MDC-T interim president Nelson Chamisa’s political star received a major boost yesterday after the party’s district executives endorsed him as the opposition party’s presidential candidate, following the death of party founder, Morgan Tsvangirai, last week.

The decision came amid reports that MDC-T vice-president Elias Mudzuri had thrown his weight behind Chamisa, leaving Thokozani Khupe who was also jostling for the post, in the wilderness.

Khupe insists that she is the bona fide candidate to succeed Tsvangirai, although Chamisa now has an upper hand following another endorsement by the party’s national council last week.

Deputy party spokesperson, Thabitha Khumalo, told NewsDay Weekender that yesterday’s consultative meeting attended by 639 delegates from 210 party districts, dismissed Khupe’s call for an extra-ordinary congress to choose Tsvangirai’s successor.

“639 delegates from our 210 party districts have endorsed acting president Nelson Chamisa as the presidential candidate. They said it doesn’t make sense to go for a congress as we are now preparing for elections,” Khumalo said.

“The districts said they have embraced the national council’s resolution and they want that resolution to be respected by the leadership. We are not going to have an extra-ordinary congress.”

Earlier on, Chamisa had told journalists that the consultative meeting was meant to finalise the succession issue and “eliminate noise in the cockpit”.

“As regards the issue of the party in terms of its unity and hygiene, this is part of what we are doing to make sure that the party is clear so that we remove all the noise in the cockpit and that people are clear as we prepare for elections and they are clear in winning the elections,” Chamisa said.

The consultative meeting was attended by the majority of standing committee members with the exception of Khupe, organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe, party chairman Lovemore Moyo and spokesperson Obert Gutu.
During the Press briefing, Chamisa frequently consulted Mudzuri in a gesture widely interpreted to confirm reports that the two had patched up their differences and pledged to work together.

“What we have done is perfectly constitutional. What we have done is 100% legal,” Chamisa said. He added that he would soon reach out to Khupe, so that they iron out their differences.

“Of course, we appreciate that our vice-president Thokozani Khupe, has not been attending meetings for the past eight months because of issues around the (MDC) Alliance with our president the late Morgan Tsvangirai,” he said.

“We appreciate her circumstances, she has not understood the party processes that have been instituted and the position that the party has taken.”

MDC-T secretary for security Giles Mutsekwa said his department had launched its own investigations into the attack on Khupe and two other senior party officials during Tsvangirai’s burial in Buhera on Tuesday.
He said findings of the probe would be made public within the next seven days.

Chamisa also apologised for the violence, saying they will make everyone involved accountable for their actions.

“We are in the process of making sure that any person who is in the party structures who has been involved in this debacle is going to be fully accountable to the party and will not be part of this great family. We do not want malcontents in our midst,” he said.

He said the leader of the MDC Alliance will come from the MDC-T, further confirming his candidature ahead of the upcoming elections where he will square up with Zanu PF’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Joice Mujuru of the People’s Rainbow Coalition.

Chamisa said following the death of Tsvangirai, the party will not change its name MDC-T, as it was used to distinguish them from the rest.-Newsday

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Retired Chief Air Marshal Perrance Shiri has been taken to court by a company operating Halfway House Hotel in Hwange for turning down its application to lease the property.

Tetra Heights, through its lawyers Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys, filed a chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court citing Rtd Chief Air Marshal Shiri as the respondent.
The company is seeking an order directing the Minister to suspend the notice ordering it to vacate Halfway House Hotel.
Tetra Heights also wants Minister Shiri to be compelled to provide written reasons for rejecting its application to lease Halfway Hotel.

In her founding affidavit, Ms Primrose Muvango, a representative of Tetra Heights, said her company has been in occupation of the premises since August 2016 with the blessing of former Lands Minister Douglas Mombeshora.

“The possession of Halfway House Hotel was through a ministerial directive since August 2016 following the eviction of former owner, Mr Rob Sterling, as part of the land reform programme.

“The applicant was advised that they should possess the property until such a time that the Government of Zimbabwe would have nominated a new tenant to occupy the premises,” said Ms Muvango.

When Mr Sterling was removed from the farm, his employees continued running the hotel until the Government brought Tetra Heights.
The Government flighted a tender in December last year inviting interested persons to apply to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement for a lease agreement. Tetra Heights, which was one of the applicants, was not successful.

Tetra Heights was on January 4 this year given a notice to vacate the premises. “Having received the notice that the application to lease the premises was not successful, the applicant on January 12, 2018 requested reasons for the administrative decision made by the respondent in terms of section 4 of the Administrative Act.

“To date respondent has failed to provide written reasons why the application to let the premises was refused,” said Ms Muvango.

“The applicant believes that the respondent is dragging its feet in releasing the reasons so much that Tetra Heights does not exercise its right of appeal or review before the expiry of the eviction notice.”
Tetra Heights has since last year been locked in a legal wrangle with former workers, who have invaded Halfway House Hotel wanting to control the property.

Tetra Heights was allocated the farm by Dr Mombeshora, but has faced resistance from six former workers, who have seized part of the farm, including a hotel, kiosk, service station and a workers’ compound. Chronicle

The First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa was in another surprise visit this time meeting an unassuming Gogo Mapfuwamhandu who looks after her 15 grandchildren in Mt Darwin under Chief Dotito.

The visit sent the elderly woman who is taking care of 15 orphans the birthed by her deceased children into a wave of mixed emotions. Mbuya Esnath Chashaya is both mother and father to the 15 orphans.

News of such a visitor certainly travels fast and when the villagers got wind of the First Lady’s presence in the community, they dashed in their numbers to catch a glimpse of the woman who has redefined the meaning of being mother of a nation.

The villagers were afforded a rare treat as the Amai Mnangagwa prepared tea and shared it with the family.

With the visit and the First Lady’s acts the community is convinced their lives are certainly poised for renewal.

Amai Mnangagwa was told of the challenges the family is faced with and they also shared their aspirations.

state medai

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa has defended Zimbabwe’s insistence on operating a cashless economy, saying countries such as India have since abolished use of cash and adopted electronic transactions.

Responding to questions from senators recently on how he will address the cash crisis, which continues to affect the economy, Chinamasa said cashless transactions were better as they helped curb corruption.

“In most jurisdictions, the cash-based transactions constitute about 10% to 15%, and in our situation, we are at 16%. But even at 16%, money is not circulating, and even if the Central Bank governor was to pump in billions — whether of bond notes or United States dollars, that money is withdrawn and it is never re-deposited in the banks,” he said.

“When you have that situation, where money is just being withdrawn and not being re-deposited, it means that the circulation is inefficient and you cannot run the economy that way and when we inquire into the reasons, it actually boils down to lack of trust and confidence.”

The Finance minister said India abolished cash transactions, insisting on electronic ones.

“Electronic is better because, as we try to fight corruption, much of it is promoted through usage of cash, where people move with suitcases of cash to bribe others,” he said.

“When transactions are done electronically, there is a paper trail, which inhibits those who would want to commit corruption. There is a problem with some shops, but my own view is that those shops, which are insisting on cash, are losing business because you cannot transact in cash if the cash is not there and it is clearly not in their interest.”

Chinamasa claimed that most businesses, including those at Siyaso (informal traders), were now transacting electronically

“The bulk of transactions in the future are going to be electronic and the sooner we accept that, the better for our good health,” he said.- state media

MDC acting President, Nelson Chamisa says his party will not hold a special congress to choose a new leader this year.

He said this was because there is not enough time to organise one since it was three months before polls.Chamisa says his elevation to acting president is “100% correct” and Thokozani Khupe has failed to understand the procedure of picking an acting leader.

“Unfortunately, no vice president can elevate themselves to be the leader.  There are no appointed or elected vice presidents. We have 3 Deputy Presidents who are all equal. No-one is above the other,” said Chamisa.

Chamisa apologised for the violence in Buhera saying it was an embarrassment.- state media

Traditional Leader, MP Battle For Territorial Supremacy

Terrence Mawawa
There is a fierce battle over territorial supremacy between Chief Makoni and Headlands MP, Christopher Chingosho.

Chief Makoni, whose real name is Cogan Makoni, accuses the MP of using unruly youths to browbeat the traditional leader.

Makoni claimed that Chingosho instructed party hooligans to attack his aides.

“My wife is doing charity in Chingosho’ s constituency such that he is extremely worried because he is unpopular with party supporters,” said Chief Makoni.

On the other hand Chingosho refuted Chief Makoni’ s utterances as baseless and devoid of logic.

“I do not feel threatened at all.His comments are baseless and unfounded,” said Chingosho.

By Talent Gondo | DTZ, A Russian mining company which was operating in the country was chased from their concession and premises in Manicaland mafia style in 2016 despite that their special mining licence was still valid.

The company, which lost its assets and other minerals which it had already mined revealed this when the company’s bosses appeared before the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Mines and Energy in Harare today (Friday).
DTZ boss, Victor Kuslya told the committee that armed soldiers besieged their company and forced them off their premises and investment following a government announcement issued by the former mines minister Walter Chidhakwa.
“We did not have a chance to take anything. Our supposed Memorandum of Agreement with government was signed under duress because we had no option. It was either we sign or we walk away with nothing at all,” said Kuslya.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly approved government plans to decongest the country’s prisons by granting an amnesty to some inmates serving light sentences or experiencing health challenges.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Commissioner-General Paradzai Zimondi, confirmed the development yesterday at a handover ceremony of a 30-tonne sugar donation by Tongaat Hullet.

“I talked to the minister of Justice (Ziyambi Ziyambi) about the issue and he is the one who told me,” he said, while presenting the donation to inmates at Harare Central Prison.
The last amnesty was granted to more than 2 000 inmates by former President Robert Mugabe in May last year.

Zimondi revealed that more than 500 prisoners were suffering from malnutrition and the impending amnesty was coming at an opportune time to save the meagre resources in the country’s prisons.
He hailed Zanu PF political commissar, Engelbert Rugeje for mobilising the donation from Tongaat Hullet, while calling on both public and private institutions to help remedy the plight of prisoners, who continue to suffer hunger and malnutrition.

Current developments in the granting of amnesty to prisoners come on the backdrop of constant calls by opposition political parties for Mnangagwa to pardon political prisoners, who have been rotting in the country’s jails. Newsday

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo
There is mystery surrounding the death of a primary school teacher who consumed food laced with poison at a sports gala last week.

51-year-old Nhamo Chakanyuka of Chigwikwi Primary School in Chivi District died after being poisoned at the school’ s interhouse competitions on Friday last week.

Authorities at the school confirmed the incident.

“Chakanyuka died after eating food laced with poison. He died on Saturday on his way to the clinic.

Police said a hospital report confirmed Chakanyuka was poisoned.

” A primary school teacher was poisoned last Friday and he died on Saturday.

We are waiting for results of the samples that were taken to Harare,” the police said.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police says it regrets the death of two people and the injury of four in Harare Central Business District when police clashed with commuters yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference, ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga expressed his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and relatives who lost their loved ones in the skirmishes yesterday.

Commissioner General Matanga says the ZRP is currently looking into the matter and will leave no stone unturned in its investigations to get to the bottom of the matter.

“From the onset, let me categorically state that the Zimbabwe Republic Police is currently seized with the matter and I have since directed a team of expert investigators to extensively establish the cause, what transpired, who was responsible and action will be taken,” he said.

He said perpetrators will be brought to book and there will be no sacred cows, adding that the ZRP does not tolerate any form of violence.

Commissioner General Matanga blamed the incident on a rowdy crowd which attacked the police officers whilst they were doing an operation with the Harare City Council to decongest the CBD.

He said the police officers had been deployed together with other security agencies in support of efforts by Harare City Council to decongest the city centre of commuter omnibuses and Mushikashika.

Commissioner General Matanga said at the time the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Cde July Moyo issued a statement reversing the ban on commuter omnibuses entering the CBD, the deployed police officers were not aware of the change in circumstances.

He said interim investigations had revealed that the public had attacked the police officers and threatened them with stones resulting in the officers firing warning shots which failed to disperse the angry crowd.

“A team of police officers from Harare Central was confronted by an angry mob armed with stones, concrete pillars and rods. The crowd started to throw stones at police officers whilst demanding to know why they had earlier on dispersed them alongside Harare Municipal police,” said Commissioner General Matanga.

The police officers then fired live shots which unfortunately killed 2 people.

The police refused to entertain any questions from the press and referred journalists to the Harare City Council.

The police chief said the bodies of the yet to be identified deceased are at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Mortuary.- state media

Terrence Mawawa
An incensed Zhombe woman caught her husband having sex with another woman and brutally killed the two love birds.

The woman, in a fit of rage, brutally assaulted the two with a log and they both died on the spot.

The enraged woman, Sandey Matava killed her husband John Phiri and his lover, Lenia Sikhosana, according to the police in Gweru.

Midlands Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende told a weekly paper the incident happened last week.

“We have received a report about a woman who fatally assaulted her husband and his lover with a log.

The woman found the two in a compromising position and in a fit of rage, she picked up a log and attacked her husband and his lover,” said Mukwende.

Matava has since been arrested and she is assisting the police with investigations.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo
There is pandemonium at Masvingo Polytechnic as students are protesting at the gross abuse of ZIMDEF Funds by college authorities.

The students have refused to attend lectures demanding that they be allocated relief funds under the ZIMDEF scheme.

The students have detained the college provincial and administration staff as the melee continues.

Police have been called to restore sanity but the cops are fighting running battles with the irate students.

“We want our money! Stop abusing the ZIMDEF Funds, we will not attend lectures until you release our money,” shouted the disgruntled students.

College authorities could not be reached for a comment on the matter.

A popular gold dealer from Kwekwe died on the spot while three others were seriously injured on Wednesday when a car they were travelling in hit a cow and veered off the road before overturning along the Kwekwe-Gweru highway.

Mr Talent Mapanga died on the spot while his young brother Langelihle, their friends Ms Anna Manamana and Mr Arthur Zakeo who was driving the vehicle, were injured. Another passenger, only identified as Ashley escaped unhurt.

The five socialites were travelling to Kwekwe from Redcliff where they had attended Manamana’s birthday party. Mr Mapanga’s brother, Mr Munashe Mapanga said the accident happened in the wee hours of Wednesday.

He said his brothers and their friends were coming from a birthday party in Redcliff town.
“As they approached the 10km peg, the vehicle ahead of them reduced speed to avoid a cow but their driver instead overtook the vehicle and then hit the cow,” he said.

Mr Mapanga said after hitting the cow, the vehicle veered off the road, overturned and in the process Talent was thrown out through the window and he died on the spot.

Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said she was yet to receive the accident report. Herald 

PRESS STATEMENT
23 February 2018

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Board and Management would like to advise the nation of the release of the November 2017 ZIMSEC’ Ordinary Level results.

Candidates who sat for this examination will be able to collect their results from their respective schools/centres from Monday, 26 February 2018.

In the analysis candidates are described in two parts,
one being ‘school candidates’, the second being the ‘private candidates’. Private candidates are non-formal students who entered for this examination. The total number of candidates who sat for the November 2017 0 Level examination was 332 473. This is 14,25% higher than the November 2016 entry. Total candidates who wrote five or more subjects were 189 684 and 49 982 obtained Grade C or better in 5 or more subjects, yielding a 26.35 % pass rate. There is a slight decrease on the performance of 2016 which was at 27.92%.

Of the 187 606 school candidates, 162 920 wrote 5 subjects and above resulting in 46 755 passing 5 or more subjects with a grade C or better. This translates to a pass rate of 28, 69% as compared to 29.96 % for 2016. For private candidates, out of the 144 867 candidates, a total of 3 227 passed at least 5 subjects, yielding a pass rate of 12,05% at grade C, or better as compared to 13.40% for 2016.

English language was graded on one paper as ruled by the High Court. The quality of work on the paper showed that the candidates who wrote the paper were of a better quality than those of 2016 resulting in a slight increase of 5%.

There are four categories of Special Needs Candidates. The highest performance by these candidates was in the Enlarged print category where 36,4% of the 68 candidates passed five or more subjects with a grade C or better. In the Hard of Hearing, Braille and Physical impairment categories candidates achieved 10%, 16,67% and 31,25% respectively.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all those who were involved in the November 2017 examinations process.

ZIMSEC hereby takes this opportunity to wish all the candidates the best of luck in their future studies and endeavours.

The registration deadline for the June 2018 examination is 23 March 2018. There will be no late entry facility for this examination session.

Professor E. Mwenje
CHAIRPERSON: ZIMBABWE SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL BOARD

MDC Acting President Nelson Chamisa has received an update on the assault on his colleague Thokozani Khupe at Morgan Tsvangirai’s burial on Tuesday.

The notes were presented by the party’s Head of Security and Intelligence Major Gen. Giles Mutsekwa.

In his statement, Mutsekwa said preliminary investigations point to a security breach and he blamed Khupe’s security team for not being vigilant.

He said a full investigation will be completed in a week’s time.

Mutsekwa’s said:

1. We have just given the Acting President a preliminary report on what happened. Our preliminary finding is that there was a serious security breach in terms of our standing operational procedures:

Security details travelling with VIPs are supposed to be in constant communication with security details on the ground including indicating ETAs on major public events including rallies. This communication did not take place. We are in the process of digging deeper into this breach in addition to identifying the culprits

2. I am leading a committee of four. Work has already started and it is our belief that all things being equal the final report will be ready in about 7 days or so.

3. Our team’s terms of reference is to establish what exactly happened, establish whether there was any outside interference, were proper operational procedures followed, findings of the committee, who are the culprits the opinion of the committee and then make recommendations to the Acting President

4. People are volunteering information such as video evidence which will assist the committee.

5. We are taking this issue seriously and we intend to ensure we discharge of our mandate without fear or favour

ZANU-PF’S deposed generation 40 (G40) faction was “within touching distance” of snatching the party’s presidency amid revelations that its vile plan included the capture of several strategic institutions, including public media, just days before the ex-liberation movement’s December 15 extra-ordinary congress.

This also comes as the vanquished group has been mobilising against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government under the National Patriotic Front (NPF) banner and a number of its staunch allies, including ex-police commissioner general Augustine Chihuri, Kudzanai Chipanga and Ignatius Chombo, remain under the cosh over a litany of political and professional indiscretions.

“G40 kingpins had not only set upon a plan to capture key state organs by supplanting tried and tested cadres with their surrogates – across the media spectrum, and numerous parastatals – on the Thursday before the army takeover kicked in, but their trump card was the 10th Dzivaresekwa interface rally and subsequent Zanu-PF congress, and where they would have wanted to install Grace Mugabe as acting president as well,” said a source.

“So sinister was the plot that we would have very well seen Robert Mugabe, and Phelekezela Mphoko going on leave and that unhinged woman taking over the reigns for up to three months after the old man would have been forced on an extended vacation. And as the desperation to seize power set in, you will be aware that they even tried to divide securocrats by roping in people like Chihuri on their side with a view of (even) forming a military buffer for the old man,” they said, adding the crafty schemers had also tried to mask their true intentions by throwing in former Justice minister Happyton Bonyongwe’s name.

“Of course, we know that the junta still wanted to put Mnangagwa in charge at congress after sponsoring a spontaneous revolt against their former leader by Zanu-PF provinces, but it had to bring forward its intervention after the G40’s increasingly bold manouvres. And like in any situation where such evil plans collapse, there have been many casualties – albeit willing messengers – in the form of the Chihuris, who are now being swept by the tide after a number of dossiers detailing their expedient actions such as the $120 million spot fines and illegal fundraising debacle, failure to deal with Frank Buyanga’s cases and unresolved top cop extortion saga,” the sources said.

With the ex-Zanu-PF women’s league boss’ influence on her 93 year-old husband, analysts polled by the Daily News recently concurred that it was quite possible that the acerbic Gushungo Holdings owner would have gone on a dry run of party and state presidency after the party’s December 15 extra-ordinary congress.

“In the circumstances of the succession struggles in Zanu-PF in 2017, one cannot entirely deny the plans and actions of the various factions. While pushing Grace to the presidency appeared a long shot… it may as well tell us how political strategies were becoming amateurish and how seasoned politicians were throwing caution to the wind,” Rashweat Mukundu, a former Freedom House researcher and commentator, said.

Ethiopian-based security expert Maxwell Saungweme also said “anything was possible (with these hawks and) the theory seems plausible given Mnangagwa’s earlier dismissal. Nonetheless, the military might have gotten wind of this hence its coup”.

However, Shakespear Hamauswa disagreed and said G40 kingpins – in the form of ex-Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, and Saviour Kasukuweres – were just out to create smokescreens for their real motive.

“The fight was for Mugabe to leave office. So the G40 wanted to create a fake scenario where Mugabe would feel safe after his exit. The G40 had someone else other than Grace. They knew Grace was not going to make it so they were just using her for their hidden agenda,” the pro-government analyst said.

And as the Zanu-PF leadership contest, and intrigue continues – even after Mugabe’s November 21 ouster – Moyo and the deposed leader’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao have not only sought to continually project the Harare regime as illegitimate, but have escalated efforts to fight Mnangagwa and his military-backed government under the NPF cover.

According to recent media reports and indeed his own twitter posts, the ex-Tsholotsho North legislator still believes the nonagenarian leader was “wrongly, and unjustly” pushed out by the lacoste faction, and its security sector allies.

As such, Moyo and his G40 allies – notably Zhuwao – have set in motion plans to derail Mnangagwa by roping in Mugabe, National People’s Party leader Joice Mujuru, the Movement for Democratic Change and a dissident group called the 2018Resistance.

And in their latest, and nefarious activities to oust the new Zanu-PF leader, it is believed that the embittered lot was working “with certain remnants of the old security structure and apparatus” that was behind the former president’s feeble attempt to cling on to power in the after the November 15 military intervention.

Meanwhile, Chihuri and several other Grace allies remain under attack for a number of imprudent decisions, including the alleged looting of state resources that have been exposed by police deductions saga, and messy fight with Bigboy Pachirera.

“You see, Mnangagwa is such a calculative man for he simply lumped the former Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) head’s political sins to his professional indiscretions, which culminated in the latter’s sacking on December 18 last year. In my understanding, the litany of allegations ranged from his dodgy Kuyedza Club activities to the ex-top cop’s refusal to investigate cases reported by Buyanga against five parties and protecting surbodinates implicated in the Delish Nguwaya extortion cases,” said a source.

“Apart from these issues and complaints, his obvious G40 bias also reflected in the police’s failure to arrest Innocent Hamandishe on six assault and kidnapping charges, and where his officers would even claim they could not locate the former youth boss yet he was routinely attending Grace’s interface rallies,” they said.

And with the long-serving police chief under fire for presiding over a generally corrupt force – enmeshed in such hellish, and emotive issues as the spot fines saga – the incoming government not only had enough fodder to boot out Chihuri, but found support even among opposition quarters.

With all these outstanding issues that strike at the core of the force’s integrity, new Home Affairs minister Obert Mpofu has thus sanctioned sweeping changes to improve police conduct and operations – now being spearheaded by police boss Godwin Matanga.

In Manicaland, for instance, Chipanga is accused of grabbing a Headlands farm that had been earmarked for a state university, while Chombo is facing fresh charges of trying to muscle in on a Kariba fish farm.

In the Buyanga case, Chihuri is accused of sitting on dockets for the prosecution of Tawanda and Winnie Jakachira, lawyer Tamuka Moyo, Simon Charewa and Lawrence Muteswa over the flamboyant businessman’s loss of two Harare properties.

On the other hand, the stricken man was sucked into the Nguwaya case after chief superintendent Nyaradzai Majachani, superintendent Shepherd Tachiona, constable Clever Gadzikwa and Vengai Zano failed to appear in court despite arrest warrants having been issued. And this was after the Chinese Business Association had raised complaints over continued harassment by the alleged syndicate.

And despite efforts to clean up the security sector of rogue elements, Chihuri was seen as a hindrance to the operation by ignoring court warrants for the bent cops.-Daily News

Langton Ncube| Acting MDC-T President Nelson Chamisa is holed up in meetings with all the party structures, including Vice President Elias Mudzuri, with Thokozani Khupe absent.

Chamisa explained that the party is not going to hold an elective congress to elect the movement’s leader because of the nearness of the national election, in three months time.

Chamisa said this in Harare on Friday when he was responding to Khupe’s media comments that she was Morgan Tsvangirai’s successor since she was elected by MDC-T Congress.

Chamisa who claimed that he was anointed by the late Tsvangirai to lead the party said there was no difference between him and Khupe because none of the three vice presidents could elevate themselves to be the leader since they were all appointed by the National Council.

All provinces including the Matebeleland ones have endorsed Chamisa, with outspoken politician Tabitha Khumalo coordinating the press briefing attended by all party leaders.

SABC news anchor Peter Ndoro says he is humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement he received from members of the public, journalists and politicians after he mistakenly declared on national television earlier this month that President Cyril Ramaphosa had died in Zimbabwe.

He was meant to have referred to the late Morgan Tsvangirai.

Taking to Twitter on Friday morning, Ndoro thanked Ramaphosa for “graciously” accepting his apology.  He said he would return to work on Monday.

Last month, he apologised to viewers for declaring that IFP leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi had also died. The veteran journalist indicated to SABC management that he was fatigued and was taken off air to rest.- Citizen

Ray Nkosi | In a shocking revelation a senior MDC- T official has claimed that the party has been captured by a Lacoste cabal led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The sensational revelevation comes hot on the heels of moves in the party to fire Vice President Thokozani Khupe with counter moves by her faction to take Acting President Nelson Chamisa to court on allegations of violating the party constitution.

STATEMENT: The Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Hon 0.C.Z Muchinguri Kashiri (MP), has, in term of section 6 of the 12th schedule of the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act Number 19 of 2001, terminated the term of office of the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Board with immediate effect. The wayward conduct of some members of the Board which was characterised by a departure from playing an advisory role to that of usurping executive powers, ran counter to the good cooperate governance principles that Government has adopted and is upholding. Apart from playing a key role in the economy, the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is also the custodian of the conservation of Zimbabwe’s natural resources and it therefore behoves on the Minister to ensure that at all tones competent individuals with the requisite probity constitute its Board.

A Harare filling station shut down its operations on Tuesday after it emerged that its petrol was contaminated with water. Engen Petroleum at the corner of Kaguvi Street and Robert Mugabe Road had to stop serving customers following complaints by at least four motorists that contaminated petrol had caused mechanical problems to their vehicles.

The vehicles failed to start after they had received petrol with water, which led to the filling station to stop serving fuel, only to reopen on Wednesday.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) confirmed the development, saying a team of investigators had been dispatched to the filling station.

ZERA head of the petroleum department Engineer Andrew Guri said his team established that the fuel was indeed contaminated and that the operator was now in the process of cleaning the tanks.

Eng Guri said ZERA had not received an official complaint from the motoring public, hence no charges were preferred against the Engen Petroleum branch.

“We conducted some tests and they were positive. ZERA is mandated to prosecute retailers who sell contaminated fuel knowingly. In Engen’s case, the proprietor is working on resolving the issue and they had already stopped serving fuel,” he said.

“No motorists filed complaints with us and when our team arrived at the scene, there were no motorists being served neither were there complaints by any affected customers.”
A fuel attendant at the filling station confirmed that some vehicles’ engines had been affected by the contaminated fuel.

“Four vehicles failed to start after we had served petrol, only to find out that the fuel was contaminated,” said the attendant. A motorist, Mr Brighton Maboda, was on Tuesday complaining that his Volkswagen Polo had been affected by the contaminated petrol.

“I tried to start the engine just after buying petrol, but it failed to start. I called my mechanic to check on it and he concluded that it had been affected by the contaminated fuel. Engen staff is denying liability and are refusing to assist me,” he said. – state media

Police in Mutare busted a smuggling syndicate involving two Chinese and two Zimbabweans after they smuggled goods worth thousands of dollars into the country from Mozambique.

The four – Lin Ruming (23), Charles Bruce (43), Francis Taivavashe (24) and Ariston Chipenzi (38) were on Tuesday arraigned before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe for contravening Section 1 (b) (2) of the Customs and Excise Act Chapter 23: 02. They denied the charges and were remanded to February 27, 2018 on $100 bail each.

The quartet was ordered to report at their nearest police stations once every Friday and not to interfere with State witnesses. Mr Fletcher Karombe represented the State. The court heard that on December 15, 2017, Bruce approached Tamiyara Logistics that his consignment be cleared at Forbes Border Post.

The consignment, which belonged to ZimCN Investment was supposed to have been made up of pipes, angle steel, channel steel, jack hammers, steel wire rope, fibre cables, brake motor and helical-lobe compressors. The consignment arrived at the border post in a haulage truck which was being driven by Taivavashe.

“Chipenzi, who is an employee of Tamiyana Logistics handled the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority clearance and was given the release order. The consignment was however, moved to ZIMRA GMS for final clearance which was scheduled for February 1, 2018.

“Police, however received information to the effect that Taivavashe had smuggled goods and a physical examination was then conducted leading to the discovery of the smuggled goods inside the truck’s containers,” said Mr Karombe.

Tirivashe is alleged to have implicated Chipenzi , who then implicated Bruce as the owner of the consignment. Bruce is further alleged to have implicated Ruming, who is said to represent ZimCN, which owns the consignment.

The smuggled goods includes a huge volumes of generators, compressors, electric cable bundles, wheel barrows, roofing sheets, drilling tool boxes, meter boxes and others were worth thousands of dollars. Manica Post

Terrence Mawawa| Former Vice President Joice Mujuru is the game changer in Zimbabwe’ s power matrix, a senior National People’s Party (NPP) official has claimed.

NPP Spokesperson Jeffryson Chitando yesterday said Mujuru was the trump card for the grand coalition.

“Zimbabweans must understand that the person or organization/political party that posted on social media that NPP President Dr Teurai Ropa Mujuru has unilaterally declared that NPP has immediately joined the MDC Alliance must be appreciating: (1) the NPP brand or Dr Joice Mujuru as a person.

2) the importance of NPP in adding value to any coalition or alliance.

3) The importance of building a united coalition to fight Zanu PF in the coming elections.

4 The experience Dr Joice Mujuru will bring to the coalition or alliance,” said Chitando.

“As NPP we do understand the concerns of every Zimbabwean in calling for unity of the opposition parties.NPP will always be open to the formation of a coalition with like minded political parties and organizations.

We have always stated that a grand coalition,which NPP would join, is one in which the name of the coalition/alliance is not linked to any of the partners.

The logo, slogans and campaigning colours to be used during the elections should not be linked to any of the partners,” added Chitando.

By Farai D Hove|  The identities of people shot at by police last night were not yet declared.

ZimEye carried out investigations part of which were interviews with close-by key leaders of the Passengers Of Zimbabwe Association. Mr Tafadzwa Goliat spoke at length on the incident which he personally witnessed and was seen being assaulted by police officers.

ZimEye has been assured of receiving the list of victims today.

Mr Goliat has so far described the victims as two men and a woman. LISTEN TO HIS PERSONAL ACCOUNT BELOW:

“You said it Mr President. Why do you tolerate Obert Mpofu?”

By Dorrothy Moyo| The Zimbabweans United for Democracy party has attacked President Emmerson Mnangagwa claiming that he is tolerating Home Affairs Minister Obert Mpofu.

“You said it Mr President. Why do you tolerate Obert Mpofu?,” the party said in a tweet.

Their protest comes after Obert Mpofu bolted out parliament yesterday while refusing to answer for his alleged role in the disappearance of diamond revenue during the days when he was Minister Of Mines.

The criticism against the President comes after the head of state had not responded on the parliament drama.

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) November 2017 Ordinary Level results will be released today, an official confirmed yesterday.

Zimsec Public Relations Officer, Ms Nicky Dlamini said the results will be released today as earlier announced.

“Yes, the results will be released tomorrow. We will issue more information when they are released,” said Ms Dlamini.

Government two weeks ago ordered a re-write of the English Paper 2 but this was stopped by the High Court which ruled that the overall English exam results should be based solely on the students’ English Paper 1 performance.

In granting the order cancelling the re-writing of the exam, Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, sitting with Justice Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa, re-emphasised that the real culprits in the whole debacle were officials from Zimsec.

“No action to date has been taken against such officials,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.

“It is the court’s view that failure to take action against officials responsible for leakages is responsible for the discrediting of the education standards in Zimbabwe.”

Zimsec Board chairman Professor Eddie Mwenje apologised to the nation for the anxiety and disappointment caused by the November 2017 Ordinary Level English Language Examination leakages. Six Zimsec bosses have since been sent on leave, with its director Mr Esau Nhandara also on leave pending retirement.

Prof Mwenje said to ensure uninterrupted flow of business at Zimsec, the board had appointed Dr Lazarus Nembaware as the acting director.

Due to delays in releasing Ordinary Level results, the examination body has extended the June examination registration deadline following the expiry of the initial deadline last Friday.

Zimsec said the new deadline will be announced after the release of the results today. — state media

Zimbabwe realised over $800 000 in revenue from the sale of its diamonds, the first auction to be conducted following the suspension that was effected ten months ago.

The test run out of a consignment of over 1.5 million carats of the precious mineral heralds the transparency and accountability that the country has assumed for its diamond sales.- state media

By Staff Reporter| The Zimbabwe Passengers Association representative, Mr Tafadzwa Goliati has claimed that 3 people were killed by police during the chaotic incidents Thursday night which began at the Seke Fly Over in Harare.

Mr Goliati who was assaulted by the police spoke to ZimEye.com.

“There were two guys, and also a woman, a vendor,” Mr Tafadzwa Goliati said.

He added saying the three were shot dead. LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW BELOW

Chaos in Harare CBD:

1.ZRP fired live shots 40 mins ago killing 2 vendors (I didn’t see them).
2. Heavy teargas thrown
3. Harare Central Charge Office shutdown with cars burning outside
4. Lockdown 30 mins ago at Joina City (took the shot) pic.twitter.com/XUXGyQrKg6

— #RIPPresidentMorganTsvangirai?? (@Staera_Ndini) February 22, 2018

The Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has in terms of Section 6 of the 12^th schedule of Parks and Wildlife Act number 19 of 2001, terminated the term of office of the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority board with immediate effect.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Ambassador Grace Mutandiro said the wayward conduct of some members of the board which was characterised by a departure from playing an advisory role to that of assuming executive powers, ran counter to the good cooperate governance principles the government is adopting.

Apart from playing a key role in the economy, the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is also the custodian of the conservation of the country’s natural resources and it therefore demands that the responsible minister ensures that at all times competent individuals with requisite probity constitute its board.- state media

By Farai D Hove| Minister Obert Mpofu who embarrassingly bolted out of parliament this afternoon evading being grilled over diamond revenue leaks, is in charge of the police, it was noted Thursday night.

News readers named the Minister as they complained over the violence on civilians by the ZRP on Thursday night.

“By the way, it is Obert Mpofu who is in charge of the police,” wrote an observer  after it was reported that at least 3 people were shot by cops at Seke Fly Over.

Iyo Police yedu ? inoti kurohwa neMapositori, kugariswa pasi nemasoja nekumhanyiswa nemaHwindi. Dzungu too much !!

— Wellence Mujuru (@WellenceMujuru) February 22, 2018

Obert mpofu is the minister of home affairs what can you expect from him after that parly probe shameless display

— ben ja min (@BEN2JA5MIN) February 22, 2018

The Home Affairs Minister had not made a statement at the time of writing. – WATCH VIDEOS OF THE BUILD UP TO THE SKIRMISHES BELOW:

Below are the pictures of the current chaos taking place in the Harare CBD. Two people are feared dead after an alleged police gun attack.

By Paul Nyathi| BARELY 2 DAYS after her endorsement of Nelson Chamisa, National People’s Party leader Joice Mujuru has made a surprise stance change and endorsed alienated MDC-T Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe as the genuine leader of the opposition party.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday evening, Mujuru said that interim President Nelson Chamisa outwited Khuphe outside the MDC-T constitution to get himself to the helm of the party.

She told the US based VOA, “issues in the MDC-T are straight forward, Khuphe is the rightful person to be leading the party not Chamisa.”

Mujuru also echoed wide spread speculations that Khuphe was denied the chance to lead the party because she is a woman.

“It is very possible that Khuphe was denied the position just because she is a woman,” added Mujuru.

Mujuru condemned the MDC-T supporters for assaulting Khuphe at the funeral on Tuesday claiming that female politicians in the country are being unfairly harassed for standing their ground to contest for leadership.

She echoed how she was also attacked by ZANU PF youth league members last month while she was going on a campaign in Glenview Harare.

On Tuesday, Mujuru got a huge applause from mourners at the burial of the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai when she endorsed Chamisa and declared that she was prepared to work with Chamisa in a coalition which she pulled out of when Tsvangirai was still alive.

Mujuru is also the presidential candidate for the People’s Rainbow Coalition a rival coalition to the Chamisa led MDC Alliance coalition.

A farmer reportedly chewed off a snake’s head in revenge after the reptile bit him, with his attending doctors saying they had never come across such a bizarre case.

The incident took place in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state in Hardoi district at the weekend, when the man identified only by his first name, Sonelal – was rushed to a government health centre after locals found him unconscious.

The man told villagers that he was grazing his cattle in the fields when the snake bit him, which however made him so angry he chewed off its hood before spitting it out.

“The snake bit me, so I held its head and chewed it off, it died, then I brought it back to the village. I tore off its head again,’’ Sonelal told the ANI news agency.

Sanjay Kumar, a doctor who treated him said he was amazed that the man survived after biting the hood, which could have contained venom, assuming it was a poisonous snake.

However, the local media said that the doctors failed to find any marks of snakebite on his body.

“I’ve never seen such a case in my life. The man was all right even after biting a snake,’’ Kumar said.

Witnesses who claimed they saw him ingest part of the snake said they suspected the man was addicted to drugs.

Medical officials believe that the man’s abnormal reaction could only be explained if he was under the influence of drugs.

Punch.com

Bushes in Humanikwa Village, Buhera became an eyesore on Tuesday morning with used condoms strewn all over following an invasion of the area ahead of Morgan Tsvangirai’s burial.

The former Prime Minister died in South Africa last week and was laid to rest at his rural home – next to wife Susan – on Tuesday afternoon.

The invasion of Buhera by mourners, consisting of mainly MDC-T supporters, late on Monday had its ugly results.

A number of the ‘mourners’ turned the bushes around the Tsvangirai homestead into sex havens, something that riled the elders in the area.

In his graveside speech, Chief Makumbe condemned the mourners who violated traditional rules of the area.

“It is very sad to learn that some people violate our traditional beliefs and customs. Vazhinji venyu munobva kuvanhu itaiwo tsika dzakanaka kwese kwamunoenda.

“When others were mourning some people were busy doing evil things and committing adultery. It is not good,” said Chief Makumbe.

On Tuesday morning, a villager only identified as Tinashe was seen distributing condoms to gleeful mourners.

Tinashe told H-Metro that his fears were that there will be a number of unwanted pregnancies and infections based on what he witnessed around the place including the nearby school yard.

“When other people were gathered at the Tsvangirai homestead some were taking turns to use the bush and classroom blocks for sex,” said Tinashe.

“Rains forced some to look for accommodation and some ended up booking at lodges in Murambinda but most of the lodges were booked by MDC senior officials.

“Besides the condoms found scattered in the bush, I want to believe few mourners had taken condoms with them.

“If there are those, who carried condoms it means they had already planned to abominate our community.

“I am distributing these condoms for free but some are feeling shy to collect them day light pakaipa mukoma,” said Tinashe.

However, one mourner felt the offer came too late.

“Hatichamada macondom ako tirikudzokera nhasi wakadii kutipa nezuro wacho,” said the mourner.- state media

Former President Robert Mugabe yesterday reportedly turned down a public birthday bash organised for him by the Zanu PF youth league, opting to privately celebrate his 94th anniversary with his close family members.
The Zanu PF youth league had approached his family with a proposal to have a mini-party for its former leader, who was removed from power in November last year following a military intervention.

According to sources, Mugabe refused to be treated to a mini-bash by the Zanu PF youth league due to the manner his party and the military treated him before his resignation.

“He wants to be with his family and those who love him genuinely and not those who want to abuse his name for political gains,” a close family member, said.

“The family would want to hold the birthday party for our old man, as a private event. But critically, what business does the party have for a man they removed in the manner they did?”

Born on February 21, 1924, Mugabe trained as a teacher and taught in then Rhodesia and Ghana before returning home to join the guerrilla war against white-minority rule.
He became prime minister after Zimbabwe attained independence from Britain in 1980. He later became president in 1987.

Zanu PF youth secretary, Pupurai Togarepi, confirmed yesterday that there was no bash at Mugabe’s residence, as they had anticipated. Togarepi said instead, the youth would still celebrate their former leaders’ legacy through charitable works.

“We are only celebrating Robert Mugabe Youth Day. As for a birthday celebration, it’s a private function, which is confidential for me to give you a programme,” he said. The youth league last week indicated a delegation would visit Mugabe at his private residence in Borrowdale Brooke to give a birthday treat to the 94-year-old icon.

Had it not been for the military action in November, this year’s birthday bash for Mugabe would have been held in Nyanga, hosted under the auspices of the 21st February Movement.

The Zanu PF youth league, then under the leadership of Kudzanayi Chipanga, who has since been expelled, was already mobilising resources when Mugabe was forced to resign. Newsday

The government has at last released bonus payment dates for civil servants.

Government had earlier announced that 2017 bonuses would be staggered this year, starting with the army, doctors and nurses being paid first, then the police and lastly teachers.

However, the delay in announcing payment dates was causing much anxiety among unions.

“We suspect that government will pay us bonuses when they see fit, probably towards elections to use that as a campaign tool because they know that with the current leadership at the Apex Council, they will not be under any pressure,” Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general Raymond Majongwe told the local Daily News.

Former Apex Council deputy president Ladistous Zunde also accused Alexander of being too soft with government during negotiations.

“During negotiations with government before they threw me out clandestinely, our colleagues were more of a hindrance than help as they took sides with government and even ganged up against me saying I was undermining the chairperson’s authority by being too vocal,” Zunde said.

“They wanted me to use diplomacy but I insisted that diplomacy does not work in trade unionism because negotiations without arms are like music without instruments.

“Now that they are running the show on their own, I doubt if they will be brave enough to confront government over bonuses.”

While Alexander was not immediately available for comment, George Mushipe, the Apex Council secretary, denied that the union had been teeth-clipped.

“I do not think that position is correct because we have been making frantic efforts to engage government on the issue of bonus but sadly they have not been able to give us exact dates apart from the commitment to pay,” Mushipe said.

“We have, for your own information, engaged the highest office in the land where we have been referred to the Labour minister.

“We are also going to hold a meeting of the Apex Council to deliberate on issues to do with dates of payment so that we move away from mere promises to tangible action. That can only come from an organisation that is not captured by anyone,” he said.

This comes as there is confusion in government over whether civil servants are still under the Labour ministry or President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office.

Labour minister Petronella Kagonye told the Daily News last week she had been informed that civil servants now fall directly under Mnangagwa’s office.

“Until recently, I thought that civil servants were under my purview until I was corrected that in fact they are under the president’s office,” Kagonye said after a meeting with the country’s labour unions last month.

The civil service used to be under the ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, which has since been reconfigured to the ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

Government pronounced on Monday that it will announce the dates shortly. Secretary for Finance and Economic Planning ministry Willard Manungo said: “Minister (Patrick) Chinamasa will shortly be communicating the payment dates.

“We’re yet to set the date for the announcement, but it will be soon. The payment of bonuses will be staggered as we have said before.”

Chinamasa last year assured civil servants that they would be paid their 2017 bonuses, and claimed he had set aside $176 million for their 13th cheque.-

Terrence Mawawa, Mberengwa
A local traditional leader has accused two former Government Ministers of looting funds meant for the rehabilitation of roads in the area.

Addressing villagers here last week Chief Mahlebadza Mudavanhu made a scathing attack on former Ministers Saviour Kasukuwere(Local Government) and Sydney Sekeramayi(Defence) for allegedly looting $ 6,8 million meant for the rehabilitation of roads in Mberengwa District.

According to Chief Mudavanhu the money was donated by the United Nations towards the construction of Jeka Bridge and the rehabilitation of dilapidated roads in the area.

“Kasukuwere and Sekeramayi came here last year in the company of some United Officials who pledged to give us $ 6,8 million towards the refurbishment of roads.The two were then asked to collect the funds on behalf of our community but they never came back,” said Chief Mudavanhu.

Chief Mudavanhu further alleged that Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister, Joram Gumbo was aware of the scam.

THE MDC-T supporter, who was assaulted for taking pictures of Gogo Tsvangirai at son, Morgan’s burial believes she was lucky to escape ra_pe.

Nyaradzo Mtize was assaulted by Sekuru Innocent Zvaipa for taking pictures of the popular Gogo Tsvangirai as she sat graveside.

Gogo Tsvangirai has been subject to social media ridicule since Saturday when she was captured on ZTV camera demanding the sidelining of daughter-in-law Elizabeth Macheka and MDC-T acting president, Nelson Chamisa.

Chamisa is seemingly a darling of social media youths and they then ganged up against Gogo Tsvangirai calling her all sorts of ugly names.

Nyaradzo could not resist the temptation of taking a picture of Gogo Tsvangirai when she got close to where she was with relatives and took pictures with her phone while relatives were watching.

Zvaipa charged at Nyaradzo, a University of Zimbabwe student, and repeatedly slapped her in the full glare of the mourners at the cemetery.

Nyaradzo said she was forced to give her Facebook account and one of the relatives went through it to check if she had not already uploaded the photographs.

“The man is so cruel, he clapped me twice that my eye and cheek are swelling and I am in pain,” she said.

She was however, scared to report the attack to police.

“If it was not that they would hunt me down and also that it will be time-consuming I could have lodged a report with the police. Now I regret staying behind at the graveyard when my friends left. As for taking pictures I didn’t know that it was an offence since journalists were taking her and many others some photographs,” she said.

Tsvangirai family spokesperson, Manase Tsvangirai confirmed the incident saying he has since apologised to Nyaradzo.

“Sekuru and everyone else who saw her taking the pictures was not happy and we thought she had a hidden agenda. She went on to anger family members when she was asked her reason for taking photographs hanzi Gogo varikunakidza nhasi, kana ndimiwo? It’s so provocative but we apologised after learning that she is only a UZ student who came to join others in burying my brother,” said Manase.

GOOD SAMARITAN
Following the attack, Nyaradzo was then offered transport to Harare by a well-wisher, only identified as Sebastian. It seemed a comfortable journey until Sebastian changed the route saying he had decided to go to his rural home in Hwedza.

Nyaradzo asked to be dropped so she could look for transport to Harare but Sebastian refused and proceeded to his family home in Hwedza without her consent.

This unsettled Nyaradzo extremely as Sebastian had spent the better part of the trip making advances to her.

“He witnessed me being attacked at the cemetery and came to me sympathising with me. I fell for his sympathy and accepted his transport offer. However, he was asking me out for a better part of the journey and I was terrified when he then diverted and drove to Hwedza against my will.

“I even called my boyfriend hoping that it would put him off but he (Sebastian) didn’t seem to care and at that stage I had virtually been kidnapped and feared for the worst. He took me to his rural home and seemed intent to spend the night there with me.

“Fortunately for me, his mother was not feeling well and she asked to be taken to Harare right away and that is what saved me. He could not say no to his mother given her condition and whatever plans he had went up in smoke. We eventually arrived in Harare around midnight.”

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

PUBLIC WORKS AND NATIONAL HOUSING, ON HARARE METROPOLITAN URBAN TRANSPORTATION DISRUPTIONS.

The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, in its capacity as the authority in charge of the administration of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:50), regrets the hurried decision taken by the Harare City Council to immediately ban commuter omnibuses and kombis from entering the Central Business District without first 
providing a viable and inexpensive alternative for the commuting public to use. 

Accordingly, and in full view of the decentralized function that the 
Harare City Council would ordinarily exercise by legislative delegation, I, 
as the responsible Minister, hereby reverse and rescind with immediate 
effect the said decision and subsequent announcement by the City 
banning commuter omnibuses and kombis access to the Central 
Business District until such time that proper and sustainable transit 
arrangements are put in place for workers and the travelling public. My 
directive is issued in terms of Section 314 of the Urban Councils Act 
[Chapter29:1S].

My directive has been issued in light of the fact that the Council’s  decision and action are not in the interest of the inhabitants of the  Council Area and the Harare Metropolitan Province, to the extent that  they hinder free travel by tourists and the general public, and injure the general national and public interest. Accordingly, I have conveyed the reversal and the rescission to the City Council in writing. Kindly note that my directive does not cover unregistered vehicles unlawfully engaged in commuter services such as  “mushikashikas“. Equally, the directive does not condone other illegal activities such as mending in undesignated places, littering and illegal money changing. These must keep off the streets as required by law.

As the responsible Minister, I apologize to all Harare Residents, Residents of the Harare Metropolitan Province and our valued visitors for the disruptions and inconveniences already suffered. Further, I inform all Residents of the Metropolitan Province that the renewal of the City and she local authorities, along with the orderly restructuring of the City’s public transport system, will be properly undertaken by Central Government. All stakeholders, including transport operators, businesses, residents and vendors, through their respective representatives, will be consulted for smooth execution.

Already, significant steps towards developing a Transport Master Plan for the Metropolitan Province of Harare have been undertaken.

Honou J.G. Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, 22/02/18

Terrence Mawawa
A Mhondoro man forced a 64-year-old woman to have sex with him at gunpoint.

Edson Rupindo(27), appeared before Chivu Magistrate Fadzai Mutombeni facing rape charges last week.

The court heard that on October 17 2017, Rupindo saw the elderly woman as she was going home following a day’ s work at her field.

Rupindo allegedly ordered the woman to remove her clothes and he forcibly had sex with her.

He allegedly threatened to shoot her if she screamed.

He stole her cellphone and vanished into the nearby bush.

On the same day, Rupindo robbed Chiedza Magwai of her cash and grocery items.

Rupindo was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Terrence Mawawa
Acting MDC president Nelson Chamisa will tomorrow address a news conference at the party head office in the capital Harare.

Chamisa has strongly warned unruly party supporters to desist from acts of violence and tomorrow he is expected to emphasise the message of peace and unity in the party.

Below is a statement from Luke Tamborinyoka, the MDC Presidential Spokesperson Director of Communications:

Acting President Hon. Advocate Nelson Chamisa will
convene a presser tomorrow, Friday 23 February
2018, on the violence reportedly perpetrated
against party leaders in Buhera on Tuesday.

The acting President has already instructed the
party’s security and intelligence unit to compile a
comprehensive report on the alleged violence
against Vice President Hon. Dr. Thokozani Khupe,
Secretary-general Mr. Douglas Mwonzora and
organizing secretary Hon. Abednigo Bhebhe.

Acting President Chamisa has already given the
security and intelligence unit 24 hours to get to the
bottom of the security infringements in Buhera that
caused the violence and harassment of the party
leaders. He has already said violence is against the
character of the MDC and stern action must be
taken against the perpetrators if they are members
of the party, adding that the police must arrest the
culprits.

Accompanying the acting President at tomorrow’s
press conference at 1000hrs at the party
headquarters( Harvest House) will be other senior
leaders of the party.

The MDC is a party of excellence that does not
brook any violence within its ranks and will leave no
stone unturned in dealing with the culprits.

One of the victims of the Belgravia shooting, which occurred Monday night, has been discharged from hospital.

Kevin Guzah, 26, had been admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and was in the company of Kudzai Nduku when he was mistaken for being part of armed robbers who had robbed a Chinese businessman and his business partner of $8 500.

Guzah said he was shot on his right leg and the pelvis by a Chinese national who was dressed in an army uniform.

Kudzai is still admitted at the same hospital and reports are that the doctor has said she might not be able to walk properly again.

Narrating his ordeal to H-Metro, Guzah said he was feeling better but still traumatised.

“I returned from China last week and on Monday I picked up a friend whom I haven’t seen for sometime and we went to KFC at Belgravia Shopping Centre around 10:30pm.

“We got some food and we were driving to my sister’s place using a road that heads towards Twin Rivers Primary School.

“As we were about to turn, we saw some people shooting at each other. They were four Chinese men and five black people and they were all wearing military uniforms,” he said.

He added:

“I reversed the car and headed back to Belgravia and a white Honda Fit with the Chinese people pursued us and hit the back of our car and when we stopped, they came to us and fired into the passenger side and Kudzai was hit on the leg.

“When I noticed that the guys meant business, I jumped out of the car and I started running towards the sports club. The Chinise kept firing and I fell into a ditch and I was shot on the right leg and my pelvis.

“They started assaulting me and I heard one of the black people shouting banga ririkupi. They took me into their car and drove to their place. They continued assaulting me as I begged for my life.

“The police later arrived and they called an ambulance which took me to hospital. We were both admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. HMetro

Namibia Football Association secretary general, Barry Rukoro again courted controversy for violent conduct after allegedly assaulting Cosafa president, Philip Chiyangwa in South Africa on Friday.

Details of the showdown remain sketchy, but The Namibian Sport understands that Rukoro reportedly struck Chiyangwa, who doubles as head of the Zimbabwean Football Association, following a difference in opinion during a heated discussion on the sidelines of Cosafa’s annual general meeting held in Johannesburg.

Chiyangwa declined to comment on the incident when contacted by The Namibian Sport. However, NFA president Frans Mbidi confirmed that he was aware of the altercation.
“I was informed about the incident,” he said on Monday.

Rukoro, who has a chequered history of unbecoming behaviour, appears likely to escape retribution though, with no formal complaint having been filed.

He too failed to respond to The Namibian Sport’s questions by Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s all up to Cosafa. The NFA was not officially informed about any charge of misconduct, and, therefore, cannot do anything,” Mbidi said.

Despite being unwilling to publicly speak about the issue, Chiyangwa told Zambian FA head, Andrew Kamanga of what had transpired in a WhatsApp conversation, part of which The Namibian Sport is privy to.

Chiyangwa did not deny the authenticity of the screenshot conversation. “We need to talk. Mbidi’s SG attacked me at the hotel,” Chiyangwa wrote to Kamanga, who responded: “I saw that, and was wondering where it came from.”

A flamboyant and boisterous figure, who divides opinion back home in Zimbabwe, Chiyangwa is said to have irked Rukoro when asking about his alleged attacker’s strained relationship with Mbidi.

Rukoro’s employment contract runs out at the end of March, and Mbidi has indicated that the long-serving official will not be offered a new deal.

Mbidi’s pronouncement has stoked tensions, with Rukoro, whom Mbidi suspended and then reinstated around this time last year, reportedly planning to use his considerable influence within the NFA executive to prolong his stay as the football mother body’s secretariat’s figurehead.

Rukoro is no stranger to violence-related controversy, having been arrested on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after tying a 15-year-old boy to a tree and beating the teenager, whom he accused of stealing a mobile phone on October 4, 2011.

Earlier that year in May, Rukoro also made headlines after punching a freelance media consultant in the face at the end of a press conference, having being displeased with his line of questioning.

Both cases were settled out of court. Namibian

By Staff Reporter| Former President Robert Mugabe is going to be grilled over the missing diamond revenue amounting to over $15billion.

Mugabe is set to be investigation soon after former Mines Minister Obert Mpofu who Thursday afternoon bolted out of parliament, the event which was filmed LIVE by ZimEye.com.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines, Temba Mliswa told ZimEye.com, “everyone is equal before the law and it must be investigated and discovered what became of the revenue. The former President will soon also be summoned,” he said.

Meanwhile, ZimEye.com brings some of the video highlights from Thursday afternoon’s grilling:

MDC-T co-deputy president Dr Thokozani Khupe said yesterday that the party’s acting president Advocate Nelson Chamisa sent thugs to kill her during the burial of MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai in Buhera on Tuesday.

The violence in the opposition party, has seen the party’s national spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu quitting MDC-T saying he can longer be part of a violent organisation.

In a video which has gone viral on social media, Dr Khupe narrated how she was brutalised on her arrival at Tsvangirai’s homestead in Buhera prior to the burial of their leader.

Tsvangirai died on February 14 at a hospital in South Africa after battling with cancer of the colon since 2016.

Dr Khupe said Adv Chamisa’s emissaries attacked her accusing her of being a stumbling block to his ascendance to power.”When we arrived in Buhera for the burial, we decided to go and see Tsvangirai’s mother just to let her know of our presence. We were however approached by 10 youths before we could do that  and they started attacking us. They were later joined by others who were saying Khupe you should go back to Matabeleland we want to kill you,” said Dr Khupe.

“They wanted to kill me, one villager tried to rescue us by letting us hide in his thatched hut and when we were in the hut, they started throwing stones at us. They even tried to set the hut on fire but because it was raining, the thatch could not catch fire and the hut was filled with smoke.”

She said: “They were swearing saying ‘today you are going to die in this hut. We no longer want you because you’re blocking the ascendance of our person. They were saying Chamisa, Chamisa, Chamisa.”

Dr Khupe vowed to fight until her party returns to constitutionalism as she declared that Adv Chamisa was fraudulently made the party’s acting president.

She said she was putting to an end the view that a person from Matabeleland region and a woman cannot lead the MDC-T.

“What even pains me is that when the president died on February 14, 12 hours later they held a bogus meeting called the national council and the national executive in order for Chamisa to proclaim himself the party’s acting president. They know that there is a constitution, what kind of people are they who do not respect death,” she said.

“I’ve realised that they disrespect me because I’m from Matabeleland and I’m a woman. I want to tell them right here that this view that a woman and a person from Matabeleland cannot be a president in the MDC-T, is coming to an end.

“I want to show them that people from Matabeleland can be presidents, when Mr Tsvangirai was not around in 2008, I single handedly ran the party after they had all escaped.”

Dr Khupe said she was always opposed to the appointment of Adv Chamisa and Engineer Elias Mudzuri as the party’s co-deputy presidents.

“I want the whole nation to know that I don’t recognise Chamisa as the party’s acting president. I even told the president (Tsvangirai) when he appointed him that I would not recognise him as a vice president because we don’t have a constitution that allows for the appointment of vice presidents. He is now sending thugs to come and assault and kill me. That will never happen,” she said.

Adv Chamisa through micro blogging site Twitter however seemed to distance himself from rowdy youths that attacked Dr Khupe calling on members of the public to present footage that will nail Dr Khupe’s attackers.

“Completely unacceptable threats of violence against VP Khupe. Please share videos and pictures to help us identify culprits. The police must apprehend and charge those responsible. We will never accept as comrades those who perpetrate violence in our name,” tweeted Adv Chamisa. – state media