Staff members at Masvingo Polytechnic have refused to perform their day to day duties protesting at the failure by the college authorities to settle their salary arrears.
The disgruntled workers told ZimEye.com yesterday they were owed $ 60 000 in unpaid salary arrears.
“We were instructed to perform extra duties as we served ZIMSEC officials who were at the college in December and the senior officials promised to pay us our allowances.
Surprisingly they are now reneging on their promise.
We were told the money they were supposed to pay us was channelled towards the payment of water arrears,” said a disgruntled employee.
The employees were asked to provide various services such as cooking and cleaning during the said period.
council to blame for everything…Minister July Moyo
Terrence Mawawa
There was pandemonium at the Chikomba Rural District Council Offices as angry residents besieged the premises and threatened to assault senior officials.
Chikomba RDC employees were forced to scurry for cover as angry residents ran amok last week.
The residents accused senior officials at Chikomba RDC in Chivhu of maladministration and corruption.
The residents also demanded the immediate resignation of Chikomba RDC Chief Executive Officer, Luckson Mutara whom they accused of rampant corruption.
The march, which degenerated into chaos, was organised by Chikomba Residents and Ratepayers Association.
“There is no going back until our grievances are addressed, ” said a Chivhu resident.
By Dorrothy Moyo| The Zanu PF politburo member and the man previously thought to be the head of the G40 faction, Sydney Sekeramayi has spoken for the first time on Gen Ambrose Mutinhiri’s ditching of Emmerson Mnangagwa and the decision to start a new pro Robert Mugabe party.
In the 5 months before Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rise last year, Sekeramayi was forwarded by the G40 faction as an alternative replacement of Mnangagwa. It was then thought he was in agreement with the move to expel Mnangagwa from ZANU PF.
But 3 months after the November coup, Sekeramayi has stood to strengthen Mnangagwa’s leadership.
Sekeramayi reportedly told party supporters at an inter-district meeting at Mahusekwa Growth Point that although Mr Mutinhiri has sold out that should not shake the party, urging the members to remain united.
The state media reports on the function saying the meeting was meant to inform members on the new developments after Mr Mutinhiri’s resignation and formation of an opposition party National Patriotic Front.
The ZBC report quotes the Provincial chairman Joel Biggie Matiza saying the leadership in the area should ensure that resignation of Mr Mutinhiri does not divide the party and advised that those who used to work with the former Mashonaland East Minister of State should know that the party is bigger than individuals.
Coca Cola, the popular drink, which is already in short supply, is likely to disappear from the shelves in the next few weeks, thanks to the foreign currency shortage which has hamstrung the operations of several Zimbabwean companies.
Delta Corporation anticipates a dwindling supply of its Coke product on the domestic market “in the coming weeks” due to a crippling shortage of foreign currency required to import key manufacturing ingredients, a senior company official said.
Already, the impact of the Coke shortage on the local market is being felt, with the product not readily available in some retail outlets.
Delta company secretary Alex Makamure told the Zimbabwe Independent the shortage, experienced from late “January into February 2018”, has been caused by a breakdown of the canning line. The brewer however forecasts a shortage of a range of other canned products, due to forex shortages.
“We note that we had some challenges in supplying the market with canned product (Coke) from late January into February 2018 when the canning line was undergoing some repairs. There would be shortages of some brands in that package at the moment,” Makamure said.
“Other than that, we are supplying the full range of brands in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and returnable glass. We, however, anticipate some challenge in supplying product in the coming weeks as we have encountered constraints in accessing foreign currency to cover imported raw materials.”
A range of key raw materials used to manufacture soft drinks are in short supply, including carbon dioxide, preservatives and probiotic bacteria.
“We will be updating the market at the appropriate time if the ongoing engagements with value chain partners do not yield positive results,” Makamure said.
“We have accumulated a backlog in paying foreign suppliers.
“…This gives rise to a supply and demand mismatch of brands and packs.”
He said the “entire portfolio of beverages in the last few months” had surged.
Delta—now a subsidiary of the world’s largest brewer Anheusur-Busch InBev SA/NV and a rival of Coca-Cola—
in November 2016 announced that it was struggling to pay international creditors and shareholders an estimated US$30 million as the southern African country grappled with an acute foreign currency shortage.
Makamure said the brewer, which has grown exponentially over the past decade after injecting an estimated US$43 million towards setting up new bottling lines, was struggling to pay suppliers due to the acute foreign currency shortage.
In the long term, the availability of Coke on the local market hinges on the ultimate decision by The Coca Cola Company (TCCC), which announced two years ago that it was considering terminating its bottling franchise with Delta after Anheusur-Busch InBev SA/NV snapped a major stake held by SAB Miller Plc in the local brewer.
Anheusur-Busch InBev SA/NV is the major bottling firm of Pepsi soda drink, a direct rival of Coke.
Coke, which has also has a footprint in Zimbabwe, was concocted in 1826 by John Pemberton in Atlanta, United States. A century later, Coke continues to spin billions of dollars.
The product’s wide global appeal, distinct taste and popular contour bottle packaging has endured for over a century now, with many people in Zimbabwe erroneously identifying any other soda drink as synonymous with Coke.
Between 1826 and now, the ownership and shareholding of Coca-Cola has changed hands from Pemberton, Asa Griggs Candler to Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway investment vehicle, now the biggest shareholder in the conglomerate.
Over the years, Coke has extended its presence to every country in the world but two.
It is only in Cuba and North Korea where Coca-Cola is not established as a business, due to long-standing economic sanctions slapped on those countries by the US.
In Zimbabwe, Coca-Cola’s flagship products, including Coke, are widely packaged and distributed by Delta Corporation.
Mutare Bottling Company, owned by Econet Wireless, is the only other bottler of Coca-Cola products, although its capacity is not as vast as that of Delta.
Sources say Anheusur-Busch InBev SA/NV, which does not bottle soda drinks in Europe and Africa, intends to only focus on the beer business unit in Delta while it may dispose of its soft drink assets.
AB InBev is a key Pepsi Beverages bottler in Latin America while SABMiller dominated Coke’s bottling in Africa.
Apart from Coca-Cola and PepsiCo being global rivals, investment analysts project that one of the key goals of the ever-acquisitive Anheusur-Busch InBev SA/NV is to eventually take over Coke. Whether it ever happens or not, one thing is certain: Coke remains a formidable product. Zimbabwe Independent
council to blame for everything…Minister July Moyo
Terrence Mawawa
Masvingo City Council has threatened to engage the services of debt collectors to help the local authority recover millions of dollars in water arrears.
Masvingo City Council treasurer Thandiwe Dube told a local community radio station yesterday the city council was owed $ 7,3 million in unpaid water bills.
Dube said the residents would be given a grace period to clear the arrears.
“If the residents do not cooperate then we will engage the services of debt collectors,” said Dube.
Masvingo Residents’ Trust(MRT) has called for dialogue between the local authority and the concerned residents as part of efforts to resolve the impasse.
” We believe in dialogue and we hope the city council will invite all the concerned stakeholders to the negotiating table, ” said MRT in a statement.
Former Police Minister Fikile Mbalula who also called on young police officers to shoot to kill. File picture: Ayanda Ndamane/ANA
The former police minister, Fikile Mbalula who once said Zimbabweans are criminals, has exited parliament after being dropped from his ministerial job.
This follows a late-night Cabinet reshuffle announcement from President Cyril Ramaphosa which resulted in the two – along with several others – being booted out of the national executive, News24 reports.
Mbalula is also on record for calling on young police officers to shoot to kill.
According to the report, Mbalula has since taken up a full-time post at the ANC’s headquarters as chair of the party’s subcommittee on elections. He has started getting the governing party ready for the 2019 general elections by holding an election workshop last week.
“The office of the ANC chief whip confirms that former minister of police, comrade Fikile Mbalula tendered his resignation as an ANC Member of Parliament in the National Assembly,” Jackson Mthembu’s spokesperson Nonceba Mhlauli said in a statement.
Mhlauli added that Mbalula tendered his resignation on February 26.
“While comrade Mbalula’s departure from Parliament will leave a void, we derive satisfaction from the knowledge that he will continue serving the movement as the ANC’s head of elections toward the 2019 General Elections campaign,” said Mhlauli. – News24
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is not taking the threat of social media for granted and has urged Zanu PF youths to fight toe-to-toe with opposition parties as the ruling party bids to capture the elusive youth vote.
Mnangagwa, who has been using his newly reactivated social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter, admits he is not as techno-savvy as the younger generation but urged Zanu PF youths at the wing’s inaugural assembly to engage the opposition on social media.
“Isu nana Mai Muchinguri-Kashiri hatizvigone. Musakundwa mu social media imomo pindai mu social media murakashe vanhu (We are not techno savvy. Don’t be beaten to the game. Get in there and dominate social media),” Mnangagwa said to applause from the Zanu PF youths.
This comes as Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has said the 2018 vote would be decided by the youth.
Mnangagwa commended the party’s Youth League for the #EDHasMyVote social media campaign but was quick to warn that there was need for the party to cast its campaign wider.
“One of your leaders here talked about the youth being 60 percent of the population. I think it is correct but let us look at the percentage of the youth which is in the 5,3 million registered voters. How many youths are Zanu PF? How many are in MDC? How many don’t belong to anybody? So it’s fallacious to say 60 percent is yours,” he said.
He was speaking after youth secretary for Zanu PF, Pupurai Togarepi who is aged 52, and makes up the party’s youth membership along with his son, Gabriel, had assured Mnangagwa of the youth vote in the forthcoming elections.
Social media is fast proving to be a game changer in Zimbabwean politics since protests staged by citizens such as Evan Mawarire of #thisflag movement and Tajamuka-Sesijikile campaign changed the political landscape in 2016.- Daily News
The MDC’s highest decision-making body in between congresses, the national council, will meet soon to start formalities to expel the party’s vice president, Thokozani Khupe.
This follows yesterday’s expiry of a seven-day ultimatum given to Khupe by the same organ to comply with an MDC directive to reach out and make peace with Nelson Chamisa, who was recently chosen as the party’s substantive president.
Khupe — who has had to suffer violence at the hands of suspected MDC youths hostile to her hardliner stance against Chamisa — has refused to comply with the directive.
She insists she is the rightful heir to take-over from Morgan Tsvangirai, the late MDC founding president who died in South Africa last month.
Khupe has thus been tearing into Chamisa, describing him as a violent gangster who is not worth to lead the party.
MDC head of information, Luke Tamborinyoka, yesterday said the axe was hanging on Khupe’s head.
“The seven-day ultimatum has expired (without Khupe making efforts to sort her mess). The party’s very apex is currently seized with the issue,” he said.
Asked what course of action the party would take given Khupe’s open defiance, Tamborinyoka said he would only comment when the decision has been made.
“Ordinarily, the constitutional processes must kick in. The president of the party (Chamisa) will make an announcement in due course but I can safely tell you that the apex of the party is seized with the matter,” he said.
MDC officials sympathetic to Khupe, however, told the Daily News that she had made overtures to the MDC Guardian Council with the aim to get them to mediate in the impasse.
“She might not be fired. She has appealed to the Guardian Council for mediation and it is currently trying to sort the issue out,” said the official who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.
Chairperson of the Guardian Council James Makore could not be reached for comment as his mobile number was not available.
Last week, Khupe also posted on her twitter account that she had written to the council seeking their mediation.
“I wrote a letter to the party’s Guardians Council for them to intervene in terms of our constitution. They are the internal arbiters and are seized with this matter even as ultimatums are being issued,” she tweeted.
In terms of the MDC constitution, the Guardian Council acts as the party’s advisory board.
It is chaired by MDC Senator Makore.
Career politician and veteran trade unionist, Cephas Makuyana, who once served as senator, is also a member of the Guardian Council.
Its role is to offer advice and wisdom to the national leadership of the party, including the national executive and the national council.
It also performs and/or carry out any such functions which the national council may from time to time delegate to it, which may include investigations, arbitration and reconciliation in disputes within the party structures and/or among members.
The bad blood between Khupe and Chamisa started in 2016 when Tsvangirai elevated the Kuwadzana West legislator to the position of vice president.
Since then, the crafty legislator, nicknamed The Cobra after the menacing serpent, has worked his way to the leadership of the party, effectively dealing Khupe a body blow.
Their relationship soured even more last month when Khupe had to take refuge in a hut during Tsvangirai’s funeral to escape the wrath of MDC thugs who were baying for her blood before she was rescued by sympathisers.- Daily News
Ray Nkosi | Former Defense Minister and at one time heir apparent to the throne Dr Sydney Sekeramayi has come out to speak on developments in the Mugabe led opposition party.
Sekeramayi once a key figure in the G-40 faction aligned to Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace, survived persecution after the November coup, which resulted in a relentless onslught against all its perceived members. While some were jailed others were driven into exile, with Mugabe being placed under 24 hour surveillence.
The state media reports that Zanu PF Mashonaland East has described the resignation of former Marondera West MP Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri as a non-event which should not shake the party in the constituency.
Zanu PF politburo member Dr Sydney Sekeramayi told party supporters at an inter-district meeting at Mahusekwa Growth Point that although Mr Mutinhiri has sold out that should not shake the party, urging the members to remain united.
The meeting was meant to inform members on the new developments after Mr Mutinhiri’s resignation and formation of an opposition party National Patriotic Front.
Provincial chairman Joel Biggie Matiza said the leadership in the area should ensure that resignation of Mr Mutinhiri does not divide the party and advised that those who used to work with the former Mashonaland East Minister of State should know that the party is bigger than individuals.
A 67 year old man from Gwanda died on the spot after a donkey-drawn scotch cart he was travelling in overturned and hit him on the head.
Enart Ndlovu of Wabayi area under Chief Mathema was driving the scotch cart with three other passengers on board heading towards Sibona Primary School on Tuesday.
Along the way, the scotch cart hit a tree stump and overturned throwing off the passengers.
The scotch cart then hit Ndlovu on the head and he died on the spot.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident. “I can confirm we received a report of an accident which occurred in Gwanda on Tuesday. A 67-year-old man died in a scotch cart incident after the scotch cart hit a tree stump and overturned.
“We encourage members of the public to lead their animal drawn scotch carts at all times. We always warn people to take heed of such police warnings but sadly people ignore. It is sad to note that the province is continuously receiving such reports yet we talk of this on a daily basis,” he said. – state media
Staff at Robert Mugabe’s Harare mansion were detained without food or water and questioned for hours this week by military officers who pressed them for information on recent meetings held by the former president, reports from Zimbabwe said on Friday.
Four security staff, including chief security officer Funny Mpofu were taken for questioning at an army barracks in Harare on Wednesday morning and only released at the end of the day, reports the Zimbabwe Independent.
Grace Mugabe ‘anxious’
The paper said the staff were questioned about “the visitors Mugabe has been receiving and the agenda of their meetings”.
Mugabe was not at the house at the time, having gone to South Africa to visit his sons. Former first lady Grace Mugabe, who stayed behind, was said to be “very anxious and not sure whether to remain there”, an unnamed security officer told The Independent.
Mugabe caused a stir in the ranks of the ruling Zanu-PF after he held a meeting on Sunday with former cabinet minister Ambrose Mutinhiri, who quit the ruling party to head a new party with links to Mugabe and his allies.
Mutinhiri said he resigned from Zanu-PF in protest against last year’s “military coup” that led to Mugabe’s resignation.
The meeting has fuelled speculation that Mugabe could be planning a political comeback, which would spoil President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s chances of unifying Zanu-PF supporters in Mugabe’s former rural strongholds ahead of polls later this year.
The private Daily News said that a total of four of Mugabe’s staffers were detained on Wednesday.
No food or water
“The workers were denied access to food or water and they were being asked names of the people who have been visiting the former president,” an unnamed source told the paper.
In another report, a source told the private NewsDay: “The interrogations were centred on who visits the former president, how (the workers) spend the day and if the ex-president discusses politics. Basically, they wanted to know the thinking of the old man and his plans.”
There’s been no word from the government on the alleged detention of Mugabe’s staff. Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo told NewsDay that he had “no information” on the episode.- News24
Kenya’s president and opposition leader have promised to begin a process of reconciliation following last year’s bitterly contested election.
Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga spoke on national TV after holding their first public meeting since the poll.
About 150 people were killed in the aftermath of the disputed election.
Earlier this year, Mr Odinga swore himself in as the “people’s president” and refused to recognise election winner Mr Kenyatta as head of state.
Until now, both had dismissed all calls for talks, from Kenyans and foreign diplomats.
In their joint address, President Kenyatta referred to Mr Odinga as his “brother”.
Mr Kenyatta said: “We will begin a process of discussing what ails us and what creates division amongst us.”
Mr Odinga said it was “time to resolve our differences”.
Pre-emptive PR stunt?
Analysis by Ferdinand Omondi, BBC Africa, Nairobi
Resolving the two men’s differences won’t be so easy. Kenya is sharply divided along ethnic lines because of the political stand-off.
The opposition charges of rigged elections, police brutality and state high-handedness were not mentioned – only a joint call for national dialogue.
The unexpected public appearance comes as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visits Kenya as part of his visit to Africa.
In Ethiopia, he criticised the government for declaring a state of emergency. So some see this meeting as a pre-emptive public relations stunt to water down any potential dressing-down; while others have welcomed the announcement as long overdue.
Whichever explanation rings true, Kenya is headed for an intriguing second episode of political drama.BBC
Stanely Goreraza | Mr Mugabe and his supporters in the Police and CIO did not try to repel the ZDF last year to avoid bloodshed but because they were completely and disproportionally outmatched in fire power. Whatever attempts they could have made would have resulted in swift over runs and decimation casualties on their side. They had no option but not to resist and wave the white flag.
Nothing has changed. They still do not have any physical resistance capabilities. They stand to incur grave and great losses should they try anything. I doubt anyone in their right mind would be willing to risk their life for Mr Mugabe.
Their only option is a political comeback which is very much limited by their loss of state power. Their choice of NPF leader is very telling. There is doubt and hesitance in the G40 over the NPF project. They don’t want to invite scrutiny and end up like Chipanga, Chombo or even Jonathan Moyo and Kasukuwere.
The NPF is overhyped by the media. The only thing turning it’s wheels is the name of Mugabe. It will make little to no impact unless it becomes a Baba Jukwa outfit, making jaw dropping disclosures which will naturally boomerang and hit them too. We now know Mr Mugabe has 21 farms. Im sure if the NPF launches an information war against Zanupf, Zanupf will respond in kind and this is something Mr Mugabe would not want.
What made Mr Mugabe very unhappy and pushed him over the edge was the pulling of his 80 men strong security to just 8. It makes him feel a bit exposed at his palace. He doesn’t feel safe with that small number protecting him and the family. Those are the benefits he was alluding too and not material and financial benefits.
Ray Nkosi| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken the under siege Joseph Kabila head on demanding that he compensates Zimbabwe for its role in the 1990s DRC war.
Mnangagwa visited the DRC as it was literary burning, with reported cases of violence and deaths amidst calls for Kabila whose mandate ended several weeks ago to step down.
The costly Zimbabwe intervention saved Kinshasa from a military takeover by rebels backed by neighbouring Rwanda and Burundi. Zimbabwe then had 6,000 troops in the DRC along with tanks, helicopters and Mig fighter planes, costing an estimated £1million a day. The budget at the time saw a 46 per cent increase in defence spending, with economic consequences that have never been salvaged.
The local weekly Independent reports that the two, also discussed the unstable political situation in the Great Lakes region following Kabila’s intransigence over elections.
They also discussed Kabila’s security and the role being played by Zimbabwean soldiers who have been part of the DRC leader’s security team.
“Mnangagwa told his DRC counterpart that he needs money to run his election campaign. He asked for Kabila’s assistance in that regard. The resource-rich DRC played a big role during the last elections and has always been one of the go-to countries during elections,” a source said.
“The leaders also discussed issues relating to the compensation of nearly US$1 billion for the equipment lost during the 1990s war.”
Zimbabwe is expected to go for elections in July.
Harare has since 2000 been demanding about US$1 billion from the DRC for military and consumables expenditure incurred during the war. Harare has written to Kinshasa insisting on US$1 billion compensation, but its demands have been resisted and ignored. Zimbabwe wants to be compensated for losses of military equipment, supplies, and monies spent on operations and consumables. However, the DRC insists Zimbabwe was paid through minerals.
Zimbabwe was given mining contracts in the DRC during the war, resulting in military companies mining diamonds. The contracts have been cancelled.
Zimbabwe, still bruised by its costly involvement in the Great Lakes war between 1998 and 2002, where it sustained heavy military, human and financial losses, is not sending troops to the DRC this time despite the dramatic seizure this week of the main eastern town of Goma by rebels, amid threats of an assault on the capital Kinshasa.
Mnangagwa has been to South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Angola, Botswana and Namibia.
Ex-Zanu PF youth leader Kudzanai Chipanga will be allowed to tend to his farm business in Makoni in Manicaland as he waits trial for slandering Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at a press conference last year.
Yesterday, Harare magistrate Tilda Mazhande altered bail conditions which his legal team said were “too stringent.” Chipanga, who is out on $500 bail, has been reporting twice a day at Borrowdale Police Station.
Through his lawyer Lovemore Madhuku, he asked to have his reporting conditions revised to once a week.
Prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba did not object to Chipanga’s application Magistrate Mazhande resolved to relax Chipanga’s bail conditions so that he reports only twice a week at Borrowdale Police Station.
Madhuku had argued: “The applicant is only person in the country that is still on stringent bail conditions (from the November military intervention).
“He is religiously reporting twice a day everyday despite that he is not a Harare person. He is now a full time farmer in Makoni District, Manicaland.”
Madhuku added that Chipanga had constitutional rights to keep his life intact and fend for his family. The matter was remanded to April 6. -Daily News
Statement: Joint Local Statement marking the 3rd year since the abduction and disappearance of Itai Dzamara
The European Union Delegation, the Heads of Mission of EU Member States present in Harare, and the Heads of Mission of Australia, Canada, Switzerland and the United States of America issue the following statement in Zimbabwe:
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines in international law that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security and that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
The Heads of Mission of the EU, Australia, Canada, Switzerland and the United States of America welcome the repeated commitment by the new Zimbabwean administration to these fundamental human rights and freedoms and to national healing and reconciliation.
Today, 9 March 2018, three years have passed since the abduction of human rights defender ltai Dzamara. His disappearance remains a dark shadow on the new horizon for Zimbabwe. The Heads of Mission encourage the new administration to ensure that human rights violations are tackled decisively and transparently, to shed light on Mr Dzamara’s fate and to serve justice.
Students at Magwegwe High School in Bulawayo have expressed shock and anger after their Headmaster a Mr Ncube ordered them to stop singing Shona songs at the school as these are allegedly not allowed in Matabeleland.
In a statement provided to ZimEye.com by the students the headmaster is alleged to have screamed at the students when they were singing a Shona song in the school bus just before they left the school for an athletics competition on Wednesday.
“Our headmaster, Mr W Ncube found us singing in the bus before our departure for provincial Athletics competitions and ordered us to stop singing Shona songs,” said the pupils.
“He said if we wanted to sing such songs we have to be in Mashonaland not here in Matebeleland. He asked for those who were behind the songs and threatened them with expulsion from school or risk of being dropped from the school team.”
The headmaster is reported to have told the kids that schools in Mashonaland never sing IsiNdebele songs when going for sports ordering them to equally stop singing Shona songs.
According to the pupils the headmaster also took swipe at the teacher and the School Development Committee Chairman who were with the children in the bus accusing them of allowing children to sing prohibited songs.
“What surprised us most was him telling the SDC chairman that if the Provincial Education Director got the news that we were singing shona songs, the school was going to be charged for misconduct,” said the kids.
“Khumalo uPED engezwa kuthiwa kuhlatshelwa ingoma zale lapha kwelikaMthwakazi kuyabuya incwadi engaka, (Khumalo if the PED hears that students were singing songs from that side here in Mthwakazi land we will get a huge letter of reprimand for this,) the headmaster is said to have told the SDC Chairman.
The children claim that the headmaster’s outburst on them went on to affect their performance at the games as they could no longer click with their Shona speaking counterparts.
The children condemned the headmaster’s action claimimg that they can not be forced into tribal issues they are not aware of as children.
“On behalf of Magwegwe High School students, we are against the decision by our headmaster barring us from singing Shona songs at school,” said the learners.
“As students, we say no to tribalism or any form of violence.”
“What ever 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 nor to fight each other. We believe in unity and nothing else,” said the students in their statement.
ZimEye.com efforts to talk to the headmaster on the issue failed as he was said to be out of office.
Patients in dire need of health services have been stranded at Harare Central Hospital following a strike by junior and middle level doctors.
The strike, which has left one of the country’s main health institution struggling to cope with the health services needs of patients has seen the hospital administration adopting measures that include closing wards C2 and the Out Patients Department due to the limited health personnel available.
According to a circular issued by the health institution glimpsed by Zim Eye, the hospital’ s Out Patients Department is temporarily closed with casualty officers attending to emergencies only while staff from the OI Clinic have also been instructed to participate in emergencies.
Due to the limited staff available, the hospital has also temporarily closed Ward C2 only attending to a few special cases.
Speaking to Zim Eye, the patients, most of whom had been referred to the institution from as far as Mutoko, Shamva and Mhondoro were left stranded as health personnel were only attending to emergencies.
The patients called on the ED Mnangagwa led administration to walk the talk and improve service delivery especially in the health sector.
“This is what we get in the 100 days? We were here since last night but we have not been attended to,” said one patient from Mutoko who refused to be identified, confirming that they had been told to go home since the hospital was only attending to emergencies.
The first lady, Auxilia Mnangagwa conducted a countrywide tour of the country’s health institutions unannounced soon after her husband ED Mnangagwa was inaugurated as the President of Zimbabwe.
Her visits however exposed the poor service delivery at most hospitals where patients spend hours on end without being attended to.
By Dorrothy Moyo| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has spoken for the first time following his being hospitalised after falling down at the Zanu PF headquarters on Wednesday.
Chiwenga says he fell down due to mere fatigue and he is well.
Chiwenga was rushed to hospital after arriving for the party youth meeting.
This was the second time in 2 months when he has been taken for emergency medicals. The last time he collapsed while in his office.
Last night, Chiwenga assured the nation that he is well. He appeared to be picking on a biblical scripture which however speaks of life after death as Jesus Christ comforted people with the phrase “Let not your hearts be troubled.” [SEE FULL QUOTATION BELOW]
Chiewenga said , “Let not your heart be troubled by the rumour doing rounds. I am well. fatigue had taken toll due to our tight schedules. Good night Zim.”
THE VERSE CHIWENGA APPEARED QUOTING FROM: John 14vs 1:
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Ex-MDC-T MP Calls For Chamisa Plumtree Rally Boycott Amid Mthwakazi Threats Of Violence.. PICTURE:
Norman Mpofu
By Paul Nyathi| The former MDC-T Member of Parliament for Bulilima East Constituency in Matabeleland South has called on the people of the area to boycott the MDC Alliance coalition rally set to be held in Plumtree town on Sunday.
Norman Mpofu who represented for the constituency in the 2013 to 2018 parliament implored on the people of Plumtree and Matabeleland not to attend the rally to express their displeasure on what he described as tribal incited violent attacks on Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe.
In a social media post which attracted a large backing from fellow MDC-T supporters in the Matabeleland region, Mpofu said that allowing Chamisa to address a rally in Matabeleland will be tantamount to endorsing tribalism within the party.
“After the Buhera debacle where not only Thokozani (Khuphe) was insulted and threatened but the entire Mthwakazi, after Mthwakazi members were sidelined at Tsvangirai burial, should we allow Chamisa to come address Mthwakazi at Plumtree? Allowing him will be rewarding tribalism,” said Mpofu.
Mpofu who commands a huge following and respect from the community in Plumtree town and around the district accused Chamisa for branding Matabeleland people dissidents.
This comes after MDC-T youth members called Khuphe a dissident when they attacked her at the late Morgan Tsvangirai’s burial last month.
The youths who may have been referring to Khuphe’s refusal to accept Chamisa’s leadership may not have been aware that Matabeleland infers the term dissident to the eighties Gukurahundi atrocities where over 20 000 people were killed by the army on accusations that they were dissidents.
“I advice people to stay away from the Chamisa rally at Plumtree until Chamisa and his supporters stop seeing a dissident in each one of us, those who consider themselves as dissidents will go to the rally,” he said.
The rally in Plumtree, unlike the one set for Dete in Matabeleland North ,has attracted a huge attention from the people of Matabeleland especially the Mthwakazi restoration proponents who are threatening to disrupt the rally.
Members of the radical Matabeleland regional opposition party Mthwakazi Republic Party have issued statements threatening that they will block the road to Plumtree and stop Chamisa from getting to the venue.
The radical group has also attracted support from the growing number of MDC-T members who are backing the Khuphe faction.
Sources who spoke in confidence to ZimEye.com from within the MDC-T Matabeleland South province indicated that the party is taking the security threats seriously and have since raised the issue with the police.
Meanwhile, in Bulawayo, police called off a rally which was set to be addressed by Khuphe in the city on Saturday raising security fears that the rally would turn violent because of the bad blood between the MDC-T factions in the city.
MDC-T supporters brutally attacked each other over the weekend at the party offices leaving 15 people hospitalised and 16 arrested.
Norman Mpofu former MDC-T MP for Bulilima East Constituency
By Paul Nyathi
The former MDC-T Member of Parliament for Bulilima East Constituency in Matabeleland South has called on the people of the area to boycott the MDC Alliance coalition rally set to be held in Plumtree town on Sunday.
Norman Mpofu who represented the constituency in the 2013 to 2018 parliament implored on the people of Plumtree and Matabeleland not to attend the rally to express their displeasure on what he described as tribal incited violent attacks on Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe.
In a social media post which has attracted a huge backing from fellow MDC-T supporters in the Matabeleland region, Mpofu says that allowing Chamisa to address a rally in Matabeleland will be tantamount to endorsing tribalism within the party.
“After the Buhera debacle where not only Thokozani (Khuphe) was insulted and threatened but the entire Mthwakazi, after Mthwakazi members were sidelined at Tsvangirai burial should we allow Chamisa to come address Mthwakazi at Plumtree? Allowing him will be rewarding tribalism,” said Mpofu.
Mpofu who commands a huge following and respect from the community in Plumtree town and around the district accused Chamisa for branding Matabeleland people dissidents.
This comes after MDC-T youth members called Khuphe a dissident when they attacked her at the late Morgan Tsvangirai’s burial last month.
The youth who may have been referring to Khuphe’s refusal to accept Chamisa’s leadership may not have been aware that Matabeleland infers the term dissident to the eighties Gukurahundi atrocities where over 20 000 people were killed by the army on accusations that they were dissidents.
“I advice people to stay away from the Chamisa rally at Plumtree until Chamisa and his supporters stop seeing a dissident in each one of us, those who consider themselves as dissidents will go to the rally,” he said.
The rally in Plumtree unlike the one set for Dete in Matabeleland North has attracted a huge attention from the people of Matabeleland especially the Mthwakazi restoration proponents who are threatening to disrupt the rally.
Members of the radical Matabeleland regional opposition party Mthwakazi Republic Party have issued statements threatening that they will block the road to Plumtree and stop Chamisa from getting to the venue.
The radical group has also attracted support from the growing number of MDC-T members who are backing the Khuphe faction.
Sources who spoke in confidence to ZimEye.com from within the MDC-T Matabeleland South province indicated that the party is taking the security threats seriously and have since raised the issue with the police.
Meanwhile, in Bulawayo, police called off a rally which was set to be addressed by Khuphe in the city on Saturday raising security fears that the rally would turn violent because of the bad blood between the MDC-T factions in the city.
MDC-T supporters brutally attacked each other over the weekend at the party offices leaving 15 people hospitalised and 16 arrested.
The boy (13) was accused of bunking school lessons. The incident took place on February 26, and has courted the wrath of villagers in Chief Marange’s Mangatu Village.
The woman, Lydia Kahwema (36) has since been arrested over the death of her son Tafadzwa, who was in Grade Six at Mangatu Primary School, in Marange.
A sombre mood engulfed the area on Saturday as villagers who spoke to The Manica Post grappled to come to terms with the atrocious incident.
A 12-year-old who witnessed the horrific incident, was in a state of shock as he narrated the events of the fateful day.
“I was by the road when aunt Lydia called and asked me to bring her a cable switch so that she could discipline Tafadzwa who had bunked classes around 10am.
“I gave her a small cable switch, but she insisted on a bigger one, and before I could return with it, she had her hands on Tafadzwa’s neck and was choking him. She took the cable switch I had brought for the second time and started assaulting Tafadzwa. She kicked him too,” said the minor.
It is alleged that Kahwema pounded Tafadzwa’s head against a cement wall on numerous occasions.
Tafadzwa allegedly cried, warning his mother that she was killing him.
The pleas fell on deaf ears as Lydia continued hurting him. That Tafadzwa was bleeding profusely from both mouth and nose did not deter her.
“Tafadzwa was crying, asking her if she knew she was killing him. He insisted that was the last time she would see him,” narrated the boy.
By then Tafadzwa was vomiting blood. He begged his cousin to give him some water as he lay in the pool of his blood but Lydia allegedly refused.
“She shouted at me that I should not give him the water, and I left for home out of fear. Then Tafadzwa was lying in a pool of his blood,” the boy said.
Lydia’s aunt, Pendei Kahwema said after killing her child, Lydia called her and showed her the bedroom where Tafadzwa was lying dead.
“She called me and told me to enter into her bedroom to see my grandchild. She remained outside and when I got in. Tafadzwa’s body had been put on bed and dressed up.
“She then showed me the bloody clothes which he had also soiled before his death. She told me that she had assaulted him because he had bunked lessons when. She protested that she was toiling to raise fees for his education yet he was not taking school seriously,” said Mbuya Kahwema.
Tafadzwa’s body has since been taken to Harare for post-mortem. Kahwema is expected to appear in court March 16. Manica Post
THE 21-year-old Chipinge woman who did the unthinkable when she posed as a Good Samaritan to a ‘post-partum mother’ at a local hospital and later stole her five-day-old baby in a desperate bid to save her own marriage has been arrested and arraigned in court.
Joyce Maputire, of Chikwakwate Village, under Chief Muusha, stole a polydactyl baby boy belonging to Memory Mhlanga at Chipinge District Hospital last Saturday.
Polydactyl is a condition of having extra fingers and the baby had twelve fingers.
The baby was set to undergo a surgical operation at the hospital when the incident happened. Maputire appeared before Chipinge magistrate Mr Poterai Gwezhira on Wednesday facing kidnapping charges as defined in Section 193(1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
She was convicted on her own plea of guilt.
Mr Gwezhira remanded her in custody pending sentencing as he need time to consult on the appropriate penalty. Asked why she committed the offence, Maputire said she wanted to save her marriage since her husband had threatened to divorce her for falling to pregnant.
“Your Worship, my husband is in South Africa, and sometime last year I lied to him that he had impregnated before he left. After telling him that I was pregnant, he bought preparation for the child. I told him that I was supposed to give birth this month and this week I advised him that I had given birth to a baby boy through a caesarean section.
“I also lied to him that the nurses advised me against breast feeding as a result of the complication I had when giving birth. He also sent me packs of baby formula (Nan 1 milk) to feed the baby. Your Worship, forgive me because I did this out of desperation to save my marriage. I have been trying to have a baby with my husband for three years but nothing happened,” she said.
In convicting her, Mr Gwezhira said Maputire deserved to be incarcerated for life.
He postponed passing sentence saying he needs time to consult other senior judicial officers.
“The accused is facing a life jail sentence, and this court has no jurisdiction to pass the sentence. I will consult the regional court for sentence,” he said.
The court heard that Maputire accompanied Mhlanga to the maternity ward during the Saturday afternoon visiting hour and posed as a legitimate visitor.
She learnt that the newly born baby was set to undergo a surgical operation and then pledged to the complainant that she will settle medical expenses and buy some clothes for the baby.
On March 3, Maputire returned to the hospital and donated a baby blanket and later joined Mhlanga for the operation.
Maputire, who had since gained Mhlanga’s confidence through the blanket donation, then took the baby as they walked together to the operation suite at the outpatient department where the surgical operation was to be done.
Upon arrival at the surgical room, Maputire entered into one of the offices and told an unsuspecting Mhlanga that there were some missing documents which were required before the operation.
The Mhlanga then left the baby in the care of Maputire and rushed to the maternity ward to collect the required papers.
Maputire took the opportunity and vanished from the hospital premises with the baby.
Alarm was raised and detectives made a follow up. The baby was discovered 48 hours later at Maputire’s home in Chimanimani following a tip off from members of the public. Manica Post
By Farai D Hove| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s rising influence on the sinews of national politics has continued in strength with even former President Robert Mugabe voicing that he will only back a party with youths in its core structures.
Mugabe reportedly told the newly formed National Patriotic Front leadership that he will only back them if they have the youth at the centre of their organisation.
Already the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has found that 60% of registered voters are aged 40 and BELOW, in what has seen the ZEC somewhat panicking and shifting the pegs of the voter registration period.
The Retired General Ambrose Mutinhiri has been revealed as the leader of the new splinter party, but Mugabe insists on youths to be part of his presidium.
So far Mugabe has told the African Union that he was forced to resign in a military coup which means that the new Emmerson Mnangagwa government is illegitimate and unconstitutional according to him.
So what type of new government does Mugabe envision? The former Head Of State told Mutinhiri that he must have youths inside his structures and following that guide the NPF will now have two Vice President who are young.
The party’s spokesman Jealousy Mawarire last night told ANN7 Mugabe insisted on a set of specific things. Said Mawarire as ZimEye transcribes, “I think that we have made it clear in the statements we have issued out that President Robert Mugabe has told our president Retired General Mutinhiri that he will back us if we do the things that he considers are very fundamental, one of which is a return turn to constitutionalism; The second that we have the rule of law ; The third that we take in as many youths as possible to the National Patriotic Front. So it is not like he has given us a blank cheque but he has told us that if we do things this way you have my support…” WATCH THE FULL VIDEO BELOW:
Former Finance minister, Ignatius Chombo and former Zanu Pf National Chairman, Kudzanai Chipanga had their stringent bail conditions relaxed.
Harare magistrate, Tilda Mazhande granted the variation following the successful application by Chombo’ s lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, who argued that the stringent bail conditions were inhibiting his client’s farming activities.
Before the variation, Chombo was reporting three times daily and 21 days a month at the police station before these conditions were relaxed to once daily.
However, following the lateat variation, the former finance minister and Secretary for Administration in Zanu Pf will now report twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.
Chipanga, who was initially reporting 14 times a week will now be reporting twice a week between Mondays and Fridays.
Chombo is facing corruption, fraud, criminal abuse of office and theft of trust property charges while Chipanga is being charged together with Chombo, Mathew Nleya and Innocent Hamandishe of criminal nuisance allegations after they were found wearing Zanu PF regalia.
The Zimbabwean authorities must honour the promise they made to investigate “all the leads to establish the whereabouts” of disappeared pro-democracy activist and journalist, Itai Dzamara, Amnesty International said today on the third anniversary of his enforced disappearance.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa made the commitment at the Human Rights Council in Geneva in 2016 while he was Vice President.
“As Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa personally announced on behalf of the Zimbabwe government that they are actively investigating the disappearance of Itai Dzamara. Yet three months since his inauguration as President, we are all still in the dark,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Southern Africa.
“Dzamara’s family and the world, need to know that no stone is being left unturned in the pursuit of justice for Itai.”
Itai Dzamara was a well-known critic of former president Robert Mugabe’s government. He publicly called for Mugabe to resign for what he said was his failure to manage the country’s failing economy.
He was abducted on 9 March 2015 by five unidentified men while he was at a barber shop in the Glen View suburb of Harare. On Saturday 7 March, before his abduction, he had addressed a rally in the capital Harare where he called for mass action to address the deteriorating economic conditions in Zimbabwe.
Witnesses say that his abductors handcuffed him and forced him into a white truck with concealed number plates before driving off.
Dzamara was well-known to the authorities and had previously been abducted, unlawfully detained and severely beaten by state security agents. Amnesty International believes he is a victim of enforced disappearance.
Zimbabwe has a long history of enforced disappearances of government critics and activists. In 2008, dozens of opposition and human rights activists were forcibly disappeared for weeks in a crackdown. The state repeatedly denied its involvement, but many activists were later found in state custody, while the fate and whereabouts of others remain unknown.
“People don’t just vanish into thin air. Someone out there knows what happened to Itai Dzamara,” said Deprose Muchena.
“The government must scale up Itai’s search. Those who are found to have been behind his abduction and concealment of his whereabouts must be brought to justice in proceedings that meet fair trial standards. Impunity must not be allowed to thrive.”
Background
President Mnangagwa was Vice President when he told the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva in 2016 that the government was actively pursuing the search for Itai. However, the government has failed to give regular updates on the search efforts for the missing activist, despite a court order issued in 2016 instructing it to do so.
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Mlondolozi Ndlovu, Communication Officer, +263 778 351 296 or [email protected]
By Dorrotht Moyo| The late MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai’s family was yesterday afternoon scheduled to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
While it was not clear if the meeting was successful, sources revealed the matter at the core of discussion was the man’s properties and his retirement package. The family had been at war with Tsvangirai widow, Elizabeth since the time when she moved out her matrimonial home in 2013.
When Tsvangirai was a year later grilled by ZimEye.com, he speaking while with Elizabeth, refused to divulge insiders details of his marital struggles.
4 years later, when his body arrived from South Africa last month, his mother opened a can of worms when she said she does not want to see Elizabeth’s face and if she does she would kill herself.
Tsvangirai own first born son, Edwin also stood away from his step mother ignoring mentioning her as part of family. The latest development is set to confirm the family’s stance after Tsvangirai ‘s burial. MORE TO FOLLOW…
By Farai D Hove| President Emmerson Mnangagwa worries have been confirned- Robert Mugabe has truly met the ZANU PF splinter party, the National Patriotic Front leadership and offered his support .
The party’s spokesman, Jealousy Mawarire made the revelations while speaking to the South Africa based ANN7 yesterday saying Mugabe has every right to participate in opposition politics.
Mawarire spoke with first hand authority after also personally meeting the 94 year old at his Blue Roof residence at the weekend. Mawarire said Mugabe is a fully registered voter who is clearly among the 5,3 million registered and so he still has his full constitutional rights to participate in opposition politics. SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW BELOW (ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW) :
https://youtu.be/ka5crIaxFBE
The development comes after Mnangagwa two days ago said if the Mugabe return 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,
By Staff Reporter| Former First Lady Grace Mugabe is not at all the Vice President of the New Patriotic Front, the party’s spokesman has said.
Speaking to the South Africa based ANN7 news broadcaster, Mr Jealousy Mawarire said contrary to reports, Grace Mugabe is not in the party structures. He also made pointers that the Ambrose Mutinhiri led party is not a G40 offshoot. Below was the full interview:
Marist Brothers Secondary School in Dete, Hwange District, has excluded from the institution 16 Form Four pupils who last month ganged up to torture some Form Two boys at the school.
In the education sector, exclusion means that pupils found guilty of committing offences are given transfer letters to seek places in other schools. Expulsion on the other hand means that pupils cannot seek places in conventional schools and would have to resort to private schools or colleges.
The bullies were excluded from the school last week amid chaos as parents of some of the victims who were at the institution for a parents’ day were baying for their blood.
The attackers, who are from Bulawayo, Hwange and Victoria Falls, were forced to transfer after disciplinary hearings found them guilty of bullying others.
The school whose pass rate last year was 94.8 percent and 97.9 percent for Ordinary Level and A-Level respectively, has since come up with austerity measures to try and tighten its security as well as rebuild its image.
Matabeleland North acting Provincial Education Director Mr Jabulani Mpofu confirmed the exclusion of the bullies from the school.
He said the Catholic Church-run school had been given an ultimatum to put its house in order for the safety of learners. “They have been excluded from the school and they can look for places elsewhere but not return to Marist. The school authority has been engaged and given timelines to sort out whatever was not in place although I am not sure of the specific times,” said Mr Mpofu.
The school’s headmaster, Brother Jacob, was not available for comment yesterday as his mobile phone was not reachable.
The Chronicle is in possession of minutes detailing security measures the school has put in place.
According to the minutes, there is now a night security guard to patrol and monitor the boys’ hostel who will write a report every day before knocking off.
The school has also strategically positioned a suggestion box which is opened regularly while complaints handling, guidance and counselling committees were set up as the institution strives to restore its image.
The torture took place at a Form Four hostel referred to by students as the “Palace” and lasted for about five hours between 10PM and 2AM last month.
Investigations by The Chronicle established that more than 30 Form Two boys were beaten up and 23 of them sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Their attackers, who were drunk after consuming a fermented powdered cereal, accused them of stealing foodstuffs.
The victims were interrogated, forced to drink water from the toilet bowl, eat bath soap, wash clothes, bark like dogs and pull trunks while some were yoked together like a span of oxen, rammed onto the walls, chocked, kicked, punched and hit with sticks and belts.
Two boys reportedly had to go for surgery on the groin and abdomen, while some had neck, arm, fingers and rib fractures after being kicked and hit with an assortment of weapons.
One boy was injured on the eye while another lost front teeth as a result of the assault.
The victims were reportedly traumatised and reluctant to return to the school.
They have returned to school where some of them are still receiving treatment.
Parents who spoke on condition of anonymity welcomed the exclusion of bullies saying this would deter would be offenders and ensure that security prevails in the school. “We are happy that the school disciplined the bullies and this will send a message to would be offenders. My son had vowed never to go back as long as those boys were still there and removing them from school is the best decision,” said a parent.
Another parent challenged elders to instill discipline in their children. “This is a fair action and we are happy as parents. Some of these kids could be bullies in their own parents’ homes. I say so because some parents were defending their children saying they are innocent and that’s shocking. We should discipline our children at home to avoid such behaviour,” said the parent.
The victims’ parents now want compensation for medical expenses they incurred seeking treatment for their children.
The Form Four boys had pending disciplinary cases at the school where they sneaked out of the school premises for an alcohol binge.
After the binge, they allegedly entered a girls’ hostel at night and stole an assortment of underwear.
They also once attacked a boarding master, a teacher and some prefects. – state media
Violence reared its ugly head on Monday morning when students at Nyanyadzi High School in Manicaland heavily assaulted a female teacher whom they accused of initiating them into Satanism.
police called to school…ZRP cops with puma lorry
Anti-riot police details from Birchenough Bridge had to be called in to restore order at the school after parents and personnel at Nyanyadzi police station failed to contain the rebellious students.
After the melee, authorities at the school were forced to send all the students home as normal lessons could not proceed following the nasty incident.
Cases of suspected satanism continue to wreck havoc at the school after similar skirmishes were witnessed mid last year.
TWO more Filabusi family members have died due to mushroom poisoning, bringing the death toll of people who have lost their lives after consuming the deadly fungus to 15.
They ate the poisonous mushrooms on Saturday, leading to the death of one person on Tuesday and another on Wednesday. Yesterday’s death brought the Filabusi family death toll to four at a time when four others are admitted in hospital. Three are admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital while one is at Filabusi District Hospital.
The death brings to 15 the number of people who have died so far due to mushroom poisoning.
Eleven others are members of different Mberengwa families who consumed the toxic mushrooms last week.
Mpilo Central Hospital clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya confirmed the two latest deaths from the same Filabusi family.
He said four members were still hospitalised and one is said to be in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
“I received a call yesterday at around 2AM confirming that two members who were admitted at Filabusi District Hospital had been rushed to Mpilo as their health was deteriorating. Unfortunately one of the children died on admission and the second one died at around 4PM,” said Dr Ngwenya.
“Currently we have three members admitted, two are stable and one of them is critical in the intensive care unit. We gathered that these seven children were given mushrooms by their grandmother who is admitted at Filabusi District Hospital.”
Insiza District Medical Officer Dr Mandlenkosi Nkala said the family members, all from Thandanani Village under Chief Ndube in Mahole, Filabusi, were rushed to Filabusi District Hospital on Monday evening after consuming the poisonous mushrooms on Saturday.
“The children’s ages range between three and nine years and they stay with the 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.
He said the grandmother inspected the mushrooms and said they were edible.
“In total the grandmother stays with 10 children and out of those, seven consumed the mushrooms. Three were known not to eat mushrooms,” he said.
“They came to Filabusi Hospital and were admitted on Monday evening. On admission they looked stable but their conditions deteriorated all of a sudden and we realised that it was getting dangerous. We sent three to Mpilo Central Hospital on Tuesday and four on Wednesday.”
In an interview from Mpilo Central Hospital where they were collecting the body of the eighth deceased member yesterday, a relative Ms Patty Mahlangu said her family has so far lost eight family members.
She clarified that three other people who had died of mushroom poisoning from Mberengwa did not belong to her family, as previously reported. Ms Mahlangu said the three were only ferried to Mpilo Hospital together with her family members. “All in all we have lost eight members of our family,” she said.
Ms Mahlangu said they didn’t suspect foul play or witchcraft. She said seven of the deceased were buried on Wednesday and they were planning to bury the remaining one. “The mushrooms were picked up by children therefore we think they might have confused the poisonous mushrooms and the edible ones. There was no adult person to supervise them so we think they couldn’t tell the
difference,” said Ms Mahlangu.
She said they have accepted the untimely deaths of the eight. “As a family we have accepted the tragic deaths of the children but the incident will remain etched in our minds. We have accepted it as it is part of God’s plan. We are at Mpilo Central Hospital collecting the body of the other family member whom we are going to bury tomorrow in Mberengwa,” she said.
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 eight of Ms Mahlangu’s relatives. – state media
The former Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe who was removed from power after a military intervention in November 2017 has bounced back to the political spectrum. He has been linked to a major military faction and a newly formed party, NPF. He has been spotted in the economy class travelling to the neighboring South African state. This is the first time the veteran leader has travelled in the lower class cabin since his rise to power. This according to Mr. Godfrey Hausin, a political analyst at the University of Johannesburg is a political tactic meant to expose the military government. ” Mugabe’s latest move of travelling in the poor man’s cabin is ironic and an action meant to sent a message to the SADC, AU and the international communities” he said. In a recent interview by the BBC, the former Head of State revealed how he had been unfairly and unconstitutionally removed from power. Weeks later, his close ally and former Cabinet Minister, Ambrose Mutinhiri was spotted at Mugabe’s Blue Roof mansion before launching their political party dubbed the National Patriotic Front (NPF).
It has been revealed that the Party is a mask of the former G40 faction in Zimbabwe.
Mugabe who is now 94, is working closely with the former CIO bosses and ZNA Commanders to oust the Military government. It has been established that Mnangagwa who is facing a sharp election contest with the young Advocate Nelson Chamisa of MDCT, is standing on the edge. This comes as the current president is likely to lose his Mashonaland Provinces and Consituences to MDC Alliance and the National People’s Party.
In a recent development, Mugabe has in turn been attacked by President Mnangagwa who threatened to confisticate the 40 farms that belonged to the former head of state. The former president is said to be plotting what has been revealed as 1980/18, has been working closely with his former cabinet ministers who are in exile to bring an end to President Mnangagwa’s military rule. The names of former CIO Bosse’s and ZNA Generals who are backing the former President have been exposed as follows:
Former CIO Bosses
Richard Muchawaya 51
Disrael Kakwesi 45
Emilda kamuri 44
Michael Zvita 33
Reginald Mimbumu 32
Carol Masawi 50
George Banda 48
Tafadzwa Sasa 53
Peter J Mukosi 40
Arnold Chirinha 45
Danai Matonhodze 33
Rameck Ndlovhu 30
Isaac Moyo 47
Tinotenda Gande 46
Rosemary Kugakureva 60
According to Erick Juston, University Of South Wales political commentator, “The latest political developments in Zimbabwe are set to trigger turmoil and citizens are set to experience a melt down of two Military Factions one backing the Former President and the other backing Mugabe. The scenario …read more www.wikileaks.co.uk
Whitlaw Mugwinji | Mukoma Alex Magaisa in his blog post titled The day after Tsvangirai rightly pointed out, that what is currently obtaining in the MDCT is purely politics. I too share the same view. I believe these MDCT succession wrangles are an example of politics 101. People must not expect the MDCT to behave like a church. It is a political party. And by nature, power within political parties is contested.
The Political Debate
Most people will agree that Chamisa has won the political debate on this MDCT succession wrangle. Firstly, because he has managed to secure the backing of the National Council. Which is the highest decision making body outside congress. Secondly, because he seems to have the support of the party structures across the country. Thirdly, although this might seem trivial to some, Chamisa controls Harvest House. In power struggles, the control of the party headquarters and party machinery is quite significant.
It is difficult to fathom how Dr Khupe plans to wrestle power from Chamisa when she is not participating in party functions. In my view, her failure to attend party meetings was a big blunder. Now, I agree with Eddie Cross when he said commenting in the daily news, ‘she is fighting a lost battle’. She must bear in mind that even her supporters have self-interest too. With the general elections pending, many of her supporters will stick with Chamisa because he controls the keys to parliament and council.
The Legal Debate
With the political battle seemingly concluded, the new battle frontier is the debate on the legality of Chamisa’s appointment. Interestingly, both parties are using the party constitution, one to question and the other to defend his appointment. It is therefore imperative for us to take a look at the MDCT constitution.
Article 9.21.1 of the MDCT constitution reads and I quote, ‘The Deputy President assumes the role of Acting President, pending the holding of an Extraordinary Congress which must be held within a year of the death or resignation of the President’. Here the party constitution is not clear on who should take over, since the party has three Deputy Presidents. Any debate on this point, is frivolous and a sheer waste of time.
Article 16.1 reads and I quote, ‘The NC not withstanding anything contained herein shall have absolute discretion of determining the manner and process of any selection and including the power and making any appointment for any position’. The NC armed with article 16.1 cleared the ambiguity arising from article 9.21.1. Thus, anyone claiming that the party acted against its own constitution is not only trying to mislead but is attempting to discredit Chamisa’s appointment. And that my friends is an exercise in futility.
Moral arguments
It is hard to envisage, how else this MDCT succession wrangle could have been ironed out, at least in the short term. Khupe is now left with only but moral arguments. Unfortunately, as strong as they maybe, they are not strong enough to tilt power in her favour.
Truth be said, I really like her moral arguments. Surely, no one can dispute that she is an elected official whereas Chamisa and Mudzuri are mere appointees. If natural justice was the arbiter, I am sure, she would be acting president as we speak..
Unfortunately this is politics and natural is no arbiter She must realise that her argument has been overtaken by events. If she has serious ambitions, then she must develop real political strategy. I do feel her frustrations though. Last year, I even penned an article decrying her side-lining within the MDCT. But whining and complaining will only earn her our sympathies. This MDCT succession wrangle is not a moral contest and the sooner she understands this the better for her.
Her second moral argument is quite interesting and perhaps even more persuasive. She argues that the succession debate must be resolved by a special elective congress. Some of my friends have ventured to ask even further, ‘if Chamisa is as popular as many want us to believe, why not settle the matter at congress’?
Let us remember that during the last MDCT congress Chamisa was endorsed by all MDCT provinces except one but he still went on to lose the Secretary General post. I am not saying there is a disconnect between the provincial leadership across the country endorsing Chamisa and the party branches. But, I am saying there is a legitimate claim for the party to hold a special elective congress.
Special Elective Congress
However that said, I strongly believe that it would be unwise to hold a special elective congress, and here is why I believe so. To begin with, I am sure this is public knowledge that the MDCT is financially broke. Do not be fooled by Obert Gutu when he says the party can easily raise money to hold a special elective congress. If that is so, why was the party unable to raise the money to pay its own workers last year? Under such financial handicap, I strongly believe that it would be erroneous to focus the scarce resources internally rather than on campaigning in the forthcoming elections.
Furthermore, the party and the alliance have less than six months to prepare for the forthcoming national elections. I am not sure if the party has enough time to hold a credible elective congress and still have enough time to campaign effectively. We must bear in mind that a congress can be quite divisive. Will the party be able to heal and come together before the general election? In my humble view the risks are just too much. The party cannot place the interest of those seeking office above the collective interest.
To the MDCT family
In that regard, it is therefore important for all members, to abide by the collective party decisions. No party can survive without discipline. As Hegel says in his anti-individualist theory, ‘everything must depend upon the unity of the universal and the particular. Individual interest must play a subordinate role to the collective interest.
I am happy that the party chose engagement rather than confrontation. But in as much as we appreciate engagement and persuasion, this matter must be brought to finality sooner rather than later. The longer this matter drags on, the more the party will witness embarrassing incidents like the recent violence in Bulawayo. Violence is evidence by itself that the relationship has broken.
Whether the relationship has broken beyond repair or not, only mama Khupe and company can answer that. In my humble view, it is not yet too late reconsider the path they have chosen. Yes, they feel aggrieved but confrontation, indiscipline and anarchy at this juncture, is no-brainer. Chamisa has both control of the party machinery and the support of the party structures. If she was a good general, she would retreat because all good generals know when to retreat. By the way retreat does not mean surrender. If she wills, she can mobilise and contest Chamisa at next year’s congress.
In closing, my advice to her is that, with or without her the red army will march forward, the choice is hers.
Arsenal twitterdom has found an innovative way to call for an end to Arsene Wenger’s 21-year tenure as manager: by comparing him to former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.
Comparisons between the two men have been the basis for jokes all season long, but the meme really took off after Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton over the weekend. And the heat on Wenger has only continued in advance of Thursday’s Europa League match against AC Milan.
Thousands chimed in.
After 37 years in power, Mugabe yielded to pressure to resign as president of Zimbabwe in November last year. Some fans carried the comparisons with notorious rulers even further:
The manager’s controversial reign has been the subject of social media debates for years – including constant duelling under the hashtags #WengerIn/#WengerOut. Arsenal has recently lost four games in succession; it’s the second time that has happened under Wenger.
Wenger/Mugabe origins
The comparison between Arsenal’s manager and Zimbabwe’s ex-president seems to have originated as far back as 2016, in a sweary YouTube video posted by ArsenalFanTV – a channel unaffiliated with the club but run by Gunners supporters.
In the video, an unnamed Arsenal fan goes on a rant to the amusement of a small crowd of supporters.
But the comparison seems to have reverberated far beyond north London – for instance, last year an attendee at an anti-Mugabe rally were spotted with a “Wenger Out” placard.
With nearly 22 years under his belt as Arsenal manager, Wenger is often referred to as the most successful manager in the club’s history. But, like Mugabe, is his time up? – BBC
By Davison Todson Gomo |The recent decision by Donald Trump to slap sanctions on Mnangagwa confirms beyond doubt that American Foreign policy has lost touch with the aspirations of the majority of the people in the world. Given that most of the countries in the southern hemisphere have been denied an opportunity to develop in their own way albeit in the context of the global economic framework of the world, and as such, have continued to wallow in the depths of economic margins of the global economy that is essentially designed to deliver progress to the US and its traditional allies. It comes as no surprise to us that despite the appearance of a new political order in Zimbabwe, the US through its narrow-minded President should think that the new order poses a threat to US Foreign Policy.
We are told that because of a breakdown in the rule of law in Zimbabwe characterized by political and economic instability and of course the manufactured allegation suggesting the existence of political motivated violence and intimidation in the country, the US President found it necessary to impose sanctions as a way to create and force to come into being an environment that surrenders power to the US anointed political parties.
We are fully aware that certain individuals were summoned to the US recently to update their friends on the situation in Zimbabwe after Operation Restore Legacy and we know that the actions taken by Trump are partly a response to an impassioned plea by those individuals for the need to stop the process of change and radical transformation of the political and socio -economic space in Zimbabwe.
Rest assured that Zimbabweans can no longer live in the shadow of a bully that pretends to act in the interest of the people of Zimbabwe when their ulterior motives are centuries old. Donald Trump’s attempts to thwart Zimbabwe’s transformation from one system to another under the leadership of ED Mnangagwa is obviously based on unmitigated ignorance to distinguish between a historical watershed in the Zimbabwean politics and the illusionary convulsive political desire for change that is driven by inherently and irredeemably defective local interests that have always been allied to US interests.
Trump’s decision is not new and novel because it is a mere reappearance of US international relations behavior and Zimbabweans must not accept to have their sovereign right to determine their own future to be frustrated by a mere Executive Order issued by a President whose primary concern is far removed from the current challenges to transform the Zimbabwean economy through building its own industrial entrepreneurial base that responds to the country’s economic development. Zimbabwe is talking to the whole world and has invited them to come and see what is emerging in the country since the new political dispensation and ironically the US has an Embassy in Harare that has capacity to see events on the ground first hand.
This clouding of facts and the reality of events in Zimbabwe is partly ignorance of the US law makers and of course, we are tempted to conclude that its also an outcome arising from the consumption of propaganda that is fed into their system by their local allies whose political Agenda has been rendered impotent by the new order and the approach of the new President.
The world cannot and should not always be defined in the context of the US interests. This approach has been counterproductive and has largely destabilized rather than stabilize the world.
The idea that the US must be the ruler and we must be the ruled is no longer tenable in the twenty first century political configuration. Zimbabweans are better off with the rest of the world that are happy to work with us. The government must not continue to invest a lot of energy in building political bridges that the US is unwilling to use.
The process of change that has started in Zimbabwe must be encouraged and supported and certainly despite the concerns of legality of the origins of the new order and those who feel that the pace change of is slow, the overall consideration should be the commitment by the new order to create conditions for long – term sustainable transformation and development.
Let’s fight for change that we deserve and not changed that is brewed in other people’s pots and served on our political dinner table. We deserve better.
Davison Todson Gomo is a political and economic analyst and has interest in broad development issues and global political systems.
More details emerge on how Vice President Chiwenga yesterday for the second time in weeks fell and had to be hospitalised.
The local Daily News reports on how Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was yesterday rushed to hospital after suffering a dramatic fall at the Zanu PF headquarters — forcing him to cancel his politburo attendance.
This is the second time in two months the ex soldier has been rushed to hospital. Last time he collapsed while inside his office and was rushed to a nearby private hospital in Harare.
The 61-year-old tripped and fell and badly hurt his hand just after arriving for yesterday’s conclave, whose agenda included election preparations, mobilisation of voters, party regalia and the threat of defections ahead of the crucial mid-year general election.
The former commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces reportedly missed a step and slipped, before injuring his hand.
He sustained a mild sprain that could limit his function for a few days.
Chiwenga was mobbed by concerned staffers and colleagues at the Zanu PF headquarters foyer, who commiserated with him as he was being rushed to hospital.
He was whisked away in his Range Rover, escorted by the police.
“We were all worried when he slipped and hurt his hand but, as you saw, he is a fighter. He just had to be excused earlier to get his hand looked at,” said a staffer at the ruling party offices.
The politburo continued with its deliberations without Chiwenga who, along with Vice President Kembo Mohadi, regularly flank party leader and President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the top table.
Chiwenga is not the first high-profile official to fall in public under varying circumstances.
Former president Robert Mugabe became the butt of jokes and mimicry in February 2015 when he missed a step and tumbled off the podium at the then Harare International Airport moments after arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The incident caused a witch-hunt within Mugabe’s inner circle, resulting in the removal of some of his close aides from the security team.
In May 2014, former police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri collapsed at a parade at Morris Depot soon after Mugabe had addressed graduates.
He was quickly wheeled off on a stretcher.
He later attributed his blackout to working long hours and a mix-up in the shoes he wore for the occasion.
“I have been working overnight for quite some time. The situation has been exacerbated or worsened by the fact that there was a mix-up of my shoes. The right shoe was mixed up with the left one. The right shoe is a bit small and it is an old shoe so my toes were burning because of the tightness of the shoe and there was no circulation (of blood) in that leg that caused me to be dizzy and then fell down.
“I had this small blackout because of what I have explained, lack of circulation but checked the blood pressure is ok you can ask Dr Mombeshora, he also checked the sugar levels, they are fine and that coupled with the heat and the type of clothing and what I also had inside because in the morning it was a bit chilly, so I had put on some T-shirt as you can see so that caused that (collapse),” he said.
Vimbai Mutinhiri | As I was growing up, my dad would always repeat one of his favourite quotes to me: ‘ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country — John F Kennedy’. Baba is passionate about service, and I have always been amazed at how he is always ready to report for duty. All those years were in preparation for this time, where God has summoned him to make himself available to serve in the highest office of our nation Zimbabwe. And with your passion to serve you responded just as Prophet Isaiah, ‘Here I am, Send me’! May God fill you with His glory for your obedience, may He fortify you, protect you and supply all your needs as you seek to lift up our nation in Jesus’ name. May your life be a testimony of the things that God and God alone can do for His people. I love you dearly. Iwe neni tine basa!.- Daily News
Ndaba Nhuku | 2018 elections are a brutal fight over youth partipation and their vote.
It would appear that Nelson Chamisa’s taking over the reigns at the MDCT and MDC Alliance has suddenly energised young people into politics. Even the Diaspora has begun to honestly engage in MDC T and MDC Alliance politics. Nonetheless, Chamisa’s taking over is without its ongoing drama.
Even though, the same drama has inevitably entrenched his popularity within the youth base without any shadow of doubt to any observer. On the other hand, it is also mostly young people especially those supporting Thoko Khuphe in the leadership wrangle, who are openly criticising Chamisa for taking over the party without going to Congress. This has highlighted how the youth have suddenly taken ownership of the party’s leadership debate. The wrangle is now spearheaded by young people in the two still uncompromising camps.
Not to be outdone, Zanu PF also unleashed its youths out into the social media battlefield not unexpectedly supporting Thoko Khuphe whilst attacking Chamisa. Zanu PF sees Khuphe as a weak candidate against Mnangagwa who has a wider tribal and establishment loyalty. While Chamisa challenges both the tribal loyalty whilst winning the youth appeal.
This Mnangagwa versus Chamisa contest is also inevitably a battle ferociously engaged in by youth. In his speech in the recently conducted Zanu PF Youth program, Mnangagwa was even compelled to acknowledge the power of social media which was in relation and recognition of how Zanu PF youths are fighting in his corner against a youthful and youth appealing Chamisa.
Mnangagwa seems to have even enlisted the help of people like Temba Mliswa whose rhetoric tends to appeal to young people to aid him counter the Chamisa appeal.
In agreement, someone noted, “The inaugural meeting of Mnangagwa and the Zanu youth is an indication that Mliswa is part and parcel of Zanu Pf as his advisor to put a gate in front of ED with the youth to protect him from Chamisa.”
Indeed that seems to be a strategy Zanu PF needs to cut off the youth from the MDC Alliance.
The unusual excitable involvement and participation of youths in the 2018 elections is therefore likely to be problematic with tempers rising as has already been noted in the few violent incidents that have so far taken place.
All parties seem to have suddenly realised the essential vote and campaign role of the youth vis-a-vis the now traditional habit of bribing of women with token food items. If the electoral battle is not fought in the streets by the excitable youth, the battle will be ugly in social media with fake news, misinformation and downright character assassinations.
It is highly commendable that young people seem at the forefront of the elections campaign. On that note let’s hope they themselves are registered and will indeed cast their votes to make a decision on the leadership they want to carry their aspirations and dreams to fruition.
One hopes it won’t come to what another cadre observed, “This election may be one of the most violent as the main parties go for the youth, in the process using the youth in violent clashes on the campaign trail”
The long wait for the commencement of the Harare- Beitbridge Road Dualisation Project is over.
Officials from Geiger International told reporters in Masvingo they were preparing to set up the company’s headquarters in Masvingo in preparation for the commencement of work.
Geiger International country representative, Cuthbert Mashanda said construction work was expected to commence this month.
“Work will start before the end of this month,” said Mashanda.
MDCT President Nelson Chamisa today met a delegation from the UNDP to exchange notes as the country inches towards the crucial harmonised elections this year.
As the young-president fever grips Zimbabwe, Nelson Chamisa age-mate and lookalike, Nefekare Nembaware is challenging the man and Emmerson Mnangagwa for the 2018 elections. PICTURES:
Left, Snap Tech Zimbabwe Country Director Dakarai Kuhlengisa, Right, Snap Tech CEO Guy Eastoe
By Talent Gondo
International Change Management Consultancy and training Firm, Snap Tech International, has launched a Harare office in a move aimed at complimenting government efforts to improve the business environment.
Snap Tech Country Director for Zimbabwe, Dakarai Kuhlengisa said Zimbabweans and their government should invest in project management skills for both public and private players in order for the country to derive tangible benefits from the new dispension mantra that ‘Zimbabwe is open for business.’
“Players in all the economic sectors should treat the change agenda as announced by the President ED Mnangagwa as a country-wide project in order to ensure success,” said Kuhlengisa.
He said his organization was heartened by President ED Mnangagwa’ s call for change under this new dispensation adding that the opening of the new office in Zimbabwe aimed at assisting willing organisations get training and expertise in project management.
“The call by our President for change and the declaration that Zimbabwe is open for business is a massive integrated project that requires the necessary project management skills in order to meet the objectives within the expected timeframes,” he said.
Guy Eastoe , Snap Tech CEO urged the country’ s leadership to adopt and encourage international best practices in project management to ensure the successful implementation and management of new business ventures and projects.
“Leadership should open their minds to good power of change management. However, they should not ignore good governance and sensible bureaucracy if these projects are to be successful,” he said.
SnapTech, which is headquartered in South Africa, is an international firm which has been operating for 27 years. The organisation is also present in Kenya, West Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Europe and Australia. However, the company which is run by Zimbabweans had not opened an office in this country.
Snap Tech (Pty) Ltd is an Accredited Consulting and Training company offering training in International Best Practice standards, frameworks and models in Project, Programme and Portfolio management.
The organisation also offers consulting and skills development services to individuals, companies and public sector personnel designed to transfer knowledge and pragmatic best practice experience through structured engagements.
Bulawayo Giants Highlanders FC have announced their final squad for the 2018 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Season.
The Bulawayo Giants retained some players from last season’ s squad.
Some of the retained players include Peter Muduhwa, Charlton Siamalonga, captain Honest Moyo, Adrian Silla, Godfrey Makarutse and goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.
The squad:
1. SIBANDA ARIEL
2. SIAMALONGA CHARLTON
3. MOYO HONEST
4. NCUBE BUKHOSI
5. MacCLIVE PHIRI
6. SILLA ADRIAN
7. GOMBANI ONWELL
8. BANDA BRIAN
9. ZIBANDE OZIAS
10. SIANCHALI NEWMAN
11. LUNGA RAY
12. MUSAKA BEN PATRICK
13. JARAVAZA BRIAN
14. MOYO EDMORE
15. MACHIMBIRIKE TALENT
16. MATUTU PROSPER
17. MAKARUSE GODREY
18. MBEBA ANDREW
19. NDLOVU TENDAI
20. LUNGA THABO
21. MUDHUWA PETER
22. NDLOVU MBONGENI
23. MOYO VINCENT
24. CHITAMBWE MUNYARADZI
25. ZIVAVE TIMOTHY
26. MAKUMBE NIGEL
27. NYONI GABRIEL
28. FAIRA ASHFORD
A traditional leader in Chikomba District has rubbished political threats made by Minister Bimha saying he does not take orders from the government official.
Bimha, who is also the MP for Chikomba West Constituency, has threatened to strip Headman Madamombe, real name, Simbarashe Nhopi of his title for allegedly refusing to campaign for the politician.
“I do not take instructions from Bimha and I will not let him manipulate local villagers for cheap political reasons,” said Nhopi.
Bimha is unhappy with the headman’ s refusal to campaign for the ruling party ahead of the 2018 elections, according to local villagers.
However Bimha told a weekly publication the headman was blowing matters out of proportion.
Terrence Mawawa
Former Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder
Tinashe ‘Father’ Nengomasha has set his sights on
becoming a coach after enrolling for the level one coaching
course.
Nengomasha who has been into the ambassadorial
job for brands like Coca-Cola and Castle Larger is
among a number of aspiring coaches who are
attending the level one course at Harare High School
this week.
The training course, which will be officially opened by
ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa on Wednesday, also
has a number of journalists from both electronic and
print media.
Top Zimbabwe wicket-keeper and batsman Brendan Taylor and Afghanistan’s 16-year-old spinner Mujeeb Rahman have als been sanctioned for separate incidents during the stormy ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier between the two sides at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday, according to The Herald.
Taylor was found to have breached Article 2.1.5, which deals with “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match”, while Mujeeb was found guilty of breaching Article 2.2.8, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an international match”.
Taylor was fined 15 percent of his match fee and received one demerit point after pleading guilty to the charge, while Mujeeb was fined 50 percent of his match fee and got three demerit points following a hearing that took place yesterday after he had denied the offence and opted to contest the charge at a full hearing.
The incident involving Taylor happened during the closing stages of the match when the wicket-keeper showed dissent after umpire Chettithody Shamsuddin had turned down a leg before wicket appeal against Dawlat Zadran off the bowling of Blessing Muzarabani.
Mujeeb was charged and subsequently fined when, after fielding off his own bowling, the off-spinner threw the ball back at the batsman who had not left his crease. The on-field umpires deemed the throwing “in a dangerous manner” as it narrowly missed Brendan Taylor.
By Staff Reporter| A Zimbabwean student at Nottingham Trent University has exposed shocking racism on a LIVE video she shot as fellow students allegedly screamed behind her door saying they hate blacks.
yoo I’m fuming, the way people in the same uni halls as me are chanting “we hate the blacks” outside my bedroom door. Words cannot describe how sad this makes me feel, in this 2018 people think this is still acceptable? pic.twitter.com/XUiYqNIWQT
Rufaro Chisango’s expose has since led to two male colleagues being arrested.
Rufaro tweeted the video of the abuse which included “we hate the blacks” while locked in her room at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) halls of residence on Wednesday.
NTU has since suspended the “suspected perpetrators” pending inquiries, while the local police did their part in arresting them. Two 18-year-old men have been arrested on suspicion of committing racially aggravated public order offences.
She told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme she “felt really shocked, isolated and uncomfortable” when she heard the “shouting outside my door”.
“It was a big impact obviously, when it happened. It shouldn’t be tolerated at all.”
Miss Chisango had reported the abuse to the university halls of residence reception on Tuesday, but the NTU was only informed on Wednesday.
She said: “It shouldn’t have [taken] such a long delay when I reported something like this.
“I just want the appropriate action to be taken.”
NTU said it was “shocked and appalled” to see the video and was investigating “as a matter of urgency”.
“We are also working with our accommodation partner to understand why the university was only alerted to this on Wednesday evening after this was reported to them in the very early hours of Tuesday.
Nottinghamshire Police said: “We treat hate crime as a priority.” – BBC/Additional Reporting
Chimurenga Music “Gandanga,” Thomas Mapfumo today makes a special video announcement following his upcoming trip back home for the first time where he will stage at Glamis Stadium alongside his colleague Oliver Mtukudzi. VIDEO:
By Paul Nyathi| Police in Bulawayo have refused to sanction a rally organised by beleaguered MDC-T Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe, ZimEye.com can reveal.
Highly placed sources close to the MDC-T leader told ZimEye Khuphe had planned to hold a rally at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre on Saturday, but police in Bulawayo would not sanction it as they raised fears of violence.
The sources indicated that the police claimed they do not have enough police details to man the rally which they suspected would turn violent as the police officers are occupied at the ongoing cricket World Cup qualifiers.
Last Sunday police in the City had a handful as they tried to control MDC-T internal violent clashes at the party’s offices as rival supporters engaged in a bloody fight.
Sixteen people were arrested and appeared in court on Wednesday.
An official with the Bulawayo City Council confirmed that the venue had been booked for an MDC-T rally for Saturday which has since been postponed to an unspecified date.
Khuphe claims to be the genuine leader of the MDC-T following the death of founding President Morgan Tsvangirai and has publicly declared that he does not recognise Nelson Chamisa as President after he was appointed ahead of her by the National Council of the party.
The sources indicate that Khuphe who was given a seven day ultimatum to accept Chamisa last week, was going to use the rally to announce that she was dismissing from the party Chamisa and several Standing Committee members for not following the party constitution.
With the rally now cancelled and her seven days ultimatum expired, Khuphe is at the risk of being dismissed from the party first before her intended move.
Efforts to get a comment from her were unsuccessful at the time of writing.
Who will fire who? Thokozani Khuphe and Nelson Chamisa
By Paul Nyathi
Police in Bulawayo have refused to sanction a rally organised by beleaguered MDC-T Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe, ZimEye.com can reveal.
Highly placed sources close to the MDC-T leader indicated that Khuphe was meant to hold a rally at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre on Saturday but police in Bulawayo would not sanction the rally raising fears of violence.
The sources indicated that the police claimed they do not have enough police details to man the rally which they suspected would turn violent as the police officers are occupied at the ongoing cricket World Cup qualifiers.
Last Sunday police in the City had a handful as they tried to control MDC-T internal violent clashes at the party’s offices as rival supporters engaged in a bloody fight.
Sixteen people were arrested and appeared in court on Wednesday.
An official with the Bulawayo City Council confirmed that the venue had been booked for an MDC-T rally for Saturday which has since been postponed to an unspecified date.
Khuphe claims to be the genuine leader of the MDC-T following the death of founding President Morgan Tsvangirai and has publicly declared that he does not recognise Nelson Chamisa as President after he was appointed ahead of her by the National Council of the party.
The sources indicate that Khuphe who was given a seven day ultimatum to accept Chamisa last week, was going to use the rally to announce that she was dismissing from the party Chamisa and several Standing Committee members for not following the party constitution.
With the rally now cancelled and her seven days ultimatum expired, Khuphe is at the risk of being dismissed from the party first before her intended move.
Efforts to get a comment from her were unsuccessful at the time of writing.
The humiliated controversial preacher Paul Sanyangore has responded to rumours that he attempted suicide.
Sanyangore 2 years ago gained notoriety after making claims that he has God’s cellphone number and that he speaks with the Creator from his mobile device.
He was later humiliated following reports from a close relative who said he was cheating on his wife.
The preacher has come out to dismiss reports that he attempted killing himself. He told the local tabloid, H Metro, “I’m alive. Some say I died by committing suicide while others say I skipped the border but here I am, talking to you. It’s normal though for people to say that. Even in football, the coaches at times take a sabbatical, just to refresh and rejuvenate. You come back mature, see things from a different angle. I’m now a changed man, bigger and stronger.
“I saw the mistakes I made and the things I did right. In short, you become a better pastor. I’m bigger, better, mature and different. The bible says faith has to be tested, go through trials and tribulations and this is what happened. We walk around telling people we are men of God and those statements have to be put to test. Now I know my real friends, people I can depend on, who to trust and who not to.
“We rebranded everything. Victory World ran its course and achieved its purpose, the battles we went through. The church is now Life Like Christ Church and we are in Mbare at the Netball Complex. We are doing it slowly unlike what we used to do that is why we have not been marketing or doing conferences. In churches these days there is no child spacing. One group has to grow before another can come in otherwise we will have half-baked congregants.”
By Farai D Hove| Zimbabwe most feared former army commander, Vice President Gen Constantino Chiwenga was yesterday rushed to hospital after falling down while walking.
This is the second time in two months the ex soldier has been rushed to hospital. Last time he collapsed while inside his office and was rushed to a nearby private hospital in Harare.
This time the 61 year old tripped, fell down and badly hurt his hand just after arriving at the Zanu PF headquarters.
He had reportedly missed a step and slipped before injuring his hand. He thus failed to attend the ZANU PF meeting where his boss Emmerson Mnangagwa was converging with party youths.
Reports indicate that he suffered a mild sprain that could limit his function for a few days.- more to follow…
By Paul Nyathi|Wide spread reports that University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Levi Nyagura is on suspension following allegations of him un-procedurally awarding former First Lady Grace Mugabe a doctorate, are untrue.
Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Prof. Amon Murwira revealed in the Senate House on Thursday.
Responding to a question from MDC-T Senator Siphiwe Ncube why the Vice Chancellor was still at work when he should be on suspension, the Minister said his office is not aware of the suspension.
“You are reading issues from the newspapers, as far as my office is concerned no official letter from the president who is the appointing authority has been written to the effect,” said the Minister.
Local media including state media has in the last week been running reports that Nyagura was suspended by the University Council to allow for investigations to be conducted on the PhD awarded to Mrs Mugabe without due process.
According to Minister Murwira only the President Emerson Mnangagwa has the authority to suspend or dismiss the Vice Chancellor and he has not done that.
However latest developments from the University indicate that the Council passed a resolution to suspend the Vice Chancellor but the Council Chairman
Buzwani Mothobi did not write the letter to Nyagura.
The council has since accused the chairman of insubordination to the council by failing to execute a council resolution.
Speaking to media on the issue at the University, Shingi Munyeza who is the chairperson of the risk and audit committee said that the chairman might be found guilty of subverting the council charter.
“When a board passes a resolution and such resolution is not implemented at the time agreed without any explanation is tantamount to subversion of the board charter and indeed good corporate governance,” he said.
Nyagura was briefly arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission last week on the same charges and was granted bail by the courts.
A Chinhoyi man today narrates that he was allegedly beaten up by soldiers accusing him of attending MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s weekend rally. (This is a developing story)
Zimbabwe National Army soldiers allegedly beat up Chinhoyi residents for attending #MDC Alliance rally held at the weekend
– MORE TO FOLLOW….
By Khulani Ndlovu| Revolutionary greetings comrades. Gone are the days when politicians lie to the masses to convince them to vote for them. Political blandishing is the outdated mode of fishing for voters. Politicians that are trapped in archiac politics are in most cases liquidators of the constitution. They believe they are above the constitution, they can break and mend it willy nilly. They engage more often in unscrupulous political manoevres. However, the modern electorate is politically informed, they can descern between constitutional delinqents and protectors of the constitution. Thus, they will punish in the ballot all those enemies of conatitutionalism and democracy.
Chamisa is an ill-tutored politician whose rise to power is unconstitutional just like the junta. He is moving from blunder to blunder as though led by blind fate. He is the black Hittler that hungers and thirsts for human blood. If you thought cannibalism is non-existent in Zimbabwe, then think twice. Chamisa and his thugs are cannibals who bay for the blood of their comrades who differ with them on the program of action. Above all he is a confirmed tribalist who sees other tribes as nothing better than instruments that he can use to achieve his short-sighted political dreams.
He believes Matebeleland people are politically dull hence he can use them like tissues when it best suits him. Loyalty of a certain section of the electorate doesnt mean it is politically dull. The voters can shift their loyalty to rival poltical organisation if they feel disrespected and used. Mr Chamisa, you dont own the voters, neither do you own MDC-T. You are nothing but a priviledged power hungry dreamer. Together wth your thugs, you have no respect for human life hence you shed blood anytime when you feel your shallow political dreams are threatened.
What is more disturbing is learning that an aspiring president has a bunch of thugs in his pocket, that live from his pocket. Hiring thugs to terrorise your opponents is unMDC. Mugabeism is very dangerous and contageous political sytem. Those that get in contact with the system, are transfugured into the likeness of Mugabe. They end up wholly subscribing to Mugabeism, believing thay violence is the panacea to any political problem. Violence in any sphere of our beloved country must be condemned with the contempt it deserves.
It is disturbing that such a king of violence dreams of becoming the president of Zimbabwe. Chamisa has a lot to learn and unlearn before thinking of becoming the president of the country. He must unlearn the politics of lies, violence and tribalism and learn being humble, accommodative, connecting with the people, working for the people and being an honest servant. There is no place in our modern politics for authoritarians. He should have learnt this from the downfall of his idol, Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
Ideologically bankrupt leaders hide behind violence. They use violence as a weapon of consolidating their power and elongating their stay in power. As NPP we condemn violence and believe the perpetrators must belong behind the bars. We further condemn violence precipitated on women. If Chamisa can not protect women, what gospel is he preaching as man of God? Is he not one of the last days prophets of doom the holy bible is warning us agaisnt? Dear Zimbabweans let us chose our leaders wisely. Only those who preach love and unity are worth our votes. 2018 is the year of great change, a year for the coronation of Dr Mujuru as the state President. Let us make history by making her the first female president in Zimbabwe.
Victory is certain, alluta continua.
Khulani David Ndhlovu
After a protracted battle with students and parliament over the issue of students paying university tuition fees while on attachments, the government has finally conceded.
In a statement made on Thursday, the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development announced that it was cutting the fees down by 40% with immediate effect.
In the brief statement, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry Desire Sibanda announced that the government had listened to the pleas of the students and considered their socio economic situations and agreed to cut the fees.
Sibanda said that the 60% that remains will be used for administration and supervisory costs of the students work while they are on attachment.
Member of Parliament for Mutasa South Honourable Irene Zindi has been pushing the issue in parliament to the Ministry in a bid to have the fees cancelled out altogether.
Her latest push on the matter was at the Wednesday Question and Answer session in the House of Assembly where she questioned Minister when government was going to review the policy.
Honourable Zindi argued that it was not fair for government to levy the students full fees when the Ministry only visits the students for assessment at most twice throughout the attachment period.
“Hon. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development and this is to do with the policy direction in relation to students having to pay full tuition fees when they are on attachments and yet perhaps, they have only two monitoring visits by the lecturers,” she said.
“What is the policy direction in as far as full tuition payment is concerned looking at the economic hardships most parents are experiencing?”
Sibanda said that the latest statement cancels Statutory Instrument 6 of 1997 that compelled learners to pay fees while they are on attachments.
By Staff Reporter| The visiting Russian Foreign Affairs Minister, Sergey Lavrov speaking at a press conference at the government’s Munhumutapa offices, was today asked on whether the Russian Federation is assisting ZANU PF in elections, and to what extent Russia is assisting Zimbabwe in the upcoming elections.
Russia has been accused of meddling in for instance the last US election in what later saw the bosses of social media companies being hauled before the US Congress following evidence that posts and advert campaigns were run to confuse the US vote.
The development also comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa this week assigned cyber agents to conduct warfare on social media websites.
But Minister Lavrov replied saying, “we never meddle within the domestic affairs of any country, even though we hear allegations within the country on a daily basis, from Washington and some other western capitals…so far no one has been able to bring evidence to support their allegations.”
He also continued alleging, “recently I think it was the New York Times which published a big piece recounting decades and decades of interference by the United States within the domestic affairs the elections of dozens of countries…”
“And when this thing came up, and a discussion unfolded within the America media about all this interference I heard something incredible statements that yes they are doing this, but they are doing this for the good of these countries because together with the interference what they bring is democracy and liberty.
“We do not share this philosophy at all, we believe these approaches are imperialistic and we are never going to do anything like that.
“It is up to the people of Zimbabwe as well as to the people of other nations…to decide their own future and I believe this is what the people of Zimbabwe are going to do, they are going to do during the elections they are going to express their opinion.”
By Paul Nyathi| Members of Parliament have declared that they can not account for Constituency Development Funds handed them by parliament as they are not trained as accountants.
Opposition MDC-T Vice President Engineer Ellias Mudzurwi led the debate denouncing speaker of parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda’s announcement for members to provide an account for the funds.
“On the CDF Mr. Speaker Sir, on the accounting manual and on the process of running this account there is no room for employing an accounting officer. You will find out that the Member of Parliament becomes the accounting officer. It is very difficult for non-accounting officers to be able to do it,” said Mudzuri.
Advocate Mudenda had ordered for the parliamentarians to produce records showing how they have used the $50 000 advanced to them by parliament to carry out development projects in their constituencies.
“I have to inform the House that Hon. Members who have received CDF Funds for Constituency projects are reminded to submit their monthly, quarterly and annual returns to Parliament Management Committee in terms of Article 524 of the Accounting Officers Instructions,” said Mudenda.
“The documents to be submitted include but are not limited to:-
a) returns of expenditure;
b) returns of bank reconciliation statements;
c) returns of assets purchased; and
d) project job cards,” implored the speaker.
Mudzuri challenged the Speaker not to expect the reports as the CDF does not provide for the employment of an accounting officer to do the records.
“On the CDF Mr. Speaker Sir, on the accounting manual and on the process of running this account there is no room for employing an accounting officer. You will find out that the Member of Parliament becomes the accounting officer,” said Mudzuri.
“There must be that allowance where you have to allow for employment of somebody who runs the accounts,” he added.
Mudzurwi’s sentiments were echoed by youthful ZANU PF parliamentarian Joseph Matangira.
Matangira said that the engagement of personnel to do the accounts records will cost $50 000 which will wipe out the entire fund before the projects are done.
“What it means is, you will have to engage people who will do the job. It will cost more than the $50 000 that we are getting as a development fund,” said Matangira.
Over the years very few parliamentarians have been able account for the funds raising a huge uproar amongst members of the public accusing the legislators for abusing public funds.
Several commentators have been calling on parliament to abolish the fund which the MPs tend to use as funds for their campaigns instead of development.
The fund consumes over $10 million during the parliament term.
The fund was first introduced by former finance minister, Tendai Biti, during the Unity Government in 2010.
A year after it was unveiled, the fund collapsed due to budgetary constraints and the absence of a legal framework to govern it.
At the time, a number of Members of Parliament were accused of dipping their fingers into the fund, with many of the lawmakers failing the transparency and accountability test.
About four legislators were arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission, and appeared in court facing charges of abusing the fund.
The cases later fizzled out because there was no proper legal framework to successfully prosecute the culprits.
Government reintroduce the fund through the Constituency Development Fund Bill which is meant to curtail abuse of the facility.
By Staff Reporter| The visiting Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov at Munhumutapa, says his delegation will discuss military cooperation with Zimbabwe. Aside this matter, Russia is signing 3 agreements. (CONTINUE READING BELOW)
The signing ceremony took place at the Munhumutapa offices in Harare where the visiting Russian Foreign Minister Mr Sergey Lavrov met President Emmerson Mnangagwa aside his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.
Also in attendance were Ministers Winston Chitando, Chris Mushohwe, Mike Bimha, Retired Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri, Special Advisor to the President Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo, senior government officials and the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Mikail Bogdanov.
The first MOU signed is on mutual cooperation in the field of industry signed between the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development Dr Mike Bimha and Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade.
It was followed by another one on the implementation of the project on the establishment of the Russian Industrial Zone in Zimbabwe.
The third MOU relates to the modernisation of Zimbabwe’s agricultural industry which was signed between Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Mr Georgy Kalamanov.
While President ED Mnangagwa yesterday launched a cyber war against his opponents where he encouraged Zanu Pf youths to ‘thrash’ those of divergent views, #Remembering2008 has exposed Zanu Pf as a violent and brutal party that killed and maimed opposition MDC T supporters pre and post 2008.
Zimbabweans took to Twitter recalling their 2008 experiences under the brutal leadership of Zanu Pf, whose ultimate grip on power resulted in the killing, maiming and disappearance of hundreds of opposition party supporters including other civilians who did not belong to the party.
Horrendous pictures and different accounts augmenting Zanu Pf brutality continue pouring in on social media, exposing President Mnangagwa’ s insincerity regarding being knowleadgeable about the atrocities committed by his party in 2008.
“I remember in our rural area in Binga when Jabulani Sibanda came and everyone with MDC campaign posters was forced to hand them over and they were set on fire. People were then forced to roll themselves in that fire,” said Likwa.
“At Ruvhizha secondary school in Gutu, Chamba and Mahana were abducted in broad daylight during assembly and trounced all night. Pupils discovered Chamba’s corpse in the morning while Mahana sustained serious injuries and later died in 2009,” added another contributor.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights’ Irene Petras recalled how even lawyers who were trying to access the High Court for election related hearings were threatened that they were going to be shot by soldiers.
“Lawyers went into hiding in and outside Zimbabwe.Those who stayed were left wondering if they would make it through the night,” said Petras.
Others told of how they watched their relatives and friends being butchered by Zanu Pf youths including Chipangano, a terror group which operated especially in urban areas and targeted MDC T stalwarts.
The issuet of “Zanu Pf bases,” came to the fore, with citizens narrating how these torture bases were used by Zanu Pf youths to beat up people.
“My pregnant neighbour was forced to run 13 kilometers and she developed swollen feet,” added another contributor.
Citizens recalled how some of the victims of Zanu Pf brutality had their skeletons fished out of Wenimbi Dam among others.
#Remembering2008 also exposed President Mnangagwa’ s complacency towards initiating national healing and reconciliation through his failure to acknowledge past atrocities such as the violence of 2008 and Gukurahundi among others.
Analysts described President Mnangagwa’s statement as an indication that Zanu Pf is not ready for free and fair elections despite promising that the forthcoming polls will be credible.
President Mnangagwa professed ignorance of the heinous atrocities committed against members of the opposition party, MDC T before and after the 2008 elections in an interview with The Economist.
He said he was not aware that the 2008 polls were violent adding that they were free and fair since there was little or no evidence of the reported cases by victims of the violence.
By Talent Gondo| Students on attachment are set to pay only 60 percent of their tuition fees as government has cut tuition fees by 40 percent.
Secretary in the Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Desire Sibanda said the development will see students on attachment paying 60 percent to cater for supervisory costs and use of college facilities.
“This move has been necessitated by the realisation that our students are having challenges ergonomically,” said Sibanda.
By Staff Reporter| President Emmerson Mnangagwa is in meeting with the visiting Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov at Munhumutapa
In attendance is Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, several Cabinet ministers and members of the Russian delegation. An hour ago the Russian Minister met his Zimbabwean counterpart, Gen Sibusiso Moyo. VIDEO ROLL:
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.”
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.
By Dorrothy Moyo| Zimbabweans likely blew millions of megabyte data this week while quarrelling about Nelson Chamisa’s bullet train concept announced at the MDC Alliance rally in Chinhoyi.
Below were complaints and comments by news readers on the matter:
By Dorrothy Moyo| News observers last night exclaimed how as they said, the 94 year old former president Robert Mugabe “looks 64 years old” as seen on his latest pictures taken at the weekend.
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”:
Zimbabwe’s top wicket-keeper and batsman Brendan Taylor and Afghanistan’s 16-year-old spinner Mujeeb Rahman have also been sanctioned for separate incidents during the stormy ICC Cricket World cup Qualifier between the two sides at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday.
Taylor was found to have breached Article 2.1.5, which deals with “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match”, while Mujeeb was found guilty of breaching Article 2.2.8, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an international match”.
Taylor was fined 15 per cent of his match fee and received one demerit point after pleading guilty to the charge, while Mujeeb was fined 50 per cent of his match fee and got three demerit points following a hearing that took place yesterday after he had denied the offence and opted to contest the charge at a full hearing.
The incident involving Taylor happened during the closing stages of the match when the wicket-keeper showed dissent after umpire Chettithody Shamsuddin had turned down a leg before appeal against Dawlat Zadran off the bowling of Blessing Muzarabani. Mujeeb was charged and subsequently fined when, after fielding off his own bowling, the off-spinner threw the ball back at the batsman who had not left his crease. The on-field umpires deemed the throwing “in a dangerous manner” as it narrowly missed Brendan Taylor.
The charges were laid by on-field umpires Chris Brown and Chettithody Shamsuddin and third umpire Paul Wilson. Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad has been suspended for his team’s upcoming two matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 after his accumulated demerit points reached four within a 24-month period.
This follows his latest breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for which he received a 15 per cent fine and one demerit point.
During a thrilling match against Zimbabwe at the Bulawayo Athletic Club on Tuesday, Shahzad was found guilty of breaching Article 2.1.8, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match”.
As Shahzad had been fined 100 per cent of his match fee and handed three demerit points in a Twenty20 International against the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium on 12 December 2016, the addition of this one demerit point took him to the threshold of four demerit points, which, pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, have now been converted into two suspension points**. — ICC
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
“Where is the evidence of rigging?” asked ED – Stop asking stupid questions and
answer: “Where is the evidence you implemented all the reforms?”
By Wilbert Mukori| “President Mnangagwa denies previous elections were unfair, especially in 2008, when NGOs reckoned that at least 270 activists of the MDC were killed,” reported the UK Economist.
“Where is the evidence for violence? Not a single case was taken to the police. There was no evidence,” he insisted.
indepth…Wilbert Mukori
That is a nonsensical argument, after the 2008 election not even the many Zanu PF minions and apologist would deny Zanu PF rigged the elections. Whilst they had accused the West of falsely accusing the regime of rigging elections because they had an axe to grind they could not say the say of SADC and the AU. The two African bodies had too condemned the elections as not being free and fair.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police had not only turned a blind eye to Zanu PF inspired political
violence, which was the norm, but that year they had gone beyond the pale. The Police, together with the Army and CIO, had orchestrated and even carried out some of the politically motived violence.
Although hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans were beaten and/or raped and 270 murdered only a few people were ever arrested, charged and convicted of committing these heinous crimes.
When those committing the crime are also responsible for enforcing the law; the criminal
activities are swept under the carpet and the evidence, even if someone took the initiative to collect it, is suppressed or lost. Before independence, Ian Smith was doing this all the time; of all people Mnangagwa knows this only too well.
If President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF thugs are denying they ever rigged elections, even the well documented cases like the 2008, what reason is there that they will not blatantly rig this year’s elections and flatly insist the elections were free and fair? This is exactly the reason why we must insist on agreed benchmarks Zanu PF must deliver on long before we look at what happens on the voting day itself. Fortunately, these benchmarks are already there.
After blatant cheating and wanton violence that marred the 2008 elections, SADC leaders forced Mugabe and his Zanu PF party to sign an agreement stipulating a raft of democratic reforms that were to be carried to stop the vote rigging. The agreement also called for the formation of the GNU which was then tasked to implement the reforms.
Sadly, not even one democratic reform was implemented throughout the five years of the GNU. It is another day’s tale as to why no reforms implemented; it will suffice for now to that Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends sold out on reforms.
SADC leaders appreciated the importance of implementing the reforms BEFORE holding
elections and so, they called for the 2013 elections must be postponed.
“In 2013 the Maputo Summit, in June 2013, before the elections, the Maputo Summit was all about having the elections postponed – the SADC summit,” Dr Ibbo Mandaza explained.
“I went there. I was there at the Summit and Mugabe pretended to agree to a postponement of the elections. If you recall, the postponement was based on the need to reform at least electoral laws.
“After that Summit, Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, all of them were called to a separate meeting by the Heads of State of SADC in the absence of Mugabe, that same evening. And they were told; I was sitting there outside the room with Mac Maharaj; they were told ‘if you go into elections next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done’.”
Sadly, MDC leaders did not listen, incompetence and greed got the better of them; they took part in the flawed and illegal elections. Zanu PF went on to rig the elections as SADC leaders had foretold. How Zanu PF rigged the 2013 elections is also another tale for another day, it will suffice for now to say with no democratic reforms the sky is the limit to the vote rigging options open to the regime.
What must be made emphatically here is not for the election observers, foreign or local, to
supervise the Police, make sure they record and investigate cases of cheating and violence. Or to supervise ZEC, make sure the country has verified voters’ roll; etc. They task is to observe the election process, period.
President Mnangagwa and his government’s responsibility make sure the coming elections are free, fair and credible. As the State President, the bucks stops with him to ensure State
Institutions like the Police and ZEC are adequately resourced and empowered to delivery free, fair and credible elections.
If there should ever be any cause to doubt the nation’s ability to hold free and fair elections it is the duty of the relevant State Institution, be it the Police, ZEC or both, in the first instance, to thoroughly investigate the cause, put it right and punish those found guilty of causing the incident. They must also produce detailed report(s) giving recommendation to ensure a similar thing will never happen again. Government has the legal obligation to ensure the relevant authorities have carried out the statutory duties and confidence in the country’s ability to hold free, fair and credible elections is fully restored.
It is not for President Mnangagwa to ask us, the public; “Where is the evidence of Zanu PF
rigging elections in the past?” In 2008 SADC and AU did not force Zanu PF to sign the
agreement to implement the raft of democratic reforms on a whim, they had witness the blatant cheat and wanton violence that took place that year.
Of course, there is evidence that Zanu PF rigged the 2008 elections and many more beside. The line of questioning is the height of mischievous political arrogance; why ask the public for evidence you yourself has helped to bury for selfish reason of staying in power regardless of the public’s democratic wishes.
But even if SADC or anyone failed to produce even one shred of evidence of any election
irregularities much less the barbaric violence; the raft of democratic reforms we are demanding must be implemented before the coming elections will be guarantee the elections are free, fair and credible. Even if you, Mr President do not want the guarantee, we want it and demand it!
You see, Mr President Mnangagwa, the bottom line is; it is not for you to ask us, why we want guarantees to our basic freedoms and fundamental rights such as the right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country. We know you have been short changing us all these last 38 years.
You and the rest of your Junta friends are public servants; we the people are the public and you and your Junta friends are our servants. You lot are accountable to us the public. As long as you are able to rig elections, you short circuit our power to hold you lot to account, this is why we demand that all the democratic reforms are implemented without further ado BEFORE the elections.
Mr President, read my lips! It not for you to ask stupid questions but to answer: “Where is the evidence of implementing the democratic reforms?”
If the elections go ahead with no reforms in place, let me tell you here and now, the process will be declared null and void! – zsdemocrats.blogspot.co.uk
Burial of family members died after eating killer mushrooms
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.
A vendor sorts out mushrooms for sale at a market in Bulawayo yesterday
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.
Mr Lavrov is expected to meet President Mnangagwa this morning and thereafter hold a meeting with Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Lieutenant-General Dr Sibusiso Moyo (Retired).
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.
Farirai Madhumbe | Former Zanu PF National Commissar, exiled Savior Kasukuwere, has responded to reports that he is part of the New Patriotic Front leadership, which is fronted by former President Robert Mugabe.
Kasukuwere took to twitter to dismiss a leadership line up circulating on social media as “fake”.
In the line up former cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo and former First Lady Grace Mugabe are named as co-vice presidents, Kasukuwere is listed as the chairperson.
Responding to reports that Mugabe is part of the new political outfit, President Emmerson Mnangagwa told youths, “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.”
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!!
The South African broadcaster, SABC is tonight carrying a news feature by its chief Correspondent, Sophie Mokoena. (To watch go to the SABC Channel) – REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR THE UPDATES.
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.
By A Correspondent| Former President Robert Mugabe flew out of Harare this morning a mere civilian, soon after endorsing the launch of a new political outfit The New Patriotic Front.
Mugabe left his workers at the mercy of soldiers being interrogated according to South African media reports. SEE BELOW:
Tension is mounting in Zimbabwe, as reports indicate that workers at former President Robert Mugabe’s residence in Harare were taken in for questioning by soldiers this morning.
The Premier Soccer League(PSL) has released the
fixtures for the 2018 Castle Lager Premiership
season.
The season will kick off on the 17th of this month.
The campaign was supposed to kick off this
weekend but it was delayed.
The fixtures:
Match Day 1
Nichrut FC v Mutare City FC
Chicken Inn FC v Dynamos FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Herentals FC
Highlanders FC v Black Rhinos FC
ZPC Kariba FC v FC Platinum
Yadah FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Caps United FC v Harare City FC
Bulawayo City FC v Chapungu FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Triangle FC
Match Day 2
Mutare City FC v Chapungu FC
Harare City FC v Bulawayo City FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Caps United FC
FC Platinum v Yadah FC
Black Rhinos FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Herentals FC v Highlanders FC
Dynamos FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Nichrut FC v Chicken Inn FC
Triangle FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Match Day 3
Chicken Inn FC v Mutare City FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Nichrut FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Dynamos FC
Highlanders FC v Triangle FC
Caps United FC v FC Platinum
Bulawayo City FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Chapungu FC v Harare City FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Herentals FC
Yadah FC v Black Rhinos FC
Match Day 4
Mutare City FC v Harare City FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Chapungu FC
FC Platinum v Bulawayo City FC
Black Rhinos FC v Caps United FC
Herrentals Fc v Yadah FC
Triangle FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Dynamos FC v Highlanders FC
Chicken Inn FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Nichrut FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Match Day 5
Shabanie Mine FC v Mutare City FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Chicken Inn FC
Highlanders FC v Nichrut FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Dynamos FC
Yadah FC v Triangle FC
Caps United FC v Herentals FC
Bulawayo City FC v Black Rhinos FC
Chapungu FC v FC Platinum
Harare City FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Match Day 6
Mutare City FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
FC Platinum v Harare City FC
Black Rhinos FC v Chapungu FC
Herentals FC v Bulawayo City FC
Triangle FC v Caps United FC
Dynamos FC v Yadah FC
Nichrut FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Chicken Inn FC v Highlanders FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Match Day 7
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Mutare City FC
Highlanders FC v Shabanie Mine FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Chicken Inn FC
Yadah FC v Nichrut FC
Caps United FC v Dynamos FC
Bulawayo City FC v Triangle FC
Chapungu FC v Herentals FC
Harare City FC v Black Rhinos FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v FC Platinum
Match Day 8
Mutare City FC Mutare City FC v FC Platinum
Black Rhinos FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Herentals FC v Harare City FC
Triangle FC v Chapungu FC
Dynamos FC v Bulawayo City FC
Nichrut FC v Caps United FC
Chicken Inn FC v Yadah FC
Shabanie Mine FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Highlanders FC
Match Day 9
Highlanders FC v Mutare City FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Yadah FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Caps United FC v Chicken Inn FC
Bulawayo City FC v Nichrut FC
Chapungu FC v Dynamos FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Herentals FC
FC Platinum v Black Rhinos FC
Harare City FC v Triangle FC
Match Day 10
Mutare City FC v Black Rhinos FC
Herentals FC v FC Platinum
Triangle FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Dynamos FC v Harare City FC
Nichrut FC v Chapungu FC
Chicken Inn FC v Bulawayo City FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Caps United FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Yadah FC
Highlanders FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Match Day 11
ZPC Kariba FC v Mutare City FC
Yadah FC v Highlanders FC
Caps United FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Bulawayo City FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Chapungu FC v Chicken Inn FC
Harare City FC v Nichrut FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Dynamos FC
FC Platinum v Triangle FC
Black Rhinos FC v Herentals FC
Match Day 12
Mutare City FC v Herentals FC
Triangle FC v Black Rhinos FC
Dynamos FC v FC Platinum
Nichrut FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Chicken Inn FC v Harare City FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Chapungu FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Bulawayo City FC
Highlanders FC v Caps United FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Yadah FC
Match Day 13
Yadah FC v Mutare City FC
Caps United FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Bulawayo City FC v Highlanders FC
Chapungu FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Harare City FC v Shabanie Mine FC
FC Platinum v Nichrut FC
Black Rhinos FC v Dynamos FC
Herentals FC v Triangle FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Chicken Inn FC
Match Day 14
Mutare City FC v Triangle FC
Dynamos FC v Herentals FC
Nichrut FC v Black Rhinos FC
Chicken Inn FC v FC Platinum
Shabanie Mine FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Highlanders FC v Chapungu FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Bulawayo City FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Harare City FC
Yadah FC v Caps United FC
Match Day 15
Caps United FC v Mutare City FC
Bulawayo City FC v Yadah FC
Chapungu FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Harare City FC v Highlanders FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Black Rhinos FC v Chicken Inn FC
Herentals FC v Nichrut FC
Triangle FC v Dynamos FC
FC Platinum v Shabanie Mine FC
Match Day 16
Mutare City FC v Dynamos FC
Nichrut FC v Triangle FC
Caps United FC v Bulawayo City FC
Chicken Inn FC v Herentals FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Black Rhinos FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v FC Platinum
Highlanders FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Harare City FC
Yadah FC v Chapungu FC
Match Day 17
Bulawayo City FC v Mutare City FC
Chapungu FC v Caps United FC
Harare City FC v Yadah FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v ZPC Kariba FC
FC Platinum v Highlanders FC
Black Rhinos FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Herentals FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Triangle FC v Chicken Inn FC
Dynamos FC v Nichrut FC
Match Day 18
Mutare City FC v Nichrut FC
Dynamos FC v Chicken Inn FC
Herentals FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Black Rhinos FC v Highlanders FC
FC Platinum v ZPC Kariba FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Yadah FC
Harare City FC v Caps United FC
Chapungu FC v Bulawayo City FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Triangle FC
Match Day 19
Chapungu FC v Mutare City FC
Bulawayo City v Harare City FC
Caps United v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Yadah FC v FC Platinum
Highlanders FC v Herentals FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Dynamos FC
Chicken Inn v Nichrut FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Triangle FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Black Rhinos FC
Match Day 20
Mutare City FC v Chicken Inn FC
Nichrut FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Harare City FC v Chapungu FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Bulawayo City FC
Dyanamos FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Triangle FC v Highlanders FC
Herentals FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Black Rhinos FC v Yadah FC
FC Platinum v Caps United FC
Match Day 21
Harare City FC v Mutare City FC
Chapungu FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Bulawayo City FC v FC Platinum
Caps United FC v Black Rhinos FC
Yadah FC v Herentals FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Triangle FC
Highlanders FC v Dynamos FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Chicken Inn FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Nichrut FC
Match Day 22
Mutare City FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Chicken Inn FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Nichrut FC v Highlanders FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Harare City FC
Dynamos FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Triangle FC v Yadah FC
Herentals FC v Caps United FC
Black Rhinos FC v Bulawayo City FC
FC Platinum v Chapungu FC
Match Day 23
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Mutare City FC
Harare City FC v FC Platinum
Chapungu FC v Black Rhinos FC
Bulawayo City FC v Herentals FC
Caps United FC v Triangle FC
Yadah FC v Dynamos FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Nichrut FC
Highlanders FC v Chicken Inn FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Match Day 24
Mutare City FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Highlanders FC
Chicken Inn FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Nichrut FC v Yadah FC
Dynamos FC v Caps United FC
Triangle FC v Bulawayo City FC
Herentals FC v Chapungu FC
Black Rhinos FC v Harare City FC
FC Platinum v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Match Day 25
FC Platinum v Mutare City FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Black Rhinos FC
Harare City FC v Herentals FC
Chapungu FC v Triangle FC
Bulawayo City FC v Dynamos FC
Caps United FC v Nichrut FC
Yadah FC v Chicken Inn FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Highlanders FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Match Day 26
Mutare City FC v Highlanders FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Triangle FC v Harare City FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Yadah FC
Black Rhinos FC v FC Platinum
Chicken Inn FC v Caps United FC
Nichrut FC v Bulawayo City FC
Herentals FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Dynamos FC v Chapungu FC
Match Day 27
Black Rhinos FC v Mutare City FC
FC Platinum v Herentals FC
Chapungu FC v Nichrut FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Triangle FC
Harare City FC v Dynamos FC
Bulawayo City FC v Chicken Inn FC
Caps United FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Yadah FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Highlanders FC
Match Day 28
Mutare City FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Highlanders FC v Yadah FC
Herentals FC v Black Rhinos FC
Triangle FC v FC Platinum
Dynamos FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Nichrut FC v Harare City FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Caps United FC
Chicken Inn FC v Chapungu FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Bulawayo City FC
Match Day 29
Herentals FC v Mutare City FC
Black Rhinos FC v Triangle FC
FC Platinum v Dynamos FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Nichrut FC
Harare City FC v Chicken Inn FC
Chapungu FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Bulawayo City FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Caps United FC v Highlanders FC
Yadah FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Match Day 30
Mutare City FC v Yadah FC
Chicken Inn FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Nichrut FC v FC Platinum
Triangle FC v Herentals FC
Dynamos FC v Black Rhinos FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Caps United FC
Shabanie Mine v Harare City FC
Highlanders FC v Bulawayo City FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Chapungu FC
Match Day 31
Triangle FC v Mutare City FC
Herentals FC v Dynamos FC
Black Rhinos v Nichrut FC
FC Platinum v Chicken Inn FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Chapungu FC v Highlanders FC
Bulawayo City FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Harare City FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Caps United v Yadah FC
Match Day 32
Mutare City v Caps United FC
Nichrut FC v Herentals FC
Dynamos FC v Triangle FC
Shabanie Mine FC v FC Platinum
Chicken Inn FC v Black Rhinos FC
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Yadah FC v Bulawayo City FC
ZPC Kariba FC v Chapungu FC
Highlanders FC v Harare City FC
Match Day 33
Dynamos FC v Mutare City FC
Triangle FC v Nichrut FC
Herentals FC v Chicken Inn FC
Black Rhinos FC v Shabanie Mine FC
Harare City FC v ZPC Kariba FC
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Highlanders FC
Chapungu FC v Yadah FC
FC Platinum v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC
Bulawayo City FC v Caps United FC
Match Day 34
Mutare City FC v Bulawayo City FC
Caps United FC v Chapungu FC
ZPC Kariba v Bulawayo Chiefs FC
Yadah FC v Harare City FC
Highlanders FC v FC Platinum
Ngezi PlatinumStars FC v Black Rhinos FC
Nichrut FC v Dynamos FC
Shabanie Mine FC v Herentals FC
Chicken Inn FC v Triangle FC
By Talent Gondo
By Talent Gondo
The humiliated controversial preacher Paul Sanyangore has responded to rumours that he attempted suicide.
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:
