Thousands have gathered outside Harvest House to bid MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai farewell.

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) vice-chancellor Levi Nyagura allegedly took the institution’s lecturers to Grace Mugabe’s Mazowe orphanage so she could take oral examinations for her disputed Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, a Harare court heard yesterday. 

Nyagura (72) was arrested on Friday for alleged criminal abuse of office for his role in the awarding of the degree to the former first lady.

Harare magistrate Tilda Mazhande was told Nyagura single-handedly accepted the wife of former president Robert Mugabe’s application to study for the PhD without the knowledge of the UZ’s sociology department.

Prosecutor Oscar Madhume said in 2011 Nyagura approved Ntombizodwa G Marufu (Grace’s maiden name) application without the knowledge and recommendations of the departmental board and faculty of higher degrees committee in violation of UZ quality assurance guidelines and benchmark.

He said during the same period, Nyagura appointed Professor Claude Mararike and Professor Chaneta to supervise Grace without the knowledge and approval of the department.

Nyagura is accused of usurping the powers of the UZ senate by single-handedly appointing examiners for Mugabe’s research in violation of the UZ Act chapter 25:16 and Ordinance 1998/99.

Nyagura allegedly led supervisors and examiners to Mugabe’s Mazowe orphanage, where the defence oral examination was purportedly done without the knowledge and approval of the academic committee while in actual fact the examination is supposed to be done at the UZ premises.

The prosecution alleged that during the same year, Nyagura recommended to Mugabe that Grace should be awarded the PhD.

This was allegedly done without the knowledge of the UZ council and academic committee.
The sociology department distanced itself from both the candidate and awarding of the degree as it was done without their knowledge. Prosecutors said Grace did not meet the minimum requirements to study for the degree.

Nyagura, who is represented by advocate Lewis Uriri, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to March 5 on $200 bail.

As part of his bail conditions, Nyagura was ordered not to interfere with State witnesses who include lecturers. Standard

Staff Reporter| President Emmerson Mnangagwa is on his way to Morgan Tsvangirai’s house in Highlands.

The President is expected to pay condolences to the Tsvangirai family. The late MDC leader died during the week after a long battle with cancer of the colon.

MDC Alliance member and party leader, Welshman Ncube claims that Morgan Tsvangirai knew he was dying and appointed Nelson Chamisa his successor.

Ncube is MDC-T Vice President Thokozani Khupe’s nemesis.

He told the Standard that the former prime minister, Tsvangirai realised that he was losing the battle against colon cancer and chose Chamisa to take over from him after his eventual death. Ncube said:

“I got a call during that meeting from Tsvangirai asking me to visit him the following day at his home.

I went to his house; it was a Saturday… that meeting was emotionally draining.In his words, he said let us be realistic, I am losing this battle with cancer and I will not be with you for long.

He said he would not make it and would not be with us during the election campaigns, during elections… I kept telling him not to say such things or ever entertain such thoughts.

I asked how we would go about it when he was not around. He then said ‘I will give you Chamisa to lead the whole process’.

He asked me to assist Chamisa with this important task to give Zimbabweans another fighting chance in the elections, but I said I could not do that unless Chamisa was also told the same.

I called Chamisa and he came and joined us and Tsvangirai said the exact same thing to Chamisa that he had chosen him to lead the MDC-T and MDC Alliance in his absence.”

Chamisa was eventually appointed the party’s acting president of the party. Read more in The Standard report. 

MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora has insisted that his party rushed to appoint Nelson Chamisa the President before due process.

Mwonzora made these statements to the weekly Standard saying he himself also attempted stopping the move.

He said his party violated its own constitution by electing Nelson Chamisa as the acting president of the party, a day after the death of Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mwonzora now demands that the party must hold an elective Congress to choose its presidential candidate.

Mwonzora said: “We noticed there was a rush by some leaders to convene meetings of the organs of the party even before the death of the president. But when the president finally succumbed, there arose another problem on whether we should proceed with the national council meeting or suspend all party business.

“I did the initial discussion with our leaders; we agreed we were calling off any party business to allow for a dignified send-off of our leader.

“But meetings were convened purporting to be meetings of the national council which is the highest decision-making body and decisions were made.

“It is important to note that when the president died, we called off the national council meeting and I personally did that because as the secretary-general, I am responsible for convening that.

“But some leaders decided to disobey that and during the time of the national council meeting, a question arose as to whether we should appoint someone as acting president.

“I had two fundamental problems to that as the administrator of the party. The first one was that other interested people were not there, not because of choice, they were involved in funeral arrangements of the former prime minister.

“It was only fair that everybody be there when such an important question is resolved.

“Secondly, the issue of whether the constitution allowed it. I knew the constitution did not allow the election of a leader by the national council, a leader who is elected outside congress; it can’t be done by the national council.

“Unfortunately for me, when we wanted to raise those issues, I was not allowed to speak and as a result, I left.

“… The meeting was chaired by the deputy national chairman, Morgen Komichi, so I was unable to speak, I was not allowed to speak and I left.

“Some have interpreted that an acting president in an election can act beyond the election date, that is wrong because when the MDC chooses its election candidate, it actually holds a congress and that primary election is called a congress.

“At Congress, while electing the president, you are electing two people: the head of the party and the presidential candidate for the next election.

“It is a democratic process, and that process of Congress involves voting by over 5 000 people. What happened in the national council meeting was simply a declaration of one person as the acting president, but the national council did not elect the presidential candidate.

“So the question remains on who the presidential candidate is and therefore we must hold an extraordinary congress where people would come.

“The Congress would be made up of up to 5 000 people, the national executive has less than 170 people, in fact, it has 155 people.

“That means, if we are to say the national council elects the president and the presidential candidate, we are disenfranchising over 4 800 members of the MDC who want to vote.”

University Of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Levy Nyagura who was arrested on Friday is on trial for allegedly assisting Grace Mugabe obtain a fake doctorate degree.

Nyagura (72) was arrested for alleged criminal abuse of office for his role in the awarding of the degree to the former first lady.

Harare magistrate Tilda Mazhande was told Nyagura single-handedly accepted the wife of former president Robert Mugabe’s application to study for the PhD without the knowledge of the UZ’s sociology department.

Prosecutor Oscar Madhume said in 2011 Nyagura approved Ntombizodwa G Marufu (Grace’s maiden name) application without the knowledge and recommendations of the departmental board and faculty of higher degrees committee in violation of UZ quality assurance guidelines and benchmark.

He said during the same period, Nyagura appointed Professor Claude Mararike and Professor Chaneta to supervise Grace without the knowledge and approval of the department.

Nyagura is accused of usurping the powers of the UZ senate by single-handedly appointing examiners for Mugabe’s research in violation of the UZ Act chapter 25:16 and Ordinance 1998/99. – Standard

MDC-T deputy president Dr Thokozani Khupe has reportedly lost support from one of her strongholds — Bulawayo province — with the provincial executive pledging their allegiance to the party’s acting president Mr Nelson Chamisa.

Dr Khupe is among the party’s deputy presidents — together with Mr Chamisa and Engineer Elias Mudzuri who have been fighting for the control of the party before and after the death of leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.

Dr Khupe has, however, been leading a group of senior party members in the Matabeleland region who have opposed the involvement of the party in the MDC Alliance coalition, which has seen them campaigning against the coalition. Their bone of contention being the allocation of parliamentary seats.

Dr Khupe, the party’s national organiser, Mr Abednigo Bhebhe and Mr Lovemore Moyo are reportedly not happy with events that led to the formation of the MDC Alliance especially the allocation of constituencies in the run up to the agreement with other parties who joined the coalition.

The MDC Alliance is made up of MDC-T, Transform Zimbabwe, Professor Welshman Ncube’s MDC, Zimbabwe People First, the Multi-Racial Christian Democratic Party, People’s Democratic Party, and Zanu Ndonga. It has since emerged that Dr Khupe and her allies have lost grip of their key base of support in Bulawayo with all but two members of the provincial executive making it clear that they were aligned to Mr Chamisa and supported the party’s participation in the coalition.

Among those who have reportedly abandoned Dr Khupe is the provincial chairperson, Bulawayo deputy mayor, Councillor Gift Banda who has long been considered as her close ally. The party’s acting provincial chairperson and Bulawayo Central legislator, Ms Dorcas Sibanda said it was unfortunate that a few of their colleagues had decided to rebel and oppose unity.

“It’s a simple issue of mathematics, ask any ordinary resident in Bulawayo, not just us the executive only and they will tell you that they have always been encouraging us to unite. Besides who are we to oppose what our late president, Morgan Tsvangirai clearly stated.

“We gave the president the mandate to lead and he did, he saw the importance for us to unite and this is what we are doing until the end. It is unfortunate to some of our members who just want to oppose, they will remain by themselves in the open,” said Ms Sibanda.

Efforts to get a comment from Clr Banda were fruitless . Sources revealed that while Dr Khupe was desperately trying to maintain her grip on the province, it was now becoming a futile effort as most of executive members were already campaigning under the MDC Alliance banner.

“The only two provincial executive members who have remained loyal to Dr Khupe and her crew are women’s wing chairperson, Clr Tamani Moyo and the provincial secretary, Ms Nomvula Mguni, but their opposition is not affecting the day to day running of the party in the province as they are not even attending any meetings,” said the source.

Another source who is close to Dr Khupe revealed that the grouping was slowly realising that they were losing grip and were now resorting to approaching individual members with the hope of convincing them not to abandon ship.

“Another option is to just give in and join Chamisa because that could be the only way that they can have any dream of winning in the upcoming elections,” said the source.

Mr Chamisa has declared himself MDC-T acting president for the next 12 months although a number of party bigwigs are against the move. Dr Khupe could not be reached for comment on the issue.- state media

The Hwange Colliery Company has dragged Police Commissioner-General Tandabantu Godwin Matanga to the High Court seeking an urgent order to force him to give orders to the police to eject people who have been protesting at the company’s premises in Hwange.

Wives of employees of the company besieged the company offices protesting that the coal mining firm pay their husbands their outstanding salaries. In the urgent chamber application for an interdict filed through its lawyers, Mawere Sibanda Commercial Lawyers on behalf of the company, Hwange cited Comm-Gen as the first respondent and Officer-in-Charge of Hwange Police Station as the second respondent. In the application, Hwange Colliery is seeking the court to force the police to evict the protestors.

“The applicant having sought the assistance of the police by engaging the second respondent who is in charge of the police station closest to the applicant’s main office. The second respondent having refused to intervene in the demonstrations therefore left the applicant with no other remedy except to approach this Honourable Court, as its business operations are being disrupted by the said demonstrators. The applicant accordingly hereby approaches the Honourable Court for urgent relief as set out in the draft herein,” read part of the chamber application.

The company said they want police bosses to discharge the functions of their office in terms of the Public Order and Security Act (Posa) as the regulating authority by dispersing the “unlawful” gathering of demonstrators. The company wants the protestors to be prevented from disrupting coal mining activities.

According to the application, Hwange’s business activities at the main office have been disturbed since 29 January by a group of demonstrators purporting to be the the wives of the company’s employees.

“The demonstration by the said persons being illegal in that they are on the Applicant’s private property, although not employed by the Applicant and they have no permission for the court or from the Applicant, itself to be to be demonstrating on the Applicant’s private property,” read the application.

In his founding affidavit deposed together with the application, company secretary and legal representative Mr Allen Masiya said the company was also seeking an interdict against the demonstrators.

“The demonstrators did not have any court order or clearance for carrying out their protest. To make matters worse, because they are not the applicant’s employees, they did not have applicant’s permission to enter the premises. However, despite efforts of the applicant’s security personnel to deny the demonstrators access, the groups forcefully entered the premises and surrounded the applicant’s administration building. They began disrupting the day- to-day operations of the applicant, by singing, dancing and making threats against applicant’s managing director. To date, and as I depose this affidavit, the protestors are still stationed at the administrations building, with others scattered around the applicant’s premises,” he said.

The High Court is set to hear the case on Tuesday.

Wives of HCCL employees have been demanding that the coal mining company fulfils its pledge to pay them outstanding salaries, after agreeing to a scheme of arrangement last year. Hundreds of women camped at the management office in Hwange where they used tree branches to block management from entering the premises. Some of them have been sleeping at the premises as part of their demonstration. state media

Former Vice-President Mr Phelekezela Mphoko allegedly threatened the chief executive officer of the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), Mrs Nonhlanhla Ndlovu, with unspecified action accusing her of directing the institution to stop the salary of one of his daughters who works at the hospital as a medical doctor, Sunday News can reveal.

According to sources at the hospital, Mr Mphoko called Mrs Ndlovu and threatened to “deal with her” when the hospital authorities ceased the salary of his daughter, Dr Sikhumbuzo Mphoko who went Awol during Operation Restore Legacy in November last year when the Zimbabwe Defence Forces launched the exercise targeting criminal elements surrounding former President Robert Mugabe.

A key member of the G40 cabal, Mr Mphoko had left Zimbabwe on an official visit to Japan on 14 November, a day before the defence forces launched the operation and he did not return to the country but instead, flew to Botswana where he was holed up until 1 December. His family including his two daughters who are medical doctors at UHB, Sikhumbuzo and Siduduzo reportedly also left the country and joined him in Botswana. Mrs Ndlovu confirmed that Mr Mphoko threatened her when the hospital ceased the salary of Dr Sikhumbuzo Mphoko.

“When they returned they reported for work but we had ceased the salary of one of the former VP’s daughters as she had not reported for duty for a continuous period of 14 days. We had no problems with the other one as she had followed the correct procedure of doing things here,” said Mrs Ndlovu.

“With regards with the other one, Mphoko contacted me and threatened me with unspecified action accusing me of being behind the ceasing of the salary of his daughter. I felt threatened and disappointed. I felt threatened because he used strong language against me which I can’t repeat. I was disappointed because I expected him to know what happens when someone just stops reporting for duty without following the necessary procedures. I expected him to know better as he once served as the country’s VP.”

After the threats, Mrs Ndlovu was then forced to inform her bosses in Harare. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Retired Major-General (Dr) Gerald Gwinji, then wrote to Mr Mphoko explaining the circumstances that resulted in the hospital ceasing the salary of his daughter. In the letter dated 31 January 2018 Rtd Maj-Gen (Dr) Gwinji wrote to Mr Mphoko stating that the CEO and her team followed due process in ceasing the salary of Dr Sikhumbuzo Mphoko.

“It is Government policy that salaries for any member who does not report for duty for a continuous period of 14 days be ceased as a way of controlling the wage bill. Dr Mphoko neither applied for leave nor informed the hospital authorities about her absence from work. The chief executive officer did what was expected under the circumstances. Request for the re-instatement on the pay sheet was initiated by the chief executive officer when Dr Mphoko eventually reported for duty and explained the circumstances around her absence from duty.”

When Sunday News contacted Rtd Maj-Gen (Dr) Gwinji he said his letter to the former VP was not acknowledging harassment of staff by Mr Mphoko, but it was meant to explain the fact that when the “doctors in question went absent without official leave the administration at UBH acted procedural by taking them off the payroll and allowing for procedural reconsideration of their case as they presented for duty after this period of absence.”

Efforts to contact Mr Mphoko were fruitless as all his two mobile phone numbers were said to be no longer in service.- state media

President Mnangagwa has implored incoming Zimbabwe Republic Commissioner General Godwin Matanga to hit the ground running by ensuring his officers provide services commensurate with their mandate.

The President said this on Thursday at the official opening of the new Criminal Investigations Department building which also houses a new forensic laboratory in Harare.

Speaking at the event, President Mnangagwa said society had great expectations on Commissioner General Matanga.

“We are equally conscious of the great expectations of society for the newly appointed Commissioner General to hit the ground running, by providing much needed investigative and forensic science laboratory services to the people,” said the President.

“The completion of this massive and magnificent structure, which has nine floors, will no doubt, see the CID and Forensic Scientists move from the dreary, antiquated and modular structures.

“Most importantly, the Forensic Science Laboratory will enhance evidence gathering, processing and analysis.

“This will reduce the time and effort police often devote to searching eyewitnesses of crime, as a lead to identifying a suspect.”

The president took reference to his former offices which were broken into, but police investigations were inconclusive due to lack of forensic evidence.

He said the police should be professional and disciplined.

President Mnangagwa reiterated his pledge to hold free and fair elections and urged the police to maintain law and order before, during and after the polls.

In his address during the same event Commissioner General Matanga said: “Your Excellency, during your inauguration, you promised that it was no longer business as usual.

“Borrowing from that version, allow me to also say that, it will no longer be policing as usual in the Zimbabwe Republic Police.”

“You are on record saying that, the voice of the people is the voice of God, indeed, the people spoke and we had to do deep self-introspection. We had to redeem ourselves and serve our masters well.”- state media

MDC-T deputy president Dr Thokozani Khupe has reportedly lost support from one of her strongholds — Bulawayo province — with the provincial executive pledging their allegiance to the party’s acting president Mr Nelson Chamisa.

Dr Khupe is among the party’s deputy presidents — together with Mr Chamisa and Engineer Elias Mudzuri who have been fighting for the control of the party before and after the death of leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.

Dr Khupe has, however, been leading a group of senior party members in the Matabeleland region who have opposed the involvement of the party in the MDC Alliance coalition, which has seen them campaigning against the coalition. Their bone of contention being the allocation of parliamentary seats.

Dr Khupe, the party’s national organiser, Mr Abednigo Bhebhe and Mr Lovemore Moyo are reportedly not happy with events that led to the formation of the MDC Alliance especially the allocation of constituencies in the run up to the agreement with other parties who joined the coalition.

The MDC Alliance is made up of MDC-T, Transform Zimbabwe, Professor Welshman Ncube’s MDC, Zimbabwe People First, the Multi-Racial Christian Democratic Party, People’s Democratic Party, and Zanu Ndonga. It has since emerged that Dr Khupe and her allies have lost grip of their key base of support in Bulawayo with all but two members of the provincial executive making it clear that they were aligned to Mr Chamisa and supported the party’s participation in the coalition.

Among those who have reportedly abandoned Dr Khupe is the provincial chairperson, Bulawayo deputy mayor, Councillor Gift Banda who has long been considered as her close ally. The party’s acting provincial chairperson and Bulawayo Central legislator, Ms Dorcas Sibanda said it was unfortunate that a few of their colleagues had decided to rebel and oppose unity.

“It’s a simple issue of mathematics, ask any ordinary resident in Bulawayo, not just us the executive only and they will tell you that they have always been encouraging us to unite. Besides who are we to oppose what our late president, Morgan Tsvangirai clearly stated.

“We gave the president the mandate to lead and he did, he saw the importance for us to unite and this is what we are doing until the end. It is unfortunate to some of our members who just want to oppose, they will remain by themselves in the open,” said Ms Sibanda.

Efforts to get a comment from Clr Banda were fruitless . Sources revealed that while Dr Khupe was desperately trying to maintain her grip on the province, it was now becoming a futile effort as most of executive members were already campaigning under the MDC Alliance banner.

“The only two provincial executive members who have remained loyal to Dr Khupe and her crew are women’s wing chairperson, Clr Tamani Moyo and the provincial secretary, Ms Nomvula Mguni, but their opposition is not affecting the day to day running of the party in the province as they are not even attending any meetings,” said the source.

Another source who is close to Dr Khupe revealed that the grouping was slowly realising that they were losing grip and were now resorting to approaching individual members with the hope of convincing them not to abandon ship.

“Another option is to just give in and join Chamisa because that could be the only way that they can have any dream of winning in the upcoming elections,” said the source.

Mr Chamisa has declared himself MDC-T acting president for the next 12 months although a number of party bigwigs are against the move. Dr Khupe could not be reached for comment on the issue. Sunday News

Join us LIVE as we discuss the Mbuya Tsvangirai complaint against her son’s widow, Elizabeth and the new MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa.

Mbuya Tsvangirai has been fed with Truth Or Gossip Poison? | CHAMISA ZBC VIDEO REVIEW

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 17, 2018

Woes continue to mount for ex-Cabinet minister Ignatius Chombo after he was dragged to court on fresh corruption charges yesterday.

Chombo is facing a slew of charges relating to some of the transactions made during his tenure as Local Government minister.

The State insists millions of dollars were misappropriated, as a result of his alleged abuse of office.

In the latest case, Chombo appeared before Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba charged with criminal abuse of office.

This was after he allegedly demanded a 25 percent shareholding from a Chirundu-based fish farmer who had approached his office seeking the release of title deeds for a property he was leasing.

Prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba alleged that in 2001 the complainant, Chargan Vithal Rama, got a 60-year lease to stand number 554/547 Chirundu Fish Farm, expiring in 2054.

Rama intended to practice fish farming on the farm and, in 2007, after he had made developments worth $500 000 on the property, he ran out of money and approached banks for funding.

The court heard that banks needed surety in the form of title deeds for the land on which fish farming was being practiced.

It was alleged that Rama’s brother Amrat Vithal who had been a councillor in Chirundu arranged a meeting with Chombo to persuade the then Local Government minister to facilitate release of the title deeds for Rama to qualify for loans.

The court heard that Chombo advised Rama to meet him at his residence along Mazowe Road to discuss the issue.

In February 2008, Rama, Amrat and son Vinodhai went to Chombo’s house on a Sunday and presented their request before being told that title deeds could be released on condition that they would declare 25 percent share of their business.

Chombo reportedly made it clear that 25 percent was for his facilitation of the issue of title deeds and Rama advised the minister that he would consider the condition and get back to him.

It was alleged that Rama never returned to Chombo and he caused withdrawal of the businessman’s lease illegally before giving verbal instructions to his subordinates to allocate Glory Boost (Private) Limited the same lease.

According to the State, Chombo had no right to issue instructions to the deputy director State Lands to allocate the farm to Glory Boost and showed favour.

After the State applied for bail yesterday, the prosecutor did not oppose Chombo’s admission to bail and applied that he continues abiding by conditions that were imposed on him by the High Court in previous matters.

Chombo is on $5 000 bail with conditions to report once a day at Marlborough Police Station, surrender passport and continue residing at his present address.

Chombo is already facing another similar case, in which property developer Eddies Pfugari is a complainant, the State alleged that sometime in 1997 Pfugari purchased White Cliff Farm from Fredrick John William Smith and the property was transferred under Deed of Transfer number 10444/2000.

The court heard that prior to acquisition of the property, government had a certificate of “no present interest” in respect of the land and Pfugari was granted a subdivision permit.

Pfugari subsequently divided the farm into residential stands and began selling to prospective home owners.

Sometime in 2000, Chombo used his authority and allegedly allocated the residential stands to illegal settlers within Pfugari’s property.

According to the State, Chombo’s conduct disrupted a lawful housing scheme, he abused his office and acted unlawfully.

Pfugari subsequently lost property valued $200 million.

It was further alleged that Chombo appeared to be sympathetic to Pfugari for his loss and reportedly invited him to his office assuring him he would remove the illegal settlers from his land.

Chombo claimed he would use his political muscle on condition that Pfugari gave him a consideration or reward in the form of a piece of land from his property in Norton where he was selling residential stands.

Since Pfugari was desperate at that time he gave Chombo stand number 5841 Knowe Norton measuring 3 712 acres valued at $310 150.

Pfugari was advised to transfer the stand into Ronchelle Trading (Pvt) Ltd a company whose directors are Nimrod Chiminya(Chombo’s brother) and Kumbirai Mubwandarika under Deed of Transfer number 10761/02.

The shelf company was allegedly bought and used specifically for this transaction.- Daily News

MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai’s burial has been moved to Tuesday.

This follows announcements by the party leadership Saturday afternoon. Party Spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka called journalists to Tsvangirai’s house in Highlands.

Tsvangirai’s brother, Collins had said that the burial was likely going to take place on Monday.

But following the Saturday presser, the burial is now taking place next week Tuesday in Tsvangirai’s rural home, Buhera.

MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora announced saying, “for the avoidance of doubt, the burial of President Tsvangirai is taking place on Tuesday in Humanikwa Village in Buhera. This is now final. We regret the inconvenience caused by any earlier contrary announcements.”

Tsvangirai will be buried next to his late wife, Susan.

President Mnangagwa’s administration has said Tsvangirai will get a State assisted funeral.

Mourners who are this weekend gathered at Tsvangirai’s Highlands house include his ex-wife Locardia Karimatsenga.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has congratulated newly-elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, saying Zimbabwe was looking forward to strengthening the existing good relations between the two neighbouring countries.

In a message posted on micro-blogging site Twitter, President Mnangagwa wished Mr Ramaphosa well, saying his excellence and persistence earned him the leadership of his people.

“My very warmest congratulations to President Cyril Ramaphosa. His excellence and persistence have now earned him the leadership of his people.

Zimbabwe sends its very best wishes to him and his administration. We look forward to strengthening more our ties. Congratulations!” said President Mnangagwa.

Mr Ramaphosa (66) was elected after former President Jacob Zuma (76) officially resigned on Wednesday night during a special broadcast that was beamed live on television.
The embattled Mr Zuma bowed to pressure from his ANC party and opposition parties who wanted him to step down.

Mr Zuma was due to complete his term of office next year. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki also congratulated Mr Ramaphosa, describing Mr Jacob Zuma’s resignation as a step in the right direction.

“I think (former) President (Jacob) Zuma did the right thing. Once the leadership of the ANC took that position and in the context of what the majority of the population was saying, it was really time that he left office. Maybe he ought to have done it earlier so that the ANC was not forced to threaten a vote of no confidence and all that,” he was quoted as saying on SABC.

Mr Mbeki, who was also in 2008 recalled by the National Executive Committee of the ANC, said Mr Ramaphosa should work towards economic growth in order to deal decisively with poverty and high unemployment rate.

He said that change was needed because corruption had become entrenched in all spheres of government under the leadership of Mr Zuma.

Mr Mbeki said that low economic growth, poverty and the high unemployment rate remain burning problems. He said the new faces in government should come up with new results and positive change.

“I hope he knows that this change has inspired a lot of change among our people, we want to see a clean government. We want to see a government that really, honestly systematically addresses the concerns of our people,” he said.

The election of Mr Ramaphosa means that he becomes the Sadc chairperson, a position that was held by former President Zuma who had taken over the rotating chairmanship from King Mswati III of Swaziland in August 2017. – state media

The United States of America government has lined up investors that are coming to have a look at the available investment opportunities in Zimbabwe following the ascendency of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to power late last year, US ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Harry Thomas Jnr has said. 

Ambassador Thomas Jnr was speaking after paying a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare yesterday, where he also applauded the new dispensation.

He commended President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for making sturdy progress in improving Zimbabwe’s relations with the international community.

“We told him (President Mnangagwa) that our government has investors coming to look at Zimbabwe,” said Ambassador Thomas Jnr.

“They will continue to come and look, and we will continue to provide humanitarian aid and we hope to find ways to also partner with Zimbabwe and its people.

“We congratulated him, wished him makorokoto on becoming the President of this country.”
Ambassador Thomas Jnr said the illegal sanctions the US imposed on Zimbabwe were a prerogative of President Donald Trump.

“Sanctions are up to the President of the United States and the Senate and so they will make decisions on what happens in terms of the future relationship,” he said.

“But how we see it here is your President is promising progress in bilateral and multilateral relations and we applaud that.”

The US imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe through the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera) as a response to Harare’s decision to redistribute land held by a few white farmers to more than 300 000 previously disadvantaged black families.

Zidera bars all international financial institutions in which the US has representation or shareholding from cooperating with Zimbabwe, contrary to claims that the sanctions are “targeted” at a few political elites.

Ambassador Thomas Jnr said President Mnangagwa had laid down his vision to them, which included the holding of free and fair elections this year.

“It was a pleasure and honour for our team to have the opportunity to call on His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, to share our vision and his vision for the future of this country,” he said.

“He made it clear that his interests are in supporting the people of Zimbabwe and that he is going to hold free, fair and credible elections and that he was going to reform and improve the economy.”
President Mnangagwa has managed to convince the world that Zimbabwe is now open for business, the message he has been carrying to various international gatherings and countries.

He recently revealed that since he took over the highest office in the land in November last year, Zimbabwe has managed to attract foreign direct investment to the tune of $3 billion. – state media

THE body of the late MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai arrives in the country from South Africa today ahead of his burial in Buhera on Monday.

Mr Tsvangirai (65) died at a South African hospital on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer of the colon.

MDC-T acting president Mr Nelson Chamisa yesterday said the body would lie in state at the Tsvangirai family residence in Harare before being taken to the Robert Mugabe Square for a public farewell.

“Our president’s body will arrive from South Africa at 7PM on Saturday (today) on board an Air Zimbabwe plane. The body will lie in state at the family home, Number 49 Kew Drive in Highlands, Harare, before it is taken to Robert Mugabe Square for a public farewell.

“Thereafter, the body will be taken to Humanikwa Village in Buhera where president Tsvangirai will be buried next to his late first wife Susan Tsvangirai on Monday,” said Mr Chamisa in a statement.

In Bulawayo, an interdenominational memorial service for the late Mr Tsvangirai will be held at the Large City Hall at 8AM today.
Yesterday, the Minister of Home Affairs and Culture, Dr Obert Mpofu, said the honour of a State assisted funeral accorded to Mr Tsvangirai is not different from what the Government confers to national heroes.

“It is the Government of Zimbabwe that has recognised that he deserves to be treated in a national manner. There is really not much difference in terms of assistance that will be given to him and those that go to the National Heroes Acre,” said Dr Mpofu.

As condolence messages continued to pour in yesterday, newly-elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was deeply saddened by Mr Tsvangirai’s death.

“On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, I would like to convey my heartfelt condolences to Mr Tsvangirai’s family, the Government and people of Zimbabwe on this sad loss. I want to assure the people of Zimbabwe and the Tsvangirai family of the solidarity and compassion of the people of South Africa,” he said.

“Mr Tsvangirai will be remembered for his profound role in the Zimbabwean politics and his prominence which saw him serve as Prime Minister from 2009 to 2013 in the Government of National Unity, during which period the current Constitution of Zimbabwe was developed.”

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who brokered the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in 2009 which ushered in the inclusive Government that ran until 2013, also paid tribute to the MDC-T leader.

“First thing we need to convey our own condolences to Mrs Tsvangirai, his children and the rest of the Tsvangirai family as well as his colleagues in the MDC party. For them he really tried his best to represent the interests of members of MDC and to try and advance a particular agenda of what they thought was necessary in terms of the transformation of Zimbabwe. It’s a serious loss from that point of view…” said Mr Mbeki.

“I was very pleased when I saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa when he visited Morgan in Harare, it was a good gesture on the part of President Mnangagwa, indicating that readiness to work together as Zimbabweans.”

Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, said Mr Tsvangirai played an important role in the drafting of the country’s Constitution.

“During the tenure of the inclusive Government, Mr Tsvangirai made considerable efforts towards the attainment of the goal of peace.

“The party’s deepest thoughts are with the Tsvangirai family and grieves with them as they mourn their beloved father,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

The National People’s Party (NPP) spokesperson, Mr Jeffryson Chitando, said Mr Tsvangirai leaves a legacy of commitment to defend human rights, selflessness, hard work, patriotism, love and humility.

“Tsvangirai will ever be remembered for his dedication, patriotism and sacrifice for this country. As NPP we have lost a friend, comrade and partner in the struggle for a democratic Zimbabwe,” he said.

The Joshua Nkomo National Foundation and the Zapu party also conveyed their condolences to the Tsvangirai family.

Form Two boys who were allegedly severely tortured by Form Four pupils at Marist Brothers’ Secondary School in Dete were allegedly forced to drink water from the toilet bowl by their drunk attackers.

It has emerged that more than 30 Form Two boys were beaten up on Friday last week by 16 Form Four bullies who accused them of stealing their foodstuffs. The alleged torture at a Form Four hostel referred to by students as the ‘Palace’, lasted for about five hours between 10PM and 2AM.

The Chronicle established that 23 of the victims sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Two boys were reportedly operated 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 an eye while another lost front teeth as a result of the assault.
The boys were also allegedly forced to eat bath soap and bark like dogs as well as pull trunks.

The school’s headmaster, Brother Jacob, yesterday confirmed that the disciplinary hearings took place on Thursday but referred questions to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
Matabeleland North acting Provincial Education Director Mr Jabulani Mpofu said the action to be taken would be known after full investigations.

“We advised the school to carry out investigations. They brought parents for hearings on Thursday and we are waiting for the report for a way forward. The action to be taken will depend on the gravity of individual cases. Then the school will apply whether to have them excluded or expelled depending on findings and gravity which is why disciplinary hearings are done,” he said.

The Chronicle is reliably informed that the 16 boys were further suspended for eight days pending medical reports on the victims.

They were allegedly drunk after consuming a fermented powdered cereal when they committed the offences last week.

Pupils reportedly mix the cereals with brown sugar and yeast and leave the mixture to ferment in the sun, creating a potent alcoholic brew which the pupils drink right under the noses of school authorities.

Fourteen of the victims were yesterday accompanied by their parents to St Patrick’s Hospital in Hwange and six to a private hospital in Victoria Falls for medical check-ups.
Some parents who spoke to The Chronicle in separate interviews said the boys were traumatised and not willing to go back to school.

“Our children were forced to drink water mixed with urine which was fetched from the toilet bowls. We don’t know if that’s just urine or our children have been initiated into Satanism,” said an angry parent.

Another parent said: “If those bullies are allowed back to the school, I will withdraw my child because I can’t pay $460 to have him killed. We can’t allow those bullies back to the school because our children are traumatised and can’t face their attackers again. The school should be answerable because we are even bearing costs of medication.”

It is alleged that the bullies rounded up the Form Two boys and dragged them to the ‘Palace’. They would switch off the lights and torture them in darkness allegedly using belts, fists and sticks.

“They would switch on the lights and release those who would be bleeding while the torture continued on the rest until they also bled. The last victim was released at around 2AM after he collapsed and they dumped him on his bed until he was helped to get up in the morning.

“The boys were rammed onto the walls, kicked, punched and hit with sticks. They were also yoked together like a span of oxen while others were whipped with waist belts and forced to wash clothes. One boy was choked until he fainted. People might think we are exaggerating but this is what happened,” added another parent.

The Chronicle heard that the Form Four boys have pending disciplinary cases at the school after they allegedly sneaked out of school to go on a beer binge last year before entering a girls’ hostel at night where they stole an assortment of underwear.

They also allegedly once attacked a boarding master and a teacher while some prefects were threatened with death last week when they tried to rescue the victims. Chronicle

University of Zimbabwe (UZ)Vice Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura was arrested yesterday on allegations of abuse of office involving the awarding of a Doctor of Philosophy degree to former First Lady Grace Mugabe. Prof Nyagura was arrested in Harare and is likely to appear in court today.

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) spokesperson Ms Phyllis Chikundura confirmed the arrest.

“Yes, he has been arrested on allegations of abuse of office over the doctorate of former First Lady Grace Mugabe,” she said. “He is detained at Mabelreign Police Station and he will appear in court tomorrow (today).”

Prof Nyagura is being accused of unprocedurally awarding the Doctor of Philosophy degree without the approval of both the University Council and the Senate Committee.

He recently blasted lecturers in the Department of Sociology for challenging the awarding of the contentious doctorate, saying they were “ignorant Messrs and doctors”, with no academic capacity to supervise a PhD student.

In a recent interview with The Herald on demands by 10 lecturers for the university to revoke Mrs Mugabe’s PhD, Prof Nyagura said PhD students were supervised by the post-graduate centre and not by a teaching department.

He dismissed allegations that the thesis was not in the library until this year, but was deposited in 2014.

He said Mrs Mugabe’s thesis was supervised by two professors, who also supervised former Vice President Joice Mujuru.

Supervised by Professor Claude Mararike, Mrs Mugabe graduated with the Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Social Studies in September 2014.

Through their lawyer, Ms Fiona Iliff from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the lectures said they were shocked to hear that Mrs Mugabe had been awarded a doctorate from their department when they never saw her application, acceptance letter, supervision and even awarding of the degree.

The 10 lecturers were Prof Rudo Gaidzanwa, Drs Sandra Bhatasara, Julius Musevenzi, Watch Ruparanganda, Gutsa, Mandizadza, Sadomba, Mate and Messrs Nelson Muparamoto and a T Chevo.

With regards to Professor Mararike’s appointment, the lecturers alleged that he was appointed without their consultation as stipulated in the ordinance regulations.

The arrest of Prof Nyagura came after a Harare magistrate had issued a warrant empowering ZACC to search and seize all documents relevant to its probe on whether or not he corruptly awarded Mrs Mugabe the doctoral degree.

Provincial magistrate Mr Elisha Singano directed the UZ registrar or any other senior official at the institution to provide a set of relevant documents, records and articles to the investigators.

The documents ordered to be availed included Dr Mugabe’s pre-registration application form, her research proposal submitted to the Department of Sociology, minutes of the departmental board assigning a supervisor to Mrs Mugabe, academic certificates of her supervisor, minutes showing that the doctoral degree passed through the Academic Committee, and minutes of the UZ senate recommending to the university council the conferment of the doctorate on Mrs Mugabe.

Mr Singano directed the university to allow ZACC access to minutes of the University Council recommending to the University Chancellor the conferment of the doctorate on Mrs Mugabe, copies of progress reports at Post Graduate Centre, copies of contract of research assistant and contract of teaching assistant in respect of Mr Justice Tandire.

ZACC must also be furnished with the UZ Faculty Ordinance number 44, UZ quality assurance guidelines and benchmarks for management and supervision of higher degrees by research, General Academic Regulations for Post-Graduate Degrees of the university of Zimbabwe 1998/99 Volume 11, as well as copies of the transcript, notification and Doctor of Philosophy Degree awarded to Mrs Mugabe. UZ has since filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court to set aside the search warrant, arguing that it was illegal. Herald

Former President Robert Mugabe’s family business, Gushungo Holdings, which was last month, through its security officer Mkhululi Nyoni, ordered off Smithfield Farm in Mazowe, has vowed to stay put arguing the matter was irregularly dealt with by the High Court.
High Court judge Justice Happius Zhou granted a provisional order, evicting Gushungo Holdings together with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Support Unit.

He ordered them to desist from interfering with small-scale gold miners following an urgent chamber application by Shepherd Nyazvigo, Bright Mawonga and Mohammed Rezwani Khan.

But, in a sudden turn of events, Mugabe’s security officer, through his lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu, on February 5, filed a response to the application urging the court to discharge the granted provisional order.

In his founding affidavit, Nyoni denied having personally been served with the application, but said he “had no difficulties with the fact that the urgent chamber application was served on his employer”.

“The fact of the matter, however, is that the notice of set-down was never so served. As a result, though the provisional order was granted in default, it is clear that it was afforded as a result of the irregularity by non-service. The court was itself taken advantage of. It is for that reason that the matter ought to be heard on an urgent basis so that second respondent’s (Gushungo Holdings) position is also considered in court,” Nyoni said.

He further said although Justice Zhou dealt with the matter in his chambers, none of the cited respondents had legal personality.

“In particular, the chief security officer is a non-legal persona and proceedings brought under such circumstances are invalid. The application ought to be struck off the roll for that reason. Further, none of the mining authorities were cited in this mining dispute,” Nyoni said.

“In view of the Special Grant referred to above and taking into account the fact that none of the documents placed before the court by the applicants (Nyazvigo, Mawonga and Khan) evidence mining rights, applicants patently do not have a cause of action.”

According to the court papers, sometime in 2013, Nyazvigo and his co-applicants were chased and dispossessed of their mining claims by Nyoni and the ZRP on the basis that they were mining in a protected zone.

However, the miners, last November returned to their sites, but the ZRP and Nyoni deployed their officers on Smithfield Farm and barred the three men from further carrying out mining operations on their claims.

They then approached the court and a provisional ruling was made in their favour. Newsday

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| A woman was knocked down by an ambulance while typing on What’s App today at Mushandike Business Centre, 20 km from the city of Masvingo.

According to eyewitness the woman could not see the approaching ambulance as she was busy typing on What’s App.

She died on the spot, according to the police. More to follow…

Terrence Mawawa | Regarded as the most influential figure in the opposition party MDC, Theresa Makone’ s decisions have a great impact on the operations of the country’ s largest opposition party.

According to impeccable sources in the MDC, Makone has finally thrown her weight behind the youthful MDC leader.

Makone is the party’ s treasurer general and party sources say she is the most influential figure in the party.

“Makone has finally decided to back Chamisa and as things stand the young man will be our Presidential candidate for the coming elections.

I can also disclose that she(Makone) has been in a dilemma but she has finally decided to support Chamisa,” said an official in the party’ s security department.

Makone approached Chamisa and told him she was willing to work with him, according to the sources.

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | A group of Zanu PF youths last week severely assaulted a Non Governmental Organisation worker whom they accused of spying on their activities.

The group of Zanu PF youths assaulted Abel Mauchi, a Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice worker who had sought clarity on why they were demanding serial numbers on voter registration slips.

The Zanu PF youths assaulted Mauchi at Manga Business Centre in Gutu District.

He sustained serious head injuries following the attack and he was rushed to Gutu Mission Hospital.

Collin Maboke of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is investigating the case.

“The youths accused Mauchi of disrupting their operations.They confronted him, confiscated his papers and severely assaulted him,” said a local villager.

Police detective Joseph Nemaisa, who is facing assault charges, allegedly refused to sign a warned and cautioned statement in a bid to frustrate his prosecution over the case, a court heard yesterday.

Nemaisa was summoned to appear before Mbare magistrate Sharon Rakafa following an incident in which he assaulted a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) informer Delish Nguwaya and allegedly fractured his arm in August last year.

He has since challenged his placement on remand, arguing his prosecution was unlawful because he was never arrested or warned about the charges being levelled against him.

Prosecutor Tafara Chirambira said the investigating officer was prepared to testify that Nemaisa used his influence and refused to sign a warned and cautioned statement detailing allegations against him.

“The last time the accused person appeared in court he was represented by another lawyer who claimed to raise constitutional issues pertaining his client’s court appearance. However, surprisingly the new lawyer is now raising new issues about the warned and cautioned statement,” Chirambira said.

“The investigating officer has made it clear that the accused refused to sign his statement and will testify to that effect in court. The defence lawyer will have an opportunity to cross examine him. They can’t contest State’s outline of events that is for the trial.”

Nemaisa’s lawyer Musindo Hungwe argued that some of the information included in the State’s documents was false and demanded that the National Prosecuting Authority accords them an opportunity to peruse his client’s docket.

“The narration of events given by the State in its outline is based on hearsay and does not give an objective account of events. The State has exhibited a contemptuous attitude in the manner documents were created.

“The National Prosecuting Authority should release the docket to us and we are making that application,” said Hungwe.

Nguwaya has been at the centre of a corruption storm involving CIO operatives and senior police officers, in which he claimed he had been tricked by police to volunteer incriminating information as a witness before tables were turned against him after he “implicated” their bosses.

On the day of the attack, Nemaisa and his team dragged him on the floor — forcing people to rush out of courtrooms to witness the spectacle — a rarity in the functions of both police and CIO officers who must share mutual respect for each other’s roles in combating crime.

Nemaisa had pinned Nguwaya to the ground while summoning more manpower to try and subdue the CIO informer who was resisting the handcuffs.

The detectives appeared not bothered by the swelling crowds and howls of disapproval from the public as they dragged Nguwaya down the staircase with his head perilously bumping against the staircase.

Nguwaya was bundled into a waiting truck and taken away to the police station where he was allegedly threatened with a gun before the High Court ordered his release from Nemaisa’s custody. Daily News

Zimbabwe Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is still under European Union sanctions which were extended to 20 February 2019.

The EU which has been warming up to the new administration under President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the sanctions were extended until the situation in Zimbabwe becomes clearer.

EU travel restrictions and asset freezes are on 7 people: Robert Mugabe, Grace Mugabe, Happyton Bonyongwe, Augustine Chihuri, Constantine Chiwenga, Perence Shiri and Phillip Sibanda and 1 entity, the Zimbabwe Defence Industries.

The sanctions on Chiwenga, Chihuri, Bonyongwe, Shiri and Sibanda are, however, currently suspended, leaving only Mugabe, his wife and the ZDI under effective sanctions.

The EU Notice says those listed can seek a reconsideration of their respective listings before 1 November 2018, and may challenge the Council’s decision to renew in the EU General Court.

The listing has also been updated to indicate Robert Mugabe as “Former President”.- The Insider

Terrence Mawawa | Acting MDC president Nelson Chamisa has called on dreaded Zanu PF National Political Commissar Englebert Rugeje to desist from intimidating opposition supporters in Masvingo Province.

Addressing mourners at the late MDC leader and former Right Honourable Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai’ s funeral in Highlands, Harare today, Chamisa publicly ridiculed Rugeje for intimidating MDC members in Bikita, Zaka and Gutu Districts in Masvingo.

“We know that you are intimidating our supporters out there and my message to you is – please do not be arrogant.

There is enough evidence to prove that you are planning to unleash violence against our supporters.

We demand free and fair elections. We want to make sure that Tsvangirai’ s legacy continues,” said Chamisa.

He added: “We will not tolerate barbaric acts of intimidation and violence against our members.”

Rugeje left the place in total ignominy after being undressed by the youthful MDC leader.

Former ZANU-PF Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke, 46, who is serving an effective nine year prison sentence for rape has approached the High Court with a fresh bail application.

High Court judge Justice Davison Foroma is expected to have the application on Monday.- state media

Despite denying him National Hero status, ZANU PF leaders descended on the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s home Friday afternoon.

Below are state media (ZBC) pictures of the visit:

Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai: An abridged Orbituary by Tapiwa Mashakada
————————-
This is my personal testimony borne out of many years of working with Morgan Tsvangirai. We had almost become brothers. From 1991 to 1998 he was my boss at the ZCTU. I was his economic advisor and he was my Secretary General. We officially formed the MDC together in 1998 but all the years we had been doing serious spade work. This is not an autobiography but a short orbituary based on my first hand experience of knowing the man. Therefore this is my own version of Morgan Tsvangirai the Trade Unionist Politician and Statesman.

Morgan Tsvangirai passed on in South Africa where he was undergoing a cancer treatment therapy. The news of his demise started filtering on the evening of Wednesday 14th February 2018. All sorts of complimentary messages can be written on his epitaph. If you ask me to do so I would write, ” here lies a great man – brave but humble and selfless, full of love and compassion for his people…” His untimely death has robbed the Tsvangirai family, MDC family, Zimbabwe, Africa and the whole world of a gallant and fearless fighter for democracy. He emerged from humble beginnings of his boyhood in Humanikwa village, Buhera where he did his Primary education before proceeding to Gokomere for his secondary education. Because he was the first born child, after his O-levels he had to look for employment so he could look after his siblings. He worked for a textile firm in Mutare before moving to Bindura Trojan Mine where he quickly rose to become a senior shopfloor steward under the banner of the Mineworkers Union led by Geoff Mutandare. He eventually moved from Trojan to join the Mineworkers Union at St Andrews House in Harare full time in 1986. He didn’t last long as he was elected at the ZCTU Gweru Congress in 1988 to the position of ZCTU Secretary General taking over from Ishmael Nedziwe who also had taken over from Albert Mugabe who had died under mysterious circumstances in a swimming pool. The ZCTU had been established by Gvt in 1981 as a truly black african labour movement. When he became Secretary General of the ZCTU,the organization was a rag tag movement with a skeletal workforce of sister Viola a sweeper, Godfrey Kanyenze the Researcher, Chirebvu the bookkeeper and one or two others. The ZCTU offices were at Pockets Building, Jason Moyo Ave. Being Morgan the self starter he started building ZCTU Secretariat. He introduced the following: economics dept, health and safety, education and training, women dept, organizing, information, advocacy, informal sector etc until ZCTU was now a modernized organization with systems. Because of his leadership skills ZCTU was quickly recognized by international Trade Union Secretariats such as ILO, LO Norway, LO Sweden, AFL-CIO ( now Solidarity), Afro-fiet, ICFTU, CTUC and many others.
Back home he stood for workers rights and fought for better conditions of employment, including health and safety and right to collective bargaining and ILO labour Standards. ZCTU was moved to Chester House in 1994. In 1992 ZCTU staged a demo against the Labour Bill which sought to ban strikes. During the economic structural adjustment program (ESAP) 1991-1995, ZCTU resisted the neo-liberal policies of the Bretton woods Institutions forcing gvt to abandon the second stage of the program. Despite pressure on gvt, conditions of workers continued to deteriorate. Meanwhile ZCTU had now attracted the support of intellectuals the likes of Brian Raftpoulos, Lloyd Sachikonye, Arnold Sibanda, Shephered Nzombe, Kempton Makamure, Yash Tandon, Rene Loewnson, Godfrey Kanyenze, Tapiwa Mashakada, John Manyanya and others. The Friederick Ebert Foundation helped in capacity building programs. Tendai Biti and Munyaradzi Gwisai represented unions in all labour cases. Under Morgan Tsvangirai ZCTU became the voice of workers in Zimbabwe. We made such noises so much so that in 1996 Mugabe challenged us to form a political party. Meanwhile civil society was becoming stronger with the start of the Constitutional Movement by Tawanda Mutasa which culminated in the NCA in 1996 where Tsvangirai was elected Chairman. Other NCA founders were Nelson Chamisa, Brian Kagoro, Douglas Mwonzora, Welshman Ncube, Ben Hlatshwayo, Tendai Biti and others.

In 1997 Morgan led the process of organizing the National Working Peoples Convention; The Special ZCTU Congress of 1998 and the formation of the first formidable opposition in Zimbabwe. He became the inaugural MDC President in 1999. In 2000 he led the No vote against the Constitution. In 2000 MDC won the elections but Mugabe rigged. For the first time the opposition had 57 seats. Subsequent elections were violent in 2002, 2005 but in 2008 Tsvangirai won the elections resulting in the formation of the Government of National Unity in which he was Prime Minister. Zimbabweans enjoyed good living during the GNU. However MT suffered a lot. In 2007 he was battered at Machipisa Police after an aborted rally at the Zimbabwe Grounds. At ZCTU he was almost thrown out of the window by state security agents were it not for the screeming by Edith Munyaka his Secretary. MT as we affectionately called him was a very brave man. He put his head on the block to fight one of the most brutal regimes in the World. He resisted all attempts to corrupt him. Desperate to arrest him the state set up a trap for him in the infamous Ben Menashe case in which he was acquitted. At one stage he escaped the intelligence drag net by flying in a private plane from South Africa to Zimbabwe. MT was arrested by the Mugabe regime in many trumped up charges and he became a jail bird. He led the process to write a new Zimbabwe Constitution in 2010. In the 2013 elections he was again rigged but he continued on his path of constitutionalism and legal resistance. But the economy nose dived. And up until now the economy remains in the woods. Tsvangirai was the first person to tell Mugabe to go peacefully or be removed violently. Operation Restore Legacy was a fulfilment of his prpphecy. Tsvangirai was a grassroots man loved by all in rural and urban areas. He became a household name in Zimbabwe. He abhored violence. However his greatest disappointment were the 2 MDC splits of 2005 and 2014. No wonder why he called for a big tent to reunite the MDC family. He has gone but he left a good legacy of unity in the MDC Alliance and peace in the country. He was diagnosed of colon cancer in 2015 and he battled it till his demise on 14 Feb 2018.

Zimbabwe has lost one of its finest and most brave sons. Whatever his weaknesses were, these are dwarfed by his good deeds and leadership qualities.Despite losing his dear wife in a suspicious road accident in 2009 Morgan was not a bitter man. The self educated Morgan Tsvangirai is hard to replace. My sincere condolences goes to the Tsvangirai, Macheka and Mhundwa families.

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday urged the police to play a pivotal role in ensuring harmonised elections scheduled for this year are held in a conducive atmosphere through effective policing. The country is expected to hold harmonised elections by July.

President Mnangagwa made the call while officially opening the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) New Headquarters and Forensic Science Laboratory in Harare.

“Allow me to reiterate that we are going to have free, fair and credible elections,” he said. “As the country’s law enforcement agency, we, therefore, expect you to play a pivotal role by contributing to the building of a conducive atmosphere that begets such a desired outcome, through efficient and effective policing.

“Government would thus do everything in its power to ensure that you are ready to adequately police the forthcoming plebiscite.”
President Mnangagwa urged the police to deal diligently and decisively with all forms of political violence.

“Political players should not be allowed to flout the laws of this country, willy-nilly,” he said. “We all have to play by the rules so that our citizens exercise their constitutional right to vote.

“Let me also take this opportunity to appeal to all political players and citizens to cooperate with the police as they exercise their constitutional mandate. The public should not provoke the police into breaking the laws they are supposed to enforce and in equal measure, the police should not provoke the citizens into breaking the law.”

President Mnangagwa urged professionalism, unity, oneness, love, peace and harmony in the police force.

“Let us solidly rally behind what is good, our national ideals, aspirations and fundamentals for a peaceful, investor-friendly and prosperous Zimbabwe,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said the ZRP faced public criticism on a number of occasions.
“Maybe, quite rightly so, since a lot is expected from our men and women in police uniform, who swore to uphold the laws of this great country,” he said. “Whatever mistakes they make in the process of performing their duty, should not be buried underground, or glossed over, but be laid bare for public scrutiny.

“Lest we forget, the police profession is a noble calling that requires both personal and professional integrity, moral rectitude, the caution of chameleon, the agility and reflexes of a Formula One racing driver and above all, the sobriety of a judge, at all times.

“This must be understood against the background that policing exposes those in the profession to different challenges, which keep mutating with time and location. However, among the vast majority of those policed, are law-abiding citizens who have no wish to harm anyone.”

President Mnangagwa said on the other extreme were ruthless and criminally-minded people who had no regard for decency or rules.

He said there were also un-nurtured, undisciplined and corrupt police officers who may not even bother to behave according to set rules.

President Mnangagwa said such challenges should be met with a high sense of restraint and responsibility.

“Admittedly, the challenges we face on a daily basis as a nation are phenomenal, but not insurmountable,” he said. “They should never be allowed to wane our confidence, but must be confronted with the determination and resoluteness of the Biblical David when he met the giant and supposedly forbidding Goliath.”

President Mnangagwa said the nation expected the ZRP to be imbued with the wisdom of the Biblical King Solomon to fight all forms of crime and be exemplary in their conduct.

“I am pleased to note that despite the discord that had engulfed the ZRP, the organisation now appears to be slowly, but surely pulling itself out of the morass,” he said. “Hence today, we gather to testify the positive spirit of dedication and commitment that sees the coming into fruition of a project that has been outstanding for years.”

President Mnangagwa said the construction of the CID Headquarters and Forensic Science Laboratory began in 1999 and the project was expected to be completed in 2001, but resource shortages delayed its completion.

“The completion of this massive and magnificent structure, which has nine floors, will no doubt, see the CID and Forensic Scientists move from the dreary, antiquated and modular structures,” he said. “Most importantly, the Forensic Science Laboratory will enhance evidence gathering, processing and analysis.

“This will reduce the time and effort police often devote to searching for eyewitnesses of crimes as a lead to identifying a suspect. This vital laboratory brings in the vital ‘silent witness’ that is so critical to identifying suspects and linking them to the crime.

“As Government, we are now hopeful that ZRP is set to increase its crime detection rate, which should lead to a significant breakthrough in the administration of justice.”

Vice Presidents General Constantino Chiwenga (Retired) and Kembo Mohadi, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Cabinet ministers, Deputy Commissioner-Generals, senior Government officials, service chiefs, police chiefs from the SADC region, ambassadors and senior officers witnessed the official opening of the CID headquarters. Herald

A 101-YEAR-OLD woman committed suicide by throwing herself into a stream in Bulawayo’s Kingsdale suburb on Tuesday evening.

Gogo Sarah Phulu, who was born in 1917, threw herself into a tributary to Umguza River after complaining of loneliness following the death of all her sons.
Her body was found on Wednesday morning after a futile search conducted the previous night.
The Chronicle could not establish the number of Gogo Phulu’s sons who had died but was told that one of them passed away recently.

“When her last surviving son died, she became worried saying who would bury her as all her sons were now dead,” said a family member.

Phulu’s son-in-law, Mr Josiah Simbanegavi, said she became troubled following the death of her son.
“What drove her into that? I don’t know. But all along she was disturbed by the fact all her sons had passed away. Maybe, just maybe, that bothered her a lot.

“She was of advanced age and we never thought her death would come in such a tragic manner,” he said.
Mr Simbanegavi said the granny left her clothes near the stream, giving them a sign that she had thrown herself in it.

“Yesterday we failed to locate her in her bedroom, that’s when we started to search for her all over. We found her clothes — tennis shoes, jersey and a walking stick, by the stream,” he said.
“That disturbed us and we started searching for her by the river. But because it was too dark, we could not go further and went to the police station to report the matter at around 7PM.
This morning, two or three young men started searching for her in the river and they found her in this pond.”

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident.
“As the police we’re very disturbed by this incident. It is unheard of that an elderly person of 100 years of age commits suicide. At her age we thought she would offer counsel to younger generations when they are facing problems,” she said.

Insp Simango urged members of the public to seek counseling services whenever they face societal challenges. Chronicle