Comedian and actor, Lawrence Simbarashe has died.
Simbarashe, who was popularly known as ‘Bhonzo’ in the comedy ‘Timy na Bhonzo’ died this evening at Chitungwiza Hospital where he was admitted.
His co-actor in the ‘Timmy na Bhonzo’ series, Charles Jackson confirmed the development.
He said Simbarashe suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure.
Mourners are gathered at house number 544 St Mary’s, Chitungwiza.
By Paul Nyathi|Air Zimbabwe has refused to accomodate its “sibling” aircraft Zimbabwe Airways in its hangars at the Robert Mugabe International Airport it has emerged.
The national career is reportedly refusing to house the Boeing 777 jet in its hangars allegedly raising security and insurance concerns.
The aircraft which touched ground in the country from Malaysia over a month ago is reportedly parked in an open space at the domestic terminal of the airport and is exposed to weather effects especially the high temperatures that have been hitting the country in the last few weeks.
According to media reports, Transport Minister Joram Gumbo this week summoned senior Air Zimbabwe officials to his offices in a bid to force them to accomodate the aircraft whose ownership is still tied up in controversy.
“Minister Gumbo called acting CE (Justice) Makonese, the head of engineering and the legal affairs manager to his offices on Wednesday afternoon. He was unhappy about AirZim’s decision not to find space for the B777,” a source said.
The sources who spoke to weekend media said that the Air Zimbabwe hangars do not meet the standards required by the insurance companies for the plane of which the airline can not take the risk to accomodate the aircraft.
“The Air Zimbabwe hangar which was commissioned during Zimbabwe-Rhodesia era does not meet international standards for risk cover. It does not have smoke or fire detection system. It does not have a fire suppression system (automatic ceiling water/foam sprinklers. The other smaller hangar has been housing AirZim’s B737 which has been on major maintenance for more than four years now,” the source said.
Sources also indicated that the big jet could not be flawn to Bulawayo during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair because the runway at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airport is too short for the Boeing 777. The runway at Bulawayo airport is 2,6km long and cannot accommodate the B777. The second largest runaway in Zimbabwe is Hwange (4,6km) which is under partial displacement due to asphalt damage followed by Victoria Falls (4km)
Contacted by the media for a comment on the issue, Gumbo said: “Ask those who have told you that, I never knew that it was an issue.”
Source The Standard Newspaper.
Misa Zimbabwe Statement|This year’s World Press Freedom Day commemorations, coming on the verge of Zimbabwe’s elections, pose the greatest test to government’s commitment to constitutional democracy underpinned by democratic media laws.
In saying this, MISA Zimbabwe is mindful of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration speech in November last year during which he pledged to strengthen and respect the pillars of democracy.
Regrettably, five months into his tenure, Zimbabwe is still stuck with repressive media laws such as the discredited Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) and Official Secrets Act (OSA).
Other restrictive laws include, the Public Order and Security Act, Censorship and Entertainment Controls Act (CECA), and sections of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. This situation should also be viewed against the government’s accelerated efforts to introduce the cybercrimes laws, generally perceived as intended to curb free speech online.
These laws essentially curtail citizens’ rights to freedom of assembly and association, demonstrate and petition, including the right to freedom of conscience, as provided for by Sections 58, 59 and 60 of the Constitution. As well as Sections 61 and 62 which protect the right to free expression, media freedom and access to information.
Our theme: Media Reforms Now: Free and Accountable Media Key to Credible Elections, is a reminder to government on the urgency and importance of implementing the outstanding reforms ahead of the elections.
This theme and our exhortations for government to play ball, also ride on UNESCO’s 2018 theme: Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law.
Our position on the issues at hand, are further informed by the African Union Elections Observer Mission’s (AUEOM), post-2013 elections recommendations on improving the state of the media in Zimbabwe.
The AUEM singled AIPPA, BSA and POSA, as some of the contentious laws which curtail fundamental freedoms. It also recommended that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission “scrupulously enforces” relevant regulations of the Electoral Act to afford alternative voices and all political parties equitable access at all times during elections.
Transformation of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation into a truly independent, accessible and representative public broadcaster, thus remains of urgency.
While we commend the government for signing the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the government should, without any further delays, adopt and effect its relevant clauses into domestic laws and policies.
In turn, the media should at all times, strive to inform the public on issues of the day accurately and fairly as dictated by the profession’s code of ethics. Voters look up to the media to inform them factually and fairly on the various parties, policies and personalities for them to make informed decisions and choices on who to elect into public office.
Security authorities and political parties, should also ensure the safety and security of journalists conducting their lawful professional duties during and after this election period.
Meanwhile, the government cannot continue to dither and prevaricate on these reforms, five years after the coming into being of the 2013 Constitution which provides for the rights to freedom of expression, access to information and privacy, among others.
Instead, the government should:
Ensure its proposed cyber-crimes and cyber-security laws do not infringe civil liberties.
Ensure a safe working environment for journalists and media workers.
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe should call for applications for community radio stations and license successful applicants as provided for by the Broadcasting Services Act.
Our demands in that regard, are Just and Legitimate!
MEDIA REFORMS NOW!
Golden Maunganidze
Chairperson
MISA Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has admitted it has registered fake people into the voters’ database.
ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba spoke out to the state media as she said that registering to vote multiple times translated to a criminal offense.
“There are some who deliberately and intentionally registered more than once,” she said.
“We have a list of them and we are contemplating whether or not as a commission we should refer that list to the police for prosecution and say these people made a false statement.
“That affidavit form that was signed during registration was a declaration that the information given was correct.
“So what they were then saying in terms of that information (for example is) I live in Kuwadzana and then go to another polling station and say I am declaring this information to be true that I live in Mbare. And you do the same thing in other areas.”
“This action creates administrative problems. We have a mandate to perform and doing that (multiple registration) is tantamount to playing with us.
“If you left a number we contact you and ask what happened. If you are aware (of what you did), you have committed an offence.
“What we are hoping to do is to deter people from doing that in future,” Justice Chigumba said.
Justice Chigumba could not divulge the number of multiple registrants saying the figures would be included in the ZEC report to be tabled before parliament.
She said a final process of cleaning the voters’ roll was on-going ahead of the inspection next week.
Justice Chigumba said the commission was also working closely with the registrar generals office to get information on deaths that occurred since the beginning of the year with a view to delete such people from the voters roll.
Previously, names of deceased people appeared on the voters roll raising suspicions of vote rigging.
Said Justice Chigumba: “There are some people in the rural areas who don’t bother to notify the authorities of deaths of family members.
“That is why we always say to those who have relatives that have died, please notify us at ZEC. If authorities have not been notified we at ZEC have no way of determining that the person is dead.”
The commission is also preparing an exclusion list of people whose registration data has queries.
“It’s not necessarily an indication of a criminal activity but there are some people who may have entered different demographic data.
“Others, there may be two people who have the same first name and last name.
“Those people may find their names on the exclusion list (during inspection of voters roll) and there will be a keynote instructing them to go to the registrar general’s,” said Justice Chigumba.
Justice Chigumba emphasised that this year’s elections are polling station based.
A registered voter’s name will only appear at one polling station and it will be impossible to vote at any other station.
ZIMBABWE Anti-Corruption Commissioner (Zacc) Mrs Farai Chinyani allegedly kidnapped a Russian woman for three days over a contract farming dispute, it has emerged.
Mrs Chinyani, who is former First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe’s niece, is also being accused of planning a voter education campaign in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, without the approval of Zacc.
The voter education proposal has divided the commission, with a meeting held a fortnight ago disagreeing with Mrs Chinyani. Other Zacc commissioners feel the voter education collaboration with Zec is outside the anti-graft body’s mandate to fight corruption.
However, Mrs Chinyani’s biggest headache is her dodgy past which could compromise her fitness to hold her position at Zacc as Section 254 (2) of the Constitution says the anti-graft body’s commissioners must be persons of high integrity.
Mrs Chinyani, who is Zacc’s public education and publicity committee chair, dismissed the allegations, saying it was a smear campaign by those seeking to persecute her because of her relationship with Dr Mugabe.
According to information gathered by The Sunday Mail, Mrs Chinyani allegedly kidnapped a lady of Russian origin, Ms Olga Dzubinsky, after a dispute over a contract farming arrangement a few years ago.
It is alleged that Ms Dzubinsky reported the alleged offence to police but the case was not followed up, ostensibly because she got protection from the then First Family and former Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri.
Documents in possession of The Sunday Mail show that the complainant took the matter to the Prosecutor General’s Office, which also attempted to pursue the case but in vain.
A senior official from the PG’s office told The Sunday Mail, “We attempted to prosecute the case, but we could not go through it at the time.”
A letter from the PG’s office to the then Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri confirmed Ms Dzubinsky’s allegations.
“I hereby kindly request your intervention Commissioner General in relation to allegations made by Ms Olga Dzubinsky to the effect that the above mentioned lady committed kidnapping, unlawful entry and threats.
“The matter appears to emanate from some intended contract farming facility that is offered by Ms Olga Dzubinsky’s business which did not materialise in favour of Chinyani. However, Chinyani is alleged to have taken the law into her own hands by threatening the complainant and acting in a violent way. Allegations are that the accused continues with these threat to an extent of promising to cause instability in the complainant’s business as well as causing her deportation since she is a foreigner.”
Mrs Chinyani told The Sunday Mail that she knew Ms Dzubinsky but claimed that she was the victim.
“Ms Dzubinsky is the one who actually cheated me and she owes me US$2500. Allegations that I kidnapped her are ridiculous. You can publish the story if you want but you should mention that I know that Goodson Nguni (Zacc Commissioner) is the one who is framing me. This is all part of his plot to get political mileage and distance himself from the former first family that I am closely related to.”
Mr Nguni declined to comment yesterday. “I have no comment over that matter,” he said curtly. – state media
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By Dorrothy Moyo| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa was at the weekend attacked by the state media over speech rhetorics he used during his rally in Harare South.
Chamisa during his last rally before flying to the United Kingdom used a hyperbole in the name of the Queen while explaining his trip.
Beyond the rhetoric, ZimEye can reveal that Chamisa is of a truth being hosted by one of Queen Elizabeth’s Knights. Dr Alex Vines, OBE will be sitting side by side with Chamisa on Tuesday at Chatham House in London. ZimEye will cover the function as it progresses.
The Oxford thesaurus describes a rhetoric as a tool used in the art of effective speaking or writing, especially the exploitation of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
The Sunday Mail however says Chamisa was lying when he used the term, “Queen” to describe his UK visit.
The paper extract reads in part: the leader of a faction of the MDC-T, Mr Nelson Chamisa, has once again been caught out lying to the nation, this time after claiming he had been personally invited to the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II.
By Farai D Hove| The NPP leader, Joice Mujuru has refused to join MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa. This comes against a rumour that circulated on Saturday claiming that she has decided to join the MDC.
In a statement, the party said it, “wishes to dismiss the falsehoods that it has resolved to join Mdct Alliance with the contempt it deserves. Deliberations of such magnitude are not done through social media but proper channels of engagement with announcements being made at the appropriate time and forums.” READ MORE
Continue reading “NPP Never Spoke To MDC Since Tsvangirai’s Death”
By Talent Gondo| Zanu Pf has ordered election re runs in 10 constituencies in Mashonaland West and Harare as part of efforts to resolve disputes over the outcome of the just ended primary polls.
Party supporters (Thursday) besieged the Zanu Pf headquarters threatening to vote for the opposition if their grievances are not addressed.
The supporters alleged gross irregularities, candidate imposition and vote rigging by some of the candidates who claimed victory in the primary elections.
An extra ordinary session of the Politburo, the party’s highest decision making body resolved at a meeting held at the party Headquarters in Harare (Saturday) to conduct election reruns while at the same time sending independent observers to establish and verify the allegations within the disputed constituencies.
Zanu Pf Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu representing the Party’s Spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo said the Politbuto was generally satisfied with the way the elections were conducted saying the conduct of the elections reflected deepening democracy within Zanu Pf.
“We will send independent verification teams where gross malpractices and irregularities were recorded.
The Commissariate will notify the affected constituencies at the earliest possible time,” said Mpofu.
Zanu Pf’s primary elections were held from April 29 to May 1 2018 and the party was electing prospective councillors, national Assembly and Senatorial candidates who will contest the forthcoming harmonised polls under the Zanu Pf ticket.
Following fears of a large crowd, the Nelson Chamisa UK rally has been changed to the Jubilation Centre in Bedford, UK. Below are the details:
Jubilation Centre
Moulton Ave, Bedford MK42 0HL
https://www.google.co.uk/search?client=ms-android-samsung&q=Jubilation+Centre&ludocid=1560484776139632864&ibp=gwp;0,7&kgs=21ed6c9eb7e5c4e8&shndl=-1&source=sh/x/kp/local&entrypoint=sh/x/kp/local
By Talent Gondo| Several new cholera cases have been recorded in St Mary’s Chitungwiza as the city continues to grapple with water and sanitation related challenges.
Sources privy to developments in the area told ZimEye that although 7 new cases of the disease were recorded and treated at St Mary’s Centre in the satellite town, there were no deaths as a result of the outbreak.
“A 72 year old woman, a 35 year old mother and her twin daughters aged 4 and another man and his tenants were all confirmed cholera positive and they were treated and discharged,” said the source.
According to the source, the affected people had their houses sprayed to avoid the spread of the disease.
Chitungwiza has been at the receiving end of water borne diseases including cholera and typhoid.
Cholera is highly infectious, causing severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated.
The disease is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae.
In its election manifesto launched Friday in Harare, Zanu Pf pledged to redress the water woes bedevilling the nation promising the provision of sufficient drinking water and sanitation for the citizenry
“As a right conferred to citizens by
the Constitution, Zanu Pf pledges the provision of sufficient drinking water and sanitation to meet WHO standards,” read the manifesto.
The party promised to pursue and implement a national rehabilitation programme of all water purification plants and completing projects including the Gwayi-Tshangani Dam, Mutange Dam, Kunzvi Dam and Wenimbi pipeline.
“We aim to capacitate ZINWA, increase water reservoirs, establish high capacity boreholes in each and every community, embark on a water harvesting programme and reduce water charges,” read the manifesto.
Zanu Pf’s 2018 election manifesto unveiled. Full Text.
Press Release- PSL and ZBC in broadcasting partnership
The Premier Soccer League and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation are pleased to announce that they have agreed to broadcast Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches on ZBC television and radio stations.
The agreement follows the successful completion of the media broadcasting rights tender process and negotiations.
We advise that broadcasting of League matches will commence during Castle Lager PSL matchday 10 fixtures to be played over the weekend of 5 and 6 May 2018.
We are confident that this partnership will be mutually beneficial to both organisations.
The Premier Soccer League and ZBC will continue to work together to develop the game of football.
By Talent Gondo| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has waded into MDC T internal affairs describing MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa as an illegitimate leader.
Chiwenga’ s statement has opened a can of worms with analysts and observers of the MDC T leadership wrangle suggesting that the development indicates that Zanu Pf and the military junta recognise Thokozani Khupe as the legitimate leader of the opposition political party.
Speaking at the party’s election manifesto launch at Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on Friday, Retired General Chiwenga said the youthful MDC Alliance leader was not the legitimate leader of the opposition MDC-T.
“Before they tackle our icon, why not do their own supporters a small favour by resolving legitimacy issues that dog and haunt them,”
“We excuse them for being too young to have participated in the struggle but we cannot excuse them for mounting a bid for national leadership from a pilfered party crown,” he said.
Citizens took to the social media accusing the MDC T led by Khupe of fronting the Junta agenda hence the acknowledgement by Chiwenga of the faction led by the former MDC T Vice President.
However Spokesperson of the MDC T led by Dr Khupe, Linda Masarira said Chamisa has himself to blame for the illegitimate status being conferred to him since he rose to ascendancy through the back door.
“It is there in the MDC T Constitution of what processes were supposed to be followed in the event that a sitting president dies.
“The fact that Nelson Chamisa decided to use unorthodox means to ascend to power will never legitimise his presidency,” said Masarira, adding that her party stands for Constitutionalism and equality.
She said populism should not be equated to Constitutionalism.
” We are not fronting the Junta because we want to remove them from power,” she said, emphasising the importance of upholding democracy within the opposition.
By Talent Gondo| MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa has hit back at Vice President Retired Brigadier General Constantino Chiwenga who recently described the youthful leader as a “juvenile in politics” saying the VP is a converted MDC T member who is well versed with opposition policies.
Addressing party supporters in Chegutu (Saturday), Chamisa said Chiwenga’s address at the Zanu Pf election manifesto in Harare (Friday) reflected that he is a converted MDC T member who listens to the Alliance leader’s vision post 2018.
“I am happy because Chiwenga listens to what I say,” he said.
“He is a converted MDC T member. He showed it when he spent half the time talking about the MDC T policies, mission and vision.”
Chamisa castigated VP Chiwenga for attacking his leadership traits based on his age.
“When he went to war, how old was he? Was he not 19? Who castigated him for joining the liberation struggle at such a tender age?” queried Chamisa.
He urged the Zanu Pf leaders to give young blood a chance to transform the nation since they had played their part in liberating the country from colonial rule.
“What new dispensation can one offer at 75, when he is supposed to go on retirement?” said Chamisa.
He said as soon as he ascends to power, he will ensure that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is retired and gets his dues accordingly as a senior citizen.
Kadoma – Sanyati -Nembudziya Road
By Talent Gondo| Zanu Pf yesterday handed over part of over 300 campaign vehicles sourced by the party for its election campaign to its district and provincial leadership in Manicaland as the party gears for the watershed polls.
The development comes a few days after the party handed over 84 vehicles to chiefs, in a move which analysts have descibed as “sickening vote buying”.
The vehicles, whose cost is unknown comes as the country is grappling with foreign currency shortages and a broke economy, which last month saw nurses embark on a nationwide strike that left the health delivery system on its knees.
Speaking at the party’s election campaign launch in Harare (Friday), Politburo member and Secretary for Transport, July Moyo revealed that the vehicles would be distributed to all the party’s administrative districts, provincial structures and winning candidates.
“People need transport, ” said Moyo, adding that the party would give over 200 more vehicles to “winning candidates”.
“There are seven vehicles that have already been branded that the President will unveil and those to be unveiled today are destined for Manicaland.
Another batch of cars is for winning candidates. There are 210 of them,” said Moyo.
Former Higher Education minister and Zanu Pf strategist, Jonathan Moyo is on record revealing that his former party abuses state resources for its election campaign strategies.
According to Moyo, Zanu Pf will this year alone splash US$70 million on election campaign material including regalia and vehicles for party members and all the registered 226 chiefs.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa last month repossesed a campaign vehicle given to the Former Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial Affairs who is now leading a splinter opposition party National Patriotic Front, Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri towards the 2013 elections.
Mutinhiri was forced to hand over the vehicle after two men from the Office the President visited his home asking him to hand it over since it was needed by the party for campaigning purposes.
Former Zanu Pf Secretary for Transport who is now the party’s National Chairperson, Oppah Muchinguri is on record refusing to disclose the source of funds for the vehicles arguing that such kind of information was “party business which cannot be disclosed to the media.”
Opposition political parties described the purchase of vehicles at the expense of suffering citizens as a reflection that Zanu Pf was an “immoral and insensitive party”.
Why is it that only Vice President's get sick and die in Zimbabwe?, says Dube
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 5, 2018
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is only registering 100 people per day at Cecil House and Remembrance Complex static voter registration centers in Harare, the below report by the Election Resource Centre (ERC) reveals.
The Election Resource Centre (ERC) has noted with great concern that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is only registering 100 people per day at Cecil House and Remembrance Complex static voter registration centers in Harare, with the prospective registrants being turned away as early as 11am.
The observation, having been made on 29 March 2018, was communicated to ZEC in the spirit of assisting the Commission in remedying identified challenges in the electoral process. In the communication, the ERC recommended that the Commission ensures unlimited continuous voter registration throughout a normal working day. The observation and recommendation have been snubbed by ZEC.
ZEC’s decision to ignore suggests a disregard of key principles of voter registration and election administration. Constricting the number of voter registrants per day in Harare, a province where the rate of registration has been the lowest compared to other provinces, violates principles of inclusivity, comprehensiveness and accessibility in voter registration. The consequence of flouting principles of voter registration by disregarding calls to open up voter registration in Harare exposes the credibility of the voter registration process and the election to doubt. The right to vote can only be sufficiently exercised if equal participation and access to voter registration are guaranteed. Such is currently not the case.
ERC and other stakeholders have in the past highlighted the disproportionate allocation of BVR kits and voter registration centres during the biometric voter registration blitz and the follow up mop up exercise. This resulted in suppressed voter registration figures in Harare and Bulawayo. It would have been expected therefore, that ZEC would take heed and favourably consider observations and recommendations by stakeholders aimed at increasing the number of registered voters.
ERC therefore appeals to ZEC to ensure unlimited continuous voter registration at all statistic voter registration centres across the country. Further, ERC encourages ZEC to take extra measures to mobilise and facilitate voter registration in Harare and Bulawayo, which have the lowest voter registration figures in relation to the estimated voter population compared to other provinces.
If the interest of ZEC is to deliver a credible, free and fair election, every effort should be made to eliminate any, if not all, potential sources of election dispute.
By Paul Nyathi|The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission ZEC has disapproved a symbol presented by the under contest Zeb Shumba led ZimFirst party.
The symbol which featured the Zimbabwean bird was blocked by the electoral body on claims that the bird is prohibited from being used as a political parties symbol.
The party since recrafted its symbol.
Speaking to ZimEye.com in an interview on Saturday, Shumba said that the party had to accept the order from ZEC and adjusted its symbol accordingly.
“We had no alternative but to comply said Shumba.
The party has since notified its members of the change in the symbol.
“After ZEC wrote to the party stating that our logo consisted of a Zimbabwe bird that is a banned symbol, the party has redesigned the logo,” said Shumba in a statement to the members.
“Please find attached the new logo and the symbolism of each feature on the logo:
“The Map and Number 1- our Country First, Zimbabwe First ideology . The People and Number 1- our People First ideology. The people sitting on a gold bullion- Nyika Vanhu . Abantu Yilizwe: abundance of mineral wealth our people should sit on in comfort and prosperity. Green color- peace and prosperity that comes with ZimFirst. Red – blood shed for our country . Black- our African heritage and our. Thank you Edwin Mazingi Senior Presidential Advisor ZimFirst Nyika Vanhu. Vanhu NdoNyika Abantu Yilizwe. Ilizwe Ngabantu.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa was abducted “Itai Dzamara style” in Zambia over supporting former President Robert Mugabe, it has been said.
Veteran Zambian politician Vernon Johnson Mwaanga who worked under former President Kenneth Kaunda’s leadership narrates an incident when Mnangagwa was kidnapped during the Rhodesian Bush war, also called, the liberation war.
Mwaanga says Mnangagwa was kidnapped over belonging to a Robert Mugabe faction.
Mwaanga then says he had to facilitate Mnangagwa’s release by first getting in touch with the police then the army. He is quoted by the state media saying,
“The police retreated because here (in Lusaka) they are not armed. When they retreated, they reported to me that they had been engaged militarily by the elements they found on the ground. I phoned the army commander and I asked him to send soldiers to the camp to go and have Mr Mnangagwa released. I told them to use any amount of force necessary to secure his release. When they got there, they tried to put up resistance but the soldiers were well armed. The soldiers warned them that if they tried they may light up the whole camp. They went in and I told them to disarm everyone. They found Mr Mnangagwa tied to a tree in that camp. They took photos and then untied him.”
By Paul Nyathi|After going all out making light of MDC-T President Nelson Chamisa’s undertaking that the MDC government will go all out to improve Zimbabwean roads to world class standards, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has adopted the same call in the ZANU PF manifesto he launched on Friday.
Chamisa has been going around in his nationwide rallies condemning the poor state of Zimbabwe’s roads undertaking that if elected into government, his party will prioritise improving the roads to spaghetti type of highways seen in other countries.
ZANU PF loyalists went wild throwing criticism at Chamisa’s undertaking describing it as wishful thinking.
In a copied move, the ruling party has included the promise of similar spaghetti roads in its election manifesto.
The ZANU PF government has throughout its programmes been working on dualisation of the highways until Chamisa emerged the promise not to dualise the highways but develop them to world class spaghetti highways.
ZimEye.com tried to contact ZANU PF Secretary for Information Simon Khaya Moyo to get a comment on the sudden change of mind to adopt Chamisa’s promise but was unsuccessful.
President Mnangagwa declared at the manifesto launch that the party will seriously concentrate on infrastructure development which incidental is the MDC Alliance coalition’s campaign message.
The machinery of the unrepentant and ruthless capitalist Tawanda Nyambirai crushed the rights of minors at Arcturus mine over the past 2 days.
Children were left stranded and are sleeping under trees enduring the vagaries of bad weather. This is in direct violation of Children’s Rights as espoused in section 81(1) f of the national constitution.
Nyambirai has further denied these vulnerable children their right to education as they will not be able to access education as schools open next week.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ is appealing to all organisations working on rights of children to come to the rescue of the approximately 70 children affected by this development.
We further call on the State to protect these innocent kids who have fallen prey to the machinations of Capital.
ARTUZ Gender and Social Welfare
By Paul Nyathi|Opposition MDC-T National Executive member Job Sikhala has made an affectionate plea for under trial former ZANU PF Minister Walter Mzembi not to have his date in court.
Appearing before Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba on Friday, Sikhala who is the former Minister’s legal council said Mzembi has been admitted into the intensive care unit of a private South African hospital and is unable to attend his fraud trial.
The State had threatened to apply for a warrant of Mzembi’s arrest for wilful default of court appearance.
“Your Worship, my client has a serious health condition which I disclosed under camera when we appeared before your sister magistrate Tilda Mazhande last week. It is on this background that he is not in attendance today,” he said.
“He will take 10 days in the intensive care unit and is restricted to move or fly, as his condition is serious. He is unable to walk or do any other business up to a period of six weeks and it will be proper for the State to ask for an administrative warrant.”
Mashamba upheld Sikhala’s application and issued an administrative warrant for Mzembi.
The former Cabinet minister and Zanu PF legislator, who is on $400 bail, is facing various fraud allegations, which include unauthorised donation of four government-sourced television screens to the United Family International Church led by Emmanuel Makandiwa, Walter Magaya’s Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries and Nehemiah Mutendi’s Zion Christian Church in Masvingo.
The television sets had been bought by government for the promotion of the World Cup in 2010. He also faces a theft of trust property valued at $1,8 million at his former Tourism ministry.
By Paul Nyathi|Former Zimbabwe national soccer team players the Warriors Legends, are set for yet another high-profile showdown next month when they host a team featuring European legends at the National Sports Stadium.
The match, which has been set for June 8, was announced yesterday at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the World Class Legends represented by Rayco Garcia.
Garcia said the match will be aired on Real Madrid and Barcelona televisions and also on their social media platforms with a projected audience of one billion.
“We are here as the guests of the ZTA as well as His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa,” said Garcia.
“Today is an important day because we have decided that we are going to come to play a football game to promote the country internationally. We are planning to make a match against Zimbabwe legends on June 8, it will be a Friday. The last time we enjoyed a lot. Puyol, Pires, Roberto Carlos and of course Baptista will come. We will be announcing the players between now and the date of the match
“Some of you know me from the last game that we did with Barcelona Legends. I think it was a success, all the players were very happy. But all of us didn’t know anything about Zimbabwe. This country has, unfortunately, for many years, had no good name internationally. So I think with these kinds of initiatives we can change this. We can show to the world that this is a safe place to invest because this is not a country at war, like we see on international television.
“It’s very important to announce that we will use football as a powerful platform, through all our ambassadors around the world. Of course, Julio (Baptista) is from Brazil but the Spaniards will come, the Italians will come, the French will come, the Dutch will come. I think it’s now the time to open Zimbabwe for business and to create opportunities for everyone,” said Garcia.
Former Real Madrid and Arsenal forward Baptista said he was excited to be back in Zimbabwe.
He was part of the Brazil national team that played the Warriors in 2010 on their way to the Fifa World Cup held in South Africa.
“I am so happy to be here. This is my second time. When I visited the country the first time was when I was with the Brazil national team. The country has great opportunity for development with football.La Liga are doing a great job in many parts of the world. I think La Liga can do an incredible job here too,” said Baptista.
The tourists had an opportunity to meet President Mnangagwa yesterday where they pledged to market the country as a safe destination.
By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has dispelled social media rumours that his deputy and party’s Second Secretary Kembo Mohadi had died.
Mnangagwa dismissed the rumours wide spread rumour while launching the party’s election manifesto in Harare at the Harare International Conference Centre on Friday.
Social media was on Friday awash with information that the ailing Vice President had died in a South African hospital where he has been admitted for a couple of weeks now.
President Mnangagwa put the claims to rest while addressing party supporters with his introductory messages as he acknowledged Mohadi in absentia citing that he was not feeling well.
“He is not feeling too well. We wish him a speedy recovery,” said President Mnangagwa.
Mohadi’s estranged wife Tambudzani told ZimEye.com in an interview on Friday that she last spoke to the Vice President two days before days and he was out of hospital saying that she has no knowledge of the VP having met his demise as suggested by the rumours.
“No, we haven’t heard,” she said.
“The day before yesterday…he was not in hospital…” she added.
When asked on reports that he is still in South Africa, she said, “no, he was not even there…he was here in Harare…he was not in hospital”
Mohadi’s speech at the manifesto launch was read by the party’s national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
By Paul Nyathi|As the small town of Chegutu is still in confusion following violent incidents experienced during the ZANU PF primary elections held last weekend, MDC-T President Nelson Chamisa will on Saturday descend in the town to deliver a different message of hope and peace.
On Monday after failed primary elections on Sunday, ZANU PF supporters resorted to horrific intra party violence that saw local member of parliament Dexter Nduna discharging five rounds of live ammunition resulting in him being arrested.
Residents of the town widely condemned the violence and the shooting.
Chamisa is expected to address thousands of people in the town as he continues to deliver the MDC Alliance coalition coalition promises of a Zimbabwe government different from the current ZANU PF government.
The youthful opposition leader will immediately after the Chegutu rally fly out of the country to the United Kingdom where he is expected to engage with Zimbabweans and diplomats in that country.
He is also expected to make an address at Chatham House as he paves way for his party.
By Talent Gondo|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has dumped party bigwigs who lost the just ended primary elections revealing that the days of favouratism and political chickenary were over.
Addressing delegates who attended the launch of the party’s 2018 election manifesto at the HICC, in Harare (Friday), President Mnangagwa revealed that the party will allow a rerun in very few constituencies in order to allow for democracy to prevail.
“The days of favouritism and chickenary are gone and buried no matter the person’s status or standing,” said Zanu Pf’s first secretary.
“Leaders must come from the people. We must fully respect their (electorate) wishes,” he said.
Several Zanu Pf bigwigs were booted out of the 2018 election race during the party’s primary elections held last weekend.
Politburo members and Cabinet ministers, were left in shock following their humiliating defeat at the hands of not so popular opponents.
Industry and Commerce minister, Mike Bimha, Special Advisor to the President, Christopher Mutsvangwa, Christopher Mushowe who is the Scholarships minister, Douglas Mahiya, War Veterans top boss and Abednico Ncube among others lost the primaries which were marred with violence, controversy and allegations of rigging and ballot stuffing.
President Mnangagwa however revealed that the party would consider reruns of the primaries in a handful of constituencies as part of ensuring that the will of the people prevails.
“We must never deviate from our internal democratic systems,” said President Mnangagwa.
“We must guard against those with ulterior motive who may violate and undermine our democratic system,” he added.
By Paul Nyathi|Inconsistent civil servants representative body The Apex Council has urged teachers not to go on strike when schools open on Tuesday next week.
The labour body which has through the years clashed with its members over insincere and inconsistent bargaining says that they have not yet exhausted all avenues to address the teachers grievances.
Teachers have threatened to down tools at the beginning of the second term next week if Government does not meet their varied demands including low salaries and allowances.
Mrs Cecelia Alexander, the chairperson of the Apex Council said employees have not reached an impasse with the employer and there is no need for a strike at the moment.
She said it will be premature for teachers to embark on an industrial action as there is still room for negotiations.
“The Apex Council has not yet reached a deadlock with the Government. The Government says it is ready to give us feedback on the concerns we raised. Therefore, it is premature for Apex to take action before exhausting the engagement process as a matter of procedure,” she said.
Six teachers’ unions which fall under the Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Union (Fozeu) — Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union (Zimta), Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union (Artu), Zimbabwe National Teachers’ Union (Zinatu), Zimbabwe Democratic Teachers’ Union (ZDTU) and Professional Educators’ Union of Zimbabwe (PEUZ) — have all resolved to withdraw labour when schools open next week.
They argue that Government should negotiate with them separately since they have peculiar concerns that do not affect other civil servants.
Mrs Alexander said before taking drastic action, civil servants should wait for Monday’s negotiations as they could yield positive results.
“We are informing all civil servants that negotiations with Government are still underway and we will be meeting Government on Monday, May 7, 2018. We are anticipating to get a positive response on the concerns which have not been addressed for a long time. Feedback will be on review of salaries and allowances for all civil servants,” said Mrs Alexander.
She said the Apex Council has presented some its challenges to Government including reinstatement of vacation leave, address institutional accommodation matters and housing for civil servants.
The Government has already warned that it will dismiss all teachers who will not report for duty on Tuesday.
Terrence Mawawa
Social media commentator Frank Chamunorwa has sensationally claimed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s refusal to accept the outcome of the Zanu PF primary elections, indicates he is a hypocrite.
“Who is E D Mnangagwa trying to hoodwink by
claiming that he was not aware of conflation of
state and party resources during the past Zanu
PF primaries?
A true candid leader cannot
profess ignorance of such glaring flagrant
use of state resources , eclipsing what the
previous regime did, yet he dares to say such
practices would not be condoned under the new
dispensation.
Even grade zero kids can see
through this maze of blatant deceitful denials.
Can free and fair elections be held after this charade ? Who
honestly is he fooling?” wrote Chamunorwa on Facebook.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday peformed the unimaginable when he reversed the voice of the people which he has long held as The Voice Of God.
By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa withdrew all the ZANU PF primary election winning candidates.
Addressing thousands of party supporters who gathered at the Harare International Conference Centre on Friday at the launch of the party election manifesto, Mnangagwa said that the party politburo will sit on Saturday and make a determination on the candidates.
According to the programme of the day, the party was meant to unveil all the party’s candidates elected at the weekend primary elections.
President Mnangagwa said that due to massive appeals and complains from the members on how the primary elections were conducted the party politburo will revisit the results and make a determination on the appeals.
“Whatever teething problems we have experienced so far we have noted them closely this is why we will not announce the final list today,” he said amid cheers from the supporters.
“The politburo will be meeting tomorrow to go through the results in order for us to look at all the challenges that have been faced in the processes of the primaries,” said Mnangagwa.
The South American preacher who in 1997 predicted that Zimbabwe will be restored, Cindy Jacobs is flying into Zimbabwe this month. (SEE POSTER)…
Below are two predictions she made:
A Prophecy Given by Cindy Jacobs (President of Generals of Intercession)
30/10/1998 – Guatemala City, Guatemala.
“…. I will use Zimbabwe like a jewel; she will help feed the world with beautiful produce. God will break the curse that came through civil war – the curse will be broken. …The land will produce beautiful beef. New factories will be built. Zimbabwe has the ministry of reconciliation that will reunite the African people. The anointing of reconciliation will be all over Zimbabwe.
Do not be afraid of the change, although it looks like you are going backwards. I have a plan for you. Satan thinks he is advancing but I will expose wickedness at high levels. Do not be afraid. Satan will try to bring war, but the people will be used to stop war and bloodshed.
A treaty will be written with other nations. Zimbabwe will be like Switzerland to bring the healing of nations-to break ancient things. Your nation came through trickery but God will restore it.
You will be given a piece of land – a beautiful place to pray. You will build a place to watch and pray. It will be like a village with a place to sleep. Senior citizens will have places to stay and give their time to pray day and night….”
17/10/2001 – Pittsburgh
“The Lord has a word for Zimbabwe. This is the word for the nation: Weeping only endures for a night but joy comes in the morning.
Satan is very afraid of Zimbabwe, very afraid, so he has sent his troops, but the Lord says, I myself have sent my angels and I am going to reveal myself to a people that have not recognized me.
And the Lord says, I am going to raise up an army of Intercessors that have had to go deep, deep, deep like the palm tree in times of drought. And this army of Intercessors have clung and stood to the word of the Lord, so therefore I will use them to heal Africa says God.
And I am going to release a mighty prayer army that will go forth from this land. And the Lord says I am going to stay this spirit of violence and I am going to begin to reverse things in this land. The Lord says, don’t look at what you see now, but understand that I am going to make this a peace-making nation.
And the Lord says, I the Prince of Peace am going to enthrone myself in miraculous ways there, says God. And this will be known as a country that is a peaceful country and restored.
The Lord gives me Joel. That God is going to restore the years that the cankerworm and the locust have eaten up. This will be a Joel nation and a Malachi nation and I am going to turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers.
There is a linking between Zimbabwe and South Africa that will be miraculous for I am going to bring great healing between these nations says the Lord.
There are treasures of darkness that have waited till this hour in Africa to be released for the greatest harvest that continent has ever seen, and that the Africans will help protect and heal America, the Lord showed me that.
And that which was despised, God is going to bring humility into the heart of those in America to humble themselves to receive this word because it is in the healing of the nation that is going to come the receiving of the Africans.
The Lord is showing me that He is getting ready to build an east to the west road across Africa that will physically open up the heart of Africa. The Lord shows me that He is getting ready to reach the unreached and He is going to break open North Africa, break it open. I’m telling you God is going to break it open.”
There is so much hope for our nation of Zimbabwe. Let us not despair over the temporary setbacks we are facing, this seemingly tiny nation carries a lot of economic potential. Even many developed nations know this no wonder they cannot afford to ignore us.
I declare that the nation of Zimbabwe is reaching new economic horizons. Let’s continue to confess the word of God over our nation and it shall come to pass.
By Talent Gondo|Zanu Pf’s 2018 Presidential candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s campaign poster has set tongues wagging on social media amid indications that some of the people in the background are MDC T supporters.
The campaign poster shows several people in the background raising their palms in a move which shows support and solidarity with the MDC T.
By Paul Nyathi|ZANU PF Member of Parliament Dexter Nduna is facing up to ten years imprisonment if convicted on the two charges against him.
Nduna appeared before Chegutu Magistrate Felix Chauromwe on Friday facing two charges of public violence and use of a fire arm in a public place.
The two counts carry a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment between them if he is convicted.
The ZANU PF parliamentarian won the right to represent the party once again in the Chegutu West constituency at the primary elections held over the weekend.
Allegations against him are that on Sunday he fired five shots into the air from his personal gun in public in an effort to bring to order ZANU PF supporters who were clashing over the electoral processes.
He is also charged with six other ZANU PF supporters for being involved in public violence on the same day.
Chauromwe granted Nduna $100 bail and asked him to return to the courts on the 16th of May for routine remand.
By Talent Gondo|As the country heads for the watershed polls, Zanu Pf is set to reintroduce and play party jingles using the national broadcasters including the ZBC as part of its election campaign strategies, ZimEye has learnt.
Addressing delegates attending the party’s election manifesto launch at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) in Harare (Friday), Head of the Herbert Chitepo Ideological College, Munyaradzi Machacha confirmed the development revealing that the party had composed jingles to be used during the election campaign.
“The party has composed jingles which will be used during the election campaign,” said Machacha.
Introduced by former President Robert Mugabe in 2010 through the then minister of Information minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo, jingles were played on the national broadcaster every two hours.
Composed in praise of Mugabe and the ruling party, jingles were sung by musical artists and groups such as Tambaoga and Mbare Chimurenga choir among others.
Jingles were part of Zanu Pf’s 2013 election campaign following the defeat of the party in 2008 by opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Analysts including opposition political parties however described the move by ZBC of playing jingles as a reflection that the national broadcaster was partisan and biased in its reportage of national issues.
By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has temporarily withdrawn all the ZANU PF primary election winning candidates.
Addressing thousands of party supporters who gathered at the Harare International Conference Centre on Friday at the launch of the party election manifesto, Mnangagwa said that the party politburo will sit on Saturday and make a determination on the candidates.
According to the programme of the day, the party was meant to unveil all the party’s candidates elected at the weekend primary elections.
President Mnangagwa said that due to massive appeals and complains from the members on how the primary elections were conducted the party politburo will revisit the results and make a determination on the appeals.
“Whatever teething problems we have experienced so far we have noted them closely this is why we will not announce the final list today,” he said amid cheers from the supporters.
“The politburo will be meeting tomorrow to go through the results in order for us to look at all the challenges that have been faced in the processes of the primaries,” said Mnangagwa.
Terrence Mawawa
Ramos Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has claimed that
Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah will be “just one
of 11 players” when the two sides lock horns in the
Champions League final.
Salah has enjoyed a superb
debut season at Anfield, scoring 43 goals in all
competitions this term and playing a vital role in his
side’s run to Kiev.
Standing in Liverpool’s way will be Zinedine Zidane
‘s Real, in the Champions League final for the third
season in a row and hoping to claim a third
consecutive trophy.
Despite Salah’s heroics on the red half of
Merseyside, Ramos insists that he has faced many
other world-class forwards over his career, and is
never scared of opponents, only respectful.
“We have seen what Salah can do this season, but
he will just be one of 11 players we face against
Liverpool,” Ramos is quoted by The Mirror as saying.
“Throughout my career, I have faced the best
forward players in the world – many of them who
are considered among the greatest ever. For me,
there is never a fear. A respect, yes, but never a
fear.”
Salah has also been instrumental for Egypt over the
past 12 months, helping the Pharaohs reach their
first World Cup since 1990.
By Paul Nyathi|The Matabeleland South ZANU PF Provincial Coordinating Committee is pushing for a complete nullification of the primary elections held over the weekend, ZimEye.com can reveal.
Highly reliable sources within the party in Gwanda told ZimEye.com that the committee has submitted an urgent appeal to the party headquarters requesting that results from the thirteen constituencies be nullified.
The committee is reportedly claiming that the elections were flawed resulting in losing candidates raising complaints to the PCC.
“The PCC claims that it has complaints from all the thirteen constituencies on the primary election and all of them of a similar nature which is forcing for a total rerun of the whole election,” said the sources.
According to the sources, complaints being raised are that the voters roll through out the province was irregular as some cell leaders were bribed to manipulate the roll.
The sources also claim that members of the opposition MDC-T were incorporated by G40 cell leaders into the voters rolls in order to elect weaker candidates to sabotage the Lacoste faction candidates.
“The PCC claims that in places like Insiza and Umzingwane MDC-T members with ZANU PF cards were incoporated into the voters rolls.”
The sources further claim that the PCC alleges that some of the candidates were not genuine ZANU PF members and were ineligible to contest the primary elections.
The province is also alleged to be calling on the party to immediately dismiss party Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo who they claim is a G40 functionary in the party and is directly responsible for causing the sabotage in the provincial elections.
The PCC is also reportedly demanding for the immediate recall of National Commissar Englebert Rugeje from his position accusing him of being politically immature to handle the office.
Provincial Chairman Rapelang Choene would not immediately give a comment on the matter as he was said to be in a party meeting in Harare.
As MDC leader Nelson Chamisa this week continued to hammer on the government over online document processing systems, the state has rolled out an online visa payment facility as part of efforts to facilitate travel in line with the objective of improving the ease of doing business through harnessing information communication technologies.
The Government of Zimbabwe which has prioritised e-governance in order to modernise the public sector systems and processes to improve service delivery has rolled out the online visa payment facility which will allow visitors to the country to pay the visa fee in advance.
Department of Immigration principal director Mr Clemence Masango said the system is up and running adding that the government arm is targeting to go paperless in most of its services in order to facilitate smooth movement of people and promote business.
“We believe that as an authority we have an important role to play in promoting investments and tourism. We are glad to announce that the online visa payment facility is now up and running,” he said.
As part of efforts to promote investments, the authority said it now is a position to issue resident permits within 24 hours to Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA) approved investors.
On the other hand online visas application can now be processed within 48hours.
Meanwhile, the Department of Immigration said it is pleased with the benefits being derived under the Kavango-Zambezi UNIVISA project between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
According to the government arm, work is now underway to integrate the UNIVISA into the main national border management systems of both countries. – state media
Terrence Mawawa
Dynamos have thanked their supporters who have
remained resolute despite
the club’s woes.
The Glamour Boys have been going through a lean spell in the Castle Lager Premiership having failed to
win a match in 7 attempts.
“We would like to thank the fans who came to our
game against Bulawayo City.
There were some counter attractions, notably the
primary elections (ZANU-PF primaries), and the big
Thomas Mapfumo show during the same
weekend but the fans flocked to the stadium in numbers,” Marechera told The Herald.
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo
An aspiring Zanu PF MP has pledged to work tirelessly to improve the welfare of the socially disadvantaged people in the community.
Benjamin Mazarire, regarded as a rank outsider in the Masvingo Urban Constituency primary election race, stunned all and sundry when he romped to victory against the odds.
“I feel sorry for orphans and widows in the community. I will work hard to improve their welfare.
I have already put in place plans to help the socially disadvantaged people in Masvingo Urban Constituency,” he said.
“I have also paid water bills for widows in Mucheke and Rujeko Suburbs,” added Mazarire.
By Own Correspondent| In the face of flaming WhatsApp rumours that Vice President Kembo Mohadi is no more, his wife, has revealed that she spoke with him in Harare.
Senator Tambudzani Mohadi told ZimEye.com she has no knowledge of the VP having met his demise as suggested by the rumours.
“No, we haven’t heard,” she said.
She also told ZimEye, “the day before yesterday…he was not in hospital…”
When asked on reports that he is still in South Africa, she said, “no, he was not even there…he was here in Harare…he was not in hospital”
Meanwhile the WhatsApp rumour claimed saying, “Vice President Kembo Mohadi is no more. He died in South Africa where he was receiving treatment. More news to follow…”
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo
Traditional leaders here have pledged allegiance to the ruling party Zanu PF ahead of the elections.
The traditional leaders concurred to campaign for Zanu PF during a seminar at Flamboyant Hotel in Masvingo yesterday.
The traditional leaders also received hefty allowances during the seminar.
“Traditional leaders from various places across the province attended a strategic seminar at Flamboyant Hotel.
I cannot divulge the details of the seminar but the traditional leaders are ready to campaign for Zanu PF,” said a government source.
Terrence Mawawa
A pro -Zanu PF political commentator, Brian Mudumi has postulated that popular MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will be humiliated in the coming general elections.
Commenting on the current political events in the country on Facebook yesterday, Mudumi claimed Chamisa was “a man of popularity without gain. ”
Mudumi further described Chamisa as an arrogant political figure.
“The young man is too ambitious and anyone can easily notice his dictatorial tendencies.
We read that Obert Gutu’ s offices were broken into by unknown assailants.
This is a result of power struggles in the MDC.
Chamisa will be humiliated, come election day. The young man reminds me of one North Korean dictator,” wrote Mudumi.
JUSTICE CHIGUMBA HAS PERFORMED A BHORA MUSANGO ON MNANGAGWA?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 4, 2018
Terrence Mawawa
Former Zanu PF stalwart, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has vowed to expose the ruling party’ s rigging strategies.
Addressing MDC Alliance supporters at a rally held in Harare South yesterday Bhasikiti said Zanu PF had mooted a ploy to rig the coming elections using a Russian Intelligence Agency.
“There are plans to rig the coming elections and we will expose everything.
I know many people will take what I am saying for granted but it is the truth.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, ZEC officials and Russian Intelligence officials recently held a meeting and they came up with a strategy to rig the elections,” said Bhasikiti.
“Shortly after today we shall be having vaMutsvangwa here…”
“vaMutsvangwa telephoned me soon after coming from losing the (Norton) elections,”
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga scoffed at MDC leader Nelson Chamisa today when he said the man’s spaghetti road and bullet train call is an unrealistic pipe dream.
His boss, Emmerson Mnangagwa also teamed up to denigrate Chamisa.
Speaking at the launching of the ZANU PF manifesto in Harare, Chiwenga said: “until we ask ourselves why pretenders who sell us such convoluted dummies cannot manage small traffic in our real world cities and municipalities which they control and run.
“Why reach Bulawayo in 40 minutes when Harare workers can’t reach Kuwadzana in 5 hours? Why open cans of spaghetti when potholes strangle single lane roads in the city centre.
“Shouldn’t these starry eyed juvenile politicians take us to Mabvuku after a hard day’s work before they put us on Apollo II to the moon? We shall have time to dismantle their little make belief dreams as we get down to real campaign work.
“Before they tackle our icon could they do their supporters a favour by resolving ridiculous issues that dog and hound them. We excuse them for being too young to have participated in the struggle but we can’t excuse them for mounting a bid for national leadership from a pilfered party count.”
By Paul Nyathi|Thousands of ZANU PF supporters are gathering at the Harare International Conference Centre on Friday for the official launch of the party’s election manifesto.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa will deliver the key note address and unveil the party manifesto.
The party’s candidates to contest in the elections will also be introduced to the members.
Chaos is expected to prevail when the candidates are unveiled as most of them are still under varied electoral disputes.
By Paul Nyathi|Defeated Minister of Provincial Affairs for Matabeleland South Abednico Ncube is making frantic efforts to make his way back into the ZANU PF fray after losing primary elections over the weekend.
The Minister who briefly collapsed on Monday when he got news of his loss to radio personality Omphile Marupi, is reportedly lodging an appeal with the party electoral commission claiming that Marupi was an illegible candidate.
Ncube who was heavily trounced by Marupi is twinning up with an also defeated Matabeleland South provincial chairman Rapelang Choene to try and force reversal of the voting processes in their constituencies and the entire province.
Ncube lost representation of Gwanda South while Choene lost the Beitbridge Senatorial race to Tambudzani Mohadi estranged wife to the Vice President Kembo Mohadi.
Information from within the ZANU PF offices in Gwanda indicates that Ncube claims that Marupi should be disqualified because he has not served the minimum five years in the ZANU PF structures at least at district level.
Marupi was cleared by the Electoral Commission at the party vetting process which was done at the headquarters in Harare. Ncube did not raise his concerns prior the voting.
Efforts to get a comment from the ZANU PF commissar Englebert Rugeje failed as his mobile phone went unanswered.
By Paul Nyathi|Disgraced ZBC TV Sports reporter Spencer Banda has opened up on a social media post making wild runs that he was caught pants down in another man’s bedroom.
In a statement sent to ZimEye.com by a colleague of Banda, which is also circulating in the social media, Banda apparently claims that he was kidnapped in the streets of Harare and beaten up before being photographed half naked.
“I was on my way home from Hifa then idecided to pick up my teams order yema rugby stockings. As i was waiting for my parcel on the road a car parked in front of mine and from it came out 4 gentlemen who started to assault me and one of them manhandling our Sock supplier,” says the post allegedly written by Banda.
“In the process they were accusing me of dating this woman and the mob that had gathered began to assault me. For close to 2 hrs I endured this trying to profess my innocence. When i got a chance I fled and went to the police where I filed a report and the culprits were uprehended,” says the post.
Questioned by ZimEye.com on how the reporter appears naked in the picture and at a residence not on the streets, Banda’s collegue who insisted on anonymity could not explain.
“My brother just take what we are telling you except if you have your own version which you want to push to tarnish his image go ahead and publish that,” he said.
The friend further went on to warn the ZimEye.com reporter that he should not have published the story in the first place since he is also a man and likely to be caught in the same predicament.
“You are a man too my friend, you also get involved in such situations. If I was you I would not write anything about this especially about a collegue in the industry,” he said.
The friend would also not disclose the police station where the report was made. Harare Central Police expressed ignorance on the matter.
Efforts to get Banda’s official comment on both the incident and the statement were futile.
By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has handed over a further twenty five top of the range Toyota Hilux Double Cab vehicles to traditional chiefs who had not yet received their cars.
The cars were handed over to the chiefs at a closed door ceremony held at the ZANU PF Headquarters in Harare on Thursday afternoon.
The Chiefs who have not received the vehicles are reportedly giving President Mnangagwa sleepless nights demanding to get the cars before elections set for July or August this year.
The twenty five are part of a $14 million fleet of cars to be given to all the chiefs which government claims to be part of their work package.
The first batch of the vehicles was handed to the chiefs on the sidelines of a special ZANU PF meeting in Gweru in January.
The purchase of the vehicles which was sanctioned by former President Robert Mugabe shortly before he was kicked out of his position in a coup in November last year, has been met with huge criticism from all sectors in the country.
Zimbabweans generally believe that the ZANU PF government is using the vehicles as a vote buying tool from the chiefs.
By Paul Nyathi|Prominent ZBC TV Sports reporter Spencer Banda on Friday hit social media headlines with a picture of him half naked making circulations.
Allegations are that Banda was caught in a compromising position with a married woman in her matrimonial bed by the woman’s husband.
According to the reports, Banda was thoroughly beaten by the husband before he was dumped outside the apartment half naked.
ZimEye.com efforts to get a comment from Banda were futile.
However, a fellow sports journalists close to Banda who would not be named downplayed the matter claiming that social media could be distorting the matter.
“I have not spoken to Banda yet but there are a lot of possibilities around that picture which social media is not giving time to verify,” he said.
“I can only pray and hope that he is safe as his mobile phone is not reachable since the picture went viral,” said the journalist.
By Paul Nyathi|NetOne and Telecel users can now transact using rival service provider Econet mobile money transfer facility EcoCash.
The facility is being resumed by Econet’s Ecocash as the mobile money service steps up efforts to increase financial inclusion and interoperability.
EcoCash, a subsidiary of Econet, said on Thursday the new service enables users to download an EcoCash application to transact despite network differences.
“In the interest of financial inclusion, EcoCash is for everyone no matter your network. Register now on any network. You can register for EcoCash with your Netone, Telecel and Econet number,” said Econet.
Government has been urging mobile phone operators to ensure digital financial services are interoperable by April 2018.
Netone and Telecel have generally been reluctant on adopting the move due to the huge competition from Ecocash.
Ecocash is by far the leading brand in mobile money transfers in the country compared to Netone’s Onemoney and Telecel’s Telecash.
Was it fair to the jail nurse for 12 yrs over $54,000 miracle money?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 4, 2018
By Farai D Hove| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson, Priscilla Chigumba has blocked members of the public from accessing the electoral roll’s database.
Speaking this week, Justice Chigumba made these statements while announcing that the electoral roll is now at about 5,4 million people.
She also made a strong apparrent admission that so far already there are duplicate entries in the database as she said that Zimbabwe is incapable of solving the problem and it will require new laws to remove them.
Software experts at Harvard University tell ZimEye that there is no way database entries can have duplicates and “this is because of the special technique of using primary keys to define each database entry. In this case the primary entry is the person’s fingerprint and there is no way a fingerprint which is the primary key can have a duplicate of itself.”
Meanwhile Chigumba is quoted by the state media saying “an amendment on removal of duplicates has been tabled before Parliament through the Electoral Amendment Bill which is still under consideration.”
Justice Chigumba said ZEC was also working on eliminating duplicate entries as well as the adjudication process.
“BVR is a method of registering voters which encompasses capturing of demographic, biometric and delimitation data.
The Commission will use the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to identify multiple registrations.
All records identified as duplicates will undergo an adjudication process to analyse and deliberate on the action to be effected.
However, an amendment on removal of duplicates has been tabled before Parliament through the Electoral Amendment Bill which is still under consideration,” said Justice Chigumba.
On the compilation and inspection of the Provisional Voters’ Roll, Justice Chigumba said the commission was looking forward to coming up with a provisional voters’ roll (PVR) this month and it will be ready for inspection from May 19-29, 2018.
“It is referred to as Provisional Voters’ Roll because it may undoubtedly contain some errors that the public may pick out for correction during inspection before it is gazetted as the final voters roll.
In fact, the inspection of the provisional voters’ roll is in itself a cleaning process as it will assist in removing errors related to addresses, date of births, wrong ID numbers, polling station postings and names,” she said.
Justice Chigumba also said an exemption list would be published and printed alongside the Provisional Voters’ Roll to educate and give registrants an opportunity to rectify any anomalies.
Justice Chigumba said the commission planned to make the provisional voters’ roll easily accessible through the use of bulk SMS and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Code 265.
“The ZEC will send SMS messages to all registrants who provided valid cellphone numbers confirming their demographic data and polling stations.
She said the BVR technology was for voter registration purposes only and would not be used during polling.
My name is Tracy Ndlovu. I am the owner of House of Accra. I want to tell my story because it may motivates someone. I
I came to South Africa at the age of 18 with no qualifications or anything. I have done all the odd jobs that you can think of because of my poor background. It was normal to me coz thats what i knew better. I have worked as a maid , waitress, cashier and shop assistant. One thing l told myself was that l would never let my poor background define my future. Thus, being the bubbly person that l am, my personality and determination opened doors for me. When l say doors, l mean promoted from being a scullery to a cashier lol. But still l was happy with that because it meant growth to me. I was always the first one to get to work and the last to leave, and l would always volunteer to help the managers with their jobs because l was so eager to learn. Guess what? l was promoted to a shift supervisor, then assistant manager! I was good at what l did l mean for someone whose education went up to Form 1 only. It was a blessing for me. I had this burning fire inside me that kept me pushing harder, and for more.
Unfortunately l lost my job because of not having the right immigration papers. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise, for that is when l was introduced to the fashion industry. Even though l grew up in rural areas, deep down l knew my passion. I loved cloths, l loved looking good. I loved the feeling and sensation of holding a beautiful dress, a beautiful cloth. I had never had enough to make my dream come true then. But one day my ex boyfriend who was a designer introduced me to one guy who was also designer. You know God is a God of love, that man became my boss. He groomed me in the fashion industry. I became one of the best learners he ever had. The brand is called Urban Zulu.
l worked with him for 4 years. Unfortunatly our relationship ended because he felt like i was becoming a brand in his brand. Even though, I remain profoundly appreciative to him. When we parted ways, that is when l knew l had to start my own thing. Things were hard to a point where l lost my accommodation and all, but giving up was not an option. I hustled, tried everything, and at some point l had lost hope but you know, there is that fire inside me that couldnt let me give up! Today as l write this, l am a shop owner. My shop is 4 months old!
I still have challenges because l am new to this, but as always, l am ever ready and willing to learn and encounter all challenges. Being a self taught enterpreuner is not easy. However, l am a learner and l listen to other people’s advise, and l know that with God’s grace l will make it work.
The challenges will come to pass and l will make and l will build my brand with your support.
Fashion industry is brutal. If you are not strong enough you can quit at any given moment. As someone’s employee it was easier for me to run their business but running my own is not the same anyone.
Marketing has to be aggressive because the competition is stiff. I have used social media mainly as my marketing platform. I sometimes get clients but its not always. Remember l am in competition with bigger brands who are well established and its not easy to convince clients that you can do what they want like the big brands, or even better!!
Tracy Ndlovu.
By Own Correspondent| Presidential Advisor, Chris Mutsvangwa together with his son have teamed up to speak into the head of state’s countenance.
Two days ago, Neville Mutsvangwa said his father’s boss, Emmerson Mnangagwa is hiding a can of worms. A few hours later, the father would burst out claims that Mnangagwa is losing this year’s elections because of his(Mutsvangwa’s) personal loss during the just ended Norton primaries.
Adding to the Mutsvangwas’s losses, his son, Neville also lost during the polls for a “councillorship seat” for Borrowdale.
An upset Neville Mutsvagwa said President Mnangagwa was not truthful when he said the just ended ZANU PF primaries were democratic.
Speaking during an intervie at social news 263chat, he was asked on the quality of Mnangagwa’s canvas of advisors, and he said, “your question is very difficult because the President is the one who puts his team in place, what I do see is that there are a lot of disgruntled people my myself included, and obviously he has made a statement which I think that any president will do that the elections went well, and he has got to proceed as the president; like I said for him to come, look back and turn around over the shoulder will open up a can of worms which I think at this stage will be political suicide…”
Neville also said he has got something to offer the povo. “But what I am saying is me as an individual I have got something to offer. I am convinced I can deal with the situation because the truth of the matter is, I believe that some of the candidates that are there are indebted to the people who counted. So if you’re indebted to the people who counted, it means that you are not concerned about the electorate,” he added.
By Paul Nyathi| The man who is known for making several threats on people among whom is a woman he made death threats on, the Vice President of the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T Obert Gutu claims that he is getting continuous death threats on his mobile phone.
The former MDC-T Chamisa spokesperson revealed in a sensational Facebook post on Thursday that he feels unsafe due to the threats coming through from South African mobile numbers.
Coincidentally and ironically, Gutu is the same who once threatened to kill on a woman based in South Africa via a cellphone sms.
This time he claims he has received threats from South Africa.
“Over the past few months, I have been receiving death threats on my mobile phone from several South African – registered mobile phone numbers,” Gutu said.
Gutu left the MDC-T led by Nelson Chamisa with former Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe after refusing to accept Chamisa as a legal leader of the party.
Meanwhile, Gutu also claims that there was a break in at his law chambers on Wednesday night which he believes to be politically motivated.
According to Gutu the burglars brutally attacked the security guard at the firm leaving him for dead before ransacking the building and leaving without taking anything.
“There was a break – in at Negona Chambers around midnight on Wednesday, May 2,2018. More than ten (10) burglars armed with iron bars broke into our premises and severely assaulted the security guard who was on duty,” he said.
“The guard suffered very serious head injuries and we evacuated him to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
“The thugs vandalised the outside alarm system sensors and they also broke the kitchen door using iron bars.The timeous arrival of two (2) Safeguard Security reaction teams saved our security guard’s life since he had been left for dead.
“The thugs ran away without stealing anything.”
Zvimwe ndezvimwe…ipayi Mnangagwa sando for allowing people to express their views democratically…akundwa akundwa that’s my Zimbaghwe…kwete zve chikwambo chiya ne njapisi yacho…
By Paul Nyathi | A final year student nurse at Gweru hospital is languishing in remand prison after squandering $54 000 “miraculously” deposited into his CABS Bank account last year.
Twenty Four year old Kelvin Kutadza of Mkoba 19 in Gweru has been sentenced after pleading guilty to 54 counts of fraud totalling $54 052.34 .
According to the court, sometime in July last year, CABS Bank erroneously deposited the money into Kutadza’s bank account following a system failure, money which Kutadza went on to squander by making various transfers into his mobile phone account and into his MBCA Bank Account.
Kutadza went on to buy a house in Mkoba 19 for $32 000 and two cars worth $10 500 using part of the money. $2 300 was recovered when the bank realised the mistake last week leading to his arrest.
In his defence, Kutadza confessed to being a highly devoted Christian and believed that the money was miracle money which he had been promised in church.
“When I saw the money in my account, I honestly believed that my prayers for miracle money had been answered that is why I used the money,” Kutadza told the court.
He pleaded with the court to forgive him and allow him to finish his training as a nurse where he is due to graduate on the 5th of May. He pleaded that he was going to dispose the house and cars to pay back the money to the bank.
The bank is also reportedly investigating two other people who benefited from the error and swindled the financial institution of over $200 000. The bank has since dismissed thirteen of its information technology staff members over the system technical failures.
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| Presidential Advisor Chris Mutsvangwa has betrayed his boss, the President. Mutsvangwa acted like 5 year old baby crying for ice cream, and even (reportedly) secretly telephoned Nelson Chamisa’s office soon after losing the Norton election. There is a video recorded live yesterday. In addition to this, the man broke all protocol, to denounce the party and the nation’s leadership – his own employer, and all this sudden ambush caused by an upset over losing a mere primary election, for one of Zimbabwe’s smallest constituencies.
In the history of this great country, no advisor of the Head Of State has ever done such a thing. There are credible reports suggesting he will be a member of the MDC Alliance party anytime from now.
ZANU PF must make it clear to Cde Mutsvangwa and the rank and file in the party that ZANU PF would not tolerate indiscipline. Mutsvangwa should change and that change should be recognised by the people. The party cadres and the frontal organisations must bring good name to the party and not bad reputation. In recent times, there have been reports of the Presidential advisor, Cde Mutsvangwa acting in an overbearing manner. Comrade Mutsvangwa must remember that he is not above the party, eloquence does not mean wisdom. Big English words do not mean owning the party.
The lower order for strengthening the party is for the party activists to work as publicists for the party programmes. There is a positive opinion among the people about the party and we should make good use of it. You all should strive to make every village a bastion of the party. The behaviour of comrade Mutsvangwa is that of a jilted spouse. Mutsvangwa took a personal matter and blew it out of proportion; this was a party matter which needed to be dealt with within the inner circles of the party. Mutsvangwa lacked the charisma to have a following apart from boasting about his accomplishments. In that scenario he should not be expecting to win. How can he be an advisor to the president when he is a prophet of doom? An advisor advising the nation to take up arms against the government.
Cde Mutsvangwa instead of consolidating his loss, decided to throw away the baby and the water. Him comrade Mutsvangwa of all the people must know the need of a better cohesion and coordination in the party at all levels.
His duty was to be listing out various development activities being taken up by the State government and the party in villages like basic infrastructure. It is time to introspect, analyse and draw up plans for what more needs to be done in the villages and constituencies.
He is empowered to make the party strong in the respective districts from the grassroots level and should ensure that there are no differences among the leaders and see that all the district party functionaries’ work as a single cohesive unit. Drawing up a proper action plan and executing the same is important and having an efficient leadership at all level is equally important. Casting a dark cloud on the party because you have lost your popularity does not make you a good leader. With the latest economic survey in Zimbabwe, the double-digit growth rate of the economy shows how the new dispensation has worked hard in putting the country back on track.
Instead of attacking his regular sparring partner, Mutsvangwa let the Opposition Leader walk away unscathed and he attached his own party and its leadership. This is an egregious(outstandingly bad) error which must be corrected.
Well, it was worse than that, really. In the eyes of his colleagues, Mutsvangwa actually provided the opposition with moral cover. That was despite the Opposition Leader misleading the public over the bullet trains Mutsvangwa lashed out at the National Political Commisair Cde Engelbert Rugeje whom he described as a Political Novice. He went further to give unsubstantiated comments which were meant to cause despondency within the party by saying ED may lose this year’s elections.
In his unguarded comments Mutsvangwa said many ZANU PF members have been disenfranchised in the party’s internal polls which have been described as chaotic. He further said war veterans were not happy with the outcome of the primary elections. In his own words Mutsvangwa said.
“IT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL WIN GIVEN THAT THE PARTY’S MEMBERS HAVE BEEN LARGELY DISENFRANCHISED.”
Mutsvangwa accused the NPC for seeking advice from an Ex-Gamatox commissar in the form of Webster Shamu to turn police into returning officers. This verbal misfiring is not new to Mutsvangwa but this time he spoke with emotions of losing to a little known person in Norton.
Mutsvangwa suffers from a serious problem where he thinks that ZANU PF is about big names. The new dispensation has brought in a democratic way of primaries.
It should be understood that the way the primaries were held this year was the first of its kind. In that scenario some mistakes were expected. But to castigate the NPC and call him a Novice is over the fence.
Cde Mutsvangwa has forgotten that he did not help the party from losing election in 2008. It was the now NPC who steered the party from the jaws of defeat to a great win and on that work done by Rugeje ZANU PF had resoundingly won elections in 2013 and will win again in July.
The utterances of Mutsvangwa are meant to cause anarchy and despondency among the electorate. It arms the opposition into having a false hope of success. The effects of such utterances are that if ED wins the opposition will quote Mutsvangwa and claim massive rigging.
Zimbabwe is already a very fragile state which grapples with legitimacy, the new dispensation is all out to restore that legitimacy and Mutsvangwa pours water into those efforts.
Mutsvangwa attacked Rugeje and said that he lacks the party’s institutional memory. This is not a constructive criticism but a personal attack. The problems which lay on the feet of the NPC are logistical problems which did not make people vote against Mutsvangwa. Mutsvangwa was hoping that his big name and his big words will give him a ticket to the parliament. This was not to be. He then hoped that the NPC will rig the elections for him but the NPC showed true democratic astute and showed everybody that there are no sacred cows in ZANU PF. The issue Mutsvangwa should know is that ZANU PF is the people and the people of the party spoke in Norton.
Cde Mutsvangwa was not the only bigwig who bit the dust. The only difference was Mutsvangwa bit the dust with his big mouth wide open. In that process he got a lot of mud in and it explains his anger and his utterances.
Mutsvangwa raised the spectre of the war veterans turning against the ZANU PF’s new administration; this was meant to incite rebellion and must not be left like this. Comrade Mutsvangwa had the first opportunity anyone from the party had to straighten things up after the primaries. All over the country ZANU PF members tuned in, waiting for Mutsvangwa to carry the fight to his opponent but alas he chose to fight his own party.
They’re still waiting. When ED appointed Mutsvangwa as Information Minister, he famously described him as a “fierce speaker who will match Jonathan Moyo (his friend) it was time for comrade Chris to go grizzly. Unfortunately for the party and the Government generally, he went cuddly. Inside the Party, right across the country, phones have been running red hot ever since.
With the opposition on hot pursuit really Mutsvangwa’s utterances was a chance to put a much needed dent in Chamisa’s goody-two-shoes image. In the eyes of his own party, Mutsvangwa abjectly failed.
Mutsvangwa has become a commentator rather than a participant. “He is no longer doing a job for the government. He thinks he’s just doing enough to turn up and cast dark aspersions on the party to the media. To think that he almost became the minister of information makes one sick.
“He completely undermined the Party’s message. And it’s not the first time either. Now he’s done it again.
“It goes to the fact that when politicians become media commentators, they become completely ineffective.
Now come to a very important matter the man is low on performance and most people have complained about his capabilities. – The internal bitterness over Mutsvangwa’s performance emphasises other colleagues’ doubts about him: whether he has what it takes to convince the electorate the party is a new outfit which is dedicated to change and prosperity. The NPC is an independent department which is not moved by public insults.
The attacks on the NPC are only but a line in the sand, the fire powered by papers it will die out soon. The new dispensation will weed out those who think they are household names in the party. The party will have new blood and the big mouthed good for nothing insulting cadres will understand that it is the voice of the people which counts.
To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say: You turn if you want to. The Party is not for turning. “It goes to our fundamental economic credentials. If we did that the electorate would flick us as quick as look at us. And right now the economy is the only thing we’ve got going for us. The economy is improving and ZANU PF has done it in a few months of the new dispensation. The party must hold up where it counts because we are doing it for the economy.
Instead of casting aspersions on the party Mutsvangwa was supposed to call a press conference to make one specific point: Zimbabwe is open for business. “And while it would have been too early to make any definitive claims about the impact of the new dispensation, and most particularly the abolition of the unfair industrial laws, on unemployment and economy in this country, I do believe new jobs have been created – it is reasonable to assert that one of the contributions made to this spectacular growth in employment has been the removal of laws and policies which discouraged investments and foreign investors from coming into the country.
Having, on his own admission, now definitively married his bitterness to ignoring economic prosperity for the first time, Mutsvangwa is no longer in a position to walk away from the core components of his creation. It’s like the old adage about feeding the crocodile an arm in the hope of saving the rest of you.
There are a lot of issues Mutsvangwa touched in his utterances, he has portrayed the party as den of problems, and he described the work done by the NPC so far as dog’s breakfast. The party must not be held at ransom by Mutsvangwa in the name of the War Veterans. If there was any problem Mutsvangwa should have used his eloquence in the Politburo where he is a member and shout all he need.
He is on record castigating the former first lady for washing dirty linen in public but he does the same with impunity.
He puts doubt on the party’s democratic manoeuvres and portrays the party as undemocratic one.
The party leadership must embark on a prompt and thorough remedial action against comrade Mutsvangwa. The party must not allow such indiscipline to continue.
Cde Mutsvangwa made very irresponsible and false statements that Cde Rugeje had deployed the Police as polling officers, this is not true. The police had a duty to maintain law and order at any gathering even if it was for the MDC. ZANU PF being the largest party it was obvious that it will attract a large crowd at its polls and indeed emotions were bound to boil. But it was sad for Comrade Mutsvangwa to stoop so low in his career and vomit such lies to the amusement of the opposition and the opposition media.
Cde Mutsvangwa must learn to accept defeat, what is he teaching the youth if he cannot accept defeat with honour? He wants to go down with the whole party that if he cannot be no one must. This is immaturity and must never be accepted.
ZANU PF has shown its greatest democratic ways in these primary elections. Credit must be given to Rugeje. He made candidates to campaign together and avoid hate speech. That shows the electorate that we are one unit. All ZANU PF needs now is those who preach unity and peace. We must face the opposition as one not as a fragmented party. Comrade Mutsvangwa must take his complaints to the party not to the press. ZANU PF is people not an individual.
LIVEBLAST – refresh to watch
By Farai D Hove| Presidential Advisor, Chris Mutsvangwa could soon join the MDC Alliance, after he reportedly telephoned Nelson Chamisa’s local chairman for the Harare area.
This was all according to an announcement made Thursday afternoon.
“I told you all before that the big ZANU PF group, Gamatox has chosen to back MDC Alliance and many others are on the way, coming…,” said former ZANU PF Masvingo kingmaker, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti.
“Those who were called the G40, all of them support Chamisa saying he is the only one capable of running the country. The greatest of the G40 (Mashayamombe) is also here,” he said.
Nelson Chamisa’s chairman for the area, Mr Erick Murayi quipped in saying, “I want to let you know that this year it is flaming hot -chakachaya. You have all already seen the Hon. Mashayamombe, right? Let me tell you you haven’t seen anything yet.
“I standing here as the Chairman I can say so much is happening here, they are coming, I don’t know if we will have space to house all of these coming from ZANU PF. And all of them area already in regalia like Mashayamombe.
“This is what we can, shiri yabvuta rekeni, the bird has taken away the gun…
“Shortly after today we shall be having vaMutsvangwa here…”
“vaMutsvangwa telephoned me soon after coming from losing the (Norton) elections,” he said. He however did not continue as he was drowned by cries and shouts for Chamisa, the MDC leader who was now arriving at the meeting place.
While it was not clear what Mutsvangwa said during the phone call, the man and his son, Neville are on record expressing their disgruntlement with ZANU PF in the just ended primaries.
Efforts to get a comment from Mutsvangwa at the time of going to press were fruitless as his phone reported as out of network coverage.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW-
….
By Paul Nyathi| Several party sources claimed to ZimEye.com that Mozambique’s veteran rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama, who mixed guerrilla warfare with opposition politics, has died aged 65.
South Africa based party sources said Dhlakama died late Thursday afternoon.
The Renamo sources indicated that Dhlakama passed away after an unconfirmed heart attack.
The information was still trickling in and the ZimEye.com will keep watch as it develops.
LIVEBLAST – refresh to watch
By Farai D Hove| Presidential Advisor, Chris Mutsvangwa could soon join the MDC Alliance, as according to an announcement made Thursday afternoon.
The massive ZANU PF group, Gamatox has chosen to back MDC leader and many others are on coming, who include (Chris) Mutsvangwa,” said former ZANU PF Masvingo kingmaker, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti.
Nelson Chamisa’s chairman for the area Erick Murayi also quipped in saying, “I want to let you know that this year it is flaming hot -chakachaya. You have all already seen the Hon. Mashayamombe, right? Let me tell you you haven’t seen anything yet.
“I standing here as the Chairman I can say so much is happening here, they are coming, I don’t know if we will have space to house all of these coming from ZANU PF. And all of them area already in regalia like Mashayamombe.
“This is what we can, shiri yabvuta rekeni, the bird has taken away the gun…
“Shortly after today we shall be having vaMutsvangwa here.
“vaMutsvangwa telephoned me soon after coming from losing the (Norton) elections.”
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW-
….
By Talent Gondo| Former Zanu Pf stalwart and Member of Parliament for Harare South, Shadreck Mashayamombe has endorsed MDC Alliance Presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa calling on all progressive citizens to vote for him in their numbers for total change.
Mashayamombe, alleged to be aligned to the Generation 40 (G40) faction in Zanu Pf said this at an MDC Alliance rally in Hopley, Harare South today (Thursday).
He said, ” we don’t want change that comes halfway we want a complete change, ” said Mashayamombe to a loud applause.
He continued saying, “So this is what is needed…where we we just have to come together, because tambaoga will not work.”
Watch: Mashayamombe speak on the link below…..
Terrence Mawawa
Dynamos are hoping to post their third victory of the season when they lock horns with Harare City FC in a Castle Lager Premiership encounter on Sunday.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer action continues
this weekend with four matches scheduled for
Saturday while five games have been slotted for Sunday.
Match-day 10 Fixtures:
SATURDAY 5TH MAY 2018
Herentals vs FC Platinum (Rufaro Stadium).
Nichrut vs Chapungu (Ascot Stadium).
Chicken Inn vs Bulawayo City (Luveve Stadium).
Ngezi Platinum Stars vs Yadah (Baobab Stadium).
SUNDAY 6TH MAY 2018
Highlanders vs ZPC Kariba (Barbourfields Stadium).
Shabanie Mine FC vs Caps United (Maglas Stadium).
Dynamos vs Harare City (Rufaro Stadium).
Triangle United vs Bulawayo Chiefs (Gibbo Stadium).
Mutare City Rovers vs Black Rhinos (Vengere
Stadium).
Terrence Mawawa
Dynamos are hoping to post their third victory of the season when they lock horns with Harare City FC in a Castle Lager Premiership encounter on Sunday.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer action continues
this weekend with four matches scheduled for
Saturday while five games have been slotted for Sunday.
Match-day 10 Fixtures:
SATURDAY 5TH MAY 2018
Herentals vs FC Platinum (Rufaro Stadium).
Nichrut vs Chapungu (Ascot Stadium).
Chicken Inn vs Bulawayo City (Luveve Stadium).
Ngezi Platinum Stars vs Yadah (Baobab Stadium).
SUNDAY 6TH MAY 2018
Highlanders vs ZPC Kariba (Barbourfields Stadium).
Shabanie Mine FC vs Caps United (Maglas Stadium).
Dynamos vs Harare City (Rufaro Stadium).
Triangle United vs Bulawayo Chiefs (Gibbo Stadium).
Mutare City Rovers vs Black Rhinos (Vengere
Stadium).
Terrence Mawawa
South African striker Dino Ndlovu has offered Khama
Billiat some advice amid reports the Zimbabwe
international is holding talks with Azerbaijan side
Qarabag.
Ndlovu who played at the European outfit before
moving to China says Billiat must be committed to
his football in order to make it at the club.
“My advice [to Billiat] is that he needs to be 1000
percent committed if he moves to Qarabag because
the coach [Gurban Gurbanov] there doesn’t take
prisoners, he is like a dictator,” Ndlovu told
KickOff.com , a South African football website.
“He doesn’t like players who enjoy nightlife.
He knows
everything about the city, he controls everything. He
will tell you at a certain time you must be home or
else you will be fined.
“The following day he will ask you: ‘where were you
last night and what time did you get home?’ and
when he does that is because he already knows the
answer.
“He wants his players to be committed to football.
He wants his players to drink, eat and sleep football,
nothing else. If it’s true that Billiat is going to
Qarabag, he needs to think football and nothing else.
“His life must be football and other things must
come second,” Ndlovu added.
Billiat’s contract is set to expire in June and his
agent has already confirmed that he will leave Mamelodi
Sundowns.
FORMER deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe, who now leads a splinter group of the MDC-T after the acrimonious split that followed a leadership wrangle in the aftermath of founding opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai’s death in February, has virtually ruled out talks aimed at re-unification.
The new MDC-T leader, Nelson Chamisa and his group have been saying there was a possibility of talks with Khupe ahead of general elections set for later this year. But Khupe’s deputy, Obert Gutu yesterday said there was no way this was possible.
“I cannot say much for now, but given that I handle issues of strategy and policy in our party, there are certain values that make it impossible for a re-unification, let alone talks,” he said.
On Monday, the former deputy Justice minister used social media to declare his disdain for the Chamisa group.
“Anyone who thinks the MDC-T will re-unite with a group of people who are vindictive, insincere and violent might as well believe that tomorrow the sun will rise in the west and set in the east,” Gutu said.
Asked to explain, Gutu added: “There are certain benchmarks we follow whether we are talking to these people [Chamisa and his acolytes] or any other political formation. As long as these are not met, then they can forget.”
Chamisa said they were way ahead of Khupe.
“We have people who are worried over our friend whom we used to work with who is in Bulawayo, she might cause confusion in the forthcoming elections, well are advanced and far ahead of her in terms of strategy. Fear not, that matter was concluded, there will be no confusion. When our late leader Morgan Tsvangirai passed on, he left us with a vision of unity, but there are others who have a bad spirit of division. We will deal with that person and we will deal with the issue of our symbol and go to elections and vote for MDC-T which will be clearly branded,” he said.
However, MDC-T secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora insisted that the MDC-T needed talks to bring the warring factions together.
“We are not going to tire what brings us together is more than that which separates us, public pronouncements are not what informs talks between parties, when doors are closed we know we are closer to each other.
“We are not giving up on dialogue. It is the way to go in the new Zimbabwean politics and we must always be seen to be tolerant of each other’s views. To that end we will continue reaching out to the other group,” he said.
The two groups are already engaged in a nasty legal battle over the use of the party name with Chamisa having already approached the Supreme Court to appeal a High Court decision made in Bulawayo temporarily allowing Khupe the freedom to continue using the MDC-T logo and other associated paraphernalia.
Justice Francis Bere ruled that the two factions needed to seek the help of an arbitrator for a determination on the matter of who had the legitimate right to use the name of the party, adding that as things stood, it was not clear who was the leader.
Source: Newsday
Terrence Mawawa| Masvingo State Minister Josaya Dunira Hungwe, who has a knack for bootlicking, has angered Church leaders here after equating the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa to Jesus.
Irate church leaders described Hungwe’ s utterances at an Apostolic Faith Mission Church (AFM) Women’s Conference last week as blasphemous.
Hungwe claimed Mrs Mnangagwa was a supernatural being who should be treated with great honour like what happened to Christ during the Triumphal Entry.
“Mr Hungwe missed the point, he became overzealous as he sought to impress his political bosses.
That is why some congregants threatened to shout back at him,” said one church leader.
“His remarks are totally unacceptable, I think he owes us an apology,” fumed another church leader.
Below is the ZimEye transcript of MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s rally speech in Harare South on Thursday afternoon:
This rally is the last rally we are doing before I travel away. I am traveling to the United Kingdom to unravel some falsehoods Mnangagwa said there.
My main theme is: Munhu wese, dollar muhomwe – everyone get your dollars in the pocket.
When I am saying munhu wese, I am also saying you yourself must go back into work.
We are going to open jobs, where it was once said there are no more jobs, they will become instantly available.
We are now left with a few days to get into Canaan. Those who registered to vote, please lift your hands.
What are we are going to fix in 2018, is that everyone must get their own place of employment. We are going to tell the businesses, come back and open the keys to industries.
So which issue is it that we want to fix? Everyone must be at work getting their livelihood back.
Money must not struggle to get from the pocket to the mouth. Once I am in I don’t want to see the bond note.
New money must come back…we fix the issue of monetary issues. Here in Southern Africa we must use one currency.
Many do not know, in banks we are going to fix the issue of money disappearing. The money must gain interest, this is what used to happen long ago.
The 3rd matter I that everyone working must be allowed loans, called hire purchase. You must be allowed whatever you want to borrow for. Not this thing of people working without for instance payslips.
While at that we will fix the issue of title deeds.
We will fix the issue of title deeds, everyone must get title deeds.
But we will not end there, we will introduce the smart cities concept. Every city must get connectivity. Everyone must get WIFI where-ever they are. This thing of bundles, will be another issue. You must not chase network, like what has been happening lately.
On new councils, everything must be online, rates must be paid online, even lobola must be paid online.
This is the issue of smart cities. We must get base stations to fix this issue.
The other issue, streets must be marked properly, not this thing of being in Gutu and it is not different from the way it is in Harare. Boreholes must be closed and water gush out of water taps.
In rural areas, boreholes will be fixed.
I want to thank this man called Richard Morgan Tsvangirai he is the one who started this things. And he departed with the message saying to me, Chamisa, chienda unomisa ZANU PF.
So these days I am seeing lots of panic. I saw the way in rural areas, MDC has grown in rural areas. Everyone is saying when we go to vote we are going to removed ED. Mnangagwa was removed a long time. We are going to send him to rest.
So our agenda is now clear I believe. But as we get to July, everyone must be an organiser. Organise others. At voting is where your happiness is, at voting is where your wife who ran away is.
So we saw the ZANU PF primaries, did you see them? ZANU robbed each other.
So we said play there, as we get to July ZANU PF must be left just a few seats. Shall we give them 2 or zero? If you want to give them a zero, that is now your job.
In rural areas, even little dogs are struggling.
So let us fix in July, we will go to sign a new government in, a new leader, a new nation….
Beloved, this nation is God’s, what is God’s cannot be stopped by human beings.
Do you know a conductor?
CHAMISA ENDS HIS SPEECH
Terrence Mawawa
A senior ZRP cop has been implicated in an alleged Zanu PF election rigging ploy in Buhera District.
Chief Inspector Taingofa Matimbe was nearly beaten up by angry ruling party supporters who accused him of conspiring with Oliver Mandipaka, a former police officer, to rig the Buhera West Primary election s.
Mandipaka is hoping to retain the Buhera West Parliamentary Seat.
“Matimbe was spotted by alert party members as he attempted to stuff ballot boxes with fake papers.
This did not go down well with party members who mobbed him demanding an explanation for his actions.
Matimbe was then rescued by fellow police officers as the angry mob pursued him,” Zanu PF sources in Buhera said yesterday.
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo
The country’ s main opposition party, MDC will stretch it’s campaign trail to the rural areas of Chiredzi District, previously dubbed no go zones by the ruling party Zanu PF.
MDC has never won a Parliament Seat in the rural constituencies of Chiredzi.
The Masvingo MDC Alliance team will be led by Provincial Chairman James Gumbi.
The rallies have been scheduled as follows:
Chiredzi North
Friday 4th May 2018
Time: 10 am
Venue: Mareya Primary School
Chiredzi West
Friday (tomorrow evening) 4 th May 2018
Venue: ward 8 ( for wards 4 and 3)
5pm
Saturday 5th May 2018
Mwenezi
Venue : Neshuro
Time: 10am
Bikita South
Sunday 6 May 2018
Venue: Ngorima
Time: 10 am
Zaka East
Monday 7
Time: 10am
Venue: Chiredzana, ward 31.
Terrence Mawawa
President Emmerson Mnangagwa will soon lose control of the ruling party Zanu PF, a political analyst has said.
Political commentator and National People’s Party Spokesperson Jeffryson Chitando yesterday claimed the G-40 faction was totally in control of Zanu PF structures following the failure by Lacoste stalwarts to win the primary polls.
“One lesson the Mnangagwa led Lacoste Coup
masters must learn from the primary
elections is that G-40(NPF) is controlling the
party.
All well known G-40 members
who were allowed to contest won resoundingly against
Lacoste.
There is disaster ahead Mr Mnangagwa,” said Chitando.
Standby for the Nelson Chamisa rally beginning in next few minutes.
Will you hire Mutsvangwa as your Advisor?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 3, 2018
By Socrates Mumba | Just to remind you this Obert Gutu is Emmmerson Mnangagwa’s blood cousin. I wonder how you MDC people appointed such a man who is a Mnangagwa clan member. Where is your intelligence?
Now coming to this issue of office robberies, you must expect a dozen more coming, and more text messages from a South African number. I’m going to spill the beans detail by detail in the next few hours.
This is the same idiot who threatened to kill a woman based in South Africa via a threatening text message. This is how these people play with people’s minds to execute coups by winning public sympathy. In 2014 on the very day that he became vice president, Mnangagwa made a police report claiming that his office had been broken into and laced with cyanide poison. His two secretaries were hospitalized and it was later discovered that Ngwerewere maize meal is more (if in any way) “dangerous” than the so called cyanide found in his office. After that there were several other office breaks culminating to the Gwanda fake poisoning incident last year August. Anyway, if you don’t know Gutu yet, sit back and relax hamusati maona zvinorova!
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s special advisor, Christopher Mutsvangwa has written a strongly worded letter threatening party commissar Lieutenant-General (retired) Engelbert Rugeje that he will preside over a failed ZANU PF in this year’s polls.
Mutsvangwa signed the letter not as an Norton constituency candidate, but as the Presidential Advisor. The job post is not backed by the Constitution.
02 May 2018
Cde Engelbert Rugeje – ZANU PF NPC
This letter Is further to my cell phone call of 2nd May 2018 to you Engelbert Rugeje – NPC advising you that I was withdrawing from the polls. I unreservedly reject the results of the just held ZANU PF party polling in Norton. I refuse to accept your announcement of Langton Mutendereki as the winner.
The main reason being the unconstitutional use of the Zimbabwe state agency as election returning agents. These policemen were principal players uninhibited rigging as well as wholesale denial of the act of voting to legions of bona fide members.
Of particular note is that the cell register used for polling was illicitly compiled by Constance Shamu to solely further the illegal win of Langton Mutendereke. It is inconceivable that a politically active constituency such as Notion can only tender less than 4 000 votes This patently false picture would spell electoral danger in the upcoming National Elections
I am busy collating evidence to back up the charges I have submitted.
The government-owned main broadsheet, The Herald, has apologised for publishing articles in which it claimed that billion-dollar deals had been signed in the tourism sector.
The Herald now says only a Memorandum of Understanding for the exchange of information and collaboration was signed. The apology reads:
“On the 7th and 20th of April this year we published stories to the effect that Touchroad International Holdings Group signed deals worth billions of dollars in the tourism sector. It has come to our attention that no such deals were signed.
In fact, the Government of Zimbabwe and Touchroad International Holdings Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding for tourism and hospitality industry investment projects.
The purpose of the MoU was to establish a practical framework for the development of stronger cooperation relations between the two parties and to set forth the procedures of cooperation for the expansion of tourism and hospitality industry investment relations between Zimbabwe and China, strengthening of institutional relations and capacity building through mutual cooperation. They agreed to exchange information, collaboration, among other things. Any inconvenience caused to Touchroad International Holdings is sincerely regretted.”
By Paul Nyathi|Vice President of the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T Obert Gutu claims that he is getting continuous death threats on his mobile phone.
The former MDC-T Chamisa spokesperson revealed in a sensational Facebook post on Thursday that he feels unsafe due to the threats coming through from South African mobile numbers.
Coincidentally and ironically, Gutu is the same who once threatened to kill on a woman based in South Africa via a cellphone sms.
This time he claims he has received threats from South Africa.
“Over the past few months, I have been receiving death threats on my mobile phone from several South African – registered mobile phone numbers,” Gutu said.
Gutu left the MDC-T led by Nelson Chamisa with former Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe after refusing to accept Chamisa as a legal leader of the party.
Meanwhile, Gutu also claims that there was a break in at his law chambers on Wednesday night which he believes to be politically motivated.
According to Gutu the burglars brutally attacked the security guard at the firm leaving him for dead before ransacking the building and leaving without taking anything.
“There was a break – in at Negona Chambers around midnight on Wednesday, May 2,2018. More than ten (10) burglars armed with iron bars broke into our premises and severely assaulted the security guard who was on duty,” he said.
“The guard suffered very serious head injuries and we evacuated him to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
“The thugs vandalised the outside alarm system sensors and they also broke the kitchen door using iron bars.The timeous arrival of two (2) Safeguard Security reaction teams saved our security guard’s life since he had been left for dead.
“The thugs ran away without stealing anything.”
By Talent Gondo| Following the shambolic and highly disputed Zanu Pf primary elections which were marred by violence, intimidation and allegations of rigging and ballot stuffing, Zanu Pf supporters have taken their disgruntlement to the party’s headquarters in Harare where they are demonstrating threatening “Bhora Musango”.
Bhora Musango meaning kick the ball into the bush refers to the response used by Zanu Pf supporters to counter an election campaign by the former President Robert Mugabe dubbed “Bhora Mugedhi” meaning kick it into the goal nets in the 2008 elections.
The campaign is credited for the late MDC T leader’s victory over Mugabe in the March 2008 presidential elections, which resulted in a one man election race by Mugabe in what was described as one of the country’s bloodiest polls.
Frequently Asked Questions on Teachers Industrial Action
Thursday; 3 May 2018
*1. Why strike now?*
Conditions of service for teachers have been deteriorating since the last salary increment in 2012 which makes it more than 5 years ago. Efforts at engagement with government have yielded nothing with the employer showing lack of goodwill. In this light we are using the opening up of democratic space brought about by the demise of Robert Mugabe in November 2017 to exercise collective job action as set out in section 65 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
*2. Why not give the government time?*
The problems facing teachers especially in rural schools can not be deferred any further as they have reached a breaking point. There is need for urgent 100% salary increment, 75 % of salary rural allowance, restoration of vacation leave and safe schools. These are urgent matters that cannot be postponed any further.
*3. Why not give Apex Council & NJNC process a chance*
Firstly APEX Council was created as a voluntary negotiation platform for all civil servants sector unions. However, over the years it has been hijacked by government sponsored outfits and has since become improperly constituted rendering it illegal. In any event teachers constitute the bulk of civil servants and have since formed the Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Unions (FOZEU) to engage government. The NJNC was rendered null and void in 2013 when the new constitution was enacted. Thus we can not engage government through illegal platforms and hope to get binding deals. It is an exercise in futility.
*4. Where will government get the money*
The government as employer must mobilise the resources. In any event the government must prioritize expenditure of its resources rather than to blow money on worthless endeavours like buying posh cars and international trips.
*5. Are you not disadvantaging learners*
We are calling on all parents, guardians, learners and generality of Zimbabweans to stand with their teachers to save the education sector from total collapse. Unmotivated teachers cannot deliver the quality of education which our nation requires. We don’t even want to waste one day of learning as the task for government is simply that of meeting very minimal demands.
*6. Will teachers not be victimised*
We know the government will attempt to victimise teachers over their lawful actions using thuggish tactics. But we will protect our members through the law and by mass organisation ahead of the full blown strike. Further we will press the government to abide by the provisions of the Constitution which is the supreme law of the land. The constitution provides for the right to collective industrial action and this is what we will [email protected]
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By Talent Gondo|The Zimbabwe Rural Teachers Union (ZRTU) says it will not join the planned industrial action which has been declared by other teachers union bodies when schools open next week saying that the body’s membership have resolved to give dialogue and negotiations with their employer a chance.
Vice President of the ZRTU, Gibson Muhlangu said rural teachers will report for duty when schools open on May 9 pending the organisation’s meeting with government slated for May 11 2018.
“Rural teachers will report for duty when schools open and we are not going to join the industrial strike,” said Muhlangu.
He said the outcome of the May 11 meeting would however determine whether rural teachers will join the strike or not.
“Teachers have gone for half a decade without a salary increase and it is a known fact that inflation has eroded the current salaries that they are getting,” he said.
Muhlangu however said one of the reasons why rural teachers were not joining the planned industrial action was to give dialogue a chance following the April 20 meeting with their employer whose outcome will be communicated two days after schools open.
“We are meeting the employer on May 11 and this is only two days after schools open.
“We are therefore reporting for duty because our course of action will be determined by what is going to be communicated to us when we meet government at our scheduled meeting,” he said.
Muhlangu said rural teachers were unhappy with their salaries, rural allowances and the issue of leave days hence they had tabled their demands to government last month.
“We will give government the benefit of doubt thereafter we will map the way forward and know whether we will down our tools or not.
“Whatever they tell us will be the point of departure for our actions,” he said.
The statement by the body which represents some of the rural teachers comes amid declarations by most of the teachers’ union bodies including the Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Union (FOZEU), the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union (ZIMTA), Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union (ARTU), Zimbabwe National Teachers’ Union (ZINATU), Zimbabwe Democratic Teachers Union (ZDTU) and Professional Educators’ Union of Zimbabwe (PEUZ) indicating that teachers will embark on a nationwide strike when schools open next week.
By Talent Gondo|The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of a possible influx of Mozambican refugees in Zimbabwe following indications that there are already over 6 000 refugees camped at the buffer zone between the two countries waiting to be relocated to Tongogara Camp in Chipinge.
The WFP reports that the number of refugees who have entered Zimbabwe increased in 2017 due to violent clashes between the Mozambican government forces and Renamo.
Reports also indicate that there is renewed insecurity in the Kasai Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a development which could also increase the number of refugees in the country.
WFP Country Director, Eddie Rowe revealed that the country could experience serious health challenges due to the influx of refugees adding that there is need to ensure targeted interventions to redress this challenge.
Rowe said this while responding to questions during an event to mark one year of progress under the WFP Zimbabwe’s five-year strategic plan in Harare (Monday).
“If nothing is done, the situation could lead to serious health problems ranging from malnutrition due to food shortages and water and sanitation-related diseases,” he said.
“Tongogara refugee camp may not be able to handle the increased number of refugees,” he said.
FULL download of latest results table (clock to download)
In perhaps the battle of all battles, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s top aides have been defeated in the just ended primary polls.
The Lacoste casualities are: Minister in charge of Public Service in the President’s Office Simbarashe Mumbengegwi lost to Larry Mavima in the Zvishavane Runde Senatorial poll. Larry Mavima is a close ally to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and is crdited as one of the people behind Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to power.
Matabeleland South provincial affairs minister Abednico Ncube lost to former ZBC journalist Omphile Marupi in the Gwanda South primaries.
Ministry of State in the Presidents’ Office Responsible for National Scholarships Christopher Mushohwe lost to Teedzyi Muchimwe in Mutare West.
Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development Mike Bimha lost to Dr John Mangwiro in Chivhu’s Chikomba West constituency.
Former Cabinet Minister and Zanu-PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Paul Munyaradzi Mangwana lost out to Ephraim Gwanongodza in Chivi Central.
Zanu-PF Youth League Deputy Secretary Lewis Matutu was massacred and lost by more than 4 000 (four thousand) votes to Dumezweni Mawite Mpofu in the Zvishavane Runde poll.
Former Minister of Lands and Resettlement lost to Douglas Mombeshora lost Precious Chinhamo Masango in Mhangura.
Avowed supporter of President Emmerson Mnangagwa Energy Mutodi defeated incumbent Biata Nyamupinga in Goromonzi West.
Though not high profile, Vice President General (retired) Constantino Chiwenga’s mother-in-law Helga Mubaiwa lost out to Munyaradzi Maworesa Kashambe in Seke.
LATEST: 4.50 pm – Mt Darwin voting began at 2pm …still ongoing.
(4pm) – Voting temporarily stopped at Cesear polling station in Mazowe (SEE MAZOWE UPDATE)
ZimEye brings our valued readers and viewers on the spot short updates from the ZANU PF Primaries around the country.
Voting in Mount Darwin South started at around 2 pm with the process very low as polling officials and coordinators were forced to improvise ballot boxes as they were in short supply. Names of many candidates were not on the ballot papers.
Candidate steps down after citing massive rigging which included the setting up of a polling station at a rival’s private residence. SEE BELOW:
In Zvimba South, rival supporters clashed after accusations of vote buying. Richard Ndhlovu brought food for his supporters and this was deemed as vote buying by his rival, reports the Zim Peace Project.
4pm –
Voting temporarily stopped at Cesear polling station in Mazowe west after only 500ballots had been brought against an electorate of over 1 500.
Voting also temporarily stopped at BlueRidge polling station in Mazowe west after 200 voters failed to cast ballot because their were not on the voters’ roll
Kazembe Kazembe agents reported to police over shocking political violence.
Machando allegedly rigged the Chirumanzu Zibagwe polls.
People reportedly exchanged blows in Mvuma town this morning. Police confirmation of report filing was awaited at the time of writing.
1900Hr – ZANU PF announces that results cannot be announced today as voting is still underway. Voting to continue into tomorrow.
0800Hr – The results will be published from around 5pm today, Sunday.
REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR THE UPDATES
By Talent Gondo|Only 22 female legislators have made it in Zanu Pf primary elections to represent their party in the forthcoming 2018 harmonised polls.
The polls, marred by violence, intimidation, allegations of ballot stuffing and rigging saw some of the provinces such as Mashonaland Central failing to elect even a single woman to contest for the position of member of parliament in the next elections.
In Harare and Bulawayo metropolitan provinces, Betty Kaseke and Maidei Mpala are the only two that made it, according to a list released by the party glimpsed by ZimEye.
Some of the few women that made it are Nokutula Matsikenyere who is going to contest for the Manicaland seat, Nancy Saungwe for Mutare Central, Siphiwe Mupfungaidze for Marondera West, Irene Sekai Nzenza representing Chikomba East, Mhangura’s Precious Masango.
Mary Mliswa is set to contest Hurungwe West, Berita Chikwama for Gutu East, Stembiso Nyoni for Nkayi North, Stembile Gumbo for Lupane East, Mwenezi West will be contested by Priscilla Moyo, Chirumanzu contested by Babra Rwodzi, Chido Sanyatwe for Nyanga North, Mabel Chinomona for Mutoko North, Yeukai Simbanegavi for Gutu North, Ntokozisi Manoki Mpofu for Silobela and Ruth Manungo Mabhoyi will contest Beitbridge West.
Below is the full list of the candidates that made it in the Zanu Pf primary elections.
By Paul Nyathi|The Minister Of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa says that smoking of mbanje remains illegal besides the new government regulations on the production of the weed.
In a statement on Wednesday, Parirenyatwa said that the thrust for legalising its production is specifically for medicinal and industrial purposes and not recreational smoking of the drug.
“Possession of cannabis other than for medicinal or scientific purposes is therefore still illegal in Zimbabwe. For emphasis, licencing is imperative for medicinal or industrial cannabis use,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
He said those licensed to produce cannabis will be doing so under very strict regulations.
These include operating under cameras to ensure that they do not abuse their trust by using the drug for any other purposes other than those stipulated in the law.
In Zimbabwe manje controlled under the Dangerous Drugs Act (Chapter 15:02) and the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act (Chapter 9:23) and is treated as a prohibited drug for recreational purposes.
Dr Parirenyatwa said the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 62 of 2018 on production of Cannabis for medicinal and scientific use outline the requirements for one to be licensed.
It also specifies the conditions to be fulfilled for one to grow cannabis, process and export the plant and its products.
He said the type of cannabis that Government was promoting is called sativa sativa, which has enormous benefits both industrial and medicinal but less narcotic.
Dr Parirenyatwa said Government values contributions from all its stakeholders and will continue consulting on the issue as the industry grows.
“Government will use a multi-sectoral approach to coordinate and regulate this industry as it develops.
This will include health, industry, agriculture, home affairs, customs, academia and the private sector, among others.
“These regulations do not therefore mean that this is a free for all in growing and processing hemp. You have to be licensed,” he said.
Asked on the rationale behind the $50 000 licensing fee for one to grow hemp, Dr Parirenyatwa said Government considered the potential of income revenue to be generated in the industry.
