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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

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

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

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

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

This guy akarimira pasi mbeu dze neighbour.

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

Mombe idzodzo dziri tii kwa Togarepi Pupurai kupurazi ku Beatrice.

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

Terrence Mawawa

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

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

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

Terrence Mawawa

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

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

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

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

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

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

Terrence Mawawa

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

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

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

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

By Paul Nyathi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The shoes President Emmerson Mnangagwa wore on his recent visit to Botswana have set Zimbabweans talking. Below is a picture circulating on social media.

Churches in Zim are best advised to avoid mediating between EDM&RGM. Why didn’t they engage RGM when the economy was failing/against the bad rule of RGM?It’s not priority for EDM to meet RGM now and he should leave him to globe-trot.RGM is an attention seeker&misses the limelight

— Hon. Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) March 12, 2018

CAPS United captain Hardlife Zvirekwi was on Monday morning involved in a car accident.

An official at the club confirmed the news saying Zvirekwi is admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

“I am on my way to Parirenyatwa to see him but I can confirm that Hardy was involved in an accident,” said Shakespeare Chinongwenya, the club’s manager.

The Warriors right back is said to have suffered a fractured hand.

“I am yet to see how bad he is but I am told his hand is badly injured,” he said.- state media

An ex-convict from Kwekwe who was released from prison recently allegedly fatally stabbed his neighbour following a misunderstanding during a beer drink.

Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the murder which occurred last Wednesday at around 3AM in Amaveni Suburb in Kwekwe.

She said the ex-convict, Ntokozo Ncube (28), allegedly fatally stabbed Simbarashe Ruvingo (30) while they were drinking beer at Amaveni Shops.

Ass Insp Mukwende said after committing the crime, Ncube allegedly fled to Zhombe in an attempt to evade arrest.

“I can confirm that police in Kwekwe are investigating a case of murder where a man died after being attacked with a knife by a man who was recently released from prison. It is alleged that the suspect Ntokozo Ncube was drinking beer in a nightclub together with Simbarashe Ruvingo at Amaveni Shops,” she said.

Asst Insp Mukwende said Ncube and Ruvingo were seen by fellow patrons drinking beer together while dancing to music.

She said it is alleged that Ncube suddenly withdrew a knife from his pocket and stabbed Ruvingo on the collar bone.

“After stabbing Ruvingo, Ncube dragged him outside but other patrons followed behind and upon seeing that the patrons were following behind he chased them away while threatening to stab them. The suspect boarded a car and fled from the scene. Ruvingo stood up before collapsing on the tarmac and died,” she said.

Asst Insp Mukwende said the suspect was arrested in Zhombe on the same day following a tip off. “The suspect is in police custody and assisting with investigations, he will appear in court soon,” she said.

In an unrelated incident, a Kwekwe teenager was allegedly murdered by unknown assailants who then burnt the body with tyres and dumped the remains in a bush.
Ass Insp Mukwende said the body, which is yet to be identified, was discovered by a passer5by last Tuesday.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a murder case where a human body was found burnt beyond recognition in a bush in Kwekwe near Gokwe-Kwekwe road.

“The deceased is estimated to be around 15 years old,” she said. Chronicle

Film maker Rufaro Kaseke who recently declared his interest to represent Chitungwiza North constituency as its legislator in the forthcoming harmonised elections became the latest example of artists who are making inroads into ruthless political fray after Energy Mutodi, Bryn Mteki and Hosiah Chipanga among others.

The outspoken Kaseke, popular for his home made videos he posted on social media attacking the Zanu PF during the reign of former president Robert Mugabe, confirmed the development to this publication.

“It’s very true. I will stand as an independent candidate for Chitungwiza North constituency. I was motivated by the need to bring fresh thinking into public administration space,” Kaseke said.
“Balancing politics and arts is easy. An artist is who I will always be and running for public office is me giving myself to work for the country.”

Unlike Kaseke, traditional musician and internationally acclaimed sculptor Bryn Mteki aka Sekuru Tau has declared his interests to contest the presidential seat in the forthcoming general elections.
Seukuru Tau told the Daily News on Sunday that unlike other candidates, he is not going to campaign rigorously.

“People know Sekuru Tau as a progressive person hence there is no need for me to launch an aggressive campaign.

“I urge people to just go to the ballot and vote for me and I will deliver, that’s all I can say,” Mteki said.

Mteki is currently into studio working with businessman-cum-politician Philip Chiyangwa on the song to be titled Ndinongovhaira.

“I have been business friends with Chiyangwa back then when I was in America on the level of entrepreneurship, so our relationship dates way back as we both share the same passion of looking for cash.

“I always look outside the box as I am christened the world renowned artiste I should show it, hence coming with this surprise packed album the song theme is also in line with celebrating life as successful people so Chiyangwa and I we are.

“Chiyangwa and I,we are both successful businessmen, property tycoons and we both have a vast interest in creating billion-dollar business empire. We met in the business circles and our relationship grew both as friends and business colleges as he had always appreciated my sculpture and music before I became a business man,” Mteki said.

Musician, academic and businessman Mutodi is also reportedly eyeing a constituency in Goromonzi under the ticket of Zanu PF in the forthcoming harmonised elections.

The flamboyant musician known for musical albums such as Simbi YaM’dhara (Real Sounds of Africa), Kumasese (Real Sounds of Africa), Sekawo Mbichana, Magetsi Ngaabake, Kuita Kuri Kwenyu, Chimvuramabwe, Ndinorota Landlord, Chidhedhedhe, Ndiri Munzira Kuuya and Ndinokutendai among others is currently studying a PhD in Business Administration at the University of Cape Town and a Bachelor of Laws Degree at the University of Zimbabwe concurrently.

Controversial sungura musician — Hosiah Chipanga who is based in Mutare — told Daily News that he was forced to join politics due to former president Mugabe’s maladministration.

“I never wanted to be a politician but as I yearn for a meeting with Mugabe, I was forced to form my own political party — The Kingdom of God On Earth: Devine Rule On Earth — considering that politics is the only language our leadership understand, not music or gospel — I have tried it before and it doesn’t work,” he said.

However, some of the artistes only use their music to pursue a certain political agenda without directly declaring their interests in it.

In Zimbabwe it came as a shock that a musician who uses music to pursue a political agenda will ruin their musical career eventually.

Musical careers of talented musicians such as the late Simon “Chopper” Chimbetu, the late Andy Brown, Sani Makhalima and Nonsikelelo plummeted after they became more directly linked to the Zanu PF party.

In a previous interviews with this publication, arts critic Cont Mhlanga advised artistes to be careful when venturing into politics.

“Whenever musicians take sides it means they have divided their fan base into two or three.
“Once musicians aligned themselves to a political party it means they should only hold concerts in areas where that particular political party has strong support.

He urges musicians to tackle socio-political themes which affect everybody in society and he gave the example of the late Biggie Tembo of the Bundu Boys.

“The Bundu Boys had a large fan base as the group tackled social politics which affect virtually everybody in the community,” he said.

Musical groups such as Mbare Chimurenga Choir failed to hold concerts outside Zanu PF political gatherings over the years due to the nature of their lyrics. Daily News

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

Speaking during a meeting in Gwanda last week, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association secretary general, Cde Victor Matemadanda, said war veterans should safeguard the gains of the liberation struggle.
“As the veterans of the liberation struggle we have a mandate to spearhead the election campaign of the ruling party. Everyone in office today was elected through a campaign by the veterans.

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

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

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

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

“Everyone can see that constitutionally Khupe is the rightful candidate. A brave woman Khupe who went to bury Tsvangirai (late Morgan) in Buhera and what do they say, they call her a dissident. If we don’t defend this kind of person then we are not principled. They will sing about democracy. How democratic is Chamisa who was hand-picked?” Cde Matemadanda said.
“Some are saying there should be a Shonaland, a Ndebeleland, what is that. It can’t.”
Zanu-PF Matabeleland South province chairman Cde Rabelani Choeni said the party’s members should work together and lead the party to a resounding victory. Chronicle

By Staff Reporter| The latest in the Thokozani Khupe vs Nelson Chamisa tussle has seen the female MDC Deputy President filing an official complaint against Nelson Chamisa.

Dr Khupe’s personal assistant Witness Dube told ZimEye.com she will never recognise Chamisa’s presidency because the National Council meeting which appointed him was not substantive. It was ” just a consultative meeting,” Mr Dube claimed to ZimEye.

He said Khupe has since filed an official complaint with a group called the Elders of the party.

He continued to explain the reasons why Khupe has gone “underground” as it were out of the media eye. LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW BELOW:

– REFRESH THIS PAGE TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW:

University of Zimbabwe law lecturer Professor Lovemore Madhuku’s bid to lead the institution’s Faculty of Law as dean flopped after he flunked an interview conducted by a panel headed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura.

The university advertised the post of dean to replace Mr Emmanuel Magade whose term had expired.

The post was landed by another law lecturer, Dr Innocent Maga.

Registrar of University of Zimbabwe Dr Noel Mutongoreni advised Prof Madhuku last week that he had failed to make the grade.

“Thank you for your application for the post of Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Zimbabwe received on 24 November 2017. I regret to inform you that your application was not successful. May I take this opportunity to wish you success in your future endeavours,” said Dr Mutongoreni in a letter dated March 7.

In the advertisement, the university said it was looking for a person with an earned doctorate, scholar of note with credibility among other academic peers; one who would offer academic leadership and a scholar with ability to plan effectively and inspire and motivate staff in the faculty.

Dr Maja confirmed that he had been appointed as the new dean and described his appointment as an opportunity to transform the faculty.

He, however, said Prof Madhuku remained a top academic.

“Prof Madhuku is our luminary because of his academic achievement. We will continue to require his services,” said Dr Maja.

When contacted, Prof Madhuku confirmed the development, which he said was surprising.

“Yes, it is true that I applied for the post. I attended an interview on 28 February 2018. It is also true that I have been advised by the Registrar that I was not successful. I was surprised, but not disappointed. I have been with the UZ for 23 years and thought it was now time for me not only to teach and research, but also to provide academic leadership,” said Prof Madhuku.

He said what surprised him was that he was the only full professor in the Faculty of Law who is below the age of 65.

“I was encouraged by many both in the university and in the legal fraternity, who read the advertisement and rightly reasoned that since the new thrust was for professors to lead faculties, it would have been remiss for me not to apply.

“The idea was to be dean for a short time to inspire and groom young scholars to attain professorship and take over academic leadership. This is what surprised me because I am the only full professor below 65 years in the Faculty of Law,” he said.

Prof Madhuku holds a first class Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree from UZ, a first class Master of Laws and Doctor of Philosophy from University of Cambridge in England.

He has been a full professor of law since 2011.- state media

By Dorrothy Moyo| Controversial Minister Of Affairs And Culture, Obert Mpofu has threatened Mthwakazi activists with arrest.

The activists have been protesting for several days since the moment when they were blocked from conducting the Ndebele King crowning ceremony, a development that saw hundreds of thousands of people reacting against the Zimbabwean government.

Further to that, they have been accused of disrupting the national peace and reconciliation commission hearings

Minister Mpofu has since threatened to arrest the activists.

Mpofu told the state media the state will not tolerate any disruptions of its programmes. He said, “We want to caution them against disrupting Government programmes.

“All organisations, institutions and other groupings should desist from interfering with scheduled Government programmes and other programmes organised by other institutions as has been the case with the disruptions of NPRC hearings by some elements that are bent on destabilising Government.

“Government will no longer tolerate any disruptions and those who disrupt its programmes will be dealt with in terms of the laws of the country.”

“This comes following reports by members of the public who have raised concern that they have not been allowed to make their contributions on national programmes because of some people who have disrupted meetings.

“That will no longer be tolerated and the police are now going to arrest them.”

Three children from a Filabusi family which has so far lost four of its members due to mushroom poisoning are still admitted at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, with one aged four said to be in critical condition.

Seven children and their grandmother, who is still admitted at Filabusi District Hospital, ate poisonous mushrooms last Saturday at home and only sought medical attention on Monday.

One child died at Filabusi District hospital on Tuesday and three others died at Mpilo, one on Wednesday and the other two on Thursday.

Three other children remain in hospital and one of them is critical.Mpilo clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said the two boys aged seven and 10 were stable, but a four-year-old girl was critical.

“We thank God because today we did not witness any deaths due to mushroom poisoning. We are still monitoring the two boys though the little girl is still critical in the intensive care unit,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He said members of the public should not eat wild mushrooms. The death toll of people who have lost their lives after consuming the deadly fungus stands at 15. Eight Filabusi family members ate the poisonous mushrooms on Saturday, leading to the deaths of four of them.

Eleven members of a Mberengwa family who consumed the toxic mushrooms last week, also died.

On Thursday, Insiza District Medical Officer Dr Mandlenkosi Nkala said the Filabusi family was rushed to Filabusi District Hospital on Monday evening after consuming the poisonous mushrooms on Saturday.

“The children’s ages range between three and 10 years and they stay with their grandmother. They say the incident took place on Saturday evening. One child, a girl who is in Grade Seven, is the one who picked the mushrooms and brought them home for granny to cook,” said Dr Nkala. – state media

Former President Robert Mugabe has fallen from Grace. During his 37 years as leader, Mugabe enjoyed unparalleled and unquestioned state media attention, all in the past now. The state media has not only dropped the cde prefix before Mugabe’s name, the state broadsheets are on an overdrive nitpicking on every move the former man makes. Intensified propaganda after Mugabe came out to openly back the formation of the New Patriotic Front led by former minister Ambrose Mutinhiri. Mugabe is now treated like any other opposition leader attacked and vilified.

FULL TEXT : Zimbabweans from all walks of life have roundly condemned former President Robert Mugabe following startling revelations that he is demanding his pension lump sum in cash after years of getting his salary using the same arrangement.

According to documents in possession of our sister paper, The Sunday Mail, the former President is demanding his pension lump sum of nearly half-a-million dollars and monthly pension pay out of over $13 000 in cash.

The documents also reveal that Mr Mugabe had been getting monthly cash payments of $20 000 while still Head of State and Government, even as ordinary Zimbabweans queued for days on end to access amounts as low as $20 from banks.

It has also been established that former First Lady Mrs Grace Mugabe is also getting a monthly payment of $2 170 from the State.

Police were unleashed on those who spoke out at bank queues as Mr Mugabe and his wife sat pretty, getting cash.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took over from Mr Mugabe, was left bemused by the arrangement, saying it was highly irregular and irresponsible and opted to have his salary paid through a bank transfer.

The Chronicle yesterday took to the streets and spoke to ordinary residents, politicians and lawyers in Bulawayo over the issue.

A Bulawayo constitutional lawyer, Mr Dumisani Dube, said Mr Mugabe’s demands were a violation of anti-money laundering laws.

Esigodini Agricultural College principal Mr Bernard Sibanda is under fire for allegedly sexually harassing his female subordinates by exposing his manhood and touching their private parts.

The college principal’s alleged actions saw him being fired by the Ministry of Lands Agriculture and Rural Resettlement on charges of misconduct following a disciplinary hearing.

However, Mr Sibanda (61) got a temporary relief after the Labour Court ordered the Ministry to conduct a fresh disciplinary hearing within a month and a half.

Mr Sibanda is alleged to have sexually harassed female agricultural extension workers and students by asking them to expose their busts for him to see and touching their private parts as well as hugging them.

He was also accused of exposing his manhood to the women by opening the zip of his trousers.

In papers before the court, Mr Sibanda is the appellant while the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Retired Chief Air Marshal Perrance Shiri was cited as the respondent.

Bulawayo Labour Court judge Justice Mercy Moya-Matshanga set aside the dismissal following Mr Sibanda’s application challenging his sacking.

The judge ordered the Ministry of Lands Agriculture and Rural Resettlement to conduct a fresh disciplinary hearing within a month and a half as Mr Sibanda was denied legal representation.

She said the denial of legal representation infringes on a constitutional fundamental right and renders any hearing a nullity.

“The application for review succeeds and is hereby granted and the decision of the disciplinary hearing committee be and is hereby set aside. The employer is ordered to conduct a disciplinary hearing within a month and a half after the issuance of this order and to properly conduct the disciplinary proceedings,” ruled Justice Moya-Matshanga.

In his grounds of appeal, Mr Sibanda through his lawyers, Masiye-Moyo and Associates, argued that he was denied his right to legal representation after the respondent refused to postpone the disciplinary hearing when his lawyer, the late Mr Galen Moyo Masiye, was seriously ill and admitted in hospital after undergoing an operation.

“The applicant was accordingly denied the right to hear, counter and test the witnesses’ evidence. Applicant seeks the relief that the outcome of the disciplinary hearing be set aside and that he be reinstated or be paid damages in lieu thereof,” said Mr Sibanda’s lawyers.

According to court papers, Mr Sibanda, who was employed as a principal at Esigodini Agricultural College, allegedly sexually harassed female agricultural extension workers by asking to have sexual intercourse with them.

Mr Sibanda is also alleged to have further abused his office by demanding sexual favours from prospective students seeking to secure places to study at the institution.

He allegedly threatened the complainants that he would not recommend manpower development leave for those who would not have complied with his sexual advances. Following the allegations, Mr Sibanda was charged with misconduct.

He was later arraigned before a disciplinary hearing committee. However, at the time of the disciplinary hearing, Mr Moyo was ill and could not attend the hearing proceedings.

The Ministry of Lands Agriculture and Rural Resettlement continued with the hearing and called witnesses and later convicted and dismissed Mr Sibanda.

In 2014, Gwanda magistrate Ms Sheila Nazombe acquitted Mr Sibanda of charges of indecently assaulting a female extension officer based in Simbumbumbu area in Gwanda district. He was accused of fondling the complainant’s breasts. – State Media

The headmaster of Magwegwe High School in Bulawayo is under fire after allegedly banning the singing of Shona songs at his school.

Mr William Ncube is alleged to have banned pupils from singing Shona songs or war cries during sports events or at assembly.

Bulawayo Acting Provincial Education Director Mrs Olicah Khaira said the Ministry of Primary and secondary Education was investigating the matter.

“I cannot comment much on the matter as I am not in the office. However, investigations into the issue are underway,” she said.
An open letter, purportedly written by pupils at the school, has gone viral on social media platforms.

The pupils are requesting Mr Ncube to desist from fanning tribalism and are demanding equal treatment at the school.

The Chronicle visited the school yesterday and spoke to members of staff. The headmaster was said to be away.

“On behalf of the Magwegwe High School students, we are against the decision by our headmaster to bar the singing of Shona songs at our school. As students we say no to tribalism and any form of violence. Whatever happened in the past must not include us as the so called born frees. We will not be used to settle past differences. We cannot be used in conflicts or fighting each other. We believe in unity and nothing else,” reads part of the letter.

The letter says the headmaster is quoted as having said he will be in trouble with the PED if pupils were allowed to sing Shona songs.state media

A soldier based at 5 Infantry Battalion in Kwekwe died on Monday evening after he was head-butted by a colleague when a beer brawl turned nasty.

Onias Moyo (26) was rushed to Kwekwe District Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon admission after he was head-butted by a workmate Bruce Dungeni while they were drinking at Linda Bar in Mbizo 4. Dungeni is reportedly employed by Airforce of Zimbabwe.

Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Ethel Mkwende said she was yet to get the report.

Zimbabwe National Army public relations officer Lieutenant-Colonel Alphios Makotore confirmed the incident but declined to comment saying doing so might jeopardise police investigations.

“I can only confirm that the culprits have been apprehended and are assisting police with investigations. I cannot comment further than that since doing so would be prejudicial,” he said.

However, a witness said the two, Moyo and Dungeni were drinking beer at Linda Bar when the dispute arose.

“The two had been drinking together since morning in the company of their friends. They, however, had a misunderstanding around 8pm over who would buy the next round,” said the witness. .

The source said while the two were exchanging blows, a friend Steven Samuel who had been drinking with the two for the better part of the day, tried to restrain them to no avail.

“The moment Samuel let Moyo free, Dungeni head-butted the now deceased on the face and he started bleeding profusely from the mouth and nose,” said the witness.

A police report was made and Moyo was rushed to Kwekwe District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on admission.

Dungeni and Samuel were reportedly picked up by police and are in police custody assisting with investigations.- state media

The Robert Mugabe aligned New Patriotic Front party, makes a report that it has got grassroots rural support. The report says the villagers are making a diamond for the 94 year old former head of state . Below is a tweet released on Sunday to the effect:

Don’t let the Junta lie to you, the real cadres, comrades and ordinary folks who have walked with ZanuPF are with the NPF and President Mutinhiri.
They will not endorse or legitimise a Junta that has openly humiliated their icon and hero Cde R G Mugabe. #HandeiTione pic.twitter.com/hoB4x94UIX

— National Patriotic Front (@National_PF) March 11, 2018

Terrence Mawawa

A research expert has urged MDC Alliance leader and MDC president Nelson Chamisa to consult veteran politician Robert Mugabe for advice on how to defeat Zanu PF.

“I am appealing to the President of the MDC
Alliance Nelson Chamisa to lead his team to the
Blue Roof and meet the father of the nation.

R.G
Mugabe should be willing to give them a lecture on
how they should stop the alleged rigging of the 2018
elections. I have a feeling that the rigging strategies
will be exposed anytime from now. Let us wait and
see.

The R.G Mugabe coup against ED is inevitable
because the military set a bad example.

Power
is not grabbed but it is given by the people.

Mugabe
is likely to lead a successful underground rebellion
against ED and I can see criminal elements around
ED being removed by Nelson Chamisa in the July 2018
presidential election,”said
Don Chigumba, a mixed methods research
specialist based in South Africa.

Instead of solving the cash crisis, ED has opted to join the queue of stranded citizens—Dr V Chimhutu. Is this guy a President?. @kubatana @edmnangagwa @ZimMediaReview @mayor_justice @mawarirej @advocatemahere @BitiTendai @nelsonchamisa @lilomatic @PastorEvanLive

— Hardlife Mudzingwa (@hardie1982) March 11, 2018

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

The MDC Welfare Department is prepared to furnish President Emmerson Mnangagwa with a detailed report of the brutal acts of political violence perpetrated by Zanu PF members in 2008.

Mnangagwa riled opposition parties and pressure groups when he claimed he was oblivious of the atrocious acts.

According to the MDC Welfare Department, hundreds of the opposition party’ s supporters were killed ahead of the 2008 Presidential Election Runoff that was controversially won by Robert Mugabe.

“We have a comprehensive list of party members who were murdered by the ruling party Zanu (PF) and State Security Agents,” said the department in a statement yesterday.

The department also accused Mnangagwa, Mugabe and the military junta of subverting the will of the people by blocking Morgan Tsvangirai from becoming the country’ s President.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo

In a calculated manoeuvre meant to stifle the National Patriotic Front(NPF) project, a senior Zanu PF official has urged party members to stop the expulsion of suspected G-40 elements.

Masvingo Provincial Chairperson, Ezra Chadzamira told party supporters here last week, there was need to forgive perceived G-40 elements for the sake of unity and sanity.

Chadzamira explained that it would be suicidal for the ruling party to expel dissenting members before the crucial plebiscite.

Zanu PF has been shaken by former President Robert Mugabe’s involvement in the formation of a new political front, NPF.

“We cannot continue to expel our members. This has to stop forthwith, given the latest developments,” said Chadzamira.

Terrence Mawawa

A senior Zimbabwe National Army officer who allegedly ordered soldiers to attack members of a Chiredzi bound bus crew was arrested last week.

The senior soldier appeared before a Chiredzi Magistrate facing assault charges.

Lieutenant Seremani appeared before Magistrate Constance Mutandwa and he was remanded in custody.

” Lieutenant Seremani ordered a group of seven soldiers to assault members of a Chiredzi bound bus crew.

Those who were assaulted sustained serious injuries,” the court heard.

President Chiwenga’s wife Mary says she will wear what she wants and does not care what people think.

Mary Chiwenga, Second Lady |“I know people say I like showing my shoulders, that’s me and I will not change. So I always say whether they like it or not, they can’t change who I am and this is me. I dress exactly how I want to dress, I don’t change because people say I must change, no! I change because I feel the change is necessary.

“Michelle Obama dresses like me and people applaud her and appreciate her for that because she is not trying to be someone else. Melania Trump dresses like I dress and everybody loves it, no-one complains,” she said in the interview with the Daily News.

“It’s very myopic for people to say because you are wearing a dress that is sleeveless of whatever design, then they say you are crazy. I don’t pick it up from that context.

“When I leave home like this, my husband loves it. If I wear a short dress, my husband loves it. If I wear jeans depending on where I’m going, my husband loves it. I will never leave home with a dress that my husband doesn’t approve of.

“The outfit that I wore at congress; when I walked out of the bedroom, my husband was like ‘oh my, vamaGumbo, makachena, today I am going to walk holding your hand’. He said it jokingly. And people started saying oh, her boobs were out, we could see her cleavage, whatever. If you got it, flaunt it, why hide it?”

“Well, it’s not my problem that there are women out there who can’t wear that. The reason why people complain is that they know they cannot wear the same things that you are able to wear. I like looking very classy and very sexy, that’s me, and because I have sex appeal, so I don’t change.”

“There is an MP that came here… and we had a small talk and finally she got to her subject about my dressing. She said she had been sent by women from the party to maybe convince me to wear African attires and things like that, but I refused and I said I am not trying to fit into anybody’s league. My husband is happy with the way I dress and it’s not about to change. And you can take that back to them.”

President Mugabe called Thokozani Khupe to Blue Roof as Tsvangirai lay on his death bed. It is understood that he offered MDC Vice President Thokozani Khupe a spot as one of the vice presidents in the outfit that he was planning – now known as New Patriotic Front.

The Sunday Times of South Africa reports that Mugabe called Khupe to his Blue Roof residence to discuss the offer. Our further investigations indicate that Mugabe put Jonathan Moyo on the phone too as they sought to find a common ground.

Mugabe then dispatched emissaries to speak with Khupe in South Africa during the so-called Coalition workshop in February this year. It is unknown whether Khupe agreed to work with Mugabe at the time. What is known is that there were two meetings with Mugabe’s emissaries in South Africa where the modalities of working together was being worked out.

At the time it was becoming apparent that Tsvangirai was not going to survive the cancer. Khupe also had a tentative memorandum with Joice Mujuru to work together in the event that she (Khupe) assumed the presidency of MDC.

Khupe has been vehemently opposed to the MDC Alliance that Tsvangirai forged with Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube. Under the Alliance agreement, Ncube’s MDC would be allowed to choose the bulk of candidates to contest the parliamentary seats in Matebeleland.

This did not go down well with Khupe who felt that Tsvangirai was sacrifising her on the altar for little benefit. She then boycotted meetings with Tsvangirai for more than a year. By the time Tsvangirai died,  Khupe had snubbed four meeting requests from Tsvangirai to iron out their differences.

A power struggle ensured at Tsvangirai’s death with Khupe, Mudzuri and Chamisa claiming to be the legitimate leaders of MDC. Chamisa then called a National Council meeting that endorsed him as Acting President and 2018 Presidential candidate for MDC.

Khupe has withdrawn to Bulawayo – her percieved stronghold where she is mounting resistance against Chamisa presidency. She is expected to launch a splinter party in the next few days. It is not yet certain if Khupe’s party will join with Mugabe’s New Patriotic Front.

A trust for the late Ndabaningi Sithole is seeking a court order declaring the acquisition of the politician’s Chulu Farm illegal, null and void.

This is after it filed a High Court application demanding compensation for the nationalist’s farm, which was compulsorily acquired by government in 1993.

The application comes at a time President Emmerson Mnangagwa has promised his government would compensate former white commercial farmers who lost their land during the country’s bloody land reform programme that took place in the early 2000s.

In the application, yet to be finalised by the High Court, but filed at least two years ago, the Freedom Farm Trust cited Lands minister, (now headed by Perrance Shiri), Local Government minister, (now under July Moyo’s purview), the Harare City Council and the master of the High Court as respondents.

According to court papers, the Trust was formed to hold property including land, houses, investment and all intellectual properties owned by the late Sithole.

“During his lifetime, the late reverend Ndabaningi Sithole owned Subdivision ‘C’ of Subdivision ‘A’ of the farm ‘The Rest’ also known as Chulu Farm in the outskirts of Harare.

“Sometime in 1993, the government of Zimbabwe sought to compulsorily acquire Chulu Farm on the basis that the late . . . Sithole had resettled landless Zimbabwean thereon.

“The compulsory acquisition was done for purposes of donating the land to the ministry of Local Government Rural and Urban Development. This ministry would give the land to the third defendant (Local Government minister),” the court heard.

Following the acquisition of the land, the government issued a notice in October 1993, for people to evacuate Chulu Farm. Since the eviction of the people, the land has been lying idle, the court heard.

“Despite the purported compulsory acquisition of the Chulu Farm by the first and second defendant (Lands and Local Government minister) no compensation was paid to the late reverend Ndabaningi Sithole. A compulsory acquisition of land without payment of compensation is illegal, null and void and is tantamount to theft and robbery.

“The value of compensation for both land and improvements on the land is $140 000 000. Because the late reverend … Sithole was a black indigenous Zimbabwean he is entitled to full compensation for both the land and improvements in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” the court heard.
The Trust is now seeking an order for the acquisition of the farm to be declared illegal, null and void and be declared property of the estate late Sithole.

In its response to the summons, however, the Lands ministry has said the acquisition of the farm was lawful and remains valid.

“Plaintiff’s compensation figure of $140 million is not supported by any quantified assessment.
“It is a thump suck figure which cannot be accepted by defendant or the court. Second defendant’s valuers will provide a properly assessed compensation figure.

“It is not true that the farm is lying idle. Plaintiff would have saved itself costs by engaging first and second defendants for a settlement first before approaching the courts,” the court was told.
The matter is still to be determined by the High Court. Daily News

By Lionel Saungweme | In a major political setback for embattled Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) Vice President, Thokozani Khupe, the MDC-T Matabeleland North Provincial Administration Committee (PAC) has been dissolved. Thirteen District committees, which make up the Matabeleland North Provincial Executive and Committee met, at Cross Dete near Hwange, yesterday and dissolved PAC. The move by the districts renders Khupe weak in a province she boasted as her own.

Article 6.9.1.9 of the MDC-T Constitution states that “there shall be a Provincial Administrative Committee of the Province which shall be Chaired by the Chairperson of the Province and whose other members shall be;
(a) The Deputy Chairperson
(b) The Provincial Secretary and Deputy Secretary
(c) The Provincial Treasurer
(d) The Organising Secretary and Deputy Organising Secretary
(e) The Secretary for Information and Publicity
(f) The Secretary for Elections
(g) Chairperson and Secretary of the Provincial Assembly of Women
(h) The Chairperson and Secretary of the Assembly of Youth.”

The same article further states that “the Provincial Administrative Committee shall be responsible for the day to administration of the Province and shall report to the Provincial Executive and shall have no right to make any policy or executive decision.”

The PAC is therefore a strategic committee, which before its dissolution was comprised mostly by members who are loyal to Khupe. Known hardcore Khupe loyalists such as Hon Lwazi Sibanda and Betty Thwala were among the affected.

“MDC-T is now being labelled a violent party. Our PAC members are always involved in the violent skirmishes in Bulawayo,” said Matabeleland North Provincial Secretary, Mxolisi Ndlovu.

“Our members in this province have been implicated several times in violent disturbances. They destabilise Bulawayo Province for the benefit of Khupe. That behaviour, which tarnishes the image of the party must come to an end,” said Ndlovu.

Intra party clashes broke out in Bulawayo between supporters of Hon Chamisa and Khupe on 4 March 2018. Twelve party members, including the MDC-T Bulawayo Provincial Chairman, Gift Banda, were arrested and charged with public violence in a case that has come to be known as the MDC-T Dozen. The public including Western diplomats have condemned the violence, which has prompted the Bulawayo MDC-T Provincial Executive and Committee to issue an apology to party supporters.

“In addition, if you examine the members comprising the thirteen districts, you will realise that about 98% of the members are Ndebele. So Khupe cannot now raise her tribal arguments because her puppets have been booted out by real Ndebele people,” said Ndlovu.

Relationships have soured since the death of MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai on Valentine’s Day. Khupe has been given acres of space by the state media to attack MDC-T Acting President Nelson Chamisa. In one interview with The Herald Khupe stated “Tsvangirai dies and you go on with a meeting to appoint yourself as leader. How shameful!”

With the breakdown in relationship, Khupe has been holding meetings in Matabeleland North province. She has been rallying women in what is suspected to be either a bhora musango (electoral sabotage) or preps for the formation of a new political party.

The dissolution of PAC should therefore come across as Khupe’s waterloo as her foot soldiers have effectively been stripped of authority. The ramifications are that Khupe can no longer legitimately reach out to MDC-T structures in the province without breaching protocol.

At a rally held in Nkayi on Friday 9 March 2018, Khupe hinted that she will not allow the PAC to be dissolved. However, yesterday’s meeting by the 13 districts out rightly defied her.
“We have come to this situation because people tell lies about VP Khupe. They are saying bad things about her to tarnish her politically. She is a good person,” said Hon Lwazi Sibanda.

Computers donated by deposed Robert Mugabe to promote E-learning are still lying idle at various schools because the institutions do not have electricity, Information Communication Technology minister Supa Mandiwanzira has revealed.

Mandiwanzira, who graced most of the occasions when Mugabe donated the gadgetry, revealed this in the National Assembly last week after he was asked by MDC’s Magwegwe legislator, Anele Ndebele, what government was doing to assist schools which received those machines, but do not have computer teachers.

In his response the ICT minister admitted that many computers that were donated by Mugabe were lying idle.

“The former president donated several computers to schools that exist in very poor communities.  I could cite Nhlambabaloyi as an example.

“(Due to) lack of teachers, those computers were never used and now a good number of them are obsolete so to speak. Could there be a plan in place to replace these computers and assist the affected communities?”

“The former president donated computers that became obsolete before they were actually used, it is true that in a number of circumstances, the schools lacked the initiative themselves either to buy a small generator so that they could use these computers or put up solar infrastructure so that they could power the computers,” he acknowledged.

“They (schools) buy buses and the parents contribute to buy these buses.  We believe that if they prioritise also putting up power in order to power these computers so that kids can learn computers on a daily basis that would actually be very helpful.”

Norton Independent MP Temba Mliswa weighed in arguing that the Energy ministry and Mandiwanzira’s must work together to ensure the computers are put to use.

“I think what is important about these programmes is also what the Ministry is doing in terms of also working with the Energy ministry in terms of power.

“We do not want to have a repeat of the former President who gave computers to schools that did not have electricity.  If you look at Norton for example, there is Chitenderano,” he said.

“It is important that they actually work together to try and complement each other because it does not make sense for them putting this yet there is no power.

“ It is a right minister for people to have electricity, so it is not the schools that must find money to put electricity.  It is like water, it is a right that they have it.” Daily News

FORMER Cabinet ministers Sydney Sekeramayi and Saviour Kasukuwere have been accused of neglecting their farm workers and underpaying them.

Kasukuwere and Sekeramayi lost their jobs in November last year after the military pushed former president Robert Mugabe out of power.

Farm workers, who are being represented by the Progressive Agriculture and Allied Industries Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PAAWUZ), are accusing Kasukuwere (known as Tyson in some circles) of underpaying them.

Sekeramayi, on the other hand, is accused of failing to pay workers’ benefits running into thousands of dollars.

According to a letter of notification to attend a hearing to be conducted by the agriculture industry’s national employment council (NEC), Sekeramayi is expected to respond to the allegations raised by his 27 workers on March 20.

“You are notified that the matter/appeal concerning alleged non-payment of wages, accommodation, fue

l, light allowances and terminal benefits in respect of which a notice of appeal/reference was made on the 03/02/18 and to which you are a party to,” read the notice. Sekeramayi and the workers were expected to appear before an arbitrator, Edmond July Kupara.

A letter seen by The Standard addressed to Kasukuwere’s wife by the employment council dated March 9, alleged underpayment of wages and improper grading at Corncorpia farm.
She was given seven days to respond and another seven days to settle the matter.

In an interview yesterday, PAAWUZ secretary-general Raymond Sixpence said they would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that workers are not exploited.

“The workers should be educated about their rights and the unions must also be visible on the ground teaching the workers about their rights,” he said.

“The NEC must operate openly and the ministry of labour must fast-track the handling of all labour cases.

“The Labour Act must be amended and Statutory Instrument 116 for the agriculture sector must be amended so that it suits the needs of workers. Workers’ grievances must be solved timeously.” Standard

Former President Mugabe’s current political disciples Dr Joice Mujuru and Retired Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri are likely to go to bed if the latter accepts the invitation to join the People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC) largely seen as a ploy to divide the Mashonaland vote and deny ruling Zanu-PF an absolute majority in this year’s elections.

The two are believed to be under the political tutelage of President Mugabe who is slowly coming out in the open as a bitter enemy of the new political dispensation led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The PRC leader and presidential candidate Dr Mujuru recently welcomed the National Patriotic Front (NPF) man to the political arena saying doors were open for his party to join the coalition, confirming that Zanu-PF was a political giant that needed combined efforts to fight.

Dr Mujuru said this in an interview after addressing a Midlands North Provincial meeting in Kwekwe on Tuesday where she admitted Zanu-PF was a tough challenge which needed a stronger opposition. Rtd Brig-Gen Mutinhiri was appointed leader of the NPF after resigning from the revolutionary party citing irregularities in the way the new Government took over power from Cde Mugabe.

“We welcome him to the political fray and wish him the best. But as PRC, we are not saying he should join us, neither are we saying he should not. Our train is in motion and anyone who is willing should jump onto the train before it leaves,” she said.

The former Vice-President said the coalition was formed with a sole mandate of removing Zanu-PF from power hence it would not be prudent to close doors on other parties. PRC is however, made up of obscure four political parties namely ZUNDE, DARE, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and National People’s Party (NPP).

She said it was always going to be tough to win seats in the Midlands since it is the home ground of President Mnangagwa.

“We have failed to handle the province and as a result we have divided the province into two to allow the party to reach out to the people at grassroots.

We all know that Ngwena (as President Mnangagwa is known in political circles) hails from here and regards this as a no-go area but I challenge you to work hard,” she said.

PRC secretary-general Mr Gorden Moyo labelled MDC Alliance leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa as a political juvenile who was riding on the youths’ back to achieve personal political gains.

He went on to call for a free and fair election that is not marred by incidents of violence. – state media

A fresh attempt to smear the country’s diamond sector has emerged with the culprits bent on scuppering partnership manoeuvres between Zimbabwe and Botswana where the later will offer expert support in sorting and valuating local gems.

An unspecified intelligence report and mysterious sources last week alleged that the country could still be losing millions of dollars through diamond revenue leakages.

The report also painted a bad picture of the agreement signed between Botswana and Zimbabwe, suggesting that the state owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) could have been short changed.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail yesterday, ZCDC chief executive Dr Morris Mpofu said the report was misleading.

“In order to tap into Botswana’s experience in diamond mining, in 2017 the Government of Zimbabwe engaged the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security in Botswana to facilitate engagements between its State entity Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) and other Botswana State entities such as Minerals Development Corporation of Botswana (MDCB), Diamond Trading Company (DTC) and the Botswana Diamond Hub,” he said.

“ZCDC also toured DTC, which is the largest rough diamond processing center in the world, where cleaning, sorting and valuation of the entire Debswana production is done.

“DTCB has state of the art technology in security, cleaning, sorting and valuation of rough diamonds and also handles the international sales function for diamonds from Botswana, South Africa and Namibia.

“In 2017, ZCDC conducted a corporate diagnosis which identified bottlenecks in downstream processes such as cleaning, sorting, valuation and sales framework of rough diamonds. As a result, significant value was lost in downstream processes due to inefficiencies and rectifiable challenges.

“The bottlenecks in downstream processes led to poor branding of Marange diamonds, consequently resulting in underpricing.

“In March 2017, ZCDC took a deliberate strategy to exit the market and suspend all diamond sales until all the major diamond value management bottlenecks were addressed through the realignment and reorientation of downstream processes to match international standards and best practices.” Dr Mpofu said contrary to the suggestion that Zimbabwe would ship its diamonds to Botswana for cutting and polishing, ZCDC has plans to set up its own cutting and polishing centre for the beneficiation of the precious stones locally.

ZCDC has budgeted $5 million for the construction of its own Sorthouse infrastructure and to equip it with state of the art technology and systems as observed at DTC in Gaborone.

“In order to ensure growth of downstream industries across, ZCDC is spearheading the establishment of a Gemology Centre in Mutare whose planning is at an advanced stage.

Since the ZCDC assumed control of Marange diamonds, following the jettisoning of companies that mined in the area, the state entity has brought in sanity and some of its achievements to date include doubling of diamond output to 1, 6 million carats in 2017, while production is expected to further grow to 3 million carats 2018. Sunday Mail

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is living true to his pledge of free, fair and credible polling with his administration today opening unrestricted access for the first international election observer team.

A Sadc mission arrives today for a week-long pre-election assessment, and will meet officials from Government, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, political parties and civil society.
The visit, which is in line with the Sadc Principles and Guidelines Governing Conduct of Democratic Elections, will appriise the regional body of Zimbabwe’s plan for a credible poll. Elections for the President, parliamentarians and councillors are due between July 21 and August 21, 2018.

The Sunday Mail understands that the arrival of the Sadc delegation is a precursor to other teams from the African Union and European Union, which are expected in Zimbabwe soon on similar missions.

President Mnangagwa’s administration is on an aggressive re-engagement drive with the international community and has pledged to invite international election observers, marking the end of the isolationist policies of the previous regime.

Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ambassador Joey Bimha said last week that, “Both Sadc and the AU are coming for the pre-election assessment process.

“It was decided that observing elections now entails long term observation and not just the polling process. The intention is that long-term observation guarantees stability and creates room for more thorough observation.
“Observation is now being done at three stages. The first one entails observing the pre-election period, the second stage is the campaigns and the polling, before a final team is sent to assess stability and acceptability after results have been announced.

“The Sadc Electoral Advisory Council is instrumental in this regards and will send a team. We will be having the Sadc team for the pre-election stage between March 11 and 17; they will be here to assess if the environment is conducive for holding a credible, free and fair election.
“While here, they will have discussions with Government, the ruling party, opposition parties, civic society and the elections management body so as to ascertain what the situation is like before the elections are held.

“For the AU team, we do not have a date as yet but they will be here in the coming weeks. I’m not sure about the dates for the EU team, but off hand I think they will be around the same time we will be hosting the AU delegation.”

According to the Sadc Principles, a “Goodwill Mission” should be dispatched for pre-election assessment, with the mandate to – among other things – evalate possible conflict and offer advice.
Sadc member states are required to invite a regional observer mission to observe their elections based on the provisions of the Sadc Treaty, the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation and the Sadc Principles and Guidelines Governing Conduct of Democratic Elections.

The Sadc Executive Secretary will, in consultation with the country holding elections, constitute and send an assessment missions in the period prior to elections.

The guidelines read in part: “In order to ensure the effective application of the Sadc Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, the SEAC shall undertake Goodwill Missions in line with Article 9.2 of the SEAC Structures, Rules and Procedures.”

The mission is expected to: “Reflect on possible conflict situations in respective countries on matters pertaining to electoral processes and render advise to the Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Polices, Defence and Security Co-operation on the development of mediation strategies, before, during and after elections;
“Based on the findings of the Goodwill Mission, report to the MCO on whether the political environment is conducive to the holding of free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful elections in conformity with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections;
“Encourage the specific SADC Member State holding elections to adhere to international best practices in all elections;

“Advise the specific Member State holding elections on strategies for enhancing and consolidating the capacity of the elections management body (EMB);
“Encourage the specific Member State holding elections to uphold and respect the independence and autonomy of the (EMB);

“Encourage the revision and improvement of electoral laws, codes of conduct and regulations in line with the Sadc Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.”
The AU, on its part, dispatches a pre-election observer mission upon receiving an invitation from the nation planning polls.

The mission will determine, among other things, the existence of a “level playing field”.
“In advance of the election date, the Head of the AU Election Mission should advise the AU Commission whether the necessary conditions and environment for a free and fair election as agreed in the AU principles governing democratic elections, have been satisfied,” read part of the AU guidelines on elections.

“Whatever the advice received by the Commission should be confirmed in a public statement by the Chairperson of the Commission.

“The assessment team will establish whether or not conditions for organising credible, legitimate, free and fair elections in accordance with the Durban Declaration are in place in the country.”

More than 5,3 million Zimbabweans have registered to vote under a biometric voter registration programme.

Government is also amending the Electoral Act to include provisions giving a cut-off date for candidates to withdraw their candidature after being duly nominated.

Zimbabwe Election Support Network chairperson Mr Andrew Makoni said pre-election monitoring teams were crucial as issues that result in a contested election result usually arose before actual voting.

He said: “If observers arrive on the eve of an election they are likely to miss out on things they ought to have looked at like whether there was an enabling environment before the elections were held. There is need to assess the environment at least four or so months before the elections.” Sunday Mail