By Paul Nyathi|Former Zanu-PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere returned into the country on Tuesday and immediately announced his early retirement from politics.

Kasukuwere jetted back into the country after spending six months and six days in self-imposed exile in South Africa.

He fled the country last November alongside other G40 cabalists, Professor Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao, who remain in exile.

Kasukuwere, who was aboard a South African Airways plane, landed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport at midday and immediately declared that he was staying out of politics and focus on his business and farming.

“Tyson remains Tyson,” he said referring to himself by his nickname

“Am Relaxed. Going farming. You know we are beneficiaries of the land reform. There is business to be done, that is the future. We will continue to work,” he said.

“You see every soccer player must come to a time when he takes a decision that today I am not playing soccer. Maybe later, but for now just take it easy. Just run business. Go farming. Keep relaxed.”

Kasukuwere confirmed life was not easy away from home.

“You have to manage, can’t you? Why would you want me to stay outside the country? You want me to remain outside the country? Unoda kuenjoya wega muno munyika iwewe? This is my home, so I must come back home. No push factors. Nothing. Home sweet home.”

Contrary to beliefs that he was enticed to return to the country after emgaging with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Kasukuwere said he made a personal decision to return.

“This is a personal decision. I came to my country. This is my country. I came because I am Zimbabwean. I was born here. I will die here.”

Kasukuwere has been in President Mnangagwa’s wanted persons list since he fled the country and the nation waits to hear what will happen to him since he has returned.

Will Mugabe Come?

Watch. Live proceedings on our facebook page at the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy where the former Head of State, President Robert Mugabe is expected to appear to give oral evidence on missing US$15 billion diamond revenue.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa today heads back to Manicaland Province today for another function.

The president will preside over the opening of a 16 000-seater multi-purpose sports centre to be built in Marange by St Noah School.

Mnangagwa will later address Zanu-PF supporters.

Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial chairperson Mike Madiro was yesterday  quoted saying Mnangagwa would be at St Noah School today. Madiro told the state media: “I can confirm that the President is visiting for a ground-breaking ceremony of some sports facility in Marange at St Noah School.

“It is a programme under comrade Kazembe Kazembe (Youths, Sports, Arts and Recreation Minister). They have targets in the ministry in terms of putting up sporting facilities for young people and this facility is one of those targets under sports development for the youths.”

The state run Herald paper has reported a claim that MDC-T councillors are allegedly bribing voters.

The paper alleges that councillors are in vote-buying and fleecing of desperate home-seekers after promising to allocate them residential stands when they assume office.

The paper quoted a Facebook post, in which one Precious Shumba claimed although without evidence that those with money won the MDC-T primary elections. Shumba was cited saying,”what we witnessed at several voting centres yesterday (Sunday) during the primary election revealed that indeed the powerful and those with money get the result that they want at the end of the day.

Some of the sitting councillors pocketed thousands of dollars from desperate people claiming that they will process allocation of residential stands, while the daring went around buying and distributing cooking oil, sugar, and buying membership cards for their perceived supporters.

But Harare Mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni rubbished Shumba’s claims.

He said those with not all those with money won the primary elections.

By Farai D Hove| President Emmerson Mnangagwa spokesman has rubbished demands by MDC leader Nelson Chamisa who says he must be given access to monitor ballot paper printing, saying they are impossible to execute.

Charamba while also blocking the monitoring of tenders for printing, said the demands to be involved in the printing of ballot papers for year’s harmonised elections are outrageous.

Nelson Chamisa has spoken on video that ZEC must allow opposition parties to observe or monitor the tendering and also the printing of ballot papers. He said “there are processes of ensuring that all participating parties are satisfied that there is nothing stuffed in ballot boxes before polling.”

Charamba yesterday quoted by the state media, said political parties advocating for such an arrangement should first downgrade the constitutional commissions to ordinary statutory bodies by way of amending the constitution.

Charamba said, the demands were devoid of merit as they were not backed by any law.

“They (opposition parties) must go back to the Zimbabwean people and say we have had enough of the independence of these constitutional bodies because we now want to participate in tenders,” said Mr Charamba.

“But to try and suggest that their involvement in tendering process is the test of freeness and fairness of elections is quite preposterous and this Government will err on the side of defending the constitutional inviolability of these commissions. Besides, there is no law that accommodates these demands by the opposition.

“What the law provides for is not the tendering process for ballot material, rather it is the transparent management of the material once it’s done and this takes many forms. Firstly, we have election agents who are expected to keep an eagle eye on the electoral process from start to finish insisting probity at every stage.

“Secondly, there are processes of ensuring that all participating parties are satisfied that there is nothing stuffed in ballot boxes before polling, during polling, after polling and before counting. The cure cannot be by overrunning constitutional bodies in their processes. The cure is by ensuring that agents are fully and competently deployed.

“Also on the distribution of ballot papers, that information will be made known to all players and to say so is not guessmate Zec, it is simply to highlight certain standards of transparency.”

He continued saying “I suppose some people have very short memories and because they have very short memories Government really wants to refresh their failing memories. Before GNU, we didn’t have constitutional commissions in our executive system. The constitutional commissions came about on the insistence of then opposition which was now a partner in Government under the GNU arrangement.

“It was a very strident demand from both MDCs which as you know had very pronounced component of lawyers and the demand was that we must curve and station constitutional commissions around major rights that needs to be protected in the constitution. As a result, we had the various commissions most notably Zec, Zimbabwe Media Commission Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, Human Rights Commission and a few more.”

Charamba added: “The idea behind creating those constitutional commissions was to involve Parliament in their constitution so that their creation went beyond the interests and dictates of the Executive which is why the Standing Rules and Orders Committee of Parliament became a part appointing authority in respect of all commissions. The only difference was the degree of participation of the SROC in respect of each of these commissions. So, there was a deliberate attempt to insulate these commissions at the stage of constituting them by involving Parliament.

“Secondly, the other level of insulating these commissions against incumbents was to upgrade them from being statutory bodies to being constitutional bodies which meant if the Government of the day undermines their independence then that would amount to a breach of the constitution, in which case it will be actionable through due parliamentary process.

“A third way of ensuring and underpinning their independence was to require that they report to Parliament and not line ministries which really fortified their independence. The last way of fortifying their independence was to house them under the Ministry of Justice way from line ministries for budgetary requirements.

“This was really an administrative decision. Now, if the intention was to underwrite the autonomy of constitutional bodies and this on the insistence of the then opposition which was now part of the GNU, where are these voices which are now demanding a reversal and compromise of that independent status coming from?

“If the intention is to re-think the subject, then you don’t run ahead of the law by changing practices, you actually change the constitution and downgrade these commissions to become ordinary statutory bodies. That has not happened. But also it is very unfair for the opposition to expect this society to wax and whine on the basis of whim.”

state media – A Zimbabwean family endured a tense 45 minutes of movie style hostage drama at a Shoprite outlet in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Four masked robbers clad in army fatigues, who wielded “huge rifles,” got away with an undisclosed amount of money following a standoff with police on Sunday.
They ordered more than 80 customers, over 15 till operators and other shop employees to lie down at Southdale Mall at around 11AM.

Terrified shoppers said the gunmen said anyone who moved would be shot dead. Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS) Gauteng Provincial spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Malumu yesterday confirmed the robbery and hostage incident. She said the suspects were still at large and investigations were underway.

“I can confirm we are investigating a case of cash in transit heist which occurred at Southdale Mall within our province. Together with the Crime Intelligence Unit, we are working on the matter and following up on any available detail regarding to the matter that will lead to the arrest of the suspects. So far, no arrests have been made,” said Captain Malumu.

A Zimbabwean couple who were with their two minor daughters said they believed the robbers would kill everyone.
The couple, who asked not to be named citing fear of reprisals, said the armed men pounced about 10 minutes after the family arrived at the store.

“Four men in bottle green uniforms walked into the shop carrying huge firearms and in English, they ordered everyone to lie down with faces on the floor. They ordered the security guards to close the doors and lock them,” said the woman.

“We were scared because they sounded mean and dangerous. They said if anyone moved even an inch or tried to call the police, they would spray everyone with bullets.”

She said everyone complied without hesitation while others seemed to suffer panic attacks.
“My children were fidgeting and I could not talk to them. I just shut my eyes tight and expected to feel bullets puncturing my body anytime,” said the woman.

The woman, who said she was still in shock, added that the four men went to the tills and she could hear them issuing harsh orders and emptying the tills.
“They grabbed a few till operators and demanded to be shown the manager. They demanded to be shown the room where cash was kept. All four of them went into the room but no one dared to move,” she said.

Her husband said he suspects that shoppers in the mall, on seeing people lying on the floor in the shop, alerted neighbouring stores who all quickly closed their premises and called the police.

“My children began crying uncontrollably and other children joined in. I almost wet my pants fearing the men would just come out of that room and blow their heads off,” the woman added.
Her husband said the robbers got communication from their accomplices outside, who told them that police had ambushed them.

“Armed police officers came into the store and began talking to the gunmen, who were still inside the cash room, using a cellphone. The robbers refused to come out of the room,” said the woman’s husband.

“Exactly like in a movie, we left the shop in batches while police continued negotiating.”
He said he later heard the robbers fled with an undisclosed amount of money, although he could not understand how it happened as they seemed cornered.
Robbers have in many incidents targeted Shoprite outlets in South Africa.

In March 2015, two separate robberies occurred at Clearwater Mall and a Shoprite store in Naledi, Soweto.

Two suspects were arrested and four more were on the run after they robbed Shoprite. Two men were killed, two were wounded and two others were arrested following a shootout between police and suspects at Clearwater Mall.

The robbers allegedly got away with R7, 000 at Shoprite in Naledi. In May 2017, a Shoprite liquor store was robbed in Strandfontein Road, Pelican Park. The store is located next to the supermarket.

Police said four armed robbers stormed the shop and demanded money before hitting a female security guard in the head with a gun. A week earlier, on May 1, three armed robbers carried out a robbery at Shoprite at Nyanga Junction mall, leading to a 12-hour hostage drama.
The robbers had targeted a social grant paypoint.

During a shootout between robbers and security, armed response officer Patrick Castle (28) of TSU Group was wounded and later died in hospital while one of the robbers was injured.

Another robber was killed by cops when negotiations ended while a third suspect escaped.

Ten hostages, which included cleaners and management at Shoprite, were rescued unharmed.

In June 2017, a gang armed with AK47 rifles entered Shoprite in the Mfuleni shopping centre and demanded cash. They got away with an undisclosed amount and no arrests were made.

In February 2017, two suspects robbed Shoprite Supermarket in Mayfair and escaped with R250 000 and a DVR recorder.- state media

A 24-YEAR-OLD man from Lupane was fatally stabbed with a knife in a gang fight on Saturday.

Polite Maduna of BH 71 Gegema Village under Chief Menyezwa, sources said, had a misunderstanding with Licious Ndlovu who had insulted him during the day.

Maduna had spent the day doing collective labour (ilima) with other villagers to make bricks at a neighbour’s homestead before he was killed around 8PM.

His elder sister Ms Catelia Maduna narrated the events leading to her brother’s death.
“They had a misunderstanding with a villager called Licious Ndlovu as they were making bricks during the day. The two started arguing when Licious insulted him,” said Ms Maduna.

She said her brother and Ndlovu later made peace but Ndlovu’s gang was not happy about it. “Licious’ younger brother Obriel, Davison Mlambo and others later came and asked why he did not beat up Polite,” she said.
Licious allegedly tried to calm his brother and gang to no avail as they accused him of being a coward.

The attackers allegedly later ambushed Maduna at Gazaland Shopping Area. Mlambo allegedly drew a knife which he gave to Obriel who then stabbed Maduna in the right arm and armpit.

The Chronicle was told that Maduna’s young brother Major and some friends fled from the scene and hid in a bus which was parked at the shops.

The attackers fled when the bus driver flashed lights at them. Maduna died on the spot and Major rushed to inform his mother who was attending a church service at the nearby Dandanda Roman Catholic Mission.

Maduna’s body was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post-mortem yesterday.
Police sources said Licious, Mlambo and a third suspect had been arrested while Obriel was on the run.

Police spokesperson for Matabeleland North province Inspector Siphiwe Makonese could not confirm the murder yesterday.- state media

As ZimEye revealed earlier on, below is the court win in favour of Nelson Chamisa who was fully recognised in the court verdict as an entity in the name of the MDC party:

In the matter between:

Movement for Democratic Change (Appellant)

and

Thokozani Khupe  (1st Respondent)
Obert Gutu (2nd Respondent)
Abednico Bhebhe  (3rd Respondent)

 

Harare: Tuesday, 22 May 2018

Before: the honourable Mr.Justice Garwe, Judge of Appeal
the Honourable Mrs Justice Gowora, Judge of Appeal
and the Honourable Mrs Justice Guvava, Judge of Appeal

T. Mpofu for appellant
L. Madhuku  for the respondents

Whereupon, after reading the documents filed of record and hearing counsel

It is ordered by consent that:

1. The appeal be and is hereby allowed  with no order as to costs
2. The judgment of the court a quo  be is hereby set aside and in its place the following is substituted:-
   (i) The application of this matter to be dealt with on an urgent basis is granted
   (ii) In view of the material disputes of fact afflicting the application, it is ordered that the application be referred to trial for the resolution of the following disputes:
   (a) Whether or not there are two MDC-T parties
   (b) If not, whether the respondents are entitled to use of the name, symbol, logo and trademarks of the MDC-T
   (iii) The chamber application filed in this matter shall stand as the summons and the notice of opposition as the appearance to defend.

By Own Correspondent| Stanley Goreraza, former husband to Zimbabwe’s former first lady, Grace Mugabe has coined a welcome home message for G40 cabal and former Zanu Pf National Political Commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, who reportedly jetted back into the country Tuesday afternoon.

In a facebook post, Goreraza welcomed Kasukuwere asking him how he has been and why he had lost weight.

Below is the welcome home message for Kasukuwere from Goreraza.

By Paul Nyathi|The Supreme Court has referred for trial at the High Court the party ownership battle between Nelson Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe.

The bench led by Justice Paddington Garwe, Antonia Guvava and Anne-Marie Gowora ruled by consent of the parties that the judgement of Justice Francis Bere be set aside.

The court further ruled that the High Court determine whether or not there are 2 MDC-T parties, and whether Thokozani Khupe, Obert Gutu and Abednico Bhebhe are entitled to use the name, symbol logo and trademarks of the MDC-T.

Scores of rowdy MDC-T Chamisa faction supporters were at the Supreme Court building where there were chanting derogatory slogans against Khupe and singing vulgar songs while expressing their undying loyalty for Chamisa.-state media

Own Correspondent|Known government agents in military uniform bashed MDC Alliance Gweru Urban Youth Assembly chairperson Kudakwashe Nyome for allegedly plotting to remove Mr Mnangagwa from power.

Nyome was attacked by men using an unregistered vehicle.

According to the MDC Alliance, the men hit him with fists and baton sticks. They also headbutted him.

The men handed him to the police where he spent two nights in cells.

While in police custody, Nyome was beaten with baton sticks under his feet and hit with bottles on the knees.

“Our member, Kudakwashe Nyome was attacked by men in military uniform. They hit him with fists and baton sticks.

The men were heavily armed as they assaulted the hapless Nyome.

While in police custody he was tortured by government agents.

They used electric shockers to torture him.

We have always stated that our party is guided by clear principles that uphold the rule of law.

In the said case our member is innocent,” said a senior MDC Alliance official.

Nyome was denied legal representation and barred from seeing his relatives. He was also denied food.

“The case has been pending for too long.The sad part is that Nyome is being denied legal representation although he has been remanded out of custody.

The bail conditions are stringent.We can therefore say Nyome is not a free man.

We are witnessing relentless persecution of perceived opponents of the regime.

There is no new dispensation to talk about, Mr Mnangagwa has not changed at all, ” the MDC Alliance said in a statement.

 

 

A Bulawayo man was shot on the ear after he withheld R10 from highway robbers who hijacked buses, omalayitsha and two private motorists between Musina and Kranskop along Musina- Johannesburg Highway over the weekend.

The robbers in groups of four and five were allegedly staggered along the highway on Saturday night to the wee hours of Sunday.

Victims who spoke to state run Chronicle newspaper on condition of anonymity said the robbers shot the tyres of the vehicles and buses and pounced on the vehicles after they stopped.

They said in some of the incidents, the robbers boarded vehicles as passengers and suddenly produced guns, forcing drivers to stop.

A source said Intercity Bus Company that also trades as Eagle Liner, Tombs Motorways, Shumba Logistics Bus Company, two Quantum vehicles and two private vehicles were stopped and robbed while about three other vehicles fled as the highway robbers fired shots.

Intercity Bus Company confirmed the hijacking while a Tombs Motorways representative denied that passengers in their bus were victims.

A passenger in the Intercity bus bound for Johannesburg from Bulawayo relived the horror yesterday.

“The robbers were stationed in some bushes by the road side. They shot the tyres on our bus around 3:40 AM on Sunday,” said the passenger, who still appeared to be in shock.

The passenger said the two drivers disembarked to check the tyres.

“Four men armed with guns appeared from the darkness and pounced on them. They force marched them back into the bus. They fired a shot that jarred sleeping passengers awake,” said the passenger, who insisted on anonymity.

The passenger said the gunmen ordered passengers not to look at them.

“They took someone’s bag and ordered us to throw our cash inside. It was very scary as they moved down the row of seats and we meekly deposited our cash into the bag. I lost R200. Other passengers lost huge sums of money because they were going to the neighbouring country for shopping,” said the passenger.

The passenger said as the robbers were about to disembark, one of them said they should collect cellphones as well.

“They returned and started searching passengers. In fear, most surrendered their phones and tablets,” the passenger said.

“It was then that they found a passenger who had R10 in his pockets. The gunmen were furious. They shouted at him and asked why he had withheld the money when they were going around with the bag. One of them fired a shot that grazed his ear. Some passengers screamed and people became more cooperative,” narrated the passenger.

“The gunmen jumped off into a waiting vehicle that sped off.”

A driver at one of the bus companies said the robbers laid siege on the highway and prowled around for close to 10 hours, robbing motorists.

“I heard that a Shumba Bus Service bus that was hired by Intercity was hit by passengers who suddenly produced guns. They boarded the bus in Zimbabwe and we think they got guns from accomplices in Musina. After the heist, their colleagues picked them up. The same thing happened with a Tombs Motorways bus, two omalayitsha and some smaller passenger vehicles,” said the driver who declined to be named.

A source at Intercity Bus Company yesterday said six passengers had arrived home.

“All passengers who were in the Intercity bus were offered complimentary tickets to return home after their losses.”

The manager of Eagle Liner Luxury Services, Mr Brian Munemo confirmed that one of their buses was attacked on Saturday night.

“The hijacking happened a day before yesterday (Saturday), but I cannot give any more information,” he said.

The manager of Tombs Motorways Bus Company, Mr John Chitana said none of their buses coming from SA was hijacked.

South African police requested questions in writing but had not responded by the time of going to print.

Bus hijackings in the neighbouring country have increased over the past few years.

In June 2016, a bus travelling to Johannesburg was attacked by three gunmen who stripped the passengers of money and cell phones between Polokwane and Mokopane towns. The Intercape bus was travelling from Harare headed for Johannesburg in Gauteng province.

In July the same year, a passenger on a Mzansi Express bus from Zimbabwe to South Africa allegedly wrestled a gun from a robber and shot him dead, when four armed men raided the vehicle in Musina.

One of the hijackers allegedly shot the passenger on the shoulder as they fled from the scene, at around 3AM.

In April 2015, 48 Zimbabweans endured a four-hour hijack horror aboard an Intercape bus in SA. Four pistol and rifle-wielding men got away with cash, cell phones and gadgets worth tens of thousands of dollars when they commandeered the Bulawayo/Johannesburg bus near Hammanskraal at around 3.30AM.

In May the same year, two more Zimbabwean buses were attacked by armed highway robbers in South Africa. The buses, Eagle Liner and Citiliner, which were headed for Johannesburg, were attacked within two days.

Source: The Chronicle

ZIMBABWE has applied to re-join the Commonwealth after a 15-year absence from the grouping having pulled out in 2003 after former president Robert Mugabe protesting an indefinite suspension.

The development was confirmed by the Commonwealth officials on Monday.

In a statement, Commonwealth secretary-general Patricia Scotland said she had received President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s letter dated 15th May to re-join the grouping which it had been a member for 23 years, before pulling out.

“I whole-heartedly echo the sentiments of Heads of Government who have said twice, in 2009 and subsequently in 2011, that they very much look forward to Zimbabwe’s return when the conditions are right,” she said.

“Zimbabwe’s eventual return to the Commonwealth, following a successful membership application, would be a momentous occasion, given our shared rich history.”

Harare has also started the process of re-joining the group by inviting the Commonwealth to observe general elections due midyear.

The former Mugabe regime had barred the Commonwealth from local elections in retaliation for the indefinite suspension

“I urge the government, opposition parties, the election management body, civil society, and all stakeholders, to play their part in ensuring a credible, peaceful and inclusive process that restores citizens’ confidence, trust and hope in the development and democratic trajectory of their country,” added secretary-general Scotland.

To re-join, Zimbabwe must demonstrate that it complies with the fundamental values set out in the Commonwealth Charter, including democracy and rule of law plus protection of human rights such as freedom of expression.

The membership process requires an informal assessment to be undertaken by representatives of the Secretary-General, followed by consultations with other Commonwealth countries.

Zimbabwe was first suspended in 2002 following disputed presidential elections which were marred by high levels of politically-motivated violence and alleged vote rigging.

Then president Mugabe pulled out of the grouping when leaders at the Abuja Commonwealth summit agreed to suspend Harare until it complied with demands to restore democracy and the rule of law.

By Paul Nyathi|The government has suspended the licencing of mbanje farming after it received an overwhelming response to calls for licencing of prospective farmers.

Deputy Finance Minister Terence Mukupe revealed on Monday that the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, the regulating body, received over three hundred applicants for the licencing when its target is less than ten farmers.

Due to the overwhelming response government had decided to temporarily suspend the licencing to give time to streamlining of the licencing process.

“The response was unexpectedly too high which has invoked government to back track in the process and sit down to come up with regulations on how the licences will be awarded and the farming regulated,” said Mukupe.

“The applications were very varied with some applying to farm ten thousand hectares while others were asking for just two hectares which then calls for stringent regulations on the licencing and regulating of the farming,” he said.

Government recently legalised the farming of the drug for purposes of the production of medicines and not direct consumption.

Statutes were immediately released and set the licencing fees at $50 000 which government thought was going to be deterrent.

The Ministry Of Finance expects to rake in billions of foreign currency in the exports of the drug once the farming begins.

Commenting on the matter, former opposition MDC-T Member of Parliament Thandeko Zinti Mkandla condemned government for rushing the process without sitting to complete all the regulations around the legalisation of the farming.

“Government should have taken its time to first consider all the regulations around the farming before calling for applications,” he said.

Mkandla however went further to castigate the government for failing to run the country to the extent of finding desperate measures to raise foreign currency to run the country.

“The country has a lot of minerals that can be mined in order to raise foreign currency than stoop so low as to put the country’s hopes on mbanje farming,” he said.

By Paul Nyathi|Zimbabwean police have engaged International Police network to help track down and arrest self exiled former Higher Education Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo.

Moyo’s international warrant of arrest was confirmed at the High Court sitting on Monday at the appearance of his co-accused Fredick Mandizvidza.

Prosecutor Clemence Chimbari told the court that Mandizvidza had been removed from being an accused to being a witness against Moyo in the case.

Mandizvidza who is the Chief Executive Officer of Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund, ZIMDEF, was found not guilty by the courts and turned witness in the case where Professor Moyo is being accused of looting up to $40 000 of the ZIMDEF funds.

Mandizvidza’s lawyer Wilson Manase submitted to the court that his client was only acting under instructions from his boss, Professor Moyo, when he authorised the funding of motor bikes for traditional leaders in Tsholotsho where Moyo was the Member of Parliament.

In his defence before fleeing the country, Moyo equated himself to a Robin Hood who took funds from the rich to give to the poor.

Moyo is believed to be exiling himself in South Africa.

By Paul Nyathi|Heavy intra party fighting caused the abandonment of MDC-T local government primary elections in Ward 28 of Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park high density suburb on Sunday.

Reports made available to ZimEye.com indicate that incumbent councillor for the ward Collet Ndlovu and some members of his family were on Monday picked up and detained by police details from the Law and Order section at Bulawayo Central Police station on public violence charges following the skirmishes.

Ndlovu and his sons are accused of damaging a vehicle belonging to rival candidate Happison Ncube and injuring several other people suspected to be rival supporters.

Ncube told journalists in a press interview on Monday that his vehicle was badly damaged by Ndlovu and his supporters in the course of the primary election voting when they realised that the incumbent councillor was on the verge of losing the election.

“They attacked my car with stones and bottles and a host of other missiles forcing the presiding officers to call off the elections for security reasons,” said Ncube.

Ncube condemned the violence refusing to comment further on the incident indicating that the party does not allow candidates to comment in the media on the ejections referring journalists to the party spokesperson Thabitha Khumalo who could not immediately be contacted.

65 year old Eunice Mpofu a member of the party who witnessed the incident told ZimEye.com that she has never experienced the kind of violence she saw on Sunday and called on party officials to bring order into the party.

“They wanted to set the vehicle on fire shouting that Happy Ncube must be killed and burnt inside the car,” she said.

“The driver acted very quickly and drove away before a group of young people with petrol bombs could set the vehicle on fire and killed five innocent people,” she said.

Talking to journalists on the incident the Bulawayo provincial Chairperson of the party Gift Banda said that the provincial executive is also not allowed to comment on matters to do with the primary elections referring the journalists to party chairman Morgan Komichi who could not immediately be contacted by ZimEye.com on the violence skirmishes.

The MDC party led by Nelson Chamisa squares up with Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF, the state media has laid claim.

The state broadsheet, The Herald presented that the MDC has demanded for BVR slips, ZANU PF style.

The party chairman, Mr Morgen Komichi however defended the requirement saying it was meant to ensure that only registered voters participate in the primaries. MDC-T has raised concern against people being asked to produce voter registration slips saying it was a way of intimidating voters. Komichi said they are not recording serial numbers. Komichi said, ”

“This is meant to ensure that only people who are going to vote in the harmonised elections participate in the primaries. You cannot open it to everyone and include people that are not registered because it will distort the whole process. This is different from what happened in the past because no serial numbers are being recorded.”

On Wednesday the 23rd of May 2018, parliament is to receive oral evidence from His Excellency the former President of the Republic of Zimbabwe R. G. Mugabe.

The decision to summon the former Head of State and Government follows a claim he made in February 2016 that the country could have been prejudiced of over $15 billion in unrealised diamond revenue from Chiadzwa.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy chaired by Norton MP Mr Temba Mliswa (Independent) set tomorrow to hear evidence from Mr Mugabe who resigned in November pending impeachment proceedings against him.

Mr Mliswa confirmed the development yesterday.

“A letter was written and delivered to him last week. We now expect him to come. While his office has not yet confirmed, that is not a legal requirement but is usually done out of courtesy.

“The most important thing is that we have discharged our obligation, we have summoned him,” said Mr Mliswa.

He said the inquiry was not a witch-hunt, but was aimed at getting the truth on the utilisation of national resources.

“The committee was of the view that we might even hold the meeting at his residence considering his age. It was just an alternative view that we were suggesting,” he said.

A source at Parliament however, shot down the proposal to hold the meeting at Mr Mugabe’s Blue Roof residence in Harare.

“The letter inviting him was delivered on Thursday last week. That suggestion to hold the meeting at his residence is not supported by any law or Standing Order. That would be unprecedented and not permissible. It would set a bad precedent hence we will not allow that,” said a Parliament staffer.

“The fact that Mr Mugabe has not confirmed his attendance is not of any consequence to us. It is not a legal requirement but done out of courtesy. He might even pitch up without confirming and that has happened several witnesses in respect of other committees. We will however, further make inquiries tomorrow (Thursday,) but we can confirm that we delivered the invitation last Thursday,” said the source.

Parliament has since indicated on its committee schedule the pending appearance of Mr Mugabe.

“Subject to confirmation, oral evidence from His Excellency, the former president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, comrade R. G. Mugabe, on diamond mining revenues,” read the notice posted yesterday.

The committee has since held meetings with several other stakeholders regarding diamond extraction at Chiadzwa before Government consolidated the mining firms into one firm.

Some of the entities that have since given evidence include the former Minister of Mines, Walter Chidhakwa, former permanent secretaries of the ministry, Professor Francis Gudyanga and Prince Mupazhiriho, former Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatious Chombo.

Other entities include Zimbabwe Republic Police, Central Intelligence Organisation, Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, Minerals Marketing and Corporation of Zimbabwe, among others. – state media

Two young women killed in a Harare car accident on Saturday have been named as Grace Rukute and Deborrah Nyamasoka Gute. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY….

State media- Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa was yesterday elected the World health Organisation (WHO) 71st Assembly president, a position he will hold until next year.

Dr Parirenyatwa takes over from Professor Veronica Skvortsova, Minister of Healthcare of the Russian Federation who presided over the assembly last year.

The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO.

“It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board.

“The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the organisation, appoint the director-general, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget,” says WHO.

The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland and the 71st session ends on May 26.

By Paul Nyathi|Steadfast MDC-T parliamentarian for Harare West Jessie Majome may just be winning her protracted battle to retain an uncontested opportunity to be the party’s candidate in the upcoming elections.

Reliable sources within the party have revealed to ZimEye.com that the party has withdrawn primary elections against all sitting parliamentarians in line with Majome’s complaints raised to the party leadership.

Majome withdrew from taking part in the party primary elections claiming that the party had made all sitting MPs to pay a $1000 deposit in order not to be contested to represent the party.

She further complained that the party primary elections process was flawed and subjected to manipulation. She complained bitterly about the lack of a voters roll and control in issuing party cards that made people eligible to vote in the primaries.

After withdrawing from the primary elections, the outspoken legislator declared that she was going to contest the elections as an independent candidate on the insistence of people from the constituency.

The MDC-T held primary elections over the weekend but non of the constituencies with sitting parliamentarians held elections.

The sources who spoke to ZimEye.com indicated that all the sitting parliamentarians joined the calls made by Majome and made similar threats to withdraw from the primary elections.

The party is reported to be holding discussions on how to proceed with the matter.
ZimEye.com could not immediately get a comment from party chairman Morgan Komichi who is in charge of the candidates identification process.

By Own Correspondent| MDC Alliance President this weekend dates Beitbridge as he resumes his election campaign rallies where he is mobilising for the rural vote ahead of the watershed polls set to be held this year.

Chamisa is set to address supporters at Dulibadzimu stadium in Beitbridge on Saturday 26 May 2018.

“Moving forward with the new Zimbabwe vision, meet you there,” said Chamisa in a post on facebook.

The development comes as the Alliance President last weekend cancelled all the campaign rallies including the one slated for Mberengwa.

The cancellation of the rallies were attributed to MDC T primary elections held over the weekend.

 

By Own Correspondent| Spokesperson for the splinter MDC T formation led by Dr Thokozani Khupe, Linda Masarira has revealed her intentions to contest the Harare Central seat under her new political home, ZimEye has learnt.

Masarira, who before joining the Khupe faction was set to contest as an independent candidate dumped her “Purple Campaign” as soon as she joined Dr Khupe’s faction two months ago.

Below are some if the reactions to Masarira’s new political move.

By Own Correspondent| Charge Office vendors who were last week chased away from their vending site for posing a “security threat” have relocated into Robson Manyika street leaving a single lane for motorists including commutter omnibuses which rank at Charge Office bus terminus.

The vendors, who were unceremoniously removed from their vending site without notice are selling their wares in the road, posing a hazard not only to themselves but to their customers.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police closed down the Charge Office Flea Market arguing that they posed a security threat according to the National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba.

Below are pictures of the vendors along Robson Manyika.

By Paul Nyathi|MDC-T Chikanga – Dangamvura primary elections winner Prosper Mutseyami has dismissed Women’s Wing Leader Lynette Karenyi’s claims that the election was not free and fair.

Mutseyami who dumped his current constituency Musikavanhu to contest the Mutare urban based constituency against Karenyi told online publisher Open Parly journalists in an interview on Monday at Parliament that he won the election and will not listen to any submissions on his victory.

“I won fairly and there will not be any rerun in the constituency,” he said.

Mutseyami also introduced himself in the committee saying “My name is Prosper Chapfiwa Mutseyami and I am the confirmed MDC-T candidate for Chikanga-Dangamvura Constituency”.

Karenyi has since dismissed the election and warned that he will contest the constituency as an independent.

The African Union and SADC have fully endorsed President Emmerson Mnangagwa;s presidency.

This was said by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Retired Lieutenant General Dr Sibusiso Moyo.

Gen Moyo said this year’s Africa Day celebration is unique in that it takes place when the people of Zimbabwe, in peace, unity and harmony, resolved to rewrite the history of their country by ushering in the new dispensation.

Dr Moyo was interviewed by the state broadcaster, ZBC ahead of Friday’s 55th anniversary of the creation of the Organisation of African Unity now the African Union.

He thanked the SADC and the African Union for their understanding of the events in Zimbabwe and their unwavering support.

He said the visit to Harare by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr Mussa Faki Mohamati in February this year and the SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomerna Lawrence Tax in March to pay tribute to the people of Zimbabwe, clearly demonstrates the African solidarity that was envisioned by the founding fathers way back in 1963 when they formed the OAU.

Dr Moyo said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in conjunction with the African Group of Diplomatic Ambassadors will on the eve of Africa Day host a dinner for key stakeholders and other pan Africanists to commemorate Africa Day under the 2018 AU theme: ‘Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation’, a mantra that is in tandem with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new dispensation.

He said the celebration of Africa Day is a time to reflect on Africa’s successes and failures and challenges’, saying since May 1963 the AU has traversed on arduous journey which has led to the adoption of Agenda 2063 and its first 10-year implementation plan.

He welcomed the signing of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance which is testimony to the new dispensation’s commitment to democracy.

Zimbabwe’s signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area; the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons and Single Africa Air Transport Market is also a sign of Zimbabwe’s commitment to the free movement of people, an integral part of Agenda 2063.

Minister Moyo also declared Zimbabwe’s unequivocal support for peace and unity in the continent and the need to silence the guns and resolution of conflicts, including the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic issue.

By Paul Nyathi|MDC-T National Women’s wing chairperson Lynette Karenyi has declared her intentions to contest Chikanga – Dangamvura elections as an independent candidate after losing what she called a flawed primary election over the weekend.

The highly vocal and controversial former Chimanimani West legislature in the seventh parliament declared her intentions to go solo in a Facebook post on Monday.

According to Karenyi the primary election results do not reflect the wishes of the people of Chikanga and Dangamvura in Mutare urban. as only two wards out of ten in the constituency cast their votes.

Karenyi who through her years in the MDC-T has been a tough fighter against former President Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF also accused the opposition party of having an irregular electoral process.

Karenyi is popular for her detention in 2011 when she was arrested for saying that former President had same sex with two ZANU PF members.

She claimed that the party never had a proper voters roll and people were being picked in the streets, issued with party cards and brought in to vote.

Karenyi becomes the second MDC-T top female leader to stand against the party primary election system and declared intention to contest the upcoming elections as an independent.

Harare West legislator Jessie Majome was first to take the move last month when she declared that she was not contesting the party primary elections before declaring her intention to contest the seat as an independent.

Reports from within the party indicate that a few more MDC-T heavyweights could be making similar announcements soon.

Karenyi’s official statement rejecting the primary election read as follows:

Rejection of Chikanga-Dangamvura Primary Election conducted on 20th may 2018

I wish to announce that i will not be accepting any of the results or any means of trying to push me out of Chikanga-Dangamvura in an unfair way. The will of the people of Chikanga must prevail. Not the will of fraudlent people bent on party destruction.

In the meantime I have raised my concerns with leadership and hope we will find a workable solution

As a strong women, i normally take what life throws at me in stride, while protecting my values. It is my hope that those who support me and the community of Chikanga/Dangamvura will prove me right

While I am not short on reasons to distrust the electoral team that presided over the primaries. At this point I would urge all those supporting me to remain silent until we hear from the leadership, To those on the ground, ground work must be continued

I wish to convince all of you that I will not be doing anyone a favor by protecting those trying to subvert the will of the people.

By Own Correspondent| Zanu Pf is ready to accept election results including handing over power to the winner in the event that the party loses the forthcoming elections, Vice President, Kembo Mohadi said.

VP Mohadi, who for the past two months has been conspicuously absent from national functions due to ill health said his party cannot force itself into power since the people had the power to chose their favourite party to lead them.

“Zanu Pf is not the one that has the power, the power lies with people.

If the people vote us out they would have rejected us. If you lose an election you’d have lost and if you win you would have won. It’s simple as that,” he said.

VP  Mohadi said this in an interview with a local publication where he dismissed allegations that the country was being run by the military or “junta.

VP Mohadi said Zanu-PF draws its mandate from the people through the ballot box and would accept any outcome of the polls.

“Zanu-PF is not run by the military and we are not in the barracks.

Of course, President Mnangagwa is a trained soldier, I am a trained soldier and VP (Constantino) Chiwenga is also a trained soldier because that was our generation. We all went to war because it was a requirement then to go and fight, but you can’t then say we are a military government because we have all since retired from the military,” he said.

Source: The Herald

By Own Correspondent| Former President Robert Mugabe will on Wednesday appear before the Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee to give oral evidence regarding the missing US$15 billion diamond revenue.

Parliament (Monday) issued a notice of Mugabe’s appearance before the committee chaired by Temba Mliswa, indicating that the former president had however not confirmed his presence.

“On the 23rd of May 2018, the Mines and Energy Committee is also expected, subject to confirmation, to receive oral evidence from His Excellency the  former President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde. R. G. Mugabe,” read the notice from parliament.

However, a local publication, The Newsday hinted that the hearing could be held at the former president’s residence in Borrowdale, the Blue Roof as a way of giving the former head of state respect due to his advanced age.

Chairperson of the committee, Temba Mliswa said his committee was comfortable with meeting Mugabe at his residence.

“The committee has already resolved that Kennedy Chokuda (Clerk of Parliament) must look at the issue of writing to Mugabe to appear before the committee, and there is pressure that there is need for transparency over the issue of the missing $15 billion revenue.

“Parliament is prepared to give the former Head of State respect and to meet him at his Blue Roof mansion because he is old,” he said.

Mliswa said the meeting was not meant to grill or humiliate Mugabe, but a fact-finding mission to break the puzzle over the missing diamond revenue, which the former leader alluded to at a public meeting in 2016.

By Own Correspondent| The figures of voters who cast their ballot in MDC T primaries versus the same who cast their vote in Zanu Pf primaries has torched a storm with commentators saying this is reflective and confirms that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will romp to victory in the forthcoming polls.

However, others argue that this is not true considering that most people who participated in Zanu Pf primaries did so out of fear.

NO SHOCKS COME JULY:

*Bindura South*

*MDC T MP Primary
Nyaude Bednock…280
Mandizha Thomas…177
Mushonga Dexter…85
*Total votes = 542*

*Zanu pf MP Primary
Matangira Remigios…4000
Dengu Leornard…2800
Annah Wayerera…1020
*Total votes = 7820 pic.twitter.com/LWAwW9MjRC

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) May 20, 2018

https://twitter.com/muwanikrissy/status/998281602764550144?s=19

 

https://twitter.com/SAYIT86069920/status/998450873943674880?s=19

 

Difference is everybody, even MDC supporters, have Zanu cards (becoz nobody wants to be founded without one) and hence are Zanu members & can vote in Zanu primaries (most out of fear). But MDC has few members but more supporters than Zanu as you will see soon.

— Rabi Courage Mutero (@rabimutero) May 20, 2018

 

Perhaps you didn't know, I'll educate you now. Even here in Harare we hardly participate in Primary elections for security reasons. It's not easy for one to reveal their identity to zanu pf youths. Mentality yekuti muri mhondi lives wth us. Tonana ku election

— tinashe (@Tinashei1) May 20, 2018

I was in my rural home. Most mdc supporters went and vote in Zanupf elections and chose the weakest candidate. Ita steady hako

— ben (@nyeks123) May 20, 2018

 

Not so fast nick.I was "invited" to vote in your primaries in Harare East and I am not even a card carrying member.saw dozens more being handed $10 incentives to participate.#withmyowneyes

— Vee? (@mr_kay78) May 20, 2018

 

I guess you dont understand the difference between a mass party and a cadre party. Having more members will not win you an election against a party with less members but more supporters and sympathisers. Supporters and sympathisers in Zimbabwe are by far the largest group.

— Nyathi Bongani (@BONGANINYATHIM) May 20, 2018

By Paul Nyathi|The state run Herald Newspaper on Monday ran a long editorial taking swipe at MDC Secretary for legal affairs Senator David Coltart.

The daily took an uncalled for swipe at Coltart apparently because the MDC Alliance candidate for Bulawayo East had demanded the paper to withdraw a false story on Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.

The editorial has received widespread condemnation from political commentators and analysts for its overly very personal attacks on the person of Coltart who is apparently one of the few highly respected politicians in the country.

Coltart retains a record of being the best Minister of Education in the country since independence.

The full editorial comment from The Herald reads as follows:

Indeed election times are upon us and these are interesting times when national discourse is centred on which political party has the vision, the stamina and indeed the depth of character to take our great country forward. In this rough political discourse, those who speak without applying their mind, more often than not, find themselves trying to apply the thought process way after it is too late.

One such character is former Rhodesian cop and MDC politician David Coltart. Coltart is a beneficiary of the colonial Rhodesian government that did everything in its powers, including spilling blood, to suppress the rights of the black majority.

The same Coltart was a beneficiary of the Zanu-PF goodwill policy of national reconciliation enunciated by former president Robert Mugabe at Independence in 1980.

The same Coltart is a beneficiary of the Constitution of Zimbabwe that gives him rights equal to all other Zimbabweans including those he spiritedly sought and still seeks to deprive their rights. Surprisingly, that does not seem to cross his mind or provoke his conscience.

He has never masked his distaste for majority rule in Zimbabwe, which he describes in his book as a continuation of Rhodesian tyranny.

Two weeks ago, before he left for London on his party’s trip of shame, he insulted Zimbabweans, stating brazenly, “For all Zanu-PF’s rhetoric about Zimbabwe being open for business, the one thing they have never learnt in 38 years of misrule is that the single most important factor in any investor’s decision to invest in a country is security of the investment.”

In other words, Independence has been bad for people like Coltart, and he is happy to campaign against investment in the country so long as the MDC continues to be rejected by the people of Zimbabwe.

Then in the past week or so, Coltart has sought to turn his frustration on The Herald, citing the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Section 61 (4) to be precise, by accusing the newspaper of bias. He deliberately ignores the fact that the same section of our supreme law gives public media the right to publish without interference from those suffering from a sense of racial superiority.

It is fact not fiction that Coltart has found the going hard in the MDC-T Alliance top echelons after he made an analysis of Nelson Chamisa’s performance during an interview on BBC HARDtalk, which did not go down well with Chamisa.

The poor fellow said what his master did not want to hear. Coltart, typical of those used to benefiting from all systems, he now wants to use The Herald as a smokescreen behind which to hide his real opinion on Chamisa’s performance.

His is nothing, but a blatant attempt to abuse the Constitution of the country by picking part of a section and leaving out the other parts. And, now he blames The Herald.

The Constitution is for us all. Yes, Coltart benefited from Rhodesia, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia and indeed Zimbabwe and now he thinks he can be taken as a neutral between Zanu-PF and the MDC-T Alliance. No!

It is just the Zanu-PF Government is too humane, too tolerant and too considerate. And people like Coltart know they can take advantage of that to traffic their quisling politics in the name of democracy.

It’s obviously something he wouldn’t do in Europe and America where nationalist politics is in ascendancy.
Freedom of expression, freedom of the media and all freedoms cannot continue to be reserved for a single person or political formation. Freedom should not be freedom only when it benefits David Coltart.

NO! Hiding behind The Herald is not a good idea. If Coltart is principled and said what he felt was the truth about Chamisa’s performance in London, he should stand by his opinion. That is what “democracy” is about or he should carry his own cross.

By Paul Nyathi|MDC-T President Nelson Chamisa who is also the MDC Alliance coalition Presidential candidate in the upcoming elections takes his country wide campaigns to Matabeleland South this week.

Chamisa who over the weekend called off rallies scheduled for Mberengwa and Zvishavane to give way to the MDC-T primary elections will be in the Matabeleland South capital, Gwanda, on Africa Day.

Most opposition political parties dread holding rallies in Gwanda town which does not normally provide the huge numbers.

Only former President Robert Mugabe normally filled up the stadium due to the financial backing on state resources that were used to bus people from around the Matabeleland South districts.

Before the rally in Gwanda, Chamisa will hold another rally in Maphisa growth point a few kilometres away from the notorious Bhalagwe Gukurahundi Concentration Camp where thousands of victims are buried in the disused mine.

No political party has ever held a major rally in the area since the Joshua Nkomo PF ZAPU era.

“It is because of the influence that has been perpetuated by some of our leaders who say they are leaders yet they are not leading us.

“The Nelson Chamisa cabal, so to speak, stopped most our members from coming to this launch by perpetrating political violence in different constituencies and areas in order to send a wrong signal that we don’t have people yet we have people. He is simply taking away power from the people and I want to announce this officially the launch of our BEST manifesto has been postponed indefinitely so that we are able to deal with housekeeping issues in our party.”

 

…

 

 

State Media – Vice President Kembo Mohadi has dismissed claims by some opposition parties that the Zanu-PF Government is under the control of the military and will use the army to resist handing over power in the event that the party loses the forthcoming harmonised elections.

In an interview with The Chronicle yesterday, VP Mohadi said Zanu-PF draws its mandate from the people through the ballot box and would accept any outcome of the polls.
“Zanu-PF is not run by the military and we are not in the barracks. Of course, President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a trained soldier, I am a trained soldier and VP (Constantino) Chiwenga is also a trained soldier because that was our generation. We all went to war because it was a requirement then to go and fight but you can’t then say we are a military Government because we have all since retired from the military,” he said.

“Zanu-PF is not the one that has the power but the power lies with the people of Zimbabwe and if the people vote us out they would have rejected us. If you lose an election you would have lost and if you win you would have won. It’s simple as that”.

VP Mohadi said Operation Restore Legacy, which culminated in the new dispensation, had the blessings of Zimbabweans who took to the streets calling for the former President Robert Mugabe to relinquish power.

“Zimbabwe has never experienced any coup. You call us a junta government and I don’t know what you mean because if you are talking of Operation Restore Legacy, it was not the army that took over, there was an uprising by the people and everyone was saying Mugabe must go, Parliament equally said Mugabe must go and those are the people that removed him from power,” he said.

The VP said the army did not force Mr Mugabe to resign.
“It was not the army. If it were the army they would have arrested him (Mr Mugabe). He is at his house with his family and everything is going on well.
“He was never molested and I don’t know where you are getting these ideas that we are a junta government,” he said.

Mr Mugabe convened a Press conference in March to a selected group of local and foreign media organisations and claimed that he was “unconstitutionally” deposed through a coup despite resigning ahead of imminent impeachment on November 21 last year.

He further claimed he was ready to talk to President Mnangagwa to right what he claimed was an “illegality.”

Mr Mugabe resigned after the military intervened to arrest a fast deteriorating socio-economic and political environment in the country, which naturally triggered the elevation of Mnangagwa, who by then had been elected as Zanu-PF’s First Secretary by the ruling party’s Central Committee, to the highest office in the land.

VP Mohadi said the nation is now focusing on preparing for free, fair and credible elections.
He also dismissed claims by the opposition MDC-T and its partners in the Alliance that Zanu-PF has planned to rig the outcome of the watershed plebiscite.

“I don’t know what rigging is all about just as good as I don’t how losing an election is all about. If the opposition is talking about Zanu-PF losing or rigging I don’t know how they arrived at that conclusion. How do we rig an election which is run by an independent body?” he asked.

“Zec (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) is independent and there is no Zanu-PF member there who will be rigging elections in its favour.”

VP Mohadi said Zanu-PF and the opposition under the Constitution Parliamentary Committee (Copac), which was mandated with drawing up a new constitution for Zimbabwe by the Government of National Unity between 2009 and 2013, agreed to come up with an independent electoral body.

“If the opposition has issues pertaining to elections, Zec is there to verify what they don’t understand. We don’t run elections as Zanu-PF. How do we rig something that we don’t run? We are equal participants like them,” said the VP.

Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said this year’s elections cannot be rigged as the country’s voting system is foolproof.

She said the fact that the system is tamper-proof should ensure a free, fair and credible election that could not be rigged.

Zec has acquired a 100 percent secure Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system.
BVR is a new voter registration system which captures an individual’s biometric features and ensures nobody can vote twice.

Justice Chigumba said members of the public with evidence that the voting system could be interferred with should bring it forward.

MDC-T leader Adv Nelson Chamisa recently told a rally in Nyanga that if the MDC Alliance did not win the coming elections that would be proof the ruling party had rigged them. He, however, failed to substantiate his claims.

President Mnangagwa has repeatedly assured the world that the harmonised elections, expected to be held in July this year, would be free, fair and credible.

The Government has invited observers from all over the world to see for themselves, with President Mnangagwa declaring repeatedly that “Zimbabwe has nothing to hide”.

Western countries like the United Kingdom and United States that were barred by the previous administration have also been invited this year, including Commonwealth representatives.
Opposition activists and Government critics, most notably fugitive former Cabinet Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, have resorted to referring to the ruling party as Junta PF on social media.

The move is apparently meant to lay a foundation for a protest based on army interference if Zanu Pf wins the elections. – state media

A 17-year old girl smashed a beer bottle across the face of a Chief in Binga after he reprimanded her for being skimpily dressed. Chief Siabuwa (52) said he sustained a cut under his right eye from the assault.

He was stitched at Siabuwa Clinic before being referred to Binga District Hospital for further treatment. Ms Tlou Dube, who recently relocated to Zewula village, under chief Siabuwa, from Bulawayo, was walking with a friend only identified as Mbimbi when she committed the cultural taboo.

The incident occurred last Wednesday at Siabuwa Business Centre and was reported to the police.
Chief Siabuwa said he was at the business centre when he saw the two teenagers who were dressed in “very short dresses” and approached them to counsel them on proper dressing to preserve their values and morals.

“As I spoke to them, Dube walked away, telling her friend to walk on and not listen to nonsense. I told her to go if she felt I spoke nonsense and leave the other girl to listen to what I had to say. I re-introduced myself and even produced my identification card thinking maybe she was not aware of who I was.

“She continued to yell at Mbimbi and returned to where we stood, picked up an empty bottle of beer from the ground and hit me right in the face. Well, I hope the teenagers will get real counselling to restore their values and morals which they seem not to have at all,” he said.
Chief Siabuwa said he had found the teenagers’ behaviour grossly disrespectful and irritating and had tried to talk sense to them.

“The teenagers were walking in a public place, indecently dressed and so I tried to warn them for their own protection because that could result in them being abused by men. In our society and culture, females don’t dress in the manner they did,” said the area chief.
Chief Senator Siansali said Ms Tlou recently relocated from Bulawayo to live with her grandmother in Zewula village.

He said the girl was probably not aware of the difference in culture and morals between Bulawayo and Binga.

“She also may have not been aware of the importance of the chief’s status as a community leader. Their dressing didn’t suit our Binga community and the chief tried to warn them to protect them as that is one of a traditional leader’s roles in the community.

“The teenagers’ behaviour was unfortunate. It’s unheard of in our culture.

“It may have been a result of influence from morally decadent cultures from other countries. As a nation, we need to reform ourselves to avoid becoming what we are not,” said Chief Siansali. -state media

UPDATE – Following complaints on the article published in the morning, the state owned Herald newspaper, has alleged that the military commander, Valerio Sibanda attended ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s political rally on Saturday. The Herald furthered this in bold imprint as is seen below.

This article is an update of the earlier piece in which Gen Sibanda was reported by the state media to have attended the ZANU PF rally in Mutare. PICTURES: