By Discent Bajila|One of the major and legitimate criticisms of the idea of generational consensus has been that it is devoid of social class and ideological thinking. Critics have found cause to believe and argue that beyond the desire to have Nelson Chamisa as President of Zimbabwe, Generational Consensus is just cold and hollow.

This article seeks to bring forth the ideological standpoint of generational consensus and further locate the candidature of Nelson Chamisa as a coincidence of several historical moments . One of these moments being the push towards national development consensus in our lifetime.

Every Zimbabwean, young or old, male or female, war veteran or not, home-based or in the diaspora aspires to see a Zimbabwe where through use of indigenous natural resources we can produce enough goods and services not only for our own consumption but for export to other countries that are not in a position to produce what we can produce. It is also the wish of every Zimbabwean of sound mind that we can be able to manufacture and trade in goods whose raw materials are not locally extracted. This we can achieve by importing raw materials and establishing assembly plants in our cities, towns and growth points. A deepened focus on these things will have the overall effect of creating millions of jobs, increasing our living standards and minimising emigration among other things.

In order to achieve optimum levels of production through our natural and imported resources the basics must be covered. These include continuous supply of water and electricity, a sound healthcare system, good road, rail and air transport infrastructure , reliable internet connection and an education system that responds to the needs of modern trends of National development.

This kind of development for Zimbabwe requires a leadership capable of seeing deep into the future. A kind of leadership that understands that it must be possible to transport bulk fresh fruits between Juliusdale and Plumtree within a short space of time. Thus the idea of fast moving trains must be welcomed by everyone. It can then be debated whether those trains must be called bullet, super, mega, swift or whatever name that should distinguish them from the ordinary.

Zimbabwe development deserves a kind of leadership that can dream that one day it shall be possible for people to work in the industries of Bulawayo driving their own vehicles daily from their homes in Robert Sinyoka, Nyamandlovu, Ntabazinduna, Esigodini, Kezi and so forth. This must be possible because real development must not interfere much with the family unit! However when that happens our current road infrastructure will not be able to handle the traffic congestion, hence it will become an absolute necessity to have roads suspended over other infrastructure including over other roads. Spaghetti roads are thus a very good vision every Zimbabwean must look forward to. We can then entertain debate on whether these spaghetti roads must be part of our short, medium or long term planning.

These are but some of the ideas are unanimously supported by all sound minded Zimbabweans regardless of their station.

Differences arise on how each one of us wish to move from where we currently are to the end point of prosperity. These are very healthy differences.

The idea of generational consensus is that Zimbabweans living at this day and age experiencing the kind of things that we experience now must have a convergence of thoughts in terms of how we extricate ourselves from our current poverty, social disharmony, and political skulduggery to a classic developmental state.

The proponents of Generational Consensus opine that in order for Zimbabwe to prosper, the means of production must be indigenously owned and used for the ultimate good of society. The government, traditional authorities, municipalities and indigenous individuals must own the land and the mines regardless of their race , gender , tribe or age. However land on its own is of no use. It tastes bad for consumption. It can only be of value if those who work on it are equipped with skills and capital. The current land crisis is characterized by the fact that the majority of those who own the land have neither capital not skill. They only have a desire to work on the land. Those who are getting skilled year in year out have neither the land nor capital. Those who have capital are hesitant to invest in land use activities fearing that at any given point in time someone can toyi toyi into that investment backed by one excuse or another.

Those who own the skills necessary to produce out of the means of production need to have security that as they sell their skills to owners of capital, they can be able to determine the financial worth of their skill without the threat of loss of employment.

Generational Consensus is thus a Social Democratic idea aiming at creating certainty around which owners of land, capital and skills can collaborate and produce surplus food for our generation.

Thus a government based on generational consensus will have clear policies on State Land, Private Land, Communal Land and Municipal Land.

Another key issue that our generation must have consensus on is building a culture of saving. Zimbabweans must be reintroduced to saving because saving is one of the major sources of capital. At individual level, this means that the people’s confidence in the banking system. The people of Zimbabwe who have lost confidence in the banking system because there is never certainty that they will get their money as and when they need it are the entity the is focal point of #GenerationalConsensus. Once the people in our generation has confidence in the banking system ,it will become possible for them to save money and build capital thereby reducing dependence on the state. Another avenue by which a government developed through Generational Consensus can save public money is through maintaining a lean Cabinet. The cost of maintaining ministers with their multiple perks and assistants has a huge bearing on the fiscus. A cabinet of between fifteen and twenty Ministers could save Zimbabwe millions of Dollars every month. The option of ensuring that Ministers and indeed the President are energetic people who still have the ability to juggle between family and various public responsibilities without the need to keep the ambulance on speed dial. While it is not the idea of Generational Consensus that young people should exist as a social class and attempt to overthrow the state for their own interests, #GenerationalConcensus is unapologetic about the need to have young people as a numerical majority in the management of public affairs. Generational Consensus is largely about an acceptance by all that society constantly needs to be refueled with new ideas and that with age, mental creativity dwindles.

The fact that the first people to support the Presidential Candidature of Nelson Chamisa is sufficient evidence that it is not about hatred of senior citizens but rather a realisation that senior citizens have ran their race and it could be a befitting honour to have them retire and allow new ideas to refuel our society. The late Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, deep in his 60s understood things this way. The likes of Professor Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti, Ambassador Agrippa Mutambara and many other MDC alliance leaders are not young people but they understand things this way.

Zimbabwe deserves more. Zimbabwe deserves better. Zimbabwe deserves you.

Mayibuye

By Paul Nyathi|An informal miner is battling for his life after an eight-man gang ripped open his stomach and stabbed his workmate in the head before stealing four 50kg bags of gold ore from them.

Benjamin Banda (34) of Zvishavane area is admitted to the United Bulawayo Hospitals Intensive Care Unit while his workmate, Mukudzeni Muzari (19) of Garikai Suburb in Gwanda was treated and discharged at the Gwanda Provincial Hospital.

Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Loveness Mangena, confirmed the incident which occurred on Wednesday at around 6PM at Vumbachikwe Mine’s Central Shaft.

She said the suspects were still at large.

“I can confirm that two mine workers were attacked by eight unknown men on Wednesday at around 6PM and they stole four by 50kg bags of gold ore. They stabbed Mukudzeni Muzari twice in the head with a knife and also struck him with a brick on his right hand.

“Benjamin Banda was stabbed with a knife in the stomach leaving his intestines hanging. Muzari was treated and discharged at Gwanda Provincial Hospital while Banda is admitted to the United Bulawayo Hospitals intensive care unit,” she said.

Asst Insp Mangena appealed to members of the public with information on the identity or whereabouts of the suspects to report to any police station near them.

A mine worker who preferred anonymity said Banda and Muzari were coming out of Central Shaft with bags of gold ore when eight unknown men confronted them.

He said they demanded to see what the two men were carrying in the bags.

“When Banda and Muzari refused to surrender the gold ore the men attacked them. They slit Banda’s stomach open with a knife and stabbed Muzari in the head and fled from the scene.

“Muzari left to find help from his workmates who reported the matter to the police,” Asst Insp Mangena said.

Source The Chronicle.

Prince Ncube (49), who has since been established to have been a soldier based at Lookout Masuku Barracks, was seriously injured after falling while celebrating a goal by Highlanders who won the match 3-1.

Ncube fell from the highest point of the rail poles that divide the sitting bays in the stadium.

Ncube was popular in the terraces for his stunts of sliding from the top of the rail poles to the ground in celebration of goals by his favourite football club, Highlanders.

Bulawayo Metropolitan Province acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube said Ncube died at around midnight yesterday.

“I can confirm receiving a report of the death of Prince Ncube, a male aged 49 who was last Sunday injured after falling off the terraces at Barbourfields Stadium. He succumbed to the serious body injuries he sustained and passed on yesterday at around 12 midnight,” he said.

By Paul Nyathi|Cracks are beginning to emerge in the MDC Alliance coalition with threats that the coalition maybe facing an imminent collapse.

This follows for instance open complaints by Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume who has said his party is being prejudiced. Tendai Biti’s PDP has had its share of problems which even led to its split at the beginning.

ZimEye.com sources within the Alliance indicated that members of the coalition partners are clashing heavily on the candidates being selected to represent the coalition in the upcoming elections.

The sources indicated that the MDC-T is heavily encroaching into the candidates selection processes of other partners.

The MDC-T which is the bigger partner to the coalition and retains more than half the seats allocation is reportedly insisting that it will have a final say on the candidates selected by the other partners.

“It’s very difficult working with the MDC-T members on the ground as they keep telling people that they are the directors of the coalition and they will have the final say in the candidates to represent the coalition,” said the source.

“What is disturbing further is that the MDC-T is busy setting up candidates in the constituencies that have not been allocated to them,” complained the source.

The sources from the so called smaller partners to the coalition further claimed that the MDC-T is controlling all the coalition meetings and public rallies at all levels giving the other partners very little space and recognition in the meetings.

“The MDC-T is literally taking the Alliance to be its extension. All meetings and rallies are dominated by the MDC-T and they give us very little time and space to be seen at the rallies,” complained the source who insisted on not being identified.

“They are even distributing MDC-T regalia to our members so much that in the end the gatherings become one sided. The slogans and songs chanted at all the meetings and rallies are MDC-T,” cried the source who is a member of the Tendai Biti led PDP.

The MDC-T members are on record threatening that they will challenge MDC Alliance coalition candidates if what they termed mediocre candidates are fielded in the elections.

Efforts to get a comment from the MDC-T National Chairman Morgan Komichi who is at the forefront of coordination of the Alliance candidates processes could not be obtained at the time of writing.

By Paul Nyathi|The Joice Mujuru led National People’s Party has explained why the party failed to reach a coalition agreement with the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

In a discussion with ZimEye.com, party spokesperson Jefferson Chitando narrated what he said were sticking points that led to the collapse of the hugely promising coalition.

Chitando said that the major factor that led to the failure of the coalition after the two parties had signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding was the identity of the proposed coalition.

“As the NPP we wanted a neutral name, symbol and even slogan for the coalition,” he said.

The MDC-T on the other hand stuck to wanting the coalition to be named the MDC Coalition and maintain the MDC-T colours and symbol.

“Neutrality builds confidence in all coalition partners.There are voters who dont want to be associated with a particular party name, logo or slogan but if neutrality is given preferences it accommodates every democratic forces,” said Chitando.

The NPP spokesperson himself a former MDC-T member indicated that the other sticking factor to the agreement was the issue of selection of candidates to represent the coalitoon in the elections.

“NPP was advocating for a democratic process. The most popular candidates to represent the coalition rather than the boardroom allocation of seats,” he said.

“It was never going to be feasible for a single political party to decide the constituencies to allocate to other political party partners, that would be very undemocratic,” he said.

“The political parties which are joining force to form a coalition all believe in democracy, therefore people have more power than leaders. Its important to give the grassroots the power to determine the candidate they want at ward and constituency level as it enhance the chance of winning. The coalition must not impose a candidate on the people as its against the value of the coalition partners and democracy,” he said.

Contrary to popular belief that the coalition collapsed because the NPP was adamant on having Mujuru as the coalition presidential candidate, Chitando said the party never tabled Mujuru as a condition.

“The NPP never at anytime brought the issue of Presidential candidate as a negotiation point as it believed the selection candidates covered as well the presidential candidate,” he said.

After the failure to agree on the identity of the coalition, Mujuru went on to lead the establishment of the People’s Rainbow Coalition with a splinter of the People’s Democratic Party and smaller parties DARE and ZUNDE.

Tsvangirai on the other hand tied fingers with his old partners Welshman Ncube led MDC and the Tendai Biti led PDP.

On the possibilities of the two coalitions still coming together before the make or break elections coming up in less than four months, Chitando said that the NPP and PRC are still prepared to engage with the new leader of the MDC Alliance coalition Nelson Chamisa.

“MDC Alliance and PR Coalition definitely need each other in order to win against ZanuPF,” he said.

He indicated that his party and coalition partners are prepared to bend backwards to accomodate the grand coalition with Chamisa.

“With time left it will be a disadvantage for the grand coalition to get a new neutral name therefore suggestions are put forward to adopt a double barrel name such as MDC /PRC Coalition,” said Chitando.

“The coalition’s can also adopt an election symbol or logo which has both the MDC’s Open palm and the PRC Freedom train, after all Chamisa is already talking of Bullet Train and PRC has a Freedom Train which makes the whole idea very simple and attractive to voters.”

Chamisa has also hinted in his rallies that he is still prepared to give the grand coalition discussions a chance to fulfil the late Tsvangirai’s wishes.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has announced that the  Government has legalised the production of cannabis for scientific or medical purposes .

This was announced in the Government Gazette yesterday under Statutory Instrument 62 of 2018 (Dangerous Drugs – Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Scientific Use Regulations).
Producers of mbanje must be licensed by the minister.

“An application for the issue of a licence in terms of section 27 of the Act shall be made to the Minister, in duplicate and shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee and three copies of a plan of the site proposed to be licensed which shall comply with the requirement specified in these regulations.

“In case of an individual, proof of citizenship or proof of being ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe or proof of an exemption by the Minister (will be required),” reads the regulations.

“In the case of a company, proof of citizenship or proof of being ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe of the majority of directors or proof of an exemption by the Minister and proof of incorporation in Zimbabwe of the company; and a declaration, signed and dated by the proposed authorised person in charge, stating that the authorised person in charge, the proposed responsible person in charge and, if applicable, the proposed alternate responsible person in charge, are familiar with the provisions of the Act (will be required),” reads the regulations.

The application for the licence must also provide a detailed description of the method that the applicant proposes to use for keeping records.

The Minister has powers to audit the activities of the licensed producer with respect to cannabis.
“The application shall also contain the following – (a) if applicable, the maximum quantity expressed as net weight in grammes of fresh cannabis, dried cannabis, cannabis oil to be produced by the applicant under the licence and the production period . . . and the maximum number of cannabis plants to be sold or provided by the applicant under the licence and the period in which that quantity is to be sold or provided,” read the regulations.

In case of an application for a licence to sell or provide fresh cannabis or cannabis oil under, the applicant must provide the Minister before commencing to sell or provide the substance, with the dried cannabis equivalence factor determined under section 73 and the method that they used to determine it.

If an applicant intends to possess, produce, sell, provide, ship, deliver, transport or destroy cannabis at more than one site, a separate application must be submitted for each proposed site.
A licensed producer designate one authorised person in charge to have overall responsibility for management of the activities conducted by the licenced producer under their licence at their site who may, if appropriate, be licensed producer.

“One responsible person in charge to work at the licensed producer’s site and have responsibility for supervising the activities with respect to cannabis conducted by the licensed producer under their licence at that site and for ensuring that the activities comply with the Act and these regulations who may, if appropriate, be the authorised person in charge,” further reads the regulations.

The licensed producer may also designate one or more alternate responsible persons in charge to work at the licensed producer’s site and have authority to replace the responsible person in charge when that person is absent.

The Minister shall refuse to issue, renew or amend a producer’s licence when certain requirements have not been met, among them failure by the producer to grant permission for inspection by relevant authorities; and when the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that false or misleading information was submitted in, or false or falsified documents were submitted with the application.

Issuance of a licence would also be denied when information has been received from a peace officer, a competent authority or the United Nations that the applicant has been involved in the diversion of a controlled substance or precursor to an illicit market or use.

The Minister may not oblige if the issuance, renewal or amendment of the licence is likely to create a risk to public health, safety or security, including the risk of cannabis being diverted to an illicit market use.

The producer licence will be valid for five years and may be renewed thereafter before its expiry.
Over the years the production and use of marijuana has been illegal in the country and possession of the drug attracted sentences of up to 12 years in jail.- state media.

The landlord from Bulawayo in Nkulumane, Admire Tshuma (31), sneaked into his tenant’s bedroom to offer her surprise sex.

It is alleged that Tshuma entered her tenant’s bedroom and asked for sexual favours but, his advances we rejected.

The tenant, Nyaradzo Murogodi (37), who seemed disturbed by her landlord’s behaviour narrated her ordeal when Tshuma appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Dube facing indecent assault charges as defined in Section 67 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.Tshuma undressed in my room I was shocked and angry at the same time.

When I asked him what he was doing he couldn’t say much, he just asked me if we could finish what he had begun and just indulge in sex. I was so angry and I screamed for neighbours to come in and help me. He then forced the door open and ran like a crazy person,” she added.

Tshuma was sentenced to 300 hours of community service.- state media.

A woman from Silobela who saw her boyfriend going into his ex lover’s bedroom was so angry that she allegedly went to set fire to the house out of jealousy.

Moleen Mpofu (19) of Mafraha village, Silobela under Chief Malisa appeared before the Gweru Regional Magistrate Morgan Nemadire facing four counts of attempted murder.Mpofu pleaded guilty and begged the court to be lenient as she testified that she did not intend to harm the complainant but she was jealous and angry as she assumed that her boyfriend was cheating on her with his previous lover.

She was remanded to April 27 in custody for sentencing.

It was the State’s case that, on October 26 last year around midnight, Mpofu saw her boyfriend Decent Ncube entering the complainant Grace Ndlovu’s bedroom.

It is alleged that Ncube and Ndlovu were previously in a relationship and they had a child together before separating.

The court heard that after seeing her boyfriend entering Ndlovu’s bedroom she followed him fuming with jealousy since she once heard rumours in the village that her boyfriend was spending nights at his ex-lover’s house.

Upon arrival at the house, she  went on to set the house on fire and left the house burning, intending to kill the two.

Ndlovu, her two children and Ncube managed to flee and escaped the fire and did not sustain any serious injuries.

The court heard that, some of the neighbours came to the scene to rescue the complainant.

They tried to put off the fire, however, it was out of control and they only managed to save some property from the burning house.

Kelvin Guveya appeared for the State. – state media.

By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa offially opened the 2018 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo on Friday.

This was his first time to officiate at the renowned trade exhibition since taking over from former President Robert Mugabe in a bloodless coup last year.

In his address Mnangagwa reiterated his call for investors to invest in the country declaring it as being open for business.

“This year’s edition of the ZITF resonates well with my Government’s economic thrust which is industrialisation and modernisation as envisaged by our vision. To achieve this vision, we need a collaborative approach. We recognise that we cannot do it alone hence we are on a reengagement drive to attract foreign direct investment through the Zimbabwe is Open for Business mantra,” President Mnangagwa said.

“We mean business and we realise that action speaks louder than words. My government will not tolerate any form of public lethargy, bottle necks and corruption. Anyone who will be seen frustrating our efforts will fall by the wayside,” he added.

Mnangagwa promised the thousands of Bulawayo citizens attending the ceremony that his government is working very hard to revive the industries that closed down in the city.

“To the city of Bulawayo, it is time to think big and push to revive the city’s industrial sector. The local industry should also produce quality goods, policy makers adopt pro-business policies that help lower productivity costs and the industry continue establishing linkages in order to ensure a sound economy,” he said. 

The President reiterated his government’s commitment to ensuring safety of investments, and implementation of various reforms for economic development.

“We continue to make the bold step in reforming parastatals and state enterprises so that they contribute to the economy for it to realise sustainable growth,” Mnangagwa said.

The 2018 edition of the fair will go down in history as having attracted the largest number of exhibitors in many years.

The fair attracted an oversubscribed number of exhibitors resulting in more space being sort to accomodate the exhibitors.

Thousands of people also thronged the fair when it opened for members of the public on Thursday after three trading days.

Lungile Maphosa an ex-convict from Emganwini who after the presidential amnesty has not had peace in his life because his ex-girlfriend Oletha Nkomo bothers him with serious demands.

When he came out after spending nine months in jail it is alleged that he found Nkomo pregnant and let go. Luckily for him, he got a job but soon after Nkomo began paying him surprise visits expecting to be entertained during working hours.

Maphosa’ said “Nkomo is my ex-girlfriend, when I came out of prison I found her pregnant. Although I am not the one responsible she is forcing me to help her with the baby’s preparation.

“She comes to my workplace without my consent and wants me to entertain her during working hours.

I now fear losing my job and that one day I will lose my temper because of her behaviour,” said Maphosa.

The ex-convict begged the court to grant him a protection order against the woman as he feared that he would end up being caught on the wrong side of the law again.

Nkomo dismissed Maphosa’s claim maintaining that the pregnancy was his and therefore he had to help with preparations for the baby’s birth.

“What he has said is not true. The applicant was my husband and he got arrested and was sent to prison leaving me pregnant.

“After his release, he promised to assist me, but went for good. I had to go to his workplace and he promised to buy (baby clothes) and never kept his word,” she said.

Magistrate Stephen Ndlovu granted the order in favour of the applicant.

When the woman left the court, she started having labour pains and reportedly gave birth the following day.- state media

By Paul Nyathi|Highlanders Football Club fans have termed the epic top of the table clash between their team and Ngezi Platinum on Saturday, the real battle of Zimbabwe.

The fans who will be travelling the nearly 300km journey from Bulawayo to the small mining town have declared that their youthful side will die in the football pitch to wrestle a win from the league pacesetters.

In their pre-match fliers, Ngezi have themselves termed the encounter set for Baobab Stadium “Clash of the tacticians”.

Both clubs are playing probably the most beautiful brand of football in the country at the moment.

Without a shade of doubt, Tonderayi Ndiraya has done an amazing job at the cash-rich Ngezi Platinum Stars, creating a fortress at Baobab where they have gone for 27 league matches without losing.

They last recorded a loss at their home ground on  August 13, 2016, going down 2-0 to now defunct How Mine.

In the present season, Ndiraya’s side have 19 points from a possible 21. They have six wins and a draw against Shabanie Mine.

They have a watertight defence which has conceded two goals in seven games.

Today they face a rejuvenated Highlanders side that has been playing with flair which has made their supporters believe glory days are back.
Bosso are also unbeaten in seven games. They are second on the log with 17 points, two behind Ngezi.

Highlanders are on a rebuilding exercise, but surprisingly, they find themselves in the thick of things in as far as the championship race is concerned.

Should Bosso upset Ngezi today, then their stock will rise and be considered among championship hopefuls.

Meanwhile, Highlanders Chief Executive Officer Nhlanhla Dube has warned the travelling fans to exercise great caution on the road as they travel in thousands for the match.

By Paul Nyathi|Replica copies of the notorious scarf that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been donning around has been selling like hot cakes at the on going Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.

ZANU PF officials maning the ruling party’s exhibition stand at the Trade Fair told ZimEye.com that hundreds of the scarf of many colours were sold out within the first two days of the fair.

“We had close to a thousand scarfs which were all sold out on traders day before the show even opened for members of the public,” said the official at the stand.

“We actually undermined the popularity of the scarf and brought only a few but were shocked when they were sold out in no time,” she said.

The official who declined to be identified indicated that they had since requested for thousands more to be shipped overnight from Harare and will be on sale on Saturday.

The scarf is selling for a whooping $20.

Mnangagwa made the scarf popular when he wore it at the Davos Conference in Switzerland after which he adopted it as his official dressing accessory.

The President has been wearing the scarf in almost all his official public appearances raising varied reactions from members of the public.

Its a case of son jealously looking out for his  late  mother.

A 25-year-old man from Pumula surb in Bulawayo is allegedly giving his father hard times as he does not want him to marry another woman despite his mother having died some years ago. Trevor Cambel Meck believes his father Navy Meck should respect his late mother and never remarry.

After efforts to talk sense into his son’s head had failed, Meck started having a relationship with another woman and it never went down well with his son who then declared war against the two.

Meck has been left with no option, but to chase away his son so he could have his freedom as an adult.

“I am having problems with my son. My wife passed on and I have got a girlfriend, but he does not want me to be in a relationship.

He has threatened to axe me and my girlfriend. At one time he even manhandled me as we had a misunderstanding over the woman,” said Meck.

The man revealed that he wants his freedom as an adult therefore his son should vacate his house since he was disturbing his peace.

He also revealed that despite fighting over the issue of the woman, he also damages and steals his property.

“He should leave my house and start to fend for himself because he damages my property at home and steals goods,” he said.

In response, Trevor dismissed abuse allegations saying: “I have never abused or stolen from him. I only told the woman that she had no right to stay at our home.”

Presiding magistrate Tancy Dube granted the order in favour of applicant and ordered the respondent to vacate the home. – state media.

By Talent Gondo| The MDC Alliance President; Advocate Nelson Chamisa this weekend dates Seke Communal lands (Saturday) before he heads for Mubaira Growth Point in Mhondoro (Sunday).

Presidential Spokesperson and Director of Communications, Luke  Tamborinyoka said the MDC Alliance leader will be addressing a rally at Jonasi Primary School in Seke Communal lands, some 35 kilometres North of Harare.

“The party is prioritizing rural areas in this year’s campaign in an operation code-named Gogoi/ Tisvikewo/ Ekuhle,” said Tamborinyoka.

In an excluaive interview with a local publication, The Independent, Chamisa revealed that this year’s campaign is going to be an organic grassroots campaign.

“We are a national and people’s party with a ubiquitous presence and a nationwide footprint.

“We are there in the rural areas. Our campaign is intensively ruralised and I can assure you we are there in the villages, in the mining towns, at the growth points and those outlying areas,” he said.

Chamisa said his party  was engaging the very grassroots people within rural communities.

“I can assure you that our work is bearing fruit. We have massive traction in the rural areas, although we need to consolidate and hold our line,” said Chamisa.

By Talent Gondo

The MDC T today (Friday) hosted a capacity building workshop for aspiring parliamentary candidates at the party headquarters, Morgan Tsvangirai House in Harare, amid calls on those gunning for office to unite and become servant leaders.

Presidential spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka said the aspiring candidates were addressed by party President Nelson Chamisa, where he implored them to unite and serve the people first ahead of their personal interests.

“At least 468 aspiring parliamentary candidates attended today’s capacity building workshop where they were addressed by President Chamisa.

“Our leader preached the gospel of unity and togetherness, stressing that the forthcoming election had nothing to do with individual interests but with the interests of the people of Zimbabwe,” said Tamborinyoka.

He said President Chamisa, who was accompanied by members of the party’s leadership, stressed the importance of respecting the women’s and youths’ quotas during candidate selection processes in line with the party’s resolutions and the party’s ideology of social democracy.

“President Chamisa said the party will also cater for people living with disabilities in its candidate selection process, saying the internal electoral process should be inclusive of everyone with the will to serve,” said Tamborinyoka.

He said the party will carefully look into the aptitude of its councilors, saying those engaged in corruption, vote buying, hate language and other misdemeanours will be disqualified.

“The people’s president took time to walk the candidates through the five pillars of the party’s policy programme when it wins the next election.

He gave minute details of the party’s policy programme in addressing the governance culture, the economy, social services, infrastructure rehabilitation and international relations,” said Tamborinyoka.

President Chamisa, according to the statement dismissed the mantra of the current government, saying under his leadership, Zimbabwe will be best for business.

“The MDC T President said the party was concerned about the deteriorating standard of life to the majority of Zimbabweans in the rural areas.

“He took time to spell out to the candidates his comprehensive programme for the development and urbanization of rural areas (DURA)”.

Tamborinyoka  revealed that 3 418 candidates had expressed interest in representing the party at parliamentary and local government level, adding that this was reflective of the popularity of the party.

“The people are excited and the number of interested candidates points to the massive excitement the party has ignited across the country,” said Tamborinyoka.

Other leaders who addressed the workshop include national chairperson Hon. Morgen Komichi, Secretary-General Mr. Douglas Mwonzora, deputy secretary general Hon. Paurina Mpariwa, secretary for elections Hon. Murisi Zwizwai, organizing secretary Hon. Amos Chibaya, national women’s assembly chairperson Hon. Lynnette Karenyi, youth assembly chairperson Happymore Chidziva and deputy treasurer-general Mr. Charlton Hwende.

By Talent Gondo|  The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission, Federica Mogherini has announced that the European Union (EU) would deploy an EU Electoral Observation Mission to Zimbabwe for the upcoming harmonised elections.

Mogherini announced this when she met Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Busi Moyo in Brussels, Belgium.

She emphasised the importance of having a legal framework which promotes  freedom of expression, freedom of the media and freedom of assembly among others as the country heads towards the forthcoming polls.

Mogherini’s announcement comes after the EU sent a nine member election exploratory team to Zimbabwe in March 2018 to assess the country’ s pre election environment.

The team was led by the bloc’s Head of Democracy and Support Unit, Mr Patrick Costello and they met with various stakeholders, including opposition parties and civic society.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, unlike his predecessor, Robert Mugabe is on record inviting the international community to come and observe this year’s harmonised elections pledging that his administration will guarantee a free, fair, credible and transparent election.

Last week, Retired Brigadier and Foreign Affairs minister, Moyo said President Mnangagwa would hand over power to the winner in the event that he lost the forthcoming elections.

Terrence Mawawa

Intelligence officials in Zvishavane are closely monitoring former First Grace Mugabe’s son, Russel Goreraza, who is reportedly sponsoring one, Dumezweni Mahwite’ s political activities.

Mahwite, a declared G-40 member is vying for the Zvishavane- Ngezi Parliamentary Seat.Zvishavane District is President Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s home area.

Impeccable Zanu PF sources yesterday claimed Goreraza was spotted in the area where he held a secret meeting with Mahwite.

Although Goreraza has distanced himself from political activities in the area, Zanu PF sources insist the former First Lady’ s son is Mahwite’ s chief financier.

“Goreraza is bankrolling Mahwite’ s political programmes.Above all the two are also business partners.

We spotted Goreraza in the constituency a few weeks ago,” claimed ruling party sources in the area.

By Talent Gondo| National Patriotic Front (NPF) National Spokesperson, Jelousy Mawarire has made sensational claims that the current cash crisis in the country is being fuelled by Finance Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, Reserve Bank Governor, Godwin Mangundya and a son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa through a company called Spatan Investments.

Speaking at a public debate in the capital Harare organised by the Election Resource Centre (ERC) (Thursday) under the title “Making Elections Make Sense”, Mawarire accused the trio of offloading money into the black market which is being used by money changers.

“Cash shortages were brought about by Chinamasa and Mangundya.

They practically destroyed nostro accounts.They are bank robbers,” claimed Mawarire.

Zanu Pf representative at the discussion, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa warned Mawarire against making such serious allegations telling him to be prepared to defend himself in a court of law.

“Those accusations are grave.They are serious allegations and I hope you are ready to respond when offered a chance to defend them in court,” warned Mutsvangwa.

The former Zanu Pf stalwart implicated an unidentified son of President Mnangagwa saying he owned a Zvishavane based company, Makanaka Investments which accessed money through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe which was then offloaded onto the streets.

“Go to fourth street in the morning and they will tell you that we have not yet received today’s allocation.

That shows you how this syndicate operates. Makanaka Investments is untouchable,” alleged Mawarire.

He said a report had been made to the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) and investigations into the operations of the two companies had started.

Mawarire availed documents below as proof of his statement.

Zimbabweans are currently grappling with cash shortages with the majority of citizens failing to access their cash in the banks.

By Paul Nyathi|Police in Bulawayo have warned Mthwakazi Republic Party activists against trying to interfere with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visit to Bulawayo on Friday.

The police summoned the Matabeleland regional party leaders on Tuesday and warned them that they will be thoroughly dealt with if they in any way interfere with Mnangagwa’s visit to the city.

The police intervention came up following reports that the activists were planning to demonstrate against President Mnangagwa during the official opening of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) on Friday.

Social media circulations are that the activists were planning to embarrass Mnangagwa during his address to register their concerns over his failure to address the 1980s Gukurahundi mass killings and his involvement in the atrocities.

MRP president Mqondisi Moyo confirmed that they were summoned and cautioned by police, but denied reports that they intended to protest against the President.

“We did not and we do not have any such plans to demonstrate at the ZITF. In any case, we never publicise our plans. However, it is true that senior police officers called us on Tuesday questioning us on the planned protest,” he said.

“The senior cops in attendance, such as Chief Superintendent Mthokoisi Manzini, said they had gathered information that we wanted to protest. I would like to think it was more of fear on their part that we had such plans. They were saying the protest, if any, will soil the country’s image during such a prestigious event when the country is looking for investors.”

In December last year, MRP activists were arrested and detained at army Barracks on the outskirts of Bulawayo after they confronted Mnangagwa during a church meeting at ZITF and demanded an explanation of his role in the Gukurahundi massacres.

By Talent Gondo| The Local government ministry has endorsed the return of fired Chitungwiza Town Clerk, George Makunde to his previous position at the local authority following recommendations by councillors that reinstating him saved council from incurring labour dispute costs.

Makunde was fired in October last year by the Caretaker Commission led by Madzudzo Pawadyira and appointed by former Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere which established that his contract had expired in August.

In a letter dated 19 April 2018, Acting Chitungwiza Mayor, Councillor Goodwill Mushangwe wrote to the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, July Moyo seeking permission to reinstate Makunde following a full council resolution on the matter.

“This is to notify you that we convened a special full council meeting on Monday 16 April 2018, where the issue of the town clerk arose,” said Mayor Mushangwe.

“This is to advise you that council feels it is prudent to correct this anomaly by causing the return of Dr Makunde to Chitungwiza Municipality with immediate effect.

“This letter therefore seeks to advise you that council is thus reinstating Makunde without any prejudice. This will also protect the local authority from unnecessary labour dispute,” wrote Mayor Mushangwe.

The Local Authority minister, Moyo endorsed Makunde’s return to Chitungwiza Town Council in a letter dated 24 April 2018.

“We have no objection to the decision to reinstate him since we had earlier written to you in the affirmative,” wrote minister Moyo.

Makunde joined Chitungwiza municipality on August 20, 2012 on a 5 year contract that expired on August 19, 2017.

He was however fired by the Chairman of the caretaker commission appointed by former local government minister, Kasukuwere in 2017 for not disclosing that his contract had expired on August 19 of the same year.

By Paul Nyathi|National Patriotic Front leader Ambrose Mutinhiri’s family has come trailblazing claiming that aspiring ZANU PF candidate for Harare Central Constituency Glorianne Francis does not deserve to be elected as a parliamentarian candidate after accusing her for the death of their daughter Belinda in a car accident in September 2016.

In a desperate response, Francis has bared her soul for the first time in the two years since Belinda’s widely published death trying to explain herself out.

Francis’ full outline on the matter reads as follows:

When Belinda died I lost a friend and a sister. Since her passing on a lot has been said about what happened. I have resisted the push to defend myself in respect to Belinda’s memory. I have always asked myself, the question, what would Belinda want me to do. Would she have wanted me to have a public spat with her family?

The answer to that question has always been negative. I have also asked why my name is being dragged through the mud? Is my offence or crime that I miraculously survived an accident that killed one of my friends? If I had gone when Belinda went what would be the story today? Would my family be on the case of the Mutinhiri family accusing them of having a daughter that drove a car that killed their daughter. This I wish would never be the situation when such tragedies happen because accidents do happen and some are fatal.

Belinda and I had been friends for a very long time and even lived together in the United Kingdom. We were together on the tragic day because we were friends. She came to pick me up where I was attending a function and insisted on playing the host for me in Zimbabwe. We went out and had a good time just like friends do.

On our way back we initially were talking then I drifted to sleep as she drove us home. I don’t know what happened but when I came around I was in hospital. I only learnt that Belinda was gone after her funeral because my family shielded me from the tragic news.

I had to be told that based on when we left Borrowdale we were both discovered 2 hours later by a passing policeman who sought help. The police statements say the passenger seatbelt that strapped me up in my seat had to be cut to release me. This is one of the things that made it clear to the police that I wasn’t driving. I am also told that there were people gathered at site when I was cut out.

When I was in hospital, the case had caught public interest so my family tried to protect me from prying media interest as I was not yet out of the woods.

My whole family attended the house of Belindas mum on Sunday 4 September 2016 to console with the family. They report being treated with hostility and their condolences were snubbed. They report very palpable tension and passive aggression. My mother tried her best but left in humiliation.

My brother who lived on RSA tried to go to the house to pass his condolences and request my bag of clothes and bank cards that was left in Belindas flat. He was also treated with hostility and at the time I was still in hospital.

At this point I was still critical.
I was moved from Parirenyatwa due to concerns of my condition at the time. I was taken to the Avenues and initially treated there. I was moved from there again due to the amount of media and public interest.

The surgeons responsible for my care and my family were making these decisions on my behalf as I was not yet in a position to do so. I was again moved to the private wing of Parirenyatwa with security due to my vulnerable state and too many people trying to get access to me.

When I was eventually discharged from hospital I was advised that the Mutinhiri family had already accused me of killing my friend and I was not welcome there. I needed further treatment and rehabilitation. My travel Insurance facilitated for my medical repatriation to the United Kingdom for further treatment.

I did not kill my friend through witchcraft, occult or murder. An accident happened when my friend was driving and there is no dispute and to who was driving. There is no reason given for why I would want my friend dead and how I killed her, because these don’t exist. I only learnt later from statements that Belinda died on the spot and I was taken to Parirenyatwa by ambulance called by the passing police officer who was on his bike.
I also have seen the police statement by the police officer and Ambulance which clearly states Belinda died on the spot and where I was found.

I cannot be bitter with the Mutinhiri family for their hurtful statements because they are grieving. But I would wish for Belinda’s sake that the throwing of mud should stop. Belinda left a beautiful daughter. It would be unkind to her that having lost her mother tragically she sees her name dragged through muck and her aunties at each other’s necks. I plead with the Mutinhiri family for Belinda and her daughter’s sake that we find in ourselves to dignify Belinda’s memory by our conduct towards each other.

As for Vimbai I did try to reach out to the family through her while I was recovering in UK and I was told she refused stating that the sound of my name gives her cold shivers.

All the information on this tragic accident is at the police station and at all the hospitals. I was only interviewed by the police 3 weeks after the accident due to the fact I was not in a fit state to be interviewed. I was told by the police how I was taken to the hospital. I have never survived any other accident in Zimbabwe which again am falsely accused me of. Even should that have been true that would only make me a victim rather than a witch.

Belinda wherever she is knows the truth. There is no blood on my hands. And I don’t intend to put her name in the public domain except to celebrate her well lived life. This feud is one thing I know she wouldn’t have wished for.

Glorianne Francis

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has just announced that they  have discovered massive tax dodging in the private sector, with a staggering 80 percent of the firms owing up to $4,2 billion as of March 2018.

This has disadvantaged the Government in its efforts to fund public sector programmes. Private sector representatives yesterday however, disputed the figure.

Instead, they accused the tax administration of miscalculating their dues, interests and penalties since dollarisation in 2009, and demanded sincere dialogue to resolve the matter.

Fierce debate ensued around the matter during a Zimra breakfast conference here yesterday as parties sought common ground and later resolved to amicably iron out their differences.

“Allow me ladies and gentlemen to speak about a serious issue confronting our country and this is the low level of compliance in our revenue mobilisation,” said Comm-Gen Mazani.

“Such a tax debt position is reflective of an abnormal revenue administration and very low levels of compliance that requires our urgent attention.”

Comm-Gen Mazani said official statistics indicated the number of registered taxpayers, which does not exceed 300 000, did not match the level of income and business activity in the country.
“It is only just a quarter of registered business players complying with their tax filing obligations,” she said.

“This leaves the tax burden on the shoulders of a few companies and individuals,” said Comm-Gen Mazani.

“I, therefore, pose this question to those of us here and those at home: Are we playing our part to build a sustainable Zimbabwe through payment of our taxes due to the fiscus?”
Business executives said the $4,2 billion debt was not a true reflection of what they owed and accused Zimra of taking a hard-line stance on corporates at a time the economy was facing challenges.

They complained that the tax authority was levying high rates and punishing them for systems shortcomings.

“About the $4,2 billion debt! I don’t believe that is true, the accounting systems at Zimra are not proper,” said one of the participants. “We have been going to Zimra with our receipts for tax clearance time and again and there seems to be a lack of will to rectify the issue,” he said.

Ms Sithulisiwe Ncube from Lion Stores said Zimra needed to deal with its data system, saying some of the said business tax arrears accrued since 2009 were based on miscalculations.

“I don’t know what’s happening with the Zimra data system,” she said. “The error is on Zimra’s side because they are not doing entries on time and interests are high. That has to be resolved.”
In her response, Comm-Gen Mazani acknowledged the concerns and said Zimra had since started a process, with the help of ICT experts, to clean up its data system.

She concurred that calculation errors could have been made when the country adopted dollarisation and Zimra “deeply regrets” such developments and was working to resolve the issue.

Comm-Gen Mazani said further engagements were being done with the International Monetary Fund to get proper systems advice.

“We are doing our best to clean up our systems and we hope by the end of the year we will give accurate accounts and issue clearances based on proper balances,” she said.

Comm-Gen Mazani urged businesses to take advantage of the tax amnesty window granted at the beginning of the year, which expires in June, to resolve their arrears.
Zimra has also put in place measures to weed out corruption through automation, asset declarations and lifestyle audits to identify cases of unjust enrichments.

“I would like to sincerely apologise for all the inconveniences that our valued taxpayers and clients have had to endure,” said Comm-Gen Mazani. “As a revenue administrator, we realise the need to receive and facilitate businesses that are responding to Government efforts to open Zimbabwe for businesses,” she said.

“Our focus is to improve service delivery that guides our operations going forward.”
Key strategies include addressing people issues, improving processes through technology, developing strategic partnerships with taxpayers and stakeholders and reforming the organisation through projects and programmes that ensure better service.-state media.

A man allegedly raped his neighbour’s 13-year-old daughter in the presence of her nine-year-old cousin and threatened the juveniles not to report the matter.

Philimon Ncube (94 )of Mahetshe Village in Maphisa area summoned the two juveniles to his homestead to look for his lost cell phone in his bedroom hut as his eye sight was poor.
When they were inside, he allegedly locked the door and raped the older girl.

Ncube’s rape case was heard by Gwanda Provincial Magistrate, Mr Maphios Ncube, in absentia after he failed to travel from remand prison as he was ill. The old man was remanded in custody to May 3.

Prosecuting, Ms Teererai Mahohoma said Ncube raped the juvenile who is a Form Two pupil at Mahetshe Secondary School on April 4 at around 11AM.

“The juvenile and her cousin were penning goats and one of them strayed and they chased it. They met Ncube who asked them to accompany him to his house to help him look for his lost cellphone which he was failing to locate as he had a poor eyesight.

Ms Mahohoma said Ncube grabbed the 13-year-old juvenile and pushed her onto his bed. He ordered the nine-year-old to sit down and remain silent and threatened to beat her up if she didn’t comply.
She said Ncube raped the juvenile once while her cousin was watching and then ordered them to leave. He warned them against reporting the matter.

Ms Mahohoma said the juveniles went home and reported what had transpired leading to the arrest of the old man.- state media

The Zimabwe government has promised that invesstors should expect better and more efficient services on investment processing times to even less than 24 hours as the government plans to merge all the departments under one roof.

The new economic order has opened rapid investor interest to Zimbabwe and with it the urgency for the country to transform policies to match with expectations of the potential investors.Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga said government is upholding its commitment to harness every possible opportunity through plans to merge various departments to process and issue licensing certificates including the investment registration and environment impact assessment certificates, under a time frame of even 30 minutes.

“Be rest assured that we will remain consistent in our policies. Also in line with the Zimbabwe is open for business mantra, the government is putting in measures to facilitate the ease of doing business,” he said.

Learning from the Rwandan experience, government is confident that such a turnover will effectively transform the country into a dynamic hub for business investment and innovation.

Industry leaders concur that this rapid approach will set the correct tone to potential investors.

Within the context of open business, government is targeting to remove tedious factors that had stalled investments in the past and thus it has benchmarked its performance on one of Africa’s best models.- state media.

SEX workers have, for the first time, been granted the opportunity to exhibit at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) after being barred from participating at previous fairs

Sexual Rights Centre legal support officer Sipho Khumalo told Southern Eye yesterday that they were delighted to be allowed to exhibit at the trade showcase for the first time in the history of the fair.

“It is so great to be here showcasing our work. It has been a struggle, but we are glad that we have finally got the chance to express ourselves for society and the society to know that sex work is work like any other,” she said.

“We are happy that we got the chance to show the world that we are not parasites, we are working to earn a living for our families.”

Khumalo said previously, efforts to exhibit at ZITF hit a brick wall, as society still had negative perceptions about the profession.

“We have tried to exhibit before, but we have been met with criticism because people do not really appreciate the work we do. They do not realise that we are working to earn a living, but we have since engaged other civic society organisations that work with us advocating for sexual rights and we are here,” she said.

“We are here, we are part of the community and we are not going anywhere. We are trying to teach people that they should accept us as part of them and desist from violating us because we are just like any other member of the society.”

Khumalo said the exhibition had given sex workers a platform to be recognised in society and to teach people about safe sex.

“People know little about our profession, so here we teach them that we practise safe sex and we must not be seen as people who are spreading HIV as society views us,” she said.

The Health and Child Care ministry last year reported that the country had about 44 586 sex workers, with 7 000 of them based in Bulawayo.

Source Newsday

By Paul Nyathi|Suddenly very controversial ZANU PF primary elections candidate for Harare East Terrence Mukupe has challenged MDC-T President Nelson Chamisa claiming that he draws bigger crowds than the MDC Alliance coalition presidential candidate.

Mukupe who was elected as member of parliament for the constituency in a by-election held in 2015 after the recall of Tendai Biti by the MDC-T, threw the challenge at Chamisa in a Facebook post on Thursday evening.

The young politician who is also the Deputy Minister of Finance posted photos of a well attended ZANU PF rally for the Harare East Constituency he held on Thursday.

“My branch meeting today. Just showing you I draw more crowds than Chamisa!!!,” he wrote.

“Mupfana uya ngaadye sadza rake akanyarara,” added Mukupe.

Mukupe is facing an uphill task at the ZANU PF primaries when he squares off with bitter rival Mavis Gumbo daughter to Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo.

He is already crying foul over tje primary elections claiming that he had been betrayed by the party as he would face opponents who were fighting against him during Zanu PF factional fights last year.

“Betrayed, wasting resources to fight the same G40 functionary that got me expelled from Zanu PF,” Mukupe wrote on Twitter last week.

Gumbo, before the military take-over last November, was allegedly linked to the G40 faction which backed former First Lady Grace Mugabe and was opposed to then Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Attempts to get her out of Zanu PF structures failed after the women’s league said Gumbo was on an assignment as she was said to be a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation, hence, her association with G40.

In the build-up to the 2015 by-elections, self-exiled ex-Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere backed Mukupe ahead of Gumbo, who had the support of then party secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo.

The relationship between Kasukuwere and Mukupe turned sour due to a failed land deal and he became one of his political adversaries – baying for the former minister’s head.

Terrence Mawawa

Social media analyst Antony Taruvinga has said former MDC vice president Thokozani Khupe remains fired from the opposition party despite the recent court ruling.

“How can a judge in his 5 senses
equate Khupe to Chamisa? How can Chamisa be described as a factional leader ?

The latter was elected by a properly
constituted National Council therefore Khupe remains fired
from the MDC-T and has since formed a new
party with no name,” wrote Taruvinga on Facebook.

Terrence Mawawa

Former Vice President Joice Mujuru, whose rivalry with President Emmerson Mnangagwa dates back to 2004, has boldly declared that the Zanu PF leader will be voted out of office this year.

The National People’s Party leader told her supporters in Buhera last week Mnangagwa and his cronies would lose the elections because of their dismal failure to transform the country’s economy.

“We know that Zanu PF is planning to subvert the will of the people but this time it will not work.

“The people of Zimbabwe have suffered for too long.

We will certainly remove Mnangagwa and his ilk,” said Mujuru.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

Controversial Masvingo State Minister Josaya Dunira Hungwe has revealed the reason for the withdrawal of Geiger International’ s Road Dualisation Tender.

Hungwe told reporters in Masvingo on Monday the company was deeply reluctant to allow the government to monitor its programmes – including financial records.

“We had serious problems with the Austrian company Geiger International- we were not allowed to monitor their programmes,” said Hungwe.

He added: “There were delays in the implementation of the project because we were not given time and space to monitor the company’ s activities.

We will not allow that to happen again. How can we work with people who are not at liberty to disclose their programmes and plans?”

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

A Zanu PF councillor perceived to be a member of the G-40 faction has lambasted Provincial Chairperson Ezra Chadzamira for what he described as overt bias towards the Lacoste camp.

Ward 10 Masvingo Urban Constituency councillor Lovemore Mufamba has not taken his disqualification from contesting in the party primary elections lightly.

Mufamba claimed Chadzamira’ s decision to bar him from contesting in the primary elections was null and void as he would not stop campaigning.

“Let me remind Chadzamira that Zanu PF is a revolutionary party.He does not own the party and the fact that he is the Provincial Chairperson does not give him the mandate to abuse those around him,” fumed Mufamba.

Chadzamira said he would not be moved by Mufamba’ s rants.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa flew off to Bulawayo Thursday afternoon.

Mnangagwa jetted into the city for the official opening of this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) slated for tomorrow.
Mnangagwa was accompanied by the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa and president of the Chief’s Council Chief Fortune Charumbira.

He was given a hero’s welcome by a small crowd of party supporters as soon as he touched down at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.
He was welcomed by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, Bulawayo Metropolitan Provincial Minister of State Affairs Senator Angeline Masuku, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Midlands Province Owen Muda Ncube, Home Affairs Minister Dr Obert Mpofu, Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Retired Air Chief Marshall Perrence Shiri, Special Adviser to the President on disability issues Joshua Malinga and service chiefs.

Also present to receive the President were Politburo members Absolom Sikhosana and Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube, Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Professor Calistus Ndlovu and some top government and party officials.

Before departing, Mnangagwa and the First Lady took time to greet the multitudes of their supporters who seemed not to have enough of them. – state media

By Talent Gondo

A University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Political Science student, Kudakwashe Guta who was recently acquitted of public violence charges by Harare Magistrate, Victoria Mashamba has been summoned to appear before a disciplinary hearing at the institution.

Guta, is set to appear before the UZ’s disciplinary committee (Friday) to answer to charges of misconduct in connection with a demonstration held at the institution last year.

He is represented by Denford Halimani and Kuzivakwashe Ngodza of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

He will appear before the UZ’s Student Disciplinary Committee to answer to charges of breaching the university’s rules of conduct.

“UZ authorities alleged that Guta, a political science student at the university, participated in a demonstration held on 26 June 2017 led by some medical students, who protested against the arbitrary hiking of fees,” said the ZLHR in a statement.

According to the UZ authorities, Guta allegedly incited violence on university premises by urging fellow students to insult and physically attack security personnel.

“The UZ authorities said Guta’s alleged conduct was in breach of some sections of Ordinance 30 as he had no right to do so,” said the ZLHR.

However, the UZ authorities’ decision to haul Guta before a disciplinary hearing comes at a time when he was recently acquitted by Magistrate Mashamba.

Guta had been on trial on charges of public violence as defined in section 36(1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act following his arrest by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers in June 2017 following the UZ protest.

By Dorrothy Moyo| Harare Municipality is set to lease land in Philadelphia to FBC Building Society For $58 (fifty-eight dollars) per month for 10 years.

Philadelphia is next Borrowdale Brooke.

The council has since invited residents to register their yays or nays before the 24th of May 2018.

The full notice reads:

“CITY OF HARARE

PROPOSED PROPOSED LEASE OF MUNICIPAL LAND IN HARARE

NOTICE is hereby given in terms of Section 152 of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15] that the City of Harare intends to:-

(i) Lease Stand 385 Philadelphia Township to FBC Building Society for an initial period of ten years at a monthly rental of $58.00 for commercial purposes.

Copies of the Municipal resolutions and the detailed terms and conditions of the proposal will be open for an inspection during normal business hours at the office of the City Valuer and Estates Manager, 1st Floor, Rowan Martin Building, Pennefeather Road, Harare until 24 May 2018.

Any persons who wish to object to the above proposal may lodge his/her objections in writing with the Town Clerk at

Town House 
P.O. Box 990 
Harare

on or before 24 May 2018.

ENG. HOSIAH. A. CHISANGO 
ACTING TOWN CLERK HARARE”

By Talent Gondo

Former Zanu Pf heavyweight, Didymus Mutasa, who was booted out of Zanu PF in 2014 alongside former Vice-President Joice Mujuru and over 100 other top officials on allegations of plotting to topple former President Robert Mugabe from power will this weekend have his property auctioned over failure to pay $26 900 Nyakutombwa Mugabe Legal Counsel legal fees.

A default judgment issued by the High Court resulted in Mutasa’s property being attached by the Sheriff and the former Zanu Pf heavyweight will on Saturday lose household goods including a fridge, a set of sofas and television among others.

Below is the notice advertising the public auction of Mutasa’ s property which appeared in a local publication.

Mutasa, who was Zimbabwe’s first Speaker of the National Assembly, before holding many Cabinet posts before he was fired from Zanu PF has hit hard times as he is struggling to send his children to school and servicing huge debts including a ZESA bill  amounting US$70 000.

Own Correspondent| The NPF party leader Ambrose Mutinhiri has not at all resigned, ZimEye can reveal.

The party has issued the below announcement:

NPF Statement on upsurge of fake news about the party and its President Harare-25 April 2018, The National Patriotic Front (NPF) wishes to advise the media and members of the public about the sudden upturn in fake news articles generated in the name of, and about NPF and its leadership. Our President, not Brig Gen Ambrose Mutinhiri has not resigned and is not under any pressure to quit. NPF is phenomenally growing and is engaging supporters on the need to end military rule and return the country to civilian governance. Our pro-people policies on land reform, indigenization and economic empowerment of the black populace are endearing as to the electorate.

Our people are aware of the destabilising effects of the November 15 2017 coup and have seen, in NPF, the only viable political organisation to return the country to constitutionalism. The people have refused the political and economic apostasy of the regime which is rooted in the reversal of the gains we had made through the land reform, resource value addition and beneficiation. The regime is aware NPF has endeared itself to the electorate hence the desperate disinformation moves.
We understand the desperation within the military junta in light of the massive recruitment campaigns our party has been engaged in these past two months, hence the futile attempts at disinformation through fake news.

We, however, urge the media, and our supporters, to note the distinctive features of our official communication.

By Paul Nyathi| Professor Lovemore Madhuku has warned that MDC-T President Nelson Chamisa can be arrested for contempt of court after the latter issued a statement castigating High Court judge Justice Francis Bere.

Madhuku who represented Thokozani Khupe in a case against Chamisa’s MDC-T faction at the High Court on Monday said it was regrettable the party’s national executive chose to be contemptuous of the courts when it had approached the court in the first place.

“It is unfair to attribute improper motives to a judge who clearly applied an impartial mind to the matter before him,” said Prof Madhuku.

“A litigant who initiates legal proceedings cannot, after losing, choose to undermine the dignity of our courts.”

Chamisa sought to stop his rival Khupe from using the party’s name and logo, a matter which Justice Bere dismissed for lack of merit and ruled that Chamisa was an equal factional leader as khupe.

In scathing attack on the court, Chamisa’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka accused the judge of siding with Khupe in his judgement.

“The national executive took note of the decision of the High Court. It noted with concern the creeping of politics into law and remained concerned that a whole respectable court can choose to relate itself to the issue of the so-called factions which was not even before it,” said Tamborinyoka in a statement.

Law Society of Zimbabwe president Mr Misheck Hogwe said it was expected that the judges should be free to adjudicate over matters without fearing they would be accused of meddling in politics.

“The matter before the court was by any definition a political dispute,” he said.

“If the political parties believed that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the matter they ought to respect the ruling of the court.

“This is not to say the losing party necessarily has to agree with the ruling. Litigants should resist the temptation to be bad losers so that the integrity of our courts is maintained.”

Obert Gutu, deputy president of the MDC-T led by Khupe, said the Chamisa faction’s statement was tantamount to contempt of court.

“It is very unfortunate for some misguided and unscrupulous people to seek to malign and denigrate the integrity of the learned judge,” said Gutu to state media journalists.

He said an attack on the independence of the judiciary went to the root of national stability and constitutional democracy.

By Paul Nyathi

Opposition MDC-T says that judgement by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Francis Bere on their case against dismissed Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe is unfair and politically motivated.

The MDC-T Presidential Spokesperson and Director of Information Luke Tamborinyoka on Wednesday told journalists in a briefing that the party’s National Executive Committee met and resolved to appeal against the decision.

“The National Executive Committee expressed shock at the judgement by the High Court judge who opted to involve himself in political issues instead of considering the issue presented to the court,” said Tamborinyoka.

“The issue presented to the High Court was specifically about the court dealing with people we dismissed from the MDC-T and them using the party name and symbol after dismissal but the judge opted to make a judgement on non existent factionalism in the party,” he said.

Tamborinyoka said that the MDC-T will be appealing against the judgement at the supreme court.

“The NEC notes that the case is actually ZANU PF and Thokozani Khuphe versus MDC-T and the people of Zimbabwe,” he added.

Sitting in a urgent hearing on Monday, the Bulawayo High Court dismissed the MDC-T application seeking to block splinter MDC-T leader Thokozani Khuphe from using the party name and logo claiming that the party needs to first sort out its leadership issues before a determination can be made on who can use the name and symbol.

Justice Bere said that Khuphe who is running a seperate MDC-T party from the Nelson Chamisa led MDC-T has the right to continue using the party name as she claims to be equally entitled to the leadership of the party following the death of founding President Morgan Tsvangirai.

A  woman 25 years old from Nkayi allegedly stabbed her one-year-old baby before she committed suicide by hanging  herself at her home in-laws’s home over an infidelity dispute 

After stabbing her daughter, Gumbo allegedly hanged herself on a tree within their yard.
There are, however, conflicting statements about how the baby was stabbed.

Some sources say Gumbo deliberately stabbed her daughter in attempt to kill her while others say the child was accidentally stabbed when the couple fought earlier that morning.
Gumbo’s husband, Nkosilathi Vundla allegedly fled from the scene after the discovery of his wife’s lifeless body and is still on the run.

Before hanging herself, Gumbo sent a WhatsApp message to her uncle Mr Mphathisi Moyo (47) stating that she wanted to commit suicide because her husband was cheating on her.
Moyo contacted Vundla who had gone to the Business Centre and together they rushed home where they found Gumbo dead.

000Matabeleland North acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector confirmed receiving a report of sudden death.

“I can confirm we received a report of sudden death of a 24-year-old woman who committed suicide following a dispute with her husband.

“The woman sent a suicide message to her relative via    WhatsApp,” said Asst Insp Nkala. – state media

A junior police officer based in Bulawayo  is suing his boss for $50 000 in damages for allegedly engaging in an adulterous relationship with his wife of 15 years.

He said he has suffered damages in the form of loss of consortium and contumelia.
“I have suffered injury, hurt, insult and indignity as a result of the adulterous relationship. I have also lost comfort and company which I used to enjoy from my wife,” said Mr Tapedzanyika.

He is seeking an order compelling his boss to pay him $50 000 calculated with an interest of five percent from the date of summons to the date of full and final payment. – state media.

Four people have died in a horrific accident involving a train and a commuter omnibus.

A goods train hit a Toyota Hiace commuter omnibus at a railway level crossing near Windsor Park turnoff in Ruwa, injuring ten people and killing four.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi has issued a statement confirming the accident.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to confirm the death of four people in a road accident at a railway level crossing line along Sansauce Road near Windsor Park turnoff in Harare on 24 April 2018 at around 19.30hours,” he said.

He said the Toyota Hiace was being driven by a 33-year-old man along Sansauce road with 16 passengers on board.- state media

The remains of a fisherman who was attacked by a crocodile last Monday were recovered in the reptile’s belly following the attack.

His upper body was retrieved from the river and the lower body was found inside the reptile. Passmore Phiri, who was in his mid-thirties, left his home for fishing at around 2PM on Monday and never returned.- state media.

By Talent Gondo| Zanu PF’s Mazowe west constituency youths have petitioned their party’s national political commissar Engelbert Rugeje over the alleged manipulation of the electorate by the co-opted Zanu PF Mashonaland Central chairman Kazembe Kazembe ahead of the house of assembly primary elections slated for this weekend.

Kazembe, who is also the Sports, Arts and Recreation minister is vying for Mazowe West constituency in the forthcoming elections.

He is contesting against six other party members in the primaries.

In a letter dated 24 April 2018 and directed to the Chairperson of Zanu PF’s  Elections Commission, the youths appealed to the party’s National Political Commissar, Engelbert Rugeje to immediately intervene and stop Kazembe from manipulating the voters’ roll.

“We are appealing to the NPC to interdict this behaviour as it is likely to lead to violence,” said the youths in a letter in ZimEye’s possession.

Contacted for comment, minister Kazembe dismissed the allegations arguing that those raising these issues were pushing the agenda of those who were in the election race.

“Ane bhora ndiye anomakwa meaning the one with the ball is the one who is mostly tackled,” said Kazembe, adding that these unfounded allegations were being raised by those contending for the National Assembly seat in the primaries.

“The youths who are purporting to petition the NPC have been bought. I can not do what they are alleging, where do I get the time to do that? I was born and bred in Mazowe West and the people will speak and endorse the candidate of their choice,” said Kazembe.

In their petition, the youths alleged that Kazembe was giving orders to the party’s district officials and party employees so that they could all mobilise for him.

“Since Kazembe is now a candidate, he must cease during the course of this short campaign period to give orders to district officials and party employees.

“He is currently force marching entire party systems to work for him,” read the letter.
Kazembe’s henchman only identified as one Cde Muwandi was also reportedly intimidating other candidates in the constituency.

“Cde Muwandi and his militia are trailing other candidates as they move into the district on their campaigns instilling fear in the process,” alleged the youths.

The youths called on the party’s leadership to display cell sheets for their constituency citing gross manipulation of the voters’ roll for the upcoming primaries.

“The cell sheets must be laid for inspection by cell chairpersons so that all party members across the constituency ensure that their names are on the register before the elections,” said the youths.

The youths pleaded with the NPC to supervise the elections to ensure that the most popular candidate won.

“His Excellency, the president said that the voice of the people is the voice of God, we plead with you Cde NPC to come down and personally supervise this election so that the voice of the people of Mazowe West is heard as it will be the Voice of God,” read the letter.

Kazembe was elected into parliament in July 2013 to represent Mazowe west constituency in the National Assembly.

In the upcoming primary elections, he is set to battle it out with Anastencia Mazikana, Chrispen Makure, Richard Chirongwe, Constance Sabau, Tafadzwa Musarara and Christopher Makwezva.

During this time when Zanu-PF are supposed to be campaigning and preparing for the forth coming elections, are  coming out of the cupboard as a smear campaign hits Zanu-PF Mazowe North constituency with some aspiring candidates plotting to sabotage the party if they lose the primaries ahead of the  coming elections.

Apparently, the sitting Member of Parliament advocate Martin Dinha, who doubles as Minister of State for Mashonaland Central, is in panic mode after realising he has lost support. It is alleged that he approached state media provincial offices with a dossier of information to smear other aspiring candidates. Dinha is also accused of abusing his office and dating married women in party structures and giving fake promises in the name of ZANU PF.

Another aspiring Member of Parliament, Cleopas Nyangoni, who is a former member of Mugabe’s Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), is accused of embezzling funds from the organisation’s finance department before going into hiding in neighbouring Botswana. He has apparently now resurfaced as an aspiring MP under the new dispensation.

The  has been made aware of the allegation that Campion Mugweni (34), Dinha’s arch rival in the contest following a public altercation at their provincial offices during the submission of CV, was convicted for fraud during his stint in United States of America in 2007.

Another candidate, a retired army officer named Cairo Mhandu, who represented the constituency from 2008 – 2013 is being criticised by his competitors for running for office while afflicted by a liver ailment.

Mhandu is no stranger a controversy as he is alleged to have been the man behind the 2008 runoff electoral violence in his home area of Chiweshe where a number of people were killed.

Another aspiring candidate Simbarashe Nyamayaro has been labelled a womaniser who is incapable of holding public office.

Nyamayaro, a government employee and current ZANU PF district chairman, is believed to have impregnated a Mvurwi woman from Rusunguko Township but has reportedly refused to take responsibility.

However, it remains to be seen who will ride the storm and win the primaries slated for 5 May.- state media.

By Talent Gondo

The MDC Alliance led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa today revealed that the coalition will field candidates in all the 210 constituencies and 1 958 wards in the upcoming harmonised elections.

Below is the full text by Luke Tamborinyoka, MDC T Presidential Spokesperson and Director of Communications.

MDC-T President Adv. Nelson Chamisa today chaired the party’s National Executive Committee which met for seven hours at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House to deliberate on the party’s preparedness for the elections, among other issues.

The Executive received reports from the provinces on the state and health of the party in terms of its preparedness for the next watershed elections due in a few months’ time.

By A Correspondent|MDC Alliance Spokesperson, Professor Welshman Ncube has implored Alliance partners to focus on landing the presidency and not to be distracted by minor operational glitches.

Addressing an Alliance meeting in Bulawayo, Professor Ncube reminded members that the late former MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai said landing the presidency was the most prized target.

Professor Ncube said in Bulawayo, since the formation of MDC in 2002, all parliamentary and local government seats have been won by MDC save only for Zanu PF getting seats in by-elections in 2015 which had not brought any significant progress in the governance of the country.

“However, we don’t have jobs simply because we are not at State House” said Professor Ncube.

“In September last year in Harare, our leader Morgan Tsvangirai said ‘members are still fighting to go to parliament but ordinary citizens are still suffering.

“Let’s stop the battle of eying those seats but exert more energy on the prime target, the presidency which will liberate us.

“If there is no change of occupants at State House, nothing would have changed. That’s critical” said Professor Ncube.

Professor Ncube told the meeting that Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South face the biggest task in the upcoming polls as compared to other Alliance provinces.

“This is because they (other provinces) are faced with Zanu PF only but we have several opponents emerging.

“However, we must be focused on the target and gun for victory”.
Professor Ncube urged Alliance partners to be aggressive in mobilizing and campaigning for candidates.

“My advice is we must market our candidates aggressively and stop talking about our opponents more often.

“We must mobilise people to vote for Advocate Nelson Chamisa. After mobilizing, we must be sure that we have more people than Zanu PF and devise anti-rigging strategies.

We should be very vigilant and in this upcoming election, we will not fail because we are committed. We have a task of retiring the Junta elements”.