5 kids burnt death by vengeful dad

A jilted 44 year old man after falling out with his wife returned home and allegedly burnt down his house killing all his kids inside the building.

It was horror after horror after it emerged the man before committing the act had also allegedly raped a 12 year old girl at the property.

Police say Mr. Steven Majovha burnt his children aged 10, 9, 6, 4 and 2 years at Churu farm on the outskirts of Harare on Wednesday night.

The man had separated from his wife and returned home to petrol bomb the house they were sleeping.

At thebtine of writing, the children’s mother and an unnamed relative were hospitalised after being injured in the incident.

Terrence Mawawa

Sources close to Nelson Chamisa are claiming that Professor Lovemore Madhuku- who is part of Thokozani Khupe’ s legal team has literally dumped the troubled former MDC vice president.

“I had a discussion with Professor Lovemore Madhuku and we compared notes.

Check out tomorrow for the finer
details of our great discussion.

The professor has decided to part ways with Khupe,” claimed a senior MDC official.

By Terrence Mawawa|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has suddenly decided to cancel his visit to Chikomba District amid heightening political tension.

Mnangagwa was expected to officiate at a party event in Chikomba District on Wednesday but he cancelled the trip after gathering intelligence that pro- Grace Mugabe party members were planning to embarrass him.

Chikomba District is Grace Mugabe’s home area and she commands a huge following, according to party sources.

“The President cancelled his trip to Chikomba District because of heightening political tension in the area.

As you are aware the former First Lady is from Chikomba area, as such the President cancelled his trip due to reports coming from the place,” said a government official.

By Terrence Mawawa|A Gutu man was caught having sex with his neighbour’ s dog last month.

In an incident that has left the local community stunned, Dickson Barura of Soro Village allegedly made some gestures and the dog followed him.

The matter was heard before Gutu Magistrate Edwin Marecha last week. He was charged with abusing the animal.

For the State, Millicent Azangwe told the court that on 25 March, 2018 Barura was walking in the bush when he saw the dog.

He then went to a secluded place where he inserted his manhood into the dog’ s vagina.

He was spotted by one Benard Tanyanyiwa who reported the matter to the police and Barura was later arrested.

Barura was convicted and sentenced to a wholly suspended six months in prison jail term.

Terrence Mawawa|Highlanders FC will receive the second set of their kit next week.

The latest set is for winter clothing – which includes tracksuits for training as well as travelling gear.

Club CEO Nhlanhla Dube told reporters at a Press Conference yesterday the consignment had arrived in Harare from China and would be delivered after the completion of clearance modalities.

“The kit we received last week, which we are using now, will be used for training, so we still have a second batch coming,” Dube said.

“The new batch has arrived in Harare and is getting cleared. We should be able to receive it hopefully next week.

“That will be our training and travelling kit. Everything seems to be coming together, and we are grateful to our sponsors.”

However Bosso fans claim the light black shed and greyish white colours do not suit the Highlanders tradition.

The fans further claim the jerseys are a failed replica of an AC Milan kit.

By Paul Nyathi|Hardly two days after Elton Mangoma declared that his Coalition Of Democrats, CODE coalition, was the most stable, it has lost probably its most important alliance partner ZAPU.

The ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa announced in a statement on Friday that his party was inevitably pulling out of the coalition.

ZAPU pulled out of the coalition just twenty four hours ahead of the much talked about launch of the coalition set for Africa Unity Square in Harare on Saturday.

Mangoma’s Friday the 13th could be the most horrific as he also received at the same time a letter from the official Zimbabwe First Party lawyers ordering him and his coalition principal partner Derreck Lupemba to immediately withdraw using the ZimFirst name as one of the coalition partners.

Dabengwa said that the party will be issuing a full statement over the weekend on why they opted out of the coalition.

ZAPU incorporated former CODE principal Barbara Nyagomo’s Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe into its structures to establish a united party in the name of ZAPU.

Nyagomo and ZimFirst leader Dr Maxwell Zeb Shumba both accused Mangoma of being a dictator and failed political leader when they quit CODE.

Comment could not immediately be obtained from Mangoma on the issue and plans for Saturday launch in the wake of the new developments.

By Dorrothy Moyo| The expelled former Deputy President Of the MDC party, Thokozani Khupe failed at court appearance today.

Khupe’s lawyer failed to turn up for court for the case in which she is challenging her former boss, Nelson Chamisa over the party name.

Khupe is being sued by Chamisa as she is told to stop using the party name, MDC-T.

Her party spokesperson, Obert Cutu also said the urgent chamber application filed by Nelson Chamisa that was scheduled to be heard today at the Bulawayo High Court by Justice Francis Bere has since been postponed to the 17th April.

Gutu announced on Twitter saying the case was postponed after Khupe’s lawyer Lovemore Madhuku failed to attend the hearing.

The hearing was at 2PM. Gutu said,

“Urgent chamber application that was scheduled to be heard before Honorable Justice Francis Bere at the Bulawayo High Court at 14.00 hours this afternoon has been postponed to April,17,2018 at 14.00 hours. Judge granted the postponement to enable Prof. Lovemore Madhuku to attend the hearing.

By Paul Nyathi|Spokesperson of the Thokozani Khuphe led MDC-T faction Obert Gutu has challenged the Nelson Chamisa led faction of the party that the use of the party name will be finalised in the court on Friday.

Speaking in a media interview after submitting opposing papers on a High Court application submitted by the Chamisa led faction on Thursday, Gutu said that they have engaged high profile lawyers to defend their position to use the party name.

The Chamisa led faction through its lawyers Atherstone and Cook Legal Practitioners, on Thursday filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court citing Khupe, Abednico Bhebhe and Gutu, as respondents seeking an order stopping them from “unlawfully exploiting and abusing its registered MDC-T trademark, symbols and signs.”

In an affidavit, submitted by their chairperson Morgen Komichi the Chamisa faction said: “This is an application for an order interdicting the respondents from unlawfully using the applicant’s name in the pursuit of their political agenda and infringing on registered trademarks. The respondents were dismissed as members and office bearers of the party on 23 March 2018”.

Komichi said Khupe and her allies were causing confusion and misleading MDC-T followers by continuing to use the party trademark, symbols and signs.

“Notwithstanding the dismissal, which effectively terminated their membership, the respondents have, in common purpose, purported to present themselves as not only MDC-T members, but office bearers thereof and thereby causing a lot of confusion amongst party supporters,” he said.

“MDC-T is our name and is our own property. We have past experience on this issue, some tried to do it previously and you know what happened. We are going to approach the courts when the right time comes,” Komichi said.

“The applicant (MDC-T) is the owner of the trademark which the respondents are unlawfully exploiting, including the open palms slogan. The respondents have now started creating their own political structures in the name of the applicant, including making use of the party’s registered trademark and their derivative marks, symbols and colours.”

Komichi accused Khupe of portraying herself as the leader of the MDC-T and the party’s presidential candidate in the forthcoming harmonised elections.

“It is also apparent that the first respondent (Dr Khupe) and all persons acting through her and on her behalf are making use of and exploiting a registered trademark which belongs to the MDC-T in violation of the Trademarks Act,” he said.

Komichi said although Khupe ceased to become an MDC-T member soon after her expulsion, she continued to use social media platforms misrepresenting herself as the acting president of the party. “The MDC-T contention is that the respondents’ actions are clearly unlawful. The applicant is a party that will contest in the 2018 harmonised elections and has been doing preparations for the past five years. If the respondents are aggrieved they should follow the due process of the law and not openly defy resolutions properly taken by organs of the party to which they belonged,” he said.

Gutu said that they have since filled their opposing papers through their lawyers T.J Mabhikwa and Partners.

In the opposing papers Khupe insisted that she was the acting president of the MDC-T.

“I became acting president of MDC-T by operation of law in terms of Article 9.21.1 of the party constitution upon the untimely death and sad passing on of our party leader, the late Morgan Tsvangirai on 14 February 2018. Before I became acting president, I was the deputy president of the party having been elected by the congress in 2006, 2011 and 2014 as provided for in Article 6.44 of the party constitution,” she said.

Gutu said that they have assembled their legal team which will be led by Professor Lovemore Madhuku to defend their position when the court seats on Friday afternoon.

“We are not moved by their court action,” said Gutu. “We are ready to engage them in court and will definitely come out of court victorious.”

By Paul Nyathi|Under pressure ZANU PF has quickly reversed disqualifications made on aspiring candidates by provincial committees demanding that all CVs submitted by members wishing to contest primary elections be sent to Harare immediately.

The ruling party took the decision in a hurry on thursday after members from the provinces threatened to ensure that the party candidates presented lose the national elections set for July or August this year.

ZimEye.com sources within the party indicated that a huge majority of party members were not happy with the candidates vetting process that was done by provincial committees.

The vetting committees in nine of the ten provinces held seperate vetting exercises last weekend where a number of aspiring candidates were disqualified from taking part in the primaries set for the 5th of May.

According to the sources, members were not happy with some reasons given by provinces to eliminate candidates from participating resulting in them raising the issue with the party leadership in Harare.

“Some candidates were disqualified to protect some so called big fish from being contested,” said the source.

In a reactionary mode, the ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu immediately reversed all disqualifications requesting for all the CVs received by provinces to be submitted to Head Office for vetting.

In a letter to all provinces Mpofu advised that the party national electoral committee will do the final vetting.

“This letter serves to advise that leadership of the party has been inundated with calls by aspiring candidates who are claiming that their CVs have been thrown out at both administrative district and provincial levels disqualifying them to participate in the primary elections,” said Dr Mpofu.

“As the secretary for Administration, I hereby direct provinces to receive all the CVs of aspiring candidates, make comments and urgently forward them to party headquarters for vetting. The final decision on who qualifies and who does not qualify will be made by the party headquarters not district nor the province.”

Dr Mpofu said the party leadership was disheartened by the sad developments and wanted corrective measures to be taken immediately.

He appealed to all the provinces to cooperate and adhere to Zanu-PF rules and regulations governing the conduct of primary elections.

“Several candidates also swarmed Zanu-PF headquarters from all provinces complaining about their disqualification to stand by provinces. Leadership is disturbed and dismayed by this development and wants immediate correction to this matter,” said Mpofu.

By Dorrothy Moyo| The MDC-T outcast Thokozani Khupe has received support from activist and the parliament seeking Linda Masarira who slammed the MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa who she said had made “the worst mistake”.

The development comes after Khupe was on Thursday expelled from parliament after Chamisa recalled her.

Khupe was de-robed and simultaneously expelled from the MDC-T party after nearly 8  months or bitter fights with the late Morgan Tsvangirai and later Chamisa.

Today’s development saw Khupe’s spokesman tell ZimEye.com she will take legal action against Chamisa.

While many appeared to celebrate her removal from parliament, Masarira wrote in support of her.

Masarira said it was the worst decision made by the “Chamisa faction”.

Writing on her micro-blogging portal, Masarira said, “this was the worst decision made by the Chamisa faction. At this juncture I am forced to follow the voice of reason to support constitutionalism and to protect the interests of a woman politician. Zimbabwe Women In Politics condemns this move and will stand in solidarity with Dr Thokozani Khupe.”

National People’ s Party(NPP) Spokesperson Jeffryson Chitando has said only a female President can solve the country’ s perennial problems.

“The majority of cross boarder traders, vendors,
and farm workers are
women.

Why then do we claim to be democratic
when our policies do not promote the
majority?

The Zimbabwean liberation struggle was fought
to dislodge a system that promoted the wishes of
the minority at the expense of the majority.

Did we
not replace an oppressive system with another bad
system?

Women must stand up and vote for a system
that promotes democracy.

Women must vote for a woman!!!” argued Chitando.

By Terrence Mawawa| Staunch Zanu PF critic Antony Taruvinga has indicated that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is afraid of a public debate because of the Gukurahundi shadows tormenting him.

“The delusional coup President declined a public debate with front runner Nelson Chamisa amid fears his dark past associated with murders, abductions, massive corruption could be exposed live on television.

Mnangagwa has a jerky annoying voice, he speaks like a cornered thief. In almost all his addresses, his speeches lack facts, the contents are always full of balderdash (kuvukura kurakasha nonsense),” argued Taruvinga .

Terrence Mawawa

Prominent social media analyst and Zanu PF critic Antony Taruvinga has described President Emmerson Mnangagwa as “an insensitive leader.”

He accused Mnangagwa of further exploiting the country’s meagre resources.

“US$2.3 million blown only on China trip. US$3.5
million of state funds wasted on buying T-shirts,
caps and zambias from China for ED campaign.

US
$15 billion worth of diamonds from Chiadzwa stolen,
sold and the proceeds stashed in foreign accounts.
We watch helplessly while our revenue is being
squandered without shame.

The roads that we use
daily are an eyesore. None of the people in
government and their spouses use these roads.

This government needs to be wiped from existence.

Your vote is your power. Get registered to exercise it.
Show Mnangagwa and his Junta government the
exit door,” charged Taruvinga yesterday.

Terrence Mawawa

MDC members running a social media platform under the name Advocate Chamisa for President, have sensationally accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of perpetrating acts of terror against perceived supporters of the opposition party.

“It is not Robert Mugabe alone who murdered our
brothers and sisters.

It is ZANU PF including the so
called new dispensation leadership.

Mnangagwa himself has a case to answer and he knows that,” read part of a report compiled by the MDC supporters.

By Paul Nyathi|Opposition MDC Secretary for Legal Affairs David Coltart has challenged Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa to tell the truth on the suspected corruption in the purchase of the Boeing 777 for Zimbabwe Airways.

In a Facebook post, Coltart challenged the Minister to tell the truth on why proper government purchase procedures were ignored.

Chinamasa blamed sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe as the reason why government failed to follow the laid down procedures to acquire the aircraft from Malaysia.

Coltart’s full challenge to Chinamasa posted on his Facebook reads as foolows:

“The amount of subterfuge and duplicity in this Zimbabwe Airways deal is breathtaking.

Take for example this quote from Finance Minister Chinamasa in today’s Newsday:

“The minister said the project was kept under wraps, as part of a sanctions-busting measure and to avoid disruptions in negotiations”

Chinamasa said the government also engaged Boeing, which, after a due diligence, exercise recommended that the planes were good assets with a lifespan of 15 to 20 years.”

ZANU PF always loves to blame sanctions for everything and use it as cover at every turn. And they have done it again here. Now sanctions is given as the excuse for the lack of transparency around this deal – why the deal “was kept under wraps”. But he is hoisted by his own petard – because in trying to answer another criticism – that we have bought second hand planes from Malaysia – he says that Government engaged Boeing who recommended the planes (to justify what appears to be a bad deal).

Boeing is of course a massive American company, and the USA has some of the most stringent sanctions against the ZANU PF regime. It is simply absurd to think that this Government could have had any dealings with Boeing without the knowledge of the American Government.

So Minister Chinamasa you cannot have your cake and eat it – either sanctions had nothing to do with keeping this deal “under wraps” or Government never engaged Boeing. Pray tell us what in fact is the truth.

By Paul Nyathi|Government has announced that it will soon be unveiling twenty four new state run television stations.

This was said by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services, George Charamba, during an interview with a local radio station ZiFM Stereo on Monday night.

In relation to the ongoing digitalisation programme, Charamba said they are in the process of acquiring decoders which will enable citizens to access broadcast channels.

“The tender for decoders is just about to be floated. It’ll mean that overnight, we’ll have licences to give out to 12 television licence operators. I hope Zimbabweans are ready for that because it’ll come pretty soon.

“But I’ve also been informed by our engineers that there’s a new technology which could double that capacity. We’ve decided that we’re no longer going to go SD (Standard Definition), because if we go SD, we would’ve had 24 channels in an instant.

“But now, we’re going High Definition (HD) because that’s where the quality is. I’m told there are new technologies that can double that capacity and we might end up having 24 new licences to give out,” said Charamba.

He said as the economy grows, room for more television channels to be absorbed would increase.

“My hope is that as the economy grows then we should be able to accommodate more and more channels.

“I promise the questioner that we’re almost on the verge of a multichannel era from a television point of view. And I hope the entrepreneurs who are eager and waiting for that licensing process are ready,” said Charamba.

The state run broadcaster is currently involved in the process of setting up varied community radio stations throughout the country.

So far three have been set up in Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare. The radio stations have also adopted the partisan broadcasting done by the national radio stations.

Last year the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe issued twelve community radio station licences which were all awarded to known ZANU PF loyalists.

Couple of years back two national radio licences were also issued with one being given to Minister Supa Mandiwanzira while the other was awarded to the government run Zimpapers.

The government has literally refused to open up the airwaves for opposition political parties to broadcast only running the ZANU PF programmes.

By Dorrothy Moyo| Reports reaching ZimEye show that police have offloaded rounds of teargas on protesting Great Zimbabwe students.

The students are protesting against high fees and poor service delivery.

It was not clear at the time of writing if there were injuries.

Prolific activist and former Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) secretary general Makomborero Haruzivishe said, “Members of Zimbabwe Republic Police are firing shots at Great Zimbabwe University Mashava campus where students are demonstrating for #FeesMustFall & against poor service delivery. This is proof that there is nothing new about this dispensation!,” he wrote on his twitter portal.

Responding to a question asked by Glenview North Member of Parliament Fani Munengiwa in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, Ziyambi Ziyambi said that Mnangagwa never committed to solving the cash crisis in the country in his first hundred days in office.

“I would like to thank the Hon. Member for the question which he asked pertaining to the programme of Government, the Hundred Day Programme and what he indicated as promises to end queues within hundred days which is not correct,” said Minister Ziyambi.

“When the President came in, he promised to introduce a new culture of working and of accountability. Hence the Government came-up with the hundred day targets to ensure that we turn around the economy and introduce a new culture and work ethic.”

Among the targets which were set, nobody indicated that the problem of cash is a problem that can be overturned overnight,” Ziyambi said.

On further questioning by the House, the Minister who was attempting to answer on behalf of the Minister of Finance who was not in the house asked Munengami to send the questions in writing to the Finance Minister.

His dicing of the question attracted heavy protests from the members led by Themba Mliswa who took swipe at the Minister.

“This issue of cash is critical to the country and we cannot keep on postponing that issue. Why does he allow himself to take questions which he knows he cannot respond to? It is a waste of time. The whole nation wants to know what legislators are doing about the cash crisis,” said Mlilo.

“Mr. Speaker, it is either the Government admits that it has failed and then we go to a new Government so that it can solve the problems.”

LIVE-BLAST:  this is a LIVE report – refresh this page to watch. … Video loading shortly.

– in this special feature ZimEye investigates with the Malaysian Civil Aviation Authority on the safety of the jet which Zimbabwe’s Ministry Of Transport purchased from that Asian country.-

The Malaysian passenger jet bought by the Zimbabwean government which landed yesterday has a history of plane crashes, ZimEye.com can reveal. ZimEye explores serious mistakes the Zimbabwean government made when they blew $40 million on jets that have been decommissioned on safety grounds.  – refresh this page to watch.

By Dorrothy Moyo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba has promised that government officials under investigation for corruption will be arrested.

Charamba spoke on Larry Kwirirayi’s ZiFM Stereo program Monday evening, saying officials under probe will be arrested as soon as investigations are over.

He said this while responding to a question concerning targeted arrests on G40 members.

“Except, the persons who have cases to answer were persons who were in the government that made way to the new dispensations, isn’t it?

“It’s not being suggested that I should go to Buhera and arrest someone merely to balance it off. If the question is about the integrity in the use of public resources then necessarily, those that were in government will have a case to answer.

“And really the questions in terms of which persons answer is not a closed chapter. It is ongoing.

“There are quite a number of investigations underway. Investigations involving persons who are even in Government as we speak and when the investigations are done and complete definitely those persons would be arraigned before the courts.”

By Paul Nyathi|Coalition of Democrats, (CODE) leader Elton Mangoma says that their coalition is the most stable and best coalition available ahead of this year’s elections.

Speaking to ZimEye.com in an interview on Tuesday, Mangoma said that CODE has the best possible chances of winning the national elections set for July or August this year because of its stability compared to other coalitions.

“We are by far the most stable and best administered coalition for this election and very confident that we will win the election,” said Mangoma.

The coalition is made up of Mangoma’s Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe with five other so called minor opposition parties.

The other parties are, Dumiso Dabengwa led ZAPU which also incorporates in it Barbara Nyagomo’s Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe.

Little known African Democratic Party led by Marcelina Chikasha and a faction of the Zimbabwe First Party led by Derreck Lupemba.

Mangoma said that the coalition will be officially launched at a ceremony to be held at the Africa Unity Square in Harare this Saturday.

“We will definitely be launching the coalition this Saturday and all preparations are well in place for the day,” said Mangoma.

Contrary to his assertions on the stability of the party, CODE lost two of its founding and key members the Welshman Ncube led MDC and the Tendai Biti led PDP last year.

The two parties joined the then MDC-T leader late Morgan Tsvangirai to establish the MDC Alliance coalition which at the moment has by far the largest visible following.

Giving further doubts on the stability claims by Mangoma, the Coalition of Democrats recently lost two more members the Dr Maxwell Zeb Shumba led faction of ZimFirst and surprising returnees PDZ of Barbara Nyagomo.

The parties all accused the coalition of lacking the political stamina to be able to wrestle power from the ruling ZANU PF.

The departing leaders also accused Mangoma of not being transparent in the running of the party consequently turning into a dictator.

“As the ZimFirst presidential candidate, I believe CODE is worthless and Mangoma is incompetent,” said Dr Shumba when he quite the coalition early this year.

“For this country to move forward we do not need such kind of leadership,” he said.

Nyagomo of the Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe (PDZ) wrote to CODE saying;

“PDZ is pulling out of CODE because there is lack of transparency and accountability and also that a principal or a couple of principals take unilateral decisions in CODE.”

Besides being questioned on the issues raised by exiting partners, Mangoma insisted, without giving reasons, that the coalition is far much better organised than the Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance and the Joice Mujuru led People’s Rainbow Coalition.

By Paul Nyathi|A Gwanda woman who was last week attacked together with her daughter on their way to join an overnight bank queue in the town has died.

The 57 year old woman died at the United Bulawayo Hospitals from the stab wounds while her daughter is battling for her life at Gwanda Hospital.

Irene Tshabangu and her daughter Judith Msimanga (24) of Jacaranda low density suburb in the town were both stabbed at around 4:35 AM last Thursday when they were on their way to join a bank queue for cash.

The two were attacked by a lone man who imaged from the bushes and brutally attacked the two women. The women were rushed to Gwanda Provincial Hospital after the attack.

Tshabangu was rushed for specialist attention at the United Bulawayo Hospitals where she died a few days later.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has always maintained that the country’s cash flow problems have been sorted yet people still put up outside the banks for cash.

By Terrence Mawawa| Just a day before his (Nelson Chamisa’s) rally, youths have hit the ground preparing for the MDC Alliance Rally. In the pictures below, yesterday Masvingo provincial Youth Deputy Secretary Kingsley Sibanda, Provincial Youth Organising Secretary Paul Rimai and Provincial Youth secretary for finance Godfrey Kurauone were snapped displaying Chamisa’s posters and as well distributing flyers at and around Nyima growth point ahead of Friday’s MDC Alliance Rally at Nyika growth point in Bikita. There Chamisa is set to address thousands of rural supporters.

Thousands of MDC Alliance supporters are expected to attend two rallies scheduled for Jerera and Nyika Growth Points respectively.

Chamisa will address both rallies.

“This weekend the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa will be in the rural districts of Masvingo Province.

On 13 April he will address a rally at Nyika Growth
Point.

On 14 April he will address another rally at Jerera
Growth Point.

The jet which Simba Chikore acquired is government owned, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa says.

Government yesterday took delivery of a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft from Malaysia, which is part of an envisaged fleet of 10 aeroplanes to be managed under a new company tasked to boost the local aviation sector.

The 300-seater plane, which touched down at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport yesterday, is wholly-owned by the Government’s special purpose vehicle, Zimbabwe Aviation Leasing Company, which, in turn, is leasing the aircraft to Zimbabwe Airways.

Zimbabwe Airways is also owned by the Government and was formed to give Air Zimbabwe
(Airzim) time to come back to its feet and recover from its debts.

The second Boeing has already been paid for in Malaysia and is expected in the country soon.
It is believed that the newly-acquired planes will add impetus to efforts to open Zimbabwe to investment and boost local tourism and trade.

In essence, Government, through Zimbabwe Airways, plans to acquire three additional Boeing 777 aeroplanes to service regional and international routes, including six small planes that will be used as feeder aircraft for long-haul flights.

Government has already paid $41 million out of the $70 million that is needed for the four Boeing 777 planes. It is believed that to date, local authorities have managed to arrange funding for two Boeing 777 planes and one Embraer.

Speaking after the delivery of the plane, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the new aeroplanes, contrary to speculation, belonged to Government.
“I wish to categorically state the aeroplane that is outside there is the property and asset of the Government of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“I know speculation has been rife that the aircraft belonged to the former First Family.
“That is wrong and I am here to set the record straight. (Mr) Simba Chikore (President Mugabe’s son-in-law) has no interests in the business, directly or indirectly.”

Mr Chinamasa said Mr Chikore, who was one of the pilots who flew the plane from Malaysia, was initially roped in to offer technical support and assist in negotiating the deal.

“(Mr) Simba Chikore has no shareholding in this plane,” he said.
“We only recruited him to assist us with technical support during the negotiations since he has vast experience in the aircraft industry.”

Government has decided to lease out the planes to its newly-created firm, Zimbabwe Airways, in order to allow Airzim — currently saddled with a $300 million debt — time to recover.
“Zimbabwe Aviation Leasing Company, which is 100 percent owned by the Government, is leasing the new Boeing 777 to Zimbabwe Airways, which is also wholly owned by the Government,” said Minister Chinamasa.

“We will lease the aircrafts to third parties until Air Zimbabwe, which is now a bottomless pit, puts its house in order.”

Minister Chinamasa said the deal had been kept under wraps since 2016 to avoid jeopardising negotiations.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive officer Mr Karikoga Kaseke urged Government to appoint a vibrant leadership to the new airline.

“I urge you to put a very serious board in the airline and a serious management and everything will follow,” he said.

Mr Kaseke said in future, Government should inform the nation of such crucial deals to avoid speculation.

“I am one of the people who believed in the media reports,” he said. “We are concerned because when you do not give us information we will have to believe the newspaper stories.”

Mr Kaseke urged Government to reopen the traditional international routes for business.

“These Boeing 777 planes should go to their traditional routes like the Harare-London route,” he said. “Before Air Zimbabwe became a bottomless pit, we used to win awards every year as the best airline in Africa.

“I hope we will be flying to London, China and other countries as soon as possible.”

Government says aviation experts that have examined the Boeing 777 planes from Malaysia say they can operate efficiently for between 15 to 20 years. – state media

The dreaded Central Intelligence Organision, CIO and the ZRP became involved in diamond mining to the extent of literally owning the businesses.

This was during the time of the Diamond Rush.

All this was revealed by the former CIO boss who over-saw the disappearance of Itai Dzamara.

Happyton Bonyongwe spoke as he was grilled over the missing $15 billion diamond revenue. VKDE

refresh this page to watch

Terrence Mawawa | The ruling party Zanu PF has sensationally disclosed that although MDC president Nelson Chamisa is popular he will lose the coming elections.

“If the ZANU PF youth leader can have such big rally at cell level hummmmm?

What more when President Mnangagwa starts campaigning?

Chamisa will be silenced!!.MDC must be allowed to go first showing fake crowds then President ED will come kuzodzikamisa kamwanana ako Pasi nemhanduuu!!!
#EdHasMyVote2018,” claimed the ruling party in a statement yesterday.

Stating after the delivery of the first Zim Airways plane, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said: “I’m here to categorically state that this plane is the property of the Republic of Zimbabwe and not the former First Family.” This is after Simba Chikore and wife Bona arrived with the plane earlier on sparking debate on ownership and source of funding.

MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa has boldly challenged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to a public presidential debate, as is the norm in other countries.

However, Mnangagwa has turned this down with his spokesperson, George Charamba telling journalists his boss is not keen on this.

“I don’t think we are likely to get it at all because we don’t find any value at all. One key component in political communication is go straight to the voter and they are many ways of doing it outside a presidential debate,” the local Newsday quotes Charamba.

Televised presidential debates ahead of general elections have become the hallmark of democratic nations, with candidates given an equal platform to defend their manifestos.

But Charamba said Mnangagwa would not be lulled into exposing his election strategy by the opposition.

“If you are a clever political player, you don’t fit into the strategy of your opponent, it’s up to the President and Zanu PF to decide whether or not the presidential debate does advance their own communication strategy. If it does, you will have it and if it doesn’t, you won’t have it,” he said.

He dismissed Chamisa as a “juvenile” who was excitable and renting roving crowds to create an image that he was a popular figure ahead of the polls.

“Zanu PF is visible, but not in opposition terms. We are fixing the economy and dealing with bread and butter issues, which, at the end of the day, determine how the voter behaves on the day, but more importantly, we have our schedule. We don’t copy an opponent’s strategy, you pursue your own. What I see really is a juvenilian response to an election that looms large, but a mature party is not excited and excitable, but takes its sweet time and as we move towards the election, the mighty machinery of Zanu PF will be unleashed,” he said.

But through his spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, Chamisa yesterday said Charamba’s statements showed that Mnangagwa and his team remained in the “analogue” era and had not embraced trends in the world of civilisation.

“It tells you that you are dealing with an analogue lot in the digital age. This is what the rest of the civilised world is doing, that the electorate is allowed to make their own choice after presidential candidates go live and they debate their own programmes, their own policy ideas and manifestos so that people can make informed choices,” he said.

“President Chamisa is not only a pastor, he is an advocate of the superior court of the land and according to the Constitution, his age is such that he is allowed to contest for a presidential election.

“Is he saying that there are 40-year-old juveniles? For a party of geriatrics, for a party whose politburo is replete with characters who are over 80 and 90 years old, certainly someone who is 40 years old is a juvenile.”

Mnangagwa is 75 years old and Chamisa 40. Newsday

Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko is fighting the President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration over his pension, which he has not received to date.

The local Daily News reports that the government is insisting that Mphoko must not enjoy full benefits because he did not serve a full term. Mphoko served under former President Robert Mugabe before he was ousted in a coup.

Mphoko’s lawyers, Mphoko’s lawyer said that the government, through the ministry of Justice, had opened up channels of communication over the pension issue, but was refusing to award the former vice president full benefits.

“We have been communicating back and forth, the communication we have so far with the ministry of Justice through the advice of the Attorney-General is that they appear to be conceding that he (Mphoko) is entitled to his pension but continue to dispute his entitlement to other benefits like security, office and others,” Ncube said.

The respected lawyer said part of the argument being raised by the government was that Mphoko did not deserve to get some of his terminal benefits since he did not complete his full term as the country’s second-in-charge.

In December last year, Mnangagwa gazetted retirement benefits to be enjoyed by a former president of Zimbabwe.

In terms of vice presidents, Statutory Instrument 86 of 2015 states that a VP who served at least one term in office can enjoy exit packages such as a security officer, two drivers, and domestic workers.

It is this clause that has somehow created the bone of contention as it assumes that Mphoko does not qualify for the benefits since he did not serve a full term.

Mphoko assumed the VP post in 2014 and lost his job in November last year under popular pressure following a military takeover, almost two years short of a full five-year term.

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HISTORY-BLAST

By Dorrothy Moyo| April is the month when the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai began the process of marrying an army commdmander’s widow. In the Shona culture a widow is called a deceased’s wife even after their husband’s death.

It was on the 19th April when Tsvangirai on the Friday night engaged to marry the widow (Elizabeth Macheka) of a senior ranking military officer.

The engagement ceremony was conducted on Friday night at the LaFarrranatta Restaurant along Mutoko Road. His engagement came barely six months after he stopped marriage proceedings for another woman, Lorcadia Karimatsenga Tembo.

Loud romantic music could be heard in the background on Friday night as Tsvangirai’s spokesman, Luke Tamborinyoka told ZimEye.com: “Yes it is correct; I can confirm that the Prime Minister has engaged with his loved one. I am still at the function right now”, he said.

Tsvangirai had been widowed since his wife and mother of his six children, Susan, died in a car crash in March 2009.

Tsvangirai may have disappointed his late wife’s younger sister who was given to be his wife in replacement of his children’s mother, according to African culture, party members said on the Friday night.

Elizabeth owns an upmarket beauty salon in Harare and her first husband, Mabasa Simba Guma, died in a car crash 10 years before. His funeral was published on the front page of the state run and ZANU PF controlles Herald newspaper.

Social networking websites were abuzz with the story as people talked about Macheka was once married to Airforce Wing Commander Mabasa Simba Guma, who had a record of leading the violent mass raiding of white owned farms in Chiredzi between 2000 and 2002. Mabasa Guma was a ruthless farm invader who was promoted to a senior military post as a reward for his farm invasions in the eastern town of Chegutu, something the MDC-T leader Tsvangirai may have paid a blind eye to, an army officer who deputised Guma told ZimEye.com.

ZimEye during that week also revealed that Ms Macheka is daughter to the powerful former ZANU PF mayor for Chitungwiza, Joseph Macheka.

Her name became the subject of public discussions the previous year after Tsvangirai had customarily married another woman, Lorcadia Tembo.

Tsvangirai sent a delegation to Lorcadia Karimatsenga Tembo’s home on November 18 2011 to request for her hand in marriage and pay lobola. But he soon terminated the relationship a few days later, stating: “I sent a delegation to the Karimatsenga family homestead to perform traditional and cultural rites to formalise this relationship.

“I have become a spectator in this relationship and things are happening too fast, on camera and without my knowledge. This has led me to conclude that there is a greater and thicker plot around this issue which has undermined my confidence in this relationship,” he said.

– CONTROVERSY –
Controversy however surrounds Ms Macheka’s conduct as friends of Guma claimed that she was no longer living with her former husband at the time of his death.

“The prime minister should have known and it is public knowledge that Elizabeth Guma was already living away from her husband at the time of his death”, two air force officers told ZimEye. “I don’t know maybe people change over time,” one of the ex-officers who requested not to be named, said.(ZIMBABWE, ZimEye)

By Paul Nyathi| The Zimbabwe First Party has accused Coalition Of Democrats, CODE, leader Elton Mangoma for conniving with a desperate former member to steal the party into his coalition in order to solicit funding.

In an interview with ZimEye.com on Wednesday morning, ZimFirst founding President Dr Maxwell Zeb Shumba accused Mangoma of conniving with his former Deputy Derrick Lupemba to retain the party name in the CODE after the party officially withdrew from the coalition.

Dr Shumba indicated that the party dismissed Lupemba from his position and the party on the 28th of February for gross incompetence and failure to account for party funds.

According to Dr Shumba the party further withdrew from the Coalition of Democrats on the 3rd of March raising concerns against the coalition leader Mangoma.

“When we pulled out of CODE, Mangoma immediately connived with Lupemba who we had dismissed and they produced a statement to the effect that I had been dismissed from the party and the party was continuing in the CODE coalition,” said Dr Shumba.

Dr Shumba insisted that ZimFirst is officially no longer a member of CODE while Lupemba is also no longer a CODE official who is not authorised to represent the party in any capacity.

“Lupemba left our campaign team on February 28, 2018 after the Campaign decided that his second VP position was no longer necessary,” said Dr Shumba.

“ZimFirst is actually battling theft of its intellectual property by CODE that sees the use of the ZimFirst name as a lifeline to their sinking ship,” he added.

“ZimFirst will not be part of the CODE launch and anyone purporting to be representing ZimFirst will be liable to be sued in a court of law,” said Shumba.

Dr Shumba went on to accuse Mangoma of deliberately funding the desperate Lupemba who had been surviving on funds from ZimFirst.

“We used to fund Lupemba for all his needs and when we stopped giving him money, Mangoma hijacked him and started giving him money just to have him keep ZimFirst name in the coalition,” said Shumba.

The former MDC-T American Province Chairman rubbished his alleged dismissal from the party by Lupemba.

“Dereck Lupemba is like a maggot after a hearty cow dung meal telling the bull to vacate the kraal. Does the bull need to pay attention?” said Shumba.

Contacted for a comment, Mangoma said that CODE had nothing to do with the internal fights within coalition partners.

“That one is an internal matter of ZimFirst and as CODE we are not involved in it at all,” said Mangoma.

“As far as we know, ZimFirst provided us with correspondence indicating that Shumba had been dismissed from the party and Lupemba is the new principal and we are working very well with him,” said Mangoma.

Meanwhile, ZimFirst has since written to Mangoma telling him to stop using their name in the coalition as the party is no longer a member of the coalition.

“ZimFirst has noted with disgust your continued arrogance ignoring our position that ZimFirst officially left CODE and any association with our name liable to prosecution in the court of law,” said the party in a letter to Mangoma.

“Let me point out that your demonstrated arrogance and underhand activities has left us with no option but seek legal remedy through the court of law.”

By Farai D Hove| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa was truly offered a walking at the late Joshua Nkomo’s house, his top aide argues.

Writing on Wednesday morning, the party’s Standing Committee member Chalton Hwende said, “Zanu-PF and State Media’s propaganda is sickening.

“The President was offered a Walking stick this is a fact but he never said he was offered the walking stick that Dr Nkomo used to use because he was never offered this particular walking Stick.”

The development comes after the late National Hero’s son told ZimEye Chamisa according to him is disrespected the Veteran through his speech at White City Stadium on Saturday. Watch the below video for the whole debacle –

By Dorrothy Moyo| Zimbabwe now has a total 118 parties participating in the upcoming 2018 elections.

The polls are set for July, according to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman.

The number of registered parties was revealed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission at an election reporting workshop in Gweru last week.

ZEC’s voter education director Mr Taurayi Gavi said 118 political parties have so far registered to participate.

He said the ZEC has not begun the screening of the 118 parties. Screening is required to ascertain if the applicants meet the required standards to compete in the polls. Gavi quoted by the state media said, “to date, we have 118 political parties that have written to ZEC expressing willingness to take part in the forthcoming elections. I would like to believe more are coming. We might have to accommodate all the 118 parties on a single ballot paper if they meet the required standards to contest.”