By Dorrothy Moyo| Former MDC-T Vice President Thokozani Khupe, currently battling a court application for legitimacy has once again cancelled her congress.
Her spokesman Obert Gutu made the announcement late Friday. Below was Gutu’s full text:
The legitimate Acting President of the MDCT Dr. Thokozani Khupe has cancelled the Congress of the party slated for Saturday, 21 April 2018 at Stanley Square in Bulawayo.
The cancellation comes as a result of the court ruling in the party’s challenge to firing of its legitimate President by Parliament after the Tsvangirai faction under Nelson Chamisa convinced Parliament that they are the real MDCT.
The Concourt has since ruled in our favour that the matter of the president Khupe’s dismissal is urgent and will be heard on 30 May 2018.
In light of this the party has postponed the Congress to 2 June 2018. Logistical arrangements have thus been cancelled all delegates will reached out to via usual channels.
By Talent Gondo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa who was surprisingly silent about the striking nurses in his Independence Day message has finally opened up on why government fired nurses to an audience in Chipinge claiming that the strike was politically motivated.
Mnangagwa told villagers at a field day in Chipinge that he was well briefed about the developments in the health sector and he had come to the conclusion that there was political interference pushing the nurses to strike.
“I was well briefed about their refusal to wait for just two days until we could pay them despite that they had waited for over 8 years following their 2010 agreement,” said Mnangagwa.
“We realised that there is a force behind this. How can one refuse to wait for 2 days until we finalise payment modalities when they have waited for 8 years, so we said fire them. Anyone who needs a job, go and apply,” said Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa justified government’s move to relieve the nurses of their duties adding that this was because government prioritises it’s citizens’ health.
“We told them to go back to work but they refused.They indicated that they will only go to work if the US $17 million that had been allocated to them by treasury reflected in their individual accounts,” said Mnangagwa.
“We said two days is a long time and the nation cannot afford that. What if we lost a lot of lives during those two days? We value nurses but we also value citizens’ s health and life.”
Mnangagwa called on unemployed nurses to apply for nursing positions adding that those fired could reapply
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga fired all striking nurses on Independence Day
By Paul Nyathi|Striking nurses will on Friday hold public free clinics to help members of the public receive urgent medical assistance.
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association revealed in a statement on Thursday that the nurses will show their commitment to duty by running open air free clinics for members of the public in Bulawayo and Harare on Friday.
The clinics will be stationed at the Africa Unity Square in Harare and at The City Hall Car Park in Bulawayo.
According to the statement, the nurses will provide basic medical services that will include observations, consultation and counselling on members of the public requiring urgent medical help.
Sources within the nurses indicated that several pharmaceutical companies have promised to donate basic equipment and drugs for the nurses as a solidarity move.
“As nurses we are able and ready to provide care to Zimbabweans but we can not continue working under the current condition,” said the nurses in the statement.
Government through Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Independence Day announced that it had dismissed all the striking nurses two days into their collective job action.
The nurses have since taken the matter to the High Court for a determination.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been listed in the leaders category as one of the most influential people in the world. Mnangagwa sits in Times Magazine’s top 100 influentials, with the write-up being penned by ThisFlag pastor and activist, Evan Mawarire. Mawarire says,
“The elation that greeted the end of Robert Mugabe’s 37-year reign naturally enough transformed into hopes for his successor. And in his first 100 days, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa spoke of re-engaging, forgiveness, democracy and unity. But though words matter, so does the survival of a system that destroyed the hopes and dreams of generations. For four decades, Zimbabwe’s new President was the protégé of the dictator he eventually deposed. Mnangagwa says very little of his own volition. He waits for you to speak and only responds when absolutely necessary. As Mugabe learned, he is extremely patient, choosing his moments of response or retaliation carefully. Mugabe described him as a man who does not forgive or forget very easily. Maybe that’s why for years, Mnangagwa has kept his liberation war nickname, the Crocodile. The undeniable paradox of Zimbabwe’s moment of healing is that the doctor was once the butcher.”
By Paul Nyathi|King Mswati III of Swaziland has announced an immediate change of the country’s name to Eswatini.
Mswati made the announcement on Thursday at a joint celebration of the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary and his own 50th Birthday held at Somhlolo Stadium in the second capital city Manzini.
Eswatini is a SiSwati word for Land of the Swazi people.
Unlike some countries, Swaziland did not change its name when it gained independence in 1968 after being a British protectorate for more than 60 years.
“I would like to announce that Swaziland will now revert to its original name,” said King Mswati amidst huge cheers from the crowd.
“African countries on getting independence reverted to their ancient names before they were colonised. So from now on the country will be officially be known as the Kingdom of eSwatini.”
The name does not come as a surprise as the general population in the country has been using the name more than Swaziland. The name Swaziland was not favoured by the citizens because of its Swazi and English mix.
The move has been mooted for several years, with lawmakers considering the issue in 2015. Mswati III himself has always referred to the country as Eswatini more times than Swaziland.
The name change will warrant that the country’s constitution be rewritten.
Sunday Chidzambwa has cited lack of creativity as the reason for the Warriors’ loss to Botswana.
Botswana shocked the Warriors 1-0 in the inaugural President’s Independence
Cup at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
“We don’t
have the ‘creative players at the moment.
Gone are the days when we had players like
Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda and Lloyd Mutasa.
We really
need to look around for the players of that calibre in
that central midfield.
In Zambia we had Nakamba (Nakamba), Ovidy
(Karuru) and Marshal Munetsi. I wasn’t happy with
their performance. We could have easily won that
tournament had we been good in that area. We were
not creative at all,”Chidzambwa told Chronicle.
By Own Correspondent| Movement for Democratic Change supporter Stewart Rupiya went missing in Bindura yesterday after celebrating independence at Chipadze stadium.
The MDC-T claims that Rupiya was assaulted by Zimbabwe National Army officers before being taken away.
Their public notice says, ‘The ZNA officers assaulted and bundled Rupiya before throwing him into ZNA ambulance. They drove away at high speed.
‘All efforts have been made to find him to no avail’ says the public statement.
It further says a report was made to Chiwaridzo police station but the man has not been seen yet.
However, it is alleged that police appealed to MDC-T to assist in searching for him.
The police warned them not to dare visit army barracks.
A comment from the army was fruitless at the time of writing.
Zimbabwe national army top officials including Vice President Constantino Chiwenga took a leading role in a military coup in November last year that forced former president Robert Mugabe to resign. The coup was a consummation of succession battles between the G40 faction led by Grace Mugabe and the Lacoste led by then Vice president Emerson Mngagwagwa.
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association will tomorrow hold “Open Air Clinics” at Africa Unity Square in Harare and City Hall in Bulawayo in a move aimed at showing their commitment and extent with which they value citizens’ health.
The Open Air Clinics will start at 12:00pm although it could not be established for how long they would run.
According to information gathered by ZimEye, citizens are being encouraged to join the nurses and wear white in solidarity with their cause.
The Open Air Clinics come amid rising concerns of poor service delivery at most health centers following the firing of an estimated 15,000 nurses country-wide by government two days ago.
In a related development, citizens have started initiating a campaign where citizens are writing letters to government airing their views regarding the firing of nurses under the hashtag “BringBackOurNurses”.
Post boxes have been deployed within Harare to allow citizens to write letters to the Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who issued the press statement on behalf of government firing the nurses.
Some of the boxes have been put at Africa Unity Square, First Street and Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare. The campaign has been given the names #DearVP and #BringBackOurNurses.
Organisers of the campaign revealed that the letters will be delivered to Vice President Chiwenga.
Those residing out of Harare have been asked to air their views using the #DearVP.
ZIFA boss Philip Chiyangwa has been accused of lying about representing FIFA during his recent visit to South
Africa.
There was a meeting last month where an
agreement was reached between SAFA boss Danny Jordaan and Former SAFA presidential nominee Ace Ncobo who were embroiled in an electoral dispute.
Chiyangwa claimed he had been sent by FIFA to mediate on their behalf, before announcing that a treaty had been signed by both parties.
However, according to KickOff.com , Ncobo has since revealed that Chiyangwa falsely claimed to be representing the world football governing body, and
that FIFA have since sent Director of African and Carribean Member Associations Veron Mosengo- Omba to attend to the matter.
“We are happy with the progress we’ve made, we are not where we were when we started. The cancelation of the congress on March 24 was a major victory for this corrective campaign,” said Ncobo as he provided an update on his campaign to
overthrow the current SAFA leadership on
Wednesday.
“The fact that FIFA sent Veron from the president’s
office to come and take charge of what needs to
happen around the elections is another major
victory.
“FIFA came, not that maverick from Zimbabwe, who
lied and said he was sent by FIFA.
By the way, as
soon as I received a call from Sue Destombes – the
general secretary of COSAFA, saying Chiyangwa was
coming and had been sent by FIFA, I dropped the
phone and asked her for written correspondence
from FIFA.
“At the same time, I sent an email to the general
secretary of FIFA to say, ‘There’s a Phillip
Chiyangwa here, who purports to have been sent by
FIFA to come and mediate. Are you aware of that?’
“So, when I went to that meeting [on March 14], I
knew Chiyangwa had not been sent by FIFA, but I
needed that meeting because it was going to
produce an agreement; a signature.”
By Farai D Hove| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga allegedly slept while President Emmerson Mnangagwa was speaking yesterday.
While the below could be said, ZimEye presents the argument that a picture is a frozen frame, and to prove that someone was sleeping, evidence would require several frames to satisfy the claim that they were truly dozing. Evidence of this nature would require hundreds of frames since there are at least 25 frames per second in a standard motion video clip, ZimEye contends. In this regard, proof of this nature would require hundreds of pictures one after the other.
Notwithstanding, commenting today, the exiled Professor Jonathan Moyo mocked the VP saying, he was dreaming about his next dismissal. FULL TEXT
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT YESTERDAY: inside the VIIP tent at the National Sports Stadium, as Mnangagwa was waffling. Chiwenga's levorutionali sreep; day dreaming about the next Command Dismissal! pic.twitter.com/CPl1tiuMWr
By Farai D Hove| As nurses continued their strike today, soldiers were this afternoon seen milling around Parirenyatwa Hospital, setting a tense mood at the institution, as social news 263Chat reported.
This came as citizens particularly those in Harare launched a post boxes campaign around the city.
Boxes were deployed around Harare for which to deposit their concerns addressing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. The campaign has been dubbed #DearVP, #BringBackOurNurses.
People outside the capital were asked to air their views using the #DearVP hashtag.
It was understood that the soldiers were sent by the Vice President himself, following his decision to fire all nurses which decision he announced on Independence eve.
Protest pastor Patrick Mugadza was seen participating and boxes were located at Africa Unity Square, First Street and Parirenyatwa Hospital itself.
A school head in Mvuma was arrested last week for allegedly killing his father in a nasty mobile phone brawl.
According to the police, the incident happened on March 29.
“According to the information we gathered last week, Chengwena Primary School head, Paul Musariri had an argument with his brother over a cellphone.
As the two exchanged harsh words, their father, Mabweazara Musariri tried to intervene in the ensuring brawl and Paul struck him with a metal object several times,”police in Mvuma said.
Mabweazara died a week later at Driefontein Mission Hospital, according to the police.
Prominent social humanity scientist Prosper Tiringindi has lambasted President Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s government for failing to address the genuine concerns of workers in the health sector.
“The Government of Zimbabwe has failed to respect workers in the health sector.
As citizens of Zimbabwe we have witnessed the shortages of drugs in hospitals and the environment for doctors and nurses is so poor while President Mangagwa’ s government is faiing to address the gross anomalies.
The Government must act in time to avert dire consequences,” said Tiringindi.
Further to our previous statements, more particularly our statement of 18 April 2018 (Yesterday) we wish to reiterate the following:
1. We have engaged our employer the Health Services Board to confirm that it will not implement the directive issued by the Vice President by no later than 1600hrs today (19 April 2018).
2. Our employer is yet to respond to use.
3. Further, as at the time of this statement, none of our members havebeen served with letters terminating their services with the employer. The accordingly, therefore, remain employed by the Health Services Board.
4. As our grievances which relate primarily to poor and dangerous working conditions remain unresolved and unaddressed, our position remains the same as the situation has not changed.
We further reiterate that we remain open to engagement with our employer to resolve our concerns in the interest of all our stakeholders.
By Farai D Hove| The deposed former President Robert Mugabe has apparently returned to his old Presidential dark blue suit. He is seen in the below family footage while being consoled by his nephew Leo. Leo cracks a joke while saying to him he also suffered a coup while he was ZIFA boss. While other family members are laughing, Mugabe responds in a rather cold way, just a slight moving of the head. VIDEO:
By A Correspondent| CODE leader Elton Mangoma’s father in law has passed away.
Mr Crispen Kaseke was 88.
A deeply disturbed Mangoma briefly spoke of the development saying, “my father in law passed on last night. Burial is likely tomorrow in Murehwa,” he told ZimEye.
Further details were not available at the writing – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY – refresh this page for more details.
A truck carrying bank money in South Africa has been filmed on camera while being robbed. The company is G4S Security and the robbers are seen in the below footage doing as they please with no hindrance. VIDEO:
“It was, truly, a military takeover….we must undo this disgrace which we have imposed on ourselves.
By Farai D Hove| Former President Robert Mugabe has bunked another public address by his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mugabe was expected to attend Mnangagwa’s glory moment, and the 75 year old’s first ever independence celebrations as Mugabe’s successor.
Yesterdays’ independence celebration program was however conducted with Mugabe’s name missing. Not only was Mugabe not on paper, he was nowhere near the venue. Sources close to the former President said he would never attend.
Mugabe has already spoken speaking badly of the military assisted takeover of government last November saying, “it was, truly, a military takeover….we must undo this disgrace which we have imposed on ourselves.
However Mnangagwa’s spokesman, George Charamba appeared to downplay the issue saying, “I think people are expecting too much.”
Charamba was quoted by local Newsday paper saying,“it is not possible for the former President to be expected to take an active role in national issues a few months after the changes (of government). He needs to rest and he is 94. Another thing is he flew back into the country a few days ago from Singapore.
“On March 19th the former President advised the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda in a handwritten note that he was due for medical check-ups. He said ‘We will be in Singapore where we shall remain until 15 April…So you can see he is aware of everything and not locked out.”
By Dorrothy Moyo| Vice President Kembo Mohadi is seriously ill and has had to fly out of the country (to South Africa) to be treated.
This emerged during the parliamentary portfolio on Mines hearing Thursday morning.
The portfolio Chairperson Temba Mliswa announced saying, “VP Mohadi is not feeling well and is outside the country; so he will not be appearing before the Mines and Energy Committee today.”
This is the second time Mohadi has failed to appear before the committee. Last week Thursday, apologies were sent to the committee when a special session for Mohadi’s appearance was adjourned.
Mliswa added saying: “We wish him well’. FOLLOW THE LIVE STREAMING on ZimEye.com
A German nurse currently serving a life sentence in prison for murdering six patients may have killed 84 more, making him one of the country’s worst ever serial killers, police and prosecutors said.
Vry interesting,Chamisa wl reinstate them come September firing nurses for demanding a better living condition,a stressed nurse is a dangerous nurse.Nowonder why Munangagwa ate poisoned gushungo icecreams n left for SA,poor doctors plus poor nurses equals poor hospitals
Niels Hoegel, 40, was jailed in 2015 after being convicted of killing six people.
Authorities have subsequently investigated hundreds of deaths, which included exhuming bodies of former patients in the clinics where Hoegel worked in Delmenhorst and Oldenburg in northwest Germany.
Police told CNN they believe Hoegel killed 36 patients in Oldenburg between 1999 and 2001, and another 48 people from the hospital in Delmenhorst.
Police say the number of victims may be even higher but the final number may never be known as some possible victims were cremated.
In past hearings, Hoegel admitted to injecting patients with a drug that can cause heart failure or circulatory collapse so he could then try to revive them, French news agency AFP reported.
He said he felt euphoric when he managed to bring a patient back to life, and devastated when he failed, AFP said.
Johann Kuehme, the Oldenburg police chief, told journalists at a press conference Monday that the number of victims had left authorities “speechless.”
“The killings could have been prevented if the people responsible at the time — and I stress at the time — particularly at the Oldenburg clinic but also later on in Delmenhorst hadn’t hesitated to alert authorities, for example the state prosecution,” he said.
The above story is that of Germany, where forensic investigations to unearth these incidents are far much better than Zimbabwe’s. Due to the dilapidated state of the health system in Zimbwabwe, it is believed the type of incidents above are many.
By Paul Nyathi|Seven people died while five others were injured in accident that occurred along the Harare- Mutare road near Nyazura on Independence Day.
Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident saying six people died on the spot while one died on admission at Rusape General Hospital.
He said a Toyota Wish seven seater vehicle which had 10 people on board, travelling from Mutare towards Harare collided with a truck which had two people on board.
All the seven victims were in the small vehicle suspected to have been a pirate taxi.
Nyathi, who confirmed urged motorists to be cautious all the time and observe road rules and regulations.
He said the police are carrying out investigations to establish the cause of the accident.
“I can confirm that seven people died when a Toyota Wish, which travelling from Mutare to Harare, had a head-on collision with a seven-tonne Daf truck in Nyazura. Six died on the spot, while one died on admission to Rusape Hospital,” he said
Witnesses said the accident happened in the morning, but bodies of the victims had not yet been removed from the scene by lunch hour.
“The accident happened early this morning. The Toyota Wish, a pirate taxi, was carrying around 11 passengers. Its rear tyre burst and the driver lost control of the vehicle and encroached into the truck’s lane. A fire brigade team was called in to remove the trapped bodies from the car,” a witness said.
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 !!
By Paul Nyathi|Peace Mapfumo and his accomplice Llyod Hurukuru who on Saturday last week shocked Bulawayo prison officers when they escaped from prison from under their eyes have been recaptured.
The two were arrested at a specified roadblock in Makhado Beitbridge on their way to cross the border to South Africa barely 24 hours later.
The two dashed out of prison officers’ sight to freedom while they were doing duties at a prison services run car wash at Bulawayo Prison on Saturday afternoon.
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Provincial Public Relations Officer Garainashe Moyo confirmed that the two escaped and were recaptured on their way to South Africa.
“We can confirm that two inmates who escaped from Bulawayo Prison last week have been apprehended by the police,” said Moyo.
Mapfumo was serving a six month sentence for assault while Hurukuru was on a twenty one months term for unlawful entry and theft.
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | Zanu PF MP for Bikita East Constituency, Kennedy Matimba has died.
Matimba died at Makurira Hospital on Tuesday. He succumbed to sugar diabetes.
Zanu PF Chairperson for Masvingo Province Ezra Chadzamira described Matimba’ s death as a sad loss for the party and the entire province. Chadzamira, said they had written to the politburo to have him declared a provincial war hero.
“It is with a deep sense of loss that I confirm the bad news of the passing on of a colleague, a brother, a friend and fellow legislator and party member,” Chadzamira said.
“He died at Makurira Memorial Hospital after suffering from malaria. We have since written to the Politburo to have him conferred with a provincial war hero status because of his contribution to the development of Zimbabwe in the pre and post-independence era.”
He said during the war of liberation, Matimba was a war collaborator.
“After independence, he worked hard for the development of the country and became a central committee member while in the youth league, and then became a legislator and was again in the party’s central committee,” Chadzamira said.
He said burial arrangements will only be announced after the politburo’s ruling on his hero status.
Thomas Mapfumo at the Robert Mugabe International Airport
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.
By A Correspondent | Perhaps a sign that the wind of politics has shifted youthwards- Norton MP Temba Mliswa yesterday pulled the first ever massive crowd in the small town of Norton.
The host comprised of a cross section of Zim society ranging from the young to the old including war veterans who were all celebrating independence day.
The only other person in the country pulling such massive crowds is MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa. Below were some pictures and LIVE videos.
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 Mangosuthu Mbele| At the time of his entrance into politics, less than 5 months from launching out as a leader, VP Constantino Chiwenga has started badly, very badly- beginning by crucifying himself against all common logic. The man who the whole country called General Bae, and who all women cried out for, has extinguished the flickering flame around his name.
Can VP Chiwenga hire and fire at will?
Section 65 of our constitution gives right to workers other than “security forces “ to partake in industrial action which may include but not limited to LAWFUL sit-in, demonstration, stay away etc. in order to communicate their grievances to their employer.
Section 65(2) also allows formation of labor groups such as ZNA (Zimbabwe nurses association) or ZCTU, ZIMTA etc. and it also allows any members of labour force “except security forces” (which includes the military, police, CIOs, prison services and their subsidiaries) to join any lawful recognized labour group for a collective labour negotiations on whatever grievances the workers might have.
Nurses, like all other government workers, have been trying to diplomatically engage the employer on the need for better working conditions and pay rise with no significant headway. On the 15th of April nurses then notified their employer of their plans to go on industrial action following the breakdown of their talks. The employer recognized the legal action and responded by engaging the leaders. The meeting yielded nothing hence nurses continued with their two day legal strike.
ENTER THE COMMAND
VP Chiwenga issued a statement on 17th of April 2018 to the effect of “firing all the striking nurses”. That’s was a shocker. In the first place H.E VP Chiwenga breaks every legal route in his proclamation. He negates to quote the section he is basing on to “fire” the nurses. He neglects telling us as well what their crime was because legally the nurses had based their strike on section 65(1) to (5).
This makes the actions of the VP null and void as they are ultra vires to the same constitution he claims to have been protecting when he did a “cousin of a coup” on 15th of November 2017.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONTRADICTIONS
Section 65(3) has a tricky clause stating that though workers are allowed to go on strike but “a law may restrict the exercise of this right (right to withdraw services) in order to maintain essential services”. This section does not define which departments fall under essential services.
However the codification act and presidential powers act (which are acts yet to be aligned with the new constitution) define essential services as to include “any hospital services and any other services declared by president, BY A STATUTORY INSTRUMENT, to be essential services” (Presidential powers act, 2(a)).
If VP Chiwenga used presidential temporary powers act in his proclamation then he erred because as a VP he doesn’t enjoy the presidential powers act, even as acting president.
The Codification act defines essential services as “any service or occupation whose interruption would endanger the life, health or safety of the whole or part of the population and which the minister may declare BY NOTICE in an SI to be essential service” (codification act, 19(h))
If the VP used the codification act or any other act or SI then he erred as well in the sense that he is not the custodian of the act or health SI neither is he the minster in charge of health services. Such proclamations are made by relevant minsters, Hon. Parirenyatwa in this case, who are given powers by the relevant legislations.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES SI 137/2003
Labour (Declaration of Essential services) notice 2003 declares essential services as services provided by heath personnel such as nurses, doctors (2(e)). This means that although nurses are allowed by the constitution to strike, they are also NOT allowed by the same constitution (As read with the SI 137/2003).
SI 137/2003 was made specifically looking at the old constitution and its yet to be aligned with the new constitution.
Such a glaring constitutional contradiction infringes on the rights on the nurses to collectively bargain their salaries and conditions of work. If health personnel are not allowed any job action then the constitution must clearly spell this out instead of allowing job action on one hand and criminalizing it on another.
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS:
Zanu-pf has always been against workers since the days of mdc formation founded by zctu. Teachers and nurses have been victimized since the turn of the century with no pay rise for years while government officials award themselves hefty salaries and benefits.
For the last 8 years civil servants have been earning same salary despite the rising inflation. Their bonuses have been paid after a 6 months waiting period. Government claims not to have money to pay workers yet they have enough money to gallivant the whole globe (from Mugabe to ED). They claim the coffers are empty yet they can’t account 15 billion lost under their watch.
WAY FORWARD:
The Presidential powers, codification act and SI137/2003 are pieces of legislation are yet to be aligned with the new constitution hence must be discarded with urgency to avoid future contradiction problems.
Section 65 of the constitution must be revisited immediately and amended accordingly.
VP Chiwenga or Mohadi have not mandate to use presidential powers or to interfere through militarized proclamations in the runnings of ministries when the minister and the permanent secretaries are there.
If a certain service is essential enough not to be allowed to strike then that service must not be allowed to form labour groupings as such groupings have limited on nonexistent powers in case the employer disregard its demands.
Nurses must not be threatened with being fired and their demands must be met with urgency unless Zimbabwe is now a military state where laws do not matter but commands and declarations by the executive.
COMING ELECTIONS
Vote wisely. Vote for a government that respect the constitution. Vote for a government that respect rights of workers. Vote for your future.
This was in the President Cup final played at National Sports Stadium.
The match was part of the nationwide celebrations for Zimbabwe’s Independence Commemoration.
The first-half goal from Kebaikanye Kobamelo handed Botswana a victory which saw them crowned the Cup winners. Meanwhile, in Bulawayo Highlanders lost 4-3 on penalties to Bulawayo City after the match ended 0-0. – soccer24
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.
By Talent Gondo| Fired nurses can reapply to be reinstated back into the health sector, the minister of Health and Child Care, David Parirenyatwa has said.
Parirenyatwa said the fired nurses will be considered and will not be penalised just like those who are applying for the first time or are reapplying following their retirement.
“Government had to bend backward to give in to the nurses’ demands but they chose to be intransigent,” said Parirenyatwa.
“However, they are free to reapply and they will be considered just like everybody else.”
Parirenyatwa however said government needed committed nurses and called on those who are seeking to be employed by the health sector to deliver on their mandate professionally.
“We will need committed nurses,” he said.
He said this exercise provided the health ministry with the opportunity to boost its human resource capital base and employ qualified nurses who are currently unemployed.
“This provides us with the opportunity to mop up all those that are not employed,” he said, adding that the health sector was currently understaffed due to the government freeze on the recruitment of nurses.
“These nurses are important because they are the custodians of the people’s health. Both the fired nurses and the qualified but unemployed nurses will be taken. We will absorb them because we were short of nurses,” said the health minister.
Parirenyatwa’s statements come amid recent developments where the VP Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga, fired all striking nurses for failing to heed calls to go back to work while their concerns were being addressed
The nurses embarked on industrial action citing poor remuneration and unfavourable working conditions among a host of other grievances.
By Ndaba Nhuku| Robert Mugabe has scored a major hit and now looks sure justified. The video is so fresh and hot. From inside his Blue Roof mansion, he tells a British ITV journalist, ” it was, truly, a military takeover.” He continues saying, “we must undo this disgrace which we have imposed on ourselves.
“We don’t deserve it. We don’t deserve it,” he says exactly 4 weeks ago.
A month later, the military commander who did the whole job and who is now the nation’s Vice President has violated the supreme law of the land and as said also, all common sense, to fire nurses.
What will now happen after the events of the last 24 hours? Mugabe’s backed National Patriotic Front party is set for a major boost as the G40 party is “justified”.
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.
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.
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.
Zimbabwe’s doctors have joined hands to condemn the vice president Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga for violating the law and due process to fire nurses last night. Below was their full statement:
ZADHR AND ZLHR STATEMENT ON DISMISSAL OF NURSES
ZIMBABWE Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) are appalled by the government’s arbitrary decision to dismiss all striking nurses from their positions at state-run hospitals.
Government on Tuesday 17 April 2018, the eve of Zimbabwe’s independence fired nurses employed at state-run hospitals, who had been on a work boycott protesting against poor salaries and unfavourable working conditions.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who heads the social services cluster announced that government would replace the dismissed nurses with some retired and unemployed qualified nurses and accused the striking health practitioners of being influenced by political motives in staging their protest.
ZADHR and ZLHR condemn this dangerous and irresponsible response by the government as illogical and that it will have serious consequences on the welfare of people, who have been condemned to be attended to by some inexperienced and or retired nurses.
The summary dismissal of the nurses is in contravention of constitutionally guaranteed rights particularly section 65 of the Constitution, which guarantees express labour rights to every person except for members of the security services.
ZADHR and ZLHR would like to draw the government’s attention to section 65(3)&(4) of the Constitution which states that “every employee has the right to participate in collective job action, including the right to strike, sit in, withdraw their labour and to take other similar concerted action” and “every employee is entitled to just, equitable and satisfactory conditions of work”.
Government needs to appreciate that this fundamental provision which came into force in 2013 means that for the first time in the history of labour relations in Zimbabwe, the right to fair labour standards and practices has become enshrined in the Declaration of Rights as a basic human right.
Further, the summary dismissal by the Vice President contravenes section 68 of the Constitution that guarantees the right of every person to administrative conduct that is lawful, prompt, efficient, reasonable, proportionate, impartial and both substantively and procedurally fair.
Government has been reluctant in responding to the legitimate concerns raised by nurses and has over the years not fully addressed the serious consequences brought about by the unprecedented exodus of health practitioners in search of greener pastures due to the same concerns which are being raised by nurses now.
ZADHR and ZLHR reminds government that it has a responsibility to ensure that citizens’ rights to health care is not compromised and should immediately implement measures to resolve the situation at state-run hospitals.
As organisations which strive to foster a culture of human rights, ZADHR and ZLHR stand in solidarity with the dismissed workers and hold government accountable for the blatant breach of the health workers’ fundamental rights and the Constitution as well as any consequences that will arise from staff shortages at health institutions.
Therefore, ZADHR and ZLHR call upon government to;
• revoke the dismissal of the nurses and reinstate them to their positions and urgently respond to the concerns raised by the health practitioners;
• finalise the review of the Health Services Act and make the Health Services Board more accountable, efficient and independent;
• develop minimum level benchmarks for conditions of service and provision of adequate tools of trade;
• fulfill its social and economic rights obligations as set out in national and international law in order to guarantee the realisation of the right to health care and the right to human dignity for all citizens;
• increase funding allocation to the health sector and strive to allocate 15% to health as stipulated in the Abuja Declaration in order to enhance the quality of life of citizens;
Qina Sisebenzi Qina! Shinga Mushandi Shinga! Long live Zimbabwean workers!
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.
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.
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.
By Talent Gondo| The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has called on citizens to embark on mass job action to reject Zanu Pf dictatorship recently demonstrated by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s action of firing striking nurses.
The country’s main labour body, which recently indicated that teachers will go on industrial action if their demands are not met when schools open, called on every citizen to down their tools in protest and solidarity of fired nurses.
“All workers and the majority of the poor citizens must rise and reject this dictatorship,” said the ZCTU in a tweet.
“We must protect our hardworking teachers, nurses, doctors and other workers who are working under difficult circumstances. We must give the ever blundering ministers a red card,” said the ZCTU.
VP Constantino Chiwenga recently fired all striking nurses saying they were being replaced with those who had retired or are currently qualified state registered nurses who are unemployed due to government freeze on nurses’ recruitment.
In a related development, ZCTU president Peter Mutasa told a local publication, the Daily News that the main labour body was currently mobilising its stakeholders to support a general strike, whose major objective aimed at displaying support to the striking nurses.
“What civil servants are demanding is legitimate, especially when one looks at the mockery of salaries that are being earned by doctors, teachers and nurses juxtaposed with the rate at which prices of basic commodities have been skyrocketing since September last year hence we have concluded that the best way forward is to protest in a very huge way,” said Mutasa.
“We are therefore out to tell those who have assumed the reins of power that we gave them enough time when they asked for 100 days. We are concerned that during the grace period, they have not shown an appetite to treat workers fairly and hence the resolution that we address them in the language we think they will understand better,” said Mutasa, calling on members of the public to join in the industrial action.
“We encourage everyone to be part of the strike whose dates and logistics we are still consulting on. We want kombi drivers, vendors and everyone else to be part of that because with nurses currently on strike, our health is not guaranteed even as we sell our wares in town. We need to stand up in solidarity with the health workers,” Mutasa added.
The Apex Council which is the umbrella representative body for civil servants is on record engaging government over their demands for a salary increment which they allege should be above the poverty datum line.
In his inauguration speech on November 24 last year, Mnangagwa promised improved working conditions for civil servants adding that his government would commit itself to paying annual bonuses.
However, to date nothing has changed for those in the civil service especially the education and health sector amid reports that the ED led administration is working on modalities to better soldiers’ conditions of service, a developments which experts say is a form of thanking the military which helped him ascend to power.
RE: ESTABLISHMENT CONTROL: RECRUITMENT OF NURSES – RETIRED AND UNEMPLOYED
Reference is made to the press statement by the press statement by the Vice President Honourable C G D Chiwengo on 17 April 2018. A copy is attached for ease of reference.
You are requested to recruit nurses to cover the gaps to created by the nurses who were summarily discharged. Please ensure that your relevant teams are in place to facilitate the recruitment and assumption of duty with effect from 18 April 2018 by retired and unemployed nurses.
Should any retired nurses report to your offices, you can recruit up to the maximum number provided below as you await a final deployment list to be sent before mid-day.
1. Central Hospitals 30 2. Provincial Hospitals 20 3. District Hospitals 15 4. Rural Hospitals 5 5. Rural Health Centres/Clinics 1/2
Please note that the recruitment is meant to replace those who have been summarily dismissed. Any nurses who were expected on duty on the 16th and 1, and did not report as instructed are deemed to have been summarily dismissed.
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.
“There is no way you can please everybody,” said Guti while protecting Robert Mugabe.
By A Correspondent| Exactly 3 years later, the founder of the Zimbabwe Assemblies Of God Africa, Ezekiel Guti who once declared that former President Robert Mugabe must rule until death, was found tucked at the high table at the National Sports Stadium.
Appearing at the independence celebrations, the preacher also clad himself with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s scarf.
During Robert Mugabe’s days in April 2015, Guti, declared saying Mugabe must be allowed to have his way till death, “People think what they think, so long a man stays healthy he can do it,” he said.
He continued saying, “the President can continue so long he can feel that he can do it and that he has the strength to
do so. There is no way you can please everybody.”
Ezekiel Guti sitting at Mnangagwa’s high table today.
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.
By A Correspondent| The country’s main labour body, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has come out guns blazing against recent actions by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Junta adminstration of firing striking nurses describing them as anti workers.
The labour body said this in a tweet posted on the organisation’s official page.
Their statement comes amid an outrage against the VP for ignoring the issue of Transport Minister Joram Gumbo who blew $40 million on useless Malaysian jets and choosing to fire thousands of nurses who are asking for just $700.00.
Gumbo has another case of corruption in which he blew more millions buying snow graders for Zimbabwe’s roads.
“By dismissing striking nurses who are raising legitimate concerns, the @edmnangagwa government has clearly shown that it is anti workers,” read a tweet by the ZCTU.
“Trying to force disgruntled and underpaid nurses to care for citizens in ill equipped hospitals, is endangering people’s lives,” said the organisation.
The labour body said such decisions to fire nurse were done by an insensitive elite who do not use public hospitals.
“We know those making such silly decisions do not use these hospitals and their kids do not learn at our schools,” said the ZCTU.
“They fly outside the country to be treated in fully equipped hospitals by well remunerated and motivated medical personnel.”
The labour body revealed that since teachers had already notified the government about an impending collective job action if their concerns are not met by next term, the organisation was waiting to see if government would fire all striking teachers.
“Will the government dismiss all teachers as well?” queried the ZCTU, adding that such decisions by government had adverse repercussions on the ordinary citizens.
This is not an attack to the nurses or teachers but the citizens who will ultimately pay the price,” said the ZCTU calling on citizens to rise and reject the “dictatorship”.
“All workers and the majority of the poor, suffering citizens must rise and reject this dictatorship,”
“We must protect our hardworking nurses, doctors, teachers and other workers who are working under difficult circumstances. We must give the ever blundering Ministers a red card,” said the ZCTU.
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. Thokozani Khuphe leaves court on Tuesday
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….
Caps United ace, Denver Mukamba was rushed to hospital. Denver Mukamba – sportbrief
Mukamba’s manager Gibson Mahachi confirmed to the state media saying Mukamba was rushed to Harare Central Hospital after complaining of stomach pains.
Mukamba is on a one year loan from Dynamos.
He was discharged yesterday afternoon.
His manager Gibson Mahachi confirmed his client spent Monday night in hospital saying to the Herald, “He wasn’t feeling well on Monday night and he was rushed to Harare Hospital where he was detained and treated before he was released today (yesterday). He is fine right now, it was a stomach bug and he should be available for training tomorrow (today).
“There was a communication breakdown last week when CAPS United were leaving for Chiredzi and that resulted in Denver not traveling. Denver remains committed to CAPS United, during the time he is contracted at the club and it’s unfortunate that false stories will always be created for him by those who have their issues with him.”
He is now set to resume training today ahead of the first leg of the Harare Derby which turns 41 on Sunday.
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has stood up to humiliate and totally ignore Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s Tuesday statement on firing them.
In their statement released Wednesday, the organisation advised its members that nothing has changed and that the strike will continue.
ZINA said, ”
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association has taken note of the press statement currently circulating on media platforms where Government alleges to have fired all striking nurses.
We would want to urge our members to remain calm during these times. The position as already submitted to governmenton behalf of ZINA’s suffering members remains the same. As a result, we advise all nurses that nothing has changed thus far with regards to the industrial action which is ongoing.
You will receive full information in response to the press statement by the Honourable VP in due course.”
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.
MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa
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.
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.
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!
Adv. Nelson Chamisa MDC-T President and MDC-Alliance Presidential Candidate
By Dorrothy Moyo| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s move last night to fire all striking nurses, has been criticised.
The former soldier has been accused of “running Zimbabwe like a barrack.”
Last night the vice president made a statement to recall retired nurses.
Serving nursing practitioners who called in, told ZimEye.com the decision to re-hire retired nurses is nothing but laughable.
Dr Victor Chimhutu of the Zimbabwe Yadzoka organisation said Chiwenga should not have done what he did. Below was the full statement:
Zimbabwe Yadzoka/Mayibuye iZimbabwe is shocked and appalled by the militarization of labour disputes as striking nurses are fired
ZYMiZ is shocked and dismayed to learn that the government of Zimbabwe has fired all striking nurses with immediate effect.
The government of Mnangagwa is willfully disregarding the constitution of the country. Section 59 of our constitution guarantees the right of citizens to petition and demonstrate. We understand the nurses legally filed a notice for job action as prescribed by the labour act and hence the response by the government is not only shocking but appalling.
ZYMiZ is in solidarity with Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) and the striking nurses and will stand in solidarity with any marginalized groups and sections of our society. The new government is proving to be too heavy handed making rushed and military style decisions. It is no secret anymore that Chiwenga is the main man who is running the country like a barrack.
We have to remind the coup regime that labour issues do not require military solutions. Not every problem is a nail and not every solution is a hammer.
The regime must take note that forces are galvanizing, the people of Zimbabwe are out of the false euphoria. Since the November coup we have seen the rise of a more defined kleptocratic, insidious and megalomaniac regime with no regard to the constitution of the land, rule of law and social, political and economic justice.
As a grassroots citizens movement we will continue to mobilize and stand in solidarity with all Zimbabweans in the margins. We encourage our membership and all living in the periphery of our society to prepare to confront the regime IF it continues to flagrantly disregard the laws of the land.
Mnangagwa must understand that the euphoria of November last year was for the departure of Mugabe and not for his arrival.
The regime stole the people’s revolution that has been simmering up since the turn of the 21st century. We will continue to challenge hegemonic power structures without fear or favour, especially this kleptocratic cum capitalistic regime masquerading as a representing the voices of the people.
We call up peasants, lumpen proletariats, informal traders- this is the time to stand up and be counted. We call up to the labour movement, the student movement- let’s all stand up and be counted.
By Talent Gondo| Zanu Pf Spokesperson,Simon Khaya Moyo has dismissed allegations by self exiled former cabinet minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga are not actively campaigning because they have a rigging plan.
Writing on his Twitter account, Professor Moyo questioned why President Mnangagwa and Vice President Chiwenga are not on the ground campaigning a few months before the forthcoming harmonised elections.
Wrote Moyo, “Why are Mnangagwa and Chiwenga not on the ground campaigning with polls only 4 months away?”
Moyo gave three scenarios which he alleged the ruling party will implement suggesting that they will likely rig or do another coup.
“They have a rigging plan or the army will do another coup. Maybe they have given up the MID (Military Intelligence Directoraate ), CIO (Central Intelligence Organisation) and Rugeje’s Commissariat surveys give ED 15% of the presidential vote and #JuntaPe 60 out of 210 constituencies,” alleged Professor Moyo.
Khaya-Moyo however refuted Moyo’s allegations and said that Mnangagwa was not yet campaigning because Zanu-PF had not yet launched its election manifesto.
“Campaigns begin when we launch our manifesto. None of us are campaigning because we do not start campaigning before the launch of our manifesto,” he said.
The Zanu Pf Spokesperson however refused to be dragged into talking about what the party did in previous elections.
“I cannot talk about 2013, we are talking about 2018,” he said.
Zanu Pf has in the past been accused of rigging elections using a Russian Firm, Nikuv, an allegation which the party has vehemently refuted.
National People’s Party (NPP), Joice Mujuru who spent over 34 years as a Cabinet minister in former President, Robert Mugabe’s government, 10 of them as Vice-President confirmed that Zanu PF might have rigged previous polls including the contentious 2013 general election although she did not have the knowledge of how this was done.
The opposition parties including tbe Movement for Democratic Change (MDC- T) claimed that previous elections were fraught with irregularities.
By Farai D Hove| ZANU PF’s designate to the Tourism Authority, Karikoga Kaseke has said party leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is better a businessman than a politician.
He said Mnangagwa’s competencies are in business than in politics.
Kaseke made the comments at a function soon after jetting down from China.
“I had never been in a room where the president spoke. This was my first time seeing him speak to the would-be investors. The president was very, very articulate in his approach. The Chinese who attended the two business forums were all surprised by the president who was talking as if he was a businessman. I think the president should be in business than in government, I mean it because when I heard him speaking, he was not speaking like a head of state but like some chief executive of some very big company, a clear businessman, who is very articulate. We think that God knows why he gave us this president to a nation whose people were starving and we in the quasi-government sector, think it was a blessing from God to have a man of his calibre as the Head of State.”
By Staff Reporter| The case of the man who did an act of cruelty that eventually allegedly forced his girlfriend, named Tapiwa to commit suicide, saw contributors yesterday saying the victim could have faked her own death.
People commenting on ZimEye last night claimed the victim faked her death in order to force the man to delete the videos he had uploaded.
” She is alive I was with her just now,” a Harare man wrote.
But upon being telephoned, the man, told ZimEye he does not at all know her and the information came through the victim’s cousin. When questioned on the name of this cousin, the source took another twist this time saying ” I don’t know her name we only meet at the Ximex mall.”
The background of the story is that the culprit man only identified as “Terrence” leaked his girlfriend’s sex tape in what saw the woman pleading for forgiveness. But the man would did not heed and proceeded to leak the tape.
The case was yesterday handed to the police, ZimEye is reliably told. ZimEye.com has obtained confirmation from the Norton MP, Temba Mliswa that he has alerted the police.
“I have just been made aware of it… and what I have done I have immediately tasked the police to give me a proper brief on it…,” Hon. Mliswa told ZimEye.com.
A legal expert from the UK based TanLaw Solicitors, Mr Andrew Nyamayaro gave the below comment: Revenge Porn has been criminalised in the United Kingdom and in most jurisdictions in the world. In Zimbabwe, the Cybercrime and Cybersecurity bill was tabled in Parliament in 2017. Paragragh 19 of the Bill states that:
“ 19 Transmission of intimate images without consent
(1) Any person who unlawfully and intentionally by means of a computer or information system makes available, broadcasts or distributes a data message containing any intimate image of an identifiable person without the consent of the person concerned causing the humiliation or embarrassment of such person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level ten or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2) For the purposes of subsubsection (1) “intimate image” means a visual depiction of a person made by any means in which the person is nude, the genitalia or naked female breasts are exposed or sexual acts are displayed.”
Revenge Porn applies both online and offline and to images which are shared electronically or in a more traditional way so includes the uploading of images on the internet, sharing by text and e-mail, or showing someone a physical or electronic image.
Temba Mliswa
Meanwhile, ZimEye produces audio recordings which expose the man for what he allegedly did.
By Dorrothy Moyo| MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa says ZANU PF planted assailants who attacked his rival Thokozani Khupe at the late Morgan Tsvangirai’s burial in Buhera back in February.
Video footage at the scene show that there were several police officers and no arrests were done.
Chamisa spoke to the South African ANN7’s Audrey Chimwanda earlier this week saying, “we have done everything within our power, we lodged a commission of inquiry which brought startling revelations that the violence we saw at President Tsvangirai’s funeral was actually violence coming from our colleagues in Zanu-PF who planted agent provocateurs to try and embarrass certain of our leaders.
“It’s something we have taken up with the police and it’s something we have not taken lightly even within the party.
“Those people whom we have found to be associated even as they were being mobilised by those provocateurs are certainly going to be dealt with. In fact we have already began the process.”
By Fanuel Chinowaita | Zimbabwe Environmental and Welfare Trust (ZENWE) which Knowledge Nyamhoka of Mutare Central is a trustee, launched an upliftment program in Mutare Central Constituency, at Sakubva Beithal, Mutare last week.
He also launched another program for orphans just before Easter.
Mr Knowledge Nyamhoka described the main objective of ZENWE, “it’s for catering for orphans and less privileged people who are in need of serious attention”.
Nyamhoka also added that the program has already started and their target for now is every orphan in Mutare Central and will stretch to the whole district and province.
“On Easter day we identified and invited 29 Orphans and celebrated the Easter day with them at Beithal Sakubva fitness centre.
“While we were celebrating we noted an Orphan who is 10 years old but living alone in Chisamba singles. We went to his house and see that the boy was living in a very sorry situation.
“As the organization we gave him money and some groceries so that he will have something on the table.
“We again discoverd an old woman from Chisamba singles mbuya nana who is leaving in gross poverty with no one to help her. 6 has 6 orphans below the age of 12 We helped her with groceries and clothes for her and for the kids”, said Mr Nyamhoka.
Mr Nyamhoka also added that their organizations will be having another program, this time around with lot of stuff for the identified orphans around Mutare central this week.
The program Chair Otilia Simango, Secretary Christine Masaraure, Treasurer Beulah Chinda, Project Cordinator Revai Maggie Dzvairo, confirmed and showed us the progress to date Orphans Cordinator Makarau Herzel also showed us a list of 200 orphans. The Youth empowement Cordinator Knowledge Nyamhoka jnr has also vowed to help in the youth empowerment project, helping to fight against youth drug alcohol abuse.
The cordinaters are having their project savings and lendings( kufusa mari)..so that they can have money to take care of themselves and not rely on money from the donors.
Harare Giants DYNAMOS are facing a $2 000 fine from the Premier
Soccer League (PSL), after their supporters threw
missiles on to the field of play in their team’s chaotic
1-1 draw with Yadah FC at Rufaro Stadium on
Sunday.
The Harare giants are going through their worst
possible form and their draw was their only third
point from a possible 18 this season.
Their woes are set to mount when the PSL
considers the transgressions of the Harare giants’
fans during the feisty encounter, which saw Yadah
finishing with 10 men after their captain Jimmy
Dzingai was red-carded for idiotically returning
missiles to the crowd.
The club was fined the same amount for a similar
offence last season.
According to the PSL’s Standing Order and Fines,
missile throwing by fans attracts a $2 000 fine for
the club.
Dembare supporters started raining missiles onto
the field in the first half, protesting a throw-in
decision that had gone against their team.
That incident would set the tone for the rest of the
match, causing countless stoppages during the
course.
The situation degenerated into chaos during the half-
time break when an police officer unintentionally
discharged a teargas canister, and the supporters
responded by pelting the law enforcement agents
with various objects and running battles ensued.
Yadah players’ delaying tactics, in particular
goalkeeper Steven Chimusoro, irked the home
supporters even more, and they would throw objects
in his direction every time he went down.
There was a long break of almost five minutes in the
second half, as the match officials battled to control
the fans, and during that time, Dzingai appeared to
be losing his head, and returned a water bottle that
had been thrown his way.
He was shown a straight red, and could be further
sanctioned by the PSL for his troubles.
Sadly, the chaotic events overshadowed the brilliant
goals that were scored on the day.
Exciting winger Leeroy Mavhunga got Yadah FC in
front with a brilliant goal when he collected the ball
outside his team’s box, before accelerating into the
Dynamos area, leaving Ocean Mushure and Godfrey
Mukambi for dead in the process.
He passed the ball to Simba Sithole, who knocked
the ball down back for the winger to smash home
first time, for a truly beautiful goal.
Kuda Kumwala’s equaliser was equally gorgeous.
The striker, often maligned by his own supporters,
received the ball with his back on goal, before
making a sharp turn to unleash a bullet shot that
went through Chimusoro’s hands- Newsday.
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 Nomusa Garikai| “Zanu PF is a political party that respects the liberty of the people and respects harmony and peace. Zanu PF has always propagated love for one another and we thrive on unity. This allegation that soldiers have been deployed all over to assist is not true. We have structures as Zanu PF of our own members who are on the ground,” said Engelbert Rugeje.
A few weeks ago President Mnangagwa also denied that Zanu PF has even rigged elections included the land mark 2008 elections. “Where is the evidence of vote rigging?” He argued with the UK Economist reporter.
This confirms that we are dealing with a party of seasoned thugs. Rugeje was one of the army thugs who became notorious in the wanton violence of 2008 and 2013 elections and for him to now pretend these events did not even happen show that Zanu PF has not changed or repented.
“We have been preaching peace starting with the president and the top leadership of the party. Even in our gatherings are those outside Zanu PF and government, we have always been preaching about peace, peace and non-violence and for anyone to allege that we are fomenting violence in the rural areas it is mischievous,” Rugeje maintain.
How cynical!
So, ED and the whole junta leadership is out preaching peace and non-violence and yet the regime has stubbornly refused to implement the democratic reforms giving the Police their statutory powers to investigate, arrest and charge all those responsible to politically motivated violence. If the Police had those powers Rugeje and many other Zanu PF thugs would still be in jail. President Mnangagwa would not be asking the stupid question; “Where is the evidence of election violence?”
If you are going to rig the elections get your own thugs to police the whole flawed and illegal electoral process. That way, you can be absolutely certain there will be no Police records, no evidence, no arrests, no court convictions, nothing. In the mayhem of the 2008 run-off elections, millions of Zimbabweans were forced out of their homes, beaten up and/or raped. Over 500 were murdered. But because the Police are so politically, they are a department of Zanu PF in all but name, no one was ever arrested.
Indeed, the Police joined their fellow Zanu PF thugs in punishing the people for daring to reject Zanu PF in the March 2008 vote and making sure they never ever do it again. Political Commissar Rugeje has been reminding people of the violence of 2008 and 2013 if they do not vote for Zanu PF in the coming elections.
Zanu PF is a party of ruthless thugs who have enjoyed absolute power for the last 38 years because they rigged elections, cheated and used violence to secure victory. Anyone who thinks the regime will now play by the rules and hold free and fair elections is naïve, to say the least.
The only way to end this vicious cycle of rigged elections is for the country to be forced to implement the reforms BEFORE the elections. The flawed elections must be declared null and void and thus force the country to appoint an interim administration that will implement the reforms. There is no other way out!
“Zanu PF is preaching peace, to say otherwise is mischievous!” says Rugeje, a veteran of Zanu PF thuggery and violence. He can afford to be dismissive, aggressive and arrogant; he will break the peace to punish the mischievous; he knows that he is above the law! – zsdemocrats.blogspot.co.uk
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.
We learn with shock the continued storms surrounding our public health delivery system.
We also received with heartaching pain the deaths recorded as Health workers down tools in an understandable protest against under payment and undignified working conditions .
While we symphathise with families who are loosing loved ones and Health Wokers whose plight has been left unattended – We call on the government of the day to intervene timeously in this life threatening situation- failure to do so will bring our Nation to its knees. The recent firing of striking Nurses is a kindergarten myopic show of Lunacy that yields no dividends and should be reversed henceforth
Zimbabwe deserves better
For and behalf of the MDC T National Youth Assembly Health Department
HON. VICE PRESIDENT C.G.N.D. CHIWENGA IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE SUPERVISOR OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES CLUSTER ON THE CONTINUING INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY NURSES.
Against the background of a series of meetings involving Government, the Health Services Board and ZINA, which were meant to resolve the industrial action by nursing staff in the Public Health Sector, and the subsequent decision by Government yesterday to accede to the demands made by the striking nurses, Government regrets to note that the industrial action in this essential service sector has persisted. What makes the whole action both deplorable and reprehensible is the fact that, as agreed yesterday, Government today released and transferred a sum of $17 114 446 into the account of the Ministry of Health and Child Care for on-payment to the striking nurses.
While this demonstrated good faith on the part of Government, the prompt transfers which have been effected against demonstrable economic challenges facing our Nation has not, quite surprisingly, persuaded the striking nurses to go back to their work stations in the interest of saving lives and helping hapless patients placed under their care. Government now regards this lack of remorse as politically motivated, and thus as going beyond concerns of conditions of service and worker welfare.
Accordingly, Government has decided, in the interest of patients and of saving lives, to discharge all the striking nurses with immediate effect. Further, Government has now instructed the Health Services Board to speedily engage, as appropriate, all unemployed but trained nurses in the country. It has also authorized the Board to recall retired nursing staff into the service.
Funds originally released to meet demands of the striking nursing staff will now be redirected and allocated towards meeting the costs of effecting this new directive and arrangement which takes immediate effect.
In the meantime, Government pays singular tribute to all nurses who have loyally remained at work, and to those from the ranks of the striking nurses who have heeded its call for them to return to work. Their commitment to duty and patients, both pointing to a deep regard for life as required by their professional oath, is noted and much appreciated.
Government also appeals to all those visiting public health institutions to exercise patience while services are being restored and brought back to normalcy. Equally, in view of sporadic cases of cholera reported in different parts of the country, all families and individuals are being encouraged to observe strict standards of hygiene in their homes and in all public places. Where symptoms suggest any infections, these must promptly be brought to the attention of health personnel at nearest service points.
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
NORTON CONSTITUENCY 2018 INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS.
Andy Muridzo
Norton Constituency Independence Day Celebrations 2018 hosted by Honourable Temba P. Mliswa at Ngoni Stadium on Wednesday 18th April 2018 from 08:00hrs to 17:00hrs.
Guest of Honour: Assistant District Administrator, Mrs. Mataki.
Join us in celebration for a fun filled day of entertainment. Performing on the day will be
• Andy Muridzo
• Celscius
• Mbeu
• Hitondo
• Mbira dze Nharira as well as various local live bands whilst soccer, netball, snooker and volleyball teams battle it out for the chance to win a trophy.
Football: The Norton Tongogara-Mangena Cup
Boozers Football: The Norton Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Cup
Netball: The Norton Mbuya Nehanda Cup
Volleyball: The Norton Chief Chivero Cup
Snooker: The Norton Sekuru Kaguvi Cup
All this and lots more!
Free lunch ?? and a drink will be provided
? Please be there! Do not miss out!! Let’s celebrate our freedom as a family
A FAMILY DAY FOR ALL….SEE YOU THERE!
PLEASE NOTE NO party regalia or slogans it’s a free for all celebration
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.
Emmerson Mnangagwa today
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.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been listed in the leaders category as one of the most influential people in the world. Mnangagwa sits in Times Magazine’s top 100 influentials, with the write-up being penned by ThisFlag pastor and activist, Evan Mawarire. Mawarire says,
Ousted MDC-T vice president Dr Thokozani
Terrence Mawawa
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.
