STATEMENT ON INDEPENDENCE DAY
18th April 2018

Today Zimbabwe is 38 years old. But how far have we really come?

It is to our shame that there has been no discernible improvement on the infrastructure left to us by the Rhodesians. In fact the rather old-fashioned infrastructure which we were left with in 1980 is now in tatters.

There has been no appreciable increase in electricity generation. We have the same thermal power stations that we had 38 years ago and some hydro-electricity coming from Victoria Falls and the Kariba Dam completed in 1959. The Dam has developed very serious cracks which have been visible for some years, but it is only recently that a French company has been contracted to repair it — and it is a matter of speculation as to whether or not they will be able to do it before it collapses entirely.

Our capital city, Harare and its satellite, Chitungwiza no longer have clean water. Water-borne disease outbreaks occur at frequent intervals.

The once excellent National Railways of Zimbabwe has become a mess. Gone are the days when one could book an overnight sleeper and be provided with clean sheets. The one attempt at improvement was in the 1980s, when, with the help of Canada, we started buying their diesel engines rather than manufacture our own steam locomotives. This in a country with no oil but abundant coal!

The health service has fallen apart.

The only noticeable development has been in education, schools and universities have been opened which have provided Zimbabwe with the world’s best educated street traders. Others, of course, have used their skills in other countries. This is clearly the result of having a school headmaster ruling the country for more than 37 years — a man who understood what happens in school very well but had no idea what happens to people after they have left school.

The indignity of being discriminated against by people who look different and come from a different continent is now over. But at least those people for all their humiliating racial attitudes generally paid workers on the agreed day. The new boss class have now developed an attitude and a culture of paying workers whenever they feel like it. This is true in both the public and the private sectors and councils under the control of the pro-imperialist opposition are no better at treating their workers.

People struggling to scratch a living by street trading are beaten and persecuted by police working for the interests of the petit-bourgeois élite who do not want to see their streets looking untidy. The majority of our people have become non-people — except when it comes to voting.

Zimbabweans, generally, are no longer discriminated against because of their colour. But they are discriminated against because of class.

And when we look at the history of our liberation struggle, what happened to those that lead our liberation armies — Josiah Tongogara, Lookout Masuku and Solomon Mujuru?

In 1980 all celebrated the new government and the new flag — even those who had backed ZAPU, the original liberation movement, rather than those who took power — ZANU.

Two years later, in 1982, an agreement was made with the apartheid government of South Africa to prevent Zimbabwe from being used as a rear base for the armed wing of the ANC of South Africa, Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ally of ZIPRA. Massacres followed in Matabeleland, Midlands and Mashonaland West. This has led to a huge rift, to deep bitterness between different ethnic groups. Although this has been the worst manifestation of tribalism, it is by no means the only one. Zimbabweans of Malawian, Mozambican or Zambian origin have been told that they are not Zimbabweans. This in a country whose leaders claim to be pan-Africanists!

The memory of the days of the late 1940s and early 1950s when Benjamin Burombo was able to lead the people of Bulawayo and Charles Mzingeli was able to lead the people in Salisbury have been buried by ethnic hatred.

Then came the big sell-out. Real economic independence ended in 1991 with ESAP. For all their racism, the Rhodesians had built up an economy autonomous from outside control. For the first 11 years of Independence at least 80% of what we bought in Zimbabwe was made in Zimbabwe. The bitter truth is that it was the African ‘nationalists’ and not the white settlers who bowed to the demands of the US/UK Axis when they accepted the terms of the IMF and the World Bank.

Worse, the working-class movement created originally in opposition to ESAP became its opposite. It came under the control of Rhodesians opposed to land reform who had now reconciled to the imperialist centre. The MDC became the greatest exponents of the neo-liberal ethos.

Recently we saw that with the overthrow of Robert Mugabe, the British Minister of State for African Affairs spent several days in Harare prior to Emmerson Mnangagwa becoming President.

And what did the MDC Alliance do when they found that they were not included in the new government?

They ran to Washington, the centre of world terrorism, to complain.

As Communists, we are very clear that in our country, Zimbabwe, it was the working-class which started the liberation struggle when trade unionists took over the Southern Rhodesian ANC in 1957. It was the working-class and the peasants who gave their blood for liberation from colonial oppression. But rule by the Rhodies has given way to rule by the chefs whom we are expected to respect.

We cannot respect those who steal our resources and do not respect us.

Therefore the Zimbabwe Communist Party calls on the working-class, the peasants and the poor to unite and regain the independence for which they and their forefathers gave their lives.

Forward to real Independence !!
Down with the chefs !!
Down with the imperialists and their stooges !!

Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena

General Secretary

On behalf of the National Steering Committee

Contacts ; +27 83 340 1000

Email : [email protected]

By Paul Nyathi|Chimurenga music guru Thomas Mapfumo nearly caused a stampede as hundreds of fans welcomed him at the Robert Mugabe International Airport on Independence Day.

Mukanya, as the musician is popularly called, landed in the country to a heroes welcome after 14 years in exile in the United States.

Zimbabweans from all walks of life thronged the airport to catch a glimpse of the musical icon’s historic return.

The media had to hackle for an interview in the midst of the ecstatic fans.

Mukanya said he is happy to be back home and to see his fellow friends still alive, adding that he was motivated to be back home after hearing that there has been a restoration of normalcy in the country.

He left the country in 2004 in a protest against then President Robert Mugabe’s leadership accusing Mugabe of gross human rights abuses.

Mapfumo is set to grace the stage with legendary musician Oliver Mtukudzi  and Jah Prayzah in a sold out concert in the capital on the 28th of April.

By Paul Nyathi|Striking nurses from government hospitals nationwide are pulling the state into court if Vice President Constantino Chiwenga does not reverse his statement firing the 20,000 health workers by end of day today.

In a statement, the Zimbabwe Nurses Association on Wednesday evening said that they have engaged their employer the Health Services Board to get an assurance that it will not effect the threat issued by the Vice President or they take the matter to the High Court.

“We have engaged the Health Services Board to confirm that it will not implement the directive issued by the Vice President by not later than 16:00hrs on 19 April 2018 failing which we will approach the High Court on an urgent basis to protect our right,” said the nurses.

The nurses indicated that as far as they are concerned they are engaged in a legal industrial action after notifying their employer of their intention to strike within the regulated two weeks.

The nurses representative body indicated that non of their members have received any letters of dismissal from their employer the Health Services Board and as far as they are concerned their contacts still hold while negotiations with their employer on their grievances are on going.

Chiwenga issued a statement dismissing all the nurses claimimg that government has resolved the nurses problems by committing to pay them over 17 million dollars.

The nurses however dismissed the 17 million dollar commitment as a solution to their grievances claiming that the money is only outstanding payments of allowances promised in 2010.

“The $17 144 446 in the Vice President’s statement relates to arrear allowances dating back to 2010 and has nothing to do with our current demands that triggered the collective action,” said the nurses.

ZINA further claims that non of their members have even received any payments of the promised money.

Meanwhile the government has stated rehiring nurses below the age of 70 to take up posts left by the fired nurses.

Speaking to the ZBC News in Harare over the weekend, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa said the sacking of striking nurses has created a shortage of nurses in government’s health institutions, adding that the rehiring process presents an opportunity for all trained nurses to apply.

He also said those who were fired can also apply as new employees, adding that they can approach nearest central hospital, provincial hospital and provincial medical health directorate immediately.

Ousted MDC-T vice president Dr Thokozani
Khupe has accused Parliament of turning a
blind eye to its constitutional obligation to
protect her tenure as a Member of
Parliament when it endorsed her expulsion
from the august House.

Dr Khupe, who was
the opposition party’s Proportional
Representation Member of Parliament for
Bulawayo Metropolitan, is presently
challenging her expulsion from Parliament.

Last Thursday, MDC-T leader Mr Nelson
Chamisa wrote to Speaker of Parliament
Advocate Jacob Mudenda, claiming that Dr
Khupe no longer represented the party’s
interest.

The aggrieved politician yesterday filed her
challenge at the Constitutional Court citing
Parliament, Speaker of Parliament Advocate
Mudenda and MDC-T chairman Mr Morgan
Komichi as respondents.

Dr Khupe, through her lawyer Professor
Lovemore Madhuku, wants an order
declaring that Parliament failed to fulfil its
constitutional obligation to protect the
tenure of the seat of a Member of Parliament
as required by Sections 119(1) and 129 of the
Constitution.

She also wants the court to reinstate her as
Member of Parliament, including declaring
Mr Komichi’s letter to Parliament, which was
written in terms of Section 129(1)(k) of the
Constitution, null and void.

Section 129 (1) (k) of the Constitution of
Zimbabwe provides that: “A seat of a
Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the
member has ceased to belong to the political
party of which he or she was a member when
elected to Parliament.”

It is Dr Khupe’s contention that both Sections
119(1) and 129 of the Constitution impose a
duty on Parliament to subject every dispute
that impacts on the tenure of a seat of a
Member of Parliament to the courts for
determination before recognising and acting
on the remedy provided for through Section
129(1)(k).

“Section 129(1)(k) has no automatic effect,”
stated Dr Khupe in her papers.
“If there is a dispute between a member and
any group or association purporting to be the
‘political party concerned’ within the
meaning of that expression in Section 129(1)
(k), the first respondent (Parliament) has a
constitutional obligation to protect the
tenure of the seat of a member until the
dispute relating to the requirements in
Section 129(1)(k) has been authoritatively
resolved by the courts.”

She further argues that whenever Parliament
is put on notice by any of its members
regarding a potential dispute in respect of the
requirements of Section 129(1)(k), it has a
constitutional obligation to put into motion a
process akin to interpleader proceedings and
require a court of law to resolve the dispute.
An interpleader is a suit pleaded between
two parties to determine a matter of claim or
right to property held by a third party.
“It is for the first respondent itself to invite
a court to resolve the dispute given its
constitutional obligation to protect the
tenure of seats of its members,” she argues.

“I believe that the view that all that is
required for a vacancy to arise under Section
129(1)(k) is for the second respondent
(Speaker of National Assembly) to receive a
written notice from the political party
concerned is incorrect for the simple reason
that it does not take into account the
constitutional obligations I have outlined.”

Dr Khupe also argues that whenever
Parliament’s attention is drawn to a split or
potential split in a political party, it has a
constitutional obligation not to recognise a
written notice from one of the factions
without either taking the matter to court
under an interpleader of sorts or referring
the parties to a court for determination.

“There is another constitutional obligation
that the first respondent must act reasonably
in everything it does.
“Where it acts irrationally, it breaches its
constitutional obligations.”
Dr Khupe was elected Member of Parliament
under Section 124(1) (b) representing
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province.

The Chamisa-led MDC-T is yet to respond to
the Dr Khupe’s application, which she wants
to be treated with urgency.

Until her expulsion last week, Dr Khupe was
the leader of the opposition party in the
august House by virtue of her being the
party’s deputy president.

The opposition party has become increasingly
fractious, especially after the death of its
founding leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai on
February 14.
Dr Khupe was left the acting president of the
party when Mr Tsvangirai was confined to
his hospital bed in South Africa until his
death.

Mr Chamisa, who has had a nasty fallout with
Dr Khupe over the leadership of the
opposition party since then, last week
recalled Dr Khupe from Parliament after
MDC-T’s national council – regarded as the
opposition party’s supreme decision-making
organ in between congresses – unanimously
agreed to expel her from the party accusing
her of misconduct and intransigence- The Herald.

By Terrence Mawawa| In 2004, Daniel Shumba was fired from the revolutionary party Zanu PF for pushing for Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ascendancy.

Last year after being expelled from the ruling party Shumba decided to launch an opposition party, United Democratic Alliance(UDA).

” Dr Daniel Shumba’ s key attributes:
1.EDUCATION- he is a holder of an MBA and PhD in International Business Strategy.

2.PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
Dr Daniel Shumba is a born again Christian who believes in Christ and has to be practical in National governance.

He is a sociable and likeable individual. His generosity is a sure testimony for all who interacted with him. He is a man of principles and he has a firm character
-yet so humorous.

Dr Shumba is a man of standards who considers best practices in everything as never to be an option but an inevitable human obligation,” UDA said in a statement.

By Paul Nyathi|Opposition MDCT leader Nelson Chamisa on Independence Day stood by his ealier word and attended the National Independence Celebrations at the National Sports Stadium.

The youthful leader shared the VVIP tent with rival President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In a rare political fit in the country, the two leaders shook hands and hugged in front of the thousands who packed the stadium to capacity.

Commenting on his attendance of the celebrations a move which most people in the opposition parties generally do not agree with, Chamisa said that national events like the Independence Day celebrations should unite Zimbabweans.

“Going forward, national events must unite us all as our source of collective national pride. Zimbabwe is for all of us together, BIG & BEST,” said Chamisa.

“With all unmet aspirations, debilitating challenges, neglected advantages & broken hopes being tormented and troubled a nation..Ours is still the ONE & ONLY BEAUTIFUL ZIMBABWE,” said the vibrant opposition leader.

WARNING- Some of the pictures are too gruesome and will need to be heavily edited before publication.

By Own Correspondent| 7 people are feared dead in an accident that occurred in the Harare- Mutare road.

The accident might be the most gruesome accidents to happen in the country this year so far.

Sources told ZimEye, the accident involving a truck and a Toyota Wish, had several alleged dead bodies seen at the roadside. True to their statements, impeccable picture evidence in ZimEye’s possession, shows several apparently lifeless bodies lying on the ground. A-team of  the fire brigade, was pictured attempting to assist some of those who remained trapped inside one of the vehicles. The other vehicle was cut in half, literally, and in a very distressing way.

Further details were sketchy at the time of writing and ZimEye will keep our valued readers and viewers updated.

Terrence Mawawa, Zaka

Zaka Rural District Council will soon enlist the services of the Zimbabwe National Army in a bid to remove illegal vendors from the streets of Jerera Growth Point.

The Zaka Rural District Council board last week resolved to enlist the services of members of the Zimbabwe National Army to beat up vendors.

Zaka Rural District Council Chief Executive Office David Majaura denied the board resolved to hire soldiers to beat up vendors.

“We concurred to find effective ways to remove illegal vendors but we never pinpointed a specific strategy,” said Majaura.

However council sources maintained the army would be roped in to restore order at the growth point.

Terrence Mawawa

Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni has taken over a Mopane Worms processing project meant to benefit villagers in Matabeleland Region, it has emerged.

Villagers in Matshiloni area in Matabeleland have accused Nyoni of snatching the Rovhona Raita Mopane Worms Project.

“Nyoni wants to turn the Mopane Worms Project into a Zanu PF programme.

We have always been doing our activities and we do not need anything from politicians,” fumed a member of the Rovhona Raita Cooperative.

Government sources revealed Nyoni would officiate at the commissioning of the project on April 20.

By Talent Gondo | MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa was received with a hero’s welcome as he arrived at today’s Independence celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.

As the youthful Alliance Presidential candidate made his way to the VIP tent, the huge crowds at the gigantic venue cheered and ululated while others waved at him.

Follow this link to WATCH Chamisa Arrival.

In case you missed pic.twitter.com/31uF9agu6p

— African Prince(Ticha) (@MupfukudzwaT) April 18, 2018

Terrence Mawawa

Opposition parties have- for the first time- extolled President Emmerson Mnangagwa for uniting the people of Zimbabwe.

In a statement released today the NPP has lauded Mnangagwa for promoting diversity of views.

” For the first time in history the Zimbabwean Independence Celebrations have been turned into a national event.Chakanaka chakanaka .

The Independence Celebrations have not been turned into a Zanu PF rally.

For the past 37 years we observed that Zanu PF had monopolised the liberation struggle, national history and national celebrations.

Zimbabweans from all walks of lives want to be associated with the history of this beautiful nation.All Zimbabweans want a better country,” reads part of the NPP statement.

By Talent Gondo

Transform Zimbabwe President, Jacob Ngarivhume has congratulated Zimbabwe and it citizens on the country’s 38th independence, attributing the country’s challenges to a failed leadership.

In his Independence message, Ngarivhume hailed the country’s heroes adding that it was saddening to note that there were elements bent on maintaining the pre independence injustices.

“This day is here because someone believed in the impossible,” said Ngarivhume.

“Do not mind those wishing to place us under a new yoke  of bondage,” he said.

Below is the full text of Jacob Ngarivhume’s Independence Message.

Today we stand humbled and thankful to the Lord for what He did in Zimbabwe 38 years ago. We stand in salute of the works of the generations which arose before us and answered the call to liberate Zimbabwe.

Reflecting on the past, the call to free Zimbabwe was not an easy one. It required people to stand up against a foe that seemed impossible to defeat. Armed with guns, tanks and air power, the enemy seemed a demigod to those with mere spears and arrows.

Yet the generation did not look upon the might of the enemy, but their sight was cast on a vision. The vision that sovereignty was possible. The vision that a black man can be master of his own fate. The vision that one day our nation would be free.

Knowing neither the how nor the when of the vision’s accomplishment, our forefathers answered the call to free Zimbabwe. They left their families and abandoned their lives to travel a journey that had no prescendents. Though they ventured into unknown lands, one thing was clear to them, that they could not continue to live as slaves in their own land.

Today we have a day as this because of the vision, commitment and sacrifices of these great man and women. The 18th of April has become possible because someone believed in the impossible. The likes of Tongogara, Chitepo and Joshua Nkomo. We salute their sacrifice, commitment, determination and hard work which made this day possible.

Yet even they in all their greatness do not own this day. This day belongs to all of Zimbabwe and to every Zimbabwean. For it was the ordinary citizen who cooked food for the comrades, who provided shelter and covered the tracks of our fighters. It was the ordinary woman, an ordinary mother who prayed to the Almighty to safeguard her children and give them success on their journey. It was the ordinary child, a small brother, a small sister that transported critical information from one base to the other. It was the ordinary citizen who sacrificed his life protecting our comrades and fighting for this nation.

They all believed in an ‘impossible’ vision. They all hoped against hope that Zimbabwe can one day be a free nation. And each one played his and her part, whether great or small towards a free Zimbabwe which we now have today. It is these unknown heroes who made this day truly possible.

The 18th of April is the day we celebrate what it truly means to be Zimbabwean. It is the day we celebrate the best of the Zimbabwean values which make us who we are. It is the day we celebrate our ability to prosper even against all odds.

Do not mind those of us who now wish to place us under a new yoke of bondage. Those who foolishly claim that they freed this nation yet this nation was freed because of the commitment and sacrifices of every Zimbabwean.

They have been seduced by the power we entrusted to them to thinking that they are the gods of Zimbabwe. They forget that we the people of Zimbabwe dislodged a mightier force than they which had been in power for centuries longer than them. They forget the relentlessness and steadfastness with which we the people of Zimbabwe pursue our freedom with. Most of all, they forget how the true God of Zimbabwe judges injustice against his beloved people.

38 years after independence, we all know the troubles we are going through. We all know too well the sufferings of our people. How our work force works hard but still earns far below the poverty datum line. How our life expectancy has been reduced even far below the age limit of youths. How our children roam around jobless and how we have been reduced from the bread basket of Africa to the begging bowel of the planet.

Our consistent failure to solve these problems has not been due to a lack of policies, but due to a lack of the right leadership. Ours is not an economic problem, but a political problem. The failure of Zimbabwe has been the failure of leadership.

On this day we celebrated the fruits of those who answered the call of their generation to liberate Zimbabwe from colonial rule, we also have to accept and bare the call upon our generation to liberate Zimbabwe from this oppressive regime. None but ourselves can free us from this scourge.

Only we can fight to restore Zimbabwe’s true legacy. Together as one nation and as one people we can transform our nation and make it a jewel again.

A Zimbabwe where hard working people earn proper incomes and create the life they desire is possible. A Zimbabwe where every one who seeks a job finds one is possible. A Zimbabwe where health access is available to all is possible. A Zimbabwe where development is the order of the day, and where we grow our economy to be the best in Africa is possible and is at hand. Yes, it is possible and we can create it.

On this day, on this 18th of April 2018, as we celebrate what our forefathers did for us, let us also celebrate what we are going to do for our nation. As we celebrate the fruits of their sacrifice, so shall our children and our children’s children celebrate the fruits of our labour in this season. Let history remember that in these days there arose a generation which stood up againast injustice and brought prosperity to our nation.

Happy Independence Day to you all.

• May God bless Zimbabwe, may God bless you all.

Terrence Mawawa

National People’s Party(NPP) Spokesperson Jeffryson Chitando has described Bishop Trevor Manhanga’ s Independence remarks as splendid adding the clergyman literally overshadowed President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the National Sports Stadium.

“Bishop Manhanga’s speech was more inspiring than the President’s remarks.

If one was asked of the two who delivered a Presidential speech, one would pick undoubtedly laud the Bishop,” said Chitando.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

MDC youths have commended liberation war fighters who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country.

However the party’ s youth wing has taken Zanu PF to task for violating the fundamental principles of the liberation struggle.

Below is a statement from the MDC Youth Assembly Masvingo Urban Constituency:

We join the nation and the world in commemorating the heroic exploits and sacrificies that brought our independence in 1980.

Independence Day symbolises our freedom from colonial oppression and racial subjugation,It brought about the most valuable weapon we have- the right to vote.

We need to work collectively as we go forward to guarantee and secure this right to vote,so that forever we can freely choose those who govern us and to hold the government of the day accountable.

We are aware that our freedom fighters fought for a country where all Zimbabweans will exercise their rights without fear. As a party we believe that political violence and intimidation together with unfree and unfair elections are a mockery of a just and fair Zimbabwe that our freedom fighters fought for at the height of the liberation war.

Like the freedom fighters of that time, who saw it worthless to spare their comforts at the expense of the needs of the populace we also prefer the fulfilment of the principles of the struggle to servitude to the throne.

As a party we embrace the sacrifices shown by our freeedom fighters , as we walk in their footsteps we wish to say that we stand in the shoulders of these great men and women who went through painful circumstances and never gave up-happy Independence Day!

By Paul Nyathi| The Minister of State for Bulawayo Province Angelina Masuku was today rushed to hospital after collapsing while reading President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s speech at White City Stadium.

Masuku collapsed after inspecting a guard of honour and standing at attention for almost an hour.

Masuku’s aides, as well as nurses took nearly half an hour to resuscitate her before she finally proceeded with her speech after being attended to by nurses.

She was then rushed to hospital for checks.

Details on her condition were still sketchy and information still coming through at the time of writing – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.

ZimRights|Press Release

April 18, 2018

VP Chiwenga’s firing of nurses condemned
Harare – THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) condemns in the strongest terms the unilateral decision by the Vice President Rtd. General Constantino Guvheya Dominic Chiwenga to fire nurses over a salary dispute.
In a letter dated April 17, 2018, the Vice President purportedly fired all nurses who have been on industrial strike, throwing the health sector into deeper crisis and worsening a situation which was already untenable with many patients struggling to get treated.
The strike by health professionals is a direct result of the perennial underfunding of the health sector, which has seen the budget for health annually falling under the stipulated 15% of the total national budget as per the Abuja Declaration of African Sates of 2001.
The Government has decided to make unfortunate threats and politicise the strike by alleging that the health workers who are genuinely calling for better conditions of service are “politically-motivated.”
Such an approach by the Vice President Rtd. General Chiwenga to the grievances of hardworking nurses, who have been enduring difficult conditions of service for many years now is insensitive and shows disappointing leadership.
ZimRights urges the government to engage in dialogue with the nurses to solve the current challenges in the health sector, which have already affected many ordinary people for more than a month now.
The lack of urgency by the authorities in solving the health crisis negatively impacts the realisation of the human right to health as guaranteed in Sectio 76 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The authorities should not be playing divide-and-rule tactics, where they pay other health practitioners like doctors, while refusing to address the grievances of the nurses and threating to replace them with retirees.
As a standard employer in the country which is supposed to be exemplary in its handling of labour disputes, the government is setting a deplorable example.

ZimRights Hotlines

0773789874, 0733606797, 0718928611

Transform Zimbabwe President’s Independence Message to Zimbabwe

Today we stand humbled and thankful to the Lord for what He did in Zimbabwe 38 years ago. We stand in salute of the works of the generations which arose before us and answered the call to liberate Zimbabwe.

Reflecting on the past, the call to free Zimbabwe was not an easy one. It required people to stand up against a foe that seemed impossible to defeat. Armed with guns, tanks and air power, the enemy seemed a demigod to those with mere spears and arrows.

Yet the generation did not look upon the might of the enemy, but their sight was cast on a vision. The vision that sovereignty was possible. The vision that a black man can be master of his own fate. The vision that one day our nation would be free.

Knowing neither the how nor the when of the vision’s accomplishment, our forefathers answered the call to free Zimbabwe. They left their families and abandoned their lives to travel a journey that had no prescendents. Though they ventured into unknown lands, one thing was clear to them, that they could not continue to live as slaves in their own land.

Today we have a day as this because of the vision, commitment and sacrifices of these great man and women. The 18th of April has become possible because someone believed in the impossible. The likes of Tongogara, Chitepo and Joshua Nkomo. We salute their sacrifice, commitment, determination and hard work which made this day possible.

Yet even they in all their greatness do not own this day. This day belongs to all of Zimbabwe and to every Zimbabwean. For it was the ordinary citizen who cooked food for the comrades, who provided shelter and covered the tracks of our fighters. It was the ordinary woman, an ordinary mother who prayed to the Almighty to safeguard her children and give them success on their journey. It was the ordinary child, a small brother, a small sister that transported critical information from one base to the other. It was the ordinary citizen who sacrificed his life protecting our comrades and fighting for this nation.

They all believed in an ‘impossible’ vision. They all hoped against hope that Zimbabwe can one day be a free nation. And each one played his and her part, whether great or small towards a free Zimbabwe which we now have today. It is these unknown heroes who made this day truly possible.

The 18th of April is the day we celebrate what it truly means to be Zimbabwean. It is the day we celebrate the best of the Zimbabwean values which make us who we are. It is the day we celebrate our ability to prosper even against all odds.

Do not mind those of us who now wish to place us under a new yoke of bondage. Those who foolishly claim that they freed this nation yet this nation was freed because of the commitment and sacrifices of every Zimbabwean.

They have been seduced by the power we entrusted to them to thinking that they are the gods of Zimbabwe. They forget that we the people of Zimbabwe dislodged a mightier force than they which had been in power for centuries longer than them. They forget the relentlessness and steadfastness with which we the people of Zimbabwe pursue our freedom with. Most of all, they forget how the true God of Zimbabwe judges injustice against his beloved people.

38 years after independence, we all know the troubles we are going through. We all know too well the sufferings of our people. How our work force works hard but still earns far below the poverty datum line. How our life expectancy has been reduced even far below the age limit of youths. How our children roam around jobless and how we have been reduced from the bread basket of Africa to the begging bowel of the planet.

Our consistent failure to solve these problems has not been due to a lack of policies, but due to a lack of the right leadership. Ours is not an economic problem, but a political problem. The failure of Zimbabwe has been the failure of leadership.

On this day we celebrated the fruits of those who answered the call of their generation to liberate Zimbabwe from colonial rule, we also have to accept and bare the call upon our generation to liberate Zimbabwe from this oppressive regime. None but ourselves can free us from this scourge.

Only we can fight to restore Zimbabwe’s true legacy. Together as one nation and as one people we can transform our nation and make it a jewel again.

A Zimbabwe where hard working people earn proper incomes and create the life they desire is possible. A Zimbabwe where every one who seeks a job finds one is possible. A Zimbabwe where health access is available to all is possible. A Zimbabwe where development is the order of the day, and where we grow our economy to be the best in Africa is possible and is at hand. Yes, it is possible and we can create it.

On this day, on this 18th of April 2018, as we celebrate what our forefathers did for us, let us also celebrate what we are going to do for our nation. As we celebrate the fruits of their sacrifice, so shall our children and our children’s children celebrate the fruits of our labour in this season. Let history remember that in these days there arose a generation which stood up againast injustice and brought prosperity to our nation.

Happy Independence Day to you all.

May God bless Zimbabwe, may God bless you all.

Together we will Transform Zimbabwe

Jacob Ngarivhume
TZ President

#PullingTogether to #MakeZimbabweAJewelAgain
#StopBlaming #StartActing
#vote2018

By Paul Nyathi|Self exiled Legendary chimurenga music singer Thomas Tafirenyika “Mukanya” Mapfumo is expected to land back home on Independence Day evening.

Mapfumo who has been exiled in the USA for close to two decades will be jetting into the country ten days ahead of his homecoming show set for Glamis Arena on April 28.

Mukanya will share the stage with Oliver Mtukudzi, Suluman Chimbetu, Winky D, Andy Muridzo and Gary Tight.

“Mukanya will arrive at 9.15pm and will be met at the airport by organisers of the show, fans, relatives and friends. It will be a grand welcome for the musician because he has not been in the country for a long time. He is looking forward to the trip and he will also travel with his family. It will be an important occasion for him and the family,” said Blessing Vava Mapfumo’s Public Relations Officer.

Tickets for the concert are reportedly selling very fast.

“Most cheap tickets have been sold out and we are in the last phase of ticket sales. There will be not tickets at the venue and we encourage people to buy their tickets in advance. Mukanya will have various programmes when he arrives and we know that by the day of the show he will be inspired to do the best for his fans. It promises to be a great show indeed,” said one of the organisers.

The Glamis Arena is likely to host a record crowd as Mukanya’s fans and others that have not seen him on stage in their lives are preparing to witness the grand bira. People from many parts of the country have expressed interest in travelling to Harare for the show.

By Talent Gondo| The arbitrary firing of nurses by Vice President General Constantine Chiwenga is scary and is possibly disastrous for civilians if  the military retains power and gets another 5 year mandate to govern the country, the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) Director, Pedzisai Ruhanya has said.

Ruhanya described VP Chiwenga’s actions as a reflection and indication that the country is under leaders who are worse than the former President Robert Mugabe.

“You see the Mugabe mentality and behaviour in Chiwenga; very evil and Mary Chiwenga could be worse than Grace. Fire the problem not the nurse,” he said.

Ruhanya emphasised the importance of civilian control for a successful democracy.

“Democracy and military: For democracy, civilian control–that is, control of the military by civilian officials elected by the people–is fundamental,” he said.

“Civilian control allows a nation to base its values, institutions, and practices on the popular will rather than on the choices of military leaders, whose outlook by definition focuses on the need for internal order and external security,” said Ruhanya.

He said that because the military is, by necessity, among the least democratic institutions in human experience; martial customs and procedures clash by nature with individual freedom and civil liberty, the highest values in any democratic societies.

Ruhanya cautioned Zimbabweans to elect their leaders carefully come 2018.

“When you decide in July 2018, keep this in mind, it could be worse if you give them five more years of full military rule,” said Ruhanya.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s ex-wife, Jocelyn is in trouble over a 2.6 million dollar loan.

The latest developments indicate that she has defaulted on paying the lumpsum back.

She is now at serious risk of losing a large part of her property empire.

Jocelyn, is on history for allegedly assaulting the former commander during the subsistence of their marriage. This was before the general had moved on to his new lover who is now his wife, Mary. She was also popular for exposing the vice president’s wealth during the time of the messy divorce.

But this time she has been sued at the High Court after failing to repay a $2.6 million CBZ Bank loan.

She is being sued together with her companies Rugnet Ventures (Private) Ltd and Licybuster Investments (Private) Ltd. Court papers filed by CBZ read:

The first, second and third defendants (Rugnet, Jocelyn, Licybuster) breached the terms of the restructured loan facility agreement by failing to repay the principal amount and interest fully and punctually in annual instalments of $260 000.

The third defendant registered a first mortgage bond for $607 500 stand number 2161 Glen Lorne Township stand number 812 Glen Lorne Township 15 registered in the name of the third defendant and held under deed of transfer number 3787/08 dated June 3, 2008, as security for the debt, hence the property becomes executable…. As at the date of summons, the defendant’s total indebtedness to plaintiff was in the sum of $2 594 249,97. – Newsday

By Talent Gondo| The name of the man who allegedly caused his girlfriend to commit suicide over a leaked sex tape has been revealed.

The man is called Terrence Chipinga and he is said to be a UZ student. The girl who committed suicide is called Tapiwa Mushava, ZimEye has learnt.

It is alleged that Mushava committed suicide after Chipinga posted videos of the duo while they were having sex.

The deceased’s sister, in a telephone call to Chipinga accused him of causing her sister’s death indicating that they retrieved messages from her phone where she made a plea to her boyfriend to delete the videos threatening to kill herself if he leaked them.

Efforts to get a comment from the police regarding Mushava’s death were futile since yesterday.

Police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi could not confirm the death referring ZimEye to Assistant Inspector Clemence Mabweazara,  who is the ZRP’s Mashonaland West Spokesperson.

Assistant Inspector Mabweazara’s mobile phone went unanswered. Meanwhile several people commented on the matter on the LIVE breaking news broadcast last night. WATCH BELOW FOR MORE:

By A Correspondent| The renegade former MDC Deputy President Thokozani Khupe was yesterday snapped at the entrance of the Criminal Court while coming out of the hearing in which she is suing her former boss, Nelson Chamisa.

Khupe submitted her application.

Some experts indicate that she could win the case.

In the application, Dr Khupe and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) are cited as the applicants while the Parliament of Zimbabwe , Speaker of Parliament and MDC-T national deputy chairperson Mr Morgen Komichi are cited as the first , second and third respondents.

“At the core of this application is my contention that the first respondent, in arbitrarily announcing that I had lost my seat in circumstances where no reasonable Parliament could ever act in the same manner, failed to fulfil its constitutional obligation to protect the security of my seat as its duly elected member.

“I am approaching this Court in my own interests as a citizen of Zimbabwe, who was elected a Member of the National Assembly in the last general election held on 31 July, 2013. Notwithstanding the position taken by the first respondent, I believe that, at law, I am still a Member of Parliament,” read the application.

In her application Khupe further claims that parliament erred in choosing to listen to our side of a party involved in factional fights without consulting the other side….

By Paul Nyathi|The Bulawayo High Court has postponed by another week its determination on who has the right to use the name MDC-T in factional fighters between Thokozani Khuphe and Nelson Chamisa.

Justice Francis Bere on Wednesday said that he will make his ruling on the matter next week having gone through the presentations of the two factions.

The Nelson Chamisa led faction took the matter to the High Court about two weeks ago seeking an urgent court interdiction stopping Khuphe from using the name and claiming to be the leader of the party.

The Chamisa faction claims that Khuphe was officially dismissed from the party and can no longer associate herself with the MDC-T name and logos.

Chamisa was elevated to party President by the National Council following the death of founding President Morgan Tsvangirai in February.

Khuphe who was Co Deputy President to Chamisa claims that according to the party constitution, she was the one who was meant to lead the party in the interim until a special congress is held to elect a new leader.

There was drama at the Court when lawyers from the two factions provided two different copies of the party constitution with each claiming theirs to be the genuine constitution of the party.

The Chamisa faction faction provided a constitution which talks of the National Council having the powers to appoint a President while the Khuphe faction constitution says only the National Congress can do that.

By Talent Gondo| MDC Alliance  President, Nelson Chamisa has revealed that he will today attend Independence Day Commemorations.

Chamisa revealed this in his Independence message posted on his Facebook page.

“At a personal level, I will today attend the national event and the national commemorations of this great event,” said Chamisa.

He said because independence was a great day whose meaning and significance goes beyond the narrow strictures and confines of political party affiliation, his party and those in the Alliance would attend the commemorations nationally.

“All the leaders and members of the MDC-T will be attending today’s independence celebrations in the various areas where they will be taking place,” said Chamisa.

“In my case, I will be joining other national leaders in giving this day its true meaning and value. It is a great day that deserves to be commemorated by all of us.”

Zanu Pf Spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo is on record extending an invitation to all Zimbabweans regardless of their political affiliation to attend Independence day.

“This year’s commemorations are unique because we are in the new dispensation,” said Khaya Moyo.

The Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province, Mirriam Chikukwa also appealed to all Zimbabweans including opposition political party supporters and leaders to attend this year’s commemorations arguing that independence was a national event and not a political affair.

Chamisa said there is need for Zimbabweans to restore the full meaning of Independence Day.

“We must restore the meaning of this great day whose appeal must go to Zimbabweans of all shades and political colours,” said Chamisa.

“It is belittling of this great day to give the impression that our liberation was fought for a single political party.”

“It was a truly national liberation that must appeal to the kaleidoscopic and full variety of our political milieu!” he said.

Below is MDC Alliance President full Independence Message.

President Adv. Nelson Chamisa’s Independence Day message to the people of Zimbabwe

Introduction| Zimbabwe did not come cheap. It took a protracted and grueling struggle to liberate the country from the shackles of colonial bondage. The patriotic sons and daughters of this land died while some were raped or maimed in the selfless national duty to liberate this country.Today, we remember them.

Today, we salute the heroic struggle of the people of Zimbabwe in consigning that dark epoch to the dustbins of history.

Today, we mark the advent of our political independence and the stoic gallantry that it took to restore the dignity of the black Zimbabwean.

Today, we stand with pride as a heroic people who took up arms to fight oppression. Indeed, we are a nation of heroes.

Our mission: Completing the unfinished business

As a new generation and as a post-liberation political formation, our mandate and our mission is to be the compass of that struggle by ensuring that the people‘s aspirations are fulfilled.

We so much cherish the aspirational and inspirational values of the liberation struggle to the extent that we take great exception if those sacred values are betrayed or dismembered. At the core of that liberation was the legitimate demand for one-man-one vote and that is why we are pressing for the sovereign expression of the will of the people through a free, fair and credible election.

Our call for electoral reforms is very much attached to the core value of the liberation struggle which was the right to vote.

One cannot cherish the liberation struggle but negate in every way the people’s right to free expression through a credible election. That is tantamount to a betrayal of the liberation struggle whose meaning and import we cherish and remember on this very day.

I wish to restate that our generation’s struggle for democracy stands on the shoulders of the earlier struggle of liberation. As a nation, we liberated ourselves so that we could truly be free in every respect. Therefore our democratic struggle represents our avowed wish to complete the agenda of the liberation struggle and not to negate it!

We only wish to complete the unfinished business of that sacred struggle that we commemorate on this Independence Day. So great was the meaning of that expression that we feel a day is not enough for a nation’s full expression. That is why as a party we in the MDC-T have declared this April to be an independence month. A day’s celebration is an understatement of the significance of independence in our nation’s history.

In the truly new dispensation that begins after the next election; we will remain committed to an Independence month and not a mere independence day. We will commit a whole month to the truly convivial and carnival celebration of the heroism of the people of this land in fighting tyranny and oppression.

Independence: a personal eulogy

At a personal level, I will today attend the national event and the national commemorations of this great event.

Independence is a great day whose meaning and significance go beyond the narrow strictures and confines of political party affiliation. We must restore the full meaning of our independence into a great day whose appeal must go to Zimbabweans of all shades and political colours.

It is belittling of this great day to give the impression that our liberation was fought for a single political party. It was a truly national liberation that must appeal to the kaleidoscopic and full variety of our political milieu!

All the leaders and members of the MDC-T will be attending today’s independence celebrations in the various areas where they will be taking place. In my case, I will be joining other national leaders in giving this day its true meaning and value. It is a great day that deserves to be commemorated by all of us.

A tribute to the people of Zimbabwe

I would want to use this public holiday to pay tribute to the honest and hard working people of Zimbabwe who are slugging it out under very difficult circumstances.

The totality of Zimbabweans must be respected and thanked because it is them who fought the liberation struggle. All Zimbabweans deserve respect, including war veterans, dead and alive, war collaborators, ex-detainees and those who were in their fathers’ loins and in their mothers’ wombs.

We pay tribute to SMEs for sustaining Zimbabweans in the face of brutal mismanagement of the country. We say thank you to the nurses, doctors, teachers, and all civil servants, those serving in defence, in the police, intelligence and in correctional services. Thank you for working under very difficult circumstances.

We say thank you to all those in the diplomatic corps, in the various government ministries and to all Zimbabwean students in and outside the country.

We want to call for discipline, accountability, transparency and uprightness.

We want to thank all religious leaders and congregants for sustaining the moral fabric and dignity of the people. Thank you to all Diasporans, to small scale entrepreneurs, petrol attendants, gardeners, commuter omnibus drivers and their assistants all of whom are often forgotten about.

Soon—and very soon–we will be unveiling a robust policy programme that will address all the challenges that you face.

Happy Independence anniversary Zimbabwe!

By Paul Nyathi|Faction leading former MDC-T Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe has challenged her dismissal from parliament by the Nelson Chamisa faction in the Constitutional Court.

Khupe filed an urgent application at the Court in Harare on Wednesday seeking reinstatement into the August house.

Khuphe through her lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku is also challenging what she terms Parliaments’ failure to fulfil its constitutional obligation to protect the security of her seat as a duly elected MP and the leader of opposition.

In the application, Dr Khuphe and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) are cited as the applicants while the Parliament of Zimbabwe , Speaker of Parliament and MDC-T national deputy chairperson Mr Morgen Komichi are cited as the first , second and third respondents.

“At the core of this application is my contention that the first respondent, in arbitrarily announcing that I had lost my seat in circumstances where no reasonable Parliament could ever act in the same manner, failed to fulfil its constitutional obligation to protect the security of my seat as its duly elected member.

“I am approaching this Court in my own interests as a citizen of Zimbabwe, who was elected a Member of the National Assembly in the last general election held on 31 July, 2013. Notwithstanding the position taken by the first respondent, I believe that, at law, I am still a Member of Parliament,” read the application.

In her application Khuphe further claims that parliament erred in choosing to listen to our side of a party involved in factional fights without consulting the other side.

“From the foregoing, there is a failure by the first respondent in several respects. First, despite being put on notice by me in my capacity as a member and leader of the opposition in Parliament regarding the leadership wrangles triggered by the death of our president, the first respondent failed to fulfil the constitutional obligation of referring the issue to, or waiting for, a court of law before recognising the contents of the letter by the third respondent. Secondly, in the circumstances of this case, the first respondent acted irrationally in recognising the contents of the letter by the third respondent. I submit that no reasonable parliament could ever have recognised the contents of the third respondent’s purported written notice,” said Khuphe.

She said she believed that the matter was extremely urgent as parliament is currently discussing critical matters she wants to be involved in.

“I am the leader of a political party and my absence from Parliament seriously prejudices not only my political career but also the interests of my party and the electorate. Parliament is currently debating electoral reforms ahead of the next elections. I have an electoral mandate to be involved at this crucial period,” read the application.

Khuphe demands that the Chamisa led faction and the parliament bear the costs of her application.

‘That the Respondents (if they oppose this application) jointly and severally pay the costs of this application the one paying the others to be absolved,” read the draft order.

Terrence Mawawa

Political analyst and former Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition member, Joy Mabenge has described the decision by the government to fire nurses as ill-advised.

“No matter how bad the situation is, authorities in
Zim must desist from making knee-jerk and
emotional decisoins that will fast track the
collapse of an already under pressure public health
system.

The decision to fire all striking nurses,
more so through a press statement is by any and
all standards ill-advised.

Dialogue is the answer
not intimidation. Come now, and let us
reason together,” said Mabenge yesterday.

By Dorrothy Moyo| The verdict for the Chamisa versus Khupe case is due in 6 days time.

The case which was via an urgent High Court chamber application over the use of the MDC-T party symbol and name, will be finalised next Tuesday.

The two appeared before the Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Martin Makonese through their lawyers TJ Mabhikwa and Partners, and for Chamisa, Artherstone and Cook Legal Practitioners.

The lawsuit was filed by Nelson Chamisa and Khupe has to date opposed the application.

Chamisa is seeking an urgent chamber order to stop her and her colleagues, Mr Abednico Bhebhe and Obert Gutu, from “unlawfully exploiting and abusing its registered MDC-T trademark, symbols and signs.”

Chamisa says according to the parliament’s mandate, Khupe is not entitled to conduct a congress as she is expected to get clearance from the parliament’s secretariat. 

Arguing, Khupe’s lawyer, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, said Chamisa’s lawyers did not submit the MDC-T party’s constitution during the urgent application to the chamber.

He said this was because Chamisa knew that Khupe was the legitimate party leader.

By Farai D Hove| The Zimbabwean government has fired all striking nurses.

The announcement was made Tuesday evening that all striking nurses are with immediate effect no longer employed. The Ministry Of Health in their statement read out on the state media said, the nurses were fired after rejecting a $17,1 million offer.

Commenting on the development, MDC standing committee member Chalton Hwende told President Emmerson Mnangagwa, “Zimbabwe is now open for lunacy.”

Aspirant for Harare East MP seat, Linda Masarira lambasted Mnangagwa saying, “Firing striking nurses is not the solution to the health crisis in Zimbabwe. Shame on you @edmnangagwa @MoHCCZim Solve the crisis in the health sector and attend to the nurse’s grievances Labour injustice is a result of coup capitalists running the country,” she wrote on her Twitter portal.

– More on this following shortly LIVE on ZimEye.com – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY

By Paul Nyathi| President Emmerson Mnangagwa finally made a public appearance without his infamous “Scarf Of Many Colours” after months of dragging the scarf with him everywhere he went.

Mnangagwa made the scarfless appearance at the City Sports Centre in Harare where he spent the day with thousands of children ahead of the country’s 38th Independence celebrations.

Mnangagwa hailed his meeting with the children claiming that the children motivated him to give hope to the country.

“This afternoon, ahead of Independence Day, I spent time with our beloved children from all over the country.

“I saw in their eyes the spark of hope. The spark that returned to our nation in November and grows brighter each day.

“It is all of our responsibilities to ensure that these eyes will shine with opportunity, aspiration and excitement for the future of our nation.

“With these sparks, we are creating a bright future for all in our new Zimbabwe – a free, proud and thriving middle income nation, characterised by decent jobs, sustainable income and free from corruption.

It is for these children that we must work together tirelessly to build and progress, not just for today or tomorrow, but for generations to come.

Let us
commemorate our Independence
Tomorrow is Independence Day and every patriotic
Zimbabwean must take time to reflect on the
supreme national sacrifice in which the sons and
daughters of this land paid the ultimate sacrifice
while some lost their limbs so that the whims of
future generations could walk again.
Some of us are proud of the liberation legacy and the
successful quest by Zimbabweans to reclaim their
dignity from a oppressive colonial regime.

Even as a post-liberation political formation, we
stand for the continuation and perpetuation and not
the negation or opposition of the liberation project.
We are proud and patriotic Zimbabweans and
tomorrow we will be joining the rest of the nation in
paying tribute to that invaluable chapter in our
national story.
Our only wish is to complete the outstanding
business of our independence so that political
independence would truly mean the advent of
freedoms and the proper respect for the right to vote
which was at the core of our protracted national
struggle. The land and the right to vote were at the
epicenter of the people’s struggle.
In many ways, the sanctity of our struggle has been
undermined, if not hijacked, by a selected few who
have betrayed the noble aspirations of Zimbabweans
when they waged that brutal struggle. As a post-
liberation political formation, we anchor our own
struggles on the liberation struggle, its values and
aspirations.
We truly honour the liberation effort.
Tomorrow, we will be joining the rest of the nation in
commemorating the heroic act of Zimbabweans in
consigning colonial oppression to the dustbins of
history. The only challenge is to finish the
outstanding business of that struggle for which so
many Zimbabweans died.
Going rural: Thank You Masvingo
True to our promise of going rural in this election
campaign, I had an eventful weekend in Masvingo,
starting with the chastening rally at Nyika growth
point in Bikita on Friday and then another huge-turn-
out at Jerera in Zaka the following day.
Elsewhere, the MDC-T and MDC Alliance leaders
were addressing huge crowds in the rural hinterland
from Nkayi in Matabeleland North, Mount Darwin in
Mashonaland central, Gokwe in the Midlands,
Hurungwe in Mashonaland West to Makoni in
Manicaland province. We have pledged to largely go
rural in this election and over the weekend, we were
doing precisely that by honouring our solemn pledge
to go rural in our campaign.
My visit and interactions with the people in Masvingo
brought a lot of issues to the fore.
The first was the hunger for change, which is now a
national chorus.
What was glaringly palpable was the self-evident
collapse of the national infrastructure and the
fracturing of our communities. I saw collapsed
services, poor roads and dilapidated hospitals.
I saw for myself the deadening poverty pervading our
rural areas and how Zimbabweans are struggling to
put food on the table.
I saw the marginalization of the people and the
abuse of our traditional leaders who are being used
to intimidate villagers by collecting serial numbers of
the voter registration slips.
I saw command politics at play, as evidenced by the
use of food as a political weapon in the rural
communities. Known and identified government
bureaucrats have been deployed to advance a
partisan agenda and to strike fear in the rural
communities.
Bikita in Context
On Friday, I was chastened by the huge turn-out at
Nyika growth point in Bikita. I had occasion to
engage the people and our message centred on the
need for electoral reforms as well as our policy
agenda that will be undergirded by the tripod pillars
of transformation, opportunity and prosperity.
After the rally at Nyika, I had occasion to visit
Silveira Mission hospital, where I was born some 40
years ago. It was a nostalgic moment and I saw for
myself how things are getting worse in our hospitals.
For example, there were three beds in the ward
where I was born but I realized on Friday that only
two were left as the third had since broken. Things
have taken a debilitating turn since I was born at
that hospital in rural Bikita, where my mother comes
from.
I saw 22 expecting women in the maternity ward,
who are being asked to pay $50 for the national
service of giving birth to the future leaders of this
country.
Our incoming government will ensure that we scrap
such fees charged on women for performing a
national service.
I took time to pray with a 9-year old Mercy
Chigwende, a young girl with the rare condition of
cancer of the blood. Her parents are finding it
difficult to meet the huge bills where she is being
charged $400 per week. I assisted with some
money but money alone is nothing. I had to summon
the providence of God to intervene to save the life of
the innocent girl.
On Saturday, I attended Holy Communion at the
church conference in Chatsworth, where I had
occasion to listen to a powerful word and found time
to pray with the church elders and pastors.
I would wish to restate my unstinting belief that
politics should not usurp church platforms to peddle
a partisan agenda. Church platforms must be
exclusively used for the word of God. Anything else
is tantamount to defiling the sacred and sanctified
holy places of worship.
In the afternoon I addressed a rally at Jerera Growth
Point in Zaka where again I had occasion to sum up
our promise to the people of Zimbabwe when we
form the next government in September. We pledge
to restore the dignity of Zimbabweans, to create jobs
but first of all to ensure that we create a proper
environment for the people to express their sovereign
will in a truly free, fair and credible election.
I also found time to lay wreath on the grave of Crison
Mbano, a political violence victim and one of our
party activists in Zaka who was killed in the
despicable Zanu PF-orchestrated violence of 2008 in
which so many Zimbabweans died. I saw some of
the survivors of the brutal violence in which Mbano
and others perished.
Indeed, I was sorely touched by their plight as well
as that of the many thousands of Zimbabweans
throughout the country who suffered a similar fate.
Going rural again
This coming weekend I will be interacting with the
people in yet another rural community but first, I
have to join my fellow citizens in the important duty
of commemorating our independence.
Indeed, we must spare a thought for the brutal but
heroic struggle that we waged against an oppressive
colonial system.
Happy independence month, Zimbabwe!

By Paul Nyathi|Students at the Zimbabwe School of Mines in Bulawayo disrupted operations at the institution as they engaged in a demonstration over alleged poor service delivery by the school administration.

A report by the state owned ZBC news indicates that picketing students cordoned off entrance to the administration offices while some boycotted learning and spent the day roaming around the school premises.

The students are reported to have raised a number of concerns from exorbitant fees, lack of understanding on the part of administrators when it came to payment deadlines and poor conditions they were being exposed to, among other issues.

While some accused their Student Representative Council (SRC) of working in cahoots with the school authorities, a member of the body, Mutsawashe Nemadire, denied the charge, indicating that they were trying everything to have the students’ concerns addressed.

 “We are working on them and we are pushing as well. We are talking to management. We are sorting out things but everything is going on well. That’s one thing I can promise,” Nemadire, told the ZBC.

After almost three hours of discussions between the school authorities and the students’ representatives, efforts to address the demonstrators yielded no joy as the students walked away arguing that the resolutions were not satisfactory.

The Chief Executive Officer of the institution Mr Dzingirai Tusai noted the students were not being sincere as most of the issues they were raising could be easily addressed differently.

 “There was no need for that type of voicing of their concerns because they were just simple concerns that could have gone through to administration and to the training and operations department on how they are affected in the institution,” Mr Tusai said.

With a stalemate declared, it appears the students will continue with their defiance and hopes are the impasse will soon be resolved to pave way for resumption of operations.

Source: ZBC news

Terrence Mawawa

A Zanu PF Youth League member who assaulted a human rights activist was slapped with a $ 1500 lawsuit last week.

The Zanu PF activist, Matora Masiiwa allegedly assaulted Abel Mauchi for disrupting ruling party programmes in Gutu District.

Mauchi is a member of the Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice.

In passing the sentence, Gutu Magistrate Edwin Marecha urged political activists to refrain from perpetrating acts of violence.

Magistrate Marecha also warned would be offenders the court would not be selective in applying the law.

The magistrate also ruled that Masiiwa acted in an overzealous manner.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| A Zimbabwe National Army soldier got the shock of a lifetime when he found his wife in a compromising position with his workmate.

Brighton Tendaimambo of 4 Brigade, Masvingo could not contain himself when he caught his wife Khumbulani Mazorodze having sex with another soldier, Abel Chiwocha in his house.

An emotionally Tendaimambo told the court last week he could not bear the sight of finding his wife cuddling with another man.

In a fit of rage Tendaimambo assaulted Chiwocha with clenched fists.

He also headbutted Chiwocha several times, the court heard.

Chiwocha claimed Tendaimambo wanted to kill him.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

A Zimbabwe National Army soldier got the shock of a lifetime when he found his wife in a compromising position with his workmate.

Brighton Tendaimambo of 4 Brigade, Masvingo could not contain himself when he caught his wife Khumbulani Mazorodze having sex with another soldier, Abel Chiwocha in his house.

An emotionally Tendaimambo told the court last week he could not bear the sight of finding his wife cuddling with another man.

In a fit of rage Tendaimambo assaulted Chiwocha with clenched fists.

He also headbutted Chiwocha several times, the court heard.

Chiwocha claimed Tendaimambo wanted to kill him.

The Norton member of parliament, Temba Mliswa has alerted the police to speed up investigations on the case of a man who caused his girlfriend to commit suicide.

The man suspect was at the time of writing named as Terrence.

HON Mliswa told ZimEye he is firmly on the case and will ensure that justice is meted out.  – standby for the LIVE coverage on ZimEye.com  – refresh this page

Terrence Mawawa

The ruling party Zanu is demanding an office at the Chiredzi Town Council Premises, it has emerged.

Sources at Chiredzi Town Council yesterday claimed a letter had been written by the ruling party to the local authority instructing senior officials to make arrangements for the allocation of an office to the revolutionary party.

“Senior council officials are in a panic mode so they want the instruction to be followed with immediate effect.

A meeting was held at the council premises to deliberate on the matter last week,” a council sources told ZimEye.com.

“The matter has already been discussed and the ruling party is likely to be allocated an office by the end of the month,” added the source.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

Controversial Masvingo State Minister, Josaya Dunira Hungwe has promised to distribute residential stands to Zanu PF officials in a calculated move to drum up support for his cousin.

Hungwe’ s cousin Goddard Dunira is vying for the Masvingo Urban Parliamentary seat and he is facing stiff competition from Edison Zvobgo Junior who is also eyeing the same seat.

Impeccable sources told ZimEye.com Hungwe was determined to campaign for his cousin and had promised to parcel out 36 residential stands to senior party officials in the constituency.

Dunira however said the claims were unfounded and fictitious.

“There is nothing like that.The plans are implemented by senior government officials at national level,” said Dunira.

By A Correspondent| The latest in the case that saw three men dramatically die one after the other after stealing from the late Pastor Charles Chiriseri has seen the High Court ruling that the surviving police officer who has asked not to be disciplined being ordered to face the law.

The respected Senior High Court Judge, Justice Nicholas Mathonsi ruled that Tawanda Mawere (32), must face disciplinary proceedings as he stands accused of robbing Apostle Charles Chiriseri’s corpse of $200 following the fatal traffic accident which happened one an a half years ago.

In his ruling Justice Mathonsi said, “the position of our law at the moment clearly states that a police officer who has been prosecuted in the criminal court is still liable for disciplinary action in terms of the Police Act. The Police Act deals with the enforcement of discipline and the first respondent (Comm-Gen Matanga) has the administrative authority to arrest indiscipline within the police force…What this means, therefore, is that the applicant is standing on sinking ground and the application for an interdict must, therefore, fail as what is lawful cannot be interdicted.”