The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) has written calling for the immediate resignation of Minister of Health and Child Care David Parirenyatwa accusing Parirenyatwa of using state media to lie to the nation and of threatening them, following their strike for the past two weeks citing poor working conditions and inadequate resources.

Below was their statement:

“ZHDA PRESS STATEMENT ON DOCTORS STRIKE 13 MARCH 2018

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association wishes to advise members of the press, stakeholders and its members on the following developments on the strike by government doctors which is now entering its 14th day this midnight.

1. The Health Services Board and The Minister of Health, Dr Parirenyatwa have not been forthcoming to resolve the issues raised by the ZHDA members to date. Instead, they have engaged in deliberate misinformation of the public using state media and resorted to a failed strategy of issuing legally void threats to the striking doctors. This in our view is a sign of failure and must be immediately followed by the resignation of the entire Health Services Board and the Minister of Health

2. We note with concern the closure of almost all central hospitals, children’s units, provincial hospitals and cessation of emergency life-saving procedures throughout the country. We place this failure directly on the heels of Dr Parirenyatwa and the Health Services Board who have shown disinterest and lack of urgency in resolving the demands of the striking doctors.

3. The ZHDA leadership only is mandated to call off the doctor’s strike after consultation and agreement with its members. Any pronunciations by the HSB, Minister of Health or other affiliate health associations are of no effect to the striking doctors. Any other strikes by other associations such as nurses or paramedics are not in any way linked to the doctors’ demands and no blanket negotiations or conflation of the separate demands will be entertained. Any manoeuvres to the contrary or insinuations by other health associations will not be tolerated.

4. The ZHDA members at United Bulawayo Hospitals will demonstrate tomorrow from 10 am to show solidarity with our patients who continue to be deprived of health care by the doctor’s employer. Members in and around Bulawayo, including Mpilo Hospital, are urged to loin. Meetings with higher authorities are being sought and all members are encouraged to remain resolute and dutybound to restore the dignity of the doctors’ profession.

5. The ZHDA is recalling all the doctors we had instructed to remain at their stations to cover for emergencies. This in effect implies that from tomorrow, day 14 of the strike all consultants, registrars, district medical officers and general medical officers are now formally joining the strike.

6. We will only return to work when all issues raised by the ZHDA have been FULLY resolved. 
We urge all Zimbabweans to pray for us as we try to restore sanity, dignity and nobility of the medical profession.

ZHDA Information Department”

Three men have appeared in a Harare court for overpowering an armed policeman and stealing materials worth nearly $5 000 from the building site of Bona Mugabe’s mansion.

The three men pleaded guilty to armed robbery and were due to be sentenced on Wednesday, reports the state-run Herald.

Robson Kandenga, Peter Mangwiro and Brighton Chisiko used a hired truck to cart away 80 wooden boards after they disarmed the policeman guarding the site and tied up his hands and feet with wire, the paper said.

Massive excavation work

The trio sold the boards at various open-air markets around the capital. One of the stolen boards was recognised by a construction worker and helped police track down the robbers.

Bona Mugabe is Mugabe’s only daughter and the oldest of his three children with Grace Mugabe.

Massive excavation work has been done at the site of what promises to be an opulent new home in Umwinsidale, on the eastern outskirts of Harare, not far from Mugabe’s own Blue Roof mansion in Harare’s plush Borrowdale suburb.

Work on Bona Mugabe’s house was briefly halted last year in the wake of the military takeover that forced her father to step down. – News24

By Paul Nyathi

Outspoken Welshman Ncube led MDC parliamentarian Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga and her party principal are on a collision course ahead of the 2018 elections.

In an interview with ZimEye.com on Wednesday, Party Deputy Spokesperaon Mbuso Siso indicated that the party is going through a severely strained relationship with its former Secretary General which may soon lead to a serious disagreement between Mushonga and the party.

Siso’s indications came after Mushonga disassociated herself from the party candidates selection process for the upcoming elections.

Speaking to ZimEye.com on Wednesday, Mushonga who is one of the only two House of Assembly representatives for the party claimed that she was not aware that the party was going through a candidates selection process.

“I have not heard any communication from the party since last August I have no knowledge of any process for candidate selection,” she said.

Speaking from New York where she is visiting on a business trip Mushonga said that she was disappointed with the way the party is treating her as a sitting parliamentarian.

The straightforward speaking legislator claimed that by not directly communicating with her on the application process, the party is deliberately trying to get rid of her.

“When I was Secretary General I would send circular to sitting MPs explaining the process of what we call confirmation by structures but like I say I have no idea what and when that process is being done,” she said.

Mushonga resigned as the party Secretary General shortly after the 2013 elections opting to concentrate on her role as a Member of Parliament for the party.

She expressed shock at how the party would conduct the candidates selection process without notifying her as a sitting parliamentarian.

“I am a sitting proportional representation MP, so what process can be there and I am not made aware of it,” she said.

“If you are right that people have been asked to submit aplications and am not notified then one can only be a moron not to understand what message the party is sending,” fumed Mushonga.

Spokesman Siso rubbished Mushonga’s sentiments claiming that she should not expect special treatment from the party for her to be contacted directly as information to the effect was sent to the Matabeleland South Provincial Executive which she is expected to sit in.

“Cde Priscilla is meant to be visiting her constituency and her province where all the information is made available, she can not expect us to go after her and give her information privately,” said Siso.

“Letters were sent to the provincial chairpersons and if she did not get that information from her chairperson then it’s not our problem as a party,” he added.

“She resigned from her position at national level and so relegated herself to an ordinary member of the party and so she must not complain when she is being treated as such,” said Siso.

Mushonga likened her deliberate exclusion from the party processes by the party leadership to a man dicing from a girl in order to pull out of a relationship when he has gotten enough from the girl.

“I think in the spirit of honesty when people are rejecting someone they should say so,” she said.

“This is like a guy who wants to ditch a girl and makes it look like the problem is with the girl. The good thing is that I am a “girl” too and am used to rejection,” said Mushonga uncompromisingly.

Asked to comment on the relationship between Mushonga and the party, Siso categorically stated that the relationship is definitely on a Kamikaze Run and set to come to an end sooner than later.

According to Siso, the party is still considering action to be taken against Mushonga who has not been taking part in party activities and openly showing hostility to the party President, Ncube, and for standing against party decisions on the MDC Alliance coalition.

“One doesn’t need a rocket scientist to inform them that days are numbered in the relationship between Mushonga and the MDC,” said Siso.

“She has not been working with and within the party and went on to defy the President and attended an unsanctioned meeting in South Africa with (Joice) Mujuru and (Thokozani) Khuphe,” he said.

“We are not sure in what capacity she attended that meeting and who she was representing as the President and Secretary-General who were invited snubbed the meeting and withdrew the party from the meeting,” added Siso.

Contacted for a comment party sources in Matabeleland South who would not be mentioned however indicated that Mushonga has been bank rolling party programs in the province and they are disturbed that she is being eliminated from representing the province in parliament.

“The party can not have any better representation than it has been getting from Mushonga,” said the source.

“She has been very instrumental in pushing Matabeleland and women issues in parliament and her exclusion from the party list will be a disastrous move by the party,” she said.

“As far as I know Priscilla has been financing several party programs especially for us women in the province including the running of the provincial party offices of which I am very surprised if she is said not be participating in party activities,” said the source.

“Maybe there are some things that the top leadership know and we are not aware of but as women in the province we have not yet had any issues against her and would have loved to see her go back and finish her business in parliament.”

Efforts to get further clarification from party spokesperson Kurai Chihwayi who is a member of the party standing committee failed as he dropped his line when ZimEye.com called him.

I was this morning informed about the video circulating on social media platforms, and have asked the Department of @HomeAffairsSA to investigate this matter and take swift action against the official. pic.twitter.com/ZwllSemEyZ

— Malusi Gigaba (@mgigaba) March 14, 2018

Leading Japanese academic, Sadaharu Kataoka has pinned hopes on the impending election to correct excesses of the military intervention that forced former President Robert Mugabe to resign last year.

In an interview with journalists in Harare yesterday, Kataoka, who commands vast expertise in African politics, maintained that the military intervention, which led to the resignation of Mugabe was in actual fact a coup, which was strategised by the army to pressurise Mugabe to resign.

Kataoka said the coming election, which is expected sometime this year can act as an exorcism ceremony to clear the Emmerson Mnangagwa-led administration, which has suffered a local and international legitimacy crisis based on its controversial ascendency to power under what he termed a “smart coup”.

“I can say it’s a military coup, but I think they were very prepared, because they didn’t use a violent method, but it was military pressure and finally he (Mugabe) resigned, so I think it was a very strategic, prepared and smart coup.

“Moving forward, the true ultimate stage that will determine Zimbabwe’s progression forward is this election. It is to show the world that this is the new moment because if anything bad happens in this election, then it is over,” he said.

Mnangagwa, from his inauguration speech on November 24 last year, launched a diplomatic offensive in a bid to lure investors into the country, but the move has not yielded the desired results, with most prospective business partners taking cautious steps to only engage the country fully on condition that it holds a free and fair election.
Kataoka said the diplomatic offensive can only reap some fruits if the country’s image developed during Mugabe’s reign, which encompasses gross violations of human and corporate rights, is transformed.

“Integration with the rest of the world is possible. In the 1980s, Zimbabwe was a good country and we had Japanese investors here, but after the autocratic rule, they all left, but I can tell you that they can come back,” he said.

Kataoka is a professor in the school of international and liberal studies with the Waseda University in Japan and he is also the director of the Africa Society of Japan. – Newsday

By Paul Nyathi

Things are heating up in the Welshman Ncube led MDC as party members jostle to take up the thirty two parliamentary seats allocated to the party under the MDC Alliance coalition agreement.

Party Deputy National Spokesperson Mbuso Siso told ZimEye.com in an interview that the party has got into action trying to identify possible candidates to represent the party in the elections set for July this year.

Siso said that the party is currently busy going through the huge applications received from the members wishing to represent the party in the elections.

“We received an overwhelming response from the members and we are currently going through the process of sorting out the applications,” said Siso.

According to Siso, the party set up a candidates selection committee which will go through the applications and come up with the list of possible candidates to be presented to the districts for an endorsement of the final person to represent the party.

“The selection committee will go through the names and present credible people to the districts for determination,” he said.

“Where there is more than one possible candidate the districts will be asked to get to a consensus on who will represent them, if that fails they will then go for a primary election which we however do not look forward to,” he said.

Siso said that the party opened up for applications from all its members including newly recruited members from other parties or former members who opted to return to the party after defecting at some point.

“We are a democratic party and that gets us to be free to accept applications from everyone who is a member of the party to be considered as a candidate including new members and returning members,” he said.

The MDC suffered huge defections after the poor performance in the 2013 elections but has since seen a number of the members finding their way back into the party.

Party insiders indicated to ZimEye.com that the party has pegged a non refundable application fee of up to $500 for one to have their application considered regardless of whether the person makes it to be the final candidate.

Siso confirmed the application fees put in place.

“We have pegged a small non refundable adminstration fee for all applicants and the amount varies depending on the member’s position in the party and the candidature being applied for,” he said.

“Those applying for council posts will pay less than those applying for House of Assembly or Senate positions,” added Siso.

Like their Alliance counterparts, MDC-T, Siso said that seating councillors and parliamentarians will not be challenged to their positions.

Siso would not be drawn to disclose some of the people who have submitted their applications for consideration as candidates. Alliance partner, MDC-T has previously accused the MDC of having what they termed “mediocre candidates” that may force them to challenge the candidates in order to save the constituencies from ZANU PF.

VIDEO: Chamisa Look Like What, Between A Saint And A Dictator?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 14, 2018

Below is the Twitter account that has proved to have the latest most reliable news feeds, to date, from Robert Mugabe’s Blue Roof residence. It is run by the NPF spokesman, Jealousy Mawarire and it is: Follow @mawarirej

@mawarirej

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya says bond notes have been successful since they have helped companies to increase both production and exports.

Dr Mangudya said this when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development yesterday.

The introduction of bond notes in 2016, he said, was not meant to deal with cash shortages.
“I said when bond notes fail to support export incentives in this country, I would resign and you know we have many companies that we have been resuscitated, and I can mention them,” he said.

He said the bond notes had materially impacted on the fortunes of companies such as Tregers, Paramount Garments, Lobels and Mega Pack, Arenel and Zimplow.

“What the people were ascribing to, which I do pray to honourable MPs not to do, is to say that it has failed to remove queues in the banks.

“Once you do that, you are saying print more. But what we are saying is our bond notes are governed as a proportion of exports, so when I say bond notes, I celebrate because I see the image of exports, it is a brilliant mechanism,” he added.

Dr Mangudya said he would provide Parliament with a schedule of the companies that had benefited from the export incentives, including the demonstrable growth in exports since the introduction of bond notes.

“I haven’t resigned because the bond notes have succeeded in helping the companies in Zimbabwe to be resuscitated,” Dr Mangudya said.

He added that bond notes will be in use until Government reintroduces the local currency.
The parallel market for foreign currency, he said, was a result of high demand.

The central bank chief said there are currently more than $290 million bond notes in circulation.
Dr Mangudya also welcomed the passing of the Finance Bill by Parliament, saying it would help deal with errant dealers who are involved in multi-tiered pricing.

The Bill is now awaiting Presidential assent. – state media

Six gun-toting men raided Choppies Supermarket in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb before getting away with more than $700 in a two-minute movie style robbery.

Witnesses said the suspects entered the shop disguised as shoppers and one of them assumed a position at the door, fired a shot in the air before ordering everyone to lie down.

The other five, witnesses said, ransacked the tills and within seconds, they were done.

The robber manning the door reportedly fired three more shots while ordering everyone to continue facing down and not to move an inch before the gang made off in a getaway car.

The incident happened on Monday at about 7.30PM.

When The Chronicle visited the supermarket yesterday morning, business had resumed although the staff was still traumatised.

Choppies Pumula South branch manager Mr Bornface Nyambe said the robbery unfolded like an action movie script.

“They were in and out within two minutes. They walked in disguised as shoppers. The supermarket was packed and they took their positions around the shop,” said Mr Nyambe.

“I was working on my desk just authorising invoices. It was around 7:34PM. I then heard a very loud noise, but at the back of my mind I just thought that it may have been an electrical fault or a cable that had short circuited. Reality struck when I heard the second shot being fired.”

He said the gang of six shouted obscenities before ordering everyone to lie down.

“They got in and ransacked the tills. According to our calculations, they got away with $748,” he said.

Mr Nyambe said the suspects then came to his office and demanded more money.

“One of them came over to my desk where I was crouching. He pulled me up, held me by the collar and demanded that I give them more money. I think my life was spared because one of them came in and called him out. They then left,” he said.

Mr Nyambe said the robbers then made off in their getaway vehicle that had been parked behind the supermarket.

He hailed the swift reaction of the police who attended the scene within five minutes.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the robbery, saying the suspects were still at large.

“We are investigating a case of armed robbery that occurred in Pumula South suburb on Monday night. Six men approached the shop and robbed them at gun point. Gun shots were fired but no one was injured. The unidentified robbers fled from the scene, disappearing into darkness, and are still at large,” she said.

Insp Simango urged shop-owners to avoid keeping large sums of money in their tills especially towards closing times.

She applauded the customers for not confronting the robbers as this could have resulted in injuries or loss of lives.

“We continue to warn people not to resist robbers or any armed attackers’ instructions. In many cases people are injured or killed during resistance,” said Insp Simango.- state media

Highlanders Vice chairman, Modern Ngwenya involved in road traffic accident just after Chegutu. Car extensively damaged. He is shaken but Okay @ChronicleZim @HeraldZimbabwe @sportszonezw pic.twitter.com/73zoHH5pN6

— Sikhumbuzo Moyo (@skhumoyo2000) March 13, 2018

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to tour the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road project in Matabeleland North on Friday as his administration renews hope for completion of the projects in the province.

Zanu-PF national political commissar, Lieutenant General (Rtd) Dr Engelbert Rugeje on Tuesday told the party’s leadership in Matabeleland region to be ready for the President’s visit.

He was addressing the leadership during a commissariat workshop held in Bulawayo to update them on what is happening in the commissariat.

“President Mnangagwa is touring provinces. He was in Mashonaland Central last month and the visit was a huge success. He will on Friday be in Matabeleland North province and we are busy preparing for the visit.

“I would like to encourage the leadership from neighbouring provinces, particularly members of Parliament, Senate, Politburo and Central Committee to be there in Matabeleland North to support the party’s programmes,” said Dr Rugeje.- state media

By Paul Nyathi

Very inhuman thieves in Bulawayo stole a guitar belonging to a very popular blind street musician, Taffie Dube over the weekend.

Everyone who has been to the Bulawayo City Centre will know the blind musician who plays interchangeable between his guitar and an electric keyboard along 8th Avenue between Fife Street and Jason Moyo Street.

Daring thieves took advantage of the less busy weekends city centre to snatch his guitar of years away from him as he could not see them.

Bulawayo based community radio station Skyz Metro FM has since launched an appeal to Bulawayo residents to help get Dube another guitar.

“We are appealing on his behalf for assistance to get him a new guitar as it is his livelihood,” said the radio station in a short statement.

Skyz Metro FM can be contacted on 09-62868.

Caps United Football Club has requested the Premier Soccer League to deregister their Captain Hardlife Zvirekwi after the defender lost the lower part of his arm to an accident.

Zvirekwi was involved in a horrific car accident in the early hours of Monday. The accident claimed one of his lower parts of the hand.

The latest development came after the doctor amputated the Warriors player’s hand. In a bid to consolidate their 2018 squad, the Green Machine swiftly responded to the situation by informing the PSL of their move to deregister the injured player with Machapa, a player they had dumped.

Speaking to Sports Brief Magazine, the PSL confirmed that the 2016 Champions have requested to replace the player.

“We received a letter from them (Caps) requesting the deregistration of Hardlife (Zvirekwi) and we did just that,” said an official within the PSL ranks.

Machapa had a fall out with the club’s technical team a week ago leading to a temporary divorce between the two parties.

However, following the unfortunate event, the Green Machine technical team has pardoned the former AS Vita player and readmitted him into the Caps family.

United will square off with Harare City on Sunday at the National Sports Stadium in their 2018 PSL opener.

Meanwhile, Zvirekwi is expected to bounce back to football after July and may be available for selection thereafter.

Source Sportsbrief

By Paul Nyathi

A receptionist at Magwegwe High School has been fingered as the person who authored a letter alleging that the headmaster at the school had banned pupils at the school from singing Shona songs during sporting activities.

ZimEye.com sources indicated that investigations carried out by members of the Dumiso Dabengwa led ZAPU political party at the school pointed that the school receptionist may have been the person behind the letter.

An unsigned statement provided to ZimEye.com allegedly produced by the ZAPU investigating team claims the receptionist to be a known peddler of tribal conflicts in the school.

Receptionist behind Magwegwe High School headmaster smearing.

“ZAPU and ZPRA, after visiting Magwegwe High School on a fact finding mission has taken note of worrying developments at the school owing to the school’s receptionist who is intimidating staff at the school and pursuing a tribal and ethnic agenda at the school,” said the statement.

“We undertook our own investigations and have since established that the receptionist by name of Mhango, masquerading as students, is the one who wrote the letter,” said the statement dogmatic.

The rest of the statement reads as follows:

“Our investigations have also established that Mhango is in the habit of intimidating staff, parents and students at the school, often threatening some with registering their names on a list with state security agents.

Mhango, is said to be in the habit of calling staff meetings with Shona speaking teachers at the school where she discuss politics and tribal hatred at the government school. Those who spoke to us showed signs of fear whenever they mentioned the name Mhango.

The school headmaster received our team with warm hands but did not agree to discuss the matter at hand except assuring us that authorities were working on the matter and he was confident a fair resolution will be delivered.

We however, realizing the discomfort displayed by the school head, went on to do our own investigations and the findings point to excessive intimidation and fear that obtains at the government institution at the hands of the woman at reception.

Staff members and students alike displayed so much fear of the woman, whom they accused if bragging about her disguised deployment at the school by the CIO.

The Magwegwe High School head and staff need our support as citizens as they are under siege from Mhango who has not hidden her ZANU PF membership at the school.

Mhango needs to be reminded that problems facing this country are as a result of tribally and ethnically driven hatred, on which the current government rode for the past four decades.

Mhango needs to be reminded of the need to be a responsible civil servant and that residents, parents and students at the school expect proper unbiased service regardless of ones political or ethnic orientation.”

The appointment of Grain Marketing Board (GMB) General Manager Mr Rocky Mutenha ahead of Dr Millicent Mombeshora and Mr David Machingaidze who had the highest scores during the interviews came under the spotlight during a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement hearing.

Former Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister, Dr Joseph Made was exposed for over-exercising his powers, wantonly appointing some of his relatives to executive posts and violating good corporate governance practices.
He was summoned to appear before the portfolio committee on the 27th of March.

Today, the TZ president Jacob Ngarivhume together with Mrs Ngarivhume and team met with the Chitungwiza structures in Unit L.

The meeting was organised ahead of the inaugural TZ Congress to be held from the 23rd to the 24th of March under the theme LEADERSHIP WE CAN BELIEVE IN. The meeting was aimed at inculcating the spirit of leadership in all the structures, upraising them of their duties and responsibilities within the structures and the nation at large.

In his message, Ngarivhume highlighted that real change and transformation in the nation of Zimbabwe can not happen unless and until we have leaders who fear God. “For Zimbabwe to move forward, we need God to rule this nation and he does that through his people. We need people who truly fear God to be raised to positions of leadership if we want our nation to move forward”.
The TZ president highlighted that we now need to usher in the true new dispensation, not this ED regime we have. “ED and his cronies have been in government with Mugabe since 1980 and they are responsible for running this nation to the ground. They will never bring any transformation to our nation. They have to follow their master Mugabe wherever he went.

As Christians in Zimbabwe, we have prayed enough for our country to change, but change has not fully happened because of the type of leaders we have. Our error was that we were praying for God to help liers, thieves, rapists and murders to rule Zimbabwe. Our nation has constantly faced the dilemma of choosing between greater evil and lesser evil while the good people locked themselves in prayer closets praying for the nation. This season has come to an end.

” We need God fearing people who are bold and can stand for what they believe in to rise to positions of leadership because they are the ones with the leadership values and principles that Zimbabwe needs to move forward” said Ngarivhume.

Though our foundations are based on Christianity and Christian values, Transform Zimbabwe party is a party for all Zimbabweans. It is a party of Zimbabweans, by Zimbabweans and for Zimbabweans. Everyone is welcome to join and participate so that we Transform Zimbabwe together.

In his concluding remarks, the TZ president tasked the province with seconding delegates to the TZ inaugural congress that will run from 23-24 March in Harare. Our leaders for the next five years will be selected during that Congress and our party manifesto will also be unveiled during the same event.

The TZ president then got time to listen to the concerns of the people and promised to pull together with the community until their needs are met.

The meeting ended on a high note with the people fired up and ready to Transform Zimbabwe this year.

#PullingTogether to
#MakeZimbabweAJewelAgain

By Lionel Saungweme | Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) Bulawayo Provincial Chairman, Gift Banda, has filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court to evict MDC-T Vice President Thokozani Khupe and eight others from the Bulawayo party offices. The “entire MDC-T Bulawayo provincial executive” were “forced out of the party’s provincial offices” on the morning of Sunday 4 March 2018.

Thokozani Khupe and her supporters namely Abednigo Bhebhe, Witness Dube, Artwell Sibanda, Gershom Zimba, Samson Mubhemi, Elliot Doctor Moyo, Mthokozisi Ncube and Mbuso Sibanda are all cited as respondents respectively.

The application for a spoliation order seeks to restore “Stand No 41A, Fort Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenue, Bulawayo” to Banda who was “in peaceful and undisturbed occupation and possession of the property in his capacity as the Chairman of the Movement for Democratic Change- Tsvangirai (MDC-T) Bulawayo Province.”

Strangely, the 8th respondent cited is Mthokozisi Ncube, the Secretary General of the Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe (PDZ). Ncube allegedly participated in the violent takeover of the offices.

Court papers state that the MDC-T members are being “excluded from their offices during a crucial election period when they need their offices the most for use around election matters such as the processing of candidate coordination and administratively servicing their structures in preparation for an election to be held anytime between 22 July and 22 August this year.”

Failure to grant the spoliation order “might even encourage counter violence … as young members might feel that the law has been unable to come to their aid,” says the document.

Banda also prays that the High Court orders Khupe and eight other respondents “not to interfere with Applicant’s occupation,” that they are “prohibited from interfering with and/or disrupting any meetings, programmes and activities” or from “vandalising any property of the MDC-T.”

Banda is asking the court to direct the member-in-charge, Bulawayo Central Police Station or any of his details “to arrest and detain” Khupe or her agents if they refuse to comply with the spoliation order

Through propaganda, such as flooding social media with third respondent, Witness Dube’s pictures, Khupe’s supporters portrayed themselves as victims while concealing the fact that they had violently seized the party offices.

By Paul Nyathi

Presidential election candidate Engineer Gastaff Kativu, leader of the CKD Campaign has taken President Emerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga to court demanding for the postponement of the 2018 elections claiming that the country is not ready for free and fair elections.

Kativu who has attracted a lot of attention from Zimbabweans for declaring himself as the Moses to deliver Zimbabweans to Canaan, filed his case at the High Court in Harare on Tuesday.

In his application he accuses the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Priscilla Chigumba as the first respondents with Mnangagwa and Chiwenga as joint second respondents.

A full outline of the court case raised by the rogue dressed Kativu reads as follows:

COURT APPLICATION – ZIMBABWE NOT READY FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS

First Respondent: Prescilla Chigumba, ZEC Chair
Second Respondent: Emerson Mnangagwa, Constantine Chiwenga

Applicant: Eng. Gastaff Kativu, CKD Campaign Leader

Legal Issues at Stake:
1. Delimitation of Constituencies not performed, Zim Constitution Chapter 7, Section 161 (1) & (2)

2. Biometric Voter Registration Incomplete and biased in favour of ZANU PF strongholds of Mash East, Central, West, Midlands and Masvingo with high turnouts around 90% while other provinces are just over 50% which on paper gives ZANU PF a win due to unequal registration of voters, Chapter 7, Section 155 (2)a

3. Illegal President cannot call for elections and cannot perform the duties of president in the electoral process, Chapter 5, Section 88 (1), Section 97, (1), Chapter 7, Section 161(7)&(8), Chapter 11, Section 213(1)&(2)

4. Militarized and Partial Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which takes orders from the executive, Chapter 12, Section 230(1)

5. Rampant voter intimidation by ZANU PF
6. Violence against political leaders and followers
7. Repressive legislations AIPPA & POSA still active
8. Vote Buying
9. National Army deployed countrywide to intimidate voters
10. Brutal ZRP cannot be reformed in six months to fairly and freely enforce electoral laws
11. Unlawful arrest of political leaders, Chapter 7, Section 156(c)

12. Unequal access to government media, Chapter 7, Section 155(2)

Zimbabwe cannot be blindfolded into rigged elections, issues must [be] corrected by a transitional authority which will invite the United Nations elections to administer Zimbabwe Elections at an agreeable date and Citizens in the Diaspora will cast their votes in their work countries.

War veterans, ex-detainees and war collaborators have said they will be spearheading Zanu-PF’s election campaign as they aim for a resounding victory for the ruling party in this year’s elections.

Speaking during a meeting in Gwanda last week, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association secretary general, Victor Matemadanda, said war veterans should safeguard the gains of the liberation struggle.

“As the veterans of the liberation struggle we have a mandate to spearhead the election campaign of the ruling party. Everyone in office today was elected through a campaign by the veterans.

“We have to defend the legacy of Zimbabwe which we fought for leading to the 1980 independence.” he said.

Cde Matemadanda urged war veterans to ensure that opposition parties do not win any election.

He said they should campaign in a peaceful manner for the party and Zanu-PF’s presidential candidate Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa. “When you campaigned in 1980 for our independence, this is the same as we have to campaign peacefully for the party and the presidential candidate. Don’t victimise the people, engage with them and lead the party in a right direction. Vehicles are there to be used district by district,” said Cde Matemadanda.

He reiterated that Zanu-PF was not tribally driven like the MDC-T where Mr Nelson Chamisa and Dr Thokozani Khupe are engaged in a power struggle.

“Everyone can see that constitutionally Khupe is the rightful candidate. A brave woman Khupe who went to bury Tsvangirai (late Morgan) in Buhera and what do they say, they call her a dissident. If we don’t defend this kind of person then we are not principled. They will sing about democracy. How democratic is Chamisa who was hand-picked?” Cde Matemadanda said.

“Some are saying there should be a Shonaland, a Ndebeleland, what is that. It can’t.”

Zanu-PF Matabeleland South province chairman Rabelani Choeni said the party’s members should work together and lead the party to a resounding victory.state media

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

Zanu PF Provincial Chairperson, Ezra Chadzamira, has conceded the newly formed National Patriotic Front(NPF) is giving ruling party officials sleepless nights.

Addressing party members in Masvingo on Saturday, Chadzamira said he was afraid the new party would end Zanu PF’ s hegemonic control of political affairs in the country.

Chadzamira called on Zanu PF members to remain vigilant.

“We have to remain vigilant because you all know what is happening. The G-40 members are regrouping and they are planning to jeopardise our campaign.

It is not going to be easy so let us be united.We have to work very hard,” said Chadzamira.

ZAOGA Forward In Faith International Apostle Christopher Kapandura popularly known in evangelism circles as ‘MaKaps’ shocked Chinhoyi community with the vu_lgar words he used to attack pros_titutes and false prophets at FIF Hunyani District Big Sunday service.

Apostle Kapandura used all sorts of words from what he termed ‘vocabulary renyaudzosingwi’ to attack prost_itutes and false prophets saying they are being used by the devil to destroy families.

Due to his shameless description of private parts in his message, Apostle Kapandura spent the better part of his sermon begging his audience to lift their heads and fix their eyes on him as they felt out of place.

Apostle Kapandura, born 62 years ago, married to ZAOGA Harare North province Overseer Angela Kapandura and blessed with a boy and two girls introduced his mother in-law to ZAOGA Hunyani District assembly before opening the Holy Bible to preach.

Overseer Kapandura along with her mother nodded in support of the gospel shared by Apostle Kapandura throughout the sermon when most of the women looked uncomfortable with his explicit language.

“Tarisa kuno! unonyara chii uchiisa huso pasi, indava usinganyare paunenge uchiita zvakaipa, ndati tarisa kuno,” said Apostle Kapandura throughout his sermon.

“I want you to remember that I am a freedom fighter and I have shelved the gun and got hold of the Holy Bible to destroy the works of the devil,” said Apostle Kapandura in his sermon.

“Handisikuda chinhu chinhonzi h*re nemaporofita enhema nekuti vazhinji vehama dzedu vaparadzwa nemazitsotsi aya.

“Bhaibheri rinoti kana pane anotambudzika pakati penyu ngaanamate kwete kutsvaga maporofita. Muchadirwa weti nekubatwa zvibharo nemhaka yenyu yekutsvaga rubetsero.

“Those who are lazy to pray to God are after these false prophets and money meant to raise their families is being taken daily by false prophets.

“Men who are abusing their wives either physically or se_xually are exposing them to false prophets who are now in the habit of touching their private parts in unholy prayers.

“Iwe mukadzi unorega muporofita achikubata g*ro rako nepatriotic front yako hauzive kuti inokosha here kana mag*ro achivava kwizira padombo kwete kungokotamira varume vese vese. Tarisa kuno unonyara chii uchitadza kunyara paunozviita,” said Apostle Kapandura.

He challenged youth to remain faithful and prayerful if they are to achieve what has been bestowed in them by God bemoaning girls who are losing their v_rginity in exchange for food.

“Girls must know that our parents can be rich by receiving lobola if you do not allow these lustful men vanemeso anenge emapere ekuparadza vanana.

“Mombe dzeroora dzinobva pamaparts ako emuviri. Mazamu ako maviri imombe mbiri, chipfuva chako imwe mombe, makumbo ako maviri dzimwe mombe dzimwe ndedzepa patriotic front apa hapafanirwa kungovhurirwa wese wese sedoor rahwindi rekuti chero anoda pakadoma anonzi 25 cents,” said Apostle Kapandura.

He turned his message to attack prostitutes describing them as enemies of life who are after destroying families and taking people to graves.

“Prostitutes must turn to God. There is nothing to boast about being a pros_titute because they are catalysts of death and all who look for them are heading to graves,” said Apostle Kapandura.

“Away with pros_titutes and those men and women who are engaging in adultery because they are after their own good forgetting about their children.

“Har_lots used to hook men for se*x during the night but these days their eyes are darkened to hook men during the day stealing money for school fees, buying vehicles, building homes and for our daily meals.

“These days too we are experiencing male pros*titutes who are starting ministries in the name of prophets to collect money from desperate people and end up raping them.

“Taneta nekuverenga mumapepa nekunzwa mumaradio zvemaporofita arikubata zvibharo. They end up denying the allegations but why are they not being accused of selling tobacco or selling liquor only to ra*pe women.

“The nation must be very careful with These self-ordained pastors and prophets because some of them are being trained for few months by those after money,” said Apostle Kapandura.

Apostle Kapandura, who has degrees in theology, administration and philosophy, is set to take the gospel to Mozambique this week after a successful mission in South Africa last week.

Asked if he has faced any challenge in the ministry over his explicit language in preaching or any other challenge, Apostle Kapandura said a soldier does not face challenges since he is trained to undergo difficulties and come out a winner.

Terrence Mawawa

Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe(PDZ) leader, Barbara Nyagomo has implored the people of Zimbabwe to support one opposition candidate in the coming polls.

In her message on Facebook yesterday, Nyagomo said the ruling party officials were quaking in their boots and Zimbabweans should not be hoodwinked by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s “empty bravado.”

“To all opposition parties in Zimbabwe-
for once let all politicians rally behind one person.
It involves making sacrifices, compromises and even
putting on hold some ambitions.

Split votes will work in ZANU PF’s favour,” Nyagomo wrote on Facebook.

Musician Tytan Skhokho, real name Njabulo Nkomo, and his United Kingdom-based partner Olinda Chapel are openly speaking about their marriage plans and it’s widely believed that their wedding is on the horizon.

The couple has said they are set to wed in the UK “soon”, sparking speculation when the big day might take place.

“I want to cling to your shirt and bury my face in the curve of your neck… Then never let go, I love you. @tytantheone #21daystogo,” Chapel wrote on Instagram three days ago.

They have hired one of Harare’s finest wedding planners VIP Hosting, with the planners making trips to the UK to get things in order.

The Daily News understands VIP Hosting is crafting a personalised wedding that will be a reflection of the couples’ style, personality and relationship and is reportedly keen to create an enjoyable and stress-free experience.

On Sunday, in celebration of the UK Mother’s Day, Tytan  wrote a long piece praising Olinda.

“Happy Mother’s Day to the future bearer of my seed. The one that sees better even though I lead. The one so special to me none can ever supersede. The one that makes me whole when my soul needs to feed.

“I watch you love our sons like nobody cares better. ‘Cause the truth is, with your love, I don’t think that there’s better. Your love runs deep it’s special in its obscurity,” he wrote.

“But one thing that’s crystal clear is your love’s purity. I love you so much Mrs Njabulo Nkomo!

“Thank you for representing the strongest people in the world, moms! Happy Mother’s Day! #happymothersday #skhokho,”

Their union has been criticised as fake by some Zimbabweans. The two jumped into marriage just after Olinda had come out of a messy marriage and split with  Desmond “Stunner” Chideme.

Stunner took a dig at the couple saying there was nothing to it as Olinda kept talking about his manhood.

“Mukadzi waTytan anoswera achitaura zvemu brugwa rangu apo murume wacho akangoti tuzu!!! Dzimba idzi (Tytan’s wife keeps talking about my man_hood and he just keeps quiet),” the narcissistic Stunner wrote on Twitter in response to a link on a story where Olinda is said to have  commented on his man_hood.

Tytan, 28, has opened an online page Becoming Mrs Nkomo, in which he chronicled their “happy-ever after stories”, showering his woman, 34, with love.

It all started as a joke after Stunner reinforced the divorce in a song Ndoenda.

Tytan then composed a song telling Olinda that he will treat her good.

In the song titled Bho, he said he was going to make Olinda his queen.

I will make you the queen, so that my woman, so that we love each other… Because I will always love you… … ini ndichakubata bho (I will treat you good)….crying doesn’t suit you, I’m mad about the way he treats you, every day he cheats on you, many girls beeping him,… you can change your life, it’s time that I make it rain, the lyrics of the song go.

This will be Olinda’s third marriage. She has revealed in an interview that she was once married for 10 years.

Olinda, who has two kids, had her first child in 2001 when she was still 17.- daily news

Socialite Pokello Nare has flaunted her new love for the first time on social media, confirming reports suggesting she had moved on.

The queen of swagger, as she loves to call herself, posted her new man Ronald Muzambe on Instagram with the caption “where can I get a hat like this.”

After comments started flowing in, the socialite had to turn off comments as people were reacting negatively.

Pokello broke up with Ghanaian husband Elikem Kumordzie last year. Elikem, has described his marriage to the Zimbabwean as a mistake.

The queen of swagger has been hanging out with South Africa-based Zimbabwean Muzambe, who uses the handle “rondontharon” on Instagram.

The pair has even holidayed in the Maldives together, according to pictures posted on their social media pages.

They have also been seen together at various spots.

Muzambe is 31, and is younger than Pokello, 32.

She has posted several pictures of the two hanging out saying she is on a living spree.

In one of the posts, she is walking up the stairs of a hotel. Muzambe also posted a picture doing the same walk. Pokello captioned the picture “on a living spree” and seemed happy.

There was another video of her being driven by Muzambe and she was all smiles.

In another picture posted by Muzambe, the two are sitting cosily on the beach while on vacation.

Pokello and Elikem married in 2015, two years after meeting in the Big Brother Africa competition.

The rumour of Pokello and her hubby’s split started in November after he got several birthday messages from fans and friends on social media except from Pokello, which was strange as it seemed to have been a yearly ritual.

The two have a baby boy together called Tristan, Pokello’s second child.

Elikem used to visit Zimbabwe a lot but has since stopped.

To seal their break-up, Elikem has posted a short video of an engagement ring with a big rock with the caption: “I’m definitely not making a mistake on the next one.
The RIGHT one.”- daily news

Staff Reporter| Contrary to social media reports, former Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo has not been acquitted at all. His lawyer, prof Lovemore Madhuku speaks to ZimEye Tuesday afternoon.

Prof Madhuku says the reports of Chombo being acquitted on Tuesday are not true.

While ZimEye could not trace the source of the reports, ZimEye is reliably told by other sources, the development is a result of former President Robert Mugabe demanding that Chombo be released as a condition for him to endorse President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Operation Restore Order was pivoted on targeting so called criminals around former President Robert Mugabe. During the time of the first negotiations mid November last year, Chombo was one of those left out of the “Mugabe-Mnangagwa resignation deal” – he failed to escape as 50 plus other were allowed swift passage out of the country. The latter 50 include ministers Prof Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere.

But Prof Madhuku says Chombo is still out on bail and there was no hearing at all either yesterday or today and there will not be one “until the 6th April 2018.”  FULL INTERVIEW FOLLOWS – REFRESH THIS PAGE TO HEAR AND READ.   – ZimEye

Government yesterday said it was taking care of eight children recently repatriated from South Africa after they were smuggled into that country by an illegal transporter based in Chitungwiza. The children were repatriated on Tuesday last week. They were received at the Robert Mugabe International Airport by officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. In a statement, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Petronella Kagonye said the children would be reunited with their families when investigations were complete.

“The children, whose ages range from three-fourteen years were repatriated by the South African Government, after having been found without requisite identity documents, in November 2017.
“Our embassy in South Africa was immediately informed about this development, leading to further communication between Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and their South African counterparts in the Department of Social Development.

“The children arrived at the airport in the escort of four government officials from the Department of Social Development led by the Director for Adoptions and International Social Services Dr Tebogo Mabe. Our officials from the Social Welfare Department received the children from their South African counterparts on their arrival,” she said.

Minister Kagonye said the children were victims of child smuggling and were illegally migrated to South Africa in November last year through unlawful crossing points in Beitbridge.
She said South African police details apprehended the children at a shopping mall in Rustensburg, South Africa, while in transit to Johannesburg.

“It is alleged that a Malaicha who stays in Chitungwiza allegedly facilitated the smuggling of the children in a haulage truck which also had adults, potentially exposing them to further risk,” said Minister Kagonye.

“Clearly, this is a coordinated syndicate facilitating the smuggling of children and in this case these arrangements were made by the parents of the children resident in South Africa.
“We also learnt that they were in constant contact with the Malaicha’s during the ill-fated journey from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

“From the interviews which officers from the Social Welfare Department held with the children, it was clear that they (children) went through a traumatic experience starting off from the day they congregated at the Malaicha’s residence in Chitungwiza, before stopping over at another alleged second residence in Masvingo, en-route to the Republic of South Africa.”

Minister Kagonye said her ministry was actively working to ensure the psycho-social welfare of the children is restored.

“We also applaud our South African counterparts for having engaged with Zimbabwean authorities during the entire process. We also applaud the Department of Social Development, in the Republic of South Africa for further taking the children to Reamogetswe Child and Youth Care Centre in Rustensburg.

“The ministry continues to render necessary and appropriate support to the children, who were placed at a children’s home on arrival from the Republic of South Africa,” she said. Herald

Terrence Mawawa

Irate workers at the Mineral Marketing Corporation(MMCZ) have accused the company’ s Acting General Manager Masimba Chandavengerwa of telling blue lies to the nation.

Chandavengerwa was at pains to defend the $ 2,9 million cash donation to the ruling party, Zanu PF when he appeared before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Portfolio Committee yesterday.

He claimed that the corporation donated the money to Zanu PF as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative.

However workers at the corporation accused the top management of neglecting the employees’ concerns in a desperate bid to please Zanu PF politicians.

In messages that are circulating on social media the workers argue they are underpaid while their bosses are patronising the ruling party.

“Our bosses must tell whole nation the truth.

They are using public funds to bankroll Zanu PF programmes.Is Zanu PF a charity organisation?

Let them channel the money towards the payment of workers,” reads a message that is circulating on social media.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

Vendors here have accused municipal police officers of looting their goods.

Vendors who spoke to ZimEye.com yesterday said instead of taking the merchandise to the council warehouse the municipal cops were looting the goods.

“The municipal cops are looting our goods.We know that they are supposed to take the goods to the council warehouse.

They are unwilling to listen to our challenges. How do they expect us to survive? We saw them sharing the goods among themselves,” said one vendor.

Masvingo City Council Housing Director Levison Nzvura urged the vendors to sell their merchandise at designated places.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

A local female vendor is in the process of lodging a complaint about sexual harassment – with Masvingo City Council- following a municipal cop’ s suggestive comments.

The female vendor who sells her merchandise at Masvingo Downtown Terminus has expressed dismay at the municipal cop’ s conduct.

The woman identified herself as Mai Brendon.

She said: “Last week a group of municipal police officers descended on the terminus and grabbed our goods.

The tall and lanky municipal cop(name supplied) called me and said if I wanted to get back my goods, I should have sex with him.

He also promised to look after me although I am a married woman.

I will visit the council offices to lodge a formal complaint.”

By Paul Nyathi

After all the hype around allegations that Magwegwe High School in Bulawayo, Headmaster William Ncube ordered pupils at the school not to sing Shona songs, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has dismissed the allegations.

Bulawayo Acting Provincial Education Director (PED) Mrs Olicah Kaira said investigations had proved that the allegations were false.

“We have done the necessary investigations and established that Mr Ncube addressed a team of pupils in a bus going for provincial sporting events at the White City Stadium. He encouraged pupils to show that Bulawayo, as a metropolitan province is diverse and do that through song and dance, in line with the new curriculum. He advised pupils to sing in all the 16 official languages, especially in preparation for the national competitions which will be held at the same venue,” she said.

An anonymous letter made social media headlines last week alleging that Ncube had ordered students at the school not to sing Shona songs as directed by the PED.

The Acting PED dismissed the claims that she had banned the use of the Shona language in the province.

“It is saddening to note that we have such elements in society and such accusations are unfortunate, untrue, damaging, unfounded and malicious. We are carrying out further investigations to try and get to the source of the document,” she said.

Mrs Kaira also said the ministry was not convinced that the document was penned by pupils.

“I went to Magwegwe High School myself on Friday to get to the bottom of the matter and judging by the strong political language, that letter was written by a mature person with a sound political mind and just wanted to hide behind being a child. I have since submitted a report to the Permanent secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango,” said Mrs Kaira.

ZimEye.com spoke to a learner who was part of the team that was addressed by the headmaster before their departure to White City Stadium for provincial athletics competitions.

The pupil also dismissed the allegations indicating that she never heard the headmaster say the statements made against him.

“I was in the bus seated to the back of the bus and other learners were singing before the headmaster asked everyone to stop singing to make an announcement,” said the pupil.

“I did not hear him say anything about Shona songs he only encouraged us to go and win the games and to cheer each other up as much as possible,” said the pupil.

By Talent Gondo| Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance Presidential candidate who is also the MDC T leader, Nelson Chamisa is set to take his election campaign to Mkoba Stadium in Gweru this Sunday, 18 March 2018.

Chamisa, who has been on the offensive in Matabeleland last week, where he held several campaign rallies, is set to hold his rally in President Emerson  Mnangagwa’s back yard, the Midlands Province.

Announcing the rally on his Facebook page, Chamisa said the movement was growing bigger than before and his party was poised for victory in the forthcoming general plebiscite slated for this year.

“We are in Gweru this weekend…We ain’t stopping we are going forward with Morgan Tsvangirai’s New Zimbabwe dream,” declared the youthful Presidential aspirant.

He called on the people of Zimbabwe to attend the rally adding that “#Godisinit”.

Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa has said his administration will bring an end to cash shortages and scrap bond notes once elected into office.

He told a campaign rally in Victoria Falls last Friday that Zimbabwe’s “bond note” currency — introduced by toppled despot Robert Mugabe’s government in November 2016 as part of a desperate bid to stave off a cash flow crisis, have failed.

The bond notes are supposed to be traded 1 – 1 with the US dollar but are trading at anything up to 1-1,3.

Zimbabwe abandoned its own currency in 2008 and officially adopted a multi-currency system. But continued economic uncertainty led people to stash dollars outside the country, prompting a critical shortage.

“Zanu PF should restore confidence and trust. We don’t need 100 days; once we get into government the first thing to do will be to address the cash crisis. We will stop the bond notes and bring real money,” he said.

Former Finance minister and MDC Alliance member Tendai Biti has also that Zimbabwe’s “bond note” currency will be demonetised because “it has become an instrument of arbitrage.” Daily News

The headmaster of Seventh Day Adventist-run Anderson High School in Gweru is facing arrest after he allegedly sodomised a pupil before expelling him in an attempt to conceal the crime.

Caston Matsvanyanga is being accused of sodomising a Form 3 pupil (name withheld) at the school several times and allegedly expelled the boy after he threatened to expose his shenanigans. He is now facing arrest after the pupil reported the matter to the police.

A docket (reference number C10-03-18) has since been opened at Gweru Rural Police Station and indications are that Mutsvanyanga will appear in court tomorrow after police summoned him for a warned and cautioned statement.

It is alleged that sometime last year, Matsvanyanga called the pupil to his office after school and allegedly sodomised him before asking him not to tell anyone.

A police source said on a separate occasion, Matsvanyanga, who is not married, allegedly called the boy to his house after work and sodomised him again before buying his silence with goodies.

Matsvanyanga, the source added, used the same method to sodomise the boy on several other occasions.

The matter came to light when the boy told his friends that the headmaster was in the habit of sodomising him at his house and office after school.

The source said Matsvanyanga immediately expelled the boy from school after getting wind that fellow teachers were in the process of taking remedial action against him.

“The matter was reported to police last week in Chiredzi and was referred to Gweru Rural Police Station,” said a police source. “The suspect is likely to appear in court on Tuesday (today). Police have since opened the docket C10-03-18.

Acting Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Ethel Mukwende could neither confirm nor deny the matter. “I am not aware of the matter,” she said.

Midlands provincial education director Mrs Agnes Gudo confirmed that the matter was reported to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education sometime last year. “I am not aware that the headmaster is now facing arrest, but I can confirm that we received a report concerning the issue and we are investigating it,” she said. Herald

A BINGA teacher has been arrested for allegedly raping and impregnating a pupil, two weeks after another teacher was accused of the same crime.
A police source said Johannes Muchimba of Masibinta Secondary School was arrested on Sunday morning after the Form Four pupil (17) and her mother reported the matter to the police on Saturday.

The source said Muchimba allegedly tripped the girl and raped her once without protection.
He threatened her with death if she revealed the matter to anyone. “The pupil and her mother revealed that she was allegedly raped on January 29 and confirmed to being pregnant.

“The pupil said she was allegedly raped while she was fetching water at a borehole about 300 metres away from Manjolo Business Centre,” said the source.

“She was in the company of her 10 year old younger sister when the incident occurred. Muchimba chatted with the pupil as he walked her from the borehole before he then dragged her into a nearby bush.”

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the case.
“We received a case of rape and impregnating a minor. The teacher was arrested and investigations are underway,” she said.

A source who preferred anonymity said when the matter came to light last week; Muchimba allegedly tried to negotiate with the pupil’s family.

“Muchimba approached the girl’s family and had lured them into an undisclosed agreement. The matter was taken to village heads and headmen who referred the matter to police after the girl revealed the rape,” said the source.

Two weeks ago, another teacher in Binga who allegedly impregnated a pupil was suspended. Chronicle

Former President Mr Robert Mugabe should dump his politics of entitlement and egotism and emulate other former statesmen who believe in continuity, political analysts said yesterday.

The analysts said Mr Mugabe should take a leaf from former South African President Jacob Zuma who over the weekend volunteered to campaign for the ANC ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Mr Zuma resigned last month in the face of a no-confidence vote supported by his own party.

He announced over the weekend that despite being in retirement, he will campaign for ANC in his home province, KwaZulu-Natal, adding that he was ready to be redeployed by the party.

This is contrary to Mr Mugabe whose “selfishness” has seen him anointing Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri (Retired) to lead the National Patriotic Front (NPF), a new political outfit composed of members of the G40 cabal.

The cabal was expelled from Zanu-PF last December while Mr Mugabe resigned after being recalled by his party, Zanu-PF.

NPF has indicated that it will contest the harmonised elections this year.

Political analyst Mr Alexander Rusero yesterday said unlike Mr Zuma, Mr Mugabe was self-centred.

We are dealing with two protagonists here with one being a former statesman who is grateful of his contribution as a person and civil servant occupying the highest office in South Africa,” he said.

“Then we are also dealing with another protagonist who has a dangerous feeling of entitlement who thought that Zimbabwe belongs to him and him only, someone who could not imagine there will come a certain time he could no longer be on the reign. Zuma’s statement represents politics of continuity while what Mugabe is doing is a dangerous gimmick and dangerous politics of entitlement of saying things cannot continue as long as I am not involved.”

Mr Rusero added: “It is unfortunate that for the first time he is blundering, reading a wrong political script because at the end of the day he is busy fighting something he created and the history and legacy he is part of. These are double standards. He is reading politics from a script of frustration and desperation not sober sense which requires rationality and decency.”

Another political analyst Mr Goodwine Mureriwa said Mr Mugabe’s sentiments should not hold Zimbabwe at ransom.

“Zuma has been ousted and he understands the circumstances that resulted in his ouster while here we have an adamant and selfish former president who believes Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe revolves around himself and his clan,” he said.

“What Zuma has done is a wakeup call to Mugabe that if he has always been standing for the wishes of the people and the people have spoken that they want a new leadership, he should support the will of the people and lead by example.”

Tanzania-based political analyst Mr Tafadzwa Mugwadi weighed in: “Zuma has demonstrated the astounding consciousness and virtues of a principled leader who is not self-centric. This strikes a difference with Mugabe who thinks at 94, he can destabilise Zanu-PF and scuttle the victory of President Mnangagwa. Unfortunately, he was a hero turned villain and no progress-minded Zimbabwean cares to listen to sour grapes from a disgraced nonagenarian. What boggles the mind however is that Zimbabweans endured 37 years of his rule but he is already too tired of being ruled in three months.

He needs to take a leaf from Zuma because Zanu-PF gave Mugabe everything during his time and hobnobbing with NPF and fallen G4O cabal is certainly not what he owes to the revolutionary party.”

In recalling Mr Mugabe, Zanu-PF resolved that the former leader was losing control of the party to his wife Mrs Grace Mugabe and the G40 cabal.

The cabal had also become instrumental in making executive decisions.- state media

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) needs $60 million to prepare for and hold the 2018 harmonised elections due in a few months time.

The commission is looking through the voters roll to ensure there are no double entries and in preparation for the inspection of the voters roll by end of April.

Speaking to the ZBC News in Harare, ZEC Chairperson, Justice Priscillah Chigumba said the money is required voter education, the printing of ballot papers and other logistics.

“We have a deficit of $60 million and we are grateful to the government for giving us $900 000. We are also grateful to our funding partners, the UNDP provided forex and we are working on training manuals where we still need support to ensure we are ready for inspection of the voters roll,” Justice Chigumba said.

The commission faces a mammoth task of printing a ballot paper with names of 97 political parties. She added that the printing of ballots should not be a challenge as strict protocols are followed in selecting the company so that the process is not compromised.

She however declined to disclose if the printing company is local or not saying it is a security issue.

She also spoke about allegations of militarisation of the electoral body, saying they are unsubstantiated accusations as only a small percentage of the employees are former military personnel.

“Those complaints of militarisation of ZEC are unfounded. Former military personnel constitute less than 15 percent of the number of ZEC employees. There is no law against their getting employment in the electoral body,” she said.

Justice Chigumba also clarified the challenge of polarisation of the media which makes ZEC operations difficult if they are not dealt with as some political parties accuse the independent media of being pro-opposition while the state media is pro-establishment.

“The polarisation of the media is another challenge. Now there is a media monitoring committee is in place to ensure media houses comply with the law that they should be non-partisan,” she said.
Meanwhile, Justice Chigumba said the visiting SADC preliminary observer group is happy that some of its recommendations were incorporated into law or rectified administratively.

Dear Emmerson,
I refer you to the Gaika gold grab & the festival of hideous illegalities taking place at the pit. It’s now known that the gold ore stolen from Gaika is milled at an illegal hammer mill on your Kwekwe farm, 30km from Gaika. But why Emmerson?https://t.co/zceFNyfpAm

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) March 12, 2018

Expelling MDC vice president Thokozani Khupe could be disastrous for the opposition party ahead of the 2018 elections, analysts have warned.

This comes as the opposition party’s president, Nelson Chamisa, says Khupe has been given an extra three days — after defying a seven-day ultimatum — to repent or face automatic expulsion.

There has been embarrassing and humiliating squabbling before and after the death of Tsvangirai — a long-time and fierce former president Robert Mugabe’s rival — who succumbed to colon cancer.

Analysts canvassed by the Daily News believe that the two leaders — Khupe and Chamisa — “need each other” ahead of the elections and the late Tsvangirai’s succession was badly managed.

“I think the matter was poorly handled. Firstly, the whole issue was messed up by Tsvangirai who appointed two other deputies when Khupe was there. Secondly, Chamisa did not do well by avoiding an opportunity for stockholders of the party to vote for their leader at an extraordinary congress, instead he opted for appointment by an exclusive club of praise singers in the national council,” political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said.

“But I expected MDC elders to mediate a dialogue between the leaders and come up with a win-win solution. But they opted not to do their duty and left a conflict resolution strategy that left a winner and a loser. And this is not sustainable,” he said.

“They can expel her (Khupe), but she will go with those that believe in her. MDC will also win or lose national elections as an intolerant party that does not know how to deal with dissenting voices and still remain as one party.  The party needs to have everyone and also attract more supporters. Expelling Khupe will leave an intolerant and less cohesive party,” he added.

Eldred Masunungure, also a political analyst, said it would be unfair for MDC to expel Khupe.

“What is happening in the MDC is embarrassing and disappointing. The president is acting in a manner which shows that he wants to consolidate power … through eliminating enemies so firing  Khupe will be another sign that the MDC leadership needs to consolidate power,” he said.

“Khupe is an elected deputy president and I think it’s unfair. Instead of expelling each other, the party must unite ahead of elections. They need to engage elders within the party and settle their differences,” Masunungure said.

United Kingdom-based political analyst Alex Magaisa said the ambiguous MDC constitution caused the serious fights.

“What is happening within the MDC is a reflection of the pains of transition. It was never going to be easy to transit from the reign of its founding leader Tsvangirai to a new era under his successor.

“The pain of transition is characterised by both law and politics, with a collision between principle and expediency and between popular will and legality. The party was reckless, however, not to attend to its constitution, which is farcical,” he wrote on his blog — Big Saturday Read.

“The current situation would have been an easier affair if the party had a clear constitution. However, the current constitution is incomplete, vague and elusive.

However, another political analyst, Shakespear Hamauswa, said Chamisa must expel Khupe before it is too late.

“It is very fair and in fact too late. Khupe has shown beyond any reasonable doubt that her mission was to destroy Tsvangirai and she is simply looking for a strategic exit from MDC. That is one that will give blame to Chamisa on one hand and on the other hand that which will leave a web of network for future assignments to work against the party,” he said.

“She is simply building sympathisers who will remain in the party but her actions have shown that she accomplished her mission.

“If she was serious about mending relations, she could have shown willingness to negotiate with the other team,” added Hamauswa.- Daily News

Wilbert Mukori | “Hupenzi, inyama yegakava!” (There is nothing worse than a stubborn fool!) So, goes a Shina adage!

“The country’s sulking former leader, Robert Mugabe – together with his restless wife, Grace – is said to be stepping up his efforts to get back at his successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, despite last week’s reports that a number of people and organisations are working hard behind the scenes to try and reconcile the two men,” reported the Dailynews.

These people want Mugabe and Mnangagwa reconciled? To what end and purpose?

Of course, these individuals are the stubborn fools who have no idea what is in their own best interest. Mugabe and Mnangagwa are like two hyenas fighting each other to the death, it is in the goat’s best interest that neither of the two get out of this alive!

After Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends sold-out during the GNU and failed to implement even one democratic reform in five years the nation lost its best chance since independence to end the Zanu PF dictatorship.

The dog-eat-dog infighting in Zanu PF which started soon after the rigged July 2013 elections has created another opportunity for the nation to finally get the democratic reforms implemented.

Whenever the devil closes the door to imprison God’s people, the Lord always opens a window for them to escape. Robert Mugabe, as the Devil’s imp, did not have to work hard on the breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent Tsvangirai and his MDC friends to make them forget about the reforms. The door to reforms was slammed shut in our faces!

The infighting in Zanu PF has opened a window for us to force through the reforms. When Mugabe booted out Joice Mujuru and her supporters in 2014 he pressed the self-distract button to start a process that has destroyed Zanu PF. The party is imploding, the core is rotten and the whole edifice is curving in.

“You must understand that the military coup left Zanu-PF in tatters,” The leader of the new political party, National Patriotic Front and former Zanu PF minister, Ambrose Mutinhiri, told Everson Mashava in a recent interview.

Of course, the Zanu PF in tatters is far easier to get to implement the democratic reforms. The mistake the fools now calling to reconcile Mnangagwa and Mugabe are making is they want the infighting in Zanu PF to now stop because the coup has brought about the democratic changes the nation has been dying for. President Mnangagwa and his Junta have mounted an all-out offensive to convince the naïve and gullible that the coup has delivered a “new dispensation” guaranteed to deliver free, fair and credible elections and economic prosperity.

Mnangagwa’s clarion cry of “Zimbabwe is open for business!” has had no foreign investor takers because they are a shrewd lot. They know talk is cheap, they want to see concrete evidence that Zimbabwe is indeed open for business. Investors have shied away from Zimbabwe all these last decades because Zimbabwe, under Mugabe’s corrupt and tyrannical rule, had become a pariah state ruled by thugs.

The November coup saw the same thugs whom Mugabe had used all these years to impose his tyrannical rule boot him out of office and share out the spoils of seized power amongst themselves. Only the politically naïve and gullible were ever fooled into believing the removal of one dictator and replacing him with another constitute any significant change.

Zimbabwe is still a pariah state ruled by the same ruthless thugs and hence the reason investors have not heeded Mnangagwa’s call.

With no foreign investors coming, President Mnangagwa’s promised economic recovery is just a mirage in the desert!

President Mnangagwa has already failed the acid test on his sincerity to hold free, fair and credible elections. Ever since the 2008 to 2013 GNU everyone has accepted that Zimbabwe must first implement the raft of democratic reforms as the pre-requisite for free and fair elections. Mnangagwa has not only refused to implement the reforms but, worse still, has been denouncing those calling for reforms as barking dogs!

Indeed, ever since taking over power from Mugabe, the military Junta in Harare has carried on implementing the vote rigging schemes Zanu PF had planned for this year’s elections as if the November coup has not happened. President Mnangagwa has gone on to buy the Chiefs new trucks as Mugabe had promised. The trucks are a bribe to the Chiefs who will, in return, frog march the rural voters to vote for Zanu PF.

President Mnangagwa and his Junta’s refusal to implement the democratic reforms and hold free and fair elections is the conclusive evidence that the regime is not giving up its carte blanche powers to rig elections and stay in power regardless of the people’s democratic wish for meaningful political change.

Robert Mugabe and his deposed G40 friends have a score to settle with Mnangagwa and his Lacoste faction. It just so happened that the former know exactly how the latter is rigging this year’s elections, after all Mugabe and company have helped design, fund and operated the vote rigging juggernaut all these years.

Unless we can get someone who can reveal how Mnangagwa rigged the coming elections, the regime may will get away with yet another rigged election. If the regime get away with the rigged elections this year, it will have the next five fives to regroup and consolidate its strangle hold on power. If Mnangagwa is not going to implement any reforms this year, he is not going to do so in the next five years either! Mugabe and his G40 friends will see to that if the Junta rigs this year’s elections, it does not get away with it.

Getting Mugabe and Mnangagwa to reconcile will only give the latter a chance to bribe his former Zanu PF colleagues to turn a blind eye to the Junta’s vote rigging. The big losers will be the ordinary Zimbabweans who will be stuck with the same corrupt, vote rigging and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship or be it under new management!

Zanu PF is imploding, there is still a lot of fight still left in both G40 and Lacoste, in that either faction, given a chance will waste no time in imposing the reconstituted Zanu PF dictatorship. We must not be concerned about stopping the two factions fighting until we have the democratic reforms safely implemented and the right to free, fair and credible elections guaranteed.

A dictatorship, even one under the new dictator Mnangagwa, will never allow a healthy and functional democracy to co-exist along side it. So, all this all this talk of giving Mnangagwa and his Junta “a chance to prove themselves” is all nonsense. We have a chance to dismantle the dictatorship, we must make the most of this and not waste it as happened during the GNU.

It is not for the goat to stop two hyenas fighting; especially when the fight is over which one of them should have the goat for dinner. The goat must make good his escape!

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

Zanu PF youths here have accused the party’ s national youth leader Pupurai Togarepi of pretending to sympathise with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The youths are claiming Togarepi is a G-40 member.

Togarepi was fired by Mugabe and he only bounced back after the nonagenarian’s resignation.

“Togarepi Pupurai, the Zanu PF Youth Chairperson is an enemy of the revolutionary party.

This guy akarimira pasi mbeu dze neighbour.

This guy has 207 beasts that were meant for Mugabe’s birth day.

Mombe idzodzo dziri tii kwa Togarepi Pupurai kupurazi ku Beatrice.

Mozviona sei? -by Zanu PF Masvingo Youths Wing,” read the hard hitting statement.

Terrence Mawawa

Outspoken Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe (PDZ) leader Barbara Nyagomo has described President Emmerson Mnangagwa as a “clueless and dull” leader who is worse than Robert Mugabe.

The cash crisis has worsened since
November 2017.
When are the Comrades who have been
externalising funds since 1980 going to return our
money?

The amnesty period has been extended?
Mnangagwa himself must lead by example. Those at the top must start coughing back
what they looted,” charged Nyagomo.

Terrence Mawawa

Youthful MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is unstoppable, a social media analyst has said.

Commenting on the MDC Alliance rally – which was held at the weekend in Plumtree, social media analyst Antony Taruvinga said:

“The support for the MDC Alliance
and its Presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa is
amazing.

I have no words that can adequately
express the reciprocal love Advocate Nelson
Chamisa has for the people of Matebeleland South
and Zimbabweans in general.

The people also braved the heavy rains to meet their leadership.

The leadership will after this
election work hard to change our lives. We will all
enjoy living in the new Zimbabwe.”

Terrence Mawawa

The MDC Alliance is poised for a landslide victory in the coming elections, PDP leader Tendai Biti has said.

The former MDC Secretary General yesterday said the ruling party was devoid of ideologies to transform the economy.

“This winter’s election is about simple choices . Choosing the future against the past .

Choosing light over darkness . Choosing inclusion over exclusion . Choosing clarity over confusion , competency over mediocrity . Put simply -choosing good over evil,” Biti wrote on Twitter.

By Paul Nyathi

After years of pushing for it, it’s all joy for the Beitbrdge community after the town was finally granted the Municipal Status.

President Mnangagwa declared the Town Council to Municipal status in a Statutory Instrument through a Government Gazette published last Friday.

The status was attained after the border town’s huge growth in recent years and its strategic economic location.

The proclamation was made in terms of Section 4 (1) of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15).

“And whereas by Section 12 (1) of the said Act, it is provided that in any proclamation establishing a council the President shall fix a date for the coming into being of the council, and whereas the Beitbridge Town Council has been consulted and whereas Section 11 (1) of the said Act has been complied with, and I consider it desirable to make this proclamation, now therefore, under and by virtue of the powers vested in the President as aforesaid, I do by this proclamation (a) abolish the Town Council of Beitbridge and Beitbridge Town Council and (b) establish a municipality in place of the said town of Beitbridge and (c) establish municipal council for the said municipality, which council shall come into being on the 9th of March 2018,” read the notice.

Beitbridge Town has an estimated population of 70 000 and a further 13 000 people in transit to and from South Africa pass through on a daily basis.

Beitbrdge has been the most developing town in Matabeleland South since attaining the Town Status in 2006.

Two years ago, Government appointed a commission led by Ms Erica Jones, a principal director in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, to look into the local authority’s request for municipal status.

The commission submitted its report to Government for final decision making such accorded the town the Municipal Status.

Mabvuku-Tafara MP, James Maridadi (MDC-T) has chided Zanu PF legislators for being intolerant to divergent political views and rushing to criminalise the newly-formed New Patriotic Front (NPF) led by Ambrose Mutinhiri.

Maridadi was contributing to debate on the second reading stage of the Electoral Amendment Bill on Friday, where he criticised Zanu PF for perennially being in electoral mode, instead of taking a break to fix the economy.

“Zanu PF are declaring war on Mutinhiri for forming a new political party and have been bashing Mutinhiri in the State-controlled media, as if he has committed a crime,” he said.

“They have gone to the extent of saying that he is beholden to former President Robert Mugabe, as if it is a crime. I would have preferred for Mutinhiri to join the main opposition MDC-T, but it is his constitutional right to join any political party of his choice,” he said.

The MP said if the electoral playing field was not even, then MDC-T president, Nelson Chamisa would refrain from contesting, which would make the election illegitimate.

“If electoral reforms are not implemented, Chamisa said he might not contest the elections. The Zanu PF government needs more participation in this election than the MDC-T and if Chamisa does not participate, then the elections will be a farce and Zanu PF will suffer problems of legitimacy. Right now, President Emmerson Mnangagwa suffers the problem of legitimacy and the 2018 elections are important for legitimacy,” he said.

Maridadi called on State media to give equal coverage to all political players in the country.
“When we go for elections, ZBC must be accessible to all political parties. They should not take out of context rallies of opposition political parties. Chamisa had a rally in Chinhoyi for two hours, but he has not even been given one minute of coverage by ZBC,” he said.

Maridadi said the ruling party must also desist from using rice, which is donated to the government social services department for vote buying.

The MP said archaic laws like the Public Order and Security Act (Posa) and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa) must be repealed.

“We cannot continue to use legislation, which was adopted 37 years ago. Why should we continue to hold on to relics of colonialism? Posa and Aippa must go,” he said. Newsday

The Labour Court has ordered more than 100 former Air Zimbabwe workers to stop demonstrating at the company’s premises.

In a ruling passed on Friday, labour court judges Euna Makamure and Godfrey Musariri, described the former workers’ industrial action as illegal.

“Wherefore declared that, the job action (demonstration and trespass since November 27, 2017) carried out by the respondents (National Air Workers’ Union and Air Transport Union) is declared unlawful and the said action shall be terminated forthwith,” read part of the ruling.

On January 15, 2018, Labour and Social Welfare minister, Petronella Kangonye challenged the industrial action by former Air Zimbabwe workers, which had forced the airline to cancel an international audit that was due.

The disgruntled ex-Air Zimbabwe workers forced the struggling airliner to cancel an International Air Transport Association operational safety audit, which was due to start, as they picketed at Robert Mugabe International Airport demanding their salaries for 2011 and 2012.

The government has pledged to assume the airline’s $300 million debt, which includes the wages owed to the workers, to enable it to start on a clean slate.

The airline is currently only servicing three regional routes to Zambia’s Lusaka, Johannesburg in South Africa and Tanzania’s Dar-es-Salaam, albeit with two aircraft. Newsday

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

Local residents have called on Masvingo City Council (MCC) to resort to dialogue rather than taking legal action.

Speaking to ZimEye.com yesterday, prominent human rights activist and Masvingo Residents Trust Chairperson Prosper Tiringindi urged the local authority to reconsider its proposed move to take legal action against defaulting residents- in the payment of water bills.

Last week Masvingo City Council threatened to engage debt collectors to help the local authority recover millions of dollars in unpaid water bills.

“We are against the move as you know that Zimbabwean Citizens are facing serious cash woes.

We advise the city council to come up with a flexible payment plan .

Council should first collect areas from government departments before they come to general residents .

We know that the army and other government department have arrears as well,” said Tiringindi.