The President is obliged by the law to proclaim dates for the harmonised election within the prescribed period and neither a court of law nor any individual, for whatever reason, can stop him from performing such a mandatory function, Chief Justice Luke Malaba has ruled.

Chief Justice Malaba said this while dismissing an application by two fringe opposition political parties to be allowed to approach the Constitutional Court where they sought an order barring President Mnangagwa from proclaiming the 2018 election date.

Zimbabwe Development Party (ZDP), led by Kisinoti Mukwazhe, and Voice of the People (VOP) — whose president is Moreprecision Muzadzi — sought to stop the President from proclaiming the election date until they get funding for the poll campaign.

The two parties also sought an order compelling Treasury to pay $420 000 to political parties that did not receive funding for 2008 and 2013 election campaigns.

Chief Justice Malaba said proclamation of the election date in terms of Section 144 (1) as read with Section 158 (1) (a) of the supreme law, was mandatory and it could not be stopped for whatever reason.

The court ruled that the intended application had no prospects of success.

The court ruled that a proclamation can only be challenged after it has been made, solely on the ground of non-compliance with the Constitution.

ZDP and VOP argued that the election will never be free, fair and credible until the Political Parties Finance Act is amended to allow all political parties in the race to receive campaign funds.

The Judiciary boss ruled that any court order stopping such a lawful process was contrary to the rule of law.

“No one, including the courts, has power to alter what is mandated by the Constitution in clear, unambiguous and mandatory terms.

“It would be unconstitutional for a court or judge to order the President not to call and set dates for the holding of the harmonised general elections as prayed for by the applicants.

“The mandatory obligation is imposed on the President by the Constitution for the benefit of all the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Chief Justice Malaba said the President is guided by the Constitution.

“It is the Constitution itself which dictates what the President must do. The proclamation is directly demanded by the Constitution. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and the courts cannot abrogate it.

“Their duty is to enforce what the Constitution demands,” reads the judgment.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) lawyer Mr Tawanda Kanengoni convinced the court that any challenge linked to proclamation can only be made after the act.

“As correctly submitted by Mr Kanengoni, the proclamation can only be challenged after it is made and the challenge can only be on the ground that it has not complied with the relevant provisions of the Constitution,” the Chief Justice ruled.

The minority wanted President Mnangagwa to be ordered to facilitate the repealing of the Political Parties’ Finance Act to ensure all parties compete on a level playing field.

The parties listed President Mnangagwa, Speaker of Parliament and the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission as respondents.

The Herald

By Paul Nyathi|Highly reliable sources with the ruling ZANU PF have revealed that the party’s top leadership has agreed that elections will be held on Saturday the 28th of July 2018.

The sources told ZimEye.com in confidence that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be announcing the election date on the 1st of June calling on the nomination court to sit on the 14th of June 2018.

According to the sources President Mnangagwa has been waiting for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to conclude the voter registration and verification process and finalisation of the voters roll.

ZEC will conclude the voters roll inspection exercise on Tuesday.

The sources further claimed that Mnangagwa has also been waiting for the finalisation of the amendments to the electoral bill which will be signed into law this week for the law to be used in this year’s elections.

Zimbabwe last held elections on the 31st of July 2013 and were won by former President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF party. Mugabe was forced to resign from his position before completing his term by the military in a smart coup in November 2017.

ZimEye.com could not confirm the information with the ZANU PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo whose mobile phone was not reachable.

By Paul Nyathi|Residents of Cowdray Park high density suburb of Bulawayo were on Monday evening taken through an intriguing five hours of drama as a prophet went through a bloody battle with a creature presumed to be goblin he attempted to exorcise.

The prophet had been invited by the residents to “remove” the suspected goblin from a house belonging to a man who residents identified as a Mr Gumbo after they had been exposed to over two weeks of horrific attacks from the goblin.

The residents claimed that the goblin attacked them with stones shuttering windows and roofing of neighbours and also attacked people passing by the area with the stones.

“We could no longer stand the attacks by the goblin and so decided to contribute money as residents and invited the witch hunting prophet known as Tsikamutanda to exorcise the goblin,” said a resident who spoke to ZimEye.com correspondents.

“The prophet identified Mr Gumbo’s to be housing the strange creature but Gumbo initially denied having the thing in his house,” said the resident.

However, after applying his magic charm the goblin is reported to have emerged from Gumbo’s house leading to a protracted battle with the prophet.

The prophet was pelted with stones on the head and all over his body by the invisible creature leaving him bleeding badly.

The prophet conceded an initial defeat and fled the house after Gumbo had also joined his goblin and chased the prophet out of the house in rage.

When ZimEye.com correspondents got to the house Gumbo had closed off his house and was reportedly demanding that the huge crowd that had gathered around his house disperse and allow the prophet to deal with the goblin in a private ceremony.

Highlanders Football Club assistant coach Mandla Mpofu has been arraigned to the courts for beating up his wife after accusing her of driving his car without his consent.

Mpofu (44) punched his wife Ms Nqobile Tshuma (40) twice and violently pulled her out of the car at their place of residence at Margdan Flats along 14th Avenue and Fort Street in Bulawayo.

She had driven the car to a friend’s place to attend a funeral without his consent.

Mpofu pleaded guilty to charges of physical abuse before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure.

He said he punched his wife out of anger and apologised for his actions.

“I had no intention of causing her any bodily harm. I was angry and I am sorry,” he said.

The magistrate fined him $100 or one week in jail.

Ms Tshuma wrote an affidavit where she stated that she had forgiven her husband.

For the State, Mr Maclean Ndlovu said on May 2 at around 7AM, Ms Tshuma drove her husband’s car without his consent and went to attend a funeral.

“On the same date at around 12 noon, she came back home and parked Mpofu’s vehicle. Later on, the two had a misunderstanding as Mpofu was asking his wife why she had driven his car without his consent,” Mr Ndlovu said.

“Mpofu got angry and punched his wife twice on the cheek. He forcibly pulled her out of the vehicle. The accused person had no right to act in the manner he did.”

The court heard that she reported the matter at Bulawayo Central Police Station and did not seek medical treatment.- state media

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has dismissed reports that it is employing serving members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces following a recording circulating on WhatsApp of someone claiming to be working as an undercover soldier within the Commission.

Zec also said its use of bulk messages to confirm registration status is not for purposes of rigging the upcoming harmonised elections.

In a statement, the Acting Chief Elections officer, Mr Utoile Silaigwana, said the SMSs were meant to make the verification process easier and not scrap people from the voters roll as alleged by others.

“Members of the public are hereby advised that the commission has no serving soldiers in its employment and it is false that the use of the USSD code *265# to confirm one’s registration status is a ploy to flash out certain groups of registrants from the Provisional Voter’s Roll. The use of the USSD code and SMSs are initiatives to make one’s registration easily verified,” he said.

“This comes in the wake of a recording circulating on Whatsapp of an individual purporting to be a member of the Zimbabwe National Army deployed at Zec as an intelligence operative.”

Mr Silaigwana said Zec will not hesitate to bring offenders to book.

“Zec is warning those purporting to be part of the electoral management body staff that they risk being prosecuted hence they should stop this practice,” he said.
Mr Silaigwana advised the public to ignore the WhatsApp messages as the commission does not use Whatsapp to communicate.

“Sections 32 and 33 of the Electoral Act clearly state the circumstances under which one’s name can be removed from the voters’ roll either through death, objection or in the case of multiple registrations,” he said.

About a fortnight ago, the commission distanced itself from an application that was circulating on WhatsApp with a Zec logo and the message ‘Click to vote,’ where a message written: “Congratulations! You have voted for Emmarson (sic) Dambudzo Mnangagwa”, appeared following the ‘Click to vote’ command. – state media

A man has dragged his ex-son-in-law to the maintenance Court for the upkeep of one minor child.

Mr Makhi Zulu on Friday demanded $150 from Eden Chuma for the maintenance of a six-year-old boy he sired with his daughter.

“I have been taking care of his child without his contribution. The mother of the child is my daughter and she has left the child in my care. The child is in school and he needs a lot of things like uniforms. I am demanding $150 per month for his upkeep,” he said.

Mr Zulu said Chuma is a self employed painter. Chuma said he could not afford the amount since he is unemployed.

“I am currently unemployed. I am a self employed painter and I don’t earn much. I cannot afford to pay $150 a month. I am married and I also have other children. The only amount I am able to pay is below $70,” he said.

Mr Zulu revised the amount he was claiming. “Considering he is not employed, he should pay $75 plus school fees and also buy uniforms for the child,” he said. Chuma agreed to Mr Zulu’s claims.-state media

THE Joshua Nkomo Cultural Movement (JNCM) has appealed to the Government to erect a statue of Father Zimbabwe, the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo, in Harare.

JNCM chairperson and son to Dr Nkomo, Mr Sibangilizwe Nkomo, said the organisation and family understand that the statue had already been carved. The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) in 2014 revealed that Government was working on erecting Dr Nkomo’s statue in the capital.

In December 2013, the Government unveiled Dr Nkomo’s statue in Bulawayo. Mr Nkomo said it was his hope that their request would be acted upon.

“We also requested Government to erect a statue in the capital. We understand the statue is available,” said Mr Nkomo.

He said the organisation has already partnered the Government in wrapping up Joshua Nkomo Centenary celebrations.

Mr Nkomo said a senior Government official is expected to deliver a guest lecture at the Zimbabwe Defence University on the role of the army in nation building as part of the celebrations.

The centenary commemorations have been running under the theme: “A Reflection of Ethical leadership.”

“Government has agreed to work with us on the events that we have proposed. Preparations are now at advanced stage for the commemorations to take place. The commemorations will start on June 7, which is the birthday of Father Zimbabwe. On that day we are going to have a guest lecture at the Zimbabwe Defence University,” said Mr Nkomo.

Dr Nkomo would have turned 100 years last year having been born in 1917.
Mr Nkomo said the JNCM would also hold a dinner dance on June 8 before capping the events with a soccer match pitting Highlanders and Dynamos on June 9.

“We are grateful that the Government agreed to join us in our quest to celebrate our icon. It is our understanding that the lecture will be given by a top Government official,” he said.
Mr Nkomo said Government also made a commitment towards ensuring that Father Zimbabwe’s vision remains alive.

He said optimism had been raised in the family and its partners that Ekusileni Hospital will be opened soon with Government having shortlisted potential investors. Mr Nkomo said it will be the first time the organisation will be holding Dr Nkomo’s commemorations outside Matabeleland region.

“We’re doing so in full realisation that umdala was a national leader. We have held many events in Matabeleland region and this year we decided to host the event in Harare,” he said.
Mr Nkomo said the family was still pursuing Father Zimbabwe’s values of promoting tolerance, peace and national unity. – state media

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has blasted Finance deputy minister Terrence Mukupe over his sentiments on radio that former Finance minister, Tendai Biti had not taken his dose ARVs before going on air.

During a live radio debate with Biti last week, Mukupe suggested that Biti was losing his temper during the live debate because he had not taken his medication.

Mukupe said the statement to Biti after he had alleged Mukupe was high on drugs.

“For the purposes of denigrating and casting the listenership of StarFM against the person of Mr Tendai Biti, Deputy Minister Mukupe asked Mr Biti if he had taken his anti-retroviral (ARVs),” the doctors lobby group said in a statement.

The ZADHR reiterated that political leaders must be torch bearers in the fight against HIV and Aids and associated stigma and discrimination.

“Hon Mukupe’s utterances casts aspersions in this fight.

“We believe the lack of appreciation of issues such as the impact of HIV and Aids on the socio-political landscape of the country generally drive the poor financing of the sector. Hon Mukupe, in this instance, personifies such failures.

The lobby group said Mukupe’s remarks was a reflection why there was limited commitment towards HIV programming including stigma and discrimination.

“Stigma and discrimination remain a threat to the fight against HIV and Aids and, as ZADHR, we call upon all leaders, political, religious and community alike to take a stand against this vice.”

Source: Newsday.

Zimbabwean authorities have charged a 36 year-old man for allegedly undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa through posting some political comments on social media.

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) recently summoned John Mahlabera, who is employed as a prison officer at Chiredzi Prison in Masvingo province, to appear before a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday 12 June 2018 after charging him with contravening section 3(1) of the Prison (Sfaff) (Discipline) Regulations1984.

According to ZPCS, Mahlabera allegedly posted a message on micro blogging site Twitter, which reads; “Come to Chiredzi my president”.

The ZPCS said Mahlabera posted this message after an MDC-T party rally that was held at Jerera Growth Point in Zaka in Masvingo province, which was addressed by opposition party leader Nelson Chamisa.

ZPCS said by posting such a message on Twitter, Mahlabera showed loyalty to Chamisa and disloyalty to President Mnangagwa.

The ZPCS charged that Mahlabera’s conduct was disgraceful to Mnangagwa and the prison officer had no right whatsoever to act in the manner he did.

Four witnesses will testify against Mahlabera during the disciplinary hearing to be conducted next month in Masvingo, where the prison officer will be represented by Collen Maboke and Blessing Nyamaropa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

ZLHR’s records compiled since 2010 show that the organisation has attended to close to 200 cases where people have been arrested and charged for allegedly “insulting or undermining the authority of the President”.

Source ZLHR

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya says fuel shortages are caused by structural challenges such as heavy reliance on imports, debt overhang, fuel price hikes and low production.

The RBZ boss also revealed that the country is using US$80 million per month to purchase fuel.

Dr Mangudya made the explanation while appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy today.

A debt overhang is the condition of an organisation (for example, a business, government, or family) that has existing debt so great that it cannot easily borrow more money, even when that new borrowing is actually a good investment that would more than pay for itself.

The portfolio committee chairperson Mr Themba Mliswa quizzed the RBZ Governor on why government is buying high end expensive cars for Ministers when the country has such structural challenges and not promoting local industry such as Willovale Mazda Motor Industries.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy is chaired by Honourable Themba Mliswa

The committee also queried why fuel companies demand cash and shun plastic money which could help to preserve the country’s foreign currency.

Zbc News

Former president Robert Mugabe once again failed his appearance at the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy today.

Mugabe is expected to answer on his role in the $15billion diamond leak he revealed 2 years before he was removed.

This is the second time in less than a week Mugabe dodged attending the Temba Mliswa led committee which is investigating the matter.

When Mugabe failed to attend last week’s hearings Mliswa said this was due to the time he had been summoned saying that it was too early for the elderly former President. He said,  “Even when he was still President, because of his age, Mugabe held cabinet meetings at 12 pm.”

This time announcing the latest disappointment today, Mliswa said Parliament is now going to write a final letter to Mugabe. He warned that if Mugabe does not appear again, he will be in contempt of Parliament and risks being jailed.

Mliswa said that Parliament has the power to jail people and gave an example of the late MDC treasurer Roy Bennett who was jailed by Parliament following an altercation with Minister Chinamasa. Mugabe is now to appear before the committee on the 11th of June.

The whole of Zimbabwe will be watching out for former President Robert Mugabe as he is expected for the first time inside Parliament this afternoon. Follow ZimEye.com for more

By Paul Nyathi|A survey by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat), officially launched last week says that the country’s literacy rate stands at 94 percent still remains the highest in Africa. 

However, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central provinces have the highest number of people who have never been to school.

Data from the 2017 ICDS on education reveals that 12 percent of the population age 3-24 years have never been to school.

“Of the total population education age 3-24 years, 27 percent have left school where the proportion for males is 23 percent. For females the rate stands at 27 percent,” it says.

According to the study, about 63 percent of the school-going population are attending school.

“About 12 percent had never been to school and the highest proportions are in Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West provinces. The majority of those never been to school are 5 years and below,” reads the ICDS.

“In Zimbabwe there are equal proportions of males and females who have never been to school and there are slightly more males than females in school. Among those who have left school, there are more females than males and the same is observed towards higher levels of education,” reads the report.

The survey was conducted by Zimstat from 18-23 August 2017, with technical, financial and material support from UNFPA, Unicef and International Organisation for Migration.

“The 2017 ICDS results could not have come at a better time than now when there are a number of national development processes which require baseline and updated data, such as the preparation of the successor programme to the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset), mid-term review of the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) for the period 2016-2020, annual review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the joint assessments in line with the country’s re-engagement thrust with the international community,” said UNFPA country representative Dr Esther Muia.

Former President Robert Mugabe was offered asylum by his visiting old time friend Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the president of Equatorial Guinea.

Nguema offered the ageing former leader asylum if he needs it.

Obiang met Mugabe at his private mansion in Harare on Friday and Mugabe had a few complaints about the way he’s been treated.

“You should be glad they left you alive.”

That was what Equatorial Guinea president Obiang Nguema told his former ally Mugabe when they met for a tete a tete, closely watched by high-ranking ministers from the new Zimbabwe government.

The Standard newspaper says that Obiang stated that Mugabe could have asylum in Equatorial Guinea if he needed it.

By Paul Nyathi|ZANU PF has convened a two day summit to try and bring together its members after the chaotic primary elections that have seen more disgruntlements than celebrations.

The workshop will be addressed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In a circular to all provincial chairpersons, the Zanu-PF Department for the Commissariat said the workshop organised through the Chitepo School of Ideology, will be held at the Zanu-PF Headquarters Main Hall.

“The Commissariat Department, through the Chitepo School of Ideology has organised a healing and reconciliation workshop to unite all candidates who participated in the party’s primary elections for Senate and the National Assembly,” reads part of the circular.

“Provincial chairpersons are requested to invite all their respective winning candidates and losing candidates in the said primary elections to attend this very important meeting scheduled to be addressed by His Excellency, the President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF Cde ED Mnangagwa on Wednesday 30 May, 2018.”

Rumours have swirled that First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has clashed for the shine with VP Constantino Chiwenga’s Wife, Marry.

Mrs Mnangagwa was yesterday said to have taken over the running of Mushamukadzi Foundation, an organisation started by Marry.

Sources claimed that this was done to prevent the First Lady from being outshined.

“Just imagine, can someone just handover her charity projects that have been in place for six years, just like that,” a source was quoted by Newsday saying.

They continued adding that, “this is a very sensitive issue and as a sign of respect to the First Family and avoid unnecessary competition, Marry had no choice, but to handover the foundation to the First Lady’s Angel of Hope Foundation.”

Meanwhile however, Marry  dismissed the claims in her handover speech saying:

“I don’t know where you are getting such information and the motive of the people peddling such malicious rumours.

“As I said at the dinner yesterday, (Saturday), we have all agreed as a team that the First Lady inherit the work we have taken all the six years.”

A comment from Mrs Mnangagwa could not be obtained at the time of writing.

By Paul Nyathi|Former President, Robert Mugabe is set to appear before parliament this Monday afternoon to answer questions on the notorious missing $15 billion diamonds revenue, the big question is, will he attend?

According to the law if Mugabe does not attend he will face contempt of Parliament charges as this will be the second official invitation after he failed to show up last week on Wednesday before the Mines and Energy portfolio committee.

Mugabe has kept the committee guessing after he failed to confirm whether he would attend the hearing as invited by committee chairman Temba Mliswa.

He was served with letters inviting him to appear before the committee and clarify claims he made in 2016 that Zimbabwe had lost $15 billion through diamond leakages.

Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda, said parliament has been making frantic efforts to get confirmation on Mugabe’s attendance.

“We have not got anything as yet. Our expectation is that he attends Monday’s hearing as agreed by the committee,” said Chokuda.

Mliswa said they remained optimistic that Mr Mugabe would attend the hearing given that the former Head of State and Government understood the Constitution and the role of Parliament.

“We expect him to have time to appear before Parliament. We expect him to co-operate and Parliament has power to summon anyone,” said Mliswa.

“I think he will comply because he is a man who understands the Constitution and he is our statesman.”

He said Parliament had been magnanimous for Mugabe by arranging that he comes in the afternoon and not in the morning as initially scheduled.

“In view of the time, we have resolved that we will write to Mugabe to appear before us at 2pm, taking into cognisance the fact that 9am was too early because when he was in office, he would do Cabinet meetings late in the afternoon at 2pm,” he said.

The decision to call Mugabe followed a claim during an interview to commemorate his birthday in 2016 where he said Zimbabwe had lost $15 billion through diamond leakages.

Last week the committee waited for over two hours for the arrival of Mugabe before calling off the meeting.

By Paul Nyathi|Splinter MDC-T Deputy President Obert Gutu is visiting the United States of America on a mission to meet leaders of the United States Government to seek backing for his party.

Gutu told the Voice of America in an interview on Saturday that he is visiting the United States on his party business to garner the super power’s backing ahead of the upcoming elections.

“I will be meeting with members from the US Department of State on Monday,” said Gutu.

Gutu said that the agenda of the meeting will be to discuss the roadmap to a free and fair election in the elections coming up in July.

“The topical issue in the country which we can’t ignore is the issue of rigged elections and thats what we will discuss so that we get free and credible elections this year,” he said.

Gutu also said that he is going to discuss the issue of targeted sanctions the US put on Zimbabwe.

“We are also going to discuss the issue of the targeted sanctions with a plea to have the sanctions lifted as they are inflicting suffering on ordinary Zimbabweans instead of those that they are targeting,” said Gutu.

By Farai D Hove| The state media has made claims that President Emmerson Mnangagwa ate ice-cream deliberately laced with poison, during the events that eventually led to Robert Mugabe’s removal last year.

The claims have however been dismissed by the president himself. Health Minister, Dr. David Parirenyatwa says Mnangagwa suffered from gastroentitis, while the man himself says he never ate ice cream.

But the state broadsheet says Mnangagwa was poisoned.

The report says in part: the Head of State and Government survived hanging — on an age technicality — by the Rhodesian regime after his death sentence was commuted to 10 years in jail for bombing a locomotive at Masvingo Railway Station in 1965. His colleague in the locomotive bombing, Cde Matthew Malowa, was executed.

President Mnangagwa was to skip the border in November last year to South Africa via Mozambique when his life appeared to be in danger from G40 cabalists who were reportedly baying for his head following his dismissal from Government on spurious charges.

He also survived poisoning after eating ice cream laced with poison at a Zanu-PF Youth Interface rally in Gwanda last August.

There was drama at the Mutare Civil Courts last Friday when a local man accused his sexagenarian wife of promiscuity and demanded that the court divorce them immediately.

William Magosvongwe (70) went out of control and begged magistrate, Ms Nyasha Kuture, to legally separate himself and his wife, Emily Magosvongwe (62) whom he accused of being unfaithful.

He alleged that she was in an extra-marital affair with their 25-year-old neighbour.

The husband made all these claims after Emily had dragged him to the civil court accusing him of physically and emotionally abusing her by insulting and assaulting her in public.

He however, did not deny that he was mistreating his wife but told the court that the reason why he was acting in such a manner was because his wife was no longer faithful to him.

“Your Worship, you have to divorce us today. If you do not, the next time I come before you it will be because I would have murdered this woman due to her wayward ways,” he begged the court for a divorce.

Miss Kuture however told him that her court had no powers to end marriages and advised him to seek marriage counselling to save their marriage.

“What I do not understand is why a 62-year-old woman who already has grandchildren and children who are staying abroad would have extra-marital relationships. Something is amiss here,” Miss Kuture asked.

Magosvongwe stood his ground and said he saw his wife and her lover leave the toilet together.

“I came across their chats and I confiscated her phone as evidence. I have it and will not give it back to her until you grant us a divorce,” he said.

Emily vehemently denied her husband’s claims that she had a younger lover.

“Your Worship, If I needed a lover, why would I pick a child in his mid-20s? I would obviously pick someone who is close to my age. Besides this man is very violent and that is the reason why he is bringing all these lies before the court,” she defended herself. Manica Post

Former President, Mr Robert Mugabe, faces contempt of Parliament charges if he fails to attend a hearing set for today on alleged leakages of diamonds at Chiadzwa during his reign which he is on record saying amounted to $15 billion. Mr Mugabe failed to show up last week on Wednesday.
Mines and Energy portfolio committee chairperson, Mr Temba Mliswa rescheduled the hearing to today. Mr Mugabe has been keeping Parliament guessing after he failed to confirm whether he would attend the hearing.

He was served with letters inviting him to appear before the committee and clarify claims he made in 2016 that Zimbabwe had lost $15 billion through diamond leakages.

Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda, yesterday said they had been making frantic efforts to get confirmation on Mr Mugabe’s attendance.

“We have not got anything as yet. Our expectation is that he attends tomorrow’s hearing as agreed by the committee,” said Mr Chokuda.

Mr Mliswa said they remained optimistic that Mr Mugabe would attend today’s hearing given that the former Head of State and Government understood the Constitution and the role of Parliament.
“We expect him to have time to appear before Parliament. We expect him to co-operate and Parliament has power to summon anyone,” said Mr Mliswa.

“I think he will comply because he is a man who understands the Constitution and he is our statesman.”

He said Parliament had been magnanimous for Mr Mugabe by arranging that he comes in the afternoon and not in the morning as initially scheduled.

“In view of the time, we have resolved that we will write to Mugabe to appear before us at 2pm, taking into cognisance the fact that 9am was too early because when he was in office, he would do Cabinet meetings late in the afternoon at 2pm,” he said.

The decision to call Mr Mugabe followed a claim during an interview to commemorate his birthday in 2016 where he said Zimbabwe had lost $15 billion through diamond leakages.
Last week, several photojournalists gathered outside Parliament to capture Mr Mugabe’s appearance before the committee.

The committee waited for over two hours for the arrival of Mr Mugabe before calling off the meeting.
Mr Mugabe resigned in November 2017 after Parliament had instituted impeachment proceedings against him over a litany of allegations.

Last week, Mr Mliswa read out to journalists a letter written by Deputy Clerk of Parliament Mrs Nomasonto Sunga to Mr Mugabe.

It read: “The purpose is for you to brief the committee on the alleged loss of $15 billion in diamond revenue and the context in which you are alleged to have said that statement. The mines committee believes you may have useful information for the committee to conclude its report.”- state media

By Terrence Mawawa| Veteran journalist and political analyst Lance Guma has slammed the manner in which the MDC-T is conducting its primaries.

He bemoaned the commotion in the opposition party.

Guma yesterday said: “Let’s tell each other the truth. The way the MDC-T is conducting its primary elections is an absolute embarrassment.

We do not expect this kind of confusion, poor organisation, corruption, nepotism, violence and intimidation from an aspiring government in waiting.

For years you have relied on the goodwill of the people – sick and tired of the murderous Zanu PF
regime. That goodwill will expire very soon”.

By Clement Moyo| A top Emmerson Mnangagwa MP has deserted ZANU PF and gone Blue to Roof, literally.

Kwekwe Central MP, Hon “Blackman” Masango Matambanadzo announced his sudden decision at the weekend saying, ” I considered joining MDC, ZIPP, but then later remembered there is NPF where Baba is.”

ZimEye.com is broadcasting this development LIVE on Sunday afternoon.

It is coming at  time when a poll done by ZimEye claimed that Mnangagwa is garnering a paltry 19% of the national vote, while the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa takes 81% – this is a few points (7%) ahead of the late Morgan Tsvangirai’s official Presidential election win in 2008. SEE BELOW

– REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR MORE

State Media- No evil dooms us hopelessly except the evil we love, and desire to continue in, and make no effort to escape from, once said novelist Marry Anne Evans in her 19th century satire, Daniel Deronda.

And no one understands this better than Nyasha Kandira, a 22-year-old theft convict from Beatrice.

Having been convicted barely two months after his release on a Presidential amnesty in March, it appears the youthful Kandira is doomed in his unbecoming conduct and does not intend to quit.

“After close to a year in prison you would expect that one has repented but for him it’s like he saw nothing, he heard nothing and he learnt nothing,” says one of the guards at Harare Central Prison where Kandira is now serving a two-year sentence.

Yet in his own words, Kandira does not see himself at fault, but the world around him, his parents, the society and the economy are to blame.

“It wasn’t going to turn any other way for me except to return,” he said with a stone face, perched on the red floor in one of the penitentiary’s admin digs.

“I don’t get along with my stepmother so I found it hard to live with my parents after I was released.
“And without a proper education and a proper job, I didn’t have any other means to survive on my own but to steal.”

Perhaps the most intriguing part of Kandira’s story is that he returned to steal from the very prison which he had been set free from a month earlier.

“Like previously they caught me stealing a phone, this time from the house of one of the prison guards,” Kandira said.

Pressed on where he found the guts to steal from the very people who looked after him, Kandira inhaled deeply, as if to savour the aroma of burning crumps of lunchtime sadza which wafted through the door.

“I was hungry and when you are hungry you are not afraid of anything and you can do anything,” he finally answered.

“I was hoping I could find a phone, a laptop or something I could sell quickly to buy food.”
Kandira dropped from school at the age of 12 upon completing Grade 7.
Despite his hardened and brazen expression, Kandira accepts that he has a problem and longs for help.

“I do not enjoy it here, if only I could get assistance to learn a skill or start a business I am sure I would lead a normal life,” he says.
“If the economy was performing well maybe I would go and find a job, anything that would keep me away from crime, I will take.”

However, Kandira is just one of the many perpetual offenders who since the amnesty are already back in the dungeons.

According to Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, 44 of the 3 000 pardoned convicts are back in reformatory facilities across the country.  Prison officials say while the majority have been convicted on small crimes, the trend exposes the difficulties that convicts face in fitting back into society.

Such a scenario is typified by 33-year-old Hazvinei Tambara who before the amnesty had served five of a nine-year sentence for robbery.

Tambara had during his stay in prison defied odds to pass his “O” and “A” Level studies before attaining two diplomas in theology.

Yet with all the promise, Tambara still found it difficult to stay off crime, giving life to Mark Twain’s adage, “give man a reputation as an early riser and he can sleep till noon”.
“I know the wardens are disappointed because they expected better things from me, especially given the education I attained while I was in here,” he says.

“But you see, to survive you need a lot of things like food and clothes and having an education does not mean that all of these things are readily available to you.

“The next thing is you resort to the bad ways because you just want to survive for that day.”
Tambara also says the society, including his relatives and wife, have not embraced him, thereby living him in the cold.

“In an economy like ours it’s very difficult to find a job and without the support of your family, it becomes even more difficult,” he says.

“I have been in prison for too long I have lost touch of the reality and even if I had the desire to make things work I need someone to take me by the hand and lead me. “And I am not just saying this for myself but for others who are in my situation because the truth is that no one wants to be here in prison.”

Tambara feels betrayed by non-governmental and church organisations who pledge to assist prisoners, only to disappear when they are released. Another pardoned convict who has since returned to the cells, Fungai Rondozayi (31), blamed social neglect.

“When I was released I was happy and all was well for me but I soon faced realities when I got home,” he says.

“After spending eight months in jail, my wife left and stopped paying rent for a small room we rented in Chitungwiza.

“So when I got there the landlord was furious and demanding his money so I had to look for a job.”
Rondozayi then started doing part-time jobs to raise money to pay rent. “I then met someone who wanted me to mould bricks for him but I didn’t have enough tools to do the job.

“So I borrowed a drum from someone but the person would not lend me so I ended up stealing it from him and that led to my arrest.”

Questions have been raised about the criteria used to rehabilitate convicts. As such, policy makers have been challenged to look into the issue and adjust the system accordingly so that it can rehabilite offenders properly. – state media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has promised not to punish his political enemies,  in what strongly pointed at professor Jonathan Moyo and the recently returned former minister, Saviour Kasukuwere.

Mnangagwa was quoted by the state media saying he will not seek revenge against his opponents. The development connected well with his previous proclamation made soon after becoming president while on a visit to South Africa last year December.

Mnangagwa yesterday said he will never seek retribution against those who tormented him before he was temporarily hounded out of Government in November last year, saying he will continue to be an ambassador for peace, love and unity.

Addressing thousands of people, including members of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) who were gathered at Mnangagwa Farm in Masvingo at the memorial service of his late nephew Garikai Nyathi — killed in a road traffic accident near Nyika Growth Point in March this year — the Head of State and Government urged Zimbabweans to promote peace, love and unity in the country.

President Mnangagwa, who was subjected to incessant attacks by the former First Lady Grace Mugabe at Zanu-PF Youth Interface rallies, which culminated in his expulsion from Government and Zanu-PF on November 6 and November 8, 2017 respectively, said he will continue to preach love and unity among Zimbabweans.

“Wherever I go, I preach the gospel of unity, I preach the gospel of love, I always exhort Zimbabweans to unite, to live in harmony and work for the development of our country, and this will surely guarantee me a ticket to Heaven,’’ he jokingly said to roars of laughter from the crowd.

“Have you ever heard me preaching the gospel of hate? Those who used to do that are there and you know them, those who were at the receiving end of endless attacks (himself) always stood for what is right,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said he never thought that one day he would be President, especially after his unceremonious dismissal from Government by the then President Mr Robert Mugabe.

“God has his own way of doing things, is it not true? The day I left the country as a border jumper I never knew I was going to come back and be the person I am today. I was pre-occupied with thinking about how I was going to live in exile as a border jumper, but God plans in his own ways and what God plans, no person has the power to stop it.’’

He assured Zimbabweans that he will dutifully work as a servant of the people to lead the country to prosperity.

“I want to be a servant of the people, I want to continue preaching peace, love and unity, encouraging Zimbabweans to live in harmony. In the same line, I want to appeal to traditional leaders to promote unity and harmony in their areas of jurisdiction. I also want to thank churches for the work they are doing because there is no church that preaches the gospel of hate and encourages people to fight,’’ he said.

The President assured churches that he will continue to uphold the Constitution, which guarantees Zimbabweans the right to worship in churches of their choice.

“The truth of the matter is that Government is responsible for the physical needs of its citizens, but churches play the important role of moulding the spiritual aspect,” he said.
President Mnangagwa, who constantly referred to Bible passages, urged Zimbabweans to pray relentlessly for the country to prosper.

‘’There are some who might dismiss me, saying what is this man who was a guerilla talking about when they hear me preaching, not knowing that during that time (liberation struggle) we were also guided by God to win the war (armed struggle) and now we are asking for the same God’s hand for our country to have peace and prosperity.’’

‘’Now we are praying for peace, peace, peace, love, love, love, unity, unity amongst all Zimbabweans. We want all the churches to be free to worship, free to worship their God and I will make sure the Constitution of this country is observed for churches to be free to worship,’’ he said.

He took the opportunity to encourage politicians to be God fearing, saying being a President or a Cabinet Minister is not a passport to inherit the Kingdom of God.
President Mnangagwa said his administration will not relent in its quest to rid the nation of corruption.

Turning to his late nephew’s family, the President assured them that they will always be looked after.
The President narrated the late Nyathi’s history, up to the time of his untimely death in March and praised him for worshiping God during his lifetime.

President Mnangagwa also thanked Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi, the leader of ZCC, for taking some time off his busy schedule to join the Mnangagwa family in remembering Nyathi.

The memorial service was attended by top Government and Zanu-PF officials, among them Special Advisor in the Office of the President Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa and his wife Cde Monica Mutsvangwa, who is also Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs; and Senator Josaya Hungwe, who is Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs.

By Own Correspondent| Irked by Deputy minister for Finance and Economic Development, Terence Mukupe’s statements, a Chitungwiza South citizen has registered to vote for the first time in the forthcoming polls.

Said Norman T M.

Mukupe's ill-advised speech and comments made me to think twice and I registered to vote for the first time in my life on thursday @Wamagaisa @TembaMliswa @advocatemahere @BitiTendai @tonysimo66 @tmukupe pic.twitter.com/YC32NKzhgK

— tinoooo (@Normant53161553) May 26, 2018

Mukupe’s statements where he said that the army would never allow MDC Alliance presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa get into power even if he wins the forthcoming polls courted controversy and retribution from all sections of society.

Adding salt to injury, the deputy minister also reiterated his statements at a public discussion at Kwekwe polytechnic where he indicated that he was nit apologetic that Chamisa would never get into power.

OAccording to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), over 5 million people have registered to vote with 4 million people  having so far checked their registration status and details in the 10 day on going voter verification exercise which started on May 19.

The country’s elections body revealed that to date, a total of 3 256 440 prospective voters had received bulk SMS detailing their registration details while 819 935 registered voters had used the USSD code *265# to check for their BVR details.

“As at May 24 2018, 4 770 405 people have so far checked their registration status while 694 030 have physically inspected the voters roll,” revealed the ZEC.

ZimEye.com brings our valued readers and viewers LIVE updates from the MDC Alliance rallies taking place in Mat South today, Saturday 26th May.

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ZimEye.com brings our valued readers and viewers LIVE updates from the MDC Alliance rallies taking place in Mat South today, Saturday 26th May.

– REFRESH THIS PAGE TO WATCH AND FOLLOW…-

ZimEye.com brings our valued readers and viewers LIVE updates from the MDC Alliance rallies taking place in Mat South today, Saturday 26th May.

– REFRESH THIS PAGE TO WATCH AND FOLLOW…-

ZimEye.com brings our valued readers and viewers LIVE updates from the MDC Alliance rallies taking place in Mat South today, Saturday 26th May.

– REFRESH THIS PAGE TO WATCH AND FOLLOW…-