Former Police boss Augustine Chihuri is missing at parliament house Friday morning, a development that (at 9.45am) left the Chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio for Mines And Energy exclaiming how “is it that, the former Commissioner General is not known where he is?” – WATCH THE LIVE coverage here:

WATCH ! LIVE Parliamentary Proceedings today on ZimEye.com from 9am

 

Government is working on a Command Housing project to expand housing facilities in old townships and areas to ease congestion.

The idea mooted by President Emmerson Mnangagwa is aimed at elevating families from bad conditions and has already been adopted by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing as part of its 100 day strategies.
Responding to questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday during a question and answer session, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo said the Government was aware of the squalid living conditions in some suburbs.

“There are a lot of our people who are living under extreme conditions of pressure from lack of adequate accommodation, crowded accommodation and dilapidated accommodation, some of it dating way back to the early days of colonialism.

Government is very aware of this situation and we are saying, as we plan ahead, the President has said, let us have a Command Housing programme which does not only looks at housing expansion in new areas but looking at old townships or old areas where our people lived and see how we can uplift that housing pressure,” said Min Moyo.

He said plans for the launch of a housing programme that does not only focus on new houses were at an advanced stage.

“We are advanced in planning for the launch of a housing programme that will take care of not only the new houses but, also concentrating on building flats so that we do not continue to gobble arable land.

Also at the same time, looking at those old areas and see whether we can go and either put flats so that we can build better and more accommodation in areas that are restricted without too much expansion,” Min Moyo told Parliament.
He said the plan will also will lessen pressure on sewerage and on water supply because they will not be expanding.

“The way we were now building our accommodation was just expanding too far, the local authorities cannot afford to pay for the services. So, I want to thank the honourable member for raising this issue which Government is looking at very seriously in order to alleviate the problems that our people are facing,” said Min Moyo.

“I cannot give a timetable as to exactly when we will be alleviating all these. But, let us not also forget that every city, Kadoma included, Bulawayo, Masvingo and Mutare, where you have had all these old accommodation, some of which we call misana yenzou, we need to pay attention to that.”

He said they were engaging local authorities on the programme so that they do not forget about all these areas where dilapidation has taken place. – state media

A 31-year-old Harare woman has been jailed 20 years effective for facilitating the trafficking of five Zimbabwean women to Kuwait where they were turned into slaves and prostitutes.

Norest Maruma, the ring leader of the trafficking gang, was in December convicted on five counts of contravening the Trafficking in Persons Act by magistrate Mr Lazini Ncube who could not pass sentence because his jurisdiction is limited.

In Zimbabwe, crimes of this nature attract a penal provision of life imprisonment or more than 10 years per count.

This prompted Mr Ncube to refer the matter to the High Court for sentencing where Justice Tawanda Chitapi yesterday slapped her with a combined 50 years in jail after sentencing her to 10 years in prison on each count.

However, counts one to three are to run concurrently as well as four and five which are also going to run concurrently, leaving her with a 20-year jail term.

When he convicted her, Mr Ncube ruled that there were no special circumstances in her case to warrant the court to dis­regard the mandatory sentence.

In his ruling, Mr Ncube said Maruma, in submitting special circumstances, said she was also a victim of human trafficking.

“It is clear that the victims were trafficked on different dates and for money,” he said.
“The fact that she was a victim who turned perpetrator is aggravating,” he said.
Maruma is the first person to be sent to jail in the Kuwait human trafficking saga that left several women stranded in March 2016 after being lured to the Middle East country on the pretext that they were going to be offered lucrative jobs.
Maruma acted as a local agent.

Prosecutor Ms Francesca Mukumbiri said Maruma trafficked eight people, but the State only managed to get hold of five.

One of the victims narrated to the court how she worked with another woman from another African country as slaves, but the woman later died.
She told the court that their master kept the corpse in the house.

In aggravation, Ms Mukumbiri said Maruma’s moral blameworthiness was high taking into account that she was once a victim of human trafficking before she was roped in as an agent by the syndicate.

“After she had also been duped, she went further to recruit other unsuspecting victims to Kuwait promising them jobs as waitresses only for them to discover that they had been duped after being placed in refrigerated rooms in Kuwait.

“After she trafficked the women, they called her for help, but she threatened them saying they should continue working.

“She met some of her victims at the embassy who beat her up and instead of being apologetic, she told them that there was nothing special about being trafficked because even rotten meat is sold.
“Some of the victims were forced into prostitution and they are suffering the after effects, which include trauma and diseases,” Ms Mukumbiri said.

Ms Mukumbiri said, “Your Worship, the offence she committed is serious and she deserves to be severely punished.”

In 2014, a 62-year-old cross-border trader, Jessica Mahuni, who recruited two Zimbabwean women to work in Angola before forcing them into prostitution was jailed for one-and-a-half years.

Mahuni was given a lighter sentence because the Trafficking in Persons Act had not been enacted then and she was convicted of violating Section 83 of the Criminal Codification and Reform Act, which prohibits leaving the country with the intention that the other person may become a prostitute.

Ms Mukumbiri proved that between December 2015 and March 2016, Maruma unlawfully and intentionally recruited unsuspecting victims to Kuwait using facebook and WhatsApp.

She misrepresented to the complainants that housemaids in Kuwait were paid $750, before sending them pictures of some girls she said were well paid in Kuwait.
The victims sent their medical examinations and police clearance to Maruma and communication was through the WhatsApp number.

Soon after the victims arrived in Kuwait, their passports were taken away by their employers and they fell into slavery and exploitation.

They would work for more than 22 hours a day without rest and were called “Khadama”, which means slave.

They were not allowed to communicate with anyone. -state media

A grade 4 pupil died on Thursday morning after being mauled by four vicious dogs on Wednesday in Beitbridge.

It is understood that the girl was attacked by the dogs along Arcacia Drive while coming from school at around 4pm.

“She was taken to hospital and was in the intensive care unit where she died this morning. The matter was then reported to the police,” said a source close to the case.

The deceased name is yet to be established.

According to sources, the girl was attacked by the dogs which had strayed from a house in the low density suburbs of Beitbridge.

The police officer commanding Beitbridge Chief Superintendent Francis Phiri said the matter was still under investigations.

“We received such a report and are still conducting investigations,” he said.- state media

A Zimbabwean man based in South Africa slit his ex-wife’s throat, kept the body in his room  before hanging himself in his employer’s office three days later.

Bekithemba Moyo (27), from Gonde Village in Plumtree killed Portia Ndlovu (22) of Diba area in Plumtree on Saturday after she refused to give him a second chance having ditched her himself.

He murdered her in a cottage within his employer’s home. The couple have a one-year-old son.

The finding of Moyo’s lifeless body in his employer’s office led to the discovery of Ndlovu’s naked and decomposing body which lay in a mass of dried blood in his bedroom at his employer’s home.

Zimbabwe’s consul general to South Africa, Mr Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro, yesterday confirmed the incident but said he would comment further today after getting more details.

A source close to the tragedy said Ndlovu left a relative’s home to meet Moyo, after he had called her to collect some money for their child’s upkeep.

“We suspect he killed her on that very night and kept the body inside his room. On Monday he left for work with his employer, returned and actually slept with the body in his room. Again, his employer informed us that they went to work at his factory premises near Bramley Police Station.

“When they arrived home that evening, Moyo asked for the factory keys, claiming he had forgotten something. Realising he had taken too long to return, his employer tried phoning him but he was unreachable. He decided to drive back to office, only to find Moyo hanging from the roof of one of his offices,” said the source.

The matter was reported to police and Moyo’s family was contacted.

Moyo and Ndlovu’s cellphones, were found smashed to pieces next to his body.

Sources said Ndlovu’s family read the news of Moyo’s death on social media, prompting them to become curious about her whereabouts.

“On Wednesday morning both Moyo and Ndlovu’s families went to his employer’s home. A bad smell alerted them of the grisly killing as they approached his bedroom. Ndlovu’s throat was cut open and her body was covered with a blanket.”

“Moyo, we are told, dumped Ndlovu in January and told her to return to her parents. The couple had fought constantly with Moyo having sent Portia packing on many occasions,” said the source.

“He threw her out of the house many times but after she had finally abided by his order and left him in January, he began to stalk her through WhatsApp, begging her to return to him.”

The source said it was sad that Moyo had killed Ndlovu after she had picked herself up and had moved on.

“Moyo thought Portia would crumble after leaving him but when he saw her glowing and happy, he began to communicate with her, threatening her. On many occasions he phoned her demanding that she stops putting her new boyfriend, Lucky, on her WhatsApp profile.”

The source said her family had started searching for Ndlovu frantically, when they received news of Moyo’s suicide.

“They were shaken. They contacted Moyo’s family, informing them that Ndlovu was missing.

“On Wednesday morning they discovered her body in Moyo’s bedroom,” said the source

ZCTU – Our Anti Corruption Demonstration against ZESA CORRUPTION has been banned by the ZRP. The Police overstretched the import of a High Court order ZESA got in another matter that is before the Supreme Court.

The United States Ambassador met President Emmerson Mnangagwa to bid farewell.

 

Farewell call on H.E. President Mnangagwa – confident that bilateral relations are on a better footing @usembassyharare pic.twitter.com/pTRShJ8Hca

— Amb Harry K. Thomas (@harrykthomasjr1) March 22, 2018

Police in Bulawayo yesterday reportedly declined to open a genocide docket against former President Robert Mugabe after members of the Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) sought to have him charged for Gukurahundi massacres.

The secessionist party wanted to lay a formal criminal charge against Mugabe in terms of Section 98 (2) of the Constitution after the former Zanu PF leader was quoted as saying the Gukurahundi massacres “were necessary”.

MRP official Mxolisi Mhlanga, said officer commanding Bulawayo west district, Chief Superintendent Mthokozisi Manzini-Moyo, declined to open a genocide docket against Mugabe, saying they only deal with cases of murder.

“We were told genocide is too big for police and what we can do is go to the office of the prosecution and lay a charge. We even asked about the High Court, they told us we should start with the smaller court going up with the hierarchy till we reach the top. We are going to fight anyway,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Precious Simango, said she was unaware of the MRP issue.

In a related development, Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa has threatened to demand a review of his 1983 treason trial alongside the late Zipra commander Lookout Masuku, to dispel claims that the former liberation party was to blame for the Gukurahundi massacres.

The treason trial revolved around the discovery, in February 1982, of arms caches on a property owned by Zapu with Mugabe’s government accusing Zipra combatants of plotting to overthrow him.
The discovery was the final straw that torched off the Gukurahundi mass killings in Matabeleland and Midlands which left over 20 000 civilians dead.

Dabengwa and Masuku were later acquitted of treason charges in April 1983, but immediately rearrested and detained until Masuku’s death in 1986.

In July last year, Dabengwa formed the Dumiso Dabengwa Foundation (DDF) to, among other things, push for restorative justice for the Gukurahundi and political violence victims in the country dating back to 1980.

On Tuesday, the foundation announced that it was reviewing the treason trial evidence to ostensibly prove that the discovery of the arms cache was used as a cover up to deploy the North Korean-trained Five Brigade on innocent civilians.

“Due to the persistent argument that Gukurahundi was in response to a cache of arms meant to overthrow government by Zipra; The DDF will be reviewing the treason trial evidence, exhibits and judgment of its patron Dabengwa, his friend Lookout Masuku and five others,” the DDF said in a statement.

“The purpose of such a review will be to prove that the arms cache had nothing to do with overthrowing the government and that those tried for treason were acquitted. Perpetrators of Gukurahundi must then give another explanation for Gukurahundi …”

Mugabe last week denied responsibility for the 1980’s mass killings, arguing: “Zapu and Zipra are also to blame.” He also questioned the 20 000 deaths resulting from the mass killings.

In January, Dabengwa told a dialogue forum to discuss Gukurahundi in Bulawayo that the mass killings were planned as way back as 1979.

Dabengwa said Mugabe and President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other army generals were told during the Lancaster House talks that Zapu and Zipra were “enemies of the State” that had to be dealt with after the 1980 elections, culminating in the Gukurahundi massacres. Newsday

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) constitutional law lecturer and opposition politician, Lovemore Madhuku, has challenged the decision to deny him the post of dean of the faculty of law at the institution.
The National Constitutional Assembly leader last week wrote to UZ registrar Noah Mutongoreni, demanding reasons for his failure to be appointed, arguing the person who succeeded did not meet the requirements of the job as advertised.

“Thank you for your letter dated March 7, 2018, informing me that my above application was not successful. I have since become aware that Dr Innocent Maja’s application was successful.

“I, hereby, advise that the decision communicated in your aforesaid letter adversely affects my interests and legitimate expectations. For the avoidance of doubt, my legitimate expectation when I applied and participated in the interview was to succeed if, on a reasonable consideration, (that) I met the requirements as stated in ordinance 44 and captured in the advertisement and no other candidate had a better claim,” Madhuku said.

Madhuku argues that the Constitution confers on him the right to be furnished with reasons for his failure in terms of section 3(1) (c) of the Administrative Justice Act (Chapter 10:28) as read with section 68 of the Constitution in order for him to ascertain whether the UZ acted “lawfully, reasonably and in a fair manner”.

The letter goes on to list Madhuku’s qualifications juxtaposed with the requirements of the job for which he applied.

“I meet the requirements stated in ordinance 44 and captured in the advertisement (that includes) earned doctorate. I obtained my PhD in March 1999 from the University of Cambridge, England. Eminent senior academic, this requirement is in section 3(2) of ordinance 44. I have been a full professor since 2011. Properly construed, only an associate or full professor meets this criterion,” he said.

Madhuku then pokes holes into Maja’s suitability for the job, arguing that while he had an earned doctorate degree, he falls short on the other requirements.

“Thus, a person without an earned doctorate could not qualify even if they had an excellent vision,” the letter said, adding by virtue of the fact that Maja is not a professor, therefore, he cannot be described as an “eminent academic”. Newsday

Terrence Mawawa

A senior Zanu PF official in Gweru has declared that those who insist on wearing party regalia emblazoned with former President Robert Mugabe’ s face will be expelled from the revolutionary party.

Zanu PF Provincial Spokesperson for Midlands, Cornelius Mupereri last week ordered party members to desist from wearing regalia emblazoned with Mugabe’s face.

“Those who continue wearing the former President’ s regalia are counter revolutionary elements.

We will not tolerate rogue elements in the party. We will certainly weed out such culprits because they want to create confusion,” said Mupereri.

Former minister of State Security Didymus Mutasa, reported to be broke and failing to take care of his family, made headlines trying to secure a meeting with former president Robert Mugabe during his days in power. Mutasa who first joined Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People’s First Party, fell out with her, later on endorsing publicly the nomination of former minister Sydney Sekeramayi should be succeed Mugabe.

Mutasa last month told ZimEye.com in an interview he would readily go back to Zanu PF under the new head, Mnangagwa. AUDIO:

The local Daily News in a new twist reports that Mutasa has turned down an invitation to join the newly-formed National Patriotic Front (NPF), saying it is nothing but a tribal party doing the bidding for deposed ex-president, Robert Mugabe.

A former close ally of Mugabe, the country’s first black Speaker of Parliament told the Daily News yesterday that he would rather stay in retirement than join the NPF because it was no different from Zanu PF.

Mutasa, 82, had a private meeting with NPF leader, retired brigadier-general Ambrose Mutinhiri at his residence in Harare, sending the rumour mill into  overdrive amid speculation that the former Marondera West legislator had convinced him to join the new political formation.

“It is true that I met Mutinhiri, but I am not yet their member. I am there for the people to consult. I meet anyone from Tendai Biti to Nelson Chamisa but that does not mean I will be joining them,” Mutasa told the Daily News.

“I think there is no big difference between the two parties — Zanu PF and the NPF. The party is tribalistic. This is a party that is looking at a particular region and not the whole country,” he added.

While Mugabe has denied any involvement in the new political outfit, Mutasa — who worked closely with him from the 1970s to 2014 when they fell out — insisted yesterday that the former president was the brains behind the political outfit.

Presently, Mutinhiri and NPF spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire are the only two political figures that have nailed their NPF colours to the mast although it is believed that the majority of those who belonged to the Generation 40 (G40) faction, which was resistant to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s succession bid, could be working for the NPF behind the scenes.

On its part, the NPF has publicly declared it has the blessings of Mugabe, claims that have riled Zanu PF which regards the 94-year-old’s machinations as meant to divide its votes ahead of make-or-break elections around June/July.

Mugabe has insisted that his removal last November was illegal and is accusing Mnangagwa of having betrayed him.

Mutasa told the Daily News that Mugabe was being hoisted with his own petard, considering how he manipulated the law during his 37 years of misrule.

“It will take long to see Mugabe; he called me a donkey, he said so many bad things about me. If I forgive him, I will then engage him but not now. It is sad that he now sees that the people who are now leading are doing what he used to do when he was still in power. He doesn’t want people to do what he used to do to them. Why is he interfering in politics, he deserves what he is getting, he is the one throwing the stones at the kids, the kids didn’t go to his home,” said Mutasa.

Critics accuse Mugabe of running down the country and spawning poverty through his populist policies, human and property rights abuses that provoked the ire of western countries that went on to isolate the landlocked southern African country.

Unemployment in Zimbabwe is still high and cash shortages persist despite Mnangagwa’s spirited attempts at breathing life in an otherwise panting economy.

Since his second coming into politics — Mugabe has invited the scorn and umbrage of his former party — with some sections now agitating for his expulsion from Zanu PF despite Mnangagwa’s vow to “uphold his legacy”.

At the dawn of the new dispensation, many thought Mutasa would retrace his footsteps back to Zanu PF.

He, however, told the Daily News last year that he was still looking at what Mnangagwa has to offer.

“Zanu PF is not as strong as it used to be right now but whether they win the elections depends on what they do, if it was still active they would win, they have strong winning points, they now know the person who was causing trouble in Zanu PF and that would be an entry point,” said Mutasa.

“But right now, I am no longer actively involved, I am looking at what is happening across the country in all political parties but it will not lead to a truly democratic society, who will take us there, that’s is the question, if Mnangagwa holds free and fair elections I will praise him for that, I will salute him. I am sure he is capable because he has succeeded in doing things that he has set himself to do.”

Meanwhile, Mawarire was not amused by claims by Mutasa that the NPF was a tribal formation.

He said the party abhors tribalism; something he said was familiar in Zanu PF.

“As NPF, we are building a national platform not a tribal citadel. We are patriots who don’t identify with tribes or any such narrow ascription meant to divide our people. We leave tribal politics to Zanu PF with its blatant nepotism that has yielded a village Cabinet now referred to as Moyo, Sibanda, Shumba and associates,” he said.

“We have built our party on the basis of skill and competency not some primitive tribal or ethnic consideration. Right now, the two members of the executive that have come out in the open . . . Ambrose and I, are we both Zezuru? Not that we care about ethnic or tribal origins, but if we were to even entertain their tribal arguments, I come from Masvingo and Mutinhiri comes from Mashonaland East. Does that make both of us Zezuru?

“We haven’t as yet publicised the full complement of our young and vibrant national executive yet tribalists have already started making tribal remarks about people they are not even aware of. That should show you that those making such allegations are the real tribalists who have no place in a national and patriotic movement (such) as ours,” said Mawarire.

Terrence Mawawa

Officials at Tongaat Hullet have expressed dismay at the manner in which Retired Army Major Faster Gono is wreaking havoc at the company.

Gono is the secretary general of the Zimbabwe Sugar Milling industry Workers Union.

Gono told shocked officials last week he was prepared to instruct members of the union to burn the company’ s sugarcane plots as a way of protesting at the failure by Tongaat to address workers’ grievances.

“Gono is causing mayhem here.We do not know what to do because he says he is above the law.

Last week he threatened to instigate members of his union to set ablaze our sugarcane plots,” said a senior Tongaat official.

Last week Gono accused Tongaat officials of exploiting workers.

By Farai D Hove| MDC member Yvonne Musarurwa had her moment of relief today as she went out of prison for the first time. She had been serving a 20 year sentence on trumped up charges of killing a police officer in Glen View in 2011. She was jailed together with Last Maengahama, and Tungamirai Madzokere, for killing Police Inspector Petros Mutedzi. The three were convicted of murder on the basis of the doctrine of common purpose with actual intent, and the judge used his discretion to spare Madzokere and Maengahama the hang man’s noose. She has been released as part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s special amnesty which should have really excluded her since she was on a murder charge, perhaps a sign that the new Head Of State is different from his predecessor Robert Mugabe. PICTURE CAPTION: Yvonne, is the one at the back (right).

By Paul Nyathi

Perrenially corrupt Municipality of Gwanda councillor for Ward 9 Councillor Thulani Moyo has yet again found himself embroiled in a scam involving illegal sale of stands.

A report to the Town Clerk of Gwanda produced by the Gwanda Residents Association and made available to ZimEye.com, indicates that the councillor who is chairman of the council Housing Committee connived with a representative of a land developer to swindle four women of a total of $14 000.

According to the report the councillor and Alpha Construction, falsified council records to accord the company four stands allegedly belonging to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and sold them outside council regulations to the four unsuspecting women.

Throughout the dealings on the stands, the report indicates that the council Housing and Community Services Department was deliberately and carefully avoided so that the scam would not be detected.

The woman were allegedly made to pay land development fees of a further $1 300 directly to the council Treasury Department in a carefully executed move under the instructions of Alpha Construction who owned thirty six other stands in the same area.

Alpha Construction is owned by aspiring ZANU PF candidate for Chivi South Constituency Jonathan Gapare who owns land in several towns and also runs a hotel in the constituency.

The residents rights group states that it has evidence of at least $7 000 which was transferred between a representative of Alpha Construction and the councillor immediately after the stands were paid for.

In an attempt to cover the matter, the report indicates that Gapare had offered the women alternative stands in Beitbridge, some 200kms away from Gwanda.

Commenting on the matter, councillor Moyo said that the allegations against him are false and attempts at smearing him ahead of the harmonised elections as he is seeking re-election.

“I don’t know how I am said to be involved in this issue,” said councillor Moyo.

“What I know is that I referred one of the ladies to the Housing and Community Services Department more than five times when she came to me looking for a stand after they had sold a family house to build seperate new houses,” he said.

“Alpha Construction are the ones who called me to say they had stands for sale and looking for buyers to which I referred the lady and showed her the area where the stands were.”

“I met with the lady later and she told me she had got the stands from Alpha and they had paid council for the land value before even paying the service fees to Alpha,” he added.

“I don’t see where my name is being brought in on this matter, its just cheap politics meant to tarnish my name because I never received a cent on the deal. I was only helping the ladies to get stands,” said councillor Moyo.

Moyo has on two previous occasions been brought to courts on similar charges after he sold stands to two different people and failed to reimburse them their monies.

Before being a councillor, he served a prison term on other dishonesty cases involving his previous employer.

Shortly after the 2013 elections he was involved in another squabble with Minister Obert Mpofu when he swindled him of thousands of dollars also in property dealings involving commercial stands in Gwanda.

Mayor of Gwanda Councillor Knowledge Ndlovu confirmed the matter and said the issue is in the hands of the police.

“We have done our part as council the case is with the police we hope they will do their part so that everyone is happy at the end of the day,” said Ndlovu.

Gwanda Residents Association Secretary General Bekezela Fuzwayo said that his Association had completed its investigations and handed the matter over to council for actioning.

“We have gathered overwhelming evidence of massive corruption and fraud involving the councillor and probable other council officials and handed this over to the Mayor for action,” he said.

“If council decides to sit on the matter we will certainly take it up with the Minister of Local Government,” he said.

“Our evidence shows that its definitely not only those four stands but a lot more stands that appear to have been illegally sold while they remain hidden in the name of the Defence Forces in council records,” he added.

President Chamisa Hails Establishment Of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).

I hail the signing of the Kigali Declaration on the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area at the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the Assembly of the African Union in Kigali, Rwanda.

This is a progressive way forward. We cannot allow colonial boundaries and prejudices to keep us apart anymore. It is a generational mandate that we shake off the yoke of colonialism and imperialism, and start to do business on our own, in our own terms.

Gone are the days that Africa is a source of raw materials but fails to process and manufacture its own goods.

The one remaining challenge on our continent is to do with disputed elections, neglected citizens, conflict and violence.

I do hope and pray that the spirit of unity and progress exhibited by our leaders, will be reinforced in individual nations, where communities are broken and hurt. You cannot unite a continent made up of broken countries.

Let us work for the healing and unity of our nations, together we can build a prosperous, border free continent, with one currency, in which no citizen will feel like a stranger.

I salute President Paul Kagame for a job well done, in hosting the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the Assembly of the African Union. Rwanda one of the last borns of Africa, who suffered so much pain and tears, is not known or characterised by what she suffered, rather, she is hailed as a trailblazer in leadership, excellence of organisation and role model on the continent.

The historic signing of the Continental Free Trade Area agreement confirms Africa’s time is now. Without doubt this epic development will help catapult and boost trade within the continent and beyond.

Indeed this is the time for Africa!

God bless Africa

Nelson Chamisa
President
Movement For Democratic Change

Dear Editor,

The Herald Editor must have been excited thinking that he was exposing former President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade Robert Mugabe and former First Lady Grace Mugabe with the story titled “Mugabe admits to externalising funds” published in the 22 February 2018 issue of the newspaper.

While that exposure is useful information, it is an exposure of the personality of Emmerson Mnangagwa, who left out some names from the list whose publication he caused recently. The world will now be asking “who else was left out”?

Importantly, how does Emmerson Mnangagwa hope to fight corruption when he has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he protects the corrupt? Shall we believe anything he has said before as he sought to win the hearts of Zimbabweans? Who is Emmerson Mnangagwa trying to fool?

I have said it a few times that this Emmerson Mnangagwa is dull, and the people of Zimbabwe, irrespective of political affiliation, must show him we have been fooled well enough, and cannot be fooled anymore by Zanu PF leaders. Even Zanu PF members themselves must realise that their leader is a scam and consider replacing him as their Presidential candidate. In developed countries, such cover up for corruption is something that would cause a President to resign, but knowing as we do that Comrade Mnangagwa will not do that, let us help him by voting him out in the coming elections. He is too old to manage the affairs of the country. People are forced to retire at 65 years because their capacity is failing and they need a break, so why should there be an exception for Comrade Mnangagwa.

After publication of the admission by the Mugabes, we want the Herald to publish more names of the Zanu PF heavyweights who externalised funds.

Kennedy Kaitano

By Paul Nyathi

The Mayor of Harare Councillor Ben Manyenyeni has challenged young aspiring leaders not only to use their age cry to remove the older leaders but to come in and be able to carry out the responsibilities.

In a sensational Facebook post on Thursday morning, Manyenyeni called on political parties to choose the best young leaders to contest the elections.

The Mayor’s full post reads as follows:

I would say 20% youth quota is fine but my plea being the youth are earning this quota not just by virtue of delayed arrival on mother earth.

There is a failed job to be rescued – a country to be salvaged and a whole new future to be secured – competence and capacity will be required – critically.

The pressure on the youth should really be how do they get their quotas filled by an able and competent younger generation.

It would be a betrayal of the quota mandate if this is used just to escape the poverty datum line without delivering a NEW Zimbabwe through competent leadership.

My message to my younger compatriots replacing some of us in stations of service (not of power) be sure you are good at it and if at all possible you are the best there is for MP or for Councillor.

It’s about US not you.

It’s about what NEEDS to be done not who WANTS to be it.

It is NOT your quota to “eat”.

I would love to say this one more time before the parties and individuals make their decisions on candidates for our forthcoming elections.

Good luck fellows.

By Paul Nyathi

The Minister Of Health And Child Care Doctor David Parirenyatwa on Wednesday snubbed parliament question time leaving Members of the House of Assembly angry at his behaviour.

The Minister made a brief appearance in the house and reportedly went out “to see somebody” and never returned.

Parliamentarians were eager to interrogate the minister on the on going doctors strike and the dire situation at government run health centres.

MDC-T Member of Parliament for Bulawayo Central Honourable Dorcas Sibanda sort from the Acting Speaker of the National Assembly why the Minister had walked in and immediately out well knowing that the house had issues with him.

“The Hon. Minister of Health and Child Welfare was here briefly and vanished.  Maybe you highlight on where he has gone to because we still have questions for him,” Honourable Sibanda quizzed.

“The Minister of Health and Child Welfare came to me and indicated that he was just walking out and he is coming back. He has gone out to see somebody. In any case, he is coming to make a Ministerial Statement,” the Acting Speaker ruled.

Besides his commitment to come back in time, the Minister failed to turn up as scheduled only to return to parliament when the house was adjourning after it had lost a quorum some three hours later.

His promised ministerial statement was not issued.

The country’s doctors have been on strike since the beginning of the month protesting mainly on the lack of resources at the government hospitals.

Thousands of patients have been dying at the hospitals due to the unavailability of the doctors.

Nurses also temporarily engaged in the strike but quickly returned to work after they agreed to do it for the sake of the patients.

Government hospitals are suffering from a serious lack of medical equipment and drugs causing huge deaths at the hospitals.

Calls for Dr Parirenyatwa to resign have been made by various sectors in the country. The Minister has arrogantly ignored the calls rather claiming that the hospitals are not being adequately funded by treasury and not accepting the blame on him.

By Paul Nyathi

A Gweru man has been arrested after a gruesome murder of his aunt who called him a homosexual.

The 34 year old man struck his 53 year old aunt several times on the head and body with the axe and left her dead near the Apostolic Faith Mission church in Southdowns suburb in the Midlands capital.

Midlands acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the gruesome murder.

Family members told that Chona Fernandos had an argument with her aunt, Julie Davidets, over the volume of a television set resulting in her calling him a jail bird who was exposed to homosexuality while in prison.

Speaking to news reporters at the family home, Chona’s mother and sister to Julie, Ms Elizabeth Davidets said her son and younger sister had a long history of fighting even over petty issues.

She said on the day the two had a heated argument on the volume of the television before Chona threatened Julie with an axe.

“These two have a long history of fighting everyday and always over minor things. On Tuesday afternoon, Chona was watching TV and Julie complained that the volume was very high. Julie went on to reduce the volume while Chona was watching a programme resulting in a serious argument and they started swearing at each other,” she said.

“Julie called Chona a jail bird and accused him of being a homosexual since he had served some time in jail. That angered Chona and he took an axe and attempted to strike Julie with it. Chona accused her of treating him differently from the other children,” she said.

Ms Davidets said she managed to stop the fight before Julie left the house threatening to report Chona to the police. Chona followed her and killed her in the bushy area before she reached the police station.

“While l was still at home, my neighbour Ruth called me and said something bad had happened. She took me to the scene and l saw Julie lying in a pool of blood. She was already dead and my son was nowhere to be found,” she said.

Ms Davidets said the matter was reported to the police leading to her son’s arrest.

I hail the signing of the Kigali Declaration on the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area at the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the Assembly of the African Union in Kigali, Rwanda.

This is a progressive way forward. We cannot allow colonial boundaries and prejudices keep us apart anymore. It is a generational mandate that we shake of the yoke of colonialism and imperialism, and start to do business on our own in our own terms. Gone are the days that Africa is a source of raw materials but fails to process and manufacture its own goods.

The remaining challenge on our continent is to do with disputed elections, neglected citizens, conflict and violence. I do hope and pray that the spirit of unity and progress exhibited by our leaders, will be reinforced in individual nations, where communities are broken and hurt. You cannot unite a continent made up of broken countries.

Let us work for the healing and unity of our nations, together we can build a prosperous, border free continent, with one currency, in which no citizens will feel like a stranger.

I salute President Paul Kagame for a job well done, in hosting the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the Assembly of the African Union. Rwanda the last born of Africa, who suffered so much pain and tears, is not known or characterised by what she suffered, rather, she is hailed as a trailblazer in leadership, excellence of organisation and role model on the continent.

The historic signing of the Continental Free Trade Area agreement confirms Africa’s time is now. Without doubt this moment development will help catapult and boost trade within the continent and beyond.

Indeed this is the time for Africa!

Mayibuye Africa !!!

God bless Africa.God bless you.

Nelson Chamisa
MDCT President

Doctors and other medical practitioners who continue participating in the ongoing industrial action risk losing their salaries and allowances, a senior official has said. 

In a statement, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Retired Major General Dr Gerald Gwinji said heads of department should freeze salaries for those who are not at work.

The industrial action entered day 22 today. “The withdrawal of services by some doctors entered its 20th day on Tuesday. Heads of institutions are duly reminded of the provisions of the PSC Circular number 18 of 2000 referenced C/269 which states that all heads of offices, heads of department and heads of ministries are directed to cease salary and allowances for members who absent themselves from duty without authorised leave of absence,” he said in a letter addressed to hospital chief executive officers and provincial medical directors.

“The salary and allowances should be ceased immediately on the 14 day continuous absence of duty by advising the Salary Service Bureau directly,” said Dr Gwinji.

In response, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association Dr Mxolisi Ngwenya said the threat was tantamount to sabotage of the health sector and the Government as a whole. “It is a worker’s right to go on industrial action and the Ministry needs to respect that. Furthermore, we informed them of our intent to strike 21 days in advance. Their failure to resolve our genuine issues has frustrated the Ministry to resort to a scorched earth policy of threats and trying to divide ZHDA members” said Dr Ngwenya. “We will see if threats will treat patients or put medicines in hospitals. The ministry should wake up and fix the root issues instead of resorting to threats.”

Doctors downed tools on March 1 after petitioning Government to address their issues which include allowance payments and provisions of medicine and equipment.

Government on Tuesday announced it had reviewed allowances for the health sector and established a vehicle loan scheme. “We appreciate continued service provision under difficult circumstances by all health workers. We therefore expect all doctors who have withdrawn their services to report for duty with immediate effect,” read the statement. “On-call allowances have been reviewed upwards by 50 percent and locum payment of all outstanding locum claims commenced in February 2018.”

“A vehicle loan scheme for all health workers has been established and furthermore, Government in December 2017 disbursed $22 million from the Health Levy Fund to support the procurement of medicines, hospital sundries and equipment. Government continues to accord the health sector priority status in foreign currency allocations for the procurement of medicines, medical sundries and equipment,” it said. – state media

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

Controversial Masvingo State Minister Josaya Dunira Hungwe has indicated that he will not recommend sellouts for employment at Steelmakers Private Limited.

Steelmakers will reopen its doors after shutting down operations for the past five years.

Addressing stakeholders in Masvingo yesterday, Hungwe boasted that “his government” was responsible for facilitating the reopening of Steelmakers.

“This is happening as a result of my government’ s unwavering commitment.

Above all I will not allow unpatriotic elements to get jobs at the company. Yes, we want those who are loyal to their leaders,” said Hungwe.

Two envoys from the United Kingdom (UK) Security and Justice Scoping Mission met with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda this Tuesday morning at Parliament Building where they held closed door deliberations on various security related issues.

Mr Andrew McLean, a security and justice advisor, and Mr Mark White’s mission organisation, the United Kingdom (UK) Security and Justice Scoping Mission, deals with security, conflict and governance.

Advocate Mudenda said they held discussions on the electoral and constitutional framework which deals with electoral disputes as well as mechanisms in place from conflict resolution among other issues.

“We had fruitful deliberations, the envoys were interested in understanding the constitutional framework to deal with disputes during the pending election and I made it known that the Electoral Act is now undergoing the second reading and the amendments sought will guarantee a smooth process,” said Advocate Mudenda.

He added that in the case of excitable people who may engage in violence, there is an effective security sector and a judiciary to deal with such cases.

“It is import that the election passes the credibility test and that can only be achieved in the absence of violence,” he said.

A number of foreign delegates and envoys are jetting into the country to assess the mechanisms in place to ensure a credible and transparent election is held this July.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Controversial Masvingo State Minister Josaya Dunira Hungwe has indicated that he will not recommend sellouts for employment at Steelmakers Private Limited.

Steelmakers will reopen its doors after shutting down operations for the past five years.

Addressing stakeholders in Masvingo yesterday, Hungwe boasted that “his government” was responsible for facilitating the reopening of Steelmakers.

“This is happening as a result of my government’ s unwavering commitment.

Above all I will not allow unpatriotic elements to get jobs at the company. Yes, we want those who are loyal to their leaders,” said Hungwe.

Terrence Mawawa

MDC supporters have implored party president Nelson Chamisa to be wary of Zanu PF’ s political shenanigans ahead of the coming elections.

The supporters of the country’ s largest opposition party are demanding electoral reforms before the much anticipated polls.

“We need to inspect the voters roll and we also want to know where the ballots
are printed,” wrote James Musa on Facebook.

Eugene Mapfumo wrote:
“Please please Chamisa impress upon these people that
Zimbabweans need a free,fair and credible
election.

There is a lot of suffering in Zimbabwe and
the people want to vote freely.”

Kelvin Tapera
Deal Breaker commented :” The material for ballot papers should be tested by all
contestants.”

Taruvinga Shortie Musiyiwa posted:”
No reforms, no elections.”

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) today met the European Union (EU) exploratory team to discuss issues on the Zimbabwean pre-election environment.

The discussions touched on preparations, voter education, funding, electoral reforms, conflict management and media monitoring, among other issues.

ZEC Acting Chairperson, Commissioner Emmanuel Magade informed the team that the commission is in the process of compiling a new voters’ roll, which shall be made available within a reasonable time and in the format prescribed by the law.

He also spoke on conflict resolution.

“We are prepared to set up multi-party liaison committees in various constituencies and wards for the purpose of dealing with electoral disputes that may arise during the electoral process. Media monitoring will be conducted through committees to ensure that all political parties are given access to media to explain their political manifestos,” said Commissioner Magade.

President Emmerson Mnangawa has insisted that the country is going to have free, fair and credible elections and has invited local and international observers to monitor the elections.- state media

Statement |ZLHR Breaking News; Zim High Court Judge Justice Mary Zimba-Dube orders Home Affairs Minister, ZRP Commissioner-General and the Prosecutor-General’s Office to pay damages amounting to $17 075 to pro-democracy campaigner Cynthia Manjoro, represented by ZLHR lawyers Jeremiah Mutongi Bamu and Fiona Iliff, as compensation for wrongful arrest, detention and malicious prosecution over claims she participated in the murder of a ZRP officer in 2011.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Opposition parties are unhappy with the list of the so called culprits in the externalisation of foreign currency.

“The government has backtracked on its initial intention to expose individuals involved in real illicit financial outflows.

By publishing a list dominated by companies, government is simply posturing and actually
camouflaging and protecting real culprits who are the big wigs in Zanu PF.

We reject the so-called list with the contempt it deserves. We want to see the real list not a list of companies that have not availed the export forms to the RBZ.

After raising the hopes of citizens government chickened out and decided to
publish an official list of bona fide exporters.

This is not acceptable.

As MDC we demand full accountability and transparency.

The list is meant to protect looters. We are waiting for the real list of individuals who
privately externalized funds.

On top of the list should be those who externalized $15 billion. All in all the published list is just but a public relations exercise,” the MDC Masvingo Provincial leadership said in a statement yesterday.

President ED Mnangagwa has granted amnesty to 3000 inmates.

The move is aimed at decongesting the country’s prisons which currently exceed their carrying capacity.

Those qualifying are:
-female prisoners irrespective of offenses committed save for those sentenced to death.
-juveniles below 18
-those sentenced to 36 months & below.
-All terminally ill
-serving terms at the Open Prison.

Sixty years & above & those who had saved a third of their sentence by March 19th 2018
All serving prison sentence for Stock theft.
Sentenced to Life in prison.
All those who have been on the death roll for 10 years & above.
All disabled prisoners.- agencies

Terrence Mawawa |There is no doubt that  President Emmerson Mnangagwa has a lot of respect for his former boss and political mentor, Robert Mugabe.

It has emerged both men, Mugabe and Mnangagwa are itching to bury the hatchet but the latter’ s advisors are against the reconciliation.

A Masvingo based Zanu PF Central Committee member told ZimEye.com yesterday Mnangagwa was eager to visit Mugabe but party stalwarts were against the intended move.

“Let me tell you what is happening- Mnangagwa is the eager to meet with Mugabe for a heart to heart discussion.

However his advisors are against the idea.As we speak right now he is split for choice.

The likes of Chris Mutsvangwa and Victor Matemadanda are totally against the anticipated meeting between the two,” said the Zanu PF official who was not at liberty to be named.

A 30-year-old Masvingo man, who carjacked a taxi driver in Beitbridge and butchered him in a callous manner, was on Wednesday sentenced to death by hanging.

Emmanuel Mapfumo of Stand No 4 Thornhill Extension in Gutu zapped Cliff Chioza – the taxi driver – with an electroshock weapon and stabbed him twice on the right side of the chest on October 3 last year

The incident occurred near the Mfelandawonye area in Beitbridge.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Francis Bere convicted Mapfumo of robbery and murder with actual intent.- state media

Advocate Hon. Nelson Chamisa | Zimbabwe stands on the cusp of a watershed election in 2018. A crucial election that should mark a complete and irreversible path towards legitimacy, democracy and prosperity in the country.

It is in that context that it becomes imperative to hold a truly free, fair and credible election not only in line with SADC and AU guidelines but also in line with international best practice.

Zimbabwe’s current toxic politics and negative socio-economic indicators are nothing but symptoms of a debilitating crisis of legitimacy stemming from a series of flawed and disputed elections since 2000.

We should move beyond the symptoms to address the real issue—which is lack of confidence stemming from the doubted legitimacy of government.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa seems to be aware of the serious doubts about this crisis of legitimacy which is why he has been harping on the rhetoric that Zimbabwe will hold free, fair and credible elections.

We laud the President for that promise but his rhetoric is empty outside substantive practical steps to ensure that we truly achieve a free, fair and credible election.
In is in that context that we gather here today to launch the document that enshrines the specific demands that the people of Zimbabwe are making ahead of this watershed election to be held in a few months time.

There is no short-cut to legitimacy. The only way to acquire legitimacy is through the sanctity of people’s will as expressed in a truly free, fair and credible election.

The reforms the people demand include—but are not limited to— the following issues:

1.Environment Issues
Given the violence that has characterized our elections; the electoral environment remains a key matter ahead of the next election.

Zimbabweans want assurance that they will be able to express themselves in a PEACEful environment in which neither fear nor coercion are factors.

Since 2000, Zimbabweans have needlessly lost their lives on account of their political preferences and this has been acknowledged by various observer missions, including SADC and the report of the military generals from South Africa that has since been made public.

This is the irony of our situation that State-sponsored violence during elections has remained endemic, regardless of the fact that one of the reasons we waged a a protracted liberation struggle against white colonialists was to secure that right.

Indeed, the clarion call for “one-man-one-vote” was at the epicenter of the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe. It is ironic that coercion, fear, and outright violence continue to punctuate our elections as the State seeks to undermine the very right that we waged a protracted and brutal struggle as a nation.

It is important that the electoral environment be conducive to the free expression of the people in a free, fair and credible plebiscite.

2.The Voters Roll and Ballot Issues
The country last year held a biometric voter registration exercise which saw over 5 million Zimbabweans on the voters roll, according to the figures officials released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

As stakeholders in the next election, we hope that we will be allowed to audit the voters roll to ensure that there is no pre-loading or post-loading of voters, among other shenanigans.

We need to assure ourselves well before the election that we have a credible register of voters. It is pertinent to note that in the last election in 2013, we were not even favoured with the voters roll and even some observer missions observed and noted this serious anomaly.

On the ballots, we believe that all stakeholders must agree on the identity of the company that will print the ballot as well as audit the quality of the ballot itself. We have seen in some instances suspiciously far much higher number of ballot papers being printed compared to the number of registered voters.

For example, the AU observer mission report noted in the last election in Zimbabwe in 2013:

The AUEOM noted that the number of ballot papers printed (8.7 million), corresponding to 35% above the number of registered voters, was significantly higher than international best practices (5-10%) and raised concerns of accountability of unused ballots. The AUEOM hopes that ZEC will account for the ballots to the satisfaction of stakeholders and all interested parties.

As stakeholders, we do not wish to travel the same road again. It is therefore prudent that we be allowed not only to audit the voters roll but also the ballot papers and to investigate the quality of the same.

3.Media Reforms
Section 61 of the Zimbabwe Constitution calls for presentation of divergent political views while both SADC and AU guidelines make it clear that all contesting parties to an election should be accorded fair and equal coverage.

The signs so far, just as in previous elections, have not been encouraging as the ZBC and other State media outlets have continued to parrot mainly the views of one political party.

Again, the AU observer mission commented on the overt bias by the ZBC in its coverage of the last election. The AUEOM report read in part:

48. The AUEOM’s emphasis, however, was on the function of the public broadcaster which has a central role in elections, in terms of the AU Charter (2007), to provide a platform for airing political messages or news coverage emanating from all political contestants. Further, the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent views and opinions. In this regard, the AUEOM noted that the national broadcaster tended to provide live and in-depth coverage largely to a single political party.

We therefore call upon the public media to grant equal coverage to all political parties as we are already in the election season.

In this regard, there is urgent need for the public media to be called upon to adhere to the dictates not only of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, but also of the SADC and AU guidelines on the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.

4.Abuse of traditional Leaders
The traditional leaders, particularly the chiefs and village heads, have been abused to do the bidding of a political party ahead of Zimbabwe’s elections.

In the run-up to this election, some of the traditional leaders have been abused by Zanu PF to demand serial numbers of voter registration slips in an overt attempt to intimidate the electorate.

In some instances, village heads have been conscripted into the Zanu PF call structure in violation of the county’s Constitution.

We call upon the government of Zimbabwe, SADC, The AU and the broader international community to ensure that the high status of our traditional leaders is not abused and belittled for cheap political ends.

5. ZEC autonomy and the ZEC secretariat
The Constitution of Zimbabwe makes it clear that ZEC is an independent institution wholly autonomous from government.

However, we note with the concern the high number of former officers from our military who are part of the ZEC secretariat.

For the record, e have high regard for our military but we believe that they must not partake in civilian processes such as elections. ZEC has said that these are retired officers but it is particularly chilling to the voter to have our esteemed members of the military being conscripted into what should be an independent body.

It is our unstinting belief that the ZEC secretariat must be pruned of all suspicious characters.

In this regard, we note that one former major of the Zimbabwe national Army was recently promoted to the position of chief elections officer.

In other development that raises serious doubts about the independence and integrity of ZEC, we have seen a spate of resignations by its senior officials.

We have also seen the ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba in the company of members of a political party in a recent trip to observe Russia’s elections. This does not bode well for the integrity of ZEC, particularly on the eve of a watershed election.

Conclusion
Zimbabweans want a true return to legitimacy through a free and fair election.
I have written to President Mnangagwa detailing our expectation as an Alliance on the reforms we want to see ahead of this year’s plebiscite. The country needs a break from the cycle of disputed elections.

Today, as an Alliance, we launch our PEACE document as part of our humble effort and contribution to the holding of a truly free, fair and credible plebiscite in our country.
It is my pleasure to declare the MDC Alliance’s PEACE document officially launched.

I Thank You

African Union chairman Rwandan President Paul Kagame has described the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) launch as a major step towards African unity and integration.

He was speaking at the launching ceremony at Kigali Convention Centre today.

He paid tribute to leaders and forerunners of the concept of the free trade area.

The launching ceremony began with a speech by President Kagame welcoming South African President Cyril Ramaphosa who was appearing at the AU as head of state for the first time.

President Kagame also paid tribute to regional economic blocs in laying the foundation of the tree trade area.

He said Africa is prioritising the trade of value added goods and outlined the advantages of an African free trade area.

African Union Commission Chairperson Mr Mussa Faki said Africa cannot develop if the continent remains divided.

“Despite challenges continental integration is a must as it will lift economic barriers and provide opportunities for the continent,” said Mr Faki.

Mr Faki said each member state has a lot to benefit from the establishment of the free trade area, adding that there is no need to hesitate on the matter.

 

He implored member states to sign and ratify the agreement quickly to ensure it is effected before the end of the year.

The AU Commission Chairperson implored those who have not joined the treaty on air transport and other agreements on the free movement of goods and services to do so, recalling some of the speeches of founding fathers like Ahmed Ben Bella, Kwame Nkrumah and others on the importance of the African economic free trade area.

President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou said the creation of the AfCFTA means a single market from Cape to Cairo.

“The AfCFTA would also help curb brain drain to countries of the north and creates opportunities on the continent,” said Mr Issoufou .

He said Africa is in the process of creating a seamless and borderless community in the economic sphere.

Mr Issoufou urged member states to ratify the agreement with speed.

Fifty-five African heads of state and government put pen to paper making the first steps towards an economically competitive Africa through creation of a single market in which goods and services move freely.

First to append his signature to the protocols was the President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou, followed by host President and AU current chair Mr Paul Kagame, then former AU chair and President of Chad.

History has been made as Zimbabwe joined other AU member states in the signing of the AfCFTA Agreement in Kigali today.

The leaders appended their signatures to three documents during the signing ceremony namely the AfCFTA Agreement, the Protocol on Free Movement and the Kigali Protocol.

By Paul Nyathi

Opposition MDC-T has called on its supporters to respect President Emerson Mnangagwa as he is an important person in the country.

Announcing the party’s campaign method for the 2018 elections, the party Deputy Treasurer Chalton Hwende said that the party has adopted a new campaign strategy that desist from insulting rival contestants.

Hwende said that the strategy will involve seeing the party speak only on its own policies and not denigrating other parties.

“Our Campaign this year for President Nelson Chamisa will be characterized by a new approach of concentrating only on policy alternatives for our country,” he said.

Hwende urged the party members not to involve themselves in smear campaigns and name calling.

He told the party supporters to desist from ushering insults at President Emerson Mnangagwa as he is an important person and liberation icon.

“We urge our supporters to desist from negative campaigning and name calling,” he said.

Mnangagwa is a Zimbabwean, an important citizen who is also a liberation Icon he is entitled to seek an electoral mandate let’s not insult him but objectively criticize his policy proposals,” said Hwende.

Hwende also revealed that party President Nelson Chamisa revealed that the MDC-T will be attending all government run national events beginning with the country’s 38th independence celebrations in April.

“President Nelson Chamisa recently announced that the MDC with immediate effect will be attending all National events starting with this year’s Independence celebrations,” he said.

“This is a good move that will certainly entrench our oneness as Zimbabweans.”

ZANU PF is known for always hijacking these events and turning them into their political rallies and platforms to denigrate the opposition.

Former First Lady Grace Mugabe     Is slowly gaining ground in her PHD saga case as it crumbles.

The local Newsday reports that the High Court has, for the second time this year, declined to grant the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission (Zacc) an order to search the University of Zimbabwe (UZ)’s offices with a view to seize documents and information pertaining to Mugabe’s PhD degree.

Early last month, Zacc obtained a warrant of search and seizure from the magistrates’ court after which it proceeded to the tertiary institution with a view to conduct the search, but the UZ approached the court challenging Zacc’s conduct and the warrant was then nullified by Justice Lavender Makoni on February 16.

Undeterred, Zacc last week obtained yet another warrant of search and seizure, claiming it had properly obtained the same, but the UZ, through its registrar, Noah Ariel Mutongoreni, approached the High Court challenging the new warrant.

On March 12, High Court judge Justice Alpheus Chitakunye ruled in favour of the UZ.
“The warrant of search and seizure issued to the first and second respondents [Zacc and investigating officer Detective Sergeant Richard Machinya] by the third respondent [Harare magistrate] be and is, hereby, set aside for being null and void and of no force and effect,” Justice Chitakunye said, adding “the first and second respondents shall pay applicant’s (UZ) costs of suit on the ordinary scale.”

In his affidavit deposed on behalf of the tertiary institution, Mutongoreni said he had once again approached the court seeking an order declaring the new warrant of search and seizure null and void, adding it had been illegally obtained.

However, in response to the application, Zacc secretary Silence Pondo said the search and seizure warrant which had been granted by a Harare magistrate was valid and fully compliant with the provisions of the law, which position was again not upheld by the court.

Machinya had also deposed to his affidavit, saying the matter, which is under investigation, related to the names, Ntombizodwa Grace Mugabe and Ntombizodwa Grace Marufu, hence, the reason why the anti-graft body was seeking the warrant of search and seizure to get to the bottom of the matter. Newsday

A “perverted” father who allegedly raped his two young daughters and sodomised his son appeared in court yesterday over the horrific sexual abuse.

The 37-year-old, who cannot be named to protect his children, started abusing the sisters who are six and nine years old. He is being charged with two counts of rape and another for aggravated indecent assault for sexually abusing the boy.

The six-year-old girl narrated how he ruthlessly exploited her before regional magistrate Bianca Makawande.

Testifying in camera, the minor said: “He took me from the sofa where I was sleeping and went to his bedroom. He put his privates into my mouth and I cried because of pain. He laid me on the bed and undressed before taking off my underwear and spread my legs apart.

“I asked him what he was doing and he used a damp towel to cover my mouth and threatened to assault me if I disclosed the ordeal. He raped me.”

She claimed to have been sodomised on other occasions and demonstrated how it happened using a female and male doll that are kept in the Victims Friendly Unit. The witness was cross-examined by her father’s lawyer but consistently repeated how the incidents had occurred.

The matter will be back in court tomorrow. Prosecutor Ressie Nyamombe alleged that sometime in October last year, the man’s seven-year-old son was at home with his siblings.

It was alleged that the father took his soon into the bedroom and undressed him before making the boy bend down.

He allegedly sodomised him, holding his mouth tightly to stop the boy from screaming.
After the act, he dressed the boy up and left the room, a court heard.

On February 4, the man’s nine-year-old daughter got into his bedroom to collect her younger sister’s uniform.

It was alleged that the father then locked the door from inside and pulled a towel that he used to gag the girl. He undressed his daughter and raped her.
Later that day, the man took his six-year-old daughter and locked her in his bedroom before raping the child again.

She opened up to her mother and the matter was reported to the police, leading to the father’s arrest.
While at the police station, her siblings began opening up on how they had also been sexually assaulted by their father.

In his defence, the man claims his wife influenced the children to fabricate the rape allegations against him after she found out about an affair he was having with a woman in his neighbourhood. Daily News

ZAPU president Dumiso Dabengwa has claimed that the number of people killed during the Gukurahundi atrocities is over 100 000 — dismissing the official figures of 20 000 which was compiled by a local rights group — which government has also doubted.

This comes as rights and civic groups have been left fuming by former president Robert Mugabe’s claims that Zapu and Zipra were also responsible for the atrocities.

“He (Mugabe) remains the same unrepentant blood-dripping monster who hid behind a thin finger of madness when he killed hundreds of thousands during Gukurahundi, blaming everyone except himself.

“His denial of the 20 000 deaths shows he really is mindful and aware of the magnitude of his madness. Mugabe is fully aware that these 20 000 are direct deaths at the hands of the Fifth Brigade.
“The number does not include curfew-induced deaths of children, the elderly and the sick from malnutrition, hunger and disease and (these) were never accounted for.

“He fully knows that Gukurahundi deaths run into hundreds of thousands, hence his refusal to acknowledge the mere 20 000 that was given by the CCJP, whose incomprehensive survey or investigations only covered Matobo and Tsholotsho districts,” Dabengwa told Southern News.
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJP) compiled a report on Gukurahundi atrocities in Matabeleland and the Midlands during the period 1982-1988 titled
“Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace”.

According to the CCJP, an estimated 20 000 people were slain by the North Korea-trained Fifth Brigade in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces, during a government operation it said was aimed at fighting insurrection in those regions.

Last week, Mugabe refused to accept blame for the dark chapter in the history of Zimbabwe when he told the media that Zapu and Zipra were culpable.

“Zapu and Zipra are also to blame,” he said. “I doubt the number (of those killed), but well it would be because you get some people with guns behaving recklessly.”
This, however, forced Zapu president Dabengwa to hit back.

Zapu has also suggested that the CCJP was trivialising the Gukurahundi genocide.
“There are so many conspiracies around this subject, with the CCJP joining the fray. After voluntarily embarking on their investigations, we expected them to make it as comprehensive as the extent of the genocide itself.

“The whole of Matabeleland provinces and north of Midlands were affected by the barbarism, yet we find CCJP conducting investigations in only two districts of Tsholotsho and Matobo.
“To make matters worse, after compiling their findings, they hid the disclaimer pertaining the extent of their investigations right at the bottom of the report, making the atrocities as trivial as mere 20 000 deaths,” said Zapu spokesperson, Iphithule Maphosa.

Maphosa said it was unfortunate that this has led the nation and world being fed incorrect information about Gukurahundi yet over a hundred thousand could have died.

“We then wonder as to the extent of sincerity of those who carried out the investigations. The way the investigations were carried out and how the report was released casts so much doubt as to whether it was meant to expose the truth or was meant to protect Mugabe, a Jesuit and Catholic believer from accounting and justice.

“As much as we appreciate their (CCJP) effort to expose the number of deaths, the way they handled the whole process of investigating the matter and releasing the matter raises a lot of questions.
“Therefore, we are suggesting that a fresh and comprehensive investigation should be instituted, comprising people not attached to the perpetrating government.

“Here we are talking of people who don’t have any interests in the matter, the aim being giving closure to the atrocities and delivering justice, healing and nation building through reconciliation,” Maphosa added.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who served as Mugabe’s right-hand man for nearly 54 years, in January signed into law the National Reconciliation Bill, which seeks to address outstanding issues from previous conflicts — Gukurahundi included.

Early this month, he appointed a former High Court judge Selo Nare to head the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), two years after the death it’s former chair, Cyril Ndebele.
Since the fall of Mugabe and Mnangagwa’s rise as the country’s new president, rights and civic society groups have stepped up pressure on the new government to deal with outstanding issues emanating from previous violent conflicts.

Topping the issues that civic groups want Mnangagwa and his government to dispense with is the emotive Gukurahundi issue.

During his maiden appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, Mnangagwa said government was keen to address Gukurahundi atrocities.

“We are not saying the past must be thrown away from history, it has happened — it is there. Just a week ago, I signed a Bill — the National Healing and Reconciliation Bill — into an Act and have assigned one of my vice presidents to deal with that one so that the communities that were affected can air their grievances and challenges with recommendations from that commission we should be able to address those issues,” Mnangagwa said.

The Gukurahundi massacres have been a thorn in the flesh for Mnangagwa before and after he came to power.

In December, there were demonstrations by Matabeleland-based human rights groups over his role in the massacres which occurred between 1982 and 1987 when government unleashed the Fifth Brigade, to crush insurrection in Matabeleland and Midlands regions. Daily News

By Paul Nyathi

The Welshman Ncube led MDC has pegged a non refundable application fee of up to $500 on members aspiring to be considered as House Of Assmbly candidates representing the party in the thirty two seats allocated to it under the MDC Alliance agreement.

An aspiring candidate within the party revealed to ZimEye.com that the party has pegged an application administration fee of $200 on all prospective candidates plus a requirement to have party members pay up their party subscription fees for the last two years.

“We have been advised by the Secretary General that we must pay a non refundable application fee of $200 plus the monthly subscriptions for the last two years in order to be considered as candidates,” said the source.

“Further to that, the eventual candidates will be required to fully finance their own campaign as both the party and the MDC Alliance coalition do not have money set aside for the campaigns,” he added.

According to the source, members of the party who sit in the National Management Committee of the party will be required to pay at least $520 including the two year subscriptions and the application fee.

According to a subscriptions table provided to ZimEye.com by the sources, Ordinary card carrying members of the party most of whom will be considering applying to contest as councillors will be expected to pay at least $226 just to submit their applications.

“As a member of the Provincial Executive Committee I am expected to pay $264 to just to submit my application,” said the source.

“It is more deterring because even if it’s more than one of us applying to contest the seat we all have to pay the full non refundable application fee whether one succeeds as a final candidate or not,” yelled the source.

Quizzed on whether the arrangement has always been in place in the party, the source who indicated that he was one of the party candidates in the 2013 elections claimed that this is the first time the party is putting up the requirement.

“In the last election we were not asked to pay anything towards the application to be candidates though we paid our own nomination court fees,” he said.

“Even in the campaigns though the party didn’t have so much resources they chipped in by helping to provide a few posters and financing of campaign rallies where as this time we have been told that the party will not be putting anything into the campaign,” said the source.

Party Spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi would not confirm the alleged fees promising that he will verify the figures and come back to ZimEye.com.