Terrence Mawawa

A Gutu nurse has appeared in court for allegedly raping his own daughter(15).

Onias Shamu, a nurse at Chinyika Rural Hospital, appeared before Gutu Magistrate Edwin Marecha on Wednesday. He was charged with rape.

Facts were that on February 9 2016, Shamu was at home with his daughter and he took advantage of his wife’ s absence and raped the minor.

“The two slept in one room and during the night, Shamu got out the blankets and began to fondle his daughter’ s breasts. He also kissed her.

He inserted his fingers into the minor’ s private parts and raped her,” the court heard.

Shamu was remanded out of custody.

President Nelson Chamisa and fellow MDC Alliance principals will this weekend address huge rallies in Kwekwe and Gweru as part of the national effort to rally Zimbabweans to vote for transformation, opportunities and prosperity in the forthcoming elections.

The Midlands rallies kick off when President Chamisa and his allies address a rally at Mbizo 4 Grounds in Kwekwe.

On Sunday, the MDC alliance principals juggernaut rolls into Gweru where the leaders are set to address another huge rally at Mkoba Stadium in the Midlands provincial capital.

On the sidelines of the two rallies, President Chamisa will take the opportunity to engage students, informal traders, pastors and small scale miners (makorokoza), among other social groups.

The MDC Alliance presidential candidate and his team are moving around the country exhorting Zimbabweans to vote for change and unveiling a cogent policy programme that will bring positive change in the lives of the people. The policy programme is firmly anchored on the tripod, whose key pillars are Transformation, Opportunities and Prosperity (TOP).

Mammoth crowds continue to turn up at all MDC Alliance rallies and President Chamisa and his team will soon be moving to Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central provinces to drum up support in these mainly rural provinces.

Throughout the country, Zimbabweans across the spectrum have affirmed their support to President Chamisa and all the MDC Alliance candidates that will be fielded in the watershed plebiscite that is due in a few months time.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Presidential Spokesperson and Director of Communications

Woes continue to mount for ex- deputy Finance minister and Zanu PF Mutoko South MP David Chapfika after he was dragged before the High Court for failing to pay $300 000 for electricity consumed at his farm.

According to the application filed by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (Private) Limited (ZETDC), the various amounts owed are in respect of Chapfika’s garden project and for different points at his Grove Farm.

The court was told that ZETDC’s sales manager Maxwell Kudinha will give evidence to the effect that the two parties entered into an agreement for the politician to be supplied with electricity.

“It was agreed that the defendant (Chapfika) would pay for the electricity supplied by the plaintiff and in the event of his failure to do so: the plaintiff (ZETDC) would be entitled to disconnect electricity supply, and/or take legal action against the defendant claiming the amount due.

“In breach of the said contract, the defendant, had not been paying for electricity consumed and as at September 21, 2016, he was owing the plaintiff a sum of $307 622, 37…,” the court heard.

The power company said that Chapfika has failed, neglected or refused to pay the money despite demand and having admitted his indebtedness on November 2, 2016.

According to court papers, he had agreed to make monthly payments of $17 090, 13, but nothing was paid, which culminated in the court application.

“Due to the nonpayment, the plaintiff, as it was entitled to do, disconnected the supply of electricity to the defendant and instituted this action claiming payment of the said sum of $307 622, 37 together with interest and legal costs. In the premises, judgment should be entered against the defendant in favour of the plaintiff as per summons and plaintiff’s declaration,” the power company said.

Chapfika, however, disputed the amount being claimed by the power company.

“Notwithstanding that I disputed the bills relating to my different accounts with the applicant I signed the acknowledgment on the basis that the applicant was going to continue supplying electricity to enable me to conduct my farming operations and pay the applicant in terms of the acknowledgment of debt and that the applicant will hold onto the summons.

“Barely less than 24 hours later, the applicant immediately issued summons and disconnected electricity in total disregard of the new agreement as captured in the acknowledgment of debt,” Chapfika said.

He said in the acknowledgment of debt, he never accepted that he owed $307 622, 37.

“If this application is granted, I will be forced to pay an exorbitant amount than what is actually due to the applicant also bearing in mind the breach by the applicant and this will not be in the interest of justice,” the court heard.

The power company later filed an application for summary judgment, as it sought a verdict without going to trial, which was, however, dismissed by the High Court.

The matter is yet to be heard on merits before the High Court.- Daily News

Although former president Robert Mugabe’s dramatic return to active politics has been dismissed by Zanu PF as inconsequential, some analysts are convinced that he could inflict significant damage on the ruling party in this year’s general elections — particularly in the three politically restive Mashonaland provinces.

His ties with the recently formed National Patriotic Front (NPF), an opposition party led by liberation struggle stalwart Ambrose Mutinhiri, have rattled President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s cage, introducing a new dynamic that could shape Zimbabwean politics in profound ways.

Mugabe, whose 37-years in office ended in November 2017 following a military intervention that was widely supported by the generality of Zimbabweans, has derided the Mnangagwa administration as illegitimate and unconstitutional.

The former president’s perceived backing for the NPF is seen as a catalyst that could galvanise all ex-Zanu PF members who were unceremoniously booted out of the party at the height of factional wars.

Mugabe has expressed disquiet over how his erstwhile confidante, Mnangagwa, is trashing his “legacy”.

He has complained about how the current administration is allegedly stalling the release of his pension package.

Mugabe also says his wife Grace is constantly weeping due to the harassment his family is being subjected to.

While viciously clamping down on dissent at home, Mugabe spent the twilight years of his rule railing against Western governments and projecting himself as a fiery pan-Africanist.

His association with the NPF has drawn the attention of Mnangagwa, who has cautioned that Mugabe’s political manoeuvres will be closely monitored by his government to ensure that they do not cause destabilisation.

Mnangagwa reckons Mugabe’s ultimate strategy now could be centred on frustrating his political ambitions as part of a bigger scheme to destroy Zanu PF.

“The former president paita nyaya (there is an issue). Mnangagwa said last week, shortly after Mugabe had met Mutinhiri at his palatial “Blue Roof” mansion in Harare’s Borrowdale suburb.

Mutinhiri, who resigned from Zanu PF in protest against how Mugabe was pushed out of power, said the NPF would now work towards restoring democracy in Zimbabwe.

Political analysts contend that the NPF, largely a grouping of Mugabe loyalists who coalesced around the G40 faction during his rule, is to garner significant votes in the three Mashonaland provinces where Mnangagwa is perceived to be unpopular.

The three provinces include Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central.

During his rule, Mugabe predominantly held sway over the Mashonaland constituency, a Zanu PF stronghold and home to millions of Zezuru people. Mugabe is Zezuru while Mnangagwa is a Karanga.

The Karanga tribe is based mainly in the Midlands and Masvingo provinces.

In terms of political calculus, the NPF’s strategy to upstage Mnangagwa in the elections is also pivoted on the idea that he will fare badly in urban areas and Matabeleland provinces because of his instrumental role in the Gukurahundi massacres in the early years of independence.

Mnangagwa, who has tried to downplay his role during the Matabeleland atrocities that claimed an estimated 20 000 mostly Ndebele people, served as state security minister during the time of the mass killings.

Voting and political mobilisation in Zimbabwe have followed ethnic lines.

Mugabe has also met his former deputy Joice Mujuru at his Borrowdale home and might also be considering forging alliances with other opposition parties as part of his grand scheme to wrest power from Mnangagwa in the forthcoming polls.

Political analyst Ibbo Mandaza said the formation of the NPF and its association with Mugabe would further weaken Zanu PF ‑ which has been systematically disintegrating since 2015 when it expelled Mujuru.

“The impact of the NPF is to exacerbate the division of Zanu PF. It reflects the disintegration of Zanu PF.

“The disintegration began with the ousting of Joice Mujuru followed by the coup and now the formation of the NPF.

It has left Zanu PF in tatters,” Mandaza said, noting that the MDC-T, as the largest opposition party in Zimbabwe, would be the biggest beneficiaries at the polls as Zanu PF systematically implodes.

Mandaza said Mugabe, who has reportedly scoffed at any chances of working with Zanu PF under its current leadership, will do “anything” to derail Mnangagwa’s political ambition. Mnangagwa, he said, would not survive the NPF onslaught.

“Mugabe will do anything and everything to bring down ED (Mnangagwa). I do not think ED will survive,” Mandaza said.

However, political analyst Maxwell Saungweme contends that the NPF can only effectively compete with Zanu PF in Mashonaland East and West, with Mashonaland Central now under the control of Mujuru through her National People’s Party.

“It (NPF) has a huge influence on Mashonaland East and West. Mashonaland Central support is already taken by Mujuru.

“So whatever Zanu PF support remained in Mashonaland West and East will be shared between NPF and Zanu PF,” Saungweme said positing that some “disillusioned” voters in those provinces sympathetic to Mugabe would choose to vote for the opposition. Political analyst Muchesa Chatsama said the endorsement of the NPF by Mugabe, who still enjoys considerable support within Zanu PF, would scupper Mnangagwa’s chances at the polls this year.

Ultimately, Chatsama concurred with Mandaza that Mugabe’s aim was not to win power as such but to derail Mnangagwa’s electoral campaign.

“Gauging by the response of the public media you can tell how Zanu PF has been unsettled by NPF and Mugabe. As we speak right now, some people in those areas still think Mugabe is still president.

“These guys (NPF) may not really count their chances in this election. I think they just want to spoil the party for ED and company. Mugabe endorsing NPF is a big blow to Zanu PF,” he emphasised.

Mnangagwa, Chatsama said, could however counter the threat posed by the Mugabe-backed NPF, by coming up with an election manifesto that intends to address the myriad of challenges besetting the country’s fragile economy.

“But my strong advice to Zanu PF would be for them not to lose focus. They must not lose focus of critical things,” he cautioned.

“Instead of concentrating on pulling down NPF and Mugabe, they should rather work on removing bank queues, dealing with corruption and other macroeconomic fundamentals. People will judge them by their results.”- The Independent

Opposition National People’s Party (NPP) leader Joice Mujuru has dismissed speculative reports that she was in coalition talks with the newly-formed National Patriotic Front fronted by former resident minister Ambrose Mutinhiri.

Mujuru’s deputy, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo told NewsDay they would not enter into an alliance with a party associated with former President Robert Mugabe.

“I don’t think there is a possibility that we will work together. The first thing is Mutinhiri is said to be president of that party, but we are aware from our intelligence that the real powers behind that party are Mugabe and his wife. We don’t want to work with those people,” he said.

Mutinhiri, a former Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister was recently announced as NPF leader hours after meeting Mugabe at his private residence. He then claimed the former Zanu-PF leader had “promised to lend his full weight” behind the new political project viewed as a plot by an angry Mugabe still smarting from his inglorious exit from power last November at the hands of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his acolytes in the military.

Asked if Mugabe had brought up the issue of a possible coalition when he met Mujuru last month, Sipepa Nkomo said: “That did not arise at all. Mugabe and president Mujuru discussed outstanding issues from her expulsion from the party and government. They prayed and parted ways. I would have known if that had been discussed.”
But a source close to Mujuru insisted that she was warming up to the idea of joining hands with NPF.

NPF spokesperson Jealous Mawarire could not confirm nor deny the proposed coalition deal.

“We have formed a political party to contest elections and we are working on our structures. We are not looking at what others are doing.

“Be that as it may we are open to working with any Zimbabwean who wants to join us and that is not limited to Dr Mujuru. We welcome any Zimbabwean to our project regardless of political parties they are currently working with,” he said.

Mujuru was unceremoniously expelled from Zanu-PF and government in December 2014, as part of a brutal purge meant to stem factionalism in the party. Mugabe reportedly later apologised to Mujuru for the fiasco which he blamed on his wife, former First Lady Grace.

Mugabe is reportedly working on a plot to spoil Mnangagwa’s chances of winning the election by stitching up a coalition between Mujuru and Mutinhiri to dilute Zanu-PF’s support in Mashonaland East, West and Central in particular. The three provinces are considered Zanu-PF’s strongholds.

Mujuru currently leads a group of fringe political outfits under the banner of the People’s Rainbow Coalition where she is presidential candidate. Newsday

The below is an update on the verdict as ZimEye.com reveals, which was passed by Justice Maxwell Yakima as he ordered MDC Deputy President Thokozani Khupe to vacate the party’s offices at Stand 41A, Fort Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenue and surrender the same to (the party’s) Bulawayo Provincial Chairman Gift Banda.

In granting the writ of mandamus (spoliation order), Justice Yakima ruled that Banda was the “highest ranking official” in the province with full loci standi in judicio to sue for recovery of the premises. Justice also noted that Banda had “been in peaceful and undisturbed possession and occupation of the MDC-T Bulawayo Provincial offices.”  – CLICK HERE TO READ MORE 

By Staff Reporter| In  major setback against her, the High Court has ordered MDC Deputy President Thokozani Khupe to leave her office at the party headquarters.

The verdict was passed by Justice Maxwell Yakima who ordered her to vacate the party Stand 41A, Fort Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenue and surrender the same to (the party’s) Bulawayo Provincial Chairman Gift Banda.

In granting the writ of mandamus (spoliation order), Justice Yakima ruled that Banda was the “highest ranking official” in the province with full loci standi in judicio to sue for recovery of the premises. The judge also noted that Banda had “been in peaceful and undisturbed possession and occupation of the MDC-T Bulawayo Provincial offices.”

The development was hailed by her nemeses who exclaimed saying, “the High Court of Zimbabwe, sitting in Bulawayo today, the 16th of March 2018 has granted order of immediate eviction of Khupe cabal from the said authentic provincial offices.

“We are excited and applaud due process applied therein. We have been vindicated that the cabal has no legal bases to violently invade our offices. We appeal to our membership to follow due processes and retrain themselves when provoked by the same.

“We as MDC T party are none violent and adhere to legal and due processes by the competent Courts as it should,” the provincial spokesman FM Sibanda announced.

By Bulawayo Correspondent| Beleaguered MDC-T Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe appears to be getting unexpected endorsements from varied sectors within Matabeleland region amidst revelations that several Civil Society Organisations from the region have confirmed that they will be attending her rally in Bulawayo on Sunday.

Organisers of the rally indicated that at least thirty of the CSOs under the banner of Matabeleland CSO Collective have indicated that they will be attending the rally with a few of them allocated space to give solidarity messages.

“We enjoy a very cordial relationship with the regional CSOs who issued a statement condemning the attack on Dr Khuphe and others when she was nearly burnt alive in Buhera last month,” said one of the organisers.

“We have invited about thirty Civil Society representatives operating under the banner of the Matabeleland CSO Collective and they have indicated their willingness to grace the event,” he said.

“We will however not be able to give all of them a chance to give solidarity speeches but will pick a few to represent the different sectors of the society.”

National Organising Secretary for the MDC-T Abednico Bhebhe invited the CSOs in a letter sent on an official party letter head on Thursday.

Part of the invitation provided to ZimEye.com reads,

“On behalf of Hon. Dr Thokozani Khupe and on my own behalf may I express our profound appreciation for your public statement issued as the Matabeleland Region CSOs Collective following an unprecedented attack, hate speech and attempt on our lives in a funeral of our late dear leader in Buhera on 20/02/2018.

“I believe that all progressive people who still care about a democratic agenda for a future Zimbabwe free from all forms of discrimination, violence and underdevelopment would appreciate your collective stand against violence regardless of its source.

“We would like to reaffirm our commitment to social justice and a democratic country
which the majority of the impoverished and oppressed citizens aspire for.

“Inspite of the challenges and crisis in the democratic movement, especially on the political front we urge you to continue your vigilance and being the voice of the voiceless.

“It is in that spirit that I take this opportunity to invite you and your constituency to have an observatory role on our public meeting on 18th March 2018 at Bulawayo
Amphitheatre from 10am and give a five minute solidarity message.”

The sources who would not be named said that they are expecting civil society organisations from the women’s movements, the youth, church, vendors and residents movement within the region to be represented at the gathering.

Confirmed reports also indicate that some members of the radical Mthwakazi Kingdom restoration proponents have offered to attend the meeting “to give Khuphe the much needed support.”

Speaking to ZimEye.com on Thursday, Dr Khuphe’s personal assistant Witness Dube would not be drawn to disclose the agenda of the meeting only stating that it is one of Khuphe’s continued consultation meetings.

Lawyers for the Nelson Chamisa-led Bulawayo MDC executive have approached the High Court here to challenge their ban from using the opposition party’s provincial headquarters, hoping for a green light that will allow them to use the offices that have been seized by Thokozani Khupe.

In an urgent High Court chamber application filed this week, Bulawayo provincial chairperson Gift Banda appealed against their banishment from the office by Khupe, who is claiming to be the legitimate MDC leader.

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.”

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.

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 is praying 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.”

He 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, the application alleges.- Daily News

Flamboyant businessman and Zifa president Phillip Chiyangwa’s wife, Elizabeth (nee Jumah) has finally succeeded in nullifying the couple’s 30-year-old marriage after High Court Judge President Justice George Chiweshe granted the divorce order on Tuesday last week.

The nullification of the couple’s marriage followed an application by Elizabeth when she rekindled the litigation on January 11 this year after the initial application that had been filed in 2013, failed to materialise, following what appeared to have been efforts to amicably resolve the duo’s matrimonial impasse.

Elizabeth said she married the business mogul on November 11, 1988 in terms of the Marriage Act chapter 37 now Chapter 5:11, but had, however, lost love and affection for the Native Investments Africa Group founder over alleged infidelity.

Apparently, when the couple’s marriage hit hard surface, the pair, through their lawyers, drafted a consent agreement on the issue of property sharing, but the document was not made public.

In a court order dated March 6, 2018, Justice Chiweshe said: “Whereupon, after reading documents filed of record, examining the plaintiff (Elizabeth) and hearing counsel who applies for a decree of divorce and other relief on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown under the provisions of section 5 of the Matrimonial Causes Act (Chapter 5:13), it is ordered that a decree of divorce be and hereby granted.

“The consent paper signed by both parties shall regulate all issues relating to property matters of the parties to marriage. Defendant (Chiyangwa) to pay costs of suit.”

Chiyangwa and Elizabeth’s marriage deteriorated sometime in 2013 whereupon Elizabeth filed divorce papers claiming 85% of the couple’s wealth and $83 000 per month for 120 months as maintenance after the termination of the marriage.

However, a year later the businessman wrote to the High Court requesting that his divorce case be scrapped off the court roll, as the parties were reportedly locked in out-of-court negotiations to stop their acrimonious divorce.

In her declaration filed with the court then, Elizabeth said she was demanding a lion’s share of the family’s $230 million estate.

But, Chiyangwa objected to the divorce, accusing Elizabeth’s lawyers of incompetence for listing some properties that did not belong to him without verification.

Consequently, in January this year, Chiyangwa, through his lawyers Kantor and Immerman, filed an appearance to defend the divorce litigation.

But in her court papers through her lawyers, Zigomo Legal Practitioners, Elizabeth insisted she had since lost love and affection for Chiyangwa and both had a mutual wish to be divorced.

“The relationship between plaintiff and defendant has irretrievably broken down and there are no reasonable prospects for the restoration of a normal marriage relationship, more particularly in that; the parties have been living apart for a continuous period in excess of 12 months, since plaintiff moved out of the matrimonial home on September 18, 2016,” Elizabeth said.- Newsday

The three robbers who stormed a construction site in Umwinsidale, which is believed to belong to Ms Bona Chikore (nee Mugabe), were yesterday sentenced to an effective 18 months each in jail.
Robson Kandenga (45), Peter Mangwiro (40) and Brighton Chisiko (30) appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa and pleaded guilty to robbery.

Mr Mupeiwa slapped the trio with 30 months each in prison, but suspended 12 months for each sentence on condition of good behaviour.

When they initially appeared in court on Tuesday, the gang was being charged with armed robbery, but the charges were later altered to robbery as it is understood that no weapons were used when the crime was committed.

The court heard that on December 31 last year, Kandenga, Mangwiro and Chisiko approached the police officer, who was guarding the site and pretended to be asking for directions to an unnamed place.

The unsuspecting police officer then left his guardroom to assist them. He was suddenly disarmed of his AK47 service rifle before being punched and kicked all over the body.
His arms and legs were subsequently tied using a wire that had been retrieved from the site.

The trio proceeded to take the complainant’s personal items, including two phones, and 80 wooden construction boards, which all amounted to $4 800. – state media

Former Zimbabwe national football team coach Callisto Pasuwa was yesterday convicted and fined $150 by a Chitungwiza court for illegally occupying land in Rubatika Village, Seke.

Pasuwa pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Yeukai Chigodora, but was convicted because of the overwhelming evidence against him.
He now has to pay a $150 fine or spend 30 days in prison.

The gaffer claimed that he bought the land through a chief, but his name was not found in the council’s database.

Prosecutor Mr Norman Koropi proved that on November 8 last year, Manyame Rural District (RDC)’s security sergeant Mr Emmanuel Watyoka was conducting assessments in Rubatika Village, Seke communal lands, when he visited Pasuwa’s home.

He asked the former Dynamos coach to produce an allocation letter or any approval that justified his occupation of the land.

When Pasuwa failed to produce the documents, Mr Watyoka made a report at Dema Police Station, leading to the ex-footballer’s arrest.

Meanwhile, a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) Radio Zimbabwe worker has appeared in court for maintenance arrears worth $10 600.

Jabulani Ncube (37) was dragged to court by his former wife, Pamela Maruta (35).
He appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Mrs Blessing Murwisi for contravening Section 23(1) of the Maintenance Act.

Ncube pleaded not guilty and the case was postponed to March 23.
The prosecutor, Mr Tendai Katonha, alleged that on September 9, 2013, a Chitungwiza court ordered Ncube to pay $200 monthly towards the upkeep of his two minor children.
It is alleged that he never made any payments and his arrears ballooned to $10 600. – state media

ZANU PF’s new National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Rugeje has stopped aspiring ZANU PF candidates saying they must cease from campaigning activities until directives are issued.

Gen Rugeje reportedly said the aspiring candidates must wait until the allocated date and time;  they must cease from speaking to the electorate regarding what they have to offer in terms of service delivery to the people.

The comments were conveyed by the party’s secretary for information, Simon Khaya Moyo who said the time for campaigns has not started yet.

Khaya Moyo said, “the time for campaigns has not yet started. The National Political Commissar, Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje (Retired), who is the chairman of the Elections Commission, will communicate to all the provinces when campaigns will start. Those who are already campaigning must cease such efforts forthwith.

“As regards to primary elections, those aspiring candidates in a given constituency will campaign together in all meetings and be allocated time to speak to the electorate regarding what they have to offer in terms of service delivery to the people.”  – state media

By Dorrothy Moyo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa appeared shocked on the fact that there are 107 parties intending to contest in the upcoming election.

Mnangagwa “took a jump” while addressing journalists on the sidelines of the 5th CEOs Round Table meeting in Victoria Falls.

The Head Of State said he had to cancel a meeting after hearing of the number of parties.
He said, “I thought I will be meeting between 8 and 15 (political parties) so I cancelled the date so that I really find out if it is true that there are 108 political parties in the country.

“I must check on that and perhaps find criteria on who must come and say if you are a political party come to the table.”

Earlier in the week, A ZEC Commissioner told the US based VOA Studio 7 of the number of registered parties.

“Already 107 parties have informed us that they exist and so indications are they will be participating in the general elections,” he said.

He continued saying, “he usually hold a meeting with political parties ahead of elections and they normally come in large numbers … about 80 or 90. When we checked our numbers yesterday they were 107 political parties.”

Moyo also said the Robert Mugabe “linked” National Patriotic Front, which worries Mnangagwa is among these political parties that will contest the polls sometime this year.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected in the country today to discuss issues of mutual concern with his counterpart, President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

President Ramaphosa, who is also the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), will also visit Mozambique on the same day.

In a statement, the South African presidency said President Ramaphosa’s visit forms part of a long standing tradition in the Sadc region where newly elected Heads of State pay courtesy calls on neighbouring countries.

“During the visit, President Ramaphosa and his counterparts will discuss bilateral co-operation as well as regional, continental and global issues of mutual concern. It is expected that the Sadc Heads of State will pay a particular focus on the latest political and security developments in the Region including the regional economic integration agenda in the Southern African Development Community,” reads the statement.

“President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu and the Minister of State Security, Ms Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba.”

The ANC leader was inaugurated as South African Head of State last month following the resignation of Jacob Zuma.

Last November, President Mnangagwa also paid a courtesy call on the then President of South Africa, Zuma, following the resignation of ex-President Robert Mugabe.

After meeting Zuma, President Mnangagwa addressed a high profile business conference in the neighbouring country in line with the “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra.- state media

By Paul Nyathi| Former President Robert Mugabe says that Zimbabweans have never experienced as bad an army operation as was seen in the period the army toppled him from power.

Mugabe said this in his first ever televised interview on SABC News on Thursday evening.

Narrating the ordeal he went through in the hands of the army at his Blue Roof home, Mugabe said that the nation was terrified to submission by the presence of the heavily armed soldiers. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW…

“Never before have Zimbabweans seen such from the soldiers,” said Mugabe.

The defiant former President declared that his removal from power was not constitutionally but was a military coup.

“Many have refused to acknowledge that it was a coup but Emerson (Mnangagwa) would never have been President without the assistance of the army which makes it a coup,” he said.

The former strong man said that the army disarmed both the army and the Central Intelligence Agency in the process crippling state security.

“The police had all their weapons completely taken by the army.”

Mugabe said that members of the CIO were rounded up with some of them maimed and killed.

“They were bashed on the heads, some of them killed and some still missing up to today at the hands of the army,” lamented Mugabe.

Critics have harshly attacked Mugabe for his cries on the treatment he claims to have got at the hands of the army claimimg that he exposed Zimbabweans through worse treatment in his near four decades of rule.

“Mugabe can not claim that Zimbabweans saw the worst of the army because he was being removed from power, did he see the Gukurahundi soldiers,” questioned a commentator on social media.

In the interview Mugabe tried to justify his self orchestrated Gukurahundi atrocities claiming that his government was dealing with fellow liberation movement PF ZAPU he accused of hiding arms of war after the liberation war.

Over 20 000 people were murdered by the soldiers he deployed, a figure which Mugabe disputed in his interview.

Mugabe however claimed that his wife, Grace’s few security details managed to deal with an army unit that was bombarding homes of his two right-hand men Professor Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere and rescued them with their families.

Mugabe claimed that Kasukuwere and Moyo raised a cry for help from the former First Lady when the army was attacking their homes where on she disbursed her security details to rescue them.

“She sent her personal security details to rescue them and told them to go out and rescue the families though they risked being killed on the way.”

He confirmed previous speculations that Moyo and Kasukuwere took refuge at his home for a while before they fled to exile.

“The two were rescued with their wives and children and brought here to us.”

“We later told the two to leave and go out of the country and leave their children with us,” he said.

“We don’t know how they found their way out or where they went to.”

Statement By Crisis In Zimbabwe Coalition

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) notes with concern the appointment of Mr Utoile Silaigwana as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Acting Chief Elections Officer. As CiZC, we would like to categorically state that the appointment of Mr. Silaigwana is another unfortunate incident which continues to put into doubt the credibility of ZEC through acts of brazen militarisation.

Mr Silaigwana, a former member of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), was part of the 2008 ZEC secretariat that withheld the March 2008 election results for close to a month.

It must also be noted that he was appointed to ZEC when he was still a serving member of the ZNA and was thus among the people that led to the militarization of ZEC and eventually presided over the 2008 elections whose outcomes were heavily contested.

Mr Silaigwana’s image is tainted with accusations of election rigging and his latest appointment raises eyebrows on the credibility of the ZEC Secretariat and ultimately the credibility of the 2018 polls.

It is becoming quite apparent that Interim President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s promise of a free,fair and credible election is mere rhetoric. Mr. Silaigwana’s appointment comes after President Mnangagwa’s declaration that the bloody 2008 elections which resulted in the death of close to 300 opposition supporters were free and fair.

To add on to this, Justice Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi is on record saying there is no need for reforms ahead of the 2018 elections.

CiZC would like to draw the attention of the visiting SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC), which is in the country on a week-long pre-election assessment, to take note of crucial matters which might be a hindrance to free, fair and credible elections in Zimbabwe.

De-militarization of ZEC as well as ensuring that ZEC Secretariat is apolitical is critical to ensure free, fair and credible elections. .

Former President Robert Mugabe says he saved President Emmerson Mnangagwa from the noose during the liberation struggle. Mugabe speaks for the first time after he was ousted in a coup last November not mincing his words and feelings of betrayal by his former deputy.

Mugabe says he never thought new President Emmerson Mnangagwa would turn against him and denounced Mnangagwa’s move to oust him last year as a coup, in an interview broadcast on Thursday (March 15), Reurters reports.

Mugabe, 94, ruled Zimbabwe from independence in 1980 until he stepped down under pressure from Mnangagwa’s allies in the army in November.

Viewed by some as a liberation hero, others remember Mugabe for turning a promising country into an economic basket case and international pariah.

Mnangagwa, deputy president under Mugabe, has promised to open up Zimbabwe to foreign investment and mend ties with the West since assuming power.

“I never thought he whom I had nurtured and brought into government and whose life I worked so hard in prison to save as he was threatened with hanging, that one day he would be the man who would turn against me,” Mugabe said in the interview with South African state broadcaster SABC from Harare.

Mnangagwa was convicted of sabotage under white minority rule and sentenced to death. But he was spared the noose because it was deemed that he was a minor when he had committed the crime.

Mugabe said he was ousted in a “military takeover” and that Mnangagwa had assumed the presidency illegally.

“I don’t hate Emmerson, I brought him into government. But he must be proper, he is improper where he is. Illegal,” Mugabe said. “We must undo this disgrace, which we have imposed on ourselves. We don’t deserve it.”

Since his fall from power, Mugabe has stayed at his Harare mansion with his wife Grace. His ousting was the culmination of a power struggle between Mnangagwa and Grace Mugabe, who was being groomed by her husband as his potential successor.

Mugabe was granted immunity from prosecution and assured that his safety will be protected in his home country under a deal that led to his resignation.

Mugabe quit as parliament began a process to impeach him, triggering wild celebrations in the streets.

Zimbabwe was once one of Africa’s most promising economies but suffered decades of decline as Mugabe pursued policies that included the violent seizure of white-owned commercial farms and money-printing that led to hyperinflation.

Mnangagwa has said Zimbabwe still wants to end discrimination between black and white farmers but will seek new ways to compensate those who have lost their properties. Former colonial ruler Britain said last month that Harare should press on with transparent and fair land reform.- Reuters

MDC Statement on doctors strike

15 March 2018

The ongoing strike by doctors and nurses at the country’s major referal hospitals bears testimony to the disastrous 100 days of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s time in office. The unfolding events in the health sector are showing that the only thing President Mnangagwa’s administration has amassed to date is a pile of dead bodies in public hospitals.

The rapid deteriorating health standards under the junta administration are alarming. The fact that a junior doctor can be made to earn $369 per month before allowances shows that the health sector is clearly not a priority for the government. Public hospitals are ill equipped, and have infact become death traps themselves.

We were told by President Mnangagwa’s government that $250 million has been recovered to date from looters. Why is that money not going towards redressing the state of affairs in the health sector?

This industrial action that has endangered lives of thousands of patients is no doubt a direct result of Government stubbornness, incompetence and misplaced priorities.

Doctors are simply asking for drugs, functional equipment and better remuneration so they can better perform their duty of saving lives. What hospital can function without basic requirements such as gloves and drugs?

Government should as a matter of urgency address doctors’ concerns to avoid the suffering and deaths of patients. This is a matter that has been ignored for far too long. Patients should not have to die in their thousands first before government considers attending to doctors’ plight.

Surely the absence of doctors in health institutions during a time of frequent outbreaks of diseases such as typhoid and cholera is toying with human life.

As MDC we are convinced that Mnangagwa and his government do not care about the welfare of people.

Zimbabweans should not be hoodwinked by the ‘New Dispensation’ mantra that is being forced down their throats via the state media.
Facts are stubborn. And right now they show President Mnangagwa has glaringly failed to expeditiously attend to grievances raised by health workers, instead he has been turning a deaf ear and threatening to fire them while patients are dying in hospitals. Is this someone Zimbabweans want to elect as President in the forthcoming elections? We think not.

Kurauone Chihwayi
MDC National Spokesperson

By Paul Nyathi

The National People’s Party has quashed social media rumours that their leader Joice Mujuru will be attending the Thokozani Khuphe rally set for Bulawayo this weekend.

NPP National Spokesperson Jefferson Chitando rubbished the rumour indicating that the NPP has long lost appetite to deal with the MDC-T in any way.

“Dr Mujuru is very busy on her campaign programs on the ground and has absolutely no reason to divert and go and attend an undefined MDC-T gathering,” said Chitando.

“Our President and party are now concentrating on the work of the People’s Rainbow Coalition and has long put aside any links with the MDC-T,” he said.

Social media was on Thursday awash with rumours that Mujuru will be attending the controversial rally to declare a new solidarity with Khuphe.

The rumours also indicated that PRC partner Luciah Matibenga leader of a breakaway People’s Democratic Party was going to accompany Mujuru to the rally.

Chitando’s sentiments were confirmed by Khuphe’s personal assistant Witness Dube who declined any knowledge of Mujuru attending the rally.

Dube indicated that the gathering is not necessarily a public rally but one of Khuphe’s continued consultation meetings.

“Dr Khupe is continuing with her consultative and campaign meetings,” said Dube confirming the gathering set for the Bulawayo Amphitheatre on Sunday.

According to Dube, Khuphe will be meeting with party structures from the region to discuss the prevailing conditions in the opposition party.

Dube confirmed that the rally has been cleared by the police who will also provide security to curb possible violence due to the intra party rivalry in the party.

“Police have guaranteed full protection for this meeting in terms of the law,” he said.

Asked to confirm information provided to ZimEye.com by other sources close to Khuphe that she will be announcing a split from the party, Dube invited media to attend the rally and hear Khuphe speak.

“Can’t comment on your enquiries. I am sure you will find your answers from Dr Khupe if you come to the Amphitheatre.

“It’s a structures meeting but I am sure when journalists come for information they may not be denied accessible sessions of the meetings because things must be done transparently,” he said.

Asked to comment on Khuphe’s prospects in case she pulls out of the MDC-T, Chitando said that the NPP and Mujuru wish Khuphe the best as long as she is in a fight against ZANU PF.

“We really wish Khuphe all the best in her future as long as she remains in our concerted fight to remove the ZANU PF government,” said Chitando.

ST Mathius Tsonzo High school in Mutasa has been rocked by student riots which are allegedly being instigated and sponsored by some teachers in a bid to push out the school head Mr Obvious Chikata.

The demonstrations started last Friday and involved mostly Forms 3, 4 and 6 students who were protesting over the suspension of two of their colleagues on allegations of drug and substance abuse.

The riots reached the fiver pitch on Sunday evening as male students wearing balaclavas stormed into the girls’ dormitories and ordered them to join the demonstrations around 11pm.

Security guards and school authorities who tried to restrain the riotous students were pelted with an assortment of missiles.

The students vandalised the security fence around the learning area to troop out of the school premises, forcing the school authorities to summon police to quell the situation.

Mutasa District School Inspector Mrs Chipo Mlambo was holed at the school on Monday trying to break the impasse. Though Mrs Mlambo said the situation had stabilised, reports indicate that the students were threatening to strike again on Tuesday.

Provincial Education Director Mr Edward Shumba said the matter was still being investigated.- manica post

Terrence Mawawa

Caps United Skipper, Hardlife Zvirekwi is optimistic about returning to the soccer pitch.

Zvirekwi had his left hand amputated from the wrist
after his hand was crushed when his vehicle veered
off the road last week.

Zvirekwi has however remained optimistic he will bounce
back despite the setback.

“Obviously, these are painful moments, but still we
have to praise God that I am still around and I will be
back soon,” said Zvirekwi.

“I want to thank everybody for the support – the
Minister (Kazembe Kazembe), our club president (Farai Jere) and
the whole nation.

They have been so supportive, they
have been with me in their prayers, so I thank
everybody for showing love,” added Zvirekwi.

A Harare woman was busted secretly operating a brothel that recruited young girls from the age of 12 at a rented cabin at the Roman Catholic Church in Eastview’s Phase 1.

Vimbai Fungisai, 22, appeared in court jointly charged with Tendai Masiya, 45, who was offered one of the girls for his sexual enjoyment.

The duo is appearing before Harare regional magistrate Temba Kuwanda facing two counts of rape.
One of the pimped out minors’ aunt testified in court yesterday that she discovered that Fungisai was operating a brothel at the Roman Catholic Church after her niece went missing. She found her niece at Fungisai’s rented cabin at the church together with 11 other girls.

“I had been searching for my niece and heard that she was staying at the gazebo at Roman Catholic Church. When I arrived there, there were 12 other girls whom I interviewed and revealed that Fungisai was keeping them there for sex with her clients,” the aunt testified in court.

“They told me that older men would come around and they would be forced into engaging in sex all at once in one room. Fungisai would entice the children with food and money.

“I then took my niece away and suspected that she had a sexually transmitted infection.
“When we went to the doctor, she was diagnosed with an STI and treated and I confronted Fungisai about child prostitution and the brothel because I felt that she had no right to use young girls.”
A few weeks later, the minor escaped her aunt’s custody and returned to Fungisai’s brothel.
Her aunt followed up on her but she still returned to the place.

Prosecutor Valerie Ngoma alleged that sometime in October last year, Masiya went to Fungisai’s residence and asked to have sexual intercourse with the victim but she refused.
The court heard that Fungisai and Masiya forcibly tore the child’s underwear and laid her on the blankets before she was raped.

It was alleged that after the incident, Masiya gave Fungisai money as payment for the sexual services.
The matter was later reported to the police leading to her arrest. Daily News

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

Irate MDC supporters have accused provincial chairperson James Gumbi of undermining the authority of party president Nelson Chamisa.

The supporters also took a swipe at Gumbi for boasting of paying Morgan Tsvangirai’s medical bills.

Gumbi riled party members last week when he bragged about the role he played in the payment of Tsvangirai’ s medical bills.

“We have an audio recording of what he said so we will present it to Honourable Chamisa,” said a senior party member.

“Gumbi must quality his remarks because uttered derogatory words,” said another MDC official.

Gumbi further claimed he was the chief financier of the party.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

A Zimbabwe National Army soldier went berserk and harassed journalists in Masvingo last week.

The soldier, Donald Manenji and Shamiso Tavaruva, the daughter of prominent Masvingo businessman, Tanda Tavaruva, popularly known as Mhunga, stormed the Tell Zim offices and threatened journalists at the weekly publication following story that was published by the paper last week.

The paper reported that the two severely assaulted a Masvingo man for allegedly abusing his former girlfriend.

The soldier threatened to assault the paper’ s editor, Passmore Kuzipa.

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists last week condemned the harassment and intimidation of innocent news reporters.

“We strongly condemn such uncivilised behaviour,” said ZUJ in a statement.

By Paul Nyathi | An eighty year old gogo from Harare’s Arcadia Suburb has been kicked out of her home of nearly thirty five years by the Messenger of the High Court.

Gogo Violet De Souza was evicted by officers from the court into the streets on Wednesday afternoon with all her belongings.

Her offence being for outstanding death taxes that were left unpaid by previous occupants of the house.

ZimEye.com sources close to the old lady indicated that gogo Desouza moved into the house in 1994 when her late husband was bought the house by his employer as a retirement gratuity.

“A year ago the courts started pestering the old lady about the death taxes of the previous owners,” said a source who claimed to be a close neighbour to the old lady.

“Apparently she did not understand the papers from the courts until she saw people from the courts coming to evict her yesterday claiming that the house had been sold to recover the taxes,” said the neighbour.

Zimbabwean law requires that the estate of every deceased person be registered with the courts within 14 days from the date of death.

The registration is done by way of completion of a death notice and filing it with the Master of the High Court for a person who was married under the Marriage Act (Chapter 5:11), or who left a will; and with the Magistrates’ Courts for a person who was married under the Customary Marriages Act (Chapter 5:07) or was in an unregistered customary law union.

The person expected to complete and file the death notice is the next of kin or connection who stays near or at the place that the deceased passed away.

If these are not available to register the estate, the person who at or immediately after death has chief charge of the house or the place at which the death occurred is expected to complete the death notice which is the provision that incriminated gogo Desouza as they appear not to have executed a change of ownership of the property when they moved in.

A death certificate is not a requirement to register an estate unless the master calls upon the person registering to produce it.

It is a criminal offence to fail to register the estate of a deceased person.

Speaking to ZimEye.com on the matter, human rights activist who is also an aspiring parliamentary candidate for the area, Linda Masarire, said that the courts will need to revisit the old lady’s case as the eviction of the lady contradicts her constitutional rights to the property.

“Our ethics and character as a nation should be judged by the way we treat the elderly citizenry in our communities,” she said.

“The national objectives cited in the constitution of Zimbabwe is quite specific on section 21 In upholding the rights of the elderly. Evicting this 80 yr old granny flies in the face of these constitutional provisions besides being morally ubsurd,” added Masarire.

“The old granny should be allowed to enjoy the right to shelter which is part of our constitution. Being evicted should be the last thing to be expected by the elderly.”

Asked on what interventions they have taken as human rights activists for the old lady, Masarire said that they had sourced a tent for the old lady in case it rains as she is staying outside the property at the gate.

Masarire also indicated that they have engaged a human rights lawyer for the old lady who has since met with the lady and will be filing an urgent case at the High Court to get the lady back into her property.

Gogo Desouza is adamant never to leave the property vowing to die staying outside the gate.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | A senior MDC official, stunned party members when he claimed he was in charge of the country’ s largest opposition party.

Controversial MDC Masvingo Provincial Chairperson, James Gumbi told the shell shocked party members at the party offices at the weekend he personally instructed Morgan Tsvangirai to appoint Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri as vice presidents.

“I told Tsvangirai to appoint Chamisa and Mudzuri as vice presidents.

As such I am practically in charge of the party.

I will not take instructions from anyone. Above all I do not report to anyone.

This time I will personally select both local government and Parliamentary candidates.

I will personally recommend the candidates who will represent the party in the coming elections,” said Gumbi.

Disgruntled party members claimed Gumbi was under the influence of alcohol when he made the remarks.

Britain’s immigration authority has denied a ministerial delegation from Zimbabwe visas to attend a key investment conference in London convened to discuss investment opportunities in the southern African nation.

Three ministers and a deputy minister were set to be speakers to the Zimdaba London 2018 Conference that opens today, but were denied visas by the United Kingdom authorities.

Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development minister Mike Bimha, Energy and Power Development minister Simon Khaya Moyo, deputy minister of Finance and Economic Planning Terence Mukupe and chairperson of the Special Economic Zones Authority Gideon Gono had applied for five-day visas to attend the Zimdaba London 2018, which runs for two days from today, and is to be hosted at The Royal Geographical Society in London.

Only Mines and Mining Development minister Winston Chitando was reportedly granted a visa and arrived in London yesterday.

Chitando is a former executive chairman for Mimosa Mine — a joint venture between Implats and Acqurius and was appointed Mines and Mining Development minister in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Cabinet in November, with his appointment sending positive signals to business and investors.

The Daily News understands there were also efforts to issue Bimha a visa late yesterday.

Earlier, two other ministers had opted not to travel to London for the conference after it became apparent that the UK administration was not going to grant them visas.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister (retired Lt-General) Sibusiso Busi Moyo — who appeared on State television on the morning of November 15 to announce the military intervention with the memorable words “the situation in our country has moved to a new level” — had been invited to the London indaba together with Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement minister (retired Air Marshal) Perrance Shiri, but were removed as speakers at the last minute after their visa denial reportedly prompted an angry reaction from the two military men.

Shiri is a former head of the air force who led the Fifth Army Brigade during the Gukurahundi massacres in Matabeleland in 1983-84.

The UK Visas and Immigration did not respond to applications for visas or give reasons why the ministers were not permitted entry to the UK.

A British embassy spokesperson in the Harare told the Daily News yesterday: “We do not comment on individual visa cases.”

Munyaradzi Majoni, the director of Consolidated Africa Services (CAS), which is organising the conference, said the ministerial delegation was not denied visas but there was a delay.

“There has been a hold-up,” Majoni told the Daily News yesterday.

“We have been talking to the British Embassy in Harare and London and they have okayed everything. We are awaiting for Pretoria. We have nowhere where we have been told that no one has been denied a visa, but there was a delay in the process.”

Asked if they are postponing the conference which was set to open today, Majoni said: “We are not postponing, we will change the programme. We will amend and adjust the programme for those that have been delayed.”

He said the indaba has been fully subscribed.

“It’s over 100 percent oversubscribed. In our delegate list, we were looking for 350 people to attend, across Europe, UK, the Americas and Asia. At the moment, we have over 700 delegates registered and others on the waiting list. We cannot postpone.”

Majoni said besides the ministerial delegation, there were directors standing in for various ministries and some from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).
“They have already travelled,” Majoni said. “So the conference will go on and successfully so.”

Asked why the Foreign minister Moyo had been scrapped from the programme, Majoni said “he has been highly engaged elsewhere”.

“He has another engagement in London in a couple of weeks from now,” he said.

He said Shiri had decided not to travel over the visa hassles but has delegated “his director of agricultural economy,” to stand in for him.

All business players earmarked to speak at the conference were issued with visas and allowed to travel.

These include the president of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries Sifelani Jabangwe; president of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Divine Ndhlukula; Andrew Gaines, managing director of DeRisk; Edward Haslam, the former chief executive officer (CEO) of Lonmin Plc; John Siko, head of Business Intelligence, Africa, Risk Advisory Group; Chantele Carrington, chief operating officer of PwC Africa Business Group.

Other business players travelling and speaking at the indaba are Bob Diamond, chairman and co-Founder of Atlas Mara; Andrew Moorfield, head of natural resources at Exotix Capital; Nico Bezuidenhout, CEO of Fastjet; Ana Hajduka, CEO of African GreenCo; Narrotam Somani, chairman of Surface Wilmar; Reason Machigere, head of planning and investment promotion at the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority; Gerald Mlotshwa, senior partner at Titan Law; Ross Alexander, CEO of AML; Hopewell Mauwa, director of global markets and Mining & Metals EY; Tobs Strong, CEO of Rift Valley Corporation; Mark Tunmer, CEO of Imara Capital Zimbabwe; Igor Higer of Great Dyke Investments; Alexander Mavros, director of Mavros Safaris & Explore Zimbabwe and Alan Gullan from the private sector.

Britain, Zimbabwe’s former colonial power, has previously stood at the forefront of efforts to isolate Zimbabwe, but the Mnangagwa regime has been keen to mend relations as a critical step towards re-establishing ties with the West and international financial institutions.

Diplomatic ties between the UK and Zimbabwe soured during the turn of the century over charges that the ruling Zanu PF party had rigged elections and used violence to cling to power.

British conglomerates also divested from Zimbabwe during the 2000-2008 period at the height of an economic crisis, put off by Britain’s frosty ties with its former colony after the ruling party’s often-violent grab of commercial farms belonging to white farmers.

The Zimdaba London 2018 brings together business leaders and investors from the UK and Europe, together with a high-level business and ministerial delegation from Zimbabwe, to discuss and action investment opportunities here.

It is the largest gathering of Zimbabwe ministers and business leaders outside of Africa since Mnangagwa took office in November 2017 in a soft coup that toppled long-ruling despot Robert Mugabe.

Formally endorsed by the OPC, the event has been marketed as an opportunity for investors from around the world to attend and hear firsthand about the numerous business opportunities available in Zimbabwe.

But Britain has refused to issue visas to the Zimbabwean ministers, in a move being interpreted as a shift in Whitehall’s engagement with Harare.- Daily News

By Paul Nyathi | An eighty year old gogo from Harare’s Arcadia Suburb has been kicked out of her home of nearly thirty five years by the Messenger of the High Court.

Gogo Violet De Souza was evicted by officers from the court into the streets on Wednesday afternoon with all her belongings.

Her offence being for outstanding death taxes that were left unpaid by previous occupants of the house.

ZimEye.com sources close to the old lady indicated that gogo Desouza moved into the house in 1994 when her late husband was bought the house by his employer as a retirement gratuity.

“A year ago the courts started pestering the old lady about the death taxes of the previous owners,” said a source who claimed to be a close neighbour to the old lady.

“Apparently she did not understand the papers from the courts until she saw people from the courts coming to evict her yesterday claiming that the house had been sold to recover the taxes,” said the neighbour.

Zimbabwean law requires that the estate of every deceased person be registered with the courts within 14 days from the date of death.

The registration is done by way of completion of a death notice and filing it with the Master of the High Court for a person who was married under the Marriage Act (Chapter 5:11), or who left a will; and with the Magistrates’ Courts for a person who was married under the Customary Marriages Act (Chapter 5:07) or was in an unregistered customary law union.

The person expected to complete and file the death notice is the next of kin or connection who stays near or at the place that the deceased passed away.

If these are not available to register the estate, the person who at or immediately after death has chief charge of the house or the place at which the death occurred is expected to complete the death notice which is the provision that incriminated gogo Desouza as they appear not to have executed a change of ownership of the property when they moved in.

A death certificate is not a requirement to register an estate unless the master calls upon the person registering to produce it.

It is a criminal offence to fail to register the estate of a deceased person.

Speaking to ZimEye.com on the matter, human rights activist who is also an aspiring parliamentary candidate for the area, Linda Masarire, said that the courts will need to revisit the old lady’s case as the eviction of the lady contradicts her constitutional rights to the property.

“Our ethics and character as a nation should be judged by the way we treat the elderly citizenry in our communities,” she said.

“The national objectives cited in the constitution of Zimbabwe is quite specific on section 21 In upholding the rights of the elderly. Evicting this 80 yr old granny flies in the face of these constitutional provisions besides being morally ubsurd,” added Masarire.

“The old granny should be allowed to enjoy the right to shelter which is part of our constitution. Being evicted should be the last thing to be expected by the elderly.”

Asked on what interventions they have taken as human rights activists for the old lady, Masarire said that they had sourced a tent for the old lady in case it rains as she is staying outside the property at the gate.

Masarire also indicated that they have engaged a human rights lawyer for the old lady who has since met with the lady and will be filing an urgent case at the High Court to get the lady back into her property.

Gogo Desouza is adamant never to leave the property vowing to die staying outside the gate.

Terrence Mawawa

A Zanu PF Youth League member was murdered by his colleague during a nasty brawl over the selection of candidates.

Zanu PF Chiundura District youth leader, Claudius Chikope was struck with an empty bottle by one Washington Mutetwa.

The incident happened at Zaloba Business Centre in Chiundura District, Midlands Province last Friday, according to the police.

The two clashed over the selection of candidates in the area.

“Zanu PF Chiundura District youth leader (Claudius Chikope) was killed by his colleague as they argued over the selection of candidates. Chikope’ s neck was slit open after being attacked by Washington Mutetwa at Zaloba Business Centre,” said the police in Gweru.

Midlands Provincial Police Spokesperson, Ethel Mukwende confirmed the incident but would not disclose what led to the tragedy.

Statement : President Nelson Chamisa today visited stranded patients at Harare hospital following a strike by doctors and senior medical personnel that has crippled the country’s health services sector.

After the tour, President Chamisa immediately called on the government to look into the very reasonable demands by the country’s doctors, whom he said were earning far much lower than their peers in the region and on the continent.

The doctors are striking over low salaries, on-call allowances, poor working conditions and lack of essential drugs, among other reasons.

President Chamisa toured various wards at the hospital speaking to patients before calling on the hospital’s chief executive to appreciate the enormity of the crisis at one of the country’s major national health referral centres. The chief executive told President Chamisa that the outpatients department had been seriously affected by the work stoppage by doctors.

Addressing journalists outside the hospital’s maternity wing at the hospital, President Chamisa urged the government to urgently look into the genuine grievances by the country’s doctors.

He said President Mnangagwa cannot continue with his mantra that the country was open for business when it is not open for health. He said the country’s medical staff worked under very difficult conditions and the government had to prioritize the health of citizens.

He said doctors and medical personnel in countries like South Africa and Rwanda earned far much more and enjoyed better working conditions than the health workers in Zimbabwe.

He pledged that his incoming government would take seriously its responsibility particularly in the social sectors such as health and education.

President Chamisa said the party would do all it can to ensure that the next elections are free and fair to enable a new government to attend to the myriad challenges facing the people.

He was accompanied by the party’s Health Secretary Dr Ruth Labode, Secretary for Elections Hon. Murisi Zwizwai, the MDC Harare Province Chairperson Hon. Eric Murai, National Youth chairperson Happymore Chidziva, Deputy Treasurer General Mr. Charlton Hwende, several MPs and other senior officials in the party.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Presidential Spokesperson and Director of Communications

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | Masvingo State Minister, Josaya Dunira Hungwe is making frantic efforts to impose his cousin as the Zanu PF Parliamentary candidate for Masvingo Urban Constituency.

Hungwe declared that his cousin, Goddard Dunira was the party’ s sole candidate for Masvingo Urban Constituency, party insiders said yesterday.

Dunira, who is a councillor in Chivi is facing tough competition from Eddison Zvobgo Junior, who is eyeing the same Parliamentary Seat.

“Hungwe told party members during the Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting at the weekend Zvobgo’ s credentials were questionable because of his late father’s chequered political record.

Two other candidates are also eyeing the same constituency,” said a party insider.

Both Hungwe and Zvobgo Junior have dismissed talk of beef between them.

Relatives of the late former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai are challenging the legality of Ms Elizabeth Macheka’s marriage to the politician, accusing the widow of fraudulently leaving out five houses and 17 vehicles in the inventory of properties filed at the Master of High Court’s office.

The Tsvangirai family members have instructed prominent Harare lawyer Mr Jonathan Samukange of Venturas & Samukange Legal Practitioners to request a meeting with all the interested parties before the Master to discuss the matter.

He has also asked the Master to invite all the interested parties for a roundtable meeting.

“We have instructions to challenge Elizabeth Macheka as the deceased’s surviving spouse and the inventory that she lodged with yourselves. The inventory left out several properties and it is our firm belief that this was done fraudulently”.

The family members contend that Ms Macheka deliberately under-declared the properties left behind by the late politician.

Ms Macheka rushed to register the estate of the late politician indicating that she was the only surviving spouse.

She went on to declare only one house in Strathaven, Harare, as the only immovable property that the late politician owned.

She listed six vehicles, a herd of 45 cattle in Kwekwe and others in Buhera as the only property forming the estate.

The vehicles were listed as follows:

Mercedes Benz S350         (ABI 6365)
Mercedes Benz GL        (ADV 9705)
Toyota Prado             (ADQ 1536)
Isuzu KB300            (ACG 6324)
Isuzu KB250            (ACB 8661)
Isuzu KB250            (ACB 8559)

Mr Samukange, in a letter dated March 8 2018, informed the Master of High Court that the following immovable properties were fraudulently left out by Ms Macheka:

Highlands house
Borrowdale house
Philadelphia house
Number 16 Kent Road house
A farm in Mazowe

The following vehicles, according to the relatives, were also left out on the inventory: three Mercedes Benz vehicles, a Range Rover, Nissan Navara, three Toyota Prado vehicles, a Toyota Vitz, a Toyota Hilux, five Isuzu trucks, a BMW X5 (at Gwanda Police Station) and a Toyota Land Cruiser (at CMED).

The Master of High Court is yet to respond to the request.

Meanwhile, Ms Macheka has also requested for an edict meeting to appoint an executor dative to the estate it has since been set for March 27 this year.

Nine children—one minor and eight majors—were also listed as the children of the late Tsvangirai.

The names are; Edwin, Vimbai, Millicent, Miriro, Ethen, Garikai, Rumbidzai, Vincent and Richard.

Tsvangirai died on February 14 in South Africa after battling cancer of the colon at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre.

He was accorded a State assisted funeral and he was buried at his rural home at Humanikwa Village in Buhera.

Apparently, Ms Macheka has been accused of kicking out children of the late MDC-T leader from the majestic Highlands mansion anticipating that the Government will honour its promise and grant the property to her as the surviving spouse.

President Mnangagwa is on record undertaking to fulfil all the promises that the Government made on the late Mr Tsvangirai, including transfer of ownership of the State mansion into his name.

The mansion was the matrimonial home for the late politician and his widow.

By Paul Nyathi

Scores of Welshman Ncube led MDC members in Gwanda Central over the weekend declared that they were leaving the party to join the Dumiso Dabengwa led ZAPU.

The sixty members who included a majority of the party’s ward committees told Voice Of America’s Studio Seven on Saturday that they were quitting the party because of its lack of principled top leadership.

According to the reports the members claimed that the MDC operates as a brief case party and never gets to be seen in between elections only to appear canvassing for votes at election time.

“We last saw Welshman Ncube or any of his people here in 2013 while other parties have been appearing and attending to our issues,” said one of the members.

While others were taking swipe at the MDC Alliance coalition partner, others claimed that they were joining the Dabengwa led ZAPU to revive the old spirit of the late Joshua Nkomo.

“We have always been ZAPU and we joined these other parties because our ZAPU had disappeared into ZANU PF, now that ZAPU is back we have no alternative but to go back home and revive the spirit of Joshua Nkomo,” said one lady.

ZAPU has been out on a massive campaign in the Matabeleland region where it is expecting to draw a following for the upcoming harmonised elections.

The party is expected to hold its first star rally of the campaign in Gwanda in April.

By Paul Nyathi

Ambitious and power wanting MDC-T Deputy Information Secretary who has been eying the third party Vice President position is likely not to get the position after all.

Khumalo has been positioning herself to land the position likely to fall vacant when incumbent Thokozani Khuphe who was equally eyeing the party presidency position leaves the party anytime soon.

Khuphe positioned herself for a long time as the heir to the late founding President Morgan Tsvangirai only to be out manoeuvred by Nelson Chamisa right at the end of the succession race.

In a similar manner, Thabitha Khumalo is at a huge risk of losing the Vice President positioning she is vying for so much to fellow female Matabeleland leader Bulawayo Central legislator Dorcas Sibanda.

Impeccable sources within the MDC-T indicated to ZimEye.com that members of the party in Bulawayo are secretly lobbying to sideline Khumalo who they claim to be “power hungry” and responsible for some of the party squabbles in the province.

According to the sources, senior party leaders in the City have since advised party President Nelson Chamisa that the region’s preferred replacement of Khuphe when she eventually leaves the party is Sibanda instead of Khumalo.

The two women have over the years taken turns to hit headlines with various controversies that may taint their social standings as Vice President.

Khumalo has on more than one occasion voluntary undressed in public in dramatic protests while Sibanda was at one time dragged into controversy for assaulting a hair dresser and refusing to pay her.

ZimEye.com could not get a comment on the developments from the MDC-T Bulawayo Province Chairman Gift Banda.

By Paul Nyathi| Beleaguered MDC-T Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe will be holding her first public address since the death of former party President Morgan Tsvangirai which saw her get involved in severe party leadership squabbles.

The rally which was postponed at the last minute last week on the advice of the police will be held at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre on Sunday.

Highly reliable sources close to Khuphe revealed to ZimEye.com that the rally has been cleared by the police who have also undertaken to provide security at the gathering.

Police in Bulawayo last week declined to sanction the rally raising fears of intra party violence within the MDC-T feuding factions.

Two weeks ago MDC-T supporters brutally attacked each other at the party offices as the rivalry in the party leadership intensified.

Khuphe is involved in a bitter fight for the leadership of the party with Nelson Chamisa who she accuses of unconstitutionally spiralling himself to the leadership of the party.

She is also strongly against the allocation of seats in the MDC Alliance coalition agreement where she claims the MDC-T was not given enough stake against coalition partners she claims are bringing no value into the Alliance.

Khuphe’s rally has surprisingly attracted a huge attention from varied sectors within the Matabeleland region.

Social media commentators in the region have been pledging to go out in numbers to show support for Khuphe who they claim is a victim of tribal and sexual discrimination by the Chamisa leadership.

Coalition partner Welshman Ncube of the MDC last week told a rally that Chamisa’s rise to the leadership of the MDC-T and the Alliance was endorsed by feared and respected Ndebele spirit medium, Njelele of Matopo, effectively ruling out any tribal discrimination against Khuphe.

Efforts to get a comment from Khuphe or her personal assistant Witness Dube on the agenda of the meeting were fruitless at the time of writing.

However, the sources indicated that Khuphe who “will be accompanied by surprise MDC-T senior members” will announce the inevitable third split of the party at the rally.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday launched the country’s Information Communication Technology policy to guide Zimbabwe’s economic development through a coordinated use of ICTs.

The ICT policy, together with the Innovation Drive, a policy to provide funding to young innovators were launched at the Harare International Conference Centre at a ceremony attended by ICT and Cyber Security Minister Supa Mandiwanzira and several senior Government officials.

“This policy will undoubtedly provide strategic direction and guidance for sustainable national economic development through systematic and coordinated application of ICT’s,” he said.

“The ICT policy is thus aimed at transformation, growth, inclusiveness, sustainability, innovation and partnerships in the mainstream economy and puts in place institutional, legal and regulatory frameworks in order to achieve its intended goals. It is therefore envisaged that all sectors of the economy and society at large will harness the power of ICT’s for the development of our nation.”

President Mnangagwa commended players in the ICT’s sector for their advances that have seen the penetration rate rise to 95 percent and a geographical coverage of 75 percent.

“Furthermore, ICT must be viewed as an economic enabler for the development and establishment of sector appropriate solutions with comprehensive breath, depth, flexibility and applicability.

“To this end the importance of this policy will go a long way towards making information technology revolution, the basis for ultimately transforming Zimbabwe into an e-society,” he said.

The President added that Government was making great strides through investments in ICT backbone infrastructure, ICT education, research and development, the expansion of Community Information Centres, as well as ICT governance and training of Government officials in ICT usage.

“My Government remains committed to speeding up the implementation of e-governance which will enhance communication and services between Government to Government; Government and business; Government and citizens; Government to employee as well as the back office process to smoothen interactions within the entire Government machinery,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said e-government would ensure services are available to citizens in a convenient, efficient and transparent manner and help in eradicating poverty through automated systems which remove bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“I further challenge our Government ministries and departments to spruce up their web sites to make them more interactive, responsive and reflective of the current impetus under the new dispensation.

“Let us all in our image, actions and service culture reflect that it is a new era and, ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business,” President Mnangagwa added.

He said Government would continue supporting use of ICT in areas such as education, agriculture, tourism among others.

“I challenge those in the education sector to also deploy ICT’s to advance and inculcate national identity, values and ethos as well as in defence of our national interests and cultural heritage.

“In the same vein we must always be alert to the need to protect the young and vulnerable from the vices associated with ICT’s and the threat of cyber crimes.”

Meanwhile, Minister Mandiwanzira donated 200 computers to President Mnangagwa to hand over to any schools of his choice to promote use of ICT’s in the education sector.- state media

By Paul Nyathi

A 59 year old woman has been killed in a horrific accident on the Harare to Chitungwiza Highway on the accident prone Manyame Bridge on Wednesday evening.

The woman was knocked down by a fast moving Mazda B1800 pick up truck as she attempted to cross the busy highway seconds after disembarking from a bus.

ZimEye.com sources at the scene of the accident said that the woman had just got off a bus with her husband coming from a funeral on Mutoko when they attempted to cross the highway.

The husband is reported to have dashed through the extremely busy highway and crossed while his wife was following behind.

The woman was unfortunate as she was knocked down by the very fast moving bakkie and died on the spot.

The name of the woman who has since been identified can not be published as some next of kin are still being contacted on the death.

At the time of writing this news article the body of the deceased had still not been removed from the scene thirty minutes after the accident as police from St Mary’s were still attending to the scene.

Traffic between the two cities got heavily congested and stretched back for over a kilometre on either sides of the scene.

Millions of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora are kept guessing after   a local court reserved judgement on their right to vote.

The Constitutional Court reserved judgement in the #DiasporaVote case this morning. I hope that the court does not sit on it until after the elections before giving a ruling on the matter. Everyone has the right to vote and must be given a chance to exercise that right.?

— Doug Coltart ✊??? (@DougColtart) March 14, 2018

Zanu PF has resolved to set up an Elections Commission to manage the party’s primary elections ahead of the harmonised national elections to be held later this year.

The Commission will be chaired by the party’s National Political Commissar, Engelbert Rugeje while other members will be appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa based on their experience and loyalty to the party, among other attributes.

This was confirmed by the party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Simon Khaya Moyo at the end of the extraordinary meeting at the party headquarters in Harare this afternoon.

“The party resolved to set up an elections commission that is tasked to scrutinise the names of approved candidates for local authorities and parliamentary elections. The National Political Commissar, Engelbert Rugeje will chair the commission and names of other shall be chosen by the President and First Secretary of the party on the basis of integrity, probity, skills, competence, loyalty and commitment to the party,” said Khaya Moyo.

Khaya Moyo added that the Politburo resolved that any member who wishes to stand for primaries should submit their names to the provinces for scrutiny, before making recommendations and passing them on to the Politburo for final decision.

He also said the provinces should also forward the names that they may not approve, stating the reasons for non-approval and the final decision shall be taken by the Politburo.

The extraordinary session of the Politburo also saw the presentation of reports.

Rugeje gave a comprehensive roadmap stating that the President will visit Matabeleland North Province after a successful visit to Mashonaland Central Province.

Other activities on the party programmes include presidential tours aimed at introducing Manangagwa to the people in the provinces.

The tours are also linked to economic activities taking place in the different areas as part of the 100 days quick win projects.

The party’s National Chairperson, Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri presented a report on the preparations for elections focusing on the party regalia and manifesto, while the Secretary for Finance, Patrick Chinamasa stood on behalf of the Secretary for Legal Affairs, Paul Mangwana to present a report on the rules and regulations governing the conduct of primary elections.

At the opening session of the Politburo, Mnangagwa reiterated his call for peace and tolerance for the elections to be free, fair and credible.- state media

Police Spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba has urged the public not to be dismayed by the resurfacing of the roadblocks saying Government has put in place drastic measures to curb corruption and harassment of motorists by traffic cops.

Addressing a media workshop in Gweru yesterday, Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the resurfacing of roadblocks was meant to protect the public from criminals and not to swindle motorists.

Snr Ass Comm Charamba said it was impossible for a country to operate without roadblocks as such an arrangement gives room for criminal activities to go undetected.

“We know there is an outcry due to resurfacing of roadblocks lately, but we cannot do without roadblocks because they are part of our duties. It is our duty as police to mount roadblocks provided they are done objectively.

We have put-up measures that are meant to ensure that corruption is not anywhere near the roadblocks. I urge the public to report any case of corruption to the nearest relevant authorities so that the culprits can be dealt with,” she said.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said not all police officers where corrupt. She said they have put in place an anti-corruption team to monitor roadblocks.

“Not all police officers are corrupt. There are only a few rotten apples in the basket that are dragging the name of the police force into disrepute. Those are the ones that our anti-corruption team will be targeting,” she said.

“We are assuring the public that we are not in any way going to tolerate any cases of corruption. Once reported, the person will be fired, no two ways about that and I mean it. People will lose jobs over corruption,” she said.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said roadblocks were not only mounted for vehicle inspection purposes.

Some are meant for awareness campaigns.

“There are so many cases where we have apprehended moving criminals, those that go round conducting criminal activities, so we have to man roadblocks for such operations,” she said.- state media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is heading to Ivory Coast for the Africa CEO Forum as he ramps up efforts to lure foreign investment.

A lot of attention will focus on Zimbabwe’s new president, who deposed long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, who was the world’s oldest leader until the military intervened in November last year.

Mnangagwa is heading to Ivory Coast’s capital Abidjan to convince potential investors that the country is now open for business.

CEOs of the largest African and international companies, political decision makers from more than 40 African countries and the most active bankers and investors on the continent will gather on March 26 and 27 in Ivory Coast, for the 6th edition of the Africa CEO Forum.

The forum is a unique platform for discussion and debate around the economic and industrial challenges facing the African continent. Organised by the Group Jeune Afrique and Rainbow Unlimited, in partnership with the African Development Bank, the forum has become the foremost international event dedicated to the development of the private sector in Africa.

Mnangagwa, together with George Weah, the newly-elected Liberia President, are the only heads of States that are expected to address the forum together with former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Mnangagwa is expected to give an overview of the strategies for Zimbabwe’s economic revival to the investor community following his ascendancy to power in November last year.

“In an unprecedented inter-presidential panel, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo and Zimbabwe’s new president will discuss ways to lift the country out of its isolation and get the economy back on its feet.

“Mnangagwa’s accession to the presidency of Zimbabwe in late November 2017 marks the beginning of a new era for the country.

“After 17 years of isolation and economic sanctions, this historic transition has raised the population’s expectations, especially around economic recovery and job creation in a country suffering from widespread unemployment.

“Gearing up to face these challenges and preparing Zimbabwe to re-engage with the rest of the world, … Mnangagwa will present his country’s economic potential to the international investor and business community at the Africa CEO Forum,” the organisation said.

Mnangagwa has been selling Zimbabwe as a country now open for business, following the Mugabe’s departure.

Mugabe had led Zimbabwe in isolation, as his policies locked away potential investors, as the country also reeled under economic sanctions.

Mnangagwa has been trying to break the barriers and open the country to the international community and improve relations with other countries, as he seeks to improve the country’s image and investment opportunities.

This forum is one of the many initiatives that he will use to market Zimbabwe to the international community.

“As the world’s third-largest platinum producer and with abundant diamond reserves, significant agricultural resources, and one of the highest adult literacy rates in Africa, Zimbabwe has a lot to offer. … Mnangagwa will share his vision for Zimbabwe’s economic recovery before an audience of more than 1 200 business leaders, international investors and policy makers.

“The Africa CEO Forum’s exclusive inter-presidential panel will give … Mnangagwa the opportunity to exchange with … Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria.

“Having emerged from a long period of economic isolation, Nigeria offers a solid example on which to base discussions on strategic priorities that must be implemented to revive Zimbabwe’s economy and put an end to sanctions,” the organisation said.

Other presidents that have previously attended the Africa CEO Forum are from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.- Daily News