By Paul Nyathi|The Mayor of Harare Councillor Ben Manyenyeni has been humiliated by the City of Harare authorities after the city removed a public toilet he had set up in a hurried deal in the city centre.

The Mayor lamented the City’s move in a facebook post on his official page on Wednesday morning. Manyenyeni felt the humiliation requires for city mayors to be accorded executive powers to avoid such incidents.

Wrote the Mayor:

When we say the City needs an Executive Mayor (as in all PROPER dispensations!) you people don’t seem to appreciate the agony of doing even the most obvious of things.

Thank you, Sahwira Events and thank you, Nyaradzo Holdings.

By Paul Nyathi|A 61 year old man who was being accused of stealing more than R10 million from a company he was working for in South Africa was on Tuesday acquitted of the charges against him.

Reginald Bernstein (61), originally from Bulawayo but residing at 30 Canterbury, Avondale could not believe it when a Victoria Falls magistrate Rangarirayi Gakanje cleared him to go home as a free man.

Gakanje ruled that there were no compelling reasons to have him extradited to South Africa for trial after the State failed to prove its case.

Bernstein had been in custody for about eight weeks following his arrest in March, as his lawyer Mr Givemore Mvhiringi of Mvhiringi and Associates challenged the extradition.

Discharging him, the magistrate said: “Both the State and their counterparts in South Africa failed to produce enough evidence to this court to prove that the accused committed the offence. There were no witnesses who were brought to testify against the accused. The defence said that the accused was authorised by the company he was working for to cause payment to First National Bank and there was no one who came to this court to dispute all this,” said Ms Gakanje.

The magistrate said the court also considered that the State failed to produce certified documents or an affidavit as required for extradition in terms of Section 32 and Section 25 of Extradition Act Chapter 9:08.

“I therefore do hereby discharge the accused and order his release from custody with immediate effect,” said Ms Gakanje.

The State’s case was that Bernstein allegedly stole some money from his employer in neighbouring South Africa.

“Between April 7, 2009 and November 27, 2015 and at Danger Golf Estate in Gauteng Province, the accused took cash amounting to R4 214 177,52 which belonged to Dainfern Golf Estate and Country Club Home Owners Association. During the same period, he misrepresented that he was authorised to cause payment to be effected to First National Bank of South Africa for maintenance work and defrauded the company of R6 616 172,39,” prosecutors alleged.

By Talent Gondo| Youth wings from various political parties have merged in a new joint initiative which is set to be revealed to the world this morning (Wednesday).

Representatives from the Youth Wings of the political parties listed below will at 10:30 am issue a joint press statement:

(i) ZANU PF, (ii) MDC-T, (iii) ZAPU, (iv) NPP, (v) MDC and (vi) Transform Zimbabwe (TZ).  

ZimEye will be live streaming events as they unfold on our Facebook Page.Follow and Like Us there.

Subscribe for our Facebook Live updates.

In a case of precedents, a sitting magistrate has ordered a minor to pay $30 maintenance.

The Mutare based magistrate, Nyasha Kuture slapped the 17-year-old minor to pay $30 per month maintenance for his child.

The teenager cannot be named for legal reasons.

He had pleaded with the court offering to pay $20 per month as he said he was unemployed after impregnating the mother, Chance Choronga (18).

Choronga sued the teenager saying he was not contributing to the child’s upkeep.

She told the court she was left with no other option than to seek legal recourse.

There was drama when the male teenager had told the court he had been forced to be intimate with Choronga by the complainant’s mother.

But in another contrary witness statement, he later told the court he was in love with Choronga and begged her to come back home. He said, “I love this woman your worship. I am asking her in front of the court that she returns home so that we can be a family again.”

By Paul Nyathi|Following the surprise allowances back pay to government nurses, doctors and nurses have also come trailblazing on government demanding processing of their own outstanding payments.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Obert Masaraure declared in an interview on Tuesday that the teachers have been irked into action by the payments made to the nurses.

Masaraure said that the teachers have rejected the 15% salary increase offered to them by the government demanding that salaries be pegged on the poverty datum line.

The teachers are also demanding for an immediate payment of their outstanding cash in lieu of leave.

“We are disturbed that the government decides to easily listen to nurses but turn a blind eye to the teachers,” he said.

Masaraure warned that the teachers will definitely be going on a mass job action anytime to cement their grievances to government.

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association spokesperson Dr Mxolisi Ngwenya has also raised concerns that government has failed to stick terms agreed on at the end of their one month job education in April.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday Ngwenya said that the government failed to settle the dues as agreed but have been able to settle the nurses due.

Dr Ngwenya said that government through the Health Services Board paid their salaries in April as agreed but failed to stick to the agreement in May.

Ngwenya warned that the doctors will do anything possible to push the Health Services Board to release their payments immediately.

By Paul Nyathi|Shocked nurses who got an unexpected windfall from government have been assured to use the money without fear as there is no mistake from government.

Government employed nurses on Monday received lump sum payments of up to $5 000 as payment of outstanding allowances leaving some of them in disbelief of the “huge” amounts of money deposited into their accounts.

“Do not use the money before getting clarification. It might be a mistake. The moment the Ministry (of Health and Child Care) realises the error, you may be garnished and go up to next year without getting paid,” warned a nurse in a WhatsApp chat group.

Speculation was thrown around with the major source of confusion being the huge differences in the amounts individual nurses received.

However, Ministry of Health and Child Care permanent secretary Retired Major General Dr Gerald Gwinji yesterday allayed the fears saying the payments were in order.

He said nurses should not be afraid to spend the money as it was what the Government owed them.

“The amounts reflected in some of our nurses’ personal accounts are not at all out of order. A lot of our nurses were wrongly assimilated when Government rationalised the Civil Service between 2008 and 2009,” said Dr Gwinji.

“Most were placed in grades below where they should have been resulting in their being prejudiced of the correct level of remuneration including allowances like housing and transport from 2010 until early this year. So cumulatively they were owed money by Government.”

Dr Gwinji said nurses who retired or resigned recently after having served during the period, were likely to get the money as well.

“It’s only technically sound to address the issue of retired nurses who were working during the period and Government may pay them as well.

“With the finalisation of this corrective exercise SSB has begun a phased approach to pay off these accumulated shortfalls, for some running into several thousand dollars given the time under prejudice. Recipients should therefore not be afraid to utilise their earnings. However if anyone is in doubt they can always approach our Human Resources Departments to get the necessary assurances,” said Dr Gwinji.

“I got $5 200 in my account and I am not sure where it came from. We just decided to first wait because this was unexpected,” said one of the nurses.

“We did receive different amounts of money and we are not yet sure what criterion was used. Some of my juniors received more money compared to what I got and we hope to get clarity from the Health Services Board,” said another one who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Letter to Conte Mhlanga By Gary Thwala Jackson|May I greet and honour you as the Godfather of arts in Zimbabwe. I hope you and your family are in good health noma nje kuvunguza umoya womqando okungathelela abantu umvimbano lengubhane.

You may wonder who I am but let me introduce myself before I dive into a message I would like to convey to you. Ngizalwa eGwanda, Matshetsheni lijaha lakoThwala lentombi yakoNcube kodwa nje seyasitshiya. Ngilizibulo khehla kanti ukhona umzukulu egumeni yena ngamethesa ibizo elithi Travis Nhlanhla Thwala. Ngelanywa yintombazane uNomaswazi Sicelo Thwala besekuyimuli yangakithi nje leyo.

I penned this letter after I read with disbelief from so many publications what you “claimed” about the Legend uBaba uLovemore Magee Majaivana. May I say I was young when I came to know and listen to his very popular music of which all of his songs are still a hit with Zimbabweans from all walks of life and as a matter of fact I play his music on social media and not even a single time will I do a show without his songs being requested. For you mntomdala to claim if the Legend comes he will not even fill McDonald Wall is not true. Angitsho ukuthi lilamanga Baba uMhlanga kodwa ngithi elikukhulumileyo akusilo qiniso, that was far fetched. We may agree the Legend did have not that much support but we know exactly the circumstances he operated under and at that point in time his followers including myself did not have the mentality we now have hence the demand for his comeback to perfoming.

Kungizwise ubuhlungu when you even advised that he does not come back toEmagumeni, kusani lokhu? Sokunguwe oxotsha abantu ekhaya yini because that is where inkaba yakhe ekhona and his fans miss him but a man of your stature have the guts to say such reckless ill thought statements. Baba uMhlanga it is very important as an influential arts guru that you mind what you say about fellow artists. We understand you might have had an intention to warn/alert him on the situation on the ground but you seem to have gone too far. It is even embarrassing for you to claim people waited until after Mapfumo performed in Zimbabwe before they suggested Magee comes. You choose to worship Mukanya by means of talking down on us kodwa khehla! Have you taken a shower in the same waters Enos Nkala did? For your own info people have always tried to get him to perform in the diaspora and back home many times. A fellow artist that you may be familiar with Madlela Skhobokhobo Power even recorded a video in an effort to get Magee to heed the call and go back on stage and wow his fans. A lot of promoters have publicly made a call to try and convince him to perform unfortunately he has turned down their pleas.

We know for a fact usukhulile sibili kunganjani uzibe kancane ukukhuluma ngezinye izinto kumbe ubuze ungakawuvuli. I am a hardcore fan of yourself and Magee as such I feel obliged to respond for okungasiloqiniso okukhulumileyo kodwa akusomanga ngoba abadala vele akutshiwo ukuthi balamanga noma bekhulume okungamanga. Aluhlaza tshoko! ……….ngitsho amahlamvu ezihlahla khehla!*

By Paul Nyathi|Police in Bulawayo have arrested a second woman in a case involving trafficking of cocaine valued at over $300 000.

26 year old South African based Kwanele Sibanda was picked up by detectives in the streets of Bulawayo on a tip off after she sneaked into the country to follow up the arrest of her collegue Tholiwe Tshuma last month.

Sibanda allegedly sent Tshuma to collect 3,14kgs of cocaine with an estimated street value of $314 300 on her behalf at Bulawayo Post Office while she was in South Africa last month.

She was not asked to plead to charges of dealing in dangerous drugs before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Sheunesu Matova.

The magistrate advised her to look for a lawyer and remanded her in custody to May 28 saying the State had provided solid reasons to remand her in custody.

“For today, the State has managed to furnish me with compelling reasons to remand you in custody,” he said.

Prosecuting, Mr Tawurai Hondoyemoto opposed bail saying Sibanda could flee the country and abscond court as she had been using an expired passport in the neighbouring country.

“The accused person is a Zimbabwean who has been residing in South Africa for the past 10 years. Her Zimbabwean passport expired and she did not bother to renew it. The information at hand is that she came to the country by means of border jumping and she might not come to court as she managed to enter the country without proper documents,” he said.

Sibanda said she had a passport, but it had expired hence she intended to renew it in Harare.

“I have a passport though it has expired and it is not true that I have been in South Africa for 10 years. I have never seen the cocaine or dealt with it,’ she said.

The prosecutor said on April 11 this year, Sibanda contacted Tshuma who is already on remand and asked her to collect the cocaine on her behalf.

“Sibanda phoned Tshuma and told her to collect 3,143kg of cocaine from Bulawayo Post Office and forward it to South Africa where she would receive it,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard that Tshuma was stopped and searched by the detectives and was found in possession of cocaine weighing 3,143kg with a street value of $314 300.

Tshuma will be back in court on June 1.

Her lawyer Ms Taboka Nyathi of Makiya and Partners said Tshuma was not aware that the parcel contained cocaine and was only told that she was supposed to receive fabrics and forward them to South Africa hence she submitted her details.

State Media- MDC-T is today expected to announce constituencies where it will hold primary elections before Saturday following its aspiring candidates’ failure to reach consensus in the constituencies.

The party recently resolved not to hold primary elections opting for consensus building to avoid tensions and violence in the party.

However, even its consensus building process where aspiring candidates had to agree among themselves degenerated into violence and protests by some party members.

MDC-T acting national chairman Mr Morgen Komichi yesterday said: “Where consensus building process failed to produce a single candidate the party will release constituencies where internal polls will be held.”

He said on Saturday May 19 the party should have completed the selection exercise. “We expect to be done collecting data by the end of tomorrow,” he said.

Mr Komichi said in Matabeleland region the party is set to hold primary elections in about nine constituencies.

“In Matabeleland North only two constituencies are going for primaries and that is Hwange Central and Hwange West.

“In Bulawayo I need to get my facts right but we had five constituencies reaching consensus and in Matabeleland South we have three that are going for primaries. We had consensus in Gwanda North and Bulilima,” said Mr Komichi.
In Bulawayo the party is set to go for primary elections in Magwegwe, Entumbane-Emakhandeni, Bulawayo South and Pelandaba-Mpopoma constituencies.

In Matabeleland South he said MDC-T will hold primary elections in Umzingwane constituency but did not reveal the other two, saying he did not have details off hand.

Mr Komichi said in the Midlands the party had consensus in Zvishavane-Ngezi and Shurugwi North among other areas.

He said although the party did not reach consensus in all the constituencies he considers the process a success although it needs improving on.

“This is a new practice. Consensus building has not been done before. But it is giving quite encouraging results. I have witnessed so many Members of Parliament who have agreed on a common candidate and councillors agreeing on a common candidate,” said Mr Komichi.

“It’s a process that we need to improve and build on. It’s a new form of democracy which we are nurturing in our party, it lowers the level of tension. It’s quite good. I like it.” – state media

THE founder and leader of Bread of Life Ministries in Bulawayo who disobeyed a court order to pay maintenance is in arrears of $1 858 and has dragged his ex-wife to the Maintenance Court seeking a downward variation from $250 to $30.
Last year when Pastor Muvirimi was ordered to pay $250 for the upkeep of two minor children he refused saying he was poor and could not afford the amount. He left the court in a huff without collecting bank account details for his ex-wife, Ms Dudzai Kurehwandishe, to deposit the money.

Pastor Muvirimi appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Sheunesu Matova seeking a downward variation from $250 to $30 a month.

“You worship, I don’t have a fixed salary. I rely on tithes and offerings from the congregants. The problem is that there are a few congregants in my church. If you ask the congregants to pay tithes and offerings they run away from the church because times are hard and money is difficult to come by. These days offerings are hard to come by. I rely on the church and I don’t have any other source of income. I cannot afford $250, if the money is reduced to $30 I will be able to pay it,” he said.

His ex-wife Ms Kurehwandishe rejected the offer of $30.
“He gets a lot of money from tithes, offerings and the pastor’s basket. The last time we were before this honourable court he said he did not have any money and I conducted
investigations only to find out he was lying. $30 is insufficient for two children, I know he can afford $250 and he is lying in court. He recently travelled to Nigeria and he has re-married which is proof he can afford the money I am claiming,” she said.

The court papers show that Pastor Muvirimi is in arrears of $1 858 as he has been defaulting since March 2017 and the couple agreed out of court that he will pay $30 towards the arrears.

“I agree that I am in arrears of $1 858 and I have agreed with Ms Kurehwandishe that I will pay $30 a month towards the arrears from March 2018,” read the court papers.

He said he wanted the money for the upkeep of his children to be reduced to $30 to allow him to pay up the arrears.

Mr Matova varied the money from $250 to $200 a month and ordered Pastor Muvirimi to clear the arrears. – state media

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, cancelled his presser slated for Tuesday morning.

Chamisa it was hoped, was going to address the thorny matter of the Jessie Majome – Joana Mamombe debacle. He instead released the below article issue:

From London to Marange with love

Introduction
It was a tumultuous week in week in which I interacted with Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom and came back home to Zimbabwe where I spoke to the young and the old in rural Buhera, Makoni and Marange all in Manicaland province.

From London to Zimbabwe, I interacted with fellow Zimbabweans all brimming with hope and optimism for the country they so much love. For those talented and professional Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom, it was sad that they were slugging it out in foreign lands because of lack of opportunities back home.

We pledge to correct that situation when we form the next government in the next few months.

For those in Zimbabwe, they are holding out their hope that their vote for the MDC-T Alliance in the next few months will positively change their fortune.
Zimbabweans have waited too long for positive change and they rightly believe this is their year.

We will not fail them.

A heartening spirit in London
I was in London for the better part of last week where I addressed think-tanks, met with ordinary Zimbabweans and interacted with the government and the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

I also had the opportunity with investors and business people.

I was heartened by the spirit of Zimbabweans who, though away from home, retain a positive spirit about better prospects for the country. I addressed a mammoth crowd in Bedford and assured Zimbabweans that we are determined to correct things in the next few months so that they can be able to come back home.

We told the proper script to the UK government about where we are as a country and that they should join the rest of the international country in calling for a free, fair and credible election so that a legitimate government can begin to transact the affairs of the country.

We had occasion to discuss a host of issues with the UK government. In particular, we took the opportunity to thank both the government and the people for their role s an inexhaustible fountain of charity and solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe in their struggle for democracy, the colonial period notwithstanding.

We also took the opportunity to commit ourselves to re-engagement on an equal platform and to the readmission of Zimbabwe into the family of nations.

We underscored the need for Zimbabwe to return to legitimacy through free and fair elections. We further requested the UK government to have a clear definition of what constitutes a free and fair election, complete with clear benchmarks and standards against which an assessment of the credibility of the election can be measured.

We also underscored the importance of the scaffolding and stewardship of the transition in Zimbabwe to ensure that the process is guaranteed by credible bodies for the subsistence and sustenance of peace before, during and after the elections.

We also emphasized that the UK government and others in the international community must guard against being hoodwinked into believing in the empty rhetoric of free and fair elections without the attendant tangibles to validate those claims on the ground.

From Buhera to Marange
On Saturday, I addressed a rally at Murambinda growth point in Buhera West. Just like elsewhere in the country, the land of Buhera is still shaken following the loss of a national icon and a gallant fighter for democracy, our late leader Dr. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, who was born in the area.

Zimbabwe is a country of heroes and heroines; a cradle of fighters prepared to pay the ultimate price for their liberty and freedoms. I told the people of Buhera about the thousands who lost their lives during the liberation struggle. I reminded them of other heroes in the struggle for democracy who came from the area such as the late president Tsvangirai as well as talent Mabika and Tichaona Chiminya who were brutally murdered in post-independent Zimbabwe.

The weather-beaten people of Buhera for better prospects in the country, Justas the people at Rukweza business centre in Makoni South, where I addressed another huge crowd on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday, I had the occasion to address the despondent people of Marange; this rich land of alluvial diamonds that was ravaged by a corrupt and avaricious government that spirited away billions of dollars leaving a hopeless and forlorn people with nothing to show for the wealth that god gave them.

Manicaland depicts a sad national story. This is the site of the once-famous Kondozi, the land known for its rich Tanganda fields and the rich diamond pickings that are all a heart-rending story of the past.

We need to bring back the glory days of Manicaland; days where the entirety of Zimbabwe was a land of grandeur and splendor.

In this rich land where diamonds were spirited away is a derelict infirmary called St Andrews hospital. Given this richness of the land, one would have expected to see a well-equipped modern hospital but alas; all we saw was a struggling health institution with no staff and no drugs in this supposedly rich land of plenty.

I had the opportunity to hold prayers with some of the infirmary’s patients and staff after hearing horrendous stories about the challenges that the hospital faces. The challenges include accommodation challenges, poor remuneration of staff, lack of drugs and other ancillaries as well as dilapidated infrastructure.

I also took the opportunity of my presence in the area to interact with community leaders in the area.

I had inspiring moments with him and other community leaders in the area.

Later, I heard a very sad story about the collapsed infrastructure in the area and how minister Chris Mushowe, who comes from the area, ensured that there was a tarred road only up to his homestead.

The people there said the “honourable” Minister at one time removed a transformer from the area after he was defeated by the MDC-T’s Shua Mudiwa in 2008.

This is the calibre of leaders that continue to drop off the decrepit Zanu PF conveyer belt of “national” leaders!

Come the next election, we pledge to end this wanton tale of selfishness; this distressing yarn of inept leadership that continues to curse our land.

Our incoming government will infuse new hope and optimism in the lives of the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe.

Our track record speaks for itself.

One Zimbabwe, one people.
One Zimbabwe, one future.
One Zimbabwe, one vision.
God bless Zimbabwe.
God bless Africa
Behold the new!

By Staff Reporter| Zanu Pf stalwarts in Mazowe West constituency reportedly boycotted the party’s primary elections re-run for the women’s quota in protest that their complains against election irregularities which saw Kazembe Kazembe romp to victory had not been addressed.

Zanu PF ordered for a re-run of its primaries in 15 constituencies countrywide after an outcry of massive rigging and voting irregularities which saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa describe the primary elections as “shambolic”.

Similar and serious such irregularities were reported in Mazowe West where the siting Member of Parliament, Kazembe Kazembe was accused of perpetrating violence against his strongest contender, Tafadzwa Musarara’s supporters.

Party supporters from Mazowe West constituency who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were surprised to hear the party announcing an election re-run in the women’s quota which “had not” raised any complaints.

In protest, Zanu Pf supporters boycotted the rerun with only a handful of people casting their ballots (Monday).

“There is nothing to vote for because our grievances were on the MP’s because that is where there were gross irregularities and we thought that the party was going to conduct a re-run for the legislator,” said one man at Ceaser mine where only 62 people voted.

“We are going to play the “bhora musango” if they do not reverse this decision .Why can’t they give us the chance to elect the candidates we want?” said another Zanu PF supporter at Concession who confirmed boycotting the election rerun.

The supporters said they wanted to meet the President and raise their grievances.

“We are want to see the President and tell him that we are going to spoil the ballot come national election day because of this kind of dictatorship which we thought had died when Robert Mugabe was kicked out,” added Sheila Dube.

Contacted for comment, Zanu PF political commissar Engelbert Rugeje said he was going to call for a press conference later today (Tuesday) to announce the results of all the 15 constituencies where re-runs were conducted.

Zanu Pf supporters from Mazowe West last week thronged  their party headquarters and demanded to see President Mnangagwa over what they said were violations of the electoral processes within their constituency by Kazembe, who is the chairperson for Mashonaland Central.

Reports said Mnangagwa pleaded with the protesters promising them that they were going to be afforded another chance to vote.

The supporters alleged that hundreds of them did not vote because Kazembe had pulled their names out of the voters’ roll, an allegation which Kazembe dismissed.

“I do not have time for that. Those allegations are not true,” he said.

By Talent Gondo| War veterans Spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya has reportefly lost the primary elections rerun to Tongai Mnangagwa.

Unconfirmed reports says Mahiya garnered 1 794 votes while Mnangagwa got 2 590 of the total 8 091 votes.

Chipinge Central’s Raymond Machingura has romped to victory after he garnered 3 039 votes against contenders Dorothy Mabika who garnered 2 589 votes, Sherperd Mutingwende who got 783 votes and Moses Tasa who got 294 votes.

In Chipinge South, Enock Porusingazi got 9 600 votes while rivals Wilson Tarugarira Khumbula got 1 900, Angelina Hobwana 400 votes and Pikani Bhila got a paltry 16.

Find below some of the election results as they trickle in:

MPs HARARE SOUTH

1. Tongai MNANGAGWA —2590

2. Douglas MAHIYA—1794

3. Maxwell MUNONDO- 988

4.Tonderai NKOMO—694

5.Leonard TARWIREI—651

6Nyasha MADZAMBA—620

7. Kingstone GUDYANGA—361

8. Monday MUGWISI-116

9.Reclif CHIKWENHURE—98

10.Paul MAFIMINI—55

11.Henry ZIWERERE—50

12. Peter MATAMBO—45

Spoilt—29

Total cast—8091

SENATORIAL :

1.Edith KAGORO—3310

2.Godfrey GIJIMA—3089

3. Samuel MAKUREYA—2403

4.Concilia DZITIRO—1898

5.Jaqueline GUJIMA—1260

6.Tapera MAVENYENGWA—1104

Spoilt—295

Total cast—13064

WOMEN’s QUOTA:

1.Miriam CHIKUKWA —4130

2.Memory MAMHIYO—1981

3.Rudo Loire CHITSA—1068

4. Concilia MASUKUMA—767

5. Sarudzai MATSA—318

6.Gladys TUKUNYU—276

Spoilt —81

Total cast—8540

Chipinge Central
Cde Raymore Machingura 3039
Cde Dorothy Mabika 2589
Cde Shepherd Mutingwende 783
Cde Moses Tasa 294

NOMINATION COURT REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATES.
——————-
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE;
* Be a citizen of Zimbabwe.
* Be a registered voter.
* Be 40 years or above.
* Be nominated by not fewer than 10 voters who are on the voters roll in each Province ( 100)
* $1000 is required at the Nomination Court for registration ( subject to change)
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE ( CONSTITUENCY)
* Be a citizen of Zimbabwe.
* Be a registered voter.
* Be 21 years or above.
* Be nominated by no fewer than 5 voters who are on the voters roll of that Constituency.
* $50 is required at Nomination Court for registration ( subject to change).
COUNCILLOR ( WARD).
* Be a citizen of Zimbabwe.
* Be a registered voter & you must be on the Ward voters roll for the council concerned.
* Be 21 years or above.
* Be nominated by no fewer than 5 voters who are on the voters roll for that Ward.
* No Nomination fee is required for registration ( subject to change)
SENATOR, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARTY LIST & PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
* Be a citizen of Zimbabwe.
* Be a registered voter.
* Be 40 years or above.
* $10 is required at Nomination Court for registration ( subject to change).
***NB. In any case, the Nomination Form should be completed by the Candidate or his/her Chief Election Agent.
Married women to bring their marriage certificates.

From London to Marange with love

Introduction
It was a tumultuous week in week in which I interacted with Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom and came back home to Zimbabwe where I spoke to the young and the old in rural Buhera, Makoni and Marange all in Manicaland province.

From London to Zimbabwe, I interacted with fellow Zimbabweans all brimming with hope and optimism for the country they so much love. For those talented and professional Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom, it was sad that they were slugging it out in foreign lands because of lack of opportunities back home.

We pledge to correct that situation when we form the next government in the next few months.

For those in Zimbabwe, they are holding out their hope that their vote for the MDC-T Alliance in the next few months will positively change their fortune.
Zimbabweans have waited too long for positive change and they rightly believe this is their year.

We will not fail them.

A heartening spirit in London
I was in London for the better part of last week where I addressed think-tanks, met with ordinary Zimbabweans and interacted with the government and the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

I also had the opportunity with investors and business people.

I was heartened by the spirit of Zimbabweans who, though away from home, retain a positive spirit about better prospects for the country. I addressed a mammoth crowd in Bedford and assured Zimbabweans that we are determined to correct things in the next few months so that they can be able to come back home.

We told the proper script to the UK government about where we are as a country and that they should join the rest of the international country in calling for a free, fair and credible election so that a legitimate government can begin to transact the affairs of the country.

We had occasion to discuss a host of issues with the UK government. In particular, we took the opportunity to thank both the government and the people for their role s an inexhaustible fountain of charity and solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe in their struggle for democracy, the colonial period notwithstanding.

We also took the opportunity to commit ourselves to re-engagement on an equal platform and to the readmission of Zimbabwe into the family of nations.

We underscored the need for Zimbabwe to return to legitimacy through free and fair elections. We further requested the UK government to have a clear definition of what constitutes a free and fair election, complete with clear benchmarks and standards against which an assessment of the credibility of the election can be measured.

We also underscored the importance of the scaffolding and stewardship of the transition in Zimbabwe to ensure that the process is guaranteed by credible bodies for the subsistence and sustenance of peace before, during and after the elections.

We also emphasized that the UK government and others in the international community must guard against being hoodwinked into believing in the empty rhetoric of free and fair elections without the attendant tangibles to validate those claims on the ground.

From Buhera to Marange
On Saturday, I addressed a rally at Murambinda growth point in Buhera West. Just like elsewhere in the country, the land of Buhera is still shaken following the loss of a national icon and a gallant fighter for democracy, our late leader Dr. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, who was born in the area.

Zimbabwe is a country of heroes and heroines; a cradle of fighters prepared to pay the ultimate price for their liberty and freedoms. I told the people of Buhera about the thousands who lost their lives during the liberation struggle. I reminded them of other heroes in the struggle for democracy who came from the area such as the late president Tsvangirai as well as talent Mabika and Tichaona Chiminya who were brutally murdered in post-independent Zimbabwe.

The weather-beaten people of Buhera for better prospects in the country, Justas the people at Rukweza business centre in Makoni South, where I addressed another huge crowd on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday, I had the occasion to address the despondent people of Marange; this rich land of alluvial diamonds that was ravaged by a corrupt and avaricious government that spirited away billions of dollars leaving a hopeless and forlorn people with nothing to show for the wealth that god gave them.

Manicaland depicts a sad national story. This is the site of the once-famous Kondozi, the land known for its rich Tanganda fields and the rich diamond pickings that are all a heart-rending story of the past.

We need to bring back the glory days of Manicaland; days where the entirety of Zimbabwe was a land of grandeur and splendor.

In this rich land where diamonds were spirited away is a derelict infirmary called St Andrews hospital. Given this richness of the land, one would have expected to see a well-equipped modern hospital but alas; all we saw was a struggling health institution with no staff and no drugs in this supposedly rich land of plenty.

I had the opportunity to hold prayers with some of the infirmary’s patients and staff after hearing horrendous stories about the challenges that the hospital faces. The challenges include accommodation challenges, poor remuneration of staff, lack of drugs and other ancillaries as well as dilapidated infrastructure.

I also took the opportunity of my presence in the area to interact with community leaders in the area.

I had inspiring moments with him and other community leaders in the area.

Later, I heard a very sad story about the collapsed infrastructure in the area and how minister Chris Mushowe, who comes from the area, ensured that there was a tarred road only up to his homestead.

The people there said the “honourable” Minister at one time removed a transformer from the area after he was defeated by the MDC-T’s Shua Mudiwa in 2008.

This is the calibre of leaders that continue to drop off the decrepit Zanu PF conveyer belt of “national” leaders!

Come the next election, we pledge to end this wanton tale of selfishness; this distressing yarn of inept leadership that continues to curse our land.

Our incoming government will infuse new hope and optimism in the lives of the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe.

Our track record speaks for itself.

One Zimbabwe, one people.
One Zimbabwe, one future.
One Zimbabwe, one vision.
God bless Zimbabwe.
God bless Africa
Behold the new!

By Paul Nyathi|The much awaited 14th May deliberations between government and teachers that set aside the teachers mass industrial action of last week have failed to yield anything.

The talks held between leaders of teachers representatives and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education collapsed as the teachers still could not agree on the renewed offer by government.

In a statement issued by the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association, ZIMTA, Tapson Nganunu Sibanda on Tuesday, the teachers declared that a deadlock with their employer is now unavoidable.

The government is reported to have upped its previous salary increase by 5% to 15% across the board. The government also offered to increase the rural allowance to 5%.

The teachers rejected the salary increase offer demanding that government should increase salaries to match the current poverty datum line.

According to Zimstat’s latest release of the Poverty Analysis in Zimbabwe, the poverty datum line stands at $574 for an average household of 5 and $114 for a self-sustaining individual, depending on location (provincial stats).

A poverty datum line (PDL) represents the cost of a given standard of living that must be attained if a person is deemed not to be poor. Teachers are currently earning less than $400 per month.

In its proposals government also undertook to pay the 38 000 overdue pay in lieu of leave, which it had suspended, by the 1st of July this year.

The teachers demanded a commitment with modalities and timeframes how the money will be paid before government asked for a deferment of the meeting to the 16th of May, 2018.

“The Wednesday 16 May 2018 National Joint Negotiating Committee will be third and final before we can declare a deadlock, members will be consulted on the way forward,” said the ZIMTA statement.

By Talent Gondo| The MDC T has dismissed allegations that the party’s candidate selection process is shambolic and marred by violence saying it’s candidate selection process is going on well.

Presidential Spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka said the party had not yet started primary elections and members were currently holding peaceful consensus processes.

Below is the full statement by Tamborinyoka.

The MDC-T candidate selection process is proceeding well with no hiccups and no violence, contrary to press reports.

The party has not even begun its primary elections and is still holding peaceful consensus processes where candidates are agreeing with one another without coercion on who should stand.

For the record, the MDC-T has not even commenced its primary elections and is currently verifying its structures, auditing and validating the voters’ rolls that will be used in the primary elections.

No single violence case has been reported but where such rare cases in the party might take place, the party wants such cases reported to the police and the culprits apprehended.

The party will also take stern action against any such perpetrators of violence but as of now, no such case has been reported, contrary to false and malicious reports in the media.

The MDC-T notes with concern an attempt to equalize the party with the Zanu PF, which held chaotic and violent primary elections last week.

The MDC has a different culture and will hold clean and transparent primary elections that will breed a legitimate outcome and yield popular candidates.

We believe in transparency and our candidate selection process is grounded in the people where popular candidates in the constituencies will be allowed to represent the party at all levels.

By next week, the MDC-T will be done with its internal processes and will have a full and comprehensive panel of candidates at all levels.

A Harare businessman was shot dead in circumstances that have seen his own maids making a contrasting statement.

Police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the man died after being shot in Avondale.

No robbers were seen and the maids at the house said they did not hear any gunshots.

A family member said, “I just heard that robbers stormed the house, shot the man and stole $12 000.” The source, quoted by Newsday continued saying, “members of the neighbourhood watch committee …quickly rushed to the house the moment they heard gunshots, positioned themselves and manned the house until the police came. Unfortunately, they did not see the robbers.

“The maids were also taken with the wife and they are saying they did not hear any gunshots because they had earphones plugged in their ears, but neighbours confirmed hearing the shots.”

By Paul Nyathi|ZANU PF primary election rerun results have begun trickling in with reported chaos and violence in some areas.

Confirmed results as of Tuesday morning are that Oscar Gore has convincingly won in the Shamva constituency re-run after polling 6 903 votes, while in the Mazowe West Women’s quota Tsitsi Gezi won with 524 votes.

In Chipinge South say Enock Porusingazi has won the ticket to represent the party in the forthcoming harmonised elections.

We will give you more results as they trickle in…

By Talent Gondo| A visually impaired man has taken the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the High Court seeking an order to compel the elections body to print and avail ballot papers in Braille or the template ballot as a way of ensuring that visually impaired enjoy their right to a secret vote.

Abraham Mateta, who is visually impared and is a registered voter wants ZEC to put in place administrative measures to enable people in his condition to vote by secret ballot in the coming 2018 harmonised election.

Mateta also proposed that ZEC must provide tactile voting devices to all the visually impaired people who want to vote secretly arguing that those who wish to be assisted in voting,  should select their own assistants and cast the vote without the involvement of a presiding officer or any other third party.

Harare lawyer Dr Innocent Maja of Maja & Associates filed the urgent chamber application on behalf of Mateta.

In the application, ZEC, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi and the Attorney-General of Zimbabwe Advocate Prince Machaya were listed as respondents.

In his founding affidavit, Mateta alleged that his voting rights were likely to be violated if the administrative measures were not put in place.

“The minister and the AG should amend the electoral law to give effect to the right of the visually impaired to vote in secret,” said Mateta.

He proposed that the legislative amendments, must be effected by December 31 2018 so that the visually impaired are not discriminated against during elections.

“I am advised that the above provisions require ZEC and the other respondents to this application to ensure that I have equal opportunities to exercise my right to vote in secret, regardless of my disabilities or other factors.

“My disability does not mean inability to vote by secret ballot,” he said.

Mateta said the matter should be treated with urgency.

“This country is just about to hold its next general elections and yet first, second and third respondents have not put in place legislative and administrative measures to allow and enable me to vote in secret.

“There is, therefore, imminent violation to one of my basic constitutional rights,

“Where my rights are in danger from an imminent violation especially due to State inaction, it is only fair and just that this court urgently intervenes to protect me and those who are similarly disadvantaged,” he said.

The matter is yet to be set down for hearing at the High Court.

Source: Herald

By Paul Nyathi|Heal Zimbabwe Trust, a Non Governmental Organisation that has through the years been sympathetic to the MDC-T has come hard on the party condemning it on the violence and intolerance seen at the party consensus meetings held over the weekend.

The Trust issued a statement on its website on Monday condemning the violence. The statement reads in full as follows:

Heal Zimbabwe is appalled by violent episodes of intra-party violence that rocked MDC-T consensus meetings in several districts across the country over the weekend.

Added to this, the police must also effectively maintain order without fear and bias as enshrined in Section 219 of the constitution. Political parties must also come up with stiffer penalties for supporters who perpetrate violence.

By Talent Gondo| MDC T National Chairperson, Morgen Komichi has warned aspiring candidates spreading lies that their candidature had been endorsed by individual MDC T leaders saying the party does not endorse undemocratic conduct neither does it tolerate the abuse of the offices of the President and National Chairperson to push personal agendas.

In communication issued this morning (Tuesday), Komichi urged party cadres to maintain democratic conduct within the party and follow due process in seeking political office in the forthcoming primary elections.

“I would like to warn all aspiring candidates who abuse their proximity to the offices of the President and National Chairperson claiming that they been approved by us as individual offices.

I want to categorically distance ourselves from such undemocratic practice,” he said.

Komichi said candidates are chosen by the people and not by the party leadership as being purported by certain members of the MDC T.

“I want to appeal to all MDCT members to chose your favorite candidates democratically. NO IMPOSITION of candidates please,” he said.

Komichi revealed that the party would in the coming days announce dates for the primary elections.

“I would like to thank all those who went through the Consensus Building process peacefully.

We will soon be announcing dates for Primaries. Get ready. I love you all,” said the MDC T National Chairperson.

Komichi’s statement come in the wake of recent developments within the MDC T where there are aspiring candidates for the forthcoming harmonised polls who are already circulating especially on social media campaign posters advertsing their candidature to the electorate.

Harare West sitting legislator, Jessie Majome yesterday pulled out of the party and revealed that she will be standing as an independent candidate in the forthcoming polls.

Majome cited an uneven playing field accusing her party of violating party guidelines and principles to accommodate and ensure that her contender, 24 year old Joana Mamombe wins the forthcoming primary elections.

By Paul Nyathi|MDC-T President Nelson Chamisa is reportedly being pressured by party members to make efforts to rescue prolific Harare West parliamentarian Jessie Majome from disregarding the party and contesting reelection in the constituency as an independent candidate.

Highly placed MDC-T sources who would not be named told ZimEye.com that the party leader has been put under pressure by some top female leaders of the party to engage Majome and persuade her to reverse her decision to contest as an independent candidate.

According to the sources, the female top party leaders have summoned Chamisa to ask Majome’s challenger to the Harare West constituency young Joanna Mamombe to withdraw her challenge and instead be seconded into the party women’s quota proportional representation list for Harare province.

“There is correspondence to the President from senior women leaders pressuring him to meet with both Majome and Mamombe for him to mediate between the two and strike a compromise,” said the source.

“The women are concerned that the party can not lose the experience and capabilities that Majome posses and so have asked Chamisa to intervene,” said the source.

Party Deputy Treasurer General Charlton Hwende however accused Majome of arrogance claiming that she is deliberately avoiding talking to the party leadership on the matter.

“Those worried by Jessie Fungayi Majome’s complaints about our candidate selection system, the National Chairman Morgan Khomichi who Chairs the Directorate yesterday tried to call her several times by the time I left Harvest House she had not returned his calls,” he said in a statement.

“The party is ready to discuss and solve all legitimate concerns by any candidate. Primary Elections are due this week so we still have time to find each other. What the party can not do is to avoid primaries ultimately the people must decide,” said Hwende.

ZimEye.com had at the time of writing not been able to get hold of the MDC-T National Chairman Senator Komichi who is in charge of the candidates selection process.

Speaking in a press conference on Monday, Majome ruled out any possibility of her reversing her decision.

By Talent Gondo| A Harare business who is in the transport industry died yesterday after being shot by unknown people at his home in Avondale.

The man, whose name has been withheld until his next of kin have been advised was allegedly shot by robbers who are said to have escaped with US $12 000.

The business man reportedly died on his way to the hospital after staff at Malbereign clinic refused to attend to him asking for a police report.

Police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the death and said investigations were ongoing.

“The ZRP would like to confirm the fatal shooting of a local bus operator in Avondale Monday morning,” he said.

“We are however still investigating the circumstances to the fatal killing and the wife of the deceased is assisting police with investigations.”

Accounting events on the fateful day, a relative of the deceased revealed that members of the neighbourhood committee who were on duty said they heard gunshots and they rushed to surround the house anticipating that the robbers would come out.

However, no one came out until police arrived at the scene.

“Maids who were also in the house at the time of the shooting alleged that they did not hear any gunshots since they had earphones plugged in their ears although the neighbours confirmed hearing the gunshots.

They were taken in by police together with the deceased’s wife for questioning,” said the source.

Source: Newsday

By Paul Nyathi|Leader of the People’s Democratic Party Tendai Biti has caused a major storm after he went on Twitter describing the people of diamonds rich Marange in Manicaland province as “feudal.”

Biti who is a principal in the MDC Alliance coalition made the remarks after visiting the area for an MDC Alliance rally over the weekend.

Biti, using his Twitter handle @BitiTendai said: “A big rare smile from Marange . . . Manicaland regrettably has the highest rate of polygamy in the country with 45% of ‘married’ persons in this community being in polygamous unions. Education & development will eliminate these throw-backs from our feudal past.”

Biti’s remarks attracted a huge furore from across the country with most demanding that he withdraws the statement and issue a public apology.

MDC-T secretary-general Mr Douglas Mwonzora who hails from the area was one of the prominent people to castigate Biti for the utterance.

Mwonzora responded on the tweet: “The people in Marange deserve respect. They are certainly not feudal.”

Zimbabweans across the country also joined in the thread castigating Biti for the statements.

By Paul Nyathi|The MDC-T candidates consensus talks held in Harare over the weekend were marred with confusion and even violence in some constituencies.

The party invited all its aspiring candidates to meet in their respective constituencies to discuss amongst themselves and agree on one candidate to represent the constituency but all the discussions collapsed.

In Mabvuku – Tafara the talks had to be moved to the party headquarters in Harare CBD as violence nearly erupted.

On Monday the party members staged a demonstration at the Morgan Tsvangirai House the party headquarters against the candidate selection and accusing some unnamed leaders of imposing candidates.

A number of aspiring candidates were reportedly shut out sparking an unrest within the party.

MDC-T’s national executive member Amos Chibaya had a tough time trying to  control the crowd that was demanding audience with the opposition party’s president, Nelson Chamisa.

One of the demonstrators who spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the demonstrations blamed the party for trying to shift the process to favour certain candidates.

“A friend of mine submitted his curriculum vitae to represent MDC-T in Ward 2, Epworth, but a woman has since been imposed.

“Three other aspiring candidates can no longer contest in that ward. Under the circumstances, we cannot vote for someone who was imposed on us when the election time comes,” he said.

Violence also rocked the MDC-T consensus meeting in Glen View and Chitungwiza.

Some sitting and aspiring candidates had to flee for  their lives as youths bayed for their blood in chaos riddled meetings. The party has directed party candidates to hold consensus meetings to avoid holding primary elections, a strategy that has been perceived by some as a ploy to impose preferred candidates.

In Glen View North, sitting Legislator Mr Fani Munengami fled the scene while Mrs Vimbai Tsvangirai Java had to be escorted as party supporters protested why she was coming to contest in Glen View South constituency.

In Zengeza West, a tension-filled consensus meeting was aborted after just 10 minutes after sitting MP Mr Simon Chidhakwa failed to agree with aspiring candidates Messrs Job Sikhala and Rangarirayi Mutingwende.

The party acting national chairperson Morgan Komichi admitted to state owned publications that the consensus meetings held at the weekend were rocked by violence.

“These consensus meetings are a process that does not even require violence or conflict as what has happened in some few areas. It is a voluntary process of consensus building and once that fails we subject people to primary elections,” said Mr Komichi.

“Violence is being caused by disqualified people who are buying beer for some misguided youths who are not even our party members. We sat as an Appeals Committee and resolved about 90 cases and our doors remain open.”

By Paul Nyathi|MDC proportional representation Member of Parliament Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga has finally quit the party.

Mushonga announced cutting ties with the party she was once a Secretary General for and a possible successor to leader Welshman Ncube, through a statement issued on Monday evening.

Mushonga said she had accepted the reality that the MDC no longer needed her in the party after she was omitted from the party list of parliamentary candidates to contest this year’s harmonised elections.

Her full statement reads as follows:

“This piece has been prompted by friends, journalists and colleagues who have sought to find out wether I am standing as a candidate in these elections and if I am, on whose ticket I will be doing so given that my party published their list of candidates.

Cheers.”

By Talent Gondo| Norton’s Independent legislator, Temba Mliswa has pledged to focus on “real constituency developmental initiatives” instead of cheap vote buying antics done by Zanu Pf aspiring candidate for Norton, Christopher Mutsvangwa

Mliswa, who is the current legislator for Norton said he will continue spearheading developmental programs in his constituency instead of donating foodstuffs like his rival, Mutsvangwa.

Mliswa’s statements come amid revelations that Mutsvangwa recently donated various foodstuffs such as maize-meal and meat for various constituencies in Norton.

The donation saw people gathering at Jinx Town and Sandringham among other places to cook and eat the food.

“I will continue doing my duty without resorting to cheap politics,” said Mliswa.

“I am currently focusing on the issue of road and borehole construction.”

He said he was diverting his energy towards ensuring that electricity is brought to the people of Kingsdale.

“Mutsvangwa is doing what he is doing but that does not worry me. He has chosen to seek votes by buying people groceries and all that but I’m not that type of a politician who indulges in petty politicking,” he said.

Mliswa has been spearheading the construction of roads in Kingsdale and he is currently lobbying to have the residents granted title deeds.

He has also been pushing for the creation of a neighbourhood watch committee to deal with the issue of crime within the constituency.

Mliswa and Mutsvangwa are some of the two arch rivals set to battle it out in the forthcoming harmonised polls slated for this year.

Mutsvangwa, who was initially defeated during the Zanu Pf primary elections made a surprise comeback when his name was confirmed winner of the Norton seat two days before the holding of election rerun held today (Monday).

By Paul Nyathi|MDC-T member of parliament for Harare West Jessie Majome has all but declared that she will contest the Harare West parliamentary election as an independent candidate.

Majome made the declaration at a private press conference held at her home in Harare on Monday.

Majome said that she will contest the national election but will not be involved in the party primary elections which all but declared that she will contest as an independent.

“I want to declare to you Harare Westerners that the journey we started together will not be deterred by these events, I will be available for you to make a decision if you still need me as your messenger in parliament,” she said.

Majome withdrew from the party primary elections on Friday claiming that the electoral process was flowed.

Majome claimed that the MDC-T leadership was shifting the election process to favour her rival Joanna Mamombe to win the election.

The MDC-T national chairman, Morgen Komichi says Harare West MP Jessie Majome over-reacted when she withdrew from the party’s primary elections.

Komichi denied serious allegations which say the party wanted to impose the other candidate, Joanna Mamombe.

He said Majome preempted the party’s strategy and it was all premature.

Komichi who created the confusion by introducing a conflicting elections policy, told the Daily News, “we first want to hear people’s views, we cannot impose candidates but we must engage through negotiations. We cannot have one person stopping a process but the truth is she pre-empted our strategy.

“We are supposed to look into Harare today and determine who goes to proportional representatives if both candidates are popular. We are aware of a possibility of independent candidates but she pre-empted our strategy, we were concerned by her fate and still are.”

The MDC-T has said it regrets the violence that occurred during its election candidates selection process.

The party’s national chairman Morgen Komichi, said the party regrets the chaos and violence which affected its candidate selection meetings.

Speaking on violence, he said, “we are regretting that and we will definitely investigate if one of the candidates is involved, then we are going to mete justice on him or her.”

He was quoted by Newsday adding that “the reason for consensus is to allow people to interact and democratically negotiate to come up with one candidate. This is the only first stage of our candidate selection and if they fail to agree, then we are going to another process which is primary elections.”

The Harare West MP, Jessie Majome has spoken on her moves after dropping from the race for re election. Majome said she will not join another party.

Last week, Macdonald Ncube spoke on what pushed her into pulling out.

Ncube said, “The below is an outline of how Jessie Majome was forced out of the race for parliament. This has been drawn from my findings with all stakeholders including the leadership here in Harare (including Chairman Morgan Komichi). –  The MDC-T internal election policy was not clear at all (likely deliberately so) and in the process Jessie Majome saw her opponent gaining unjustly as the 24 year old Joanna Mamombe was allowed to do as she willed at a time when contests were not allowed as per party policy. This was all party policy and nothing of Majome’s making. Mamombe benefited from the chaos created by leaders, who include National Chairman Morgan Komichi, a situation that clearly amounted to a coup. Majome was pushed into a corner where she ended up complaining about the $1,000 she was forced to pay under the policy in which she and other MPs were ordered to pay up so that they retain their seats uncontested. She had not at all sought not to be contested, as this was all party policy. When she began complaining about the money she paid, she was labelled names, at a time when the UK returnee, Joana Mamombe was allowed to illegally campaign, performing an act which was against standing party policy. Even as early as yesterday, some MDC-T senior officials were claiming that Majome’s post is secured and that Mamombe was campaigning illegally, adding to more confusion because according to National Chairman, Morgan Komichi, Majome has to contest, contrary to the $1,000 policy. Below is the outline –

1. As someone said yesterday, there was the $1000 policy, which later was changed to:

2. The CV policy, and then came

3. The Consensus Policy.

In conclusion – Majome was part of the group of MPs that was early this year forced to pay $1,000 each and told their seats would not be contested. This was under the late leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The policy was later shifted from one to the other and the only clear policy was published by Morgan Komichi just a few days ago. Before this, it was chaotic and Mamombe benefited from the chaos as she freely campaigned against party policy.”

This time, Majome told Newsday, “what I have done is to withdraw my candidature from the party primary elections. I have several options, but I am not intending to join anybody. However, as a citizen of Zimbabwe, I am considering and looking at what it is that I want to do. I still want to contribute to Harare West. I just thought I should let things go for now and think clearly about my next move. I will advise my constituents because everything I do is in their behalf. When I make the decision and I will do so before the coming elections, I will communicate this publicly.

“…I have made up my mind and also the nature of some of my concerns are long-term. Like, from last year, they have been telling all sitting MPs that they would not be contested and I am not sure how this will be reversed. For me, I am done and they can go ahead and have the primaries. I am no longer interested because as far as I am concerned, they will not be free and fair.”

By Paul Nyathi|The Speaker of Parliament advocate Jacob Mudedenda has responded to the court appeal by splinter MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe saying that her expulsion from Parliament was done above board.

Mudenda said that Khupe’s recall was done within the dictates of the law and her constitutional challenge cannot pass at the courts.

Dr Khupe is contesting her expulsion arguing that Parliament turned a blind eye to its constitutional obligation to protect her tenure as a Member of Parliament when it endorsed her expulsion.

“I submit that on the facts alleged, it is impossible for that contention to be properly made and sustained particularly when the applicable legal principles are taken into account,” said Adv Mudenda.

“In the premises, I submit that the declaratur sought against first (Dr Khupe) and second (MDC-T) respondents have no legal grounding and may be dismissed with costs.”

Adv Mudenda said the Parliament decision was informed by the law and various decisions already made by the superior courts on cases similar to the present dispute.

“I and my office, have been guided by the various views expressed by this court in these kinds of matters as well as its pronouncements,” he said.

“We have in addition been guided by the law as we have always understood it. The allegations made by the applicant against me do not have any legal validity.”

Dr Khupe, who was the opposition party’s Proportional Representation Member of Parliament for Bulawayo Metropolitan, and Nelson Chamisa are locked in a fierce power struggle over control of the party’s name, logo and symbols.

The case is set to be heard in parliament on the 22nd of May.

By Paul Nyathi|Zimbabweans woke up to a surprise fuel price hike on Monday morning which was not announced by government.

Petrol prices have gone up from $1,33 to between $1,39 and $1,40 a litre while that of diesel has shot up from $1,23 to $1,26 per litre.

Government reduced duty on fuels in January which saw a slight reduction in the price of fuel.

Fuel price increases are normally followed by a sharp increase in the price of basic commodities. These prices do not normally come down when fuel prices arw reduced.

In the last few weeks, the priceof bread and beef went up by about 10% and 25% respectively with no explainable reasons given.

There was a significant rise in the price of world crude oil after United States President Donald Trump announced that his country was pulling out of the Iranian nuclear deal recently.

As of Friday, the price of brent crude oil per barrel was $77.

Speaking to weekend media the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Sifelani Jabangwe said in tanden with the rise in international prices the price of fuel in Zimbabwe remained high and would affect producers though marginally.

“For those who have high usage of fuel in their businesses there could be some effects because we understand the prices have gone up due to the international price of oil,” he said.

“But the rise will be marginal because the prices have gone up by, say, just four cents.

“What we are saying is that the impact on price levels will be there but will be minimal.”

However, Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Denford Mutashu said the rise in fuel prices would have a huge impact on consumers.

“Any movement upwards on cost drivers is not welcome in an economy where most people are living under the poverty datum line and are ravaged by a shortage of foreign currency, which does not seem to have an end in sight,” he said.

“Price increases on fuel are not welcome as it is a slap in the face to the ease and cost of doing business in the economy.

“Like I said earlier, it may push production costs for manufacturers and subsequently affect the final price for the consumer in an environment that has not been competitive.”

Consumer Council of Zimbabwe executive director Rose Siyachitema said while the rise in fuel prices would impact the prices of basic commodities, the effect would be minimal.

“It is very difficult to attribute it (the rise in the price of basic commodities) to fuel on the market because there are issues on the market place like the shortage of cash…there is a basket of things that would cause the prices of goods to go up,” she said.

By Talent Gondo| As the hunt for the missing US$15 billion diamonds continues, the former CIO boss, Happyton Bonyongwe will today (Monday) give oral evidence before the Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee chaired by Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa on his former organisation’s involvement in diamond mining.

ZimEye will be live streaming parliamentary proceedings as Bonyongwe and several other representatives of mining firms detail their involvement in diamond mining at Chiadzwa.