country’s borders in November last year when the army executed a coup on former President Robert Mugabe. He took refuge in South Africa for six months before returning home.

His lawyer Mr Jonathan Samukange applied for discharge at the close of the state case arguing that his client’s life was under threat and he qualified for refugee status.

“When a person is under threat, his life is under threat; he can leave the country as a refugee. The refugee status starts from Zimbabwe; it does not start from the foreign country. The act is very clear on that point, so that’s why my client pleaded not guilty……when he left he was already a refugee…,” said Mr Samukange.

The court will hand down its ruling on the application for discharge at the close of the state case today (Tuesday) at 08:30 am.

By Paul Nyathi|Flamboyant ZANU PF Central Committee member and Zimbabwe Football Association chairman Philip Chiyangwa is demanding a whopping $1 million dollars for defamation of character from ZANU PF Harare Provincial Women’s League leader Ratizo Mukarati.

Chiyangwa is raising the claims on Mukarati who ZANU PF supporters are calling the “New Grace Mugabe” over utterances she made against him at a ZANU PF women’s interface rally with President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week.

Mukarati who sections of the ZANU PF supporters have accused of behaving like the former First Lady Grace Mugabe by attacking senior party members in public demanded that President Mnangagwa arrests Chiyangwa who she accused of being a land baron who symphonies money from fellow party supporters.

Mukarati claimed that Chiyangwa corruptly acquired land in Harare South and was selling it at exorbitant prices to party members.

Presenting a report to President Mnangagwa during the meeting in Harare last Thursday, Mukarati said Chiyangwa has brought untold suffering to party supporters in the Harare South constituency.

“In Harare South the issue of residential stands is a big issue because of Chiyangwa who claims to be one of us,” said Mukarati.

“Zanu PF political heavyweights like Chiyangwa, Mr President are abusing party supporters after he corruptly bought land which once belonged to the State.

“He (Chiyangawa) is now demanding more money from party supporters who have already bought those housing stands as cooperatives and those who can’t afford are being chased away with their houses and properties being destroyed.”

She added; “These people are now living in poverty and struggling with nowhere to live and these are the same people who voted for Zanu PF in 2013.”

Responding to the reports, Mnangagwa said he has commissioned a land inquiry, adding that once the report is out those found on the wrong side of the law will be prosecuted.

“This report will be made public and I can assure you even those that you have mentioned (Chiyangwa) here, if he is found to have corruptly acquired (land) he will be prosecuted.”

Writing through his lawyers Chiyangwa expressed ignorance and non involvement in the issues raised by Mukarati demanding that she makes a public apology and withdraw the statements against him within twenty four hours or face a million dollar lawsuit from him.

The deadline expired on Sunday and at the time of writing Mukarati had not yet given the public apology and withdrawal of her statements.

ZimEye.com efforts to get a comment from both Chiyangwa and Mukarati were not successful at the time of writing.

By Paul Nyathi|A Bulawayo man has appeared in court on murder charge after he allegedly kicked his wife several times on the face and chest until she lost consciousness and eventually died.

The 50 year old man, Ricardo Staddon was arrested for the murder of Kim Caterina who died five days after he brutally attacked for undisclosed reasons.

Staddon was not asked to plead on the murder charge before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure who remanded him in custody to June 24 for further investigations.

Prosecuting, Mr Maclean Ndlovu alleged that Staddon severely assaulted his wife on May 19 at Gainsborough, Barham Green until she collapsed.

“Staddon slapped and kicked Caterina with booted feet on the face and chest until she lost consciousness. She was taken to UBH where she was admitted until she passed away on May 24 at around 8PM,” he said.

“A post mortem which was conducted on May 28 showed that the assault was the cause of death.”

By Paul Nyathi|Elections dark horse the Alliance for People’s Agenda, APA, led by Dr Nkosana Moyo will be launching its official manifesto on Wednesday next week, the party has revealed.

The manifesto called The People’s Agenda will be launched by the party’s presidential candidate Dr Moyo in a public event at the Rotary Club of Harare.

Dr Moyo has carried out the most unique campaign trail where he has refused to hold any public rallies but opted to go around the country meeting voters individually in the streets of nearly every village and centre in the country.

The very reserved former Minister of Industry and Trade has been subjected to huge ridicule for his very unique campaign strategy though he appears to have impacted heavily on the people he met as numbers following his party appear to be growing every day.

The party wrote in its official website:

After more than a year of getting into the people, meeting Zimbabweans from all walks of life, listening and learning the challenges they face everyday, and their call for a NEW political, social and economic narrative, I’m pleased to officially invite you all to the People’s Agenda manifesto launch by Alliance for the People’s Agenda – APA at the Rotary Club of Harare, The Bridge near Harare Gardens on 20 June 2018.

Event starts at 16:00 hrs sharp ending at 19:00 hrs. We have a few hard copies of the entire policy document for our early birds. The floor will be open for a round of questions from all attendees. Can’t wait to see you all there!