Hands off MDC T – Khupe Warned

By Talent Gondo | The MDC has dismissed the extra ordinary Congress being organised by its former Vice President, Thokozani Khupe as a non event which party supporters should shun since the organiser of the Congress remained expelled and powerless to call for it.

In a statement issued today, the party’s Acting National Spokesperson, Tabitha Khumalo said Khupe, Abednigo Bhebhe and Obert Gutu remained expelled from the party and if they still wished to be part of the MDC T family, they knew and were welcome to follow the proper channels within the party.

“Former Vice President Khupe, Bhebhe and Gutu remain expelled from the party and have neither the power nor the mandate to call for a purported extra-ordinary Congress under the name of the MDC-T,” said Khumalo.

“The facts are that Ms Khupe is just an individual; an expelled one for that matter with no power at all to call for any Congress or any meeting of the party.”

Khumalo said the party’s highest decision making body between congresses, the National Council, had already concluded the issues being raised by Khupe.

“She (Khupe) has the right to exhaust all available domestic and internal remedies as provided for in the party Constitution,” said Khumalo.

“The Constitution is very clear on how and who should call for an extra-ordinary Congress and former members that have been expelled have no such powers. Their cause has no support from any of the organs of the party, including any of the 12 provinces or of the 1 958 wards the party.”

Khumalo said Khupe’ s issues were now a “lost cause” since she had shunned the dialogue which the party president and it’s leadership sought before the party’s supreme decision making body reached consensus on how to handle her, Bhebhe and Gutu.

“The President, Nelson Chamisa extended the time frame given to the trio by the national council in order to give dialogue a chance but the former comrades remained obstinate,” said Khumalo, adding that stakeholders, including members of the public and the press are advised not to entertain the aforementioned as officials acting for or on behalf of the party.

“The party is pursuing all remedies and putting in place the necessary measures to stop the abuse of the party, its name and or property,” she said.

Khumalo emphasised the importance of remaining focused adding that since Zimbabwe was heading towards elections, it was “certainly not the right time for needless sideshows meant to distract the opposition from the key matters at hand”.

Mnangagwa Jaunts Cause A Storm

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is reported to have travelled to 13 countries over the past few weeks almost breaking the record of the most travelled President his former boss Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa currently in China with his wife and dozens of hangers on has attracted much criticism over the trips most Zimbabweans see no value addition to their daily lives.

The local Daily News reports that opinion was starkly divided yesterday over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s jet-setting, which has made him a visitor in his own country.

Mnangagwa has been aggressive in his external engagements, both regional and internationally.

While his publicists argue that the visits were meant to re-open doors for the country, shut during former president Robert Mugabe’s autocratic rule, his foreign trips have infuriated some who believe they are a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Piers Pigou, a senior consultant at the International Crisis Group, said Mnangagwa must balance domestic and intentional priorities.

He said while he needs to ensure he keeps key foreign relations in hand, he must avoid emulating Mugabe’s incessant travel.

Pigou said concerns centred on the associated costs of these trips, where a surplus of bureaucrats and hangers-on was in evidence.

“Whilst building legitimacy and support is a necessary focus, this will only be underwritten by domestic legitimacy and tangible actions or improvements in lives of ordinary Zimbabweans. The voters will determine whether he had delivered and in so doing struck the right balance,” Pigou told the Daily News.

Stephen Chan, a professor of world politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, said it was a fact of life that a president must travel.

“In the case of Mnangagwa, he has to address the concerns of the Sadc presidents that the elections will be clean, because that is the one huge test before the international community will confer legitimacy upon him,” he said.

As for China, he said, Mnangagwa needs to persuade Beijing to kick-start what he knows are existing standby funds that will help Zimbabwe.

“They want more action still on corruption. They are asking why they should throw good money after bad.

“And they feel they were treated very unkindly over mining rights,” he said, referring to Chinese-run Anjin Investments, which was ordered to halt work and leave the Marange diamond fields after investing millions.

“Who bites the hand of the one feeding you? In traditional Chinese manners, that was churlish behaviour. President Xi is a very hard man.

“So Mnangagwa has got to assure many countries he is more than just brave words. They have been wonderful words but, really, so far they have been mostly words and not enough deep action.”
Chan said if Mnangagwa was travelling with a huge entourage, this will send the wrong signal.

“He wants to travel lightly with a few core expert advisers. He does not want to turn up and have people think, ‘what a bloated entourage!’

“That impresses nobody these days. You are important if you and your people know what you are talking about in detail, in projections, and in terms of optional outcomes. Otherwise he will be sent away with the wrong sort of smiles,” Chan said.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition southern Africa coordinator Joey Mabenge said the challenge Zimbabwe was already facing with Mnangagwa was that he is falling in exactly the same trap Mugabe was in, “wasting national resources on globe-trotting and bringing very little if anything, back home.”

“ . . . ED needs to spend more time home in Zimbabwe dealing decisively with governance issues; electoral reforms, political reforms and economic reforms.

“There is overemphasis by ED on international re-engagement and ED is over-talking to the outside world and not to Zimbabweans who need him most, unfortunately.

“International re-engagement should be balanced with dealing with more pressing national questions whose solutions are resting with a genuine national dialogue and open national democratic processes,” he said.

Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said the trips were not justified especially when the country is so broke and he wrested power on a promise of change from Mugabe’s wasteful ways.

“There is no political and economic sense in him travelling to countries where we have ambassadors. He should take cue from Magufuli,” he said referring to Tanzanian President John Magufuli, nicknamed “the Bulldozer”, who has introduced anti-corruption measures and tough economic reforms, including cuts to wasteful government spending, since taking office in November 2015.

Academic and fierce pro-Mnangagwa loyalist and newspaper columnist Reason Wafawarova said:

“The frequency of travel is concerning. The purpose is in two parts: Regional engagement and investment. Given the way he came to power, regional engagement is important. Investment is the only answer he can give for all questions on the economy.”

United Kingdom-based academic George Shire said “Mnangagwa’s strategy is paying off in that for the first time in 18 years, Zimbabwe is talked about positively on the international scene and that in itself is providing positive investor confidence in our country.”
“Perception matters a great deal in politics,” he said. Daily News

Mohadi, Sekeramayi Summoned Over Missing Diamonds

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy has summoned a number of political bigwigs as it seeks to wrap up investigations into the alleged disappearance of $15 billion worth of diamonds from Chiadzwa.

The committee’s chairperson, Mr Temba Mliswa, said the summoning of current and former high ranking government officials does not mean that they are guilty, but is only part of investigations into the alleged looting of diamonds at Chiadzwa during ex-President Robert Mugabe’s rule.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Mliswa said those who will appear before the committee on Monday are Vice President Kembo Mohadi in his capacity as former State Security as well as Home Affairs Minister, former Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi and former State Security and Presidential Affairs Minister, Mr Didymus Mutasa.

Commissioner General, Godwin Matanga, former Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo and former Mines and Energy Minister Walter Chidhakwa have already appeared before the committee in connection with the probe.

Mr Mliswa said they are working to conclude investigations and come up with recommendations.
“So we have asked for the former Minister of Home Affairs now Vice President Mohadi, former Minister State Security as well as Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa and the former Minister of Defence Sydney Sekeramayi. We are not saying that they are guilty but we would like to find out whether they knew about the concessions and who was running the concessions because all this information is very necessary,” said Mr Mliswa. “They have been summoned, they have received letters already and its done. VP Mohadi, Dr Sekeramayi and Didymus Mutasa have received their letters. They are definitely coming”.

He said all the interested parties including permanent secretaries and others would be there so that no-one passes the buck to the other.
Mr Mutasa yesterday said he had received his letter.

“I have received my letter to attend on Monday and since I am being called by Parliament, I will attend,” he said.

Mr Mliswa said the committee intends to leave no stone unturned in investigating the alleged diamonds looting at Chiadzwa and was keen to interview former police Commissioner General Dr Augustine Chihuri whose whereabouts remain unknown.

“In terms of the whereabouts of Chihuri, the police Commissioner General has assured us that he will find him. It’s important that he comes before the committee to clear the air on diamonds. We will meet him on Monday,” said Mr Mliswa.

“So I’m sure that all is being done to ensure that everybody attends so that this issue about the $15 billion and leakage of diamonds and the under buying of diamonds is resolved once and for all by parties involved so that there cannot be finger pointing at anybody”.

Comm Gen Matanga appeared before the committee and said he was not aware that the police force had a mining concession at Chiadzwa diamond fields in Marange.

He told legislators that he had only read about it in the media and his predecessor, Dr Chihuri, was best placed to explain further.

However, on two occasions Dr Chihuri failed to appear before the committee with Comm Gen Matanga revealing that they had failed to locate him.

Dr Chihuri did not turn up for first hearing on March 16 when he was supposed to appear before the committee and again did not turn up on March 23. Mr Mliswa ordered Comm Gen Matanga to leave no stone unturned in his search for his predecessor. – state media

Chamisa’s MDC Set To Elect Youngest Female MP?

Joan consoles mai Liz Tsvangirai

Advocate Nelson Chamisa who now leads the MDC Alliance was once the youngest MP in Zimbabwe, at 25 years old. The vibrant outspoken Chamisa then became a minister and now leads Zimbabwe’s biggest opposition party. At 40 he is the youngest Presidential candidate. Following in his footsteps is 25 year old scientist and human rights activist, Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe, who has shown interest in standing in the Harare West constituency.Mamombe holds a Bsc in Biotechnology from the Chinhoyi University of Technology and Msc in Genetic Manipulation and molecular cell biology from the University of Sussex UK. Her research focused on cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Below is one of her campaigners writing.

Obey Tererai Sithole | Today I have decided to use this platform to share a story of one young and vibrant woman whom I have had the privilege not only to know but to work with and share a lot with in the Zimbabwean democratic journey. Her name is Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe a.k.a Madikizela, she is 25 years old. Guess what, at 25 she has exhibited great capacity in fighting for a just, free and democratic Zimbabwe.

She was victimised, brutalised and arrested but that has never killed her resolve to fight on. This year, ahead of the 2018 elections she has decided to take the fight to the house of assembly representing the people of Harare West under the MDC Alliance ticket.
In a few weeks she shall be going through the party primaries to win the ticket, many have tried to ridicule her for the decision run but that’s unfortunate because we are with her.
I know she is capable because she has led before, she still leads and the results speak for her. We need such young and vibrant minds in parly, a rare calibre she is coming from the STEM family.
Contestation is democracy, let our Joana run the race!!!
#HerHarareWest
#OurHarareWes

Graca Machel Writes To Big Sis Winnie Mandela

Grace Machel and Winnie Mourn the late Mandela

My Big Sister,

It is with a heavy heart that I address you today. As I struggle to accept your transition, I take solace in the fact that you have risen to become one of the brightest stars in the sky where you will remain ever present and radiantly shining. You will continue to serve as a guide to your loving family, your grateful nation, our beloved Africa, and indeed, the world.

The extraordinary life you led is an example of resilient fortitude and inextinguishable passion that is a source of inspiration to us all of how to courageously confront challenges with unwavering strength and determination. Thank you for your brilliant wisdom, your fierce defiance, and your stylish beauty.

Fortunately, stars shine brightest during the darkest of hours. I know you will continue to illuminate our sky, even through the storms and clouds. Your legacy will be an uplifting beacon from which we can continue to draw guidance and strength during difficult times.

You loved our people unconditionally and sacrificed so much for our freedom. It is my prayer that as befitting tributes are paid to you both at home and abroad, all of us will internalize the values you helped to mould and birth into existence. As a nation, I hope we will stand tall and proud, and as uncompromising as you were in the defense and protection of our rights. As one of our brightest stars, continue to be the lioness that protects your children and your grandchildren. Warm their hearts so that while your transition may shake them, it does not break their spirit.

Love and Respect Always,
Your little sister, Graça

ZANU PF Youths Attack Mugabe

The replacement of errant leaders who violate the founding principles and constitution of the ruling party is not something new in Zanu PF as former president Robert Mugabe would want the world to believe, as he himself took over leadership from the late Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole whose actions were perceived to be against the anti-colonial revolution.

This was said by the Zanu PF Youth League Political Commissar, Godfrey Tsenengamu while launching the #EDHasMyVote campaign in Mhondoro – Ngezi.
Tsenengamu said the people rejected Mr Mugabe on the same basis the Mgagao Declaration propelled the former president to the helm of Zanu PF in the late 1970s.

The firebrand ruling party youth leader went further to say the former first family had relegated Zimbabweans into second class citizens, adding that history shows that Mr Mugabe is not the founder of the revolutionary party as he joined it at some stage.

“Mugabe is the least person to complain over his removal. He did the same at Mgagao before he was confirmed by congress in 1977. The same process of confirmation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa took place after the resignation of Mugabe. We are not second class citizens, so if Mugabe fails to respect our new leaders, we will denounce and shame him,” said Tsenengamu.

During the launch of the #EDHasMyVote campaign, Zanu PF Mashonaland West Provincial Youth League Chairperson, Vengi Musengi rallied his charges to refrain from violence, saying those caught on the wrong side of the law will face the music on their own.

“We are saying no to violence especially among youths. If you are given beer so as to engage in violence, know that you will not get that beer in court or jail,” he said.
Zimbabweans are expected to go for harmonised polls this July or August.- state media

HARARE WEST ELECTION: Why I Stand With Joana Mamombe

Scientist Joana Mamombe with an interest in cancer research

Why l choose to stand with Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe

1. I choose to stand with Joana because she is a fellow young woman who is seeking public office.
2. I choose to stand with Joana because her aspirations are my aspirations as a gender and political activist.
3. I choose to stand with Joana Mamombe because her choice to seek representative mandate from the people of Harare West must and should not be muzzled.
4.l choose to stand with Joana Mamombe because this battle is not hers alone,all youthful candidates resonate with it.
5. I choose to stand with Joana because there should be no sacred cows in political spaces.
6.l choose to stand with Joana because everyone, youths included, should go through democratic processes in their quest for public office.
7.l choose to stand with Joana because l believe in her capacity.
8.l choose to stand with Joana because l am a firm believer in the youth and women quota.
9.l choose to stand with Joana because youths are leaders of today not tomorrow.
10.l choose to stand with Joana because capacity is not defined by age.
I am not apologetic about my choice because what affects Joana today affects every youth in this political terrain.
#teamJojo #youthquota #youngpeopleareleadersoftoday
#generationalconsensus #leavenoyouthbehind

By Isabel C Mwonzora
National Secretary for Constitutional and Parliamentary affairs Youth Assembly MDC-T

Winnie Mandela Was A Fearless Woman

The late Winnie Mandela with her also late former husband Nelson Mandela

Inserted By Paul Nyathi

Statement From the Zimbabwe Communist Party

The Zimbabwe Communist Party joins with the family of Comrade Winnie Madikizela-Mandela,
the African National Congress and the entire South African people in mourning the passing and celebrating the life of one of the greatest struggle icons in the battle against apartheid.

This was a woman unafraid to speak her mind, a woman who could not bow down to the demands
of either racism or patriarchy.

We respectfully lower our Red Banner to her honoured memory.

Hamba Kahle Comrade Winnie, Famba Zvakanaka.

Comradely,

Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena
General Secretary
on behalf of the
National Steering Committee
and the entire membership of the
Zimbabwe Communist Party.

Grace Mugabe Slapped With Lawsuit For Theft Of Property, Abuse

By A Correspondent| In what could turn out an all out full fledged legal war – former First Lady Grace Mugabe has been slapped with a lawsuit by miners she says are land invaders and thieves.

Last week Grace descended onto a mining plot area belonging to Mr Shepherd Nyazvigo.

Mr Nyazvigo tells ZimEye.com that he has rights to the property dating back to several years before Grace Mugabe’s so called “special grant” which was only in 2014.

He has also showed ZimEye his High Court order (reference HC293/18) which bars police and Mugabe’s Gushungo Holdings from interfering with his group’s mining activities.

Grace caused a stir when she was drowned in chanting songs at the plot in a scuffle that saw her begin to scream back saying, “come and beat me up you have been making noise on me come and beat me up,” as Nyazvigo tells ZimEye.

Soon after that Grace then rushed to the nearby police station where she made a police report alleging theft of property.

“I was surprised to find 400 men busy panning gold. I then asked them to stop their activities since I am the owner of the farm and I am the holder of a special grant,” said Grace.

She also said, “theft cases have occurred at the (her Children’s) home.”

Yesterday, Nyazvigo said he has since instructed his “lawyers to file for a lawsuit.” ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW….

He said, “she can’t claim that we are invaders, illegal occupants, when we were the first people to be allocated the property and she know this, but was abusing the political muscle that she had,” he said.

Hawks After Bushiri On Massive Money Laundering

Up for money laundering Prophet Shepherd Bushiri

By Paul Nyathi

South Africa’s crack crime investigation department, the Hawks, has confirmed investigating prophet Shepherd Bushiri on allegations of money laundering.

Hawks spokesperson Hwangani Mulaudzi confirmed in South African weekend media that the crime fighting unit is investigating the wealthy prophet for illegally sending out of the country millions of Rands to his native home in Malawi.

According to the Hawks, Bushiri is reportedly sending out to Malawi at least R15 Million cash on a monthly basis to his business units in Malawi.

“The matter has been brought to us and its under investigations,” said Mulaudzi.

“It is not our policy to give details when we are still investigating a matter but we are indeed investigating Bushiri,” he said.

The crime fighting unit indicated that it got interested in investigating Bushiri after disgruntled members of the church provided them with information on him illegally exporting cash and cheating people of their money through fake miracles.

Bushiri is said to be sending out the money to his home country using his private jet and does not put the cash into the country’s banking system but invests it directly into his numerous business ventures.

The senior members of the church allegedly spilt the beans on Bushiri when he failed to pay them and other people after them giving fake confessions and testimonies of being healed and being helped by the prophet.

The Hawks claim that the members are normally paid amounts of up to R100 000 for giving testimonies of them being helped by the prophet’s prayers.

Bushiri who runs the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church is popular in Zimbabwe for giving Vice President Kembo Mohadi a prophesy that he was going to land the second highest office in the country.

In recent days several reports have been made of Bushiri running prearranged miracles and using technology to dupe people to believe that he is doing miracles from God.

MDC-T Candidates A Democracy Test Which May Benefit Khuphe

By Paul Nyathi

The opposition MDC-T led by Nelson Chamisa is facing a stern democracy test as it begins a process to select candidates to contest the landmark election set for July or August this year.

The party’s national elections directorate met at the Morgan Tsvangirai House party headquarters in Harare on Tuesday to deliberate on the selection of party candidates in preparation for the elections amid reports of heavy infighting for the 114 parliamentary constituencies reserved for the party in the MDC Alliance coalition agreement.

Very reliable reports from within the party indicate that the party is preparing to impose some candidates in a bid to protect some highly ranked party officials from being contested in the internal party process of choosing the candidates.

The reports indicate that the party has made an unfavourable ruling that all the current sitting members of parliament will not be challenged so are members of the party Standing Committee who wish to stand as candidates for the party.

Party secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora is on record saying that the opposition party is trying by all means possible not to hold internal primary elections to choose candidates but would want to get aspiring candidates to get into a consensus on who will best represent the party before the divisive primary elections can be held.

Hundreds of party members have submitted their applications expressing their desire to represent the party in the forthcoming elections. Some have submitted applications challenging very senior party members who have been in parliament for sometime.

Tuesday’s meeting went through all the applications that have been submitted with the reports indicating that some aspiring candidates have been disqualified from contesting with no reasons provided yet on the disqualification.

The meeting was also meant to come up with the date for primary elections which the National Standing Committee agreed should be held before the 15th of April where a consensus can not be reached.

The MDC-T is part of the MDC Alliance, a coalition of seven opposition parties namely Transform Zimbabwe, MCD, ZimPF, PDP, Zanu Ngonga and MDC.

Some MDC-T members are reported to have deliberately submitted applications to contest in seats “reserved” for other coalition partners. The move has seen an outburst from the coalition partners.

Party sources who spoke to ZimEye.com indicated that the candidates selection process will likely see a number of disqualified aspiring members defecting to join the Thokozani Khuphe led faction which has indicated that it will contest against the MDC Alliance coalition candidates.

Yesterday’s meeting was meant to vet candidates and iron out issues that can potentially result in the anticipated rebellion from those who fail to make it to represent the party.

Meanwhile, indications from the Welshman Ncube led MDC the second biggest partner I the MDC Alliance coalition are that the party closed for applications last week.

The party has also set up a candidates vetting committee which will look into the CVs submitted for its thirty two seats in the Alliance agreement.

Sources in the party indicated that the party is also working on avoiding holding primary elections and will allow the committee to select the candidates for the party.

“Ours is not going to be a difficult process as the selection committee will come up with the names of possible candidates and submit these to the constituencies for adoption,” said the source.

“Primary elections will only be held where more than one credible candidates are selected by the committee and the candidates will have failed to agree on who between them should contest the seat,” added the source.

The sources who would not be mentioned said that the party will not consider applications from aspiring candidates who at one stage defected from the party and have returned to the party in the wake of the MDC Alliance agreements.

“One of the key qualifications that the selection committee will consider is loyalty to the party and that will automatically disqualify members who at one stage left the party and want to return to take seats provided by the Alliance,” said the highly placed source.

Mnangagwa Being Assisted By Britain To Win 2018 Elections, Dabengwa Alleges

Dumiso Dabengwa

By Redley Mugabe| The British government has been accused of assisting Emmrson Mnangagwa to win the upcoming elections.

ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa made these comments in Harare as he bemoaned how his party lost the 1980 polls to ZANU PF as Britain allegedly ignored calls to attend to electoral violations.

His comments come as the UK envoy Catriona Laing dismissed the long-running allegations.

Last year she insisted that “no UK taxpayer’s money has been or will be used to fund the Zanu PF government unless they uphold the rule of law and human rights.”

But Dabengwa not mentioning the issue of funding, reflects on events going back to the 1980 polls saying his party “Zapu could have won more seats in maiden elections but Zanu PF created no go areas and that has been the party’s culture (of violence) since 1980.

“No other party would go to those areas and campaign freely and it has been like that up to today and some of us who have been in politics are not surprised by the deployment of the army ahead of this year’s election.

“We could have done the same in the southern parts of the country where most Zipra liberation fighters operated during the war but the late Joshua Nkomo discouraged us.

“We raised the issue with the British delegation led by Lord Soames and he just promised to look into the issue but nothing changed.”

On this Dabengwa says, “this may be the same this year; the British are so much involved in the upcoming elections and they will ignore any calls by the opposition for free and fair elections because they want to reward Emmerson Mnangagwa and protect their interests.”

He alleges that UK sees Zimbabwe as their baby. “Britain sees Zimbabwe as their baby and even in 1980 they made sure that Zanu PF won the elections and see their shift towards Zanu PF since the departure of Mugabe,” he says.

CHAMISA EXPLOSION: Herald Panics, Calls It “A Generational Conflict.”

By Dorrothy Moyo| The state owned Herald paper appeared in a panic yesterday when they labelled the ongoing Chamisa wave described by many as powerful and unstoppable, as “a generational conflict”.

The paper carried an editorial on the following comment, “it is just pathetic that in a battle of ideas some are trying to stir a generational conflict as a way of luring younger voters.”

This was a direct pointing at the MDC leader Nelson Chamisa.

It is speculated that millions of ZANU PF members are likely to vote for Chamisa on the mere basis that he is young.

Yesterday many Zimbabweans loudly commented saying that Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi (54), is younger than Zanu pf’s youth league Chairman Pupurai Togarepi (57) – who is just 2 years from dying according to the latest published mortality rate stats.

On the day his predecessor, Morgan Tsvangirai’s body was brought into Harare for burial, Chamisa had tens of thousands of youths chant out saying, “Tinoda we-chidiki Chamisa we-chidiki!” VIDEO:

https://youtu.be/-UJsvrwZxnQ?t=3m13s

Affluent High School Gutted By Fire

Lloyd House Hostel at Plumtree High School on fire on Tuesday night.

By Paul Nyathi| A hostel at the prestigious Plumtree High School in Plumtree town has been burnt down to a shell.

Lloyd House, a hostel at the school, went up into flames shortly before midnight on Tuesday under yet to be verified circumstances.

The town’s only fire tender is reported to have failed to get to the site of the fire and help had to be sought from Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Services some 100kms away not before the building was completely burnt down.

Details on the fire were still sketchy and ZimEye.com will provide these as they become available. Authorities at the school could not comment on the matter while police in the town confirmed the blaze indicating that investigations are underway.

Initial details however suggested that that the hostel was empty of children who closed schools five days ago.

AUSTRALIA LIVE: Zimbabwe Would Have Brought Better Competition | VIDEO

LIVE-BLAST in Australia: Zimbabwe would have brought better competition to the Commonwealth Games in Australia. These sentiments were aired on national television here.

From today 4th to the 15th April, history will be made on the Gold Coast in Australia where more than 6,600 athletes and team officials from 71 Commonwealth nations and territories to the Gold Coast and event cities Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville, will converge, to share in the celebration of sport, entertainment and culture.

Touring the area, the Australia based Mildred Muzenda could not find any Zimbabwean there (SEE INTERVIEW BELOW).

This was all because in 2003, former President Robert Mugabe pulled out of the Commonwealth plunging the nation into a tiny world of its own.

Mildred Muzenda told ZimEye.com sentiments are however high over Zimbabwe’s failure to participate.

She said, “it’s so sad that (Zimbabwe) they are not here… they could have made a significant change because according to the team officials from other African countries, they were even interviewing on television saying there were other better teams like Zimbabwe who couldn’t be here with us but they are not part of this…. hopefully we just hope because of this new dispensation… I hope we will be part of them.”

Tsvangirai Cheated On Elizabeth? So What’s The Truth?

By Farai D Hove| ANALYSIS| The state media has reported on the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s love life. The report reveals that Tsvangirai literally paid lobola for another woman while still legally married to his now widow, Elizabeth.

Did Tsvangirai literally cheat on his wife, and how was he able to keep such a matter a secret all the way into the grave?

Details on this as ZimEye reveals, can be seen in a thorough perusal of the events of the last 6 years line upon line.

Just after the 2013 elections, ZimEye.com exposed the fall out betwen Tsvangirai and his wife, Liz. ZimEye travelled to a house Elizabeth moved into as she ran away from her husband. Ever since that day, the relationship between Tsvangirai and Elizabeth has been cosmetic.

A year later in July 2014, Tsvangirai was once again grilled by ZimEye on his marriage crisis. His gave a candid answer and said, “what do you want me to say, that I am not happily married?

“What measurement is there?, all I can say is those are the personal issues that the press want to pry, that have nothing to do with the crisis in Zimbabwe, and that will not help Zimbabweans to have a meal on the table on the day. The question of my relationship with my wife is my personal view, and if you make your judgement that they are not happily married, or that’s your opinion, it has nothing to do with me,” he replied ZimEye. His comments were accompanied by a loud chuckle.

The following year, Tsvangirai was snapped on camera with a group of bikini clad young women.

In January this year, Tsvangirai was filmed at his house when President Emmerson Mnangagwa visited him and many Zimbabweans questioned Elizabeth Tsvangirai’s dressing. They noted how she was strikingly and unusually suited and booted at her own house. “You do not wear such a shoe at your own house,” commented one Itai Ncube.

There was more drama when Elizabeth was humiliated by her mother in law at the Harare International Airport (RGM) when Tsvangirai’s body was flown back to Harare from South Africa.

“I don’t want to see Elizabeth and Chamisa near me (in my face) and I don’t want to hear Chamisa’s speech,” she screamed in front of a ZBC camera.

Tsvangirai’s relatives later revealed that there was of a truth a marriage fall out and they felt Elizabeth must not be allowed to enjoy the matrimonial property since she rarely lived at the couple’s house.

In conclusion, it is highly unlikely that Elizabeth did not know of Tsvangirai’s relationships with other women. It is also highly unlikely that she would be bothered about Tsvangirai having another woman.

MDC Sanctions, What Have They Achieved For The Last 18 Years Of Suffering?

Zimbabwe has suffered under severe sanctions for a very long time.

By Dr Masimba Mavaza| Sanctions have become a song to an extent that people think it’s a tired song. The reality of the matter is that people are suffering and indeed dying. We cannot have our own currency; we cannot command our industry. We cannot survive in a vacuum. The new dispensation has tried hard and is still trying to open the country to business and in this suffering stage we have Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti and their accomplices going to Donald Trump to ask for more suffering of the people of Zimbabwe.

It is very clear that the opposition is trying to starve Zimbabwe so that the blame falls on the ruling party and credit goes to them.

Because they know that their handlers are refusing to support Zimbabwe at the request of Chamisa and they believe that once they win the flood gates of help will come. This childish thinking explains why Chamisa talks of Bullet Trains and sparget roads he saw when he went to America but never tells Zimbabweans how he will do that.

The opposition claims that only few people were targeted and therefore sanctions are not against Zimbabwe. This is opposition blindness to the truth. Malema an outspoken EFF leader said “once reasoning escapes you it does not say goodbye” Chamisa has been overtaken by pride and excitement and he makes rallies of promises while ED goes under the water to catch the biggest fish for Zimbabwe.

Because of the sanctions brought in by the opposition most Zimbabweans have left the country, MDC has never denounced sanctions. Instead they have gone all out asking for more and hoping to win the forthcoming elections.

From the South African Side the pavement ends abruptly at the border, and so does order. People wait for hours to complete the simple immigration process. The corruption created from the suffering is suffocating.

Because of these sanctions Zimbabwe has been reduced from a producing nation to a consuming nation. Now there are businessmen that specialising in moving anything and nearly everything into poverty-stricken Zimbabwe. They have vehicles of all shapes and sizes, including old Datsun pick-up trucks, minivans, semi-trailers, even motorcycles. Each is loaded absurdly high with goods.

The precariously stacked imports range from mundane to exotic, but mostly mundane. Huge stacks of toilet paper and used furniture slowly enter Zimbabwe, as do cell-phone covers, brooms, used clothes, used car tires, pieces of scrap metal and chrome, a few bikes, poorly made wardrobes from China, even crushed aluminum cans and cheap Russian vodka. Deals are made and cash exchanged. Depending on the amount, the wait at the border can be anywhere from ten minutes to five days. This is the modern economy of Zimbabwe, caused by the MDC engineered sanctions.

Now the MDC is using the suffering of the people they caused as a campaign gimmick. In all tense and purposes this is electoral rigging by the opposition using sanctions. The elections in Zimbabwe are never free and fair as long as the West helps the opposition by killing our people. There so many Zimbabweans who have died of the sanctions than those who died in the liberation wars. The blood of the innocent Zimbabweans is dripping in the hands of Chamisa and Biti and all the confused lot calling themselves the alliance lot. How can a person with conscience kill his people so that he can win elections? Is that not day light robbery straight rigging. Our people are not employed not because of ZANU PF but because of MDC T and their handlers.

Can anyone imagine three weeks after the inauguration of ED Chamis Biti Ncube and company made a bee hive to America to beg for more sanctions? Now Chamisa is having the guts to say in few days he will accomplish what the world has not done in fifty years. Why because of two reasons, 1, he has been promised money by Trump. He said so at the rally.

2. He thinks Zimbabweans are children who can be silenced by sweet talk. Talk is cheap but reality is real. This is not the first country I’ve entered that is under economic sanctions from the United States, but it is one of the most unique. The Zimbabwean government does not limit access and restrict movement like Cuba, North Korea, Myanmar, and other countries. Zimbabwe government has to adjust to these cruel sanctions and try to give a life to everybody. We did not need to go to this length if Chamisa could denounce Sanctions and advocate for rebuilding Zimbabwe which has been destroyed by his father Tsvangirai and off cause a little by the old dispensation which was replaced for the interest of the people by the people.

What MDC does not know is that what hurts the government hurts the people. U.S. officials and the MDC T defend this policy by stating that the sanctions are not against the country as a whole, but a small group of individuals they believe undermine democratic processes in Zimbabwe. They have officially tidied this list to include fewer than 200 people and institutions. Although the official rhetoric says these are “much targeted” sanctions, in a country where government spending over the last several years has been as high as 98 percent of the gross domestic product, it is a de facto sanction against the country. Biti of all the people must know that. The reason why Biti left MDC was on the issue of sanctions and senators.

Sanctions has made these once-fertile farms, which once made Zimbabwe the economic envy of southern Africa, to now lie in ruins.
Regardless of policy, life in Zimbabwe is challenging. Zimbabwe has the highest unemployment rate of anywhere in the world, estimated i to be near 95 percent. The poverty rate teeters at 75 percent of the population. Things here are stark. Money is incredibly tight; Times are incredibly hard. We see how people live and have to ask how it is possible. How are these once-fertile farms, which once made Zimbabwe the economic envy of southern Africa, now lying in ruin?

Mugabe has left the scene and ED is trying to build what was destroyed. In these trying times the opposition ask for sanctions and more sanctions. To them democracy means they have to win. Do we remember people taking wheelbarrows full of money to the store to purchase milk. With the incredible inflation rates of the time, the bus would stop mid¬route, because the cost of gas had risen so much it wasn’t economically viable to continue the trip. That is a reminder of the grim past. This past was caused by the opposition. They would get to state House even if it means the whole country is destroyed. What more rigging of elections is more than this?

Mwonzora boasted that his party can rig elections also. He was referring to these sanctions that they will help his party to starve the people away from ZANU PF and to them. The ones who are feeding on the blood of many, they must thank ZANU PF for being democratic in other countries they would have been banned and asked to contest in America.

All of this improved once the country began to officially use the U.S. dollar as the most standard form of currency, an interesting paradox. Incredibly dirty U.S. bills change hands a hundred times each day, so threadbare and worn it’s difficult to determine whether it is indeed a $1 or a surprisingly common $2 U.S. bill.

If there is anything the resilient people of Zimbabwe know how to do, it is to patiently make do with what they have.
Eventually people, will become angry with their circumstances, they will begin to blame MDC and the United States and the economic sanctions for the current conditions. Sanctions are not a tired song. They are real and they are affecting the country.
The one who was killing people since he was born now wants to be the nurse really???? How can MDC now claim to be the messiah when they are the ones who have caused this mess? They are the prophets of doom and each and every rally they talk of prosperity, yes off cause because Chamisa is the pastor of prosperity gospel.

But these emotionally fuelled claims are real. The people who are more thoughtful, the people who love Zimbabwe look at the picture clearly and see that the wave of the opposition is a destructive force which must be stopped in the coming elections. “Change must come. We must have change. We want change,” “But the people are tired of fighting. We want peace more.” Change must start with the MDC denouncing sanctions, entering into elections on the level grounds. Not this system where people are starved to hate their revolution.

But change just can’t come now. In a struggle like this, where a single meal a day is a luxury, it’s better to tighten the belt and conserve energy. If there is anything the resilient people of Zimbabwe know how to do, it is to patiently make do with what they have. Now they have a new dispensation and they must make do with it. ED is not only promising but actually doing as he promises.
“How could things possibly improve when we have an opposition like this?” We need people who have their country at heart. Sanctions are done in a cruel hope that leaders will resign to give way to puppets.

The precarious presumption is that, through creating a difficult economic situation, the leader will have no choice but to eventually bow to pressure from the “people.” In theory, this might seem like a good motivator. The people unite with a single voice, the leader listens, and change occurs. However, in practice, this is almost never the case.

“There are very few cases where you can definitely identify sanctions as having had a success, except sometimes in combination with other factors,” says Adam Roberts, a research fellow at Oxford University. Indeed, even the most ardent supporters of sanctions claim they bring about the desired effect about one-third of the time, and then very slowly.
This practice seldom, if ever, brings about change.

Instead, sanctions more frequently tend to entrench radical politicians. Once under economic sanctions, leaders must hold the reins of power more tightly to retain it. A leader can only become more engrained in radical government, more inclined to go to greater lengths to ensure retention of power, more removed from the “people,” and less likely to submit to humanizing factors. This formula can be seen playing out in nearly every country currently under U.S. sanctions.

Why, then, do sanctions remain? The simplistic argument is that, well, the opposition hopes to win through the help of the sanctions. They have tried to provoke violence so that the elections will be not credible, they have tried everything and now they rally behind the sanctions fully. What a pack of hypocrites. In the majority of cases, sanctions hurt the masses. The people in power, those the sanctions are designed to motivate, can use their power to find ways around sanctions. There is little logic in hoping that creating a wider economic gap between the already politically disenfranchised and their abusive leadership will have positive results. It’s an absurd premise.

If the United States wishes to take the philosophical “high road” of diplomatic solutions, then take that road whole-heartedly. Provide benefits for economic benchmarks that limit corruption and better ensure non-governmental involvement. Pursue anything that rewards a desired behaviour. At a minimum, use both positive and negative consequences in conjunction to better encourage improvements. This seems a more accurate portrayal of human nature. But the US under the guidance of the opposition is bent to destroy all and have their hand on our resources.

There must be a more thoughtful approach than creating economic situations so incredibly desperate that hope becomes impossible and violence and chaos erupt, as is all too often the case. African logic beautifully describes these circumstances: “Only a pot with boiling water can boil over.”
The opposition are trying hard to have the country boil into chaos, they are the ones who are behind Sanctions, even when Tsvangirai was on his death bed Chamisa went in the night to America and begged for more sanctions. Trump took Chamisa to New York and showed him the fly over roads, took him to the sea side showed him bridges and hail No Chamisa preaches about bridges trains and sea side when we do not have even the sea in Zimbabwe. Chamisa now promises people bridges where there is no road no river. He even said if there is no river MDC T will build the bridge and dig the river.
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FULL TEXT: Mujuru Weeps For Winnie Mandela

Dr JTR Mujuru , the President of National People’ s Party and People’ s Rainbow Coalition Presidential Candidate wishes to express sadness and shock on the passing on of South Africa’ s revolutionary ant- apartheid icon Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa on the 2nd of April 2018. Indeed Mama Winnie was a supreme justicar of South Africa. She fought evil apartheid to ensure that the world and South Africa at large must be made safe for democracy. She was an iron lady who made South Africa’ s march to freedom irreversible. Without doubt, Mama Winnie demonstrated to the world an indomittable and revolutionary spirit of women who fought alongside their male counterparts in fighting repressive laws of colonial administrations.

Mama Winnie Madikizela- Mandela suffered all forms of discrimination and retribution on the hands of the racial supremasists and diabolic apartheid regime. As a Mother, she bore the brunt of looking after the family while her late and former Husband Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years at Robben lsland. Mama Winnie’ s fortitude and quest for total emancipation of mankind kept the revolution alive notwithstanding the incarceration of the late iconic Nelson Mandela and other South African revolutionary luminaries. She bore the mark of Mother of the nation. She got arrested on numerous occassions and was even banished to Brandfort in the orange free State by apartheid supremacists. We say thank you Mama winnie for showing and teaching humanity that the world can be a best place to live in if we all love one another irregardless of race, sex, tribe, gender and status.

To our heroine, we wish you eternal rest in peace. You ran your journey and you conquered. The revolutionary footprints you leave behind remain a hub of instructive wisdom for generations to come. To the Mandela family we ask you to find comfort and solace in the know that your loss is also our collective loss. We pray that instead of mourning, may the lord grant us wisdom and power to celebrate life enriching lessons that Mama Winnie imparted into humanity of the world that by loving one another we can all make the world a better place to live in. May her Soul rest in eternal peace.

Dr Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru
National People’ Party President and People’ s Rainbow Coalition Presidential Candidate for 2018.

ROAD HORROR: Kombi Carries Piles Of Bales

IMAGINE driving on the road and you suddenly see a kombi right in front of you while in this state, one that can easily collapse onto your car – A Zimbabwean driver has shot the below video while driving, of a kombi carrying piles of sacks saying this is the chaos seen on the DRC’s roads. VIDEO:

YOU’RE ALL SAFE: Mpofu Caught In Uphill Task To Convince Violence Victims

“Those in the diaspora who support Emmerson Mnangagwa and truly trust in him, have faith in him and his way of doing things please show real support by packing your bags and coming back to support him, bring your ideas he needs them, it’s pointless for you to say Zimbabwe yakunaka because of ED when you are not home, huyai munakise Zimbabwe muchabatsira wamunotsigira.” – Setfree Mafukidze

If you can’t come it’s confirmation you have no faith in your leader, it’s confirmation you know kuti Dololo is Dololo. Come home Lacoste members.

By A Correspondent| Just as Home Affairs Minister Obert Mpofu issued a statement calling for diasporans to return home saying the country is now safe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been caught in an uphill task to convince victims of violence who fled the country when he (Mnangagwa) personally aided his former boss, Robert Mugabe in the violent 2008 elections.

During the 2008 presidential election the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) withheld the Presidential election results for over a month during a time when state security operatives killed hundreds of opposition supporters ahead of a run-off election.

That election run off was personally engineered by President Mnangagwa himself who says he had to step in when Didymus Mutasa had fled. Mnangagwa says in a video recorded speech: “Didymus Mutasa fled to Rusape and I remained with the President (Mugabe) ….and told him that there was a run off so as a lawyer (Morgan) Tsvangirai had not won.”

The delayed results which Mnangagwa used, displayed that Tsvangirai had garnered less than 50 % of the vote. But 6 years later, while addressing service chiefs Mugabe exposed Mnangagwa saying he (Tsvangirai) had in fact won by 73 percent of the vote.

The revelations put Mnangagwa at the centre of allegations of violence.

The state owed Chronicle newspaper reports how Obert Mpofu has been assigned to look into the matter of bringing diasporans based in Botswana back home.

Mpofu is quoted by the Chronicle saying he recently visited Botswana and met the affected people.

He said he discovered that most of them were victims of political violence. “There are about 686 Zimbabweans who sought refuge in Botswana. I saw most of them and they mainly hail from Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and Bulawayo and just a few from other provinces such as Midlands. Most of them left the country in 2008,” said Mpofu.

“They said they left the country escaping political violence during the election re-run period. These people say they want to return home but feared for their safety. They want some assurances.”

The Minister assured them that they will not be harmed once they are back home.

He said Government was working with Botswana and its partners on modalities to repatriate the refugees.

“Some of them said their homes have been destroyed and are seeking assistance to rebuild them. I’m constantly in touch with some of them. Some of them are already coming. But we want this thing to be organised. We are working in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Botswana government,” Mpofu said.

He said the coming in of a new leader in Botswana, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, will not affect bilateral relations between the two countries as he was already in the system as the neighbours forged new relations.

President Masisi, who deputised ex-President Ian Khama who retired on March 31 as the country’s leader, started work on April 1. Mpofu said he is satisfied with the change of heart among Batswana nationals in their treatment of Zimbabweans.

He said during his visit, he raised the issue of harassment of Zimbabwean illegal immigrants by their employers with relevant authorities and they promised to address the matter. Mpofu said he also appealed to Botswana officials not to shoot Zimbabwean cattle that stray into the neighbouring country.

“We also spoke about the issue of cattle straying into Botswana. We suggested that instead of them shooting down the animals they should quarantine them. Quarantining could be helpful because some of the animals would have been stolen in Zimbabwe and we would be intending to use them as exhibits after they have been recovered. But when they are shot dead we won’t have any exhibits,” he said.

Tsvangirai Had A Secret Wife

Morgan Tsvangirai

By Dorrothy Moyo| The late MDC leader had a secret wife, it has emerged.

ALSO READ – Tsvangirai Cheated On Elizabeth? So What’s The Truth?

The state owned Herald reports on the woman named as Nobuhle Marylin.

It is said Tsvangirai literally paid lobola for the woman last year during the subsistence of his marriage with Elizabeth Macheka.

The development proves revelations that the late MDC-T leader was a polygamist.

After his wife Susan Mhundwa (with whom he had six children) died in a car crash in 2009, Tsvangirai sired four other children with two different women before his latest marriage to Ms Macheka.

But the report does not mention a Norton woman, Josephine Chibale with whom Tsvangirai has two other children. ZimEye has before profiled the two children the oldest who is now nearing 32 years old.

After the man’s death in February, Tsvangirai’s brother said all children have to be treated equally.

“We have to treat all these wives equally,” said Manase.

The state owned Sunday News last year reported that Tsvangirai’s baby, Joy was born on July 27, 2017 with his mother having been admitted at the hospital on the previous day. The birth record number is BC 0085691.

After Defeating ED, Mujuru’s First 100 Days In Power – Promises

By Dorrothy Moyo| Former Vice President Joice Mujuru promises to fix the nation’s problems soon after her envisage defeat of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Dr. Mujuru promises an agreement in reform of a covenant. Her strategy is revealed in the below overlay as announced by her spokesperson:

 

People’s Rainbow Coalition remains the only credible and ultimate Government in waiting post 2018 watershed elections. Through the able leadership of Dr JTR Mujuru and reinforced by a competent team of seasoned leadership in state craft; Zimbabweans have every reason to vote for PRC Government come 2018 elections. To that end, PRC’s First 100 Days in Government shall be as summarised hereunder:

The People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC) l ed by Dr Joice Mujuru’ s covenant with the people of Zimbabwe in its First 100 Days in Government consists of 10 Pledges summarized as follows:

Pledge 1 Cabinet Composition:

PRC will establish a leaner, more productive, gender and age sensitive cabinet characterised by skills mix, experience, technical astuteness and national integration.

Pledge 2 Consummate Devolution

The PRC Government will implement the devolution provisions of the Constitution including swearing-in of all Provincial MPs and setting up of the Provincial Councils all provinces of Zimbabwe.

Pledge 3 Repeal of Repressive Legislation

The PRC Government will immediately repeal the Indigenization and Empowerment Act, POSA and AIPPA.

Pledge 4 International Investment and Trade Conference:

The PRC Government will convene an international conference aimed at creating confidence and attracting foreign and domestic investment back into the mainstream economy thereby setting the stage for economic recovery and job creation programme.

Pledge 5 Re-join Commonwealth

The PRC Government will urgently take steps to rejoin the Commonwealth and seek to remove all impediments including ZIDERA that have been inhibiting Zimbabwe from enjoying investment, development finance and trade relations with the rest of the world.

Pledge 6 Join the Common Monetary Area (CMA)/Rand Monetary Union

The PRC Government will urgently take steps to join the CMA in order to address the current liquidity crunch and cash crisis. The details of this randisation policy are captured in our Election Manifesto to be released in due course

Pledge 7 Free Primary Education

The PRC Government will ensure that every child will get free access to primary education. And long term concessional loans will be extended to students in colleges, universities and tertiary institutions.

Pledge 8 Agriculture and Food Security

The PRC government will issue bankable Title Deeds to A1 and A2 farmers. Former commercial farmers will receive their compensation as per the provisions of the Constitution.

Pledge 9 Judiciary Inquiries

The PRC government will institute 2 judiciary inquiries on disappearances. One on missing persons such Itai Dzamara and Paul Chizuze and others. And another on the missing USD 15 bn and other illicit financial flows.

Pledge 10 Launch a War Against Corruption

The PRC government will fight and uproot corruption, bribery, fraud and theft wherever it might be found. A lifestyle audit on public officials will be carried out at the very outset of the Mujuru-Administration.

NB. The details of the PRC’s Inclusive Developmental Agenda (IDEA) are contained in the Manifesto that will be launched in due course.

# Mother Zimbabwe for President 2018.

# My Joice My Choice My Vote My Voice.

# Dr JTR Mujuru has my vote 2018.

Adv. Gift Nyandoro
PRC Spokesperson.

PICTURE-BLAST: President Ramaphosa Flying “Bhombera”

IN THE PICTURE- “South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on-board a Fly SafAir flight to Durban this morning…
“We hope our President Emmerson Mnangagwa will take some notes,” commented analyst, Dr. Victor Chimhutu.

“China has faith in Zimbabwe’s new administration” Mnangagwa

By Talent Gondo | President Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed that the Chinese government has faith in the new administration’s vision and economic agenda.

Zimbabwe’ s current President, who is on his first ever State visit to China ever since assuming power following the November 24 2018 military intervention which deposed former President Robert Mugabe, said his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping had pledged commitment to working with Zimbabwe towards creating a new, better and prosperous nation.

“I was delighted to hear President Xi talk of his faith in our vision and economic agenda,” said President Mnangagwa on his facebook page.

“He expressed his commitment to working with our government as we build a new, stronger Zimbabwe.”

President Mnangagwa revealed that during his meeting with President Xi, the two leaders discussed fostering and developing the historic ties between China and Zimbabwe.

“Our discussion centred on developing the existing historical ties of our two great nations for the benefit of both our peoples,” he said.

President Mnangagwa hailed the Zimbabwe China Business Forum adding that such gatherings attended by hundreds of business people from both China and Zimbabwe provided opportunities for industrial and economic growth and employment creation.

“At the Zimbabwe-China business forum, I enjoined hundreds of businessmen and women from both countries to harness the tremendous potential of our great nation towards greater economic growth for all Zimbabweans,” he said.

“Forums such as these help us to bring in the investment we require to create more jobs and develop our new Zimbabwe.”

President Mnangagwa is on a five days State visit to China, his first outside of Africa since assuming power on November 24 2017.

Bulawayo Ready To Welcome Chamisa

By Paul Nyathi

“All is set for this weekend’s MDC Alliance coalition rally set for Bulawayo’s White City Stadium,” Professor Welshman Ncube the MDC Alliance coalition spokesperson has declared.

In a statement provided to ZimEye.com on Tuesday, Ncube said that the residents of the city are eager to meet with the Alliance leaders and hear Chamisa speak.

Ncube’s statement on the rally preparations is as below:

“Preparations for the Bulawayo MDC Alliance Star rally are at an advanced stage with all Alliance partners busy mobilising masses to attend.

As MDC Alliance, we are encouraged by the overwhelming eagerness and support shown by Bulawayo residents to attend the rally at White City Stadium this weekend. The rally will kick off from 9 AM to 4 PM.

We encourage the people of Bulawayo to come out in their numbers to hear first -hand our presidential candidate Advocate Nelson Chamisa and the other principals deliver a message of hope for the country.

We shall be seeking the support of the people of this great city in achieving our goal of ousting the incompetent Zanu PF government and replacing it with the capable and youthful leadership of Nelson Chamisa in the upcoming election.

This will also be an opportunity for Bulawayo residents and surrounding areas to interact and engage with the MDC Alliance leadership through the various activities lined up in the city on the 7th of April.

Advocate Chamisa and all the other Alliance principals are coming together to pledge that time is up for Zanu PF.

We are focused and committed to ushering a new Zimbabwe that avails equal opportunities to all citizens and more importantly to restore the country’s rightful image among other nations.

We shall continue as an Alliance to comb every corner of this country to wash away all remnants of Zanu PF oppression from the minds of long suffering Zimbabweans.
We are stronger together.

Professor Welshman Ncube
MDC Alliance Spokesperson

No Respite For Billiat- Sundowns

Terrence Mawawa

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, Pitso Mosimane
says nothing has changed on Khama Billiat’s
situation at the club.

The Zimbabwean international’ s contract will expire on June 30 this year.

“It is still the same, nothing has changed regarding
Khama’ s situation,”said Mosimane after their game against
Cape Town City.

Billiat has been linked with a move to Azerbaijani
outfit, Qarabag.

Several Premier Soccer League
clubs including Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando
Pirates are also interested in the pint sized player’s services.

Madinda Praises Youthful Bosso Team

Terrence Mawawa

Highlanders FC coach Madinda Ndlovu hailed his youthful charges following a narrow yet emphatic 1-0 victory over Dynamos in a match played at Rufaro
Stadium on Monday.

The Bulawayo Giants managed to hold on and
picked a vital away win courtesy of
Ozias Zibande’ s goal, a few seconds before the break.

In a post-match interview, Madinda said his charges
followed the strategy they had planned before the
game and managed to defend the goal they scored
in the first half.

“Dynamos played very well. They are a good team
but I think luck was not on their side,” he said.

“I think both teams were evenly balanced in terms of
tactics. But from the start, we had a key strategy. If
you listen to the teacher you will get the correct
answer,” said Madinda.

Highlanders are now on fourth position on the log, with ten
points, two behind log leaders Ngezi Platinum who
are yet to drop points this season.

‘Mnangagwa Mega Deals Set To Transform Economy’

Terrence Mawawa

A social media analyst and Zanu PF Youth League member, Brian Mudumi, has sensationally claimed President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sealed mega deals set to turnaround the country’ s comatose economy.

Mudumi, who accompanied Mnangagwa to China postulated that Zimbabweans would soon witness a massive economic transformation.

“On the sidelines of the Zimbabwe China- Business
Forum, we met Mr Zhang the Executive Chairman of
Beijing International Exchange Association and we
discussed possible avenues of cooperation with our country’ s
Tourism Sector and exchange
programs with the Zimbabwe- China Youth Forum,” said Mudumi.

“We tasked Legal teams
from both sides to discuss and prepare a MOU to be
signed by the end of the day(today).

We have great hope that
these synergies will go a long way in empowering
the general citizens and our population.

We agreed to
strengthen deeper understanding and cooperation
through cultural and intellectual exchanges,” added Mudumi.

Chamisa reaches out to Mnangagwa

By Talent Gondo | MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa has requested for a meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a move aimed at promoting constructive dialogue towards national building.

The youthful leader revealed that he had written to Mnangagwa and was waiting for feedback on his request whose aim was to define and frame the parameters and contours of the country’s political discourse.

“In the spirit of national building and promoting constructive dialogue, I have written to President Mnangagwa requesting for a meeting with him.

“I have written to him (Mnangagwa) with the aim of defining and framing the parameters and contours of a national discourse in our country’s politics,” said Chamisa in a statement issued today.

He said because opposition political parties were not a threat to the nation, it was important for them to express their diverse views and contribute towards building a better nation.

“It is important to eliminate insults, animosity and hatred in our national politics. We need neopolitics; the politics of ideas, solutions, policies and national strategies to develop Zimbabwe,” said Chamisa.

He revealed that he was yet to hear from President Mnangagwa on the exact dates of the meeting.

Below is the full Easter statement issued by Chamisa.

Citizens, revolutionary and convivial greetings to you all.

We are just coming from the Easter holidays and I am deeply pained by some of my colleagues in the political industry who continue to belittle God and the role of the Church in our communities.

They have turned the church into platforms for rallies, in the process bastardizing the sanctity of the church. This past Easter alone, we saw hordes of politicians pontificating at church gatherings in the process desecrating the true meaning of Easter and the Church.

1. Celebrating the resurrection power of the Cross

The new Zimbabwe that I envision will be characterized by a true and honest separation between the State and the church.

I am a firm believer in the autonomy and independence of the church which must as an institution continue to be the custodian of a country’s values and the true moral compass of a nation.

The church must be a place of unity and peace. We have of late seen the church being reduced to a platform of hate and divisive language. The State or any political party for that matter must never be allowed to contaminate, weaken and compromise the church. Church capture must be vehemently resisted.

2. All roads lead to Bulawayo

On Saturday, the MDC and its Alliance partners move to Bulawayo, the country’s second largest city which features prominently in our vision as the hub and industrial capital of the new Zimbabwe.

In the Easter spirit of the power of resurrection, we are committed to resuscitate Bulawayo as the country’s industrial hub.

The city of Kings and Queens has for long been abandoned, neglected and forgotten—thanks to the legendary ineptitude of the party now occupying the seat of government.

2.1 Devolution is our revolution— To devolve is to involve

In the spirit of devolution encapsulated in our Constitution, we will devolve power to all regions and communities so that local people are empowered to make decisions and to control and benefit from the resources around them.

Devolution is the true involvement of a people in the management of their own affairs and in the new Zimbabwe; we do not wish to continue this Hararenization of key national essential activities and services.
Indeed, to devolve is to involve and in the new Zimbabwe, devolution will be a reality so that all local communities are part of the national governance system.

For me, Bulawayo is special. Bulawayo reclaim its status as the industrial capital of the country and as the centre of innovation.

Zimbabweans need and deserve development. As a country, we need the strands of development to be felt in all corners of the country so that everyone feels they belong. As things stand, a lot of our communities justifiably feel left out of the government matrix of development.

We have to resolve that as a matter of urgency.
To the people of Bulawayo, come let us reason together at the White City Stadium on Saturday.

3. Redefining National Politics

3.1 My meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa

In the spirit of national building and promoting constructive dialogue in the quest to find solutions to national challenges, I have written to President Emmerson Mnangagwa requesting a meeting with him.

I have written to him with the aim of defining and framing the parameters and contours of a national discourse in our country’s politics.

It is important to eliminate insults, animosity and hatred in our national politics. We need neopolitics; the politics of ideas, solutions, policies and national strategies to develop Zimbabwe.

I am yet to hear from President Mnangagwa on the exact dates that we will meet.

The MDC is a partner in national development and not a threat. Being on opposing political sides is not enemity but just an expression of the reality of diverse views. After all, it is diversity that makes a nation because diversity strengthens and does not weaken.

In that context, national holidays and national events should be inclusive and not be dominated by a single political party.

Programmes must involve all the stakeholders including the official opposition.
In that regard, I will be initiating a courtesy call by the official opposition on government.

3.2 The national Independence in context

On the 18th of April, the country will be celebrating the country’s independence.

This is the time to pay veneration to our hard-won independence and how the patriotic sons and daughters of this land fought a tenacious liberation struggle to rid the country of racism and colonial rule.

This is the time to seriously reflect on whether as a country we should have a national dress as this would be the fitting occasion to adorn an agreed national dress.

In the new Zimbabwe, the celebration of our hard-won independence will not be a one-day event.

We will introduce an independence month of celebration whose key signpost will include festivities, discussions, seminars, lecture series as well as national tours to important national sites.

While the 18th of April will remain the day for the main event, we have declared April as an independence month to be marked by separate related activities that bestow honour to the sons and daughters of this land—departed or living—with some of them still serving in the country’s institutions such as the army, the police force and the rests of the civil service.
An independent people must think independently. Let it be truly a new dispensation.

If we are open for business, we must be open for new and good politics for the merriment of all Zimbabweans.

At a personal level, I will be engaging in a plethora of activities to honour and commemorate our independence day.

One Zimbabwe, one people.
One Zimbabwe, one future.
One Zimbabwe, one vision.
Behold the new.
God bless Zimbabwe.
God bless Africa

Kraal Head Demands Serial Numbers From Villagers

NATIONAL NEWS

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | A local kraal head has openly declared allegiance to Zanu PF in spite of the fact that the Constitution of Zimbabwe clearly spells out that traditional leaders are expected to execute their duties objectively.

Kraal Head Mudemba of ward 7, Masvingo South Constituency is demanding voter registration serial numbers from local villagers, ZimEye.com has been informed.

“Kraal Head Mudemba is intimidating local villagers and he also boasts of having the authority to control police officers,” said a local villager.

Mnangagwa Not Our Man – UK Govt

Terrence Mawawa | Contrary to claims that the United Kingdom government is tipping President Emmerson Mnangagwa to win the coming elections, officials from that country’ s embassy have said Britain is concerned with human rights and democracy issues in Zimbabwe.

As such the British Embassy in Zimbabwe has sought to distance itself from allegations that it is tipping Mnangagwa to win the 2018 harmonised elections.

This comes after Professor Welshman Ncube, the spokesperson for the coalition MDC Alliance attacked British and China for seemingly backing Mnangagwa.

Said Ncube, “We think it is inappropriate for the British and the Chinese to pick a horse in this election.

They should instead, insist on the holding of free and fair elections in line with international norms and standards.”

Responding to the allegations, Simon Thomas, the Deputy Ambassador at the British Embassy in Harare said his country did not care about who would win the polls.

Writing on microblogging site Twitter, Thomas said:

“This simply isn’t true. Let me be clear: no throwing our weight, no backing horses.

We don’t care WHO wins. We care a lot HOW they win. And we’ll continue to press all sides for a free and fair election.”

A daily newspaper reported that Zimbabwe’s upcoming general elections could have divided world leaders’ opinion, with Britain and China throwing their weight behind Mnangagwa’s candidature at a time the United States has remained sceptical of the Zanu PF leader- keeping a soft spot on the youthful MDC-T presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa.

British Ambassador to Harare, Catriona Laing last week claimed that London and Harare were now “in a better place” than they were before former President Robert Mugabe’s ouster last November.

The British envoy also said Mugabe’s removal presented a fresh start for the two countries, adding Zimbabwe should seize the opportunity for the next round of meetings with the International Monetary Fund to set its plan “up to the elections and beyond”.

“So I think we are in a better place . . . if we continue to see progress, then I hope that we will be able to move to the next stage and get to a point where Zimbabwe and Britain have full normal investment and trading relations.

Then we can work together in fora like the United Nations and ensure that Zimbabwe plays its role as a good global citizen,” she said.

PICTURE BLAST: ED Meets Xi Jinping

President Emmerson Mnangagwa met with his host and counterpart President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, today.

President Mnangagwa is the 3rd African leader to meet President Xi since the October 2017 congress that re-elected him and changed the constitution to allow him to serve as president for as long as he can.

President Mnangagwa is on his first state visit outside SADC to pay respects to one of the countries that have stood with Zimbabwe at all times.

Accompanied by the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, the President was at the Great Hall of the People where Cde Mnangagwa and his host inspected a guard of honour after the sounding of the national anthems of the two countries.

From the welcoming ceremony, the two leaders proceeded to the meeting room where the two made brief remarks before meeting behind closed doors.

President Mnangagwa said he is humbled that Zimbabwe-China ties are going a step higher from all weather friendship to an all encompassing relationship.

President Xi said there is a dispensation of cooperation between Zimbabwe and China and the Asian country is ready to work with Zimbabwe.

President Mnangagwa recalled the 60s when he visited the Asian country as a liberation war cadre and received part of his military training there.

After the meeting, President Mnangagwa and President Xi witnessed the signing of documents for human resources development, agriculture, food assistance, and borehole drilling.- State Media

Mujuru’s NPP Mourns Winnie Mandela

Terrence Mawawa | National People’ s Party( NPP) has described the late Winnie Madikizela Mandela as an iconic fighter for the emancipation of black Africans.

Winnie Mandela was married to Nelson Mandela although the two later parted ways.

In a statement posted on Facebook yesterday NPP Spokesperson Jeffryson Chitando described Winnie Mandela as a legendary figure in Africa.

“Rest in peace Winnie Mandela!!!Women are capable leaders!!You led the fight against the
oppressive system. Let Zimbabwean women follow Winnie Mandela’s example and
take up leadership positions. Let us vote for a female President,” read part of the statement.

Man Jailed 72 Years For Raping 500 Women

A serial rapist from Chivi who was last month sentenced to effective 72 years in prison was last week back in court facing another 11 counts that include rape and murder.Charles Matanga Magombedze (31) alias Gora of Chikova Village under headman Madzivire was not asked to plead when he appeared before Masvingo provincial magistrate Mr Langton Ndokera last Thursday.

He was remanded in custody to April 11.

Prosecutor Mr Fidelicy Nyamukondiwa said between December, 2017 and February this year, Magombedze allegedly raped and attempted to rape 11 of his victims that included a 14-year-old juvenile, in Chivi and Masvingo districts.

He allegedly struck one of his victims to death and left another one for dead after raping them.

Mr Nyamukondiwa said on December 22, 2017 Magombedze met a 24-year-old woman who was on her way home from Runde River, grabbed her by the right hand and raped her once before he ran away.

On January 24 Magombedze found another villager at her homestead in Chivi.

The court heard Magombedze forced open the door. He allegedly grabbed the woman by the right hand and raped her once before strangling her to death.

He also took away his victim’s Nokia 1200, an Econet sim card and R200 before he disappeared.On February 21, at Mushai Village under headman Chipindu area in Chivi at around 4PM Magombedze met another woman (35), struck her on the right shoulder with a machete and raped her once before disappearing.

On February 24 around 2AM, in Mhuuro Village under Chief Makovere, Magombedze met a woman and demanded to be intimate with her but she asked to relieve herself.

The woman ran away from Magombedze but he followed, caught up with her and struck her on the shoulder. The woman fell down unconscious and Magombedze raped her five times in that state.

On January 23 around 6AM near Bondolfi Primary school in Masvingo, Magombedze met a 14-year-old juvenile and allegedly demanded to be intimate with her but he left when the girl showed him a blood-stained pad. On February 28 around 3AM, in Vandira Village under headman Madzivire, Magombedzi forced open the door to a room where a woman was sleeping and raped her once.

Last month, Masvingo regional magistrate Mrs Davidzo Malunga sentenced Magombedze to effective 72 years in prison after she found him guilty of eight counts of rape.

Magombedze who looked unfazed during trial on the eight counts of rape left the packed court gallery astounded when he pleaded with the magistrate to pass a death sentence on him.

He claimed evil spirits were tormenting him, adding his target was to have unprotected sex with 500 women.

He said he had been initiated into satanism and was thriving on drinking human blood and having unprotected sex.- state media

Yvonne Musarurwa’s Story

MDC President Nelson Chamisa talks to the 3 in court

On Monday, in Harare, Yvonne Musarurwa and two comrades were sentenced to twenty years in prison. Photos show Yvonne Musarurwa immediately after the sentencing, and she’s smiling, perhaps laughing. As it was in Hades and then Algeria, so in Zimbabwe today, “The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a woman’s heart. One must imagine Yvonne Musarurwa happy.”

In 2011, 29 MDC-T supporters were arrested on suspicion of having killed a police officer. In 2013, 21 were acquitted because of lack of evidence. There was no evidence, and yet they remained behind bars, in Chikurubi, some for more than two years. The High Court Judge Chinembiri Bhunu took great pains to discuss the case of human rights activist Cynthia Manjoro. Manjoro had been released on bail in 2012, after a State witness testified that Manjoro had been arrested “as bait” to lure her boyfriend into a trap. Cynthia Manjoro spent May 2011 to October 2012 in prison. That left eight in the hellhole of Chikurubi. In August 2013, Rebecca Mafukeni died … or was killed. Rebecca Mafukeni had meningitis, she was clearly deteriorating quickly when the judge repeatedly refused bail and all appeals for medical attention were rejected.

Yvonne Musarurwa was with Rebecca Mafukeni in Chikurubi Prison and recalled the ordeal: “The first weeks in police custody were the toughest. We were being interrogated, beaten and tortured. I’ve never felt so much pain in life before. I sustained a broken hand; lacerations all over the body and the only thing I got for all that were a few tablets of paracetamol. They said we were MDC and that there was every chance we would influence the other prisoners and clash with others from ZANU PF. This is why they kept us in solitary confinement. The conditions though were very bad. We stayed in cells that had raw sewage passing through and we cleaned that up using our bare hands. That was the most difficult part and I told myself the day Zimbabwe is free from tyranny, I will personally go to the Minister of Justice and those in charge of prisons to tell them exactly what needs to be done.”

That was 2013. This week, three years later, Yvonne Musarurwa, Tungamirai Madzokere, and Last Maengahama were sentenced to 20 years, despite eyewitnesses stating in court that the three were innocent, despite a complete lack of evidence, despite video evidence that Last Maengahama was in a church miles away when the officer was killed. According to Beatrice Mtetwa, who leads the defense team, the three were convicted based on the doctrine of common purpose, an archaic doctrine by which one may be found guilty of another’s crime. The State went to great lengths to convict Yvonne Musarurwa and her colleagues.

Yvonne Musarurwa is 29 years old. She has spent the last five years in the clutches of the State for a crime she never committed. How many more years until Yvonne Musarurwa, and the rest of Zimbabwe, are freed from prison for a crime they never committed? In Zimbabwe, the State is the crime. For now we must continue to imagine, and see, Yvonne Musarurwa smiling, knowing exactly what needs to be done.- WomenAnd Beyond

Is It Wise For Chamisa To Meet Mugabe?

Terrence Mawawa | Some political analysts are calling on MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa to seek advice from former President Robert Mugabe while some observers are cynical about such a move.

Mugabe who was forced to step down following a military takeover in November last year emerged out of his cocoon two weeks ago and accused his former deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa of staging a coup d’etat to topple him.

Mugabe’s latest remarks reveal the nonagenarian is a bitter man.

The formation of the New Patriotic Front also indicates the wily politician is likely to embrace anyone who wants to confront Mnangagwa.

Some political analysts believe Chamisa has to meet Mugabe to get advice on how to defeat Mnangagwa while some observers are deeply sceptical of such a move.

Josiah Patsanza commented on Facebook: ‘It’s one of the best things to do, Mugabe is one of the most influential elders in this country, it would shake ED to the core.”

On the other hand Kevin Maeka responded”: It would throw Zanu PF and E.D. into confusion agreed. But it would be stupid politically.

Mugabe is still hated by the majority of the population and he is unrepentant.

To be honest even E.D. is saying “The past is dead” But that is a slightly different matter. Nelson Chamisa should leave Bob alone.”

“I have no grain of sympathy for that old man and such advice comes from Zanu PF
kuda kusvibisa Nero,” said Manasa Bera.

“Mama Winnie Would Have Been President” – Malema Speaks

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema says the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela should have been president of the country but forces within the ANC could not allow this to happen.

“Winnie Mandela [was] a stone that was rejected by the builders. Winnie Mandela‚ the president we did not have…who was denied to be president on the basis that she is a female and African. They feared her. Even today‚ they still fear her in death. That is why they continue to call her names…But the masses know the truth‚” Malema said outside Madikizela’s house in Orlando West‚ Soweto on Tuesday.

Malema was accompanied by the leadership of the EFF which included Dali Mpofu‚ Godrich Gardee and Floyd Shivambu.

Malema said Madikizela-Mandela earned the title of being called the mother of the nation.

Julius Malema spoke to a crowd of EFF supporters outside Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s home on Tuesday, calling for protection of the fallen stalwart who died in Johannesburg on Monday.

“We have lost a fearless fighter‚ a giant and a mother of the nation – a title which was bestowed on her by the people of South Africa. They declared her a mother of the nation – a position you don’t get elected to. You earn the title through the struggles you wage with your people.

“Because Mama was living among her people and has never betrayed her people‚ they gave her the title the mother of the nation. That is what we are here to celebrate – a life of a person who has never looked down on black people‚” he said.

Born Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela-Mandela‚ the struggle icon died on Monday at the age of 81 at the Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg.

She died after a long illness‚ for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year. She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones‚ the family said in an official statement.

Malema lashed at those who were critics of Madikizela-Mandela and were now pretending to have been close friends of hers. “We have seen the people who did not want Mama Winnie frequenting this house and playing some leading role. They want to distort the real Winnie Mandela…

“We know what Mama hated. We know those she did not want next to her because of the things they did to her. We will be monitoring them closely. We will whisper into their ears and if they don’t listen‚ we will call them out publicly‚” Malema said.

He told the crowd which gathered outside Mama Winnie’s house that this was a place he had visited frequently.

“We are proud to be here because we never rejected her. We regarded her as our mother and our leader. We are here to say to the people of South Africa: the spear has fallen and we are here to pick up that spear and continue to fight. When we are here in this home‚ we are not visitors. We are the children of this home. We grew up here‚ we ate food here‚ slept here… we are not coming her because it is fashionable today to come here‚” Malema said.- TimesLive

Grand Coalition Dies In Stillbirth

Chances of opposition political parties forming a grand coalition to battle with Zanu PF at the forthcoming polls are narrowing to zero with more and more disjointed alliances emerging each day.

While opposition leaders concur that the only way to end Zanu PF’s rule is through a combined effort to be carried out through a grand coalition, time seems to be running out for over 100 political parties that are seeking to end the ruling party’s 37 years in power.

Zanu PF has been in power since 1980 when the country got its independence from Britain and has over the years been accused of running down the economy and dragging Zimbabweans to record poverty.

But as each day passes, the dream of bringing all the opposition political parties together to field a single presidential candidate, while sharing parliamentary seats among the parties is becoming close to a nightmare, with high chances it will not come to fruition on time, if ever it will.

Political analysts have said time is of essence in this cumbersome quest to bring minds of different political figures on the same page.

Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme told the Daily News that the prospects of a grand opposition coalition were slim as all political parties in the opposition have different interests while some are mere plants of Zanu PF.

He said some of the opposition parties are not even aiming to be the next government but are contend with the official status of being opposition.

“The main opposition party has shown it’s incompetence in coalition building and its lack of internal democracy and lack of tolerance for divergent views. How can such an intolerant outfit lead a grand coalition?” he queried.

“At the same time, the other coalitions are plagued with same problems — lack of internal democracy and intolerance to divergent views. You also have an army of independent candidates who don’t feel they have to relate to any party or coalition.

“At best, the situation lands itself to five or so coalitions of opposition and not one grand coalition. The dream of a grand coalition is as far flung and a long shot as (Nelson) Chamisa’s bullet train dream. It’s not something that can be achieved in a short-term but in a few decades,” added Saungweme.

Already, several coalition groups have emerged Among these are MDC Alliance, a grouping of seven political parties headed by Chamisa, the MDC leader; the People’s Rainbow Coalition, led by National People’s Party (NPP) president Joice Mujuru and Coalition of Democrats led by Elton Mangoma.

Mujuru’s party has made it clear that it would need an equal representation of all the political parties involved.

This alone will create problems especially with parties such as the MDC, which might need a large stake for commanding the highest number of supporters in the opposition.

Rashweat Mukundu, a political analyst, said there are a lot of opportunists in the opposition, which makes it difficult for the members to speak with one voice.

He said while a grand coalition is an important political vehicle to avoid splitting votes and galvanise the opposition message in challenging Zanu PF, in the Zimbabwean case not much thought has been put into the meaning of coalitions and the value they add to the political contest.

Instead, what the country has are groups of political leaders some who are free riders and also opportunistic party leaders seeking office.

“Coalition parties would normally bring historical legacy or something tangible to the table and so far none seem to meet this mark apart from MDC, (Tendai) Biti and Welshman (Ncube). So the existence of many parties is not a hindrance to coalitions as long as those coalition parties are viable in their own right,” said Mukundu.

“This is not the case with many parties apart from MDC, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the MDC led by Ncube. The rest are untested and almost adventure movements hoping to strike a chance at political office”.

Mukundu said the squabbles in the MDC Alliance are the clearest indication that alliances must be based on what you bring not what you will get.

“And the MDC Alliance needs a thorough review before the elections dropping free riders and responding to the hard questions of what each party brings to the table,” he said.

The major sticking points that have rendered the coalition to face serious hurdles include the issue of the name of the alliance, who would lead and how the seats will be allocated.

For example, the NPP wants a coalition that has an all-inclusive; name, logo, symbol and slogan, which are neutral and not derived from one or some of the coalescing parties.

Those that will be contesting as independent candidates have also created their own group known as People’s Own Voice.

While the confusion is stinking high, the chances of returning to sanity and build a tangible thing are also slowly vanishing.

This is also happening at a time when the leading opposition political party, the MDC is also dogged with a serious leadership crisis that is set to throw its own fair share of confusion.

Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe are fighting tooth and nail over the party’s leadership position.

Khupe has reportedly registered with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission as MDC’s presidential candidate, in a move that will create more problems for the party and the opposition as a whole.

While, there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel, political analyst Shakespeare Hamauswa said the chances for these parties to work together are still there, adding that a single day is long in politics.

“In politics a day is too long for things to happen. It is still possible that most serious opposition parties can join hands. Since there are different coalitions, there can be coalition of coalitions. What is needed is the support of experienced facilitators to negotiations. Squabbles in MDC are normal and the good thing is the anti-Alliance members were booted out while concerns of those who remained were addressed through opening up all seats for open contest,” Hamauswa said.

However, the situation on the ground shows that for Hamauswa’s averment to be achieved, it will take more than commitment and is nothing short of a miracle.

Obert Gutu, who is associated with the Khupe camp, has made it clear that there is no room for negotiation with Chamisa, whom he accuses of illegally grabbing power.

“Some of us have always belonged to the MDC-T that respects and upholds the basic tenets of the party constitution. We are not going to waiver our well-grounded principles and convictions simply to go with the wind. No! We will, never, ever do that.

“We cannot bend the rules simply because that looks and feels convenient to do. We don’t want to create another dictatorship. It is as simple as that. Anyone who thinks that they can bulldoze us into giving up our firmly held principles on democracy and constitutionalism is dreaming. That is not going to happen,” Gutu said.

This flies in the face of togetherness, which the parties are seeking build and achieve.

Some of the coalition members still believe the parties will find one another along the way in time for the elections, pointing out that those that will not toe the line stands to lose out.

The Ncube-led MDC said the dream is to bring everyone to the “big tent”.

“Efforts are still being made to have everybody on the train. Time is ticking away for those parties outside the cage. Those setting conditions risk being left behind. The MDC Alliance is the only game in town and president Nelson Chamisa is the people’s choice. The Alliance has to continue with its journey to the promised land with or without comrades outside the cage.

“The MDC has been calling for a grand coalition for some time. Party structures gave MDC president Welshman Ncube the mandate to see and listen to political players in Zimbabwe. The MDC is behind Nelson Chamisa and the Alliance at the moment,” the party’s spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi told the Daily News.

The other MDC Alliance member, PDP led by Biti, echoed Chihwayi’s sentiments, saying the door is still open for other political parties to join.

“We have invited all parties to the MDC Alliance and the doors have not closed. What is clear from us is that we have a presidential candidate, and that will remain.

“We have a name for the alliance and that will remain. We have the key elements of the coalition in place we need those that are unseeing to come on board,” PDP spokesperson Jacob Mafume said.- Daily News

MDC PRIMARY ELECTIONS: Majome Fights It Out With Mamombe

 

Tensions are high in all the country’s political parties as they prepare for primary elections to elect their candidates for the crucial Parliamentary elections to be held by August this year. One particular constituency that has had social media in full debate is Harare West held by lawyer Jessie Majome. Majome is faced with a fresh challenge from activist Joana Mamombe. The two will fight it out at the primary elections sources say the date will be announced soon. Majome has launched a social media campaign #myhararewest. Below is her first tweet.

 

Magaya Appears In Court On Rape Charges

Disgraced Prophet Walter Magaya

By Paul Nyathi

Prophetic Healing Ministry leader Prophet Walter Magaya has appeared in court facing charges of rape, unlawful termination of pregnancy and obstructing the course of justice.

Magauya appeared before Justice Amy Tsanga at the start of his trial at the High Court in Harare on Tuesday morning.

Magaya’s lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu tried to get the court to dismiss the allegations against Magaya and was turned down.

Allegations against Magaya are that sometime in June 2015 he had un-consectual intercourse with the complainant and got her pregnant before the prophet asked her to use a pregnancy termination pill.

When his issue began being invested, Magaya paid the complainant $100 000 in a bid to stop her from testifying against him.

The matter was postponed to the 25th of April for continuation with trial.

Chamisa Writes Letter To Mnangagwa | Road To Victory Brief Update 2

Advocate Nelson Chamisa | Fellow citizens, revolutionary and convivial greetings to you all.

We are just coming from the Easter holidays and I am deeply pained by some of my colleagues in the political industry who continue to belittle God and the role of the Church in our communities.

They have turned the church into platforms for rallies, in the process bastardizing the sanctity of the church. This past Easter alone, we saw hordes of politicians pontificating at church gatherings in the process desecrating the true meaning of Easter and the Church.

1. Celebrating the resurrection power of the Cross
The new Zimbabwe that I envision will be characterized by a true and honest separation between the State and the church.

I am a firm believer in the autonomy and independence of the church which must as an institution continue to be the custodian of a country’s values and the true moral compass of a nation.

The church must be a place of unity and peace. We have of late seen the church being reduced to a platform of hate and divisive language. The State or any political party for that matter must never be allowed to contaminate, weaken and compromise the church. Church capture must be vehemently resisted.

2. All roads lead to Bulawayo
On Saturday, the MDC and its Alliance partners move to Bulawayo, the country’s second largest city which features prominently in our vision as the hub and industrial capital of the new Zimbabwe.

In the Easter spirit of the power of resurrection, we are committed to resuscitate Bulawayo as the country’s industrial hub.

The city of Kings and Queens has for long been abandoned, neglected and forgotten—thanks to the legendary ineptitude of the party now occupying the seat of government.

2.1 Devolution is our revolution—    To devolve is to involve
In the spirit of devolution encapsulated in our Constitution, we will devolve power to all regions and communities so that local people are empowered to make decisions and to control and benefit from the resources around them.

Devolution is the true involvement of a people in the management of their own affairs and in the new Zimbabwe; we do not wish to continue this Hararenization of key national essential activities and services.

Indeed, to devolve is to involve and in the new Zimbabwe, devolution will be a reality so that all local communities are part of the national governance system.

For me, Bulawayo is special. Bulawayo reclaim its status as the industrial capital of the country and as the centre of innovation.

Zimbabweans need and deserve development. As a country, we need the strands of development to be felt in all corners of the country so that everyone feels they belong. As things stand, a lot of our communities justifiably feel left out of the government matrix of development.

We have to resolve that as a matter of urgency.
To the people of Bulawayo, come let us reason together at the White City Stadium on Saturday.

3. Redefining National Politics
3.1 My meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa
In the spirit of national building and promoting constructive dialogue in the quest to find solutions to national challenges, I have written to President Emmerson Mnangagwa requesting a meeting with him.

I have written to him with the aim of defining and framing the parameters and contours of a national discourse in our country’s politics.

It is important to eliminate insults, animosity and hatred in our national politics. We need neopolitics; the politics of ideas, solutions, policies and national strategies to develop Zimbabwe.

I am yet to hear from President Mnangagwa on the exact dates that we will meet.
The MDC is a partner in national development and not a threat. Being on opposing political sides is not enemity but just an expression of the reality of diverse views. After all, it is diversity that makes a nation because diversity strengthens and does not weaken.

In that context, national holidays and national events should be inclusive and not be dominated by a single political party. Programmes must involve all the stakeholders including the official opposition.

In that regard, I will be initiating a courtesy call by the official opposition on government.

3.2 The national Independence in context
On the 18th of April, the country will be celebrating the country’s independence.
This is the time to pay veneration to our hard-won independence and how the patriotic sons and daughters of this land fought a tenacious liberation struggle to rid the country of racism and colonial rule.

This is the time to seriously reflect on whether as a country we should have a national dress as this would be the fitting occasion to adorn an agreed national dress.
In the new Zimbabwe, the celebration of our hard-won independence will not be a one-day event.

We will introduce an independence month of celebration whose key signpost will include festivities, discussions, seminars, lecture series as well as national tours to important national sites.

While the 18th of April will remain the day for the main event, we have declared April as an independence month to be marked by separate related activities that bestow honour to the sons and daughters of this land—departed or living—with some of them still serving in the country’s institutions such as the army, the police force and the rests of the civil service.

An independent people must think independently. Let it be truly a new dispensation. If we are open for business, we must be open for new and good politics for the merriment of all Zimbabweans.

At a personal level, I will be engaging in a plethora of activities to honour and commemorate our independence day.

One Zimbabwe, one people.
One Zimbabwe, one future.
One Zimbabwe, one vision.
Behold the new.
God bless Zimbabwe.
God bless Africa

Advocate Nelson Chamisa is the MDC President and the MDC Alliance Presidential candidate.

ED Is Unrepentant Just Like Mugabe

Terrence Mawawa |Respected political analyst Antony Taruvinga has accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of being unrepentant – just like his former boss Robert Mugabe.

“ED is an unrepentant globetrotter who is actually fascinated with going around just to see and enjoy the world, in the process, gobbling millions of dollars at the expense of the suffering people of Zimbabwe.

They hoodwink you claiming that there are mega investment deals that are coming.

Mnangagwa thinks that globetrotting expenditure will bring something in return.

This government is a group of pathological liars.

ED’ s speeches are fraught with misconceptions,” wrote Taruvinga on Facebook.

Ngarivhume To Stay In MDC Alliance

Statement | Transform Zimbabwe President Jacob Ngarivhume has called for unity of purpose amidst recent challenges that have rocked the MDC Alliance. He was speaking at a TZ structures meeting held over the weekend in Harare.

The meeting was attended by hundreds of TZ members from structures within Harare Province in Waterfalls. The meeting was part of the feedback meetings the TZ president is doing with all TZ structures after the resolutions passed at the historic TZ Inaugural Congress held on the 24th of March in Harare.

The TZ leader said to the structures, “We have submitted the concerns which you raised at the Congress to the MDC Alliance Principals forum and they are being looked into. We will come back to you when we have received the response.

As Transform Zimbabwe, we remain committed to the Alliance Agreement. We believe it is the best option available for Zimbabwe to dislodge the cruel ZANU PF regime from power.”

The MDC Alliance has been rocked of late by allegations of bullying and imposition of candidates by the MDCT in constituencies allocated to fellow Alliance partners. This is in direct violation of what was agreed in the Alliance agreement signed on the 5th of August 2017.

When asked for comments on the sidelines, Ngarivhume said “Yes, there has some challenges in the Alliance but this is normal in any democratic environment. Challenges are expected where seven different political parties come together. However, we choose to concentrate on what unites us than what separates us.

As Principals we remain focused and committed to making sure that the Alliance works. We cannot let slip this golden opportunity to free Zimbabwe from the cruel ZANU PF hegemony once and for all.

The people of Zimbabwe have suffered for too long and they deserve to be liberated and to live a better life. This is what caused us to overlook our differences as political parties and form the MDC Alliance. This is the vision which guides us and which we will pursue until it is achieved.

The MDC Alliance has the capacity to deal with issues we raised and we are confident that these issues will be addressed timeously and in the spirit of working together towards our common goal of freeing Zimbabwe.”

Ngarivhume pointed out that they will continue to participate in all Alliance programs. Yesterday an Alliance meeting was held in Bulawayo at the MDC T offices where provincial chairpersons from all the Alliance partners attended.

Ngarivhume also revealed that TZ was mobilising for the Alliance Rally to be held in the city of kings this coming weekend. He will address the rally together with other Principals.

Chamisa Comes Hard On Khuphe

Thokozani Khuphe

By Paul Nyathi

The Bulawayo Province MDC-T faction under the leadership of Nelson Chamisa has come down hard on party members suspected to be aligned to the faction led by Thokozani Khuphe.

The provincial executive dismissed with immediate effect at least 17 members from the party after they were suspected to be involved with the Khuphe faction.

The diamissed officials include provincial secretary Nomvula Mguni, women’s assembly chairperson, Tamani Moyo, local government secretary, Aleck Gumede, information and publicity secretary, Beauty Lifa, Mildred Reason Mangena, Ward 18 chairperson, Mildred Ncube, ward 29 chairperson, Emmelia Moyo, district organiser, Samson Mubemi Magwegwe, and Dorcus Ncube.

Also fired are party youth Mqondisi Balanda Moyo, Alfred Dzirutwe, Sphathisiwe Moyo, Nkanyiso Mabhena, Sibongile Moyo, a Stanley and a Sbyleen.

The MDC-T axe also fell on the party’s district women’s assembly chairpersons from Makokoba, Mpopoma, Njube-Lobengula, Pumula and Magwegwe.

These are Edward Simela (Mpopoma/Pelandaba main wing district), a Masuku (Nkulumane main district), Mavis Mlilo, Flora Gumbo, a Matshazi, a Chingundla and a Ponah, who are general members.

Provincial spokesperson Felix Magalela Sibanda confirmed the development in a statement, accusing the axed officials of snubbing party programmes, among other allegations.

“On March 25, the provincial executive fired some errant MDC-T members from the party. Those who are either MPs or councillors will be recalled from Parliament or council, whatever the case maybe,” he said.

“They were fired primarily for putting the party into disrepute and disregarding national council resolutions, failure to attend party meetings and programmes,” he said.

The purge comes a few days after the MDC-T national council fired Khupe, former national organising secretary, Abednico Bhebhe and former national spokesperson, Obert Gutu, for refusing to recognise Chamisa’s appointment as substantive party leader following the death of its founder, Morgan Tsvangirai in February this year.

“It was resolved that all in Parliament or council should be recalled, henceforth. For all fired have the right to appeal within 14 days.

Mnangagwa Snubs USA Demands, Military Men Contest In Zanu PF Primaries

By Snodia Mawupeni |War veterans and former military officials have joined the Zanu PF fray in party primary elections scheduled for next month, Zimeye.com can exclusively reveal.

This is inspite of recent fresh demands by the United States of America that relations with Zimbabwe will normalise only after certain conditions among them to do with the delimitarisation of national politics being met.

US President Donald Trump has recently “extended sanctions against Zimbabwe for another year”, saying that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration “remained a threat to Washington’s foreign policy”.

Zanu PF party insiders in Hurungwe district told ZimEye.com ahead of today’s CV deadline submission.
One youth leader said, ‘We have had many potential candidates among them war veterans as well as former soldiers as party candidates. These are hardly known and hard to sell to some supporters.’
According to insiders, some war veterans are pushing to have a quota approved ahead of primaries to represent the party in forth-coming harmonised elections.
Elections are likely to be held before August.
Sources revealed that Hurungwe District war veterans chairperson Joseph Manjengwa Seremani is vying for Hurungwe East where ex-soldiers Retired Col Masenda, Col Patrick Maponga are among those who also submitted their CVs.

“These are pushing to be accepted to fight in that constituency left vacant after Sarah Mahoka was fired from the party in January,” added a provincial member who declined to be named.
Insiders said a South African based educationist Chenjerai Kangausaru a close ally of First Lady Auxillia Mngagwagwa visited Karoi’s Hurungwe Children’s Home in January will not make it.
‘Kangausaru will not make it because he contested as an independent in 2013 against Mahoka and will never make it in Hurungwe East,’ added our sources.
Kangausaru tried to steal the show during Mngagwagwa visit by donating ‘groceries’ to the home.
Hurungwe Central has former soldier and provincial member of war veterans Tichaona Mudarikwa to fight incumbent Godfrey Beremauro among others, according to our sources.
Silas Chimbiro who is provincial secretary for administration is also vying for the same seat.
District secretary for information and publicity Anthony Zunzanyika wanted to contest in Hurungwe East but switched base to Hurungwe North together with another war veteran Stephen Karenga and a former soldier and Central Intelligence Officer identified as Tsungai Chivheya.
They will fight incumbent Reuben Marumahoko who has vowed not to allow war veterans in the disguise of campaigning for President Emerson Mngagwagwa while gaining political space, according to our sources.
Zunzanyika denied that he is contesting.
‘As war veterans we are campaigning for President ED. I cannot comment for others who have their democratic right to contest in politics like everyone else,’ said Zunzanyika.
Manjengwa and Mudarikwa were accused of abusing Command Agriculture inputs scheme for political gains.
He denied that war veterans were doing this for personal achievements.
‘As war veterans we have been trying to assist the masses where inputs abuse was rampant,’ said Manjengwa.
But sources said war veterans and former army officers are ‘hard to sell’ products to the electorate.
‘We face a challenge as some of these aspiring candidates are hardly known besides their claims that they are popular,’ added a youth member who said as youths they are fighting for their own space.
However, a provincial member confirmed that some of the war veterans have dark shadows following them and want to use politics to hide.
‘We suspect that some aspiring candidates have criminal charges over their heads and want to contest as a cover-up for their actions,’ added a provincial member.
It has been revealed that some ex-army officers want to ‘jump the gun’ amid indications that soldiers played a critical role during the November 17 coup last year when former president Robert Mugabe was forced to resign.
This gave a new life to war veterans side-lined by former first lady Grace Mugabe and her G40 faction whose kingpins Prof Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwawo are now in exile.

Magaya Appears In Court For Rape, Abortion And Obstruction Of Justice

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance ministry leader Walter Magaya has pleaded not guilty to rape, unlawful termination of pregnancy and obstruction of justice charges as his trial kicked off today before High Court judge Justice Amy Tsanga.

The State, led by Prosecutor General Ray Goba, successfully argued against the defence team led by Advocate Thabani Mpofu who had earlier challenged the laying of charges saying it was defective as there was no criminal offence disclosed in the charge.

The State indicated in its summary of prosecution that it would summon at least eleven witnesses to testify against Magaya.

PG Goba also made an application to have Magaya given restrictions as he alleged that the accused had been interfering with State witnesses. Goba said Magaya was facing serious charges hence should have his bail conditions reinstated despite a court order terminating them.

Justice Tsanga ruled that the court order terminating Magaya’s bail conditions should stand because the State had no compelling case against accused in the matter.

Magaya is alleged to have raped the complainant sometime in June 2015 before giving her a pregnancy termination pill to ingest. Further allegations are that the defendant, realising that the matter was being investigated, reportedly deposited US$100 000 into the complainant’s CBZ Bank account number 09124212590012, allegedly to interfere with investigations.

The matter is set to continue on April 25.- state media

Chamisa Jets Into Byo, MDC Alliance Update

Statement | Preparations for the Bulawayo MDC Alliance Star rally are at an advanced stage with all Alliance partners busy mobilising masses to attend.

As MDC Alliance, we are encouraged by the overwhelming eagerness and support shown by Bulawayo residents to attend the rally at White City Stadium this weekend. The rally will kick off from 9 AM to 4 PM.

We encourage the people of Bulawayo to come out in their numbers to hear first -hand our presidential candidate Advocate Nelson Chamisa and the other principals deliver a message of hope for the country. We shall be seeking the support of the people of this great city in achieving our goal of ousting the incompetent Zanu PF government and replacing it with the capable and youthful leadership of Nelson Chamisa in the upcoming election.
This will also be an opportunity for Bulawayo residents and surrounding areas to interact and engage with the MDC Alliance leadership through the various activities lined up in the city on the 7th of April.

Advocate Chamisa and all the other Alliance principals are coming together to pledge that time is up for Zanu PF. We are focused and committed to ushering a new Zimbabwe that avails equal opportunities to all citizens and more importantly to restore the country’s rightful image among other nations. We shall continue as an Alliance to comb every corner of this country to wash away all remnants of Zanu PF oppression from the minds of long suffering Zimbabweans.
We are stronger together.

Professor Welshman Ncube
MDC Alliance Spokesperson

Doctors Back At Work

Doctors who have been on strike since the beginning of last month, said they are resuming work today.

Some departments at major Government hospitals such as Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo had been shut down as a result of the strike.

The industrial action was called off during the Easter holidays and the doctors said they are resuming work today.

In a statement, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association said they had finally reached an agreement with the Health Services Board after President Mnangagwa intervened.

“Procurement of essential medicines and drugs is in motion and we expect an improvement soon so that we offer quality health care to patients. There was an upward review of on call allowances,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He said doctors will work hard and continually review the situation until the attainment of regional and international standards despite the limitations in the economy.

“Should the Health Services Board fail to honour the agreement, we will have no choice but to express our grievances again. We would like to thank His Excellency, Cde Mnangagwa for his intervention and swift action hence doctors will report for work in their numbers,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He said the process of procuring equipment and medicines was underway and doctors were aware of the shortage of foreign currency hence were not expecting change overnight.

United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) clinical director Dr Narcisius Dzvanga said everything will normalise today.

“No one comes from strike on a holiday and doctors will report for work tomorrow (today). The strike ended during a holiday and no one had put them on duty hence everything will normalise tomorrow,” said Dr Dzvanga.

His Mpilo Central Hospital counterpart Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said he was grateful patients will from today be able to access the out patients department which had been closed.

“These developments came by during a holiday and people had travelled before knowing about the end of the strike hence we expect all doctors to report for work tomorrow. We had made rosters to stretch up to April 3 to cover the holidays. All our departments will be fully operational tomorrow,” said Dr Ngwenya.

Community working group on Health director Mr Itai Rusike said the end of the strike will bring relief to members of the public who were failing to access health services.

“The month long strike action had a serious impact on the already strained health sector which does not have enough medical personnel, drugs and equipment. Never again should we put our people at risk by failing to dialogue and agree on issues of national importance,” said Mr Rusike.

He said the Government needs to strengthen its labour dispute handling procedures for the essential services in order to avoid unnecessary pain, suffering and avoidable deaths.

“I hope the agreement signed by the Government and the doctors will address the root causes of perennial job action and also take into consideration other health professionals to avoid nurses also downing tools. Zimbabweans need to know, how much has been collected from the Health Levy and what it has been used for as the doctors were also complaining about the general absence of tools of their trade at Government hospitals.”- state media

Drama As Man Jumps Into Crocodile Infested Pool

A 21 year old Zambian lost an arm and sustained multiple fractures after he was allegedly attacked by three domesticated crocodiles when he jumped into their pool in Victoria Falls.

Mr Collin Peter Stewart Miller (21), who is suspected to have been drunk, allegedly bulldozed through a restricted area and climbed over a protective fence into the reptiles’ enclosure on Thursday around 9PM.

He was reportedly in the resort town to attend a friend’s wedding. Witnesses said two locals bravely jumped into the enclosure and rescued Mr Miller.

“Mr Miller who lost his left arm, sustained fractured ribs and injuries on the head, was immediately airlifted to South Africa,” said a witness.

Yesterday he was reported to be in a stable condition at an unnamed private health facility in the neighbouring country.

The incident, which has become the talk of the resort town, occurred at The Victoria Falls River Brewing Company.

The company’s director Mr Mike Danes declined to talk about the incident.

“I can’t talk about the issue because the people concerned who are from Lusaka, said they don’t want it in the Press. You can talk to the police because we made a report,” said Mr Danes.

Earlier the company had released a statement chronicling how the incident occurred.

“On Thursday evening a member of the public deliberately climbed over a protective fence and entered the crocodile pool which houses three crocodiles, deliberately putting his life in extreme danger.

“He was rescued by incredible efforts of two very brave men including an employee of the Cage Diving Company. He sustained several injuries including loss of arm. The River Brewing Company wishes him a very speedy recovery and we are grateful to the quick thinking and bravery of his rescuers,” read the statement.

The Victoria Falls River Brewing Company manufactures different kinds of clear beer and also operates a restaurant at the same premises at Busy Island, between Ilala Lodge and N1 Hotel.

The company domesticated three crocodiles at a pool behind the building, which attract tourists in droves.

Mr Miller of 09 Lufwanyana Road, Handworthy Park in Lusaka, Zambia was booked at a local lodge ahead of the wedding ceremony before going on a drinking spree with friends.

He allegedly entered the restaurant kitchen without the knowledge of staff, and exited through a window which leads to the pool.

A news crew visited the premises yesterday afternoon and the three reptiles which can be roughly more than two metres long, were basking in the sun.

Sources gave different versions of the story.

Some allege a drunken Miller removed his shirt and dived into the pool intending to swim unaware that there were crocodiles while some allege he was trying to commit suicide.

“We were shocked when he just stormed into the kitchen despite a sign prohibiting members of the public. He exited through the window and jumped into the pool. The crocodiles immediately pounced on him.

“He is lucky because alert guests quickly followed and rescued him but one of the crocs had already cut off his arm.

“The other crocodile nearly crushed his head but it turned away to chase after the one with the arm and that’s how he was rescued,” said a source who witnessed the incident.

Miller was rushed to Chinotimba Medical Centre before being airlifted to South Africa for further treatment. Hwange District Medical Officer Dr Wisdom Kurauone confirmed the incient.

The wedding which was in the resort town, went ahead on Saturday, The Chronicle learnt.

Police could not readily comment.

Meanwhile a fisherman from Binga is battling for life in hospital following a crocodile attack.

Siphiliyano Muleya (30) of Chilila Fishing Camp was attacked at around 6PM on Friday at Masumu River after he had returned to the river to collect his cellphone which he had forgotten in a fishing net.

He was rushed to Binga District Hospital and later transferred to Mpilo Central hospital in Bulawayo.

A source close to the victim said Muleya had walked back to the river alone.

“It is during this time that the croc grabbed his calf and he bled profusely. He screamed for help prompting fishermen who where nearby to rush to his rescue. The fishermen used big sticks to beat up the crocodile until it let go the victim,” said a source that preferred anonymity.

Two weeks ago, only a few pieces of human flesh were recovered after a 52 year old fisherman was devoured by crocodiles in Lake Kariba. A ZimParks team, with the assistance of the police sub-aqua team hunted down the crocodiles and managed to kill one in which pieces of human flesh were recovered.

Matabeleland North police spokesman Inspector Siphiwe Makonese could not be reached for comment.

Mnangagwa Follows Mugabe

Ray Nkosi | By the time former President Robert Mugabe was ousted from power his penchant for travelling had become a huge liablity to the country’s economy, spending over $50 million on foreign trips a year.

In 2016 alone according to a financial statement published in the latest government gazette, foreign travel expenses totalled $53.2 million.

Things have not changed under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new dispensation, as foreign trips continue to gobble up much needed financial resources. Mnangagwa currently on a state visit to China where he went with a huge entourage is reported to have blown up  to $2.3 million on this trip alone.

Mnangagwa has travelled to 13 countries in five months.

The local Newsday quotes anonymous sources saying, ” Air Zimbabwe had offered to take the presidential delegation to China for $1,9 million but government opted for a luxurious private jet owned by Switzerland-based aviation management company, Comlux at a cost of $2,3 million.

“This probably excludes costs related to the crew for the eight days of the President’s State visit to China,” a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said adding Mnangagwa used Comlux’s most prized asset, the VIP Boeing 767.

According to internationally-recognised rating agent, S&P Global, Comlux is rated as an integrated group in the aviation sector specialising in Airbus and Boeing, with the former typically chartered by heads of state, royal families, business leaders or sports teams.

Mnangagwa’s special adviser, Christopher Mutsvangwa said:“It’s a long flight … needs non-stop capacity … Air Zimbabwe flights have no similar capacity, as they have to make a refuelling stop-over. Our bilateral State visit need not needlessly burden third countries with security and protocol.”

Air Zimbabwe acting chief executive officer, Joseph Makonese would also not be drawn into commenting on the matter, claiming he was away on holiday.

“I am not aware because I am on a break. Ask our communications manager, (Tafadzwa) Mazonde,” he said.

Mazonde was not available for comment.

Efforts to get comment from Foreign Affairs permanent secretary, Joey Bimha were futile.

 

Under Siege Mnangagwa Fund Raises For Zanu PF In China

By Talent Gondo |The recent seven days State visit to China by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his entourage of several Zanu Pf ministers is mere fundraising for a party torn by serious factionalism and on the brink of a humiliating defeat at the hands of opposition this coming election, the MDC T has said.

Douglas Mwonzora, MDC T Secretary General told ZimEye that because Zanu Pf remains Zanu Pf in actions and deeds, President Mnangagwa’s entourage of at least 10 ministers, the first lady Auxilia Mnangagwa and several government officials reflected “a typical last super mentality” where Zanu Pf knew that its days at the helm of power were numbered.

“The current crop of leadership knows that their time is up and that their days are numbered as we get closer to elections,” said Mwonzora.

“Tagging along such a number of ministers boggles the mind but it is a clear reflection that Zanu Pf remains Zanu Pf and this party will never change.”

Mwonzora said because President Mnangagwa wanted to reward his allies and those who supported him get into power, the ministers had been incorporated as part of the delegation to China.

He said besides rewarding his cronies through foreign travel where these ministers and government officials gobbled millions of US Dollars in accommodation and other travelling expenses, such escapades by the Mnangagwa was fundraising for his allies and the party Zanu Pf.

“These ministers get a lot of money in Travel and Subsistence (T and S) and they need this money to campaign as individuals and at a party level,” he said.

The seven days State visit to China makes it
President Mnangagwa’s 13th foreign trip this year
.
This is despite that following his inauguration following the November 24 2017 military intervention which saw him assume power from former President Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa pledged to reduce the huge bill gobbled through foreign travel by his predecessor.

During the first 10 months of 2016, Mugabe’s globetrotting escapades saw him splurge US$36 million on foreign and domestic travel according to a local publication the Zimbabwe Independent.

Seperate Church From Politics, Chamisa Warns Mnangagwa

MDC Alliance presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa has savaged politicians who use church gatherings as campaigning platforms to lure votes from congregants, reminding them that such platforms were a preserve of Christianity and not politics.

This comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed thousands of Zion Christian Church congregants in Bikita recently, where he reminded congregants that the new political dispensation that he is heading is all in God’s plan.

Zanu PF politburo member and secretary for war veterans Victor Matemadanda in another parallel Easter church attendance took to the podium and urged members of the Jekenisheni church to vote for Zanu PF in the coming polls.

In his Easter message, posted on his Twitter account yesterday, Chamisa attacked his political rivals for diverting the purpose of church gatherings and turning them into platforms for scoring political points.

“[I] had a wonderful and prayerful Easter weekend. The blood of Jesus shall never lose its power. Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour. For me, worship gatherings must never be reduced to being rallies for politics and point-scoring, ”he said.

Matemadanda was unreachable for comment.

The ruling Zanu PF party has consistently come under attack for maintaining its political presence within the religious sects, with members of the apostolic sect having recurrently found themselves on the receiving end of Zanu PF politicians visiting their churches to canvass for support.

Riots Again At Dynamos – Highlanders Tie

Highlanders Fans In Buoyant mood cheering their team in a match against Dynamos.

By Paul Nyathi

It was all fireworks at Rufaro Stadium in Harare on Sunday when Highlanders stunned a rather weak Dynamos in Castle Lager Premier League match.

Anti riot police had to fire teargas to disperse disappointed rowdy Dynamos supporters who could not come to terms with the loss to their bitter rivals and confirm a bad Easter Weekend for the winless Harare giants.

The restless supporters caused pandemonium at the main gate to the VIP stand demanding explanations from the club’s leadership on the club’s poor run.

Highlanders marched past the equally youthful Dynamos with a simple tap-in by forward Ozias Zibande at the stroke of half-time.

While Dynamos coach Llyod Mutasa and his technical team have been preaching that they are not pressing the panic button yet, some of the supporters are already getting disillusioned and are not sure where the team is headed with continuous losses since the start of the season.

Police had to call for reinforcements as the unruly supporters, who were holding placards and insulting the club’s leadership through disparaging lyrics, blocked the team bus from leaving Rufaro and refused to leave the exit point long after the match had ended.

It was only after the police fired teargas that the disorderly crowd gave in.

42 Killed In Easter Road Accidents

by Talent Gondo| The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has revealed that the Easter death toll has risen to 42 up from the 32 recorded on April 1 2018, almost a 100 percent increase from the 2017 figure.

Last year, 22 deaths were recorded and 105 people injured against this year’ s 42 deaths in the 338 recorded accidents.

Police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi attributed most of the accidents to poor judgement by drivers when negotiating curves and overtaking.

“We urge our drivers to exercise caution on the roads because most of these fatalities are a result of failure by drivers to negotiate curves resulting in head on collisions and vehicles side swiping each other,” he said.

Superintendent Nyathi said of the 338 recorded accidents , 25 were fatal compared to last year’s 13 fatal accidents.

“At least 246 people were injured in road carnage during the Easter holiday compared to last year’s 105” he said.

“We urge motorists to drive safely and service their cars before embarking on long journeys,” said Superintendent Nyathi.

In one of the accidents that took place along the Harare-Masvingo highway, a Honda fit overtook in front of an oncoming Toyota Wish carrying nine passengers resulting in a head on collision which left 3 people dead.

The other injured passengers were taken to Chivhu General Hospital for treatment.

Winnie Mandela, The Struggle, The Pain, The Liberator

Charlene Smith| I am so appalled by some white trash know-nothing comments about Winnie Madikizela Mandela, that I need to weigh in. I also need to say that if I read similar white trash comments on your Timeline I will go after them. If Madiba could forgive and honor her, and then not punish white South Africans for what we put her and others like her through, how DARE you judge her?

Winnie Mandela, when I first met her in 1976, was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, tall, imperious, with a gorgeous deep voice and a low sexy laugh. I interviewed her after she had to stop work for a cobbler, because security police harassment was so intense, business to the store fell off.
It had been this way for thirteen years, ever since the jailing of her husband, Nelson Mandela in 1963. Now that she has died the clichés about her life are rolling in thick and fast. How eager we are to forget, and in refusing to remember we perpetuate the harm she experienced in life.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings in 1989 found she played a role in the murders of Stompie Seipei (13), evidence suggested she stabbed him twice in the throat, and the deaths of Lolo Sono, and others. In 1992, she was charged with ordering the death of Dr. Abu-Baker Asvat. A decade later she was charged and convicted on multiple counts of fraud and theft, but never served jail time.
And yet, she deserves our empathy and I will tell you why.
In the 70s she was a source of inspiration to many young people, some of whom flocked to her home after the 1976 uprising. Some went into exile, others remained and coached by her, became leaders of the United Democratic Front.
Winnie was banished to a dusty village, Brandfort, hundreds of miles from her Soweto home, and that, and an incident in 1969 broke her. In 1969, security branch came to her Soweto home at 3am. She was alone with her daughters, aged 10 and nine. Winnie asked to fetch her sister one street up so the girls would not be alone. The police refused, she was taken and her children left alone.
She spent 18 months in solitary confinement, naked, not allowed to wash, and not allowed out for exercises. She did not know what had become of her girls. When she would speak of this with me, her whole countenance would change. She was not allowed sanitary towels when she had periods, nor water or cloths to clean, and so the blood caked on her. She made friends with cockroaches. I’ve been in the cell at the Old Fort that she was held in. It is narrow with high, thick walls, it is oppressively dark when the door is closed, as it was for 18 months.
I believe she experienced profound Post Traumatic Stress. It was never treated, instead; she was expelled to Brandfort. She had a classic four-room house with a biggish yard. Money from mostly American donors saw her build a large bedroom with a quilt on it made by American sympathizers. She used to wait at the Brandfort post office at around 11am each day for phone calls or would make phone calls out. People who visited her were arrested and charged.
Winnie was isolated and lonely, it was here that the drinking and drug taking began and affairs with younger men, including a dreadlocked filmmaker. The conservative black folk of Brandfort township grew to loathe her.
She would get visiting international dignitaries like Senator Edward Kennedy with his large entourage in 1985, but it deepened resentment of her.
When she came back to Johannesburg, in defiance of her banning order, Madiba was already in secret communications with the apartheid government. She formed the Mandela United Football Club, it became an instrument of torture and murder of young men wrongly accused of being spies. At the TRC hearings where its activities were recounted, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who knew her long put his head on the table and cried.
Mandela wrote, “I have often wondered whether any kind of commitment can ever be sufficient excuse for abandoning a young and inexperienced woman in a pitiless desert.”
And so, when he came out of jail in 1990 it was with his hand in hers, even though a few Sundays before his release her explicit love letters to a young lawyer were released. On the night of his return to Soweto, she left the house in the early hours of the morning with the lawyer in full view of the world’s media camped outside.
Zwelakhe Sisulu who accompanied them to the U.S.A. not long after said she would yell at Madiba in hotel rooms. The entourage were not sure how to cope with these outbursts.
Archbishop Tutu revealed, “Mandela said to me that he was never so unhappy as in the period after he was released until he decided to leave Soweto.”
Winnie was unrepentant, she ran up huge bills on Mandela’s tab, was convicted on multiple counts of theft and fraud, and became an embarrassment.
Lots of false pieties will be said about her now. The truth is that once there was a beautiful, proud woman who studied social work with an older woman, Albertinah Sisulu. Through her she met a handsome, brilliant lawyer called Nelson Mandela. They fell in love. He divorced his first wife to marry her. They had two children. Their marriage was passionate. He adored her, I don’t believe he ever loved anyone as much. However, their life was never normal because of his political activities, which she embraced.
When Mandela went to jail he was comparatively safe compared to the perilous life she experienced. The apartheid state punished her because of him, and too because of her; she was an effective conduit for sending young people into exile for military training.
She was a devoted and exceptionally loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. I’m not sure how Zindzi, esp. will cope now.
Because of the poison that is racism she was tortured beyond anything anyone should endure, and because she was so venerated none loved her enough to give the help she needed.
Winnie is the Conscience of a Nation that has already forgotten the tragedy of apartheid history; even in her death, people do not realize how she suffered, how damaged she became and how it hurt her and those who cared for her most.
South Africa today has one of the worst crime rates in the world, it has millions of damaged people – they are apartheid’s legacy. It is in remembering and healing a wounded people that we honor the legacy of Winnie Madikizela Mandela.

Mass Demonstration Against Mnangagwa Set For Harare

By Paul Nyathi

Civil society organisations falling under the banner of the Crisis In Zimbabwe Coalition will this week hold a demonstration in the streets of Harare demanding for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to set up full electoral reforms before the 2018 elections are held.

Crisis In Zimbabwe Coalition Chairman Rashid Mahiya told ZimEye.com in a statement that the demonstration which will be held on Thursday will deliver a petition to the parliament and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission amongst other institutions.

“The demonstration will target key institutions like the Parliament of Zimbabwe, the Speaker of Parliamemt, ZEC and the Ministry of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs where petitions will be submitted,” he said.

The demonstration which is expected to attract thousands of people from civil society organisations around the country will be echoing messages recently sent out by opposition political parties in calling for a free and fair election set forJuly or August this year.

According to Mahiya, the Civil Society will be protesting against parliament’s disregard of a petition presented to it by the organisations three years ago.

“The protest comes in the wake of the disregard by parliament to the civil society petition submitted three years ago through the Election Resource Centre,” he said.

The organisations will also protest against what Mahiya described as the “Proposed piecemeal reforms to the Electoral Act.”

Amongst the issues also raised by the Civil Society groups is the thorny demand for ZEC to demilitarise its staff compliment and the removal of people within the electoral body known to be directly linked to the ruling ZANU PF.

“We will also protest on the refusal by ZEC to publish a list of personnel employed by the Commission with a special interest on ensuring demilitarization of the Elections Logistics Committee and removal of ruling party functionaries from the secretariat,” he said.

The CSOs will also take swipe at the “continued partisan conduct of traditional leaders and the increasing incidences of intimidation on the electorate,” according to Mahiya

He added that after the demonstration, the Civil Society Organisations will produce a Citizens Election Charter, a Zimbabwe Civil Society Pre-Election Assessment Report and a Civil Society Roadmap to the Conduct of Credible, Free and Fair Elections under a programme called “100% feya feya” as they seek to see a free and fair election.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly assured that his government will this year seek to conduct a credible free and fair election.

His promise came at the back of insistances by the U.S Government that it will only be able to remove sanctions on the country only when credible elections are held.

Meanwhile, former Minister in former President Robert Mugabe’s government Jonathan Moyo is on record vowing that the ruling party will never set up electoral reforms that will see it stand a chance to lose elections.

STEALING BVR SERIAL DIGITS: ZANU PF Says “It’s Okay!” Nothing Wrong With Data-Mining Voter Serial Numbers

By Erick Chidanga | Dear Editor;

Please interview ZANU PF Legal Secretary Paul Mangwana yesterday he said there “it is perfectly legal to collect BVR Serial Numbers from people.”

He also added saying, ” there is no law in Zimbabwe which prohibits the collecting of serial numbers.”

I want to know from particularly our legal experts if this is true and if it is we are all in serious trouble!  Also see this party card here which even has a column for serial numbers. 

INSIDE BLUE ROOF: Simba Chikore Missing, Spends Time Overseas

By Terrence Mawawa|  Former President Robert Mugabe’s son in law Simba Chikore is said to have done a runner and is now living in the far east, sources say.

Intelligence sources claimed Chikore is keeping one of his children in Singapore.

“He left Zim a long time ago after his resignation, ” a highly placed source said adding that he is in Singapore and spending time in the far East.

His legal safety is likely more flaky now after his father in law, Robert Mugabe clashed with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and mother in law, Grace was soon afterwards slapped with a police investigation for alleged ivory smuggling.

Chikore, who had up to November last year been Air Zimbabwe’s acting CEO after the airline’s boss Ripton Muzenda was fired, swiftly himself stepped down just before the army put his in-law parents under house arrest on the 15th November last year.

Chikore had by November created more enemies when he clashed with Muzenda over the decision to fire more than 200 workers. Muzenda opposed the resolution, said to have been board level.

ZANU PF Boss “Bashed” By Thugs Is Moyo Himself

Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi| A senior Zanu PF official is the one was forced to run for dear life following violent intraparty clashes here last week.

Francis Moyo, a Zanu PF aspiring Parliamentary candidate for Chiredzi West Constituency was given a violent chase as rogue ruling party elements stoned his vehicle.

According to party sources, the thugs were allegedly sponsored by one Farai Musikavanhu, another aspiring Zanu PF Parliamentary candidate for the same constituency.

“Moyo’s vehicle was stoned by rowdy youths sympathetic to Musikavanhu.

Moyo was forced to run for dear life as the melee ensued,” said a Zanu PF official.

Contacted by ZimEye for a comment, Moyo denied he ran away but he confirmed his vehicle was stoned by unruly party youths.

ZEC Blocks Chamisa On Database Inspection Of Voters Roll

By Terrence Mawawa| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has blocked MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s party’s demands for a structured inspection of the voters roll.

Two months ago, Chamisa’s aide and Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora made a loud call for an audit of the voters roll. This came amid fears of alleged tampering by the ZEC whose part composition as Mwonzora protested, is 45 staffers who are all ex soldiers. Other warnings were issued by the US Harvard University which conducted an acclaimed broad research exposing how the BVR system is prone to a tonne of criminal-level vulnerabilities.

“We want to have an audit of the voters roll. People should also know that it is illegal for people to collect serial numbers from people who registered to vote,” said Mwonzora.

But yesterday it was revealed the ZEC “will not allow any voters roll” database audit, as a source inside the body told ZimEye.

The refusals come at a time when the ZEC is saddled with allegations of secretly incorporating alleged Russian methods of vote rigging.

Without audit level access to the database, experts say anything is possible and the Havard research paper says, one tactic, would be to simply change voters’ addresses, making it appear — to poll workers at least — as though they were voting at the wrong locations. Those voters might be forced to cast provisional ballots, which in many circumstances are not counted.

The study is described in a Sept. 6 paper published in the Journal of Technology Science.

Though the researchers don’t report evidence of attackers already exploiting the vulnerability, Sweeney, Yoo, and Zang said the fear is that it might be used to undermine confidence in elections or even to swing the result in favor of a particular candidate.

“If the goal is to undermine any belief in the electoral system, then they might very well want to target a particular community at large … [because] that could cause a kind of hysteria,” Sweeney said. “People will say: ‘What kind of system is this? We didn’t get a chance to vote. Our whole community didn’t get a chance to vote.’

“If you look at the outcome of the 2016 election … there were several states where the margin of victory was within 1 or 2 or 5 percent,” she continued. “If you want to change the result in a state that was determined by less than 1 percent of the votes, what is the smallest number of changes you can make, and where do you make them?”

Mugabe Loses Mnangagwa Respect: G40 Raids Resumed

By Farai D Hove| Former President Robert Mugabe has lost his remaining shreds of honour with his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Sources reveal a moratorium had been reached – a deal for all former G40 ministers to secure their “dignity” on prosecution for offences real and perceived committed during the pre- November Transition period. That deal included safely flying more than 50 G40 aides out of Zimbabwe, and on the 20th November Prof Jonathan Moyo revealed he was safe with more than 50 G40 MPs and other faction members who include his protege’ Saviour Kasukuwere.

ZimEye.com has revealed exclusive pictures ( never seen before) from the gun raid from inside the minister’s house hideout.

The coup – “Operation Restore Order” was pivoted on targeting so called criminals around former President Robert Mugabe.

Last month on the 13th March, it was said former Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo was to be acquitted following complaints by former President Robert Mugabe. Mugabe speaking to journalists inside his Blue Roof residence, said attacks on Chombo, Kasukuwere, and Moyo must stop. Following that interview, it was loosely believed Chombo and others will now be set free.

But Chombo’s lawyer, Prof Lovemore Madhuku has told ZimEye nothing has changed at present. Chombo is still out on bail and there was no hearing at all …and there will not be one “until the 6th April 2018,” Madhuku said.

Madhuku said this as another G40 minister Godfrey Gandawa was at the weekend revealed to be next in line to stand trial for the Zimdef funds on which Jonathan Moyo’s name features prominently.

Gandawa now faces 14 counts of fraud and criminal abuse of office. He was arrested last year together with Zimdef principal director of finance, Nicholas Mapute, for allegedly misappropriating over $400,000 of Zimdef funds and the principal suspect was allowed escape. Gandawa who appeared on Saturday before Harare magistrate Eric Kadye, will now stand trial this month, April.

Chamisa’s Wife Isn’t A Politician Leave Her Alone

By Shiellah Sibanda| Wild-thought speculators were yesterday told to leave MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s wife alone.

Some suspected rumour peddlers have since the day Chamisa assumed leadership of the party, launched attacks on his character with some demanding that his wife, Thokozile, must publicise herself the way her predecessor Elizabeth Tsvangirai and others of her status have done.

Other people even made allegations of domestic conflict, claiming that she has been abused. Activist Star Dewa said, “President Chamisa’s wife a human rights lawyer and a seasoned women’s rights activist is not the type to subject to domestic violence. ZANU PF please sit down.”

Many of the politician’s enemies nevertheless continued the onslaught.

But “she is not a politician and she deserves her wishes and privacy,” Simbarashe Manhanga was told yesterday. the conversation was via the social networking website, Facebook.

SEE BELOW:

Bushiri Hit By Hawks Investigation As Uebert Angel “Says I’ve Just Bought A Hotel In France”

Bushiri and Uebert Angel (left and right)

As spiritist preacher Uebert Angel made claims to ZimEye.com that he has purchased a hotel in France, sources in the South African Police Service have told a Sunday paper of “revelations” Mudzanire’s colleague, the Malawian Shepherd Bushiri sends R15m a year to Malawi.

Last Friday night, Angel (real name Mudzanire altered after he was exposed for academic fraud) told ZimEye he has bought a French hotel. He promised to publish the development using pictures of the property.

Previously Uebert Angel has made false claims that he owns the Great Hampton Ltd building in Birmingham, UK when he was only renting it from a British businessman, as ZimEye reveals.

Meanwhile his controversial South African mentee, Bushiri was reported to be apparently making so much money from his churches in South Africa that he is able to send R15 million a month back to Malawi, according to Sunday World.

They allege the money leaves in vehicles including his private jet.

Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed to the tabloid that the Hawks have been investigating the pastor, but cautioned that the case was in its early stages and he could not divulge or confirm any details.

The leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering churches that are spread throughout southern Africa could not be reached by the paper for comment, while his lawyer said they were not aware of any probe.

According to the paper’s police source, a number of witnesses in the church’s leadership have come forward with information that money gets “cleaned illegally” into various businesses in Malawi.

They also claimed that Bushiri orchestrates carefully planned false miracles as part of his services, while his collaborators are now apparently demanding to be paid more for playing their part in his alleged duping of the faithful.

Bushiri has faced criticism for allegedly encouraging the poor to hand over their savings and even sell their belongings in exchange for miracles.

Last month, a group of Christians who gathered to march against rogue churches in Johannesburg were forced to withdraw placards criticising Shepherd Bushiri due to a high court interdict prohibiting them from defaming the controversial prophet.

Bushiri filed an urgent interdict in the North Gauteng High Court against the march organisers to not defame him on their posters during the event. This came after allegations that organisers had criticised and defamed Bushiri on Facebook.

A memorandum was handed to the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights) in Braamfontein.

One of the organisers, Solomon Ashoms, said although the march was not against Bushiri specifically, the placards were withdrawn to avoid getting into trouble with the law.

”This is not about Bushiri, but about false prophets. This about awareness because sometimes we keep quiet and pretend we do not know what’s going on around us … let’s have that conversation,” said Ashoms.

”We know people in our communities and churches that had been abused, but we’re keeping quiet. Another issue is how to deal with this legally through the criminal justice system. So we are marching here to put pressure on the commission to urgently attend to this problem.”

South Africa has in recent months seen an increase in pastors and prophets who claimed they could heal or instantly create wealth for congregants using illegal means. The rogue churches have been widely criticised for robbing the poor and vulnerable while church leaders lived in luxury.

Ashoms, a Nigerian national, said some of his fellow countrymen were guilty of using religion to make money in South Africa.

”I know some of them do that and I do tell them. We have seen the great commercialisation of Christianity, where congregants have pay for a prayer, water, oil. So they merchandise everything in churches, that is business and nothing else. They live a flamboyant life in expensive suits driving flashy cars. We need to question all these things.”

The CRL commission completed an investigation of all religions and their unscrupulous practices. The report was handed to Parliament last year.

The report showed that churches had been turned into money-making schemes by rogue pastors and prophets who lived off vulnerable people seeking help from churches. The probe found that there were in-house services paid for by the vulnerable congregants seeking God’s help. The commission found that some churches even had ATMs and speed points for congregants to withdraw cash for tithes and the purchasing of ”holy water” and other services.

The commission had also investigated the eNgcobo cult church in the Eastern Cape, where seven church leaders, who were the sons of the church founder, were gunned down during a raid by police last month. The police raided the church after an attack on eNgcobo Police Station, where five police officers and a soldier were massacred.

Commission chairwoman Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said Parliament was warned about the dangerous eNgcobo church, but had failed to act to prevent a possible tragedy. – Additional reporting, ANA/SowetanLIVE

Khupe Says She Fears Chamisa “MDC Violence” So Has Postponed Congress

By Farai D Hove| Renegade expelled MDC Deputy President Thokozani Khupe has postponed her party’s upcoming congress over what she claims are fears of a confrontation with party leader Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance rally.

Her congress was to be held this coming weekend.

In a statement released yesterday, Khupe’s PA, Witness Dube told ZimEye and other media houses that the congress has since been moved to the 21st April 2018.

He said the faction fears violence from the Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance as was seen a few weeks before. Below was his letter in full text:

Mnangagwa Unfairly Punished Sekeramayi

By Dorrothy Moyo|  ZANU PF leader, President Emmerson Mnangagwa dropped the heavy hammer on his liberation war colleague, Sydney Sekeramayi, analysts say.

Sekeramayi’s name was pushed into the succession debate before Operation Restore Order last year when G40 front-man Robert Supiya spoke on ZimEye.com saying he is the best placed to replace then President Robert Mugabe.

The quiet politburo member, Sekeramayi, carries with him credits as Zimbabwe’s liberation hero with the longest history having joined liberation politics back in 1957.

Many in the Lacoste faction dominated ZANU PF party have continued to attack Sekeramayi saying he is a G40 faction leader despite him having clearly distanced himself from the G40 weeks before the November transition last year. There has thus been much rumour mongering about his standing in ZANU PF politics.

This emerged yesterday as Sekeramayi and Marble Chinomona warned party officials on gossiping about him (Sekeramayi).

Sekeramayi who was humiliated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in ministerial posts after the November coup, told members of the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) in Marondera members should avoid causing divisions.

“I urge those who thrive on gossiping which I call political foot and mouth disease to avoid causing divisions in the party and allow the primary elections to be conducted peacefully,” said Dr Sekeramayi.

“We don’t expect members to be divided during the primary elections, we expect you to conduct yourselves in a mature way,” Chinomona weighed in.
Zanu PF Mashonaland East Provincial Chairperson, Joel Biggie Matiza explained the rules and regulations governing the conduct of primary elections.

“Any member who does not abide by the rules and regulations governing the primary elections risk being disqualified,” he said.

Meanwhile, analyst Itai Jomwe said “Sekeramayi suffered the purging that traditionally comes whenever ZANU PF renews itself.”

“It will take him time to rise up, ” said Jomwe. – Additional reporting state media

HORROR EVICTIONS: Nyambirai Says I Actually Paid Them $700,000

By Farai D Hove| Evictions at Acturus Mine continued at the weekend with the new owner, Tawanda Nyambirai telling ZimEye.com the allegations of evicting elderly people residing at his newly acquired mine (as seen in the pictures below) are not fair.

Nyambirai said he is not the one who evicted them. He said it was in fact the previous owner who did it. Nyambirai said he has furthermore paid the same workers $700,000 in backdated salaries for which they were holding onto the houses.

He accused the workers of staging an illegal protest.

Tawanda Nyambirai

Below was his full statement: Dear Paul, your article is very unfair. It is also very unfair for you to bring Strive’s good name in matters that do not concern him. This is very irresponsible of you.

The 80 people whose families were evicted had their employment terminated well before I acquired the mine. They appealed against their dismissal and their appeal failed. They had been dismissed on various grounds including engaging in unlawful collective job action. They had held onto company houses because they had not been paid. As part of the deal, I undertook to clear their arrears on the basis that they would vacate upon being paid. After I paid them approximately $700,000.00, some of them engaged lawyers and refused to vacate. Some of them were involved in illegal gold panning. I had to litigate to get them evicted. I acquired Arcturus so that I can exploit its mineral resources and real estate for commercial gain. In the process, I am creating employment and contributing to the national economy. I also have rights. Why should I let people occupy my houses for free, use power that I pay for, at my expense for free, use water and sewerage reticulation facilities at my expense for free? I treat the sewage and purify the water at my expense. Why do you attack me for being a responsible investor and for following due process? If Zimbabwe is open for business to foreigners, it must also be open for business to locals like me. You should be reporting about the politically supported makorokoza who moved in heavy equipment and are processing gold illegally in part of my mine. I have an urgent application pending against them, therefore your allegations of human rights abuses is unfounded. It is my human rights that were being abused.

Jonathan Moyo Mourns Winnie Mandela

Below was former ZANU PF strategist, Prof Jonathan Moyo’s eulogy of the late Winnie Mandela who passed on on Sunday:

Ndozvisungirira- Man Tells Magistrate In Court

Terrence Mawawa| A Shurugwi had the court gallery in stitches after threatening to commit suicide over the payment of a high maintenance figure.

Taurai Matsveru stunned the court when he said he was not in a position to pay $ 80 for the upkeep of his two children.

Matsveru told Magistrate Sangster Tavengwa he would commit suicide if he was forced to pay a high maintenance figure.

“You can send me to prison if possible.I am not prepared to pay the sum of $ 80.

The figure is too high or else I will commit suicide,” said Matsveru.

Despite his threats Matsveru was ordered to pay $ 120 for the upkeep of his children.

Sekeramayi Leads Zanu PF Mash East Campaign

Former Minister Sydney Sekeramayi once tipped to take over from former President Robert Mugabe is leading Zanu PF’s Campaign in Mashonaland East province.

Sekeramayi lost his ministerial post after the November coup which ousted Mugabe, a former close ally, to now join President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Campaign team.

The state media reports that Zanu PF Mashonaland East has called on its members to be disciplined during the coming primary elections set for early next month.

Zanu PF Politburo members; Sekeramayi and Marble Chinomona told members of the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) in Marondera that members should conduct themselves well and in line with party principles during the primary elections and not cause divisions.

“I urge those who thrive on gossiping which I call political foot and mouth disease to avoid causing divisions in the party and allow the primary elections to be conducted peacefully,” said Dr Sekeramayi.

“We don’t expect members to be divided during the primary elections, we expect you to conduct yourselves in a mature way,” Chinomona weighed in.

Zanu PF Mashonaland East Provincial Chairperson, Joel Biggie Matiza explained the rules and regulations governing the conduct of primary elections.

“Any member who does not abide by the rules and regulations governing the primary elections risk being disqualified,” he said.

Mashonaland East Province is set to hold inter-district meetings this Tuesday ahead of submission of curricula vitae by aspiring candidates on Wednesday.

Bosso Stun Dembare

Terrence Mawawa

Bulawayo Giants Highlanders FC stunned their perennial arch rivals Dynamos 1-0 courtesy of Ozias Zibande’ s effort in the first half.

Soccer pundits believe Bosso will win the league title whenever they beat Dynamos in Harare.

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Results at a glance:

Full-time at Rufaro Stadium
Dynamos 0-1 Highlanders

FC Platinum 1-0 Bulawayo City
Chicken Inn 2-0 Shabanie Mine
Nichrut 0-1 Ngezi Platinum
Mutare City 1-1 Harare City.

Confusion Mars MDC Rally

Terrence Mawawa, Zaka

Thousands of MDC supporters have been utterly disappointed by the postponement of a party rally scheduled for Jerera Growth Point today.

Thousands of enthusiastic and avid MDC supporters, having travelled from as far as Chiredzi and Gutu, have been stunned by the postponement of the rally.

MDC Provincial Chairperson, James Gumbi, was expected to address the rally.

“My brother this is not a rally, rather it is a district meeting.

I admit there have been serious hiccups but we are trying our level best to rectify the matter,” said an MDC official.

On the contrary, the some party officials maintain the rally has been held at Jerera Growth Point.

Zanu PF Instructs Companies To Fund Independence Celebrations

Terrence Mawawa

The ruling party has instructed both private and public companies to bankroll the Independence Day Celebrations, it has emerged.

Government sources told ZimEye.com a strategic meeting on the Independence Day Celebrations was held in Beitbridge last week.

The meeting was chaired by Acting Beitbridge District Administrator Kilibon Ndou.

“During the meeting companies were ordered to make contributions towards the Independence Day Celebrations,” said a government official.

Zanu PF Official Bashed In Violent Intraparty Clashes

Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi| A senior Zanu PF official was forced to run for dear life following violent intraparty clashes here last week.

Francis Moyo, a Zanu PF aspiring Parliamentary candidate for Chiredzi West Constituency was forced to run for dear life as rogue ruling party elements stoned his vehicle.

According to party sources, the thugs were allegedly sponsored by one Farai Musikavanhu, another aspiring Zanu PF Parliamentary candidate for the same constituency.

“Moyo’ s vehicle was stoned by rowdy youths sympathetic to Musikavanhu.

Moyo was forced to run for dear life as the melee ensued,” said a Zanu PF official.

Moyo denied he ran away but he confirmed his vehicle was stoned by unruly party youths.

Parents Sue ZIMSEC For Withholding ‘O’ Level Results

Terrence Mawawa

Parents of Ordinary Level candidates who wrote their examinations in November last year at Dadaya High School have concurred to drag ZIMSEC to court for withholding the results over alleged cheating.

According to sources at the school, 57 out of 127 candidates have been affected by the withdrawal of results.

Dadaya High School head, Tamirira Nyasha Shumba confirmed the withholding of O Level results by ZIMSEC.

A member of the School Development Committee said:”Parents have resolved to take the matter to court.We are deeply concerned about the prolonged withdrawal of results. ”

“Our children cannot be punished for ZIMSEC’ s glaring incompetence.This has become totally unacceptable,” fumed one parent.

Botswana President Is Younger Than ZANU PF’s 57y Old Youth Leader

By Ndaba Nhuku| In what loudly spells drama between two civilisations, it has emerged Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi (54), is younger than Zanu pf’s youth league Chairman Pupurai Togarepi (57) – who is just 2 years from dying according to the latest published mortality rate stats.

They say age is not necessary when it comes to leadership – but who can society accurately describe as youth; can a 57 year old man be labelled a youth leader? I did a search and found out that Zimbabwe is the only country in the world with a youth leader who is less than 7 years from the retirement age mark line and just two years left to live on earth.

Zimbabwe/Life expectancy age marker is 59.16 years.

What does this say then about our politics and our principles as a nation? Could we in anyway say that we are somewhere near social and institutional reform? Are the political leaders of this great country Zimbabwe open and happy to be seen internationally with a ruling party youth leader who is encroaching the mortality line?

Musarurwa Visits Tsvangirai Grave

MDC politician Yvonne Musarurwa today took the opportunity to visit the Morgan Tsvangira’s resting place. Tsvangirai died last February after a battle with cancer of the colon. Tsvangirai was buried next to his wife Susan who died in 2008 in a fatal car accident. Musarurwa was in prison at the time, only being freed under a presidential pardon two weeks ago.

Mandela Family Speaks On Winnie’s Death

Media statement: It is with profound sadness that we inform the public that Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela passed away at the Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa on Monday the 2nd of April 2018.

She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year. She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Mrs Madikizela-Mandela was one of the greatest icons of the struggle against Apartheid. She fought valiantly against the Apartheid state and sacrificed her life for the freedom of the country. Her activism and resistance to Apartheid landed her in jail on numerous occasions, eventually causing her banishment to the small town of Brandfort in the then Orange Free State.

She kept the memory of her imprisoned husband Nelson Mandela alive during his years on Robben Island and helped give the Struggle for justice in South Africa one its most recognisable faces. She dedicated most of her adult life to the cause of the people and for this was known far and wide as the Mother Of The Nation.

The Mandela family are deeply grateful for the gift of her life and even as our hearts break at her passing, we urge all those who loved her to celebrate this most remarkable woman.

The family will release details of the memorial and funeral services once these have been finalised.

For more information, contact Victor Dlamini, the Mandela Family Spokesperson, on +REDACTED….

Winnie Mandela Dies – UPDATED

RIP Winnie Mandela

By Paul Nyathi| The late Nelson Mandela’s ex wife, Winnie has died.

Her death comes after she was some weeks ago hospitalised for a kidney infection.

Her spokesman, Victor Dlamini at the time said the 81 year old had complained of a loss of appetite and also that one of her legs was troubling her with immense pain.

Her death was Monday afternoon confirmed by her PA, Zodwa Zwane.

ZimEye reveals the family statement below:

It is with profound sadness that we inform the public that Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela passed away at the Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa on Monday the 2nd of April 2018.

She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year. She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Mrs Madikizela-Mandela was one of the greatest icons of the struggle against Apartheid. She fought valiantly against the Apartheid state and sacrificed her life for the freedom of the country. Her activism and resistance to Apartheid landed her in jail on numerous occasions, eventually causing her banishment to the small town of Brandfort in the then Orange Free State.

She kept the memory of her imprisoned husband Nelson Mandela alive during his years on Robben Island and helped give the Struggle for justice in South Africa one its most recognisable faces. She dedicated most of her adult life to the cause of the people and for this was known far and wide as the Mother Of The Nation.

The Mandela family are deeply grateful for the gift of her life and even as our hearts break at her passing, we urge all those who loved her to celebrate this most remarkable woman.

The family will release details of the memorial and funeral services once these have been finalised.

PICTURE BLAST: Chinos Wabantu

The ‘Ambassador of Happiness,’ a comic character and a politician, Joseph Chinotimba has seen his developmental meetings being oversubscribed as people from all walks of life enjoy his comic statements.

The comedian cum pastor and politician is the sitting Buhera South legislator and he considers happiness as the best natural medicine.

Chinotimba is just gifted with the ability to make people laugh, and many people attend his meetings and rallies just to see and mingle with him.

Chinoz with the people

Such was the mood at the Zanu PF district meeting in Buhera South where he was on the dance floor with his supporters after distributing part of the 40

000 plates he sourced from China.

The supporters who attended Chinotimba’s meetings said his addresses are captivating and make them happy.

The ‘Ambassador of Happiness’ says he is humbled by the jovial mood of his supporters whenever he calls for meetings in his constituency.- state media

FULL TEXT: Nyambirai Responds To Allegations Of Evicting 80 Workers At Acturus Mine

By Paul Nyathi| Popular businessman, Tawanda Nyambira has responded to allegations of evicting elderly people residing at his newly acquired TN Arcturus Mine as seen in the pictures below:

Below is his full statement: Dear Paul, your article is very unfair. It is also very unfair for you to bring Strive’s good name in matters that do not concern him. This is very irresponsible of you.

Tawanda Nyambirai

The 80 people whose families were evicted had their employment terminated well before I acquired the mine. They appealed against their dismissal and their appeal failed. They had been dismissed on various grounds including engaging in unlawful collective job action. They had held onto company houses because they had not been paid. As part of the deal, I undertook to clear their arrears on the basis that they would vacate upon being paid. After I paid them approximately $700,000.00, some of them engaged lawyers and refused to vacate. Some of them were involved in illegal gold panning. I had to litigate to get them evicted. I acquired Arcturus so that I can exploit its mineral resources and real estate for commercial gain. In the process, I am creating employment and contributing to the national economy. I also have rights. Why should I let people occupy my houses for free, use power that I pay for, at my expense for free, use water and sewerage reticulation facilities at my expense for free? I treat the sewage and purify the water at my expense. Why do you attack me for being a responsible investor and for following due process? If Zimbabwe is open for business to foreigners, it must also be open for business to locals like me. You should be reporting about the politically supported makorokoza who moved in heavy equipment and are processing gold illegally in part of my mine. I have an urgent application pending against them, therefore your allegations of human rights abuses is unfounded. It is my human rights that were being abused.

Kind Regards

For and on behalf of Mr Nyambirai

Godknows.

Joana Mamombe Can Think For Her Self

Whitlaw Mugwinji | I have been following the Jessie Fungayi Majome versus Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe primary elections debate on social media.

What was supposed to be a very exciting discussion about the contest between these two brilliant female comrades, has been turned into a shame.

Some progressive comrades (male and female), who in the past have been champions, advocating women to enter politics have unfortunately turned misogynistic in their bid to defend their preferred candidate.

Yes, I consider it misogyny to take away Joana’s agency and accuse her of being used by males. Joana is a very capable young woman who is more than able to decide whether to contest or not, on her own.

Can we please return to the real debate on who should represent MDC Alliance in Harare West between these two excellent comrades, not this misogyny.

Mnangagwa To Sign Diamond Processing Deal With Botswana

Zimbabwe is reportedly set to sign a diamond processing deal with Botswana within the next three months, after President Emmerson Mnangagwa met with his counterpart, President Ian Khama, last month in Gaborone.

According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, Mnangagwa was in Botswana on a state visit.

Mnangagwa toured the world renowned Diamond Trading Company (DTC) that would assist Zimbabwe in polishing, cutting and valuing its diamond.

The DTC is regarded as the world’s most sophisticated diamond sorting and valuing hub. Its arrangement with Zimbabwe would likely see the southern African nation sending its vast diamond to Botswana for processing, cleaning and polishing before being sold.

The move would see the country’s diamond make better returns than their current price of $50 per carat, the report said.

Zimbabwe lost more than $15bn in diamond revenue over a 10 year period.

In February 2016, ex-president Robert Mugabemade headlines after revealed that diamonds worth billions of dollars were looted in the eastern mining area of Marange.

Mugabe said at the time that the state treasury received less than $2 billion.

Mugabe’s revelation prompted the country’s opposition parties to call for a thorough investigation into the disappearance of the diamonds.

Movement for Democratic Change spokesperson Obert Gutu said at the time that the disappearance of the diamonds was “very astounding and startling”.- News24

PICTURE BLAST: Zanu PF Offices In Ruins

RICH MEN LOVE: Chiwenga, Mathema And Their Young Wives

When it comes to love, they say age is just but a number. What was once frowned upon as a bad social practice, is now widely accepted as okay especially among Zimbabwe’s powerful and influential men.

Infact, it has now  become some sort of a trend: Zimbabwean older men, usually rich ones, successfully getting married or dating younger gorgeous women.

These things are now getting noticed because among many of these couples, the age differences is getting wider, in some instances getting to extremes, up to 40-year age differences.

 

Whilst society frowns upon such unions, with many accusing the younger wives of being gold-diggers, the elite seems not to care about that much.

Of course the first obvious example is ousted president Robert Mugabe who has a 42-year age difference with his wife Grace.

In 1996, Mugabe wed Grace four years after the death of his first wife Sally. Mugabe is now 94, and Grace 52.

Those in support of such unions say love is not measured by age, money or looks. What matters, they argue, is love, respect and accepting each others differences.

In 2016, Zimbabwe witnessed the wedding of Matabeleland North minister of State Cain Mathema, 70, to Bathabetsoe Diana Nare, who was only 23.

Their difference is 47. There was rancour and newspaper headlines over this union, but relationship experts say women are attracted to confidence and power and there is nothing unusual about this.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, 62, got married to Marry, who is 27 years younger than him. The former model is 35.

There are several young women married to powerful Zimbabwean men.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority boss Karikoga Kaseke, 56, also married a youthful ex-model Betty Nhambu Kaseke who is 22 years younger than him. Betty, a legislator, is just 34.

Former Zanu PF heavyweight Didymus Mutasa, who is in his 80s, married a youthful wife who is in her 40s.

The phenomenon is not only in Zimbabwe but worldwide with the example of Nelson Mandela, who married Graça Machel in 1998, on his 80th birthday. She was 53 at the time. They remained married until Mandela’s death in 2013. Mandela was married twice before with both marriages ending in divorce.

Donald Trump also married Melania Knauss in 2005, when he was 58 years old and she was 34. The couple is still married today.

Films stars and other international celebrities fall also into this bracket.

Clint Eastwood married Dina Ruiz on March 31, 1996, when he was 66 and she was 31. Ruiz filed for divorce from Eastwood in 2013. Harrison Ford began dating Calista Flockhart in 2002, when he was 60 and she was 38. They married on June 15, 2010, and they parent her adopted son Liam.

This is Flockhart’s first marriage, and Ford was married twice before.

Sylvester Stallone married Jennifer Flavin in 1997, when he was 51 and she was 29. They have three daughters, Sophia, Sistene, and Scarlet. Stallone was married twice previously. One of his ex-wives is the actress Brigitte Nielsen.

Hugh Hefner married Crystal Harris on December 31, 2012, when he was 86 and she was 26.

Hefner has been married twice previously, and he has been in several long-term relationships.

Newspaper mogul Rupert Murdoch married Wendy Deng in 1999, when he was 68 and she was 30. Murdoch filed for divorce in 2013.

He had been married twice previously, with both marriages ending in divorce.- Daily News

China Seals 2 Mega Deals

Two Zimbabwean companies, Platinum Agriculture and Princewood Enterprises have sealed three deals to the tune of US$520 million for the procurement of mining, irrigation and other agriculture equipment.

The fourth deal pertaining to public mass transportation for provision of buses is still in the making with Allan Bus public transport system.

Addressing Zimbabwean journalists in Beijing, Platinum Agriculture and Princewood Enterprises Director, Mr Dakarai Mapuranga said the transportation deal signing has been delayed due to the need to make alterations so that the buses become more suitable for the road system in Zimbabwe.

Pertaining to the agriculture and agricultural equipment he said those wishing to access the facilities will do so through their banks under some revolving facility.

“Our week-long visit has yielded positive results for Zimbabwe’s economy. We have sealed a US$400 million deal with China’s Lovol company that produces heavy machinery for agriculture and mining, while a US$40 million revolving facility was secured with Good Agro-Rising for the supply of chemicals for tobacco and other export-oriented crops. Those wishing to benefit will do so through their banks as this is a revolving fund. Let me make it clear that nothing is being given for free like what happened under some previous facilities that have not been paid back,” he said.

Mr Mapuranga added that under the deals, Dayu Corporation will supply centre pivots and drip irrigation equipment at the tune of US$80 million.

Mr Mapuranga said the two companies that are working closely with government ministries chose to support agriculture and mining as the two sectors are the biggest foreign currency earners for Zimbabwe.

The business delegation is accompanied by technical people who are capable of advising the government on the suitable and appropriate technology required in the sectors and avoid a situation where the equipment and machinery is bought without backup.- state media

Why Did Khama Step Down?

Farai Maguwu | Why does Ian Khama have to step down a year before elections, and without any tangible reasons, and impose an unelected leader on the people of Botswana ahead of the 2019 elections. Is this meant to give the BDP candidate an unfair advantage over others, come 2019? Is it about time we must begin to scrutinize the Botswana system of governance in search of genuine democratic competition for power

ZIMPARKS Defends Russian Who Shot An Elephant

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has said the killing of a collared bull elephant by a Russian trophy hunter outside Gonarezhou National Park was legal as there is no law that prohibits the hunting of animals under research.
The elephant which was wearing a research tag was shot dead by a Russian trophy hunter on March 7 about 5km outside the Gonarezhou National Park.

In an yesterday, ZimParks spokesperson, Mr Tinashe Farawo, said the hunting was above board.
“That elephant was legally hunted; everything which was done was above board. Yes, it was collared. After the harvesting of the elephant, the collar was returned to the researcher. It’s important for people to understand that we don’t have a law that protects collared animals from being harvested or hunted,” said Mr Farawo.

He said the hunters did not see the collar and mistakenly hunted down the elephant.
“It’s also important to note that when people are harvesting or hunting these elephants it’s difficult to see the collar. By the way it was not harvested in the park. We don’t allow hunting in the park. It was hunted in the safari area and it’s allowed in line with international regulations the CITES and the like,” he said.

Mr Farawo said various stakeholders have been pushing for a law that protects the iconic animals
“Some of the issues that stakeholders are pushing that the researcher or the person monitoring the animal must also communicate with the hunters so that at least these animals are protected. There is no law. Stakeholders are saying let’s have a law,” he said.
“As it is now, harvesting a collared animal is legal in Zimbabwe. Nothing amiss about what happened in Masvingo”.

International media reports say while it is not illegal to shoot animals wearing tags, it is considered unethical. It is reported that the hunters claimed not to have noticed the tag until after the animal was dead.The bull elephant had been tagged inside the national park but had wandered outside the unfenced boundary into an area known as the Naivasha Community Conservancy, which has been set aside for hunting by locals.

Reports say Martin Pieters, ex-chairman of the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association, was leading a legal 14-day excursion near Gonarezhou when the killing happened. Pieters and his Russian client, who has not been named, were with his unarmed friend, two trackers, a parks ranger and a local council representative when they picked up the elephant’s tracks on day six of the expedition.The group began tracking the animal and found it in thick bush, meaning they were not able to see the whole body of the elephant.

Pieters, after seeing the elephant’s large tusks, ordered his client to shoot, the Zimbabwe Professional Hunter and Guides Association says.

The bull had been in the area since around February 20. Pieters had not been made aware of this fact, reports say.

Asked by Netwerk 24 about the loss of the elephant, Pieters said: “It does not matter, the hunt was completely legal.’’

The tag belongs to the Frankfurt Zoological Society which collared elephants in the park in 2009 and again in 2016. It is not clear precisely when this male was collared.The killing of the giant bull follows the killing of Cecil the lion by hunter, Walter Palmer in Zimbabwe in July 2015. The lion was also tagged by researchers. – state media

Khupe Demands Share Of USD1.8million

Former Deputy Prime Minister and self-appointed leader of a break-away group of the opposition MDC-T, Thokozani Khupe, has written to government demanding her share of money allocated to the opposition party under the Political Parties Finance Act.

This came after MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa’s administration collected $1,8 million disbursed by Treasury, as its share of the Political Parties Finance Act. But the Khupe faction’s spokesperson, Obert Gutu, yesterday insisted they would get their share of the spoils.

“We have written to the relevant authorities and the response has been good. We are happy with the communication we have had with authorities and are confident we will get our money.

“We maintain that we are the legitimate MDC-T and president Khupe has the constitutional power to run the party because she received a mandate from congress and not these pretenders,” Gutu said in an apparent jibe directed at Chamisa.

“It would not be proper for us to discuss these issues with the Press. We cannot go into detail, but can tell you all is in place and we are happy.”

Chamisa has reportedly already triggered a process to recall Khupe and her acolytes from Parliament, after the latter were sacked for refusing to recognise his appointment as party leader following the death of the MDC-T founder Morgan Tsvangirai.

The two groups are already at each other’s throats over the party’s name, with Chamisa having given Khupe an ultimatum to refrain from presenting herself as “MDC-T acting president”, setting the stage for a bruising legal battle.

A battle for the name of the party could potentially confuse voters in the upcoming elections.
The original MDC also split in 2005 after Tsvangirai disagreed with another former secretary-general Welshman Ncube, resulting in another legal wrangle for money.

Khupe has set her sights on cementing herself as party leader by convening a congress on April 21, in a move that could push Chamisa into the spotlight.

But the Kuwadzana East lawmaker rejected calls for an elective gathering after Tsvangirai’s death, pushing his way to the top using party structures like the national council. Newsday