A Beitbridge based teacher was shot by his brother who accused him of having a love affair with his wife.
According to the police in Beitbridge, Partwell Moyo, a teacher at Maladi Primary School in Beitbridge was shot seven times by his brother who accused him of having a sexual relationship with his wife.The incident happened last week.
“Moyo died on the way to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) after being shot seven times by his brother who accused him of having an adulterous affair with his wife.
Moyo’ s brother then fled to South Africa after the incident,” police in Beitbridge said.
Jacob Zuma’s latest wife 24 Year old Nonkanyiso Chonco
By Paul Nyathi|Former South African President Jacob Zuma will be wedding wife number six with reports of him impregnating a twenty four year old lady.
His new bride is stunning Nonkanyiso Chonco.
Chonco confirmed to South African media that she and the elder statesman were set to wed.
“Yes‚ we are getting married‚ but that is all I can say. I need to consult before I give any interviews‚” she told journalists.
Chonco is a director of the Pietermaritzburg-based Nomkhubulwane Culture and Youth Development Organisation‚ aimed at protecting the cultural practices of Zulu maidens.
Reports indicate that Zuma and his family have apparently already paid lobola for her, and both families are understood to be happy with the union.
Zuma celebrated his 76th both day earlier this month.
The former president is also reported to have become a father again after reports indicated that a 24-year-old woman suspected to be Chonco gave birth to his child in a Durban hospital last week.
News24, a South African daily revealed that the child was born at the Busamed Hillcrest Private Hospital last Thursday – Zuma’s birthday.
Zuma is a polygamist who has fathered 22 known children from at least 11 women.
Three independent sources confirmed to News24 that Zuma came to visit his baby under strict security on Thursday night.
“They had to clear the maternity ward for other patients. Hospital staff made it clear that this was strictly confidential,” a source with direct knowledge of the birth told News24.
Ray Zuma, who is related to the former president, confirmed to the media that Zuma was going to wed a woman named Nonkanyiso Chonco.
When asked if Chonco was the same woman who had given birth to a baby earlier this month, Ray Zuma responded by saying: “So?”
“I can’t see why you are interested. When he was still the president, you [the media] were terrorising him, and now you are all of a sudden interested in him.”
When asked about the details of the wedding, he said he was not privy to the details.
“No date has been set yet. Both families must come together to decide on the date. We are still in the pre-nuptial phases of the process.”
A member of the Zanu PF Women’s League has been fingered in an alleged plot to kill controversial Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba.
There are serious intraparty battles in Buhera South Constituency ahead of the primary elections.
Garikai Muzerengwa a Zanu PF official in the area last week claimed one Kerenia Uta, a member of the ruling party Women’ s League, was given US $ 7000 by some Americans to kill Chinotimba.
Muzerengwa told the court when he appeared before Magistrate Denis Mangosi, he insulted Uta because she was involved in a plot to kill Chinotimba.
Uta filed a police report alleging Muzerengwa had insulted her using unprintable words.
On the other hand Muzerengwa insisted Uta was working with counter revolutionary elements to eliminate Chinotimba.
A member of the Zanu PF Women’s League has been fingered in an alleged plot to kill controversial Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba.
There are serious intraparty battles in Buhera South Constituency ahead of the primary elections.
Garikai Muzerengwa a Zanu PF official in the area last week claimed one Kerenia Uta, a member of the ruling party Women’ s League, was given US $ 7000 by some Americans to kill Chinotimba.
Muzerengwa told the court when he appeared before Magistrate Denis Mangosi, he insulted Uta because she was involved in a plot to kill Chinotimba.
Uta filed a police report alleging Muzerengwa had insulted her using unprintable words.
On the other hand Muzerengwa insisted Uta was working with counter revolutionary elements to eliminate Chinotimba.
Government officials in Buhera District have revealed President Emmerson Mnangagwa has bunked the commissioning of a dam project for the third time in as many weeks.
According to government officials in Buhera, Mnangagwa is expected to officiate at the commissioning of the Marovanyati Dam Project.
Government officials at the Buhera District offices accused the head of state of dragging his feet without giving reasons for the prolonged delay.
“The President has postponed his visit for the third time in three weeks.
We have been kept guessing and we feel his failure to come is hampering development in the area,” said a government official.
“We do not have the actual date of his visit although we have been advised that his visit is imminent,” added the official.
A 29-year- old Gutu woman surprised all and sundry when she murdered her father-in-law following a dispute over an egg.
Police yesterday confirmed the death of an elderly in Mazuru Area, Gutu District following a heated argument that was triggered by the breaking of an egg.
The woman, Susan Gondo was harvesting ripe grain in her field when she heard a strange noise emanating from her hut and she asked her younger sister to check what was transpiring.
“The 81-year-old man entered the kitchen hoping to find something to eat.
He knocked down some plates breaking the egg that was on the shelve in the process.
Upon realising what had happened Gondo took a log and hit her father-in- law on the back of the head.
The elderly man was rushed to Gomba Clinic where she died on admission,” said Acting Masvingo Provincial Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa.
Tawanda NyambiraiThe Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) have warned Tawanda Nyambirai’s Arcturus Mine to stop forthwith his illegal attempt to evict Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) Secretary General, Robson Chere, from his school allocated house.
In an urgent letter addressed to TN Arcturus Gold Mine Chief Executive Officer, the human rights body pointed the fact that Mr Chere was a teacher and not a mine employee and was allocated the house due to that fact.
It is against this background that the purported notice of eviction which was delivered verbally by 3 armed security guards on 19 April 2018 was null and void.
ZLHR warned that any continued victimisation will be met with court action.
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson welcomed his Zimbabwean counterpart Foreign (and Trade) Minister Sibusiso Moyo with the below press statement:
The Foreign Secretary said:
President Mnangagwa has been in power for 150 days and while Zimbabwe has made impressive progress, there’s still much to do.
That’s why Britain, the Commonwealth and the wider international community will do everything it can in supporting Zimbabwe on its path of reform.
But we must remember democracies are not made in a day.
July’s election will be a bellwether for the direction of a new Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Government must deliver the free and fair elections the people of Zimbabwe deserve and which it has promised. The UK stands ready in friendship to support a Zimbabwe that fully embraces the rule of law, human rights and economic reform.
We are the same people…this is why I am saying Africa should unite because we are Africans…
By Showbiz Reporter| Chimurenga music King Thomas Mapfumo has said he would like to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa.
He was speaking at a press conference on Friday morning at Monomotapa Hotel while saying if Robert Mugabe was still in power, he would not have returned to Zimbabwe. Mkanya expressed gratitude to the New Dispensation – the coup and transition that removed Mugabe and made Emmerson Mnangagwa the new President.
He said “well, it seems there is a little change…because if it was still the old system, I wouldn’t be here, i wasn’t going to be here if the old man still around, i wasn’t going to be here.”
He also announced that he is currently busy in the studio working on a new album called: “Chauya Chauya!”
Mkanya responding to another question on meeting President Emmerson Mnangagwa said, “I would love to meet him (Mnangagwa)…
“I would love to meet both leaders of the ruling party an the opposition. We are one, we are the same people. You know where we live, there are the democrats and Republicans. if you say bad things about one of them, they will turn against you…We have got to love one another, we are the same people…this is why I am saying Africa should unite because we are Africans…
“We should unite as Africans and build a good future for our children, but it seems most of our leadership they concentrate on stealing, that’s not good for our people.
When asked if you were to meet up Robert Mugabe today, what would you say to him?, Mapfumo said. “I would tell him that what you did you messed up.”
CHIVI Magistrate Bishard Chineka has set free three Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) students, who were arrested last week and charged with public violence for allegedly participating in a protest against the hiking of tuition fees at the university.
The three GZU students, Hererimo Giya, Eutychus Mahwekwe and Tinotenda Kumire were however slapped with stringent bail conditions including reporting thrice a week at Mashava Police Station and writing their examinations in the company of security details.
The three were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on Friday 13 April 2018 and charged with public violence as defined in section 36(1)(a) as read with section 36(2)(e) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
It is the state’s case that the trio, represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZHLR) barricaded some roads at GZU campus and threw stones at some ZRP officers and at the university buildings, leaving the university’s property damaged during the fees protest.
Magistrate Chineka set free Giya, Mahwekwe and Kumire after granting them $50 bail and remanding them out of custody to Friday 27 April 2018.
The trio were however slapped with stringent bail conditions where they were ordered to report three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Mashava Police Station.
The students were also ordered to be accompanied by ZRP officers each time they visit GZU campus to write their end of semester examinations.
Japanese government contributes US$ 1 million to UNICEF and WFP for a comprehensive set of life-saving health, nutrition, food security and WASH interventions
HARARE – The Government of Japan has announced a contribution of US$ 1 million to enhance the resilience of communities in Zimbabwe through a comprehensive set of life-saving health, nutrition, food security and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) interventions. The project will be implemented jointly by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). It will particularly help to safeguard the resilience of the most vulnerable, especially women and children, through timely and efficient action to ensure that no one is left behind.
The project is set to benefit 129,581 people across 11 drought- and flood-affected districts in Zimbabwe. It will initiate preventive health, WASH and nutrition care in Tsholotsho, Mutoko, Centenary, Mbire and Mt Darwin districts, supplemented and supported by Productive Asset Creation (PAC) programmes in selected communities in Mt Darwin, which will help households to generate income and reduce reliance on food assistance. In addition, food and nutrition support will be provided to pregnant women at maternity waiting homes in Tsholotsho, Bubi, Umguza, Lupane, Hwange, Binga and Nkayi.
Access to clean and safe water is critical to realizing a bright future for Zimbabwe’s children, especially for those in poor and marginalized communities. The Piped Water Schemes will transform the lives of millions of children through improved health and nutrition outcomes.
The proposed activities will directly contribute to strengthening the capacity and reaching the aims of the Government of Zimbabwe towards achieving progress under the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 3 (Good Health and Well Being). They will not only deliver critical immediate assistance, but will also provide long-term solutions for resilience, food security, and improved health.
By Showbiz Reporter| Chimurenga music King Thomas Mapfumo says if Robert Mugabe was still in power, he would not have returned to Zimbabwe.
Speaking during a press conference Friday morning, Mkanya expressed gratitude to the New Dispensation – the coup and transition that removed Mugabe and made Emmerson Mnangagwa the new President.
He said “well, it seems there is a little change…because if it was still the old system, I wouldn’t be here, i wasn’t going to be here if the old man still around, i wasn’t going to be here.”
He also announced that he is currently busy in the studio working on a new album called: “Chauya Chauya!”
Mkanya responding to another question on meeting President Emmerson Mnangagwa said, “I would love to meet him (Mnangagwa)…
“I would love to meet both leaders of the ruling party an the opposition. We are one, we are the same people. You know where we live, there are the democrats and Republicans. if you say bad things about one of them, they will turn against you…We have got to love one another, we are the same people…this is why I am saying Africa should unite because we are Africans…
“We should unite as Africans and build a good future for our children, but it seems most of our leadership they concentrate on stealing, that’s not good for our people.
When asked if you were to meet up Robert Mugabe today, what would you say to him?, Mapfumo said. “I would tell him that what you did you messed up.”
The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) is disappointed by the Government‘s unpopular decision to dismiss nurses who had engaged in industrial action. The decision and action by the government to summarily dismiss nurses is an act of social and economic injustice. The demands by the nurses are genuine and reasonable. Nurses are earning a paltry $284 basic salary (before allowances) which is less than half the Poverty Datum Lime (PDL) estimate which stands at $600. The grievances which relate to poor and dangerous working conditions, which threaten their health and affect the discharge of their duties, remain unaddressed.
Zimbabwe is currently facing a health crisis with sporadic cholera outbreaks in various localities. In addition to public resources management issues, leadership crisis, the country is also manifesting a policy prioritisation problem. The claim of insufficient funds to meet the demands of the civil servants becomes questionable in the face of extravagant spending by the same government. Two weeks ago the Mnangagwa led administration allegedly blew a whopping US$2.3 million (plus other VIP allowances) on a trip China by hiring a luxurious private jet owned by Switzerland-based aviation management company, Comlux. The same administration also considered a priority to splash brand new double cab trucks for traditional chiefs.
His Excellency president Mnangagwa has often called for dialogue and negotiation but this action by his administration is proving otherwise. Furthermore, Chapter 4 Section 65(3) and (4) of the Zimbabwe Constitution which is the supreme law of the land states that, ‘Every person has the right to fair and safe labour practices and standards and to be paid a fair and reasonable wage’.
The responsible authorities in this case must be reminded that the impact of such a dismissal is borne by the victims (nurses), the employing organization and society as a whole. An attempt to fix or vengefully deal with this matter has a wide ranging impact on social and economic rights particularly on health service delivery. Among these are:
• Flight of experienced nursing personnel. The government is not showing gratitude to the sacrificial service rendered by the nurses most of whom have loyally served in the public sector for a long period of time shunning available opportunities to work in the diaspora like their fellow colleagues.
• Risking of people’s lives in the hands of inexperienced and retired nursing staff. Some of the nurses being called to replace the dismissed workers have not had clinical experience for over 5 years. Like any other field of practice, technology and knowledge evolves from time to time and these replacements are surely not acquainted enough.
• The impact at individual level is immeasurable and includes suffering and humiliation, depression, anxiety and even suicide. The International Labour Organisation (ILO, 1992) that if the effects of unfair dismissal are not contained by adequate interventions, these symptoms are likely to develop into physical illness, psychological disorders, tobacco and alcohol and drug abuse, and so on; they can culminate in reduced employability, invalidity and even suicide. These negative consequences not only affect the individual but extend to all those relationally connected to him – the family and community in which s/he lives. 16,000 nurse employees are connected to, or breadwinners of and contributors to livelihoods of 16,000 families – on average at least 4 dependents which translates to 64000 people directly affected by the government’s decision to fire the demonstrating employees. Thousands of children will drop from school, fail to access quality health care, clothing and will experience traumatising stress associated with sudden changing of standard of living.
• Considering that the nursing field is historically dominated by female employees –in taking this drastic action to fire the demonstrating nurses the government is shooting down efforts to empower women in view of their vital contribution to the economy. Research statistics indicate that female headed households constitute 35% of all households in Zimbabwe.
Therefore ZIMCODD calls upon the Government to;
1. Reverse its statement on dismissal of demonstrating nurses and refrain from threats and intimidation of workers
2. Withdraw its order against the nurses and retreat to the negotiating table.
3. Increase funding allocation to the Health sector in adherence to the Maputo declaration (2006) and the Abuja Declaration (2003) which Zimbabwe is a signatory to ensure quality of life for citizens.
4. Reaffirm its commitment to upholding and defending fundamental human rights and freedoms including being determined to overcoming all challenges and obstacles that impede our progress as enshrined in the Preamble of our Constitution.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Liberty Bhebhe: National Chairperson: REDACTED
By Paul Nyathi|Under fire Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has finally resigned from the London club.
Wenger confirmed in a statement that he will step down from his role at the end of the season.
Wenger, 68, will leave a year before his existing contract was due to expire having led the club to three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups during a 22-year reign.
Appointed on 1 October 1996, the Frenchman is the Premier League’s current longest-serving manager and has taken charge of a record 823 games.
In a statement to the club’s website, he said: “After careful consideration and following discussions with the club, I feel it is the right time for me to step down at the end of the season.
“I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years.
“I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.
“I want to thank the staff, the players, the Directors and the fans who make this club so special.
“I urge our fans to stand behind the team to finish on a high.
“To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club.
“My love and support forever.”
Arsene Wenger has tipped former Arsenal midfielder and New York City boss Patrick Vieira as his replacement
Wenger himself said on Thursday that former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira “has the potential” to succeed him as manager.
The club’s majority owner Stan Kroenke asked Arsenal fans around the world to pay an appropriate tribute to the Frenchman who transformed the identity of the club.
He told Arsenal’s website: “This is one of the most difficult days we have ever had in all our years in sport. One of the main reasons we got involved with Arsenal was because of what Arsène has brought to the club on and off the pitch. His longevity and consistency over such a sustained period at the highest level of the game will never be matched.
“Arsène has unparalleled class and we will always be grateful to him. Everyone who loves Arsenal and everyone who loves football owes him a debt of gratitude.
“Three Premier League titles, including an entire season unbeaten, seven FA Cup triumphs and 20 successive years in the Champions League is an exceptional record. He has also transformed the identity of our club and of English football with his vision for how the game can be played.
“We have high ambitions to build on Arsène’s remarkable tenure and to honour his vision by ensuring that Arsenal competes for and wins the biggest and most important prizes in the game.
“We must now focus on making a strong finish to the season and ask our millions of fans around the world to join us in paying appropriate tribute to one of the greats of Arsenal’s history and one of the greats of the game.”
Sunday’s 2-1 defeat defeat to Newcastlewas their 11th in the league this season, equalling their worst tally in a campaign under Wenger.
Arsenal finished outside the league’s top four last season for the first time since Wenger arrived at the club in 1996, and are now 14 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, with five matches remaining.
They face Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final with the first leg to come on April 26.
By Paul Nyathi|After all the hype by state media and government on the participation of Zimbabwe at the ongoing Commonwealth Heads Of State and Government summit taking place in London, it has emerged that the country will after all not be admitted into the summit in any capacity.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Sibusiso Busi Moyo who is in the United Kingdom representing the country will not be attending any of the summit events after Zimbabwe was denied observer status by the Commonwealth which said that such a status did not exist.
State media and government had previously reported that Moyo would be attending the summit.
Moyo will however only take advantage of the summit to speak to delegates at the sidelines.
An official from the Brish Embassy in Harare told the weekly publication The Zimbabwe Independent,
“Zimbabwe does not have formal observer status at CHOGM and we understand will not be attending any Commonwealth events. However, Foreign Minister Moyo is welcome in London and we are delighted he will take advantage of the CHOGM to meet a number of key interlocutors in the margins,” said the official.
Zimbabwe left the Commonwealth in December 2003, after former President Robert Mugabe pulled the country out of the organisation when he refused to accept the decision made at the Abuja summit, to maintain Zimbabwe’s suspension indefinitely.
Zimbabwe had been suspended after the country’s 2001 elections were found to be flawed by electoral observers who alleged that there were high levels of politically motivated violence.
In the process to admit Zimbabwe to the commonwealth, the British foreign minister Boris Johnson will meet Moyo and ministers from neighboring African states for talks on Friday expected to include Zimbabwe’s possible readmittance to the Commonwealth.
Friday’s talks will take place on the sidelines of the summit.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took over when Mugabe quit after nearly four decades in power following a de facto military coup last November, has said he wants Zimbabwe to rejoin the organization of 53 mostly former territories of the British Empire.
Johnson has previously said Zimbabwe’s Commonwealth readmittance would be a “fine and noble aspiration” for both parties, but that it must hold free and fair election first and also prove it meets the organization’s standards on the rule of law, democracy and human rights.
Speaking earlier this week, he praised the country’s progress under Mnangagwa but said there was still much to do.
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| Nurses can only render quality services if their work environment provides conditions that support them and the patients. Positive work environments are important in achieving patient and employee safety, quality care and favourable patient outcomes.
Healthy work environments involve all practices implemented to attain the highest level of nurse health and well-being, quality patient care outcomes, high institutional performance and positive social outcomes. Work environments play an important role in securing employee health and safety and obtaining a desirable level of productivity from employees.
It is unfortunate that most people in Zimbabwe have condemned nurses from the comfort of their well-paying jobs or from absolute ignorance of fact.
Nurses are not on record striking for pay and allowances, they are not seeking to be paid as much as the doctors. Their complaint is very much pregnant with the love and passion of their work. They are requesting that the working environment be conducive and be humane enough for the good of the patient and the freedom of working. Providing health care needs to be powered by a healthy working station. The condition of service covers the equipment which includes gloves, needles and general smartness of the wards; beds for the patients places to rest neatness per sur. Occupying a crucial position in the development and advancement of health services, protection and improvement of individual, family and community health and provision of effective patient care and education, nursing is among the complex and risky professions in terms of working conditions, so the nurses are striking for the whole country. No one in Zimbabwe is exempt from being sick.
If only the government can ban treatment of any person outside the country if anyone gets sick a chopper is commanded to Parirenyatwa then we would see a different thinking the cry of the nurses. Nurses are exposed to risks because they spend time with patients and occupy themselves with the direct care of patients they know that most deaths are due to poor working environment.Aside from infections, nurses face stress and overwork .
Nurses work in a system of shifts and night duties, and they are subjected to excessive work load, long working periods without breaks, tiring and irregular working hours, role confusion, and lack of support from managers, low professional status and distressful work relationships. All they are asking for is that just make a hospital a better place to get your health. How can you enjoy your Sadza from a soiled plate?
All what nurses are crying for is an enabling environment an environment that allows for performance. Health is and must be a priority Unhealthy work environments negatively affect the performance of nurses, patient care outcomes and patient safety and cause nurses to become alienated/distracted from their profession; several of them even leave their profession, a situation that leads to a decrease in the nursing workforce. It is not proper to abuse nurses because the country is in a situation where employment is scarce.
Under-staffing of nurses resulting from a decrease in the nursing workforce negatively affects the quality, efficiency and prompt realisation/provision of appropriate patient care.
As one of the environments that involve busy work schedules, hospitals are complex and dynamic organisations that provide services 24 h a day and seven days a week; they operate with an open system and matrix structure.
Most hospitals have no pain killers, yet a hospital is a place to remove pain, some simple illness killing people are laughable. Firing nurses enemas is an emotional reaction which needs to be revisited. Questions that needs to be answered are Will the process of firing all nurses save lives in public hospitals? Does the government have enough personnel to replace the fired nurses, will the replacements get better working conditions or it’s just dipping the clean water in a dirty cup. Is anybody thinking of the future of our health sector?
We should realise that replacing all fired nurses is not an event but a process. The government must never adopt a big boss mentality. The nation is not a unit or a squad. Labour issues are internationally followed and our rushed big brother reaction is counterproductive and repugnant to natural justice. The government of the people must compromise learn to discuss and never be quick to squeaze a trigger.
For improved patient outcomes, quality care and contented employees, it is necessary to assess how nurses perceive their work environments and make necessary improvements.
It was far much better if the minister of Health was to deal with the matter than for him to push the bark to the VP.
Before we condemn the nurse we must remember the inherent risks of being a nurse, the noble job they do and the lives they serve.
Prominent social media analyst Antony Taruvinga yesterday said the dismissal of former MDC vice president Thokozani Khupe was constitutional and legal.
“The MDC-T Constitution as amended by the 2014
Congress gave the president the powers to fire and
hire members of the National Standing Committee.
Khupe was there when the amendment was made.
That amendment was used by Dr. Morgan Tsvangirai
with the support of the National Council to appoint
Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri as VPs,” said Taruvinga.
“The National Council has wide powers to
make major and far reaching decisions in between
Congresses.
Those decisions start to operate as
soon as they are made but they need ratification or
nullification by Congress.
In short, National Council
can act on behalf of Congress or can sit as
Congress and make binding decisions.
So, the appointment of Chamisa and Mudzuri as VPs
was done in accordance with the dictates of the
Constitution.”
” Again the appointment of Nelson
Chamisa as substantive President of the MDC-T
was done by an organ of the party with the authority
to make such decisions.
The firing of Khupe was
done in line with the Constitution because the
president in consultation with the National Council
has the powers to hire or fire.
Khupe was no longer attending party meetings and
programs. She was no longer serving the party and
National Council had to act. She only resurfaced
after catching wind of the news of the demise of Dr.
Morgan Tsvangirai and started running around with
the coffin.
She blocked Tsvangirai’s phone number
to avoid communication. Not good at all.
The 210 District Chairpersons endorsed Chamisa as
president together with the 12 Provincial
Chairpersons.
For Khupe’ s Congress to be legal, it has
to be properly constituted otherwise it’s a bogus
Congress,” added Taruvinga.
File picture of a police officer involved in illegal gold mining while on duty
By Paul Nyathi|Police in Inyathi have shocked the community in the area after officers dispersed to put order in a rich informal mine took over the mine and started mining it themselves.
Sources at the mine revealed that a 65-year-old man discovered the gold and mined it secretly for almost a month before villagers got wind of the mine leading to a gold rush that left one person dead.
“Panners in the area smelt a rat when the old man suddenly started flashing money. He would buy beer for everyone and on one occasion he brought a truckload of beer from Bulawayo — more than 75 kilometres away— which was delivered to his homestead,” said a source.
“Some panners followed him and saw him digging at the mine and word spread, resulting in this gold rush.”
The old man allegedly extracted about 60 grammes of gold every three days and earned more than $25 000 in one month.
More than 300 illegal panners had allegedly invaded Old Motapa Mine in Bubi District following the discovery of huge gold deposits.
Last week, the insecure mine collapsed due to the due to the over subscription killing one person in the process.
Phakamani Ncube (29) of Village 4, Lubanda area, under Chief Mtshana in Inyathi died while his three unidentified colleagues got buried up to their necks after the shaft collapsed when rival gangs invaded the mine on Wednesday last week.
Councillor for the area Herbert Ngwendu said knives are out after police called in to quell running battles among the panners started mining.
“It is disappointing that senior police officers continue to be behind rampant illegal gold mining activities in the district. When I informed them about the invasion last week, I expected them to come and maintain peace, law and order at the mine but instead, mining is continuing with panners informing me that police instructed them to work at night and they are allegedly sharing the proceeds. Mining at night in an unsecured shaft is even more risky and dangerous,” he said.
A number of illegal panners said the army should be called to the site before simmering tensions boil over.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson, Inspector Sipiwe Makonese confirmed the death of one illegal miner but denied that police were now extracting gold from the mine.
“I am not aware of any looting by police, and as far as we are concerned, a police team was deployed at the site to safeguard, monitor and ensure there is peace on site. Investigations will be made,” said Insp Makonese.
“One person died and three others were trapped for some hours. When police were patrolling the area, they discovered more than 200 people were working on the abandoned and disused mine shafts.”
Insp Makonese said the panners were heavily armed with machetes, axes, picks, shovels, hoes and spears.
Last year, 13 police officers were convicted under the Police Act for engaging in illegal gold mining in Inyathi, Bubi District.
Police prosecutors preferred charges ranging from criminal abuse of office, leaving their posts unattended and engaging in activities which violate the Police Act.
MDC-T representative Douglas Mwonzora and ZANU PF’s Sydney Chasi at CSOs parliament interface.
By a correspondent|Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) in conjunction with the Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) on April 19, 2018 hosted a civic society and political parties interface meant to deliberate on progress towards amendments to the country’s Electoral Act.
The meeting, held in Harare, was attended by various civic society organizations and representatives from political parties.
It came out during the meeting that the piecemeal amendments to the Electoral Act as well as the lackadaisical approach by the ruling party, Zanu (PF) which has majority representation in Parliament, was taking away prospects of free, fair and credible polls set to be held between July and August 2018.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary affairs, Fortune Chasi who is also Zanu (PF) Member of Parliament for Mazowe South admitted that little has been done to amend the country’s Electoral Act so that it conforms to the constitution.
He said this was a subject of concern especially given the fact that the country is left with a few months before it holds elections.
“It is not proper that a few months before the elections, we are still squabbling about what the law is. Not only must the law be clear but it must also be in place on time. I would personally give ourselves as a country 1 mark out of 10,” said Chasi.
He also admitted that currently, there have not been efforts that have been made to increase the participation of people with disabilities in electoral processes.
MDC-T representative, Douglas Mwonzora said that currently, there are a number of issues which need urgent attention as they are taking away prospects of free, fair and credible polls.
“There are key things that have not been done and there are also key things that we do not see in the Electoral Act. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the government have refused an external audit of the voters’ roll and insisted on an internal audit but that is like marking your own exam paper.
“Although ZEC said that we will have a voters’ roll by the end of April (2018) it is clear that we will not be able to have one by that time,” said Mwonzora.
He also expressed concern over the government’s refusal to allow Zimbabweans living in the Diaspora the opportunity to cast their vote.
“On top of that, the State media is not being open to opposition parties and the government as also blocked the observation of the printing of ballot papers,” said Mwonzora.
He added that the continued involvement of the military in electoral issues casts doubt over the credibility, freeness and fairness of the 2018 polls.
“The military has intervened in elections over the past years and they will likely do the same in 2018,” said Mwonzora.
In light of the challenges, Harare West Member of Parliament, Jessie Majome who is also a member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice said there is need for strengthened advocacy to demand reforms to the country’s Electoral Act.
She said it was clear the ruling party; Zanu (PF) was against amendments to the Electoral Act.
“The attitude of the present government is that they don’t want electoral reforms. They don’t want amendments to the Electoral Act because it serves them as it is,” said Majome.
MDC-N Legislator, Priscilla Misihairambwi told the meeting that the impartiality and professionalism of ZEC was critical for free, far and credible polls adding that voter education ought to be gender sensitive.
“The amendments to the Electoral Act must seek to crate safe spaces for women as well as to address the issue of women representation in electoral processes,” said Misihairambwi.
She said that in as much as Zimbabweans have been made to believe that the country was in a new dispensation, the situation on the ground paints a different picture.
CCDZ Director, Dr. Philip Pasirayi expressed concern over draconian laws such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) which he said limit the capacity of civic society organizations to effectively access the pre-election environment.
Zimbabwe’s Parliament is set to debate the Electoral Amendment Bill on May 8, 2018 and there was consensus among parliamentarians and civic society organizations present during the meeting that there is need for intense lobbying before the parliamentary debate.
Action points agreed during the meeting included the need for civic society organizations to develop a position paper that will enable them to effectively contribute to the debate on electoral reforms.
Civic society organizations present at the meeting also agreed to continuously lobby election stakeholders while continuously petitioning stakeholders on the need for free, fair and credible polls.
There was also consensus that civic society organizations need to develop a checklist of the SADC guidelines on free, fair ad credible polls against the current Zimbabwean position.
By Farai D Hove| Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF party has claimed that MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is lying about the incident of violence which saw the now expelled party former Vice President Thokozani Khupe being humiliated.
This was at the burial of the late Morgan Tsvangirai in February. Back then the party’s former Spokesman Obert Gutu claimed that the youths who nearly burnt Khupe inside a hut were MDC members. Video footage at the scene shows Khupe being constrained by a group of youths in the presence of police officers. But the cops are seen not doing anything at all. It is because of the latter that analysts said there was collusion between the attackers and the police, and that the culprits were in fact pro state party members. This is further buttressed in that 2 months later no serious prosecution efforts have been made.
But ZANU PF spokesman Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday turned on Chamisa claiming that he is a liar.
Khaya-Moyo was quoted by the state media saying, “Khupe spoke on the incident. The police have already spoken about this and the people that were apprehended are obviously not Zanu-PF.
“Chamisa should tell us how Zanu-PF comes in or maybe he should go to the police and ask for records on the incident before he misleads people. This obviously tells us that he can’t even tell the word truth.
“Zanu-PF is not a violent party and we don’t condone violence. This is why we keep on emphasising to all the people of Zimbabwe that we want free, fair, peaceful and credible elections.”
By Paul Nyathi|Former Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, will not be spared time to appear before parliament to explain how the Zimbabwe Republic Police got to be involved in diamonds mining in Chiyadzwa.
Chihuri failed to attend hearings before the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Mining Development last week after he wrote a letter to the committee saying that he was unable to attend the hearings as he was receiving medical treatment outside the country.
Committee Chairman Temba Mliswa told journalists that the committee would reschedule Dr Chihuri’s hearing.
“The former Commissioner-General of Police has written to Parliament to say he is not feeling well and that he is out of the country,” he said. “He expressed his readiness to come, so we will have to determine when he can come.”
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) allegedly partnered a private firm, Gye Nyame, to extract diamonds in Chiadzwa.
A fortnight ago, Dr Chihuri’s former deputies — Godwin Matanga, who is now ZRP Commissioner-General, and Deputy Commissioner-General Innocent Matibiri — told the committee that they were not aware that the law enforcement agency was extracting diamonds in Chiadzwa.
Former Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo and his former secretary, Mr Melusi Matshiya, told the same committee that they were also not aware that the police were involved in diamond mining.
By Paul Nyathi|The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development on Thursday officially summoned former President Robert Mugabe to appear before it to explain his claim that $15 Billion vanished from the country’s diamond revenue.
Mugabe hit headlines in 2016 when he made sensational claims that over $15 billion disappeared in the diamonds revenue in Chiyadzwa through possible corruption and looting scandals.
Committee chairman, Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa said his committee resolved to call Mugabe to explain where he got the claims of the $15 Billion losses.
“We met today as a committee and resolved that we invite former President Mr Mugabe to our committee to explain the disappearance of the $15 billion worth of diamonds,” he said. “We have set May 9 as the date on which he will give evidence.
“It is a resolution that we made long ago, but we first wanted to receive evidence from other State institutions to determine whether it is necessary or not to invite him. After gathering all evidence, it was the committee’s view that we call the former Head of State and Government,” he said.
The committee also invi-ted former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru to explain reports linking her to diamond mining in the area.
During her time as Vice President, Mujuru was rumoured to have had strong links to looting of diamonds to an extent that a section of the mines in Chiyadzwa was allegedly reserved for her and her mining friends.
The designated area was nicknamed “Chiuru Cha Mujuru” which means Mujuru’s reserved little hill.
…nursing efficiency across the country at present sits at less than 7%.
By Farai D Hove| The Zimbabwean government currently battling with the nurse strike, won a reprieve from the arrival of over 40 doctors from Cuba.
The practitioners are part of a long standing deal with the island nation that goes back to more than 20 years during the days of former President Robert Mugabe. The arrangement has included teacher exchange programs which have seen Zimbabwe’s educators being flown to Cuba to study and work there.
They are to work for over 2 years.
Cuba’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Carmelina Ramirez Rodriquez told the state media the doctors will be stationed at different hospitals countrywide.
“The doctors are in the country as part of a long-standing bilateral agreement between Cuba and Zimbabwe that has existed for more than 30 years now.
“Each year, Cuba sends a medical brigade to assist in Zimbabwe’s health sector,” Ambassador Rodriquez was quoted saying.
Will the Cuban doctors fix Zimbabwe’s hospital crisis? The country’s health system is in limbo at present following the ongoing nurse strike. As of yesterday, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga obtained back up from military personnel to assist at major hospitals. It leaves to remain however if the backup staff can cover the labour gap since over the number of striking nurses goes beyond 20,000. An analyst yesterday said nursing efficiency across the country at present sits at less than 7%.
By Own Correspondent| MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has received support from the Gwanda community.
Writing on Thursday afternoon, the Gwanda Residents’ Association leader, Bekezela Fuzwayo said he would vote for Chamisa without thinking.
While it was not fully clear how far reaching Fuzwayo’s comment is in the entire community, many noted how his personal sentiments have in the past borne the wind of opinion in Gwanda and beyond.
“It is not a secret that for President I will vote for Advocate Nelson Chamisa without thinking or listening to any considerations,” Fuzwayo said.
Commenting on others, he continued saying, “as for my councillor and MP one has to prove that they have Gwanda at heart and prove what it is that they have done for us as Gwanda before we elect them and what they will do for us when we elect them to the higher responsibility. No compromise on that.
“We are not going to allow the scenario where an MP wins elections in Gwanda and holds his victory celebrations in Mberengwa as was done by our outgoing MP.
Below is the latest on the parliamentary hearing covered LIVE by ZimEye.com earlier in the day. ALSO WATCH THE LIVE COVERAGE BELOW:
The portfolio has summoned former President Robert Mugabe to appear before it on May 9.
The appearance is for him to stand to explain his February 2016 video recorded statement in which he said that the country was prejudiced of more than $15 billion in unrealised diamond revenue.
Other people to be summoned are former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru and former Police General Augustine Chihuri.
So far Chihuri has sent apologies saying he is at present busy receiving medical treatment outside the country.
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.
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
