Extracted by Paul Nyathi

“Thank you Mr. Speaker.  

The words that I stood up to say are in connection with the rights that are provided for in the Standing Orders.  

I stood up to give strong words to you Mr. Speaker and also extend those words to the President of the nation.  

I say these words concerning what befell us as a nation a few weeks ago after losing our former Prime Minister, Mr. Tsvangirai who was also the leader of the MDC-T.

Mr. Speaker, this was an event that befell us whilst we were unawares.  So I stood up to say that as a party that is in this august House and well known in this august House which is the Movement for Democratic Change that I lead.

Mr. Speaker I wish to say these words expressing my gratitude especially to Parliament which is headed by you and also all the other parliamentarians.  We saw us coming together to unite and go through the bereavement of Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai.

There was no partisanship in this event and you also said a lot Mr. Speaker when you attended the funeral.  We know there are two parties MDC-T and ZANU PF in Parliament.  We are two parties that are well known to be part of Government.  We also want to thank His Excellency the President for the words that he gave.

It is important that we emulate this in Parliament because we are in Parliament.  His Excellency the President came, the Hon. Vice President came and also Hon. S. K. Moyo even when the body of the late arrived, we realised that there is nothing that stops us from working as a team in Zimbabwe. I am sure this will be extended throughout the elections and we received a lot of assistance from the Government.  

On behalf of the Movement for Democratic Change, I want to thank you.  We hope that such events can unite the people. 

As a leader who was given this position, I also hope that we will have a new dispensation that where we are heading, the way we are going to proceed should be to unite our nation.  We might differ in terms of views and perspectives, but the country is the same.  Where we are heading, we should not think that this person does not deserve this anymore.  

We want our country to develop and not look at the issue of party; we should not be partisan in rebuilding our nation.  I thank you.”

By Paul Nyathi

Aspiring Gwanda Central Constituency ZANU PF candidate Japhet Dube has got himself into a hot duel with members of his party’s youth league over a rich gold mine in the outskirts of the town.

Desperate to raise funds to finance his primary elections and probably national elections Dube a former senator in the area is reportedly kicking out youth mining the mine under the ZANU PF affiliated Youth In Mining project.

According to the youth Dube is working in cohorts with Abednico Ncube the Minister for Provincial Affairs Matabeleland South.

The two political heavyweights are reportedly trying to smear the youth off the mine by claiming that they are aligned to the ousted faction G40 which is reviving as National Patriotic Front.

According to the miners Dube has been sending thugs from his youth faction to attack them and they have since fled the mine and stopped mining due to the continuous attacks.

The mine, situated about 45 kilometres from Gwanda along the Beitbridge road, was awarded to the youths in October 2017 under former President Robert Mugabe’s youth empowerment programmes as a tribute from commercial mining company Farvic Consolidate Mine.

Chairperson of the Youth In Mining in the area Mpumelelo Nyoni narrated their ordeal at the hands of the senior politocians.

“In November last year, Dube approached us requesting that we accommodate him in our mining claim,” Nyoni said.

“We didn’t have any problem with that, we then agreed that he brings at least two people to work from here but he insisted that he wanted to bring a group of people, a suggestion we turned down,” he said.

Nyoni said two months later, Dube reportedly sent a mob of youths to demonstrate against them.

“They descended on the mine, carrying stones and various weapons. They switched off pumps and threw boulders and stones into the mine shaft.

“We reported the matter to the police and only two were arrested, fined and released. This has all been aimed at provoking us,” he said.

Nyoni said the demonstrators told them point blank that they had been sent by minister Ncube and Dube.

“We confronted minister Ncube over the matter and he said he was not involved but he said he knew Dube had interests.”

But Dube is not stopping in his pursuit to get the mine as he has reportedly approached Farvic with the intention of taking over.

Dube who is a very close ally to Minister Ncube is reportedly in a desperate drive to raise funds to finance his campaign. He is expected to go through a tough with gold miner Trainos Nkomo in the primaries.

Nkomo is reportedly more financially stable than Dube and is splashing heavily to ZANU PF members who will be voting in the primary elections getting Dube into a panic.

Below is the full text of the parliament delivery as MDC leader Nelson Chamisa thanks President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the state’s assistance in the burial of the late party leader Morgan Tsvangirai:

*HON. ADV. CHAMISA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  The words that I stood up to say are in connection with the rights that are provided for in the Standing Orders.  I stood up to give strong words to you Mr. Speaker and also extend those words to the President of the nation.  I say these words concerning what befell us as a nation a few weeks ago after losing our former Prime Minister, Mr. Tsvangirai who was also the leader of the MDC-T.

          Mr. Speaker, this was an event that befell us whilst we were unawares.  So I stood up to say that as a party that is in this august House and well known in this august House which is the Movement for Democratic Change that I lead.  – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

          Mr. Speaker I wish to say these words expressing my gratitude especially to Parliament which is headed by you and also all the other parliamentarians.  We saw us coming together to unite and go through the bereavement of Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai. There was no partisanship in this event and you also said a lot Mr. Speaker when you attended the funeral.  We know there are two parties MDC-T and ZANU PF in Parliament.  We are two parties that are well known to be part of Government.  We also want to thank His Excellency the President for the words that he gave.

          It is important that we emulate this in Parliament because we are in Parliament.  His Excellency the President came, the Hon. Vice President came and also Hon. S. K. Moyo even when the body of the late arrived, we realised that there is nothing that stops us from working as a team in Zimbabwe.  I am sure this will be extended throughout the elections and we received a lot of assistance from the Government.  On behalf of the Movement for Democratic Change, I want to thank you.  We hope that such events can unite the people.

As a leader who was given this position, I also hope that we will have a new dispensation that where we are heading, the way we are going to proceed should be to unite our nation.  We might differ in terms of views and perspectives, but the country is the same.  Where we are heading, we should not think that this person does not deserve this anymore.  We want our country to develop and not look at the issue of party; we should not be partisan in rebuilding our nation.  I thank you. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

          THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order, order Hon. Members.

          HON. CHASI:  Thank you very much Mr. Speaker.  I want to thank Hon. Chamisa for the expression of gratitude to the leadership of Government and the treatment that was given to the late Mr. Tsvangirai on his bereavement.  It is indeed gratifying that Government gave him such a treatment and I was personally and I think everyone in the country acknowledged that he was a leader of great note.  But I think the story would not be complete without making reference to the violence that took place at that funeral. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –

          It would be extremely remiss of this House for it not to abhor the treatment that was given to some of the leaders of the opposition, in particular, Dr. Khupe. – [AN HON. MEMBER: Wanga uriko here iwe!] –  I also want to make reference to the violence that took place in Bulawayo last week or so – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –   We must, and I cannot be shut down – [AN HON. MEMER:  Ngaataure nezve Gukurahundi!] –  I need to be protected as I make reference to the violence that took place in Bulawayo last week when old people were assaulted with stones.  This is pre-election violence and we must make reference to it and abhor it.  It does not matter who it is that causes violence in this country.  We are going towards a very important election and as in the past when violence has been condemned, the violence that took place in Bulawayo must similarly be condemned – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –         Our friends on the opposite side must not pretend that violence did not happen and I want to say that this House must condemn that violence.  I thank you. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

          THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! I thought we are here to build each other for a peaceful nation.  I accept the expression of gratitude expressed by Hon. Adv. Chamisa and the observation by Hon. Chasi.

“Pull her up” is what Zimbabwe women leaders were saying today at the launch of the 50/50 Advocacy Campaign and Women’s Manifesto in Harare this morning. So great to be there! pic.twitter.com/Xsmbps3Bag

— Catriona Laing (@CatrionaLaing1) March 6, 2018

Two members of a Filabusi family in Matabeleland South province have died while six others have been hospitalised after consuming poisonous mushrooms bringing to 13 the number of mushroom deaths in just nine days.

Eleven of the dead are members of a Mberengwa family who consumed the poisonous mushrooms on Tuesday last week.

The 11th Mberengwa family member died yesterday afternoon at Mpilo Central Hospital.

Mpilo clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said yesterday that one adult and a toddler from a Filabusi family died while five others from the same family have been hospitalised after consuming poisonous mushrooms.

He said one of those hospitalised was toddler admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Mpilo while four other family members are being treated at Filabusi District Hospital.

“We now have another mushroom poisoning incident from Filabusi and this time seven family members consumed the poisonous mushrooms and two have died. One of them died while being transferred to this hospital while the other died after being admitted. We are attending to a toddler battling for life in the ICU,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He said the family was first taken to Filabusi District Hospital where four members are still admitted.

“What I gathered from the family is that they have always eaten the same mushrooms over the years. It is worrying that we continue to witness unnecessary loss of lives due to these mushrooms,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He warned members of the public against eating or buying wild mushrooms as mushroom poisoning leads to liver, brain or kidney failure.

“People should only consume commercial mushrooms which are safe. We discourage people from picking and eating wild mushrooms as some of the musrooms are poisonous and can cause organ failure” he said.

Dr Ngwenya said two of the three Mberengwa family members who were still admitted at the hospital have since been discharged.

“We are now left with one child who is still under observation,” said Dr Ngwenya.

According to police, Mr Tenious Shoko (45) from Mberengwa sent his 16-year-old daughter to pick some mushrooms for relish on Tuesday last week.

The 16-year-old prepared the mushrooms which were consumed by the whole family leading to the death of 11 family members.- state media

South Africa yesterday repatriated eight undocumented Zimbabwean children who were in the hands of that country’s Department of Social Development for three months since they were smuggled through Beitbridge Border Post last year.

The children, aged between two and 12 years, were not allowed to see or speak to their parents while in the neighbouring country since November last year.

The eight were brought into the country through Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport aboard a South African Airways plane yesterday.

The latest development comes a day after a Pretoria-based North Gauteng High Court Judge Bill Prinsloo dismissed an urgent chamber application by the minors’ parents. Judge Prinsloo made his ruling after the parents of the children through their lawyer, Advocate Simba Chitando, filed an urgent chamber application trying to interdict the Department of Social Development from repatriating the minors.

The parents wanted their children to be released into their custody.

South Africa Social Development spokesperson Ms Lumka Oliphant yesterday confirmed the latest development.

“I can confirm that the eight Zimbabwean children were repatriated today (yesterday) aboard a South African Airways plane under the escort of South African police and officials from the departments of Social Development, Home Affairs and International Relations and Co-operation. They were handed over to officials from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare,” she said.

The children were smuggled into the neighbouring country last year in November.

They were travelling in a truck to join their parents in Cape Town for the Christmas holiday. The truck was intercepted at a service station in Rustenburg after police received a tip-off from people who suspected that the minors were victims of human trafficking.

The children were kept at a safe house in Rustenburg.

“The alleged parents demanded that the children be released into their care but could not provide proof that they are indeed the children’s parents or primary caregivers,” said Ms Oliphant. “In terms of section 290 of the Children’s Act, there is a need to ascertain where the children will be released to. In this instance, the children will be released into the care and safety of the Government of Zimbabwe.”  Ms Oliphant said the driver of the truck they were travelling in was in possession of 15 passports — none of which belonged to the minors in transit. Judge Prinsloo ruled that he could not fathom how parents could allow their children to travel with strangers, in a truck, from Beitbridge to Cape Town, saying he doubted that the parents acted in the best interests of the children.

In a statement, South Africa’s Minister of Social Development Ms Susan Shabangu welcomed the decision to repatriate the children to Zimbabwe.

“We believe that the South African Government, through the Department of Social Development, always acts in the best interest of the child. We want to thank the South African Police Service, the social workers, the office of the Family Advocate and all other officials who worked tirelessly to make sure that the children are protected,” she said.

The Office of the Consular-General of Zimbabwe has been highly involved. They conducted interviews, assessed and confirmed that the children were indeed of Zimbabwean nationality and they were issued with repatriation certificates. The Department of Social Development has a Memorandum of Understanding with Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare on matters related to unaccompanied and undocumented minors. Despite stiff fines imposed by the South African Home Affairs stipulating that omalayitsha caught smuggling undocumented travellers or those with expired passports or no valid visas, into South Africa, are required fork out a fine of R15 000 per person, the smuggling of undocumented persons continues unabated.

Last year in December, more than 100 children without requisite travelling documents were repatriated back to Zimbabwe from South Africa after being smuggled by cross border drivers (omalayitsha) during the holiday. The Zimbabwe-South Africa Cross-Border Co-ordination Committee for Unaccompanied and Separated Migrant Children has on many occasions raised concern over the rampant smuggling of minors between the two countries’ borders. The committee is made up of officials from the two countries’ social service departments, immigration, police, and non-governmental organisations and human rights lawyers.- state media

Russian Foreign Minister Mr Sergey Lavrov arrived in the country last night to deliver a special message to President Mnangagwa from President Vladimir Putin.

Zimbabwe and Russia enjoy warm bilateral relations dating back to the days of the liberation struggle.

He is also expected to sign a cooperative agreement and meet the business community in the country.

Mr Lavrov was welcomed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Minister Moyo and Foreign Affairs secretary Mr Joe Bimha, senior Government officials and Russian ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Sergey Bakharev.

His visit is expected to further cement the solid relations between Harare and Moscow.

Russia has stood by Zimbabwe when the West imposed illegal sanctions on Harare.

Announcing the visit of Mr Lavrov on Tuesday, Minister Moyo said: “The excellent political relations between the two countries have created grounds for expanded economic ties, trade, mining and cooperation in many areas such as agricultural mechanisation and manpower development.”

Mr Lavrov, who is President Putin’s confidante, is leading a high-powered delegation.

He last visited Zimbabwe in 2014 for the ground-breaking ceremony of the US$4 billion platinum mine in Darwendale, Mashonaland West province.

The Great Dyke platinum investment project, which is one of the biggest investments in the country since 1980, is poised to be jump-started by the visit, with renewed commitment made on the deal.

Mr Lavrov’s visit comes at a time when Government has opened doors for investors to explore opportunities in the country.

Zimbabwe is endowed with various minerals ranging from platinum, diamonds, lithium, coal, gold, asbestos to tin.

In 2008, Russia and China vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution sponsored by Britain and the United States seeking to impose punitive sanctions on Zimbabwe.- state media

INSIDE BLUE ROOF: Below is the picture of National Patriotic Front Spokesman, Jealousy Mawarire inside Robert Mugabe’s blue roof residence at the weekend. He was flanked by ZANU PF’s latest quitter, Gen Ambrose Mutinhiri who has since joined the party following his resignation from Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF party. Mawarire calls Mutinhiri, “Zimbabwe’s Incoming President”:

Ray Nkosi | Former President Robert Mugabe has lost all privacy and perhaps even sense of dignity after a rough list of his travel entourage has been leaked to the press.

The list was leaked amidst other reports that his workers in Zimbabwe were being harrased by state operatives, putting Mugabe in a more vulnerable security situation. The list details the names of the officials who have travelled with Mugabe to South-Africa, in the past a well kept secret, as the world awaits to hear what the vocal former head of state has to say after weeks of silence under house arrest.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa says he is not happy with claims in the media that former President Robert Mugabe had a direct hand in the formation of the new political outfit, the National Patriotic Front (NPF) fronted by former Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs, Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri.

Just a few days after quitting the ruling Zanu PF party, Mutinhiri was pictured with Ex-President Mugabe at his blue-roof house in Borrowdale, Harare, and the later reportedly endorsed the former before he announced his new party.

In response to that, President Mnangagwa, who has on several occasions hailed Cde Mugabe as his father, mentor and the country’s liberator, said if the reports are true, they are not amusing.

“Currently, we see and hear various speculations and I have no doubt that very soon the facts and reality will be known. We will only take a position when the issues are known and are factual. But currently, we are not happy with what the media is saying. We are not sure whether it’s true or false, it’s an issue that we are examining,” said Mnangagwa, while addressing the Zanu PF Youth League National Assembly in Harare today.

The President also reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption and multiple farm ownership.

“There are people of my grade, who have more than one farm. We are coming,” he said.

Mnangagwa told the youths never to forget or neglect the founding values upon which the party and the country were built and underscored the need for uttermost unity and discipline within the party’s youth league rank and file.

“As youths, you must shun immorality, corruption, tribalism, factionalism and regionalism. Let us as the youth leadership of the revolutionary party esteem transparency, accountability, honesty and integrity,” he said.

Mnangagwa also said he remains committed to addressing the challenges facing the country’s youths and to this end, the new government has prioritised economic resuscitation in view of employment creation and empowerment opportunities for the youth and the generality of the people of Zimbabwe.

As the country prepares for general elections, Mnangagwa reiterated that the polls will be peaceful, credible, free and fair.- state media

Embattled MDC- Tsvangirai former party spokesman Obert Gutu has claimed that he is receiving death threats. Gutu took to Twitter to explain the alleged threats against his life.

And now some thugs and hooligans are sending me threatening messages on WhatsApp.They think they can scare me,these cowards!
I will never,ever give in to thuggery,violence and intimidation.
Never!! Ever!!

— Obert Gutu (@GutuObert) March 7, 2018

The national broadcaster, ZBC has announced saying former Zanu PF Secretary for Youth Affairs, Kudzanai Chipanga is now fully behind Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The state report says Chipanga has dismissed claims by the Ambrose Mutinhiri led National Patriotic Front (NPF) that he is part of its leadership.

Chipanga who was expelled from Zanu PF together with a host of G40 members, said he has since applied for readmission into the ruling Zanu PF party.

“My heart is still with Zanu PF and whether I am re-admitted into the party or not, I will still vote for the revolutionary party and President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the upcoming elections,” Chipanga is quoted as saying.

Chipanga is one of the expelled Zanu PF members who has been linked by social media reports to the new Mutinhiri led political outfit as its Secretary for the Commissariat.

Terrence Mawawa

 A fierce Zanu PF critic has called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stop hoodwinking the people of Zimbabwe.

Below is social media analyst Antony Taruvinga’ s statement:

“These trains are operating in the neighbouring South
Africa. People should not be brainwashed by Zanu PF to
the extent of thinking that good things will happen
in Zimbabwe under the current administration.

Our problems have always
emanated from the leadership crisis.

The current
government is corrupt, clueless outdated and
full of old people who can not adapt to the dynamic world.

What is needed in this age is a digital, techno
curious, innovative, goal oriented and corrupt free
leadership.

You know we have such a leader in
Nelson Chamisa.”

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo
The government will not lift the ban on the importing of eggs despite the shortage that has hit the Zimbabwean market.

Officials in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce yesterday said the government would not lift the ban on the importing of eggs and other basic commodities as a way of protecting the local industry from foreign competition.

“We will not lift the ban on the importing of eggs. I do not think the ban will be lifted at this juncture,” said an official in the Ministry.The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has also placed stringent requirements for those wish to obtain import permits.

Bulawayo East legislator and acting MDC-T spokesperson, Thabitha Khumalo, has been admitted to Mater Dei Hospital following a recurrent asthma attack linked to the tear smoke she inhaled in July 2016, as police ruthlessly crushed anti-government demonstrations in Harare.
“I have always managed to control my allergies, but ever since I inhaled tear smoke in 2016, I am now failing to control my allergies, hence, I have been in out of hospital prior to my being admitted here,” she said, adding she was hospitalised on Sunday.

“There is no antidote for tear-smoke and the problem is that there is not enough research on the after-effects of teargas on people. The question that begs answers is how many were affected by tear smoke.”

The July 6, 2016 anti-government protests left a trail of destruction, with scores of protesters arrested and injured in the skirmishes.

The protests had been organised by various social movements such a #Tajamuka/Sesijikile and #ThisFlag led by cleric, Evan Mawarire, to force then President Robert Mugabe to step down over alleged maladministration and failing to reform the political playing field.

A Bulawayo family claimed that they lost their baby after being choked by tear smoke, which was allegedly indiscriminately thrown into Burombo flats in Nguboyenja, but anti-riot police have disputed the claims. Newsday

Police spokesperson Charity Cramba has so far survived the chop at the announcement of senior cops who have been reshuffled.

The state media reports that the Zimbabwe Republic Police has reshuffled 32 senior officers from the ranks between chief superintendent and commissioner as the transformation in the force continues.

This was revealed through a communique from the Police General Headquarters human resources department that was circulated last week.

The internal police communication says the commissioner who was responsible for Planning and Development at PGHQ, Comm Rabson Mpofu, has been moved to Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga’s office as the chief of staff.

Commissioner Nonkosi Ncube was transferred from human resources to administration.

Commissioner Olga Bungu was transferred from the Police Protection Unit to Police General Headquarters as Commissioner for Economic Surveillance while Senior Assistant Commissioner Martin Kwainona, who was former President Mugabe’s aide, was moved to the Economic Surveillance section at PGHQ from PPU.

Terrence Mawawa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has riled pressure groups and human rights activists after demanding evidence of election rigging and violence in 2008.

Mnangagwa recently claimed the 2008 elections were free and fair.

The President also said: “Where is the evidence? Show us the evidence.”

Responding to Mnangagwa’ s utterances, Doug Coltart wrote on Twitter:
“Mnangagwa said the 2008 election was very
fair and demanded to see the evidence of
violence.

The violence has been extensively
documented.”

Prominent human rights activist, Prosper Tiringindi also said Mnangagwa was out sync with the reality on the ground.

More is known about the substance used in the suspected poisoning of a former Russian double agent and his daughter, the home secretary has said.

Speaking after chairing a meeting of the government’s emergency committee Cobra, Amber Rudd said the police would be sharing details later on Wednesday.

Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found unconscious in Salisbury on Sunday afternoon and remain critically ill.

Police want to speak to anyone who was in the city centre around that time.

They are particularly keen to speak to people who ate at Zizzi or drank in The Bishop’s Mill pub.

Meanwhile, fire and ambulance crews have been called to an office next to the Zizzi restaurant in Salisbury, but police are refusing to say whether this is connected.

Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter were found slumped on a bench outside the Maltings shopping centre.

Scientists at the UK’s military research facility at Porton Down have been examining a substance thought to be behind their collapse.

Referring to what she called “the terrible events” in Salisbury, Ms Rudd said: “We need to keep a cool head and collect all the evidence we can.

“We need to make sure that we respond not to rumour but to all the evidence they collect and then we will have to decide what action to take.”

She said the police investigation was likely to be lengthy and it was important to make sure they had the space to continue their investigation.

Earlier, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, appealed for witnesses, saying: “Did you see anything out of the ordinary? It may be that at the time, nothing appeared out of place or untoward but with what you now know, you remember something that might be of significance…

“The weather was poor that day so there were not as many people out and about. Every statement we can take is important.”

Image copyrightPA

Cordons have been erected in and around Salisbury. One, at a business park in Amesbury, a town about 10 miles away, has been removed.

Two police officers caught up in the suspected contamination were treated in hospital for minor symptoms – believed to be itchy eyes and wheezing – before they were given the all clear.

A third member of the emergency services remains in hospital.

Relatives of Colonel Skripal, who was convicted in Russia in 2006 of spying for Britain, have told the BBC Russian Service that he believed the country’s special services might come after him at any time.

It has been said his only friends in the UK are in the British intelligence services, but he has also joined his local railway club and given lectures at military academies.

His wife, elder brother and son have all died in recent years.

Ms Skripal lives in Moscow and has visited her father in the UK regularly, especially during the past two years.

Family and friends say she did move to the UK but missed Russia so returned to Moscow where she has worked for multinationals, including Nike and PepsiCo.

It is thought her latest visit to the UK may have been timed to coincide with her late brother’s birthday.

Alexander Skripal died aged 43 last July in St Petersburg from liver failure in what relatives believe to have been suspicious circumstances.

He is buried in Salisbury close to his mother, Liudmila Skripal, who died from cancer in 2012.

The possibility of an unexplained substance being involved has drawn comparisons with the 2006 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko – a public inquiry concludedthe killing of the Russian dissident was probably carried out with the approval of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

Former MI5 officer Annie Machon pointed out that the two cases were very different, however.

Mr Litvinenko was a whistleblower, dissident and consultant for MI6 actively at the time of his death, she said, whereas Mr Skripal has already been caught, convicted and pardoned and allowed to freely find safe haven in the UK.

“There’s no conceivable reason that I can see that the Russian state would have been targeting him at the moment,” she told BBC’s Breakfast. “That’s why we need to think about what else he might have been involved in.”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said: “These people have been used by the foreign media for an anti-Russian campaign.

“It’s a traditional campaign. The tradition is to make things up. We can only see it as a provocation.”

On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told MPs the UK would respond “robustly” to any evidence of Russian “state responsibility” in the case.

Russia has insisted it has “no information” about what could have led to the incident, and says it is open to co-operating with British police if requested.

The Russian embassy in London accused the media of creating “an impression of a planned operation by the Russian special services, which is completely untrue”.BBC

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife Mary has come out to blast former First Lady Grace Mugabe, singing praises of Mrs Auxillia Mnangagwa. Chiwenga attacks Grace for using politics to settle personal scores. Chiwenga interestingly refers to herself as Second Lady of Zimbabwe.

Chiwenga made the remarks at an event where she was donating groceries to different children’s homes at Magamba Hall in Warren Park, Harare.

She praises the first Lady, Auxilia Mnangangwa for being respectful and exhibiting ‘motherly care’,Chiwenga said she was charmed by her selfless character which allowed her to delegate duties to wives of vice Presidents including her.

“My presence here as the second lady of the republic of Zimbabwe has never happened before, at least as far as I know, Mai Mnangangwa has taught us good workmanship and team effort, proving that no matter how hard the work might be, there is someone to help.

“She is not a selfish first lady, she is someone who knows how to delegate, what she can’t do, she assign someone to do it on her behalfassava remit
“It is now different because we used to know that everything was entitled to one person, I would like to thank God for giving us Amai Mnangangwa, a mother who has dignity, a mother who respect her family

“Ever since she was called the first lady she has never used hash words against anyone, I have never heard her shouting ‘STOP IT’ to anyone,” said Chiwenga.

Chiwenga’s remarks come at a time when Grace’s alleged faction, the G40, has risen from the dead under the National Patriotic Front (NPF) party that will be led by Rtd Brigadier Ambrose Mutinhiri who broke away from the ruling party, ZanuPF last week.

The move is more likely to see the return of Grace in the political arena at a time the country is preparing for the 2018 elections.263chat

Terrence Mawawa
A porn star has sensationally claimed she had sex with US
President Donald Trump.

The porn star, Stormy Daniels, filed a lawsuit on
Tuesday seeking to invalidate a
nondisclosure agreement that she signed
days before the 2016 presidential election,
which prevented her from discussing the
alleged sexual encounters.

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County
Superior Court.

Adult film actress Daniels, real
name Stephanie Clifford, said she wanted to
go public with the details of her alleged sexual
relationship with Trump in the weeks
leading up to the election, according to the
lawsuit.

Clifford and Trump’s attorney Michael
Cohen signed the nondisclosure agreement on
October 28, 2016.

Clifford alleged that she began an “intimate
relationship” with Trump in 2006 and that it
continued “well into the year 2007,” according to
the lawsuit.

She said the relationship included
encounters in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and Beverly
Hills, California.
Trump married his current wife, Melania
Trump, in 2005.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo
The country’ s largest opposition party, MDC has nullified the primary elections that were held last Saturday, citing gross irregularities.

A senior party official who spoke to ZimEye. com yesterday said those who presided over the elections forgot to abide by the regulations stipulated in the party template.

The official said MDC Masvingo Provincial Chairperson James Gumbi announced the election results were null and void because of gross irregularities.

“The party template is clear on how elections should be held.

All primary elections are supervised by members of the National Executive, not district executive members,” said the official.

A new date for the primaries will be announced soon.

#Zimbabwe “Pasi naRobert Mugabe” , “Down with Robert Mugabe” video credit @cyrusnhara_4787 pic.twitter.com/AoPV6J4Zqa

— harumutasa/aljazeera (@harumutasa) March 7, 2018

By Paul Nyathi

Problems around the issue of languages exhibited its ugly head yet again in the National Assembly when Hwange Central Member of Parliament Brian Chuma was asked not to ask a question in Tonga during a question and answer session of the august house.

Chuma was directing his question to the leader of Government business in parliament Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi before the Deputy Speaker Honourable Mabel Chinomona blocked him.

Chinomona told the parliamentarian that parliament and the Minister were not understanding his language inviting him to change the language.

“Honourable member I implore that you change your language as most of us including the Minister do not understand the language you are using,” said Chinomona.

Honourable Chuma however refused to change his language imploring parliament to seek translators for all the country’s official languages.

“You go to the courts you find translators for all languages but here in parliament you want to force us to change languages, that is wrong,” said Chuma in his vernacular Tonga.

The situation was rescued when Chuma asked Binga South Member of Parliament Joel Gabuza to translate to the Minister.

This is not the first time that parliament has clashed over the use of alternative languages in the house.

In recent days, Umguza Member of Parliament Obert Mpofu refused to be moved not to speak in Ndebele in parliament for the same reasons.

By Lionel Saungweme | Twelve Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) activists accused of formenting last Sunday’s intra-party violence at the MDC-T offices have been granted bail.

The group is charged with public violence, contravening section 36 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Cap 9.23. Bulawayo Magistrate Franklin Mkhwananzi gave the first, third up to twelfth accused bail at US$50, while second accused Gift Banda was released on US$200. Prosecutor Jeremiah Mutsindikwa did not oppose bail.
The twelve, namely Cllr Mlandu Ncube, Gift Banda, Michael Mabasa, Edith Moyo, Sibongubuhle Sibanda, Takunda Madzana, Robson Tera, Eric Gono, Donald Mabutho, Felix Mhaka, Raymond Gombedza and Kunashe Muchemwa were represented by nine lawyers. They were asked to report once a month to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Law & Order Department, not to interfere with state witnesses and not to engage in any unlawful acts of violence.
Defence for the accused argued that police acted partially when they failed to act upon their reports of violence. The lawyer argued that because police chose to arrest his clients when they were expected to investigate, he is therefore seeking an order compelling the police did not investigate but proceeded to arrest them

Former President Robert Mugabe today reportedly traveled as an ordinary citizen for the first time, going through security checks like everyone else. It is reported he was even made to remove his shoes at the security check point. – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY – refresh this page for the update.

By Paul Nyathi

Former President Robert Mugabe initiated new opposition party the National Patriotic Front has officially availed itself as a formal party to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

In a letter dated the 6th of March, 2018, party President Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri proclaimed that the party is going to be contesting all elections in the country conducted by ZEC.

According to the letter the party was established on the 7th of December, 2017. The date shows that the party was established within less than a month after Mugabe was removed from power on the 14th of November.

According to Zimbabwean laws, political parties do not need to register as an organisation but just formulate themselves and only advise ZEC of their intentions to contest elections.

By Paul Nyathi

The Zanu-PF Youth League has fired warning shots at former President Robert Mugabe after he endorsed the New Patriotic Front (NPF) party.

The party, which is a direct split from the ruling ZANU PF, is being led by Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri who was endorsed by Mugabe last week.

Pupurai Togarepi, the 54-year old leader of the Zanu-PF Youth League as well as a Politburo member warned Mugabe that the youth are not happy with his involvement in the opposition politics urging him to refrain from the political involvement.

“What Mugabe should know is … we respect him only if he respects us,” said Togarepi.

“If he decides to rock the boat and then his actions affect the stability of the party … he should be ready for the storm to come…we will not be soft with him,” said Togarepi.

The youth leader under played Mugabe’s newly initiated opposition party describing it as “child play of politicians who have lost political relevance”.

“As the youth league. we view this as child play and we are ready for them,” he said.

“To us, it’s a bunch of failures trying to come back into politics, but that they are failures is their problem, not ours.”

Members of the expelled G-40 faction including former First Lady Grace Mugabe can only rejoin Zanu-PF after five years.

“Confirmed by the extra ordinary Congress, (the G40 members) remain expelled and can only reapply if they wish to join the party after five years,” Zanu PF spokesman Simon Khaya Moyo reported back on the Politburo meeting. Former President Robert Mugabe recently reported to the African Union that since his ousting from power by the military last November Grace cries everyday.

By Talent Gondo|

Harare councilors today moved a motion to rename one road in the central business district , Harare after the late MDC T founding father and President, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.

The councillors, the majority of whom are from the opposition, Movement for Democratic Change said this motion was above board considering the important role played by the late Tsvangirai in the country’s politics.

Tsvangirai, 65, succumbed to colon cancer on February 14 2018 and was buried at his rural home in Humanikwa Village, Buhera.

The late opposition leader was offered a state assisted funeral despite calls for him to be buried at the national shrine.

He was however denied hero status and was not buried at the National Heroes Acre, a development which has over the years sparked outrage as heroes’ status is determined by Zanu Pf’ s highest decision making body, the politburo.

The motion to rename one road in Harare was moved by MDC-T councilor, Peter Moyo who represents Rugare.

Councilor Moyo proposed the motion suggesting that the country should not ignore the late MDC-T leader’s contribution to the development and democracy of Zimbabwe.

Last year, opposition parties reacted angrily to the renaming of Harare International Airport after President Robert Gabriel Mugabe in a process which gobbled over $500 000.

Obert Gutu, the party’s spokesperson is on record saying the party abhors and condemns “the personalisation and privatisation of national institutions.”

By Paul Nyathi

Giant government owned mobile phone service provider Netone has refunded over 180 000 subscribers data bundles that allegedly disappeared from their mobile phones unused.

The refunds follow a Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) directive to NetOne ordering the mobile network operator to refund subscriber’s funds which “disappeared” when using OneFusion in January and February this year.

The authority had reported that it had received numerous complaints from subscribers and decided to take action.

Netone is refunding 150 Megabytes data to all the 180 000 subscribers starting Wednesday morning.

We publish the authority’s letter which was sent to Netone in February in full below:

RE: BILLING COMPLAINTS ON NETONE DATA BUNDLES

We refer to the above matter.

The Authority has noted the billing challenges you are facing with the Onefusion product. We have also noted that you have sent a communication to your subscribers advising and admitting the same challenges. Given the extent and magnitude of complaints raised to the Regulator by the subscribers, we hereby direct you to compensate the affected consumers in accordance with the prejudice they endured. This is done in the spirit of promoting the consumers’ right to complain and redress.

Accordingly, you are further requested to provide the Authority with a database of affected subscribers that provides details of the subscriber including the name, number, and the extent to which each of them was affected in monetary terms and the compensation levels extended to the affected subscribers. The database will enable us to conduct an audit trail on whether all affected subscribers have been compensated accordingly. The database should be submitted to the Authority by 28 February 2018. You are also advised to furnish the authority with measures that you have put in place to ensure that challenges of this nature will not recur.

An Ordinary Session of the Zanu PF politburo is underway at the party headquarters in Harare this Wednesday morning.

Issues of major concern in the deliberations centre on preparations for the elections.

The meeting is tackling the party manifesto, regalia and party campaign and mobilisation activities.

The party guidelines and principles on primary elections are also on the agenda.

The session has also seen the coming on board of Kenneth Musanhu as a new member of the politburo.

Musanhu’s advent into the politburo follows the announcement made by President Emmerson Mnangagwa when he visited Mashonaland Central and told the people that he will add another politburo member from the province since Retired Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri was the only one in that organ from there at the time.

The late George Rutanhire who both hailed from that province had not been replaced. – state media

More details to follow…

By Paul Nyathi

Zimbabwean women have sent an ultimatum demanding urgent equalization with their male counterparts in the political adminstration of the country.

Hundreds of women drawn from across the country met in Harare on Tuesday where they demanded that government enforces the provisions of the Constitution and give 50 – 50 opportunities to women against males.

Convened by the Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus, the women launchec a manifesto which they demanded that government adopts as a matter of urgency.

Part of the demands by the women was a call to amend the constitution to extend the term of the women’s quota representation in the National Assembly.

The women further called on political parties to stick to the constitutional provision to present half their party leadership to women.

Officially adopting the manifesto, speaker of parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda urged all political parties to align their constitutions with the constitution of the country to enable the realisation of the 50/50 gender representation in parliament or risk litigation.

The achievement of 50/50 gender equality across all sectors in line with the constitutional provisions on equality remains an illusion as most political parties have not adopted this in their constitutions.

Advocate Mudenda implored the women to challenge the status quo and fight hard for their constitutionally enshrined rights to equality.

“You must take up the matter with your political parties ahead of the election. The constitution is very clear that women should have equal representation in the socio – economic and political sphere in society,” he said.

Women parliamentarians from across the political divide converged and came up with a manifesto for the 2018 – 2023 period which sets the guidelines for them to be voted into political office. 

ZWPC Chairperson, Cde Monica Mutsvagwa implored women to use the manifesto as their campaign guide.

“Let’s use this manifesto as our campaign guide and ensure that we get our space,” she said.

The women’s manifesto is a 30-paged document spearheaded by women parliamentarians from Zanu PF, MDC-T and MDC.

It lays out the basis for voting women into power, access to justice and equal benefit of the law and women and economic development, among other issues.

The women also came up with an elections charter for the 2018 harmonised polls.

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will today make his inaugural address to Zanu-PF youths when he delivers a key note address during the Youth League’s national assembly in Harare. The Zanu-PF Politburo also meets today at the party’s headquarters.
Both meetings are expected to set the tone for the revolutionary party’s campaign for the harmonised elections later this year. Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday said: “The Zanu-PF secretary for administration Dr Obert Mpofu is advising that there will be a Politburo meeting tomorrow at 9AM at the party headquarters. All members are requested to be punctual.”

Cde Khaya Moyo did not reveal the Politburo agenda, but indications are that focus will be on election preparations, as well as economic issues.

Zanu-PF secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Pupurai Togarepi confirmed the wing’s national assembly meeting today.

The national assembly draws together all provincial members of the Youth League and is a party constitutional meeting that should be held twice a year.

“We are fulfilling a party constitutional requirement and we expect more than 400 youths from all the 10 provinces,” Cde Togarepi said. “This will be the party youths’ first meeting with the First Secretary and President Cde Mnangagwa in the new dispensation.
“We urge all provincial members to attend. We have high expectations as we continue laying the ground ahead of elections in a few months to come.”

The Youth League yesterday held a national executive meeting in preparation of today’s indaba.
Cde Togarepi said the youths would have an opportunity to present issues affecting them to the President.

“Since this is our first meeting, the youths have various issues across sectors and they will be presented tomorrow and unlike those Interface Rallies we expect the President to respond,” he said.
He said the Youth League was oiling its machine ahead of the elections with meetings being held across the country. “We are geared up and we are moving around the country conscientising the youths on our programmes, where we are coming from, where we are and where we are going,” Cde Togarepi said.

“This time we are even having meetings at district levels as we continue to capture the grassroots. We are moving with the ED Has My Vote hashtag and nothing will stop us from posting a resounding victory with the ground we have laid.

“A large number of people registered to vote in this year’s elections are the youths and it means they have a big role to play in deciding our destiny.

“First, we have been encouraging the youths to register and now its time for the final blow and we are urging them to vote for Zanu-PF as it is the only party, in the wake of the new dispensation, with capable leaders to deliver on their aspirations.”

Women and youths dominate the number of registered voters ahead of the polls.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) latest statistics show that from the 5,3 million people who registered to vote 54,5 percent of them are women and 45,5 percent are men.

The electoral commission statistics also show that youths between the ages of 18 to 34 constitute 43,5 percent of registered voters, followed by the 35 to 59 age group who make up 42,9 percent of registered voters.

Zec also revealed that those who are 60 years and above make up 13,6 percent of registered voters. Herald

EUROPEAN  Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Philippe Van Damme has bemoaned the intra party violence within the opposition MDC-T saying the party was losing credibility as a political movement.

Violence erupted at the MDC-T Bulawayo offices over the weekend as supporters of the party’s president Nelson Chamisa allegedly targeted a rival faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe.
The MDC-T has been thrown into turmoil following the death of its leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai last month.

The party’s national council has since confirmed Mr Chamisa as the party’s leader and presidential candidate in the forthcoming polls while Dr Khupe argues that constitutionally, she is the opposition party’s acting leader pending Congress.

The differences have triggered intra party violence. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a civil society meeting in Gweru yesterday, Ambassador Van Damme said the violence being witnessed in the MDC-T has resulted in the party losing credibility as a political movement.

“Political violence has to be condemned in all circumstances, loudly, clearly and without any reservations. Political violence is totally unacceptable in the democratic debate. If it relates to intra party as we have indeed seen over the last couple of weeks, this also penalises the party’s concerns and credibility so they have to work on that,” he said.

Ambassador Van Damme challenged MDC-T leaders to address the violence as a matter of urgency.
“They have a challenge and they have to address that challenge. We hope this will not degenerate further and see also inter-party violence which will have an impact on how elections will be viewed,” he added.

President Mnangagwa has pledged to ensure that the forthcoming general elections will be free, fair and credible.

Speaking during an interactive meeting with heads of church denominations in Harare on Monday, President Mnangagwa urged political parties to shun violence ahead of harmonised elections this year saying those with better ideas will win the polls. Herald

By Farai D Hove| As the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai struggled on during his last days, MDC Deputy President Elias Mudzuri allegedly obtained the below letter of appointment as his successor.

Is this Tsvangirai picture authentic?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 7, 2018

If proven true, the matter will elbow out the elected Vice President Thokozani Khupe who has been claiming she, not Nelson Chamisa, is the one meant to be leading the party at present. In that event also, Mudzuri will be found guilty of taking pictures of the MDC leader during his weakest moments. Is the below picture authentic?

The hearing of a matter involving 15 Gweru-based Regina Mundi High School pupils who were blacklisted by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) for alleged examination cheating has been set for March 12.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo will preside over the hearing.

The 15 pupils, through their parents, filed a court application at the Bulawayo High Court challenging the nullification of their November 2017 results by Zimsec.

They are seeking an order directing Zimsec to set aside its decision to cancel their November 2017 examination results.

In papers before the court, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Professor Paul Mavhima and Zimsec were cited as respondents.

One of the pupils, believed to be the mastermind, is alleged to have mobilised her classmates to contribute $3 each towards raising money that was used to purchase copies of the November 2017 Examinations question papers for English Paper 2 and Mathematics Paper 2.

According to court papers, the pupil allegedly received the question papers on her mobile phone via social media platform, WhatsApp, and shared them with her classmates. They then allegedly smuggled the papers into the examination room.

One of the 15 parents representing the pupils said Zimsec blacklisted his child without making an inquiry to establish the facts.

“This application is made to review the decision adopted by Zimsec to annul all the results of the applicants on allegations of cheating. It is also the basis of this application in that the reasons of the decision reached by Zimsec have not been availed. At the same time, there is no averment on the inquiry made and its nature before the decision was arrived at, let alone the evidence used in the process,” the parent, whose name has been withheld to protect the identity of the minor, said in his founding affidavit.

He said the pupils were unfairly treated.

The parent said they received the message of the nullification of results from a school official through WhatsApp.

He also said Zimsec conducted its own inquiry and quizzed two pupils who then ultimately implicated all the applicants.

The parents’ lawyers, Garikayi and Company, said the pupils’ rights were violated in terms of section 3 of the Administrative Justice Act because they did not appear before a proper board to defend themselves.

Section 34 (3) of the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Act stipulates that it shall not be necessary for the Zimsec board to consult or hear representations before cancelling or annulling the results of an examination.

They said the decision by Zimsec to blacklist the pupils and nullify their results is draconian, irrational and grossly unreasonable.

“The nullification of results for subjects which do not form part of the allegations is unfair and unjust considering that there was no misconduct alleged in these examinations,” said the lawyers.

Recently, High Court judge Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo overturned Prof Mavhima’s order compelling all the 260 000 students who sat for last November’s Ordinary Level English Paper 2 examination to be re-examined.

The judge ordered Zimsec to release results using the outcome of the English Language Paper 1 examination and the examinations body complied with the order.

Prof Mavhima had ordered a re-sit following reports of massive leakages of the paper through social media.-state media

A Correspondent| As the days to the upcoming 2018 elections draw near, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced he will be dishing out properties to pastors and other church leaders.

This follows a meeting presided by a preacher who was once beaten up by Vapositori in Budiriro 3 years ago.

Mnangagwa on Monday told pastors he will support them on a request for stands.

Pastors have asked for residential and church stands.

During the Monday meeting, pastors requested free stands with the leader of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe Johannes Ndanga launching the demands.

Ndanga is the same man who once prophesied that former President Robert Mugabe would “rule the country until his death.”  Moreover in 2013, Ndanga said,

“As the ACCZ we stand guided by a 1934 prophecy by prophet Masedza that Mugabe would rule this country until he dies hence we will support him at the elections to ensure the prophecy comes to pass.”

Mnangagwa was then likened to the Biblical Joshua who led the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land.

The controversial Ndanga said Mnangagwa’s administration should give free land to domestic churches the same way white colonial governments did to missionary churches.

Mnangagwa then announced that he shall honour his pledge.

“They have a challenge and they have to address that challenge. We hope this will not degenerate further and see also inter-party violence…”

EUROPEAN Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Philippe Van Damme has bemoaned the intra party violence within the opposition MDC-T saying the party was losing credibility as a political movement.

Violence erupted at the MDC-T Bulawayo offices over the weekend as supporters of the party’s president Nelson Chamisa allegedly targeted a rival faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe.
The MDC-T has been thrown into turmoil following the death of its leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai last month.

The party’s national council has since confirmed Mr Chamisa as the party’s leader and presidential candidate in the forthcoming polls while Dr Khupe argues that constitutionally, she is the opposition party’s acting leader pending Congress.

The differences have triggered intra party violence. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a civil society meeting in Gweru yesterday, Ambassador Van Damme said the violence being witnessed in the MDC-T has resulted in the party losing credibility as a political movement.

“Political violence has to be condemned in all circumstances, loudly, clearly and without any reservations. Political violence is totally unacceptable in the democratic debate. If it relates to intra party as we have indeed seen over the last couple of weeks, this also penalises the party’s concerns and credibility so they have to work on that,” he said.

Ambassador Van Damme challenged MDC-T leaders to address the violence as a matter of urgency.
“They have a challenge and they have to address that challenge. We hope this will not degenerate further and see also inter-party violence which will have an impact on how elections will be viewed,” he added.

President Mnangagwa has pledged to ensure that the forthcoming general elections will be free, fair and credible.

Speaking during an interactive meeting with heads of church denominations in Harare on Monday, President Mnangagwa urged political parties to shun violence ahead of harmonised elections this year saying those with better ideas will win the polls. – state media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa will today make his inaugural address to Zanu-PF youths when he delivers a key note address during the Youth League’s national assembly in Harare. The Zanu-PF Politburo also meets today at the party’s headquarters.

Both meetings are expected to set the tone for the revolutionary party’s campaign for the harmonised elections later this year. Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday said: “The Zanu-PF secretary for administration Dr Obert Mpofu is advising that there will be a Politburo meeting tomorrow at 9AM at the party headquarters. All members are requested to be punctual.”

Khaya Moyo did not reveal the Politburo agenda, but indications are that focus will be on election preparations, as well as economic issues.

Zanu-PF secretary for Youth Affairs Pupurai Togarepi confirmed the wing’s national assembly meeting today.

The national assembly draws together all provincial members of the Youth League and is a party constitutional meeting that should be held twice a year.

“We are fulfilling a party constitutional requirement and we expect more than 400 youths from all the 10 provinces,” Togarepi said. “This will be the party youths’ first meeting with the First Secretary and President Mnangagwa in the new dispensation.
“We urge all provincial members to attend. We have high expectations as we continue laying the ground ahead of elections in a few months to come.”

The Youth League yesterday held a national executive meeting in preparation of today’s indaba.
Togarepi said the youths would have an opportunity to present issues affecting them to the President.

“Since this is our first meeting, the youths have various issues across sectors and they will be presented tomorrow and unlike those Interface Rallies we expect the President to respond,” he said.
He said the Youth League was oiling its machine ahead of the elections with meetings being held across the country. “We are geared up and we are moving around the country conscientising the youths on our programmes, where we are coming from, where we are and where we are going,” Togarepi said.

“This time we are even having meetings at district levels as we continue to capture the grassroots. We are moving with the ED Has My Vote hashtag and nothing will stop us from posting a resounding victory with the ground we have laid.

“A large number of people registered to vote in this year’s elections are the youths and it means they have a big role to play in deciding our destiny.

“First, we have been encouraging the youths to register and now its time for the final blow and we are urging them to vote for Zanu-PF as it is the only party, in the wake of the new dispensation, with capable leaders to deliver on their aspirations.”

Women and youths dominate the number of registered voters ahead of the polls.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) latest statistics show that from the 5,3 million people who registered to vote 54,5 percent of them are women and 45,5 percent are men.

The electoral commission statistics also show that youths between the ages of 18 to 34 constitute 43,5 percent of registered voters, followed by the 35 to 59 age group who make up 42,9 percent of registered voters.

Zec also revealed that those who are 60 years and above make up 13,6 percent of registered voters. – state media

Twenty one players in the tourism industry recently had their passports withheld by the German embassy in Harare after the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority failed to pay $47 000 to a tourism organiser based in Berlin.

Government, ZTA officials and other tourism players are expected to attend the ITB Berlin (Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin) that will run from 7-12 March. The officials are led by Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Prisca Mupfumira. ZTA chief executive officer, Mr Karikoga Kaseke, said the passports were withheld after the authority failed the organisers.

“It is true that passports belonging to 21 tourism operators were withheld by the German Embassy. This was done because we had delayed in paying the organisers of the ITB expo and they in turn had asked their embassy in Zimbabwe to withhold the passports until we paid.

“The operators only got their passports on Thursday last week after we paid,” Mr Kaseke said.

He said ZTA was facing financial problems as Government has not released funds to capacitate its programmes. Mr Kaseke said the prevailing challenges have seen ZTA failing to pay some of its employees on time.

“The ZTA failed to pay on time because the Government has not released funds to us although we submitted our budget for the year,” he said.

“This is despite the fact that there’s an agreement between us and the Finance Ministry on certain events that we must attend. They funded us for these shows last year. Honestly speaking we’re taken aback by these delays.”

Mr Kaseke said ZTA has engaged Vice President General Constantino Chiwenga (Retired) who promised to engage relevant authorities over their financial shortcomings.

He said the ZTA was being hamstrung in its efforts to fulfil its mandate of selling destination Zimbabwe due delays in allocation of funds. The ZTA has already attended the Fitur exhibition in Spain before the Meetings Africa expo in South Africa while another expo has just kicked off in London and all have been serviced by the ZTA without funding from Government.- state media

Media Statement

Zimbabwe African Peoples Union wishes to congratulate the Chiefs of Matebeleland for heeding the call to unite and stand firm with their people on the issue of the coronation of Crown Prince Bulelani Khumalo.

The unity of purpose displayed by the Chiefs in the face of a paranoid repressive regime blocking the event over the weekend was demonstration of astute and resolute leadership.

ZAPU, as believers in peoples power stand firm behind the Matebeleland Chiefs and are supportive of their brave stance against the repressive Zimbabwean establishment that is prepared to disregard the constitution and international statutes on human rights in order to push a hegemonic system that violates rights of citizens.

Failure to interpret the law and constitution leading to the weird High Court provisional order over the matter is testimony that the ZANU PF system is so hell bent on perpetuating it’s evil on the people even in areas the constitution seeks to protect them.

It is constitutionally provided that a people can practice their culture without hindrance and interference of any sought. It is also constitutionally provided that a traditional leader of a peoples choice can preside over their traditional and cultural affairs.

The courts decision around this matter, after the monumental failure to read the constitution and law not only smacks of hypocrisy, but as insulting arrogance to everything legal and constitutional by a regime whose existence is a result of a military coup which is not provided for in the Zimbabwean constitution.

How the country’s courts endorsed the November coup and deny coronation of a Ndebele Crown Prince beats the legal mind, especially considering the constitutionality around the Ndebele monarchy and it’s historical connotations.

The involvement of ZANU PF in this matter, together with assigning Fortune Charumbira to interfere in this matter is not only off the point but deliberate ploy to delay the revival of the Ndebele culture and traditions.

ZANU PF and Charumbira are not at all versed about the Ndebele culture, so how do they seek to preside over what they are not aware of? They have never known a King throughout their inflated history.

ZAPU knows fully well that had ZANU PF and Charumbira had a King in their history, by now that monarchy would have been restored. They however can never respond positively to the Ndebele Crown since it’s not part of their culture.

ZAPU also notes with sadness the involvement of one of the Khumalo clan members, Peter Zwide Khumalo who filed in the same courts of Zimbabwe challenging the coronation. The fact that his unveiling went on unhindered is testimony that he has become the hand of the evil system that has oppressed and suppressed the Ndebele nation since it’s fall 1893.

The mother party fully supports the resolution by the Matebeleland Chiefs to remain resolutely united until the King is coronated.

We support the legal and constitutional route they have announced, and any other that is meant to facilitate realization of full rights of all citizens without prejudice.

*Iphithule Thembani Maphosa*
*ZAPU National Secretary for Information Publicity and Marketing*

Terrence Mawawa

A social media analyst, Antony Taruvinga has launched a scathing attack on embattled MDC Vice President Thokozani Khupe, claiming she is to blame for the intra-party battles rocking the movement.

Below is a statement written by Taruvinga:
KHUPE is the chief perpetrator of violence and
divisions within the MDC-T.

She has always pretended to be
the victim to gain public sympathy when in actual fact she is the
troublemaker.

She joined politics for selfish reasons and has
amassed untold amounts of money using the name of the Movement for
Democratic Change.

It is very unfortunate that Dr.
Morgan Tsvangirai passed on without putting to an
end the Khupe problem.

Yesterday, she clearly stated that she did not
recognise Nelson Chamisa as the president of the party.

She went on to say she was in charge of the party,
in the process lying about the Constitution.

Zanu PF is
good at manipulating such blunt characters as long
their goal of weakening the opposition is realised.

They don’t care about giving you the money as long
the job is done.
The violence that occurred in Bulawayo yesterday
was state sponsored.

The worst is
coming if the leadership does not take swift action to rectify
the matter.

Terrence Mawawa

Political analyst and National People’s Party(NPP) Spokesperson Jeffryson Chitando has pointed out that the country’ s main opposition party, MDC, is to blame for the rampant corruption in local authorities.

Commenting on Facebook yesterday, Chitando said: “ZanuPF failed the nation but we must also ask who
failed urban areas?

Service delivery and roads in
urban areas are in a sorry state while
we have
councils run by the opposition?

The voters will ask for a
justification of re-electing the same.

The councillors bought houses from meagre $60 allowances and how can that be justified?The voters
have every reason to react by voting against such
corrupt leaders. NPP and PRC both
led by Dr Joice Mujuru demand assets declaration before
one assumes public office.”

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has effected yet more changes in the force, with senior officers in the Police Protection Unit (PPU) — who were providing security to the Mugabes — being redeployed. This was revealed last week in a police radio announcement.

PPU — comprising five sections namely Parliament, relief, diplomats, escorts, and State House — specialises in providing security to VVIPs, VIPs and members of the diplomatic corps. The latest changes mainly affected the State House section and those who were assigned at deposed Robert Mugabe’s private residence.

The radio message read: “The . . . transfers have been approved and are to be implemented immediately.” “Please submit casualty returns as soon as transfers are effected.”

The changes affected senior officers who had been providing close security to the Mugabes — PPU Commissioner Olga Bungu, who has moved to Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) as Commissioner for Economic Surveillance.

Economic Surveillance did not have a commissioner before, so this is a new post created.

Senior Assistant Commissioner Martin Kwainona, who was Mugabe’s aide, has been moved from PPU and posted to PGHQ to the Economic Surveillance section.

Assistant Commissioner Vincent Mariga has also been moved from PPU to Depot as Assistant Commissioner in charge of administration.

The cleansing ceremony also hit the traffic section of the police with Assistant Commissioner Ngonidzashe Chogugudza being moved from national traffic to Midlands as Assistant Commissioner in charge of operations.

Assistant Commissioner Crispen Chihwehwete in charge of Transport at PGHQ has been transferred to Midlands as Assistant Commissioner crime.

Commissioner Rabson Mpofu has been moved from Planning and Development to becoming the chief of staff in the office of the commissioner general.

Mpofu has helped the organisation in the drafting of policy and his move is seen as strengthening the office of commissioner-general Godwin Matanga.

Senior Assistant Commissioner Elliot Mind Ngirandi has been moved from Police Staff College to Planning and Development as Chief Staff Officer.

Insiders canvassed by the Daily News yesterday said the PPU changes were symptoms of the mistrust and suspicions that have become deep rooted due to the police’s stance at the height of infighting in Zanu PF before the military intervention.

During the twilight of Mugabe’s reign, intense infighting over who should succeed him saw Mnangagwa tightening his security following suspicions that his rivals may have been out to eliminate him physically in the wake of his alleged poisoning.

A long-time aide of Mugabe turned arch rival, Mnangagwa was allegedly poisoned in August 2017 at a Zanu PF youth interface “meeting” in Gwanda, resulting in him being airlifted to South Africa after brief treatment in Gweru, which was meant to stabilise his condition.

Alarm was raised after the doctor who attended to him in South Africa disclosed the extent of the damage that was caused by the alleged poisoning.

Since then, Mnangagwa has been seen in public with the military providing his close security — in addition to personnel assigned by the police and the Central Intelligence Organisation.
“This is mainly inspires by the fact that ED prefers the soldiers so those who were at the PPU first family have been reassigned,” said an insider.

“The involvement of the army is yet another demonstration that the president or his family now has little faith in the usual security.” Daily News

Terrence Mawawa

Renowned political analyst, Pedzisai Ruhanya has slammed “naive elements” for rejecting Nelson Chamisa’s bullet trains proposal.

Ruhanya urged all progressive minded Zimbabweans to rally behind the youthful Chamisa.

In his Twitter message Ruhanya said:
“Some Zimbos shock me; you refuse to embrace
Chamisa’s bullet trains proposal but you stampede to
accept ZANU PF’s witchcraft policies through Rotina
Mavhunga’s Chinhoyi diesel ‘discovery’.”

Terrence Mawawa

Church leaders who met with President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday said former President Robert Mugabe never listened to their plight.

The church leaders thanked Mnangagwa for finding ample time to interact and interface with the men and women of the cloth.

“Christians constitute 80% of the country’s population.

We kindly ask for a review of the New
Curriculum. We approached the former President
regarding this issue but he turned a deaf ear to it.

Please help us. Christians constitute the
majority of the population,” said Bishop Mukonongwe.

Terrence
Mawawa

A clergyman yesterday equated President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga to biblical characters Joshua and Caleb.

Reverend Muchechetere who was the Director of Ceremonies when Mnangagwa met with church leaders in Harare yesterday said the two political figures would take the nation to the Promised Land.

“Reverend Muchechetere likened Chiwenga and Mnangagwa to
Biblical characters Joshua and Caleb. He said the two would lead the
nation to the Promised Land. I don’t know whether the comparison can be justified,” said one observer.

Terrence
Mawawa

A clergyman yesterday equated President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga to biblical characters Joshua and Caleb.

Reverend Muchechetere who was the Director of Ceremonies when Mnangagwa met with church leaders in Harare yesterday said the two political figures would take the nation to the Promised Land.

“Reverend Muchechetere likened Chiwenga and Mnangagwa to
Biblical characters Joshua and Caleb. He said the two would lead the
nation to the Promised Land. I don’t know whether the comparison can be justified,” said one observer.

LIVE-BLAST: By Simba Chikanza| President Emmerson Mangagwa is a Wildlife Person, an EU Parliamentary hearing on hunting and wildlife management has heard. These comments were made by Zimbabwe’s largest in the Save Conservancy white land owner, Willie Pabst. FOLLOW THE LIVE DISCUSSION HERE:

Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has bemoaned the ill-treatment of the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s widow Ms Elizabeth Macheka by family members following the death of her husband over inheritance issues.

Adv Mudenda said this while launching the Women’s Manifesto, Election Women’s Charter, The Pledge and the 50-50 Advocacy Campaign in Harare today.

“I was disheartened to hear squabbles in the family of the late leader of the Movement for Democratic Change vaTsvangirai. Family members trying to involve themselves in the inheritance issues. The law must be respected,” he said.

“I wish we had spiritual power of waking up from the dead. Myself I would wake up and defend my spouse. The matrimonial property is hers and mine and for the children. Unfortunately we cannot get up but the law can wake up on your behalf…”-263chat

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has promised to dish out free land to churches in a move likely to be seen as a tactic to sway the electorate ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Traditionally, Zanu PF — even during deposed Robert Mugabe’s time — has appealed to churches during election season.

Mnangagwa made the promise after church leaders demanded free residential and church stands at a meeting held in Harare yesterday, with the leader of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe Johannes Ndanga leading the call.

Likening Mnangagwa to the Biblical Joshua who led the Israelites to the land of Canaan from Egypt after taking over from Moses, Ndanga said Mnangagwa’s administration should give free land to domestic churches as the white colonial governments did to missionary churches before independence. Daily News

Harare councillors have proposed to name one of the streets in the CBD after the late opposition MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai — who died last month aged 65 after a long battle with colon cancer — is credited for changing the face of Zimbabwean politics after winning against deposed long-ruling Robert Mugabe in the 2008 elections.

During a full council meeting last week Friday, Rugare councillor Peter Moyo said council must honour Tsvangirai, who was denied national hero status, despite massive calls by public.
“Before we start the business of the day, let me state that I think the city should honour the late Tsvangirai by naming a road after him.

“We cannot ignore the fact that Tsvangirai has contributed immensely to the development and democracy of Zimbabwe,” Moyo said. He added that the late opposition leader’s contribution to the improvement of the lives of Zimbabweans could not be left unnoticed.

Greendale councillor Stewart Mutizwa seconded the motion, which was later said to be addressed by the MDC-run council formally.

The proposal comes as councillors have argued that road naming should be left to local authorities after the unofficial naming of the civic centre adjacent to the Harare Magistrates Courts, which most MDC supporters call the Freedom Square while others refer to it as the Robert Mugabe Square.

Glen Norah councillor Herbert Gomba has argued that public places should not be named after little-known politicians.

“The civic centre is called so many names that we do not know what to call it. Can we be weary of naming our streets and spaces after fly-by-night politicians?

“We need to lead by example and show some semblance of order in the way we do our things.
“We cannot have people who are not elected councillors bulldozing the names of areas for us. Let us not name streets after people who are popular for a season,” he said. Daily News

Fears have been raised over the extensive soil erosion on the slopes of the Mabvuku road over rail bridge, with indications that if not urgently attended to, the bridge could expose motorists to serious hazards.

Less than a year after the bridge was commissioned, there are already signs of sub-standard workmanship on this project as huge gullies caused by run-off now occupy the better part of this bridge.

Local engineers from the road authority who were on the ground refused to comment on the matter, referring the subject to the department of roads which is said to have been responsible for this part of the road.

However, they agreed that the level of damage on the bridge poses a serious risk which can eventually lead to damage of the road if not addressed urgently.

During a site visit by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development, the committee raised the red flag on the hazard, calling for the responsible authority to move in with speed and avert the potential danger.

The road hosts a number of vehicles every second of the day, but not many motorists are aware of the cancer that is slowly tearing into a surface which they perceive to be the safest part of this highway when compared to other trunk roads that are littered with potholes

Source ZBC News Online

By Paul Nyathi

Want out MDC-T National Organising Secretary Abednico Bhebhe has described the new party President Nelson Chamisa’s behaviour as that of the 1980s ZANU PF initiated Gukurahundi mass murderers.

Speaking on VOA Studio Seven’s Livetalk program on Monday evening, Bhebhe said that he is not prepared to engage in any talks with Chamisa who sends people to attack party leaders from Matabeleland then invite them for negotiations.

Bhebhe said that the last time he saw a similar behaviour was during the ZANU PF led Gukurahundi era where twenty thousand people were killed by the soldiers before the perpetrators invited the victims into truce negotiations.

“We can not talk to people who behave like the Gukurahundi which butchered 20 000 people then invited for negotiations to end the killings,” said Bhebhe.

“The very same people who are calling us for negotiations are the same ones that are sending thugs to beat us up as Matabeleland people and expect us to negotiate with them to stop beating us,” fumed Bhebhe.

The outspoken MDC-T senior official was referring to a weekend incident where the party supporters were involved in a bloody battle at the party offices in Bulawayo.

Bhebhe is adamant that the people who attacked them while they were in a meeting at the offices were dispatched from Harare to attack them.

On the other hand rival members claim that Bhebhe hired the thugs from South Africa to come and attack them in a planned move to disgrace new party leader Nelson Chamisa.

The MDC-T has since dispatched a team of investigators to investigate the violence.

By Paul Nyathi

Concerned MDC-T supporters in the United Kingdom and Ireland have urged the new party leader Nelson Chamisa to talk to beleaguered rival Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe and resolve their differences.

In a media statement produced by the organising department of the UK and Ireland Province on Monday, the party members urged Chamisa to engage in dialogue with Khuphe for the good of the party and the nation.

“The organising department of the province would like to encourage Advocate Chamisa to get into serious dialogue with senior leaders like Dr Khuphe and others to ensure that tbeir concerns are addressed to the best advantage of the entire MDC-T family and the nation,” said the statement.

Chamisa and his co deputy President went into loggerheads on the leadership of the party shortly after the death of party leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Valentine’s day.

Chamisa was eventually endorsed by the party’s National Council as the party President through a process which Khuphe said was uncostitutional.

Khuphe maintains that she is the genuine leader of the party as she was elected by the party congress in 2014. Chamisa has since given her seven days which expires on Thursday to accept his leadership or be dismissed from the party.

Khuphe has since rubbished the ultimatum claiming that it is an illegal process.

The foreign based supporters further urged Chamisa to address issues of intra party violence that are rocking the party as a result of the leadership wrangle.

“We are also asking the party leadership to urgently flex its muscles to put an end to the ugly face of violence which is bedevilling some of our structures.”

The MDC-T has seen continous incidents of violence between Chamisa loyalists and Khuphe loyalists.

The violence went a gear up over the weekend where Bulawayo CBD was turned into a war zone as the party supporters clashed at the party offices in a two hour battle that left fifteen people hospitalised and property worth thousands of dollars damaged.