By A Correspondent| Former President Robert Mugabe’s last born son, Chatunga has announced he cannot wait to celebrate his father’s birthday.
“Two days’ time we celebrate Dad’s birthday !!” he wrote on his Facebook portal at the weekend.
His statement however attracted ridicule from others who said he was being insensitive since at this time millions of Zimbabweans are mourning his father’s nemesis, the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
“Celebretai mega tirikurufu rwe gamba isu” wrote Teddy Chiuraise.
ZimEye.com is at Morgan Tsvangirai’s homestead in Buhera this morning from where we shall be carrying out LIVE UPDATES of the late MDC leader’s burial today – REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR UPDATES.
12.45 – Tuku sings Neria.
12.35 – Nelson Chamisa recognizes the widow of the late MDC T leader
*#Burial-of-MorganTsvangirai*
*zanupf-patriots information dept.portal*
12.30 – Nelson Chamisa recognizes the widow of the late MDC T leader
*#Burial-of-MorganTsvangirai*
*zanupf-patriots information dept.portal*
1130 – Network not so good. We might have to do LIVE streaming in delayed parts. – Apologies
0825 – Now raining.. Diggers have had to cover the grave area with a tent.
By Terrence Mawawa| Caps United head coach Lloyd Chitembwe yesterday conceded Makepekepe were outclassed by their bitter rivals Dynamos in a crunch Zimbabwe National Army Charity Shield semi final encounter at the National Sports Stadium.
Caps lost 0-1 to Dembare who got their goal in the 59th when Kudzai Demera blasted the ball home from close range.
The predatory Dembare forward slotted the ball home following a goal mouth scramble.
Speaking to ZBC News after the game yesterday, Chitembwe said he was happy with the result.
“We were outclassed by Dynamos.However we are still building our team so we are not worried about the result. These are early days,” said Chitembwe.
The usually media shy gaffer said he was optimistic of better things to come this season.
Stanley Goreraza | Please accept my apologies, Nelson Chamisa and Liz Tsvangirai. I now believe I was misled by several inbox messages from someone in an opposing camp in the Mdc, opposed to Nelson Chamisa. I have since blocked the chap who seemed well informed and authentic in his revelations which now appear to have been calculated at causing political damage for the Concorde flying young Chamisa.
I hope you can forgive me. I have learnt my lesson and next time I won’t rush to make a potentially harmful post based on unsubstantiated rumors. The guy would inbox me developments in the Mdc before they were in the public domain and that is how he gained my trust.
Whitlaw Mugwinji | Wednesday the 14th of February, was quite an unusual day. Even though it was valentine’s day, being a political animal, I spend the whole day following political developments in South Africa. Former president, Jacob Zuma had been recalled by the ANC and was now expected to either resign or face a vote of no confidence in parliament the following day. Exhausting as it was, hopping from one news channel to the other, I was expecting to have a relaxed evening briefly with the Mrs and then go on to watch the champions league match between Real Madrid and PSG. But immediately after finishing dinner, I began seeing tweets saying that our former Prime Minister Morgen Richard Tsvangirai had passed away.
Farewell to thee son of the Soil: Morgen Tsvangirai
I did not believe those tweets, I thought perhaps someone was playing a really nasty hoax, until I saw the news confirmed on the SABC YouTube channel (ZBC this could have been you but you prefer propaganda). Even though, I knew he was really sick, his death still came to me as a shock. Somehow, I thought we still had time with our dear leader, but God had other ideas.
When the news eventually sunk in, that “Save” was no more, I was overcome by a deep sense of loss. No words can express exactly how I felt. But I was assured by the condolence messages that began trickling in on social media that I was not alone in my loss. Foes, frenemies and friends all agree, that our nation lost a towering giant, a beacon of hope and a ray of light that shone during the dark days of Mugabe’s reign of terror.
Farewell to thee: son of the soil. Go well my leader, you fought a good fight and stood in the gap for your nation. Zimbabwe will forever be grateful and indebted to the love, dedication and sacrifice you offered to us as a people. We will not mourn your passing away but instead, we will celebrate your life and legacy.
To the Tsvangirai family
It is not my place to provide unsolicited advice, but all the same, I hope someone within the family has enough reason to consider this advice. I bear no grudge, I am giving this advice, out of love for Morgan Tsvangirai. All I want is for us to bury our president and the nation’s former prime minister with the decency and dignity that he deserved.
Let me start by expressing my heartfelt condolences to the entire Tsvangirai family. I know Morgen Tsvangirai left a void difficult to fill. It is my prayer and hope that the good Lord will give you comfort, peace and especially wisdom to guide you during this difficult time and period of mourning.
A few days ago, I watched with shock and disgust, Morgen Tsvangirai’s young brother divulging family problems in front of the camera. Every home has got its own problems. Why divulge yours, to the rest of the world ? Instead of soliciting sympathy you have brought not only ridicule but shame to the Tsvangirai family. As a piece of advice, please resolve your family problems, away from the camera. Gogo Manyonda, I know you are grieving but please, reserve the drama for another occasion. We want to bury your son and our leader in dignity without fail. I hope that is not too much to ask.
Secondly, Tsvangirai was a politician and so to speak, politics was his vocation. So as a family, please, do not mix Morgen Tsvangirai’s work issues, with your family disputes. I beseech thee, to refrain from entangling yourselves in MDCT’s factional fights. Let the politicians comment on political issues, your duty as a family is to give Morgen Tsvangirai a befitting send. He deserves a dignified send off.
Even in death Morgen Tsvangirai, brings tough discussions to the fore
During his days as a trade unionist and as the leader of the opposition, Tsvangirai was always able to force the nation to discuss difficult issues. True to his nature, even in death, we are once more forced to discuss, one more difficult issue. That is the treatment of widows during and after the burial of their spouses, by their in-laws.
I have nothing but respect for you, Elizabeth Tsvangirai. You have maintained your dignity and a sense of level headedness during this difficult period. We can only but imagine, the pain you are going through. Not only are you grieving the loss of your loved one, but having also to bear being publicly accused of infidelity and other misgivings. We feel your pain too, no wonder why gogo Manyonda received a public backlash on social media. Please, know that you are in our prayers.
It is indeed true that to every dark cloud there is a silver lining. Let us make the most of this sad episode. And have a frank discussion on this matter that affects a lot of grieving spouses.
This is not a gender problem but a national problem
Somehow, I had naively thought that we were over this issue. Apparently, the lessons we learned from our heated discussions after the screening of the movie ‘Neria’ over two decades ago, were incomplete.
Rather than restrict this debate to what happened to Elizabeth Tsvangirai, let us discuss this issue in the broadest of sense. As a society we must always be sensitive to the widows/widowers’ feelings and respect their rights as surviving spouses. They have feelings, they are human beings too, especially when they are still hurting from the loss of their partner. Hands off their property and stop the unnecessary slander and gossip. Why add more problems to the ones already existing.
Too often we see widowers asked to pay the full bride price, before they can bury their wives. Of course we have accepted this pathetic behaviour under the disguise of culture. Which is nonsense in my view. Surely how can fathers place money over the decency of their daughter’s burial? In some occasions, the in-laws can be greedy leaving behind the widower with no kitchen utensils. It is true that according to our customs, kitchen utensils belong to the wife. But is it not high time we do away with some of these customs? It is extreme but it does occasionally happen.
The feminist movement in Zimbabwe
Except for a few leaders in the feminist movement, this issue has not received the attention it deserves. The side-lining of Thokozani Khupe within the MDCT received far louder cries than this issue. Whilst this issue affects a lot of ordinary women in our society.
I know, it is not a question of either or. Both issues are important and both issues, must be confronted. But if we are to grow the feminist movement and the level of consciousness within our people, these are the issues we must take with gusto. They relate to every woman, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, urbanite or villager.
Morgan Tsvangirai a politician even in death
During the past few days, I was feeling so much anger over the way Elizabeth Tsvangirai was being treated. Yes, I ranted and vented my anger on social media. But then I thought, instead of venting, maybe it was Morgan Tsvangirai’s last political act. A true politician even in his death, forcing us to have this difficult discussion.
Thank you once again ‘Save’, you are a legend and a hero to many. Your legacy shall forever be ingrained in our hearts. An ordinary villager, who did extra ordinary exploits. Fambai zvakanaka ‘Save’ muzorore murugare and rest assured, we will take the struggle forward.
Terrence Mawawa
Caps United head coach Lloyd Chitembwe yesterday conceded Makepekepe were outclassed by their bitter rivals Dynamos in a crunch Zimbabwe National Army Charity Shield semi final encounter at the National Sports Stadium.
Caps lost 0-1 to Dembare who got their goal in the 59th when Kudzai Demera blasted the ball home from close range.
The predatory Dembare forward slotted the ball home following a goal mouth scramble.
Speaking to ZBC News after the game yesterday, Chitembwe said he was happy with the result.
“We were outclassed by Dynamos.However we are still building our team so we are not worried about the result. These are early days,” said Chitembwe.
The usually media shy gaffer said he was optimistic of better things to come this season.
Harare City Council has banned commuter omnibuses from the central business district (CBD) and is ordering them to operate from new ranks with effect from Wednesday.
In a statement yesterday, Harare City Council corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme said the new development will be implemented tomorrow.
“City of Harare advises residents, the commuting public and commuter omnibus operators that with effect from Wednesday 21 February 2018, no commuter omnibuses will be allowed in the central business district,” he said.
The commuter omnibuses will terminate their journeys at the new peripheral ranks, from Charge Office to Seke Road and Dieppe Road (Coca-Cola), From Copa Cabana and Market Square to Coventry Road and Rotten Row rank.
Mr Chideme said council will only allow shuttle services to be provided into the CBD using specific routes.
“Shuttle services in and out of the CBD will be provided from the new ranks and the buses will follow specific routes,” he said.
Chideme said the routes would be as follows: Coventry Rank – Rotten Row – Robert Mugabe Way – fourth St Rank through Copacabana Rank.
Fourth St Rank – Fifth St – George Silundika Rd – Fourth St – Jason Moyo – through Copacabana – Rotten Row to Coventry Rd Rank.
Seke Rd Rank – Seke Rd – Robert Mugabe Way – S. Muzenda Rank (Fourth St Rank).
Coventry Rd Rank – Rotten Row – Charter Rd – Market Square Rank – Bank St – Kenneth Kaunda – S. Muzenda Rank (Fourth Street) and back.
Seke Rd Rank – Dieppe Rd – Chiremba Rd – Robert Mugabe Way – Robson Manyika –Charge Office.
Chideme said the routes will be improved in the long run. “This move was long overdue. We want to restore order in our city like we promised. The routes will continue to be improved as we implement this strategy,” he said. Herald
MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s widow, Ms Elizabeth Macheka, did not accompany her husband’s body to Buhera for burial as pressure mounted on her from the Tsvangirai family that she should not attend the funeral.
Mr Tsvangirai’s body arrived at Makanda Primary School around 15:50 hours. It was accompanied by his mother Mbuya Lydia Chibwe Tsvangirai, his brother Collin and son Edwin, among other close relatives aboard two helicopters.
MDC-T co-vice presidents Messrs Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri, who are embroiled in a tussle to lead the party, were not in the two helicopters provided by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces that brought Mr Tsvangirai’s body.
Instead, MDC-T deputy national chairperson Mr Morgan Komichi and another standing committee member Ms Paurina Mpariwa were aboard a second aircraft while Mbuya Tsvangirai travelled with the helicopter carrying the deceased.
Mbuya Tsvangirai had vowed that she would commit suicide if Ms Macheka and Mr Chamisa attended the funeral.
Sources said Ms Macheka was supposed to use a second helicopter separate from that which had Mbuya Tsvangirai to avoid confrontations.
“But from how events unfold, the widow appears to have bowed to pressure because that helicopter had Edwin and his wife. So she chose to stay away,” said the source.
Collin declined to comment when The Herald sought his views.
In an interview at the funeral, Mr Komichi said Ms Macheka made a personal decision not to accompany Mr Tsvangirai’s body.
“We spoke to her, she actually accompanied the body to One Commando, but made her decision not to travel with the body. It was her personal decision. We had actually reserved a seat for her. She told us that she would prefer to travel by road and that is what she is doing. She is coming,” said Mr Komichi. -state media
Government will repossess Wakefield Farm in Headlands, which former Zanu-PF national secretary for youth affairs Mr Kudzanai Chipanga allegedly dubiously acquired after the land was earmarked for the construction of a State university.
Mr Chipanga is alleged to have corruptly acquired the farm with the help of then Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and former Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Jonathan Moyo.
Though he was allegedly not doing anything meaningful at the farm, Mr Chipanga is accused of levying a monthly fee of $10 000 to the former farmer to continue his activities.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said her office was seized with the matter.
“My office is working towards reversing all the anomalies and make sure State land is allocated for the rightful usage,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said this on Sunday while addressing Zanu-PF members attending a provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting held in Mutare.
She was reacting to a suggestion by Zanu-PF secretary for finance Cde Patrick Chinamasa that her office should repossess the farm from Mr Chipanga.
“We had set aside three farms, which were gazetted by the then Minister of Lands, Didymus Mutasa,” said Chinamasa.
“This one was set aside for the construction of Manicaland State University.” Cde Chinamasa said in his endeavour to see development taking place in the area, he then engaged Prof Moyo and showed him the piece of land.
“I also went with Mandi Chimene (then Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs) and showed her the land,” he said.
“I was shocked to hear that they had given the same land to Chipanga. Maybe G40 meant to spite me, but that land remains a national asset.” Minister Mutsvangwa said her investigations had revealed that Mr Chipanga “was doing nothing” at the farm.
“The original farm owner was allegedly told by Chipanga to pay him $10 000 every month and continue farming,” she said. “The farmer ended up paying Chipanga $7 000 every month.
“Chipanga still wants to return to the farm, but there is no activity that he is doing. We made it clear that the farm is earmarked for the university.”
The minister said her office was aware that Mr Kasukuwere fraudulently allocated Ms Chimene another piece of land, which was State land.
“When he was Minister of Local Government, Kasukuwere gave Mandi (Chimene) documents that changed the farm, which appears as State land on Mutare’s master or grand plan,” she said.
“It was changed from State land to peri-urban and given to Mandi (Chimene) as the developer. “There were about 550 people who were paying for stands after she sub-divided the farm. There was a lot of money exchanging hands that happened during that time.” State media
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA
The death of Mr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai has shown the great maturity in Zimbabwe’s political land scape. The new dispensation has rose above the ordinary politics to show that Zimbabwean are indeed politically matured and seriously tolerant. It was an eyeful to see people of all walks all political beliefs coming together to mourn a fierce leader of the opposition. The actions which are never seen in Africa where offloaded in Zimbabwe.
The president of Zimbabwe and his cabinet gave the opposition party all the help needed. The police provided escort and the army gave security. As Tsvangirais body lie lifeless in the Government provided casket protected by the army Zimbabwe rewrote its political history in the hearts of many Zimbabweans.
Comrade Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa calls for political maturity and tolerance among leaders. He fulfilled his calls by action. He paid his respect and gave his condolences to the man he fought in the political field.
The fact that MrTsvangirai was not burried at the heroes acre did not remove the respect he was accorded and surely deserved. If it was the old ZANU PF Tsvangirais death would have been used as a campaigning tool.
Zimbabwe has grown from a violent nation to a tolerant nation in three months. Every person who saw the hands of the diverse political parties during Tsvangirais funeral has praised the political maturity among leaders across the political divide.
The nation saw for the first time the absence of the continued use of abusive language among a section of politicians. All what could be seen was genuine grief.
It should be noted that though the politicians have diverse opinions and thoughts, they have learnt to embrace tolerance and made Zimbabwe proud.
Tsvangirais death has made politicians across the political divide to exercise maturity and tolerance for the sake of developing the country.
While some sections of the MDC misguided youth started singing songs which were calculated to provoke ZANU PF, ZANU PF fixed their focus on Tsvangirai and consoling the large populace of the party who were understanding and more tolerant. Slogans like ZANU PF mudenga roverai pasi was never heard. In turn the country maintained the mourning mood.
Indeed Tsvangirai achieved more in death than he achieved in life.
Although MDC’s confused leadership tried to bring in the bereaving old mother in their political internal fights the steady and advancement of political ethos of the nation thwarted the detractors. The actions of the power hungry losers in the MDC exposed Tsvangirai’s mother to public insults in both medias. Social media and public.
political maturity shown during Tsvangirais death was necessary in the country and that it will shape the future of politics.
At the same time we pray that the MDC politicians spearhead unity among their people and carry on the peace and love left by Tsvangirai.
The country needs unity and peace for it to foster socio-economic development.
Meanwhile the MDC youths in The country are urged to grab the development funds being given by the government. With this tolerance put in place The government is not for ZANU PF but for Zimbabweans.
MDC supporters, youths and marginalised groups are challenged to take advantage of the government’s call for peace and development.
marginalised groups in the Zimbabwe will be empowered economically if they applied for the funds and request for farms. The ne ZANU PF sees beyond party politics. They see the person as a Zimbabwean.
The sconvergence of the country’s main political leaders in the form of MDC-T Alliance and NPP National People’s Party leader Dr Joice Mujuru and many more who all took the opportunity to consile MDC T and the nation gave the country a sense of pride.
The nation and indeed the world is inspired by the gesture by the country’s opposition leadership. It is time our country found a happy way of differing. Violence must be the thing of the past.
Let us differ in the modalities of governing our country, lets hold free and fair elections. Zimbabwe needs to show the world that it is now grown.
As we go to elections, we urge the political leadership to maintain that spirit by showing their supporters that differences may be on ideology, but Zimbabwe unites us all.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised that the elections will be free and fair in honour of Mr Tsvangirai. Mnangagwa has kept his promises so far and nothing can stop him from keeping this one.
We hail the example shown by the three main political parties -Zanu-PF, MDC-T Alliance and NPP – they need to spread the gospel of peace to their structures at the grassroots to sensitise them on the integral role political tolerance plays in national healing.
We must always remember that the maturity tolerance and peace has been watered by the pain blood and sweat of Morgan Tsvangirai.
This example, at the level of party leadership, should bid the parties’ supporters to emulate their leaders particularly as we count down to this year’s elections.
What unites us is stronger than any divisions or differences we may have. MDC Should have learnt from ZANU PF. It must not allow its succession to destroy it. We need MDC for democracy. A lone race is not exciting.
What we saw at the Tsvangirai’s funeral were party leaders relating, that theme should also run through the messages they deliver at campaign rallies. They should not change tune by giving supporters bad messages that push some to violence against rival party members. The death of Tsvangirai must unite the nation in its diversity.
Senseless political violence has led to the destruction of property worth thousands of dollars and loss of livelihoods in the past. But when all is said and done, when the profits and losses are tallied, the violence did not benefit the ordinary man, let alone the goons who destroyed public and private property.
It is time all party supporters sat down to weigh the prudence of their actions. To this end, we urge all progressive Zimbabweans to maintain the spirit of tolerance and maturity shown by the leadership, put our minds together to move the nation forward.
To this end, we hope all party supporters stand put on notice, their leaders have shown the way and they now need to appreciate that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
We challenge MDC and all the opposition parties to go a step further and take that unity of purpose to all other challenges confronting society.
ZANU PF has done well and MDC T has responded for the good of the nation.
As elections approach us fast we must remember Tsvangirai by voting for ED. Surely Tsvangirai will be happy to see the man who stuck with him to death given a chance of making Zimbabwe what he had always wished to see it be.
The late MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s mother caused a scene at Freedom Square Square in Harare yesterday when she refused to disembark from the hearse carrying the body of her son at a send-off ceremony for party supporters.
Efforts to make her disembark from the vehicle and join other family members and party officials at the high table were fruitless. This came as Mr Tsvangirai’s son, Edwin, in his speech at the venue told MDC-T officials and supporters to respect the family.
Gogo Tsvangirai seemed to stick to her words when she declared at the weekend that she did not want her daughter-in-law Ms Elizabeth Macheka and controversially appointed acting party leader Mr Nelson Chamisa at the funeral. She even said she did not want to hear Mr Chamisa speak.
When the hearse carrying Mr Tsvangirai’s remains arrived at the venue, people were expecting to see Gogo Tsvangirai joining the high-table reserved for family members, party leadership and dignitaries. But this was not to be, as she did not disembark from the vehicle.
This sent conflicting signals in the gathering, with some suggesting that she snubbed the occasion, while others claimed it was for security reasons.
Gogo Tsvangirai could be seen eating bananas in the vehicle, as the casket bearing the body of Mr Tsvangirai remained in the vehicle throughout the proceedings.
Edwin described his father as a man imbued with great humility and unifier, who struggled for democracy.
He urged the MDC-T members to protect his father’s legacy by ensuring a non-violent election this year. “My father was a very powerful man, who fought for democracy,” he said. “MDC, respect us as a family. Desist from violence. My father advocated for unity, let us stop fighting.”
Master of ceremony Mr Abednego Bhebhe seemed to have forgotten to recognise the presence of MDC-T co-vice presidents Engineer Elias Mudzuri and Dr Thokozani Khupe.
He only did so after a reminder. Eng Mudzuri and Dr Khupe are fighting for the control of the party with Mr Chamisa in the wake of the demise of Mr Tsvangirai.
Each of the three claims to be the interim leader of the opposition party. Former Zambian Labour Minister Fackson Shamande, a close friend of Mr Tsvangirai, described him as a courageous man who was committed to democracy.
He said he advised Mr Tsvangirai against joining the inclusive Government in 2008. “He said to me the best way to heal our wounds is to put our differences aside,” said Mr Shamande.
“I told him not to join the unity government. I said to him you will be dribbled. They are going to use you as a shield and come next elections you will not stand a chance.”
When Mr Chamisa took to the podium, he dwelt on the envisaged split of the party.
“We hear some people saying the party will split,” he said. “This old man (Tsvangirai) was a unifier. This party is not for Chamisa, it is not for Khupe, Mudzuri, Moyo, Mwonzora, Komichi or anyone in the leadership. It is the people’s party.”
“Yes there can be fighting among the top leadership but that does not mean that the party is collapsing.”
After the speech most people, including Eng Mudzuri jostled to shake hands with Mr Chamisa.
Dr Khupe remained glued to her seat. When the proceedings ended, Dr Khupe was the first to leave the podium.
Former deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, Dr Munyaradzi Gwisai, former Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Paul Chimedza, MDC Alliance leaders and civic organisations groups attended the ceremony. – State Media
Wicknell Chivayo is embroiled in boardroom squabbles with his business partner Mr Yusuf Ahmid, whom he accuses of plotting to elbow him out of Intratrek Zimbabwe (Private) Limited.
Mr Chivayo, who is the founder and managing director of Intratrek, is battling to protect his interests in the firm, arguing that they own 50 percent shareholding apiece.
He claims that a verbal agreement entered between the two parties awarded them equal shareholding in the company.
Intratrek was awarded a tender worth $5 million to set up a 100MW solar project in Gwanda under controversial circumstances and it has been heavily criticised over failure to implement the project in time despite receiving payment from the Zimbabwe Power Company without a guarantee.
The problems arose when Mr Ahmid’s lawyers sought to be provided with documents related to the Gwanda tender, both from ZESA Holdings and Mr Chivayo. It is claimed that Mr Ahmid’s lawyers also had a meeting with ZESA Holdings, a development Mr Chivayo felt was part of his partner’s strategy to topple him.
Prominent Harare lawyer Mr Wilson Manase of Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners has written to ZESA Holdings chief executive officer Engineer Josh Chifamba warning him against entertaining Mr Ahmid and his lawyers in discussions regarding the Gwanda project.
Mr Manase, on behalf of Mr Chivayo, also wrote to Mr Ahmid’s lawyers Bruce Tokwe Commercial Law Chambers, accusing them of roping in ZESA Holdings in their plot for a boardroom coup.
“Your demand (for documents) has been inopportunely made at a time when both your clients and yourself jointly and severally engaged certain officials from ZESA Holdings on or around 25 January 2018 on an inimical attempt to illegally topple our client from his rightful position as a 50 percent shareholder in Intratrek Zimbabwe and its managing director,” he said.
“The agenda and subsequent deliberations at the aforesaid meeting clearly demonstrate an insatiable appetite on the part of your clients and indeed any party associated with them, to unjustly benefit from the hard work and dedication which our client invested in the operations of Intratrek Zimbabwe, culminating in the winning and signing of the Gwanda Solar 100MW EPC Contract with the Zimbabwe Power Company on October 23 2015.”
Mr Manase added, “It is highly abhorrent on the part of your clients and correspondingly unethical on any person to be part of such an unscrupulous skirmish whose intention is to cuckold our client and swindle his shareholding in Intratrek Zimbabwe”.
The verbal agreement between the parties, Mr Manase said, awarded them 50 percent shareholding apiece in Intratrek Zimbabwe. Mr Manase stated in the letter that Mr Ahmid abandoned Intratrek for three years, only to resurface when the ZESA tender had been won.
“Their conduct is only explained by sheer greed and self-absorbed interests to acquire undeserving gains from the Gwanda Solar 100MW project,” he said.
“It is clear that your clients have conveniently peddled falsehoods in order to unjustly benefit from our client’s exceptional dedication to ensuring that the project is a success.”
In a letter to Eng Chifamba, Mr Manase urged ZESA to stop meddling in the affairs of Intratrek.
“This unwarranted and illegal meddling is without doubt, highly improper, bordering on a scandalous connivance between public officials and a cabal of ill-intentioned schemers purporting to represent Intratrek Zimbabwe, while harbouring hostile interests in our client’s business in general and the Gwanda Solar project, in particular,” he said.
In terms of the contract between ZPC and Intratrek, any official communication should strictly be done between the two companies’ managing directors only. Herald
By Snodia Mawupeni | Zimbabwe’s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change, led by former Prime Minister in the Government of National Unity between 2009 and 2013 suffered a major political setback by losing two key founding members within a month this year.
For one of the strongest labour backed political parties in Zimbabwe that shook former president Robert Mugabe’s iron fist rule since independence, the recent events are like a candle light fading in darkness and the question is of raising from the dust and ashes to become a strong outfit to fight Zanu PF in the forthcoming elections due in afew months time this year.
Zanu PF brought Zimbabwe independence after armed struggle with Britain before 1980 but majority are suffering in social political and economical crisis since 2000 when chaotic land reform kicked off..
Over 200 MDC-T supporters lost their lives in 2008 presidential run off due to former president Mugabe ruthless state sponsored violence against opposition members.
They were in search of democratic rights when MDC was launched in 1999 but the death of Roy Bennett, a prominent Zimbabwean opposition figure, with his wife Heather in a helicopter crash in the US state of New Mexico on 19 January 2018 was the starting point of bad omen for the party this year.
Bennet who was living in exile in South Africa was the key founding members of MDC-T and his death gripped and shocked many people on political divide.
He was found guilty and sent to prison.
Bennet was jailed for a year in 2004 for assaulting former Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa after claiming that Bennett’s “forefathers were thieves and murderers” during a parliamentary debate.
Tsvangirai suffered state sponsored violence when he was attacked by police together with prominent lawyer Lovemore Madhuku.
Coupled by the latest death of its founding president Tsvangirai on 14 February 2018, the party has been left exposed and the big question is, ‘Will the party pick up its broken pieces and make a real challenge to Zanu PF under new leader Emerson Mngagwagwa that forced out long serving ruler Mugabe through a military coup in November last year.
Last week death of Tsvangirai shocked the international community with African opposition members among them Raila Odinga of Kenya, Zambia Congress of Trade Union representatives being among distinguished mourners to attend his burial in Manicaland province.
However, as thousands of Zimbabweans gather in Buhera on Tuesday, Tsvangirai homestead for his burial, many have written the party off after losing its key founding members this year.
Civil rights advocate and human rights journalist Rashweat Mukundu believes the party is on course to ‘rejuvenate’ itself under a youthful leadership.
He said, ‘It is naturally expected that a huge party like MDC-T will face succession convulsions more so as caused by the unfortunate death of long time leader Morgan Tsvangirai but the party need discipline and a focus on its electoral message minimizing public spats that create bad publicity and uncertainties within its support base;’ says Mukundu.
However, Sakhile Sifelani-Ngoma, Executive Director of the Women in Politics Support Unit (WiPSU) that provide support to women in parliament, local government and political spaces in Zimbabwe aiming to increase women’s qualitative and quantitative participation says women must be given their chance in local political parties.
She says ‘The question to all political parties including MDC-T is what are they offering women as a constituency? What commitments will they make in regards to women and women’s right that will turn into demonstrated and measurable impact on women’s lives? The women of if Zimbabwe are tired of being allegedly ‘respected’ but that respect is not translated into a progressive taxing system.
Harare Resident Trust Director Precious Shumba agrees with Mukundu that MDC-T is in a good position to restore the opposition party’s standing, if they avoid public fights among the top party leadership.
‘Of course Bennett and Tsvangirai were very strong characters who significantly influenced the party’s policies, ideologies and plans of action. Their departure at this stage leaves the party poorer. However, there is still goodwill among the party faithful, so it will not be difficult to reignite the spirit of resistance and the march for a democratic state as they campaign ahead of the 2018 elections,’ said Shumba.
Mukundu said, ‘Going forward the MDC-T will come out stronger based on the show of emotion on Bennett and Tsvangirai deaths. The MDC-T is the only party outside Zanu PF with a firm grassroots base and this needs consolation by a united leaders’.
But Shumba added that the reality that they face as a party is that the top leadership, especially the vice presidents, Thokozani Khupe, and Engineer Elias Mudzuri are expressing too much misgivings over the new role assigned to Nelson Chamisa in the new party dispensation without their founding president Tsvangirai.
‘Khupe has been openly hostile and contemptuous of Chamisa, and the party supporters will always take note of these differences and contestation for power among the top leadership. That is not the behavior of a leadership determined to wrest power from Zanu PF’ he added.
But Sifelani-Ngoma concluded that there is need for equitable economic development or even at a basic level just the commitment to equality in numbers majority of them who are women.
As the political drama continues to unfold within Zimbabwean politics, only time will tell for MDC-T raise from the ashes and become a force to reckon.
In #Harare for my first visit following the peaceful transition of power. #Zimbabwe is indeed open for business! Met with President @edmnangagwa and it was an honour to also pay a visit to former President Robert Mugabe. With thanks to foreign minister SB Moyo. #ED100dayspic.twitter.com/5quQCEuRRS
Flash floods left scores of Bulawayo residents counting their losses, with the city’s Fire Brigade saying it was overwhelmed by distress calls following heavy rains that pounded the city on Sunday.
Some residents in Nketa, Nkulumane, Tshabalala and Cowdray Park suburbs were among the worst affected.
Bulawayo Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Mr Richard Peterson said his team attended to numerous flash flood calls from 3PM to 10PM on Sunday.
“We were so overwhelmed by the calls. We were unable to attend to some but we attended to most of them. Nketa 9, Nketa 6, Nketa 8 and part of Nkulumane even in Lobengula we had one or two cases. But I think 90 percent of the flooding occurred in houses in Nketa,” said Mr Peterson.
He said the major cause for flash floods was failure to create weep holes after people erected precast walls, thus interfering with the flow of water.
Mr Peterson said his team also faced resistance from some residents who did not want holes to be drilled into the pre-cast walls.
A Chronicle news crew visited some suburbs yesterday and residents narrated their ordeal.- state media
A form one pupil at Tshazi Secondary School in Filabusi, Matabeleland South, allegedly bit 14 of his classmates, seriously injuring one amid suspicions that he is rabid.
School authorities yesterday took some of the pupils to Filabusi District Hospital for medical tests.
The juvenile (14) who cannot be named for ethical reasons reportedly went on a biting frenzy on Thursday and Friday last week.
Sources at the school yesterday said veterinary officials visited the school as they feared the juvenile could be rabid.
“It just happened on Thursday; the boy was behaving like he had fallen into a trance. He bit his classmates and seriously injured one boy who had to be rushed to hospital bleeding. A chunk of flesh was removed from his arm sending shivers to pupils who witnessed the incident,” said a source.
His classmates, sources said, are now scared of the boy following the incident.
“Pupils in his class were very scared as they had not seen such a strange incident before. Rumour swirled that the boy could either be possessed by ancestral spirits or he is rabid,” said another source.
A Chronicle news crew visited the school yesterday and the school head, only identified as Mr G Ndlovu declined to comment saying they were compiling a report on the unusual occurrence.- state media
President Emmerson Mnangagwa came to the rescue of the Tsvangirais yesterday, who were swamped by bills relating to health costs incurred by the late MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, amounting to R2 million.
Mnangagwa committed his government to cover all the expenses to do with Tsvangirai’s funeral, including a R2 million hospital bill.
This is over and above other financial interventions by government since last year.
Mnangagwa made the pledge after the late opposition leader’s niece, Bylnn Chitsunga, made a passionate plea for assistance in his presence.
“In his last days, he was always talking about what he has always wanted.
“He asked for the president to make sure that everyone gets land, not based on political affiliation. He also asked me to reach the president and I am asking all people to make sure that this is a non-political funeral.
“We left a 2 million (rand) bill in South Africa. Of course, government has done everything it can and now we are asking people to make contributions towards the funeral. We are also asking government to help — please help my sekuru, please help in the burial of sekuru,” she pleaded.
Chitsungo was one of the few people who were stationed at the South African hospital where Tsvangirai had been admitted.
Speaking to the Tsvangirai family yesterday, Mnangagwa who was paying his condolences at the former Prime Minister’s Highlands home, said government would bear the costs and asked acting minister of Information Simon Khaya Moyo to get a list of what the family needed.
“We recently visited him when we heard that his health had deteriorated. I used to call him sekuru because ana Save (Tsvangirai’s totem) ndiana sekuru vangu and he would call me muzukuru and during the inclusive government he would ask me after a meeting ‘what were you saying muzukuru’.
“When I visited him, he told me his concerns and what I promised him when we came here that I will fulfil. I will fulfil all that I promised kuna sekuru. At one point I was told by the wife (Elizabeth) that the bill was skyrocketing and met with my ministers and we said we would help and we will assist in everything,” said Mnangagwa.
The president said although he did not come to the airport to receive Tsvangirai’s body, Khaya-Moyo stood in for him, before he instructed that the body be taken to One Commando Barracks.
With his audience charmed by his generosity, Mnangagwa raised the bar even higher.
He said: “If you give us a programme we will provide a helicopter to carry his body home”.
With mourners now spellbound, Mnangagwa preached peace, love and tolerance and stressed that while people may differ politically the unifying force is that Zimbabwe comes first.
“Let us unite. To the mother, I want to say I am here and I will always support you. I was being informed about his health by our people in South Africa and doctors also briefed me about his condition, don’t worry about the bills, let us first bury him,” said Mnangagwa.
When Mnangagwa arrived at the former prime minister’s home in the company of his wife, Auxilia, with his two deputies Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi in tow, opposition party supporters sang derogative songs, accusing the Zanu-PF government of having had a hand in the death of their beloved leader.
But that suddenly changed when they heard that government would assist in the funeral of their icon marred by family feuds and a leadership contest among the MDC’s three vice presidents.
Former vice president Joice Mujuru and her delegation from the National People Party, which she leads, were also in attendance.
In a rare moment of honesty from a Zanu-PF kingpin, Mnangagwa, whose government under former president Robert Mugabe always gave Tsvangirai a hard time, admitted that the late opposition leader’s life was never easy to the extent that his heroism is drawing international attention.
Mnangagwa later told journalists that it would be amiss to omit Tsvangirai’s name when the country history is written.
He pledged a free and fair election to honour the late opposition leader.
With the MDC failing to print T-shirts, or posters, the planning for the trip to Buhera was turning into a logistical nightmare had it not been for government which offered buses and food.
Tsvangirai, who will be buried tomorrow in his rural home of Buhera, succumbed to the ravaging effects of colon cancer.
Dancehall start Soul Musaka has been denied a UK visa. The announcement was made by the promoters who revealed that this is to do with unpaid hospital medical expenses. The letter released is below:
The Morgan Tsvangirai family has cut ties with his wife Elizabeth Tsvangirai, in a bid to disinherit her.
The local Daily Newd reports that this may, however, turn to be an uphill task because, legally, the surviving spouse inherits whatever would have been left behind by her husband or wife, unless there are special circumstances inhibiting this.
A businesswoman in her own right, the grieving widow has faced persecution from some of her in-laws from the time her husband has been on his deathbed.
There was even an attempt to ban Elizabeth from her husband’s funeral, with her furious mother-in-law captured on State TV on Saturday night threatening to commit suicide if she is allowed to mourn her husband at his Highlands home.
Tsvangirai will be buried in Humanikwa village tomorrow after his body was flown back home from South Africa on Saturday aboard a South African Airways plane.
The Daily News understands Elizabeth, 41, had considered suicide herself because of the harassment she has suffered since her husband became bedridden.
There was an attempt to remove her as next of kin at the top-notch 190-bed Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC) in Johannesburg, where Tsvangirai was admitted, but this was thwarted by the MDC leader.
Close relatives of the MDC leader accused Elizabeth of backing MDC acting president, Nelson Chamisa, to succeed Tsvangirai and feared she could put pressure on him to facilitate his ascendancy to the throne without following the party’s constitution.
Tsvangirai’s wife enjoys cordial relations with the youthful acting MDC president.
The family members also threatened to assault her in hospital.
Following the MDC leader’s death, focus is now on his estate.
Not much is known about Tsvangirai’s wealth.
Before he joined the unity government in 2009, he had largely lived a modest life and often criticised Zanu-PF chefs of engaging in “primitive accumulation of wealth”.
His Highlands mansion is probably his biggest asset, followed by his Strathaven property, which he acquired with his first wife Susan, who died in a car crash in 2009 shortly after Zimbabwe’s inclusive government was sworn into power.
He also had a few personal cars, cattle, goats and sheep.
It is unlikely he still had cash in the bank since his battle against cancer depleted much of it.
Following his visit to Tsvangirai’s mansion in Highlands in Harare last month, President Emmerson Mnangagwa assured the MDC leader that he will work towards releasing his pension and other benefits, while also enabling him to retain his imposing mansion acquired for him when he was prime minister in the inclusive government of 2009 and 2013.
The family now wants to disinherit the widow of the matrimonial home
The Daily News can exclusively reveal that before his death, Tsvangirai consulted his lawyer Innocent Chagonda of leading Harare law firm Atherstone & Cook about his estate more than three times, apparently fearing that his beloved spouse would become a victim of property grabbing by his relatives.
“He was consulting me,” Chagonda — a longstanding Tsvangirai lawyer, said.
The top Harare lawyer said Tsvangirai consulted him to determine whether probate was necessary, and to assess if there may be any problems or contentions, saying the settlement would offer him priceless peace of mind.
Probate, or estate administration, is the process by which a deceased person’s property, known as their “estate,” is passed to the heirs and beneficiaries named in their will.
Chagonda said he offered him sound legal advice. He declined to state what legal advice he proffered to Tsvangirai, instead explaining what the law says.
“If you die interstate, your matrimonial home will be inherited by the wife and the residue will be divided equally between the children and the wife,” Chagonda, a veteran lawyer, told the Daily News.
He was referring to the intestate succession by spouses that is governed by the Deceased Estates Succession Act (Chapter 6:02).
In terms of this law, whether one is married in community of property or out of community of property, where no will is left, the surviving spouse is entitled to receive from the free residue of the estate all household goods and effects and the matrimonial home.
In addition, such a spouse will also inherit, together with the deceased’s children, the remainder of the property that does not constitute household assets.
Depending on the circumstances, it is also possible for the surviving spouse to inherit in full the entire estate of a spouse who is late.
The provisions of the Act, makes property grabbing blatantly illegal.
Elizabeth’s lawyer Harris Nkomo said he is yet to receive instructions from his client to contest the said decision to disinherit her.
“She hasn’t consulted me yet over this,” Nkomo told the Daily News.
Zimbabwean courts have been frowning at property dispositions from widows even where the deceased would have left no written will.
Legal experts said if she is deprived by the greed of relatives, she reserves the right to approach the courts relying on Deceased Estates Succession Act (Chapter 6:02) for protection, or recovery of looted assets.
In an October 2017 landmark ruling on a challenge made by a Mutare widow who had been excluded from her husband’s estate, Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo declared the woman the sole beneficiary of the matrimonial home in one of the leafy suburbs in the eastern border town.
The judge ruled that disinheriting a widow of the matrimonial home prejudices the rights of the spouse and such action is unlawful under Section 86 of the Constitution.
Tsvangirai wed Elizabeth nee Macheka in September 2012 after a messy fallout with his ex-wife Locadia Karimatsenga, who was much loved by the family, especially by the mother of the late opposition leader.
Tsvangirai got married to Karimatsenga after the death of his first wife, Susan.
Nine years after his marriage to Elizabeth, the former trade unionist breathed his last on Wednesday last week, at the age of 65.
He had fought a two-year battle with cancer of the colon.
His condition deteriorated rapidly in recent days after he refused to eat, protesting the ill-treatment of his wife by his family, and the seizure of his diplomatic passport from his beloved spouse by his brothers.
The former prime minister’s death has widened cleavages in the MDC, coming five months ahead of the first presidential, parliamentary and municipal poll due to be held in the former British colony since the end of toppled despot Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule last November.
Tsvangirai’s illness, that he publicly announced mid-2016, has fomented division in his MDC party, with three deputy leaders, Chamisa, Elias Mudzuri and Thokozani Khupe engaged in mortal combat to succeed the former trade union leader.
The row has also sucked in the family, which is apparently backing Mudzuri.
The party’s national council — the highest decision making body in between congresses — has chosen Chamisa to be the acting leader to spearhead a presidential campaign against a resurgent ruling Zanu-PF and prepare for an extraordinary congress within 12 months.
Without its founder leading the 18-year-old party, the MDC has been thrown into chaos and could even split, handing a gift to Zimbabwe’s new president, Mnangagwa.
A broader alliance of seven political parties formed by Tsvangirai last year to take on Zanu-PF has also entered unchartered territory and a period of uncertainty.
Khupe and Mudzuri have accused Chamisa of demonstrating an unhealthy haste to grab the reins of power while the party is still in mourning.
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo
Former MDC MP for Masvingo Central Constituency Jeffryson Chitando has appealed for peace and unity during the burial of the late MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai.
Commenting on Facebook yesterday Chitando called on warring MDC parties to pay homage to the late veteran opposition leader in a peaceful way.
“Kuziva kwangu munhu achinge ashaika mumusha
vese vemapolitical parties vanochema nokubatana
panhamo.Vanhu veMDCT truly Dr Morgan Richard
Tsvangirai was your party president but dai
mambomira mashoko akawanda veruzhinji taviga
mwana weZimbabwe.
His death has robbed
Zimbabwe of a hero not only a party hero saka
kutukana kwamuri kuita pasocial media dai
mambosiya gamba ripihwe ruremekedzo
rwegamba,” wrote Chitando.
Chitando is the National People’ s Party(NPP) spokesperson.
Terrence Mawawa |Zanu PF youth league member and political strategist Brian Mudhumi has defended acting MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa saying the youthful politician’ s detractors are determined to soil his reputation.
Commenting on Facebook yesterday Mudhumi said:
“In as much as I may not agree with Chamisa
ideologically,
common sense tells you that it’s only cheap politics or a
smear campaign against him.
Chamisa will never be a stupid person who can be involved
in an affair with his boss’s Wife – that can never
happen Cdes.”
Mudhumi was responding to reports that Chamisa was barred from attending Tsvangirai’ s funeral.
Terrence Mawawa | Firebrand opposition leader, Julius Malema has said the people of South Africa have drawn practical lessons from what happened in Zimbabwe over the past two decades.
Speaking in that country’ s Parliamentary debate on the State of the Nation Address made by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Malema accused the Zanu PF regime of depriving the late MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai of the right to rule Zimbabwe.
Malema made the remarks during the Parliamentary debate in Capetown today.
“We all agree that Morgan Tsvangirai spent his life fighting for democracy in Zimbabwe.
He was deprived of the opportunity to rule Zimbabwe by the regime although he had won the elections in 2008.
I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to the people of Zimbabwe following Tsvangirai’ s death.
We will never allow the ANC to subvert the will of the people. That will not happen here in South Africa,” said Malema.
By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Sugar producing giant Tongaat Hullet has refused to be involved in the messy Zanu PF factional struggles.
Officials at Tongaat Hullet refused to bow down to pressure from Vice President Costantino Chiwenga who wanted them to nail G-40 MPs Darlington Chiwa(Chiredzi West and Denford Masiya(Chiredzi East).
A company official has made claims that Chiwenga ordered Tongaat Hullet to release a statement indicating the two demanded bribes from the company.
“We cannot release a false statement. The two MPs never demanded bribes from us,” said the senior company official.
He added:”We have nothing against Chiwa and Masiya.Whatever has been said is based on political divisions and factionalism.”
Chiwenga is fighting hard to elbow both Chiwa and Masiya out of the ruling party, according to impeccable sources.
Terrence Mawawa, Chivhu
Businesspeople here have declared Tuesday February 20 a ‘public holiday’ in honour of the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai who died in South Africa last Wednesday.
The former Right Honourable Prime Minister will be buried at his rural home in Buhera tomorrow.
Tsvangirai’ s body has been flown by an army helicopter to Humanikwa Village in Buhera for burial tomorrow.
Businesspeople in the transit town yesterday said they would close their shops tomorrow to join millions of Zimbabweans in mourning the veteran opposition leader and icon of democracy.
“I will travel to Buhera tomorrow to pay homage to the people’ s hero .On Tuesday we will not open our shop for business. However we will resume normal operations on Wednesday,” said a takeaway operator who identified herself as Nancy.
“Tomorrow I will travel to Buhera so I will close my shop,” said a retail trader.
“This is a huge blow to democracy. The people’ s hero will be sadly missed,” said furniture trader by the name Washington.
FORMER Education Minister Mr David Coltart has lashed out at the MDC-T’s top leadership that is entangled in a messy succession battle following the death of party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mr Tsvangirai succumbed to colon cancer in South Africa on Wednesday last week and will be buried at his rural home in Buhera tomorrow.
Mr Coltart yesterday took to the micro-blogging site Twitter and lambasted the warring parties, saying their conduct was “shockingly distasteful.”
The politician, who was the opposition party’s founding secretary for legal affairs when it was established in 1999, urged the rival factions to unite and bury Mr Tsvangirai with dignity before deciding on who will fill his shoes in terms of the party’s constitution.
“I find the conduct of the entire top leadership of the MDC-T shockingly distasteful at present. For goodness sake bury Morgan Tsvangirai in unity and with dignity without hurling insults at one another and then decide who will lead the party in terms of the MDC-T constitution,” said Mr Coltart. Mr Tsvangirai’s death has plunged the MDC-T in turmoil.
The MDC-T is locked in a messy succession battle pitting Advocate Nelson Chamisa and two other deputies, Engineer Elias Mudzuri and Dr Thokozani Khupe.
The three are all fighting for the top post.
The intra-party political manoeuvres have also divided not only the MDC-T leaders but also the late Tsvangirai’s family members.
The fissures are also threatening the MDC Alliance, a grouping of opposition parties intending to participate in the coming election under one umbrella.
Adv Chamisa is in favour of the alliance while others led by Dr Khupe feel there is no need to enter into a coalition particularly in Matabeleland region.
Terrence Mawawa| An official from the government controlled Cold Storage Commission(CSC) has accused Masvingo State Minister Josaya Dunira Hungwe of lying to the nation about the state of affairs in the organisation.
Hungwe last week claimed he had contacted investors who were willing to inject capital into the commission’ s coffers.
Hungwe further claimed that CSC was ready to reopen its doors.
The official who declined to be named told ZimEye.com yesterday Hungwe’ s utterances were out of sync with the reality on the ground.
“It is unfortunate to note that the Minister’ s sentiments are divorced from what is happening on the ground. When Minister Hungwe visited the CSC Premises with officials from his offices we briefed him on the state of affairs here but he chose to release a political statement.
He also knows about the $ 30 million debt that is yet to be cleared,” said the official.
MARRIED lecturer at the Midlands State University in Gweru died on the spot while his girlfriend, who is a student at the institution, was injured after a vehicle they were travelling in overturned.
The accident occurred on Friday at around 10PM at the 290km peg along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge highway. The love birds were allegedly travelling from South Africa with two passengers they had offered a lift in the neighbouring country.
Justice Mapfumbate of Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo died on the spot while his girlfriend (name withheld) from Nkulumane suburb, who was driving the lecturer’s Toyota Prado, was injured.
Mapfumbate’s girlfriend and two other passengers who were also injured were rushed to Beitbridge District Hospital where they are still detained.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the accident.
“We received a report of a motor vehicle which overturned at the 290km peg along the Bulawayo- Beitbridge Road. There were four people on board and one passenger died on the spot. Three others were injured,” he said.
“We urge members of the public to desist from driving at night. People must park and rest when fatigued to avoid accidents.”
A source who preferred anonymity said the lecturer and the student had been in love for some time.
The female student is said to have previously clashed with Mapfumbate’s wife.
“The lecturer’s wife communicated with her several times, begging her to leave her husband alone. She pleaded with her on many occasions to end the affair but the woman never backed off. Because the Lord has his own plans always, the lovebirds have been separated by death and we wonder how the wife will take it,” said a source.
“She was driving her lover’s car on their way from South Africa when the accident occurred. This is such an unfortunate tragedy.” Chronicle
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| There was commotion at Shakashe Primary School in Rujeko Suburb last week when disgruntled parents threatened to beat up the school head.
The parents accused the school head, Mr Mashenjere of conniving with a few members of the School Development Association(SDA) to peg an exorbitant building levy.
The parents who spoke to ZimEye.com on Friday claimed there were sinister activities at the school.
“Security personnel at the school were overpowered by angry women who wanted to mete out instant justice on Mashenjere.
Sensing danger, Mashenjere fled from the scene and he only emerged out of his office when the police arrived,” said an eyewitness.
Mashenjere was not immediately available for a comment on the matter.
Battle lines have been drawn in the fractured MDC with factions lining up thugs to settle the leadership contest even as opposition party leader Morgan Tsvangirai is still to be buried.
The MDC, thrown into mourning following Tsvangirai’s death on Wednesday last week, is sharply divided into three factions led by Nelson Chamisa, Thokozani Khupe and Elias Mudzuri — who are all vice presidents of the opposition party.
Chamisa was controversially appointed acting party president by the MDC national council on Thursday last week, but Khupe and Mudzuri, who both claim to be the bona fide acting presidents, are having none of it.
The Daily News on Sunday can report that the factional fights in the party have degenerated to levels where opposing camps are now threatening to unleash violence on their rivals ahead of Tsvangirai’s burial in Buhera on Tuesday.
Chamisa, accused of using violent MDC youths to block Mudzuri from entering the party’s headquarters recently, tweeted yesterday saying he now fears for his life after he swiftly ascended to the throne.
“I’ve taken note of incessant and increased attacks on my character by agents from across the political divide on account of lies, malice and propaganda. I’ve also observed a real threat to my safety and security after numerous attempts upon my life,” said Chamisa.
Party spokesperson Obert Gutu confirmed that the MDC, formed in 1999, was now on the edge with reports of possible violence.
“People should not fight when he is being interred. We know that there are some people who are planning such things. Let us first bury Save and then determine the way forward later. I am sad that they are planning violence on the day when the president will be interred, sometimes one wonders whether there is a third hand fanning these brawls,” said Gutu.
Save is Tsvangirai’s totem.
Asked who the acting president of the party is, Gutu said he did not want to be dragged into the wild dog fights now threatening the soul of the country’s biggest opposition party.
“I was brought up in a Christian family, in a traditional set-up. Why not first bury the icon and then talk of the leader later. I don’t want to raise emotions, I feel bad. We want to respect the icon, look I take this as a period of mourning and I don’t want to be caught in a political crossfire, this is a difficult period of mourning, let us not fight at this juncture,” said Gutu.
The MDC constitution is silent on who among the three vice presidents would automatically become the acting president in the event that the office holder becomes incapacitated, dies in office or resigns.
It says “in the event of the death or resignation of the president, the deputy president assumes the role of acting president, pending the holding of an extraordinary congress that shall be held to elect a new president… which extraordinary congress to be held no later than a year from the death or resignation of the former president”.
Yesterday, Chamisa said the issue of who is the acting president of the party had been settled by the MDC national council and there was no need to respond to issues raised through social media.
“This is a period of mourning. The national council sat and made a decision that was made public, if there is a problem you don’t go on social media,” he said.
Asked whether he was aware of possible clashes with rivals, Chamisa said it was possible some people would want to create sideshows.
“I know there are some people who would want to create side shows,” said Chamisa.
Those who are opposed to Chamisa say the national council has no authority to elect an acting president.
Mudzuri yesterday refused to be drawn into the debate while Khupe has since gone on record to highlight that the other two are vice presidents while she is the constitutionally recognised “deputy president”.
“I am the deputy president who was elected at congress and my president appointed two vice presidents. The national council cannot substitute congress. I am a deputy president, the constitution is clear (that) when the president is not there the deputy president acts and I am the deputy president,” said Khupe.
On Thursday last week, MDC vice national chairperson Morgan Komichi who chaired the national council said Chamisa was unanimously elected acting president for a period of 12 months. The meeting was attended by 190 members out of 215.
In terms of the party’s constitution, an acting president will hold the for whenever the president is absent from Zimbabwe or is for any reason unable to perform his or her powers, functions or administrative duties.
It says the acting president will “perform such functions relating to the function of standing committees and other general matters as may be assigned to him or her by the national council”.
Informed sources within the MDC told the Daily News on Sunday that as things stand, “the MDC has effectively split and we are just waiting for the burial of the president and then make the big Daily News
Staff Reporter| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has just spoken on his meeting thee Tsvangirai family at their house where he paid condolences.
The President called every Zimbabwean to come together in mourning. He said in writing, “this morning I went to pay my respects to the Tsvangirai family and to assure them that the whole of Zimbabwe stands with them.
“In this hour of mourning, let us all be united. Let us all be brothers and sisters, and come together to mourn our former Prime Minister. And in this spirit let us move forward as a people and be united for the development of our country.”
By Don Chigumba | This piece aims at supporting the perspective that the women of Zimbabwe have let down Elizabeth Tsvangirai. Coincidentally, the advisor of the mother of Jesus was called Elizabeth. Elizabeth (Liz) is a heroine among the heroes, she took a good care of her husband till the time God called him. We saw her often, accompanying her husband to MDC-T rallies. Liz is more vulnerable to African Traditional Culture because she married a celebrity. I am not shocked even if some people accused her of ill-treating or poisoning her husband.
Liz is my heroine, respect her for taking a good care of our leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Liz is definitely going to face resistance and abuse from Tsvangirai family, some ZANU PF and MDC-T supporters. ZANU PF is likely to use her in order to enhance division within the MDC-T camp. Some MDC-T supporters may blame Liz or ZANU PF for the demise of Tsvangirai because of their cultural stupidity alignment. Liz is in my prayers during this trying time, she made a mistake by getting married to a celebrity. The women of Zimbabwe should stand up and support Liz during this hour of need.
The Tsvangirai family have decided to appoint their daughter in law Diana to be among the spokespersons of Tsvangirai at the expense of Liz. How can this be, traditionally or ‘Christianitilly’?. The recent press conference of Collins Tsvangirai should have been blessed by Liz, why did that not happen? Collins Tsvangirai told the world that Morgan will be buried very close to his late wife Susan, a statement that should have been avoided, reflecting division in the family. Was that meant to provoke Liz? I am among the people provoked by the statement.
It is evident that Liz is being sidelined by Tsvangirai family and politicians while her fellow women of Zimbabwe are watching. Today it is Liz but tomorrow it will be you or your daughter or relative. I hate the African Traditional Religion beliefs, women are marginalized and blamed for everything in the event of the deaths of their husbands. Nehanda Nyakasikana! Where are you, your grand daughters are under attack? Come down!
I have a cute daughter and I was forced to shade tears upon learning the way Liz is being treated. I was imagining my daughter following the same route because she was ‘blessed with a wrong gender’. They are calling Liz a gold-digger, that she was bedded by Nelson Chamisa, was it her mistake to be married to a celebrity? What do you want to achieve with all these lies? All women including man had a natural love for Tsvangirai and Liz was not spared.
Why should man watch while the mother of Jesus is being attacked? Why can’t women support their fellow during this hour of need? Go Liz Go, you are paying the prize for being married to a hero. Do not be diverged, one day you will become our MP in any constituencies in Harare and I will campaign for you.
Conclusion
Women should be respected for carrying everyone of us in their wombs for 9 months, they are the mothers of Jesus, intelligent and live than men. The biblical narrative tells us that, Jesus was conceived through the fusion of Mary’s (women) ovary and the holy spirit. If the men’s sperms were capable of producing Jesus, why then did God use the holy spirit? There is enough evidence that, women are superior to man even if President Mnangagwa did not respect them in his recent cabinet nominations. I respect Liz she is my heroine. Man, MDC-T and ZANU PF may attack her because she is a women but my prayers are with her. She is living in a dead society where the definition of a prostitute means a women. All women of Zimbabwe are prostitutes according to them but I love you. Go Liz Go. I am sorry for offending you (women), it is because my feeling is that Liz has been abandoned by you (them). Nelson Chamisa is the right person to remove youths and women of Zimbabwe from oppression. Just like being a women, generation gap may force our elders to marginalize you politically, but my prayers are with you too.
Don Chigumba is a mixed methods researcher based in South Africa
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
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says his government will fulfil its promises to the Tsvangirai family by paying the hospital bills left in South Africa and availing planes that will ferry the body of the late former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to his rural home in Buhera for burial.
Mr Tsvangirai succumbed to colon cancer on Wednesday last week and his body arrived in Zimbabwe yesterday and lied in state at the One Commando Barracks in Harare.
Before a church service at 2.pm today at Mabelreign, President Mnangagwa, his wife Auxillia Mnangagwa, the two Vice Presidents, Kembo Mohadi and Retired General Constantino Chiwenga visited the Tsvangirai residence at Highlands to pay their condolences.
Addressing mourners, Mnangagwa said the state will fulfil all its promises so that the former Prime Minister can be afforded a befitting send off.
“I visited Mr Tsvangirai last month and made some promises to him and I will not renege on those promises. The government will help settle hospital bills as already promised. The body arrived yesterday and I sent my representatives to receive it at the airport. As you all know, all those that the government chooses to honour, we let them lay in state at a special place, at One Commando Barracks and that is what happened to Mr Tsvangirai. Now it is up to you, if you given us the programme, we will avail planes to take Mr Tsvangirai’s body home,” said President Mnangagwa, also revealing that the late former Prime Minister was his uncle.
Earlier, Mr Tsbangirai’s niece had revealed that they had left a 2 million rand hospital bill in South Africa.
The President’s speech was also unifying, calling for Zimbabweans to respect each other and set political differences aside especially in times like these.
“We must respect each other. Politics will remain there and people fighting but we are all one people. Myself and my party are saying let us be united and work together. All these differences are not different from a scenario in a family where one says let’s do dry planting and the other says let’s wait for rain. What is important in this case is that both are seized with the desire to farm for their family,” he said.
“Each of us has their days of life, if we still have time on this earth, let us all work for our country so that our legacies will remain. We must understand that we are all Zimbabweans, I don’t think there is any political party in the country that has the agenda to make people suffer,” Mnangagwa added.
The President also said he is overwhelmed by condolence messages from many people mostly outside the country following the death of Mr Tsvangirai, who he described as a person who has travelled his difficult journey until the end.
Members of various political parties, among them the MDC-T leadership, former Vice President and NPP leader Joice Mujuru, former Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara were in attendance.
The body of Mr Tsvangirai will be taken to Robert Mugabe Square in Harare for a send off tomorrow before being flown to Buhera for burial on Tuesday.
By Staff Reporter| Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga is to reveal “a secret message” confided in him by the late Morgan Tsvangirai, according to the Tajamuka group’s Promise Mkwananzi.
“I don’t know what the message is about , but I know there is a secret message which the former MDC President confided in him before he passed on,” Mkwananzi said Sunday afternoon.
Odinga who flew into the country to bury Tsvangirai, is set to speak at the MDC party’s Harvest House offices at 4.30pm Sunday (today) and ZimEye will LIVE-stream the event.
Tsvangirai’s body slept at One Commando Barracks yesterday and is now headed for the party’s Harvest House Head Quarters.
Raila Odinga’s last picture moments with Tsvangirai
By Paul Nyathi| The military resisted angry calls by MDC members for it to release MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai’s body last night.
Furious MDC members stood ground for over 3 hours and were eventually forced away from the One Commando barracks.
“We stood there for over 3 hours but to on avail as they would not release him,” MDC Standing Committee member Chalton Hwende said. (ALSO WATCH VIDEO BELOW)
Meanwhile President Emerson Mnangagwa has since (on Sunday) visited the late MDC-T leader’s home to send his condolences to the family.
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.
By Staff Reporter| MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s body is today being taken to the party’s Harvest House offices.
In an announcement, an official said this is “so that he can enter the revolutionary building for the last time. All members of the public are invited to be there by 2pm.”
By Paul Nyathi| Fourteen people who include some Zimbabweans among them a former National Team footballer and a prominent journalist are undergoing trial in the United kingdom for swindling the government there half a million pounds before losing on attempts to swindle another half a million.
Led by a Nigerian kingpin, the Zimbabweans among them former National Team player Liberty Masunda and former Chronicle Newspaper journalist, Clemence Marijeni, are on trial for hatching a plot to pocket £1 million through a maternity allowance claims racket.
The Nigerian ring leader Emek Chukwurah is co- accused with Marijeni, Masunda and other Zimbabweans namely Tiwone Dokowe, Patient Kanjira, Tapiwa Madziwa, Tinashe Sagomba, Casper Mawoko, Laura Baza, Faith Tagarira, Todd Tagarira, Kudakwashe Mhembere and Walusungu Ngwira.
The Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that the gang made at least 165 fake applications for the benefit pay out in the space of 4 years.
Around £450,000 was paid into the bank accounts controlled or used by the 15 people involved in the racket over the period.
Other attempts amounting to over £500 000 made by them were identified as frauds by Department of Work and Pension (DWP) officials and not paid.
If all the applications had been successful the gang would have gotten away with £1 million.
Members of the gang supposedly filled in bogus application forms with details of a bank account under their control into which the money was to be paid.
This was submitted with a forged maternity certificate confirming either a pregnancy or birth, signed by a member of a GP practice with an official stamp meant to prove the document’s authenticity.
This included the personal identification number of the alleged signatory.
Several of the defendants were arrested for being prepared to have their bank account used to launder money generated by the fraud, the court heard.
All deny conspiring together with Henry Baza to defraud the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by applying for and, or, receiving maternity allowance payment to which they were not entitled between May 4 2011 and August 28 2015.
The trial, which is expected to last several weeks, continues.
By A Correspondent| Some Nigerian journalists claimed that TB Joshua came to Zimbabwe on the invitation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The article was titled: “TB JOSHUA’S “PRESIDENTIAL VISIT” TO ZIMBABWE – THE MAGUFULI CONNECTION” and read in part: “The alleged arrival of Nigerian Prophet T.B. Joshua to the nation of Zimbabwe “in the coming days” continues to make headlines with flights and hotels around Harare and Victoria Falls “fully booked” in anticipation. The visit, which comes on the invitation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has drawn parallels with Joshua’s last high-profile visit to an African President in November 2015. “
One of the organisers of the cleric’s visit, Josey Mahachi, also said TB Joshua was coming to pay a private visit to the president.
However, the preacher has flown out of Zimbabwe without seeing the President, it has emerged.
The Standard says he only met Vice-President Kembo Mohadi and Scholarships minister Christopher Mushohwe after the government expressed ignorance of the meeting.
Acting Information minister Simon Khaya Moyo said that neither the government nor the president were aware of the purported meeting with the prophet. Moyo said,
“The president is not a snubber. We are not aware as the government of any meeting that was set up between the president and TB Joshua.
Other officials quoted by the Standard also said:
“Josey tried until late evening [Friday] to get some family members to assist, but it was turned down.
“This caused anger within the TB Joshua camp resulting in him leaving via the back door of his hotel to Robert Mugabe International Airport for Victoria Falls.” – read more in the Standard
ZimEye.com this morning explores a leaked audio conversation between Mbuya Lydia Tsvangirai and Morgan Tsvangirai’s widow, Elizabeth in what appears like a perfectly normal relationship 2 weeks ago just before the late MDC leader’s health deteriorated and the family started blocking Elizabeth Macheka from seeing him in the hospital.
Yesterday Mbuya Tsvangirai said that she does not want to see either Nelson Chamisa or Elizabeth.
Before Mbuya was as has been claimed, “captured by political elements”, the two appear to have had a normal relationship of Mother And Daughter In Law.
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
By Don Chigumba | This piece aims at supporting the perspective that the women of Zimbabwe have let down Elizabeth Tsvangirai. Coincidentally, the advisor of the mother of Jesus was called Elizabeth.
Elizabeth (Liz) is a heroine among the heroes, she took a good care of her husband till the time God called him. We saw her often, accompanying her husband to MDC-T rallies. Liz is more vulnerable to African Traditional Culture because she married a celebrity. I am not shocked even if some people accused her of ill-treating or poisoning her husband.
Liz is my heroine, respect her for taking a good care of our leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Liz is definitely going to face resistance and abuse from Tsvangirai family, some ZANU PF and MDC-T supporters. ZANU PF is likely to use her in order to enhance division within the MDC-T camp. Some MDC-T supporters may blame Liz or ZANU PF for the demise of Tsvangirai because of their cultural stupidity alignment. Liz is in my prayers during this trying time, she made a mistake by getting married to a celebrity. The women of Zimbabwe should stand up and support Liz during this hour of need.
The Tsvangirai family have decided to appoint their daughter in law Diana to be among the spokespersons of Tsvangirai at the expense of Liz. How can this be, traditionally or ‘Christianitilly’?. The recent press conference of Collins Tsvangirai should have been blessed by Liz, why did that not happen? Collins Tsvangirai told the world that Morgan will be buried very close to his late wife Susan, a statement that should have been avoided, reflecting division in the family. Was that meant to provoke Liz? I am among the people provoked by the statement.
It is evident that Liz is being sidelined by Tsvangirai family and politicians while her fellow women of Zimbabwe are watching. Today it is Liz but tomorrow it will be you or your daughter or relative. I hate the African Traditional Religion beliefs, women are marginalized and blamed for everything in the event of the deaths of their husbands. Nehanda Nyakasikana! Where are you, your grand daughters are under attack? Come down!
I have a cute daughter and I was forced to shade tears upon learning the way Liz is being treated. I was imagining my daughter following the same route because she was ‘blessed with a wrong gender’. They are calling Liz a gold-digger, that she was bedded by Nelson Chamisa, was it her mistake to be married to a celebrity? What do you want to achieve with all these lies? All women including man had a natural love for Tsvangirai and Liz was not spared.
Why should man watch while the mother of Jesus is being attacked? Why can’t women support their fellow during this hour of need? Go Liz Go, you are paying the prize for being married to a hero. Do not be diverged, one day you will become our MP in any constituencies in Harare and I will campaign for you.
Conclusion
Women should be respected for carrying everyone of us in their wombs for 9 months, they are the mothers of Jesus, intelligent and live than men. The biblical narrative tells us that, Jesus was conceived through the fusion of Mary’s (women) ovary and the holy spirit. If the men’s sperms were capable of producing Jesus, why then did God use the holy spirit? There is enough evidence that, women are superior to man even if President Mnangagwa did not respect them in his recent cabinet nominations. I respect Liz she is my heroine. Man, MDC-T and ZANU PF may attack her because she is a women but my prayers are with her. She is living in a dead society where the definition of a prostitute means a women. All women of Zimbabwe are prostitutes according to them but I love you. Go Liz Go. I am sorry for offending you (women), it is because my feeling is that Liz has been abandoned by you (them). Nelson Chamisa is the right person to remove youths and women of Zimbabwe from oppression. Just like being a women, generation gap may force our elders to marginalize you politically, but my prayers are with you too.
Don Chigumba is a mixed methods researcher based in South Africa
A Correspondent| The Wits Donald Gordon Hospital in South Africa has apologised for the “Tsvangirai frail” picture leak in which a nurse was snapped somewhat posing for a photoshoot with the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The Wits Gordon Hospital wrote back in response to an outcry by a nurse, Sol Masawi who sought the hospital to condemn the alleged action of the unnamed female nurse.
The move comes at a time when it was not clear whether it the nurse was guilty of the alleged offence. In the response a spokesperson said disciplinary measures had been taken.
Tertia Kruger, said in writing:
“It is with regret that we note recent posts on social media showing a photograph of Mr Tsvangirai with a nursing staff member.
We have investigated the matter and, according to the nursing staff member, the photograph was taken with the permission of Mr Tsvangirai.
We strongly condemn the appropriateness of the photograph and its subsequent distribution and confirm that disciplinary action has been taken against the nursing staff member.”
The University of Zimbabwe’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Levi Nyagura, has been picked up for questioning by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) investigators for allegedly awarding a doctorate degree to former First Lady Grace Mugabe in a fraudulent manner.
ZACC commissioner Goodson Nguni confirmed to VOA Studio 7 that Professor Nyagura had been picked up by the police.
Political analysts and ZACC sources told Studio 7 that Mrs. Mugabe is now facing imminent arrest.
Supervised by Professor Claude Mararike, Mrs. Mugabe graduated with the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in the Faculty of Social Studies in September 2014. Mararike is also facing arrest with ZACC indicating that it will swoop on him soon.
Allegations against Professor Nyagura, in a charge sheet in VOA’s Studio 7’s possession, are that he unlawfully recommended the conferment of a Doctor of Philosophy Degree to Mrs. Mugabe without the approval of the University Council and the Senate Committee. The alleged crime is criminal abuse of office.
Ten UZ lecturers from the Sociology Department had written to ZACC and Professor Nyagura demanding that Mrs. Mugabe’s degree be revoked. But Nyagura, in an interview with the Herald, had dismissed the lecturers’ claim saying they were “ignorant Messrs and doctors” with no academic capacity to supervise a PhD student.
Prof Nyagura said PhD students were supervised by the post-graduate centre and not a teaching department. The lecturers had also complained that Mrs .Mugabe’s thesis was not
The vice chancellor had vowed that the UZ was ready to defend its position should the lecturers consider taking a legal route. Earlier in the year, 10 lecturers from the Department of Sociology challenged Prof. Nyagura to revoke Mrs. Mugabe’s doctorate arguing that it was awarded unprocedurally. Supervised by Professor Claude Mararike, Mrs. Mugabe graduated with the Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Social Studies in September 2014.
The 10 lecturers who are protesting are: Prof Rudo Gaidzanwa, Drs. Sandra Bhatasara, Julius Musevenzi, Watch Ruparanganda, Gutsa, Mandizadza, Sadomba, Mate and Messrs Nelson Muparamoto and T. Chevo. The lecturers further alleged that Mrs. Mugabe’s thesis took 4 years to producein contravention of its normal practice.
The 226-page thesis, entitled “The changing social structure and functions of the family: The case of children’s homes in Zimbabwe, was released last month.
“All things considered, the awarding of the degree under such circumstances was unethical, unprofessional, and unprocedural, as the quality of the final product was not controlled by qualified professionals if at all any research was conducted to warrant conferment of such a degree. The awarding of the degree constitutes academic corruption and criminal abuse of office in terms of section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) on the part of anyone implicated in awarding the degree at the University.”
The lecturers also alleged that Professor Mararike was appointed without their consultation as stipulated in the University of Zimbabwe ordinance regulations.
“Your appointment of Professor C. Mararike was in breach of sections 4.2 and 4.7 of ordinance number 25 of the University of Zimbabwe, in that no consultation with members of the Sociology department board was ever done,” alleged the lecturers.
Nyagura took over from Graham Hill as the UZ vice-chancellor following recommendations made to President Mugabe by the University of Zimbabwe Council. He was selected ahead of then Midlands State University vice-chancellor, Ngwabi Bhebhe, and UZ lecturer and politician, Professor Heneri Dzinotyiwe.- VOA
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
Vice President Rtd Gen Constantino Chiwenga yesterday declared that no-one in Zimbabwe should ever suffer again.
Speaking in Insiza, Mat South, Gen Chiwenga announced $300million facility for farmers to boost production.
Gen Chiwenga said the Government has set aside $80 million to kick start the livestock programme with the remaining $220 million funding expected to be drawn from the private sector.
“Government has since identified the need for funding to the tune of over $300 million for the Special Livestock, Fisheries and Wildlife Programme. In this regard, the $220 million of the required US$300 million total support package of the programme would be sourced from the private sector, while the balance will be funded by the Government.
“I am pleased to advise you that to kick start this programme, Government has already set aside $80 million towards this livestock programme which will, among other things, enable the National Parks to demarcate red and green zones. The aforesaid will inevitably go a long way in controlling the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease and curtail the domestic and wildlife conflict,” said VP Chiwenga.
He said upon realising the benefits of the Command Agriculture-Special Maize and Wheat programme supported to the tune of $180 million by Sakunda Holdings, Government approved and extended the initiative to Livestock, Fisheries and Wildlife Management. The Special Maize and Wheat Programme culminated in delivery of more than 1,2 million tonnes of maize and 181 519 tonnes of wheat to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) in the 2016/17 season.
“Following the success of the first initiative of Command Agriculture in maize production and other cereals, the Command Livestock initiative aims to stimulate vibrancy by addressing key supply chains for facilitation. These include the beef, dairy, goat and poultry value chains,” said VP Chiwenga.
He said the beef value chain was expected to support the revival of the Cold Storage Company (CSC) which is the country’s key export processor of beef with the same chain feeding into the leather supply chain and a number of by products with high export potential.
“The dairy value chain which had initiated its own measures for revival is also set to scale up to ameliorate the local milk products supply deficit, while looking at expending its export base. Similarly, the live goat and goat meat value chain where there is growing interest and demand both locally and abroad presents further opportunities for the growth of the sector.
“In the same breath, the niche free range poultry value chain which has yet to satisfy an emergent local demand and expressed Chinese interest should be fully exploited for the benefit of the locals including rural small scale farmers. The programme will also be extended to focus on the pig, table eggs and broiler poultry value chains,” said VP Chiwenga.
He said while the Government and the private sector are coming in with resources to prop up the programme, farmers are expected to create their own resilient capabilities and capacities to ensure sustainability. To support the Livestock, Fisheries and Wildlife Management Programme, Sakunda Holdings has offered an initial funding of $10 million and two million chicks per month in support of the poultry sector.
“Out of the $10 million (offered by Sakunda), Government has set aside $5 million for Matabeleland South and $5 million for Matabeleland North provinces,” said VP Chiwenga.
He also said the partnerships between Government, Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) and Zimplats was another milestone in the Special Livestock, Fisheries and Wildlife Public Private Partnerships programme.
“In this initiative, there is evidence of the mining and agriculture interface which has mainstreamed mining into the general economy and increased the participation of miners in national agriculture-based economic development. During the first phase of this programme, the ZAS, Zimplats and Government are targeting inseminating 6 000 semen straws into a livestock population of 3 600 anticipated to produce 1 800 bulls and 1 800 heifers,” said VP Chiwenga.
The second phase will increase the total semen straws to 16 000.
“The broader Government objective is to adequately meet the domestic demand and service export markets. This will, no doubt improve and sustain the livelihoods of our people through job creation and higher incomes. The success of this special programme will be anchored enterprise financing, skills and knowledge development for the farmer.
“Equally critical is the role played by regulatory and service support authorities in ensuring high product quality and competitiveness as well as effective marketing and sustainable trade. In the process, we hope to address the challenges of our national nutritional food and non-food industries, thereby creating income streams and growing our agricultural economy,” said VP Chiwenga.
To further enhance the Livestock, Fisheries and Wildlife Programme the Public Private Partnerships will be supported through favourable conditions under the Livestock Finance Schemes, Joint Ventures, Out-grower or contract production, Cattle Grazer Schemes (through CSC) and Processor Financing.
“Farmers as primary producers will access loans with three to five-year tenure at a modest comprehensive interest rate of four percent per annum. Processing establishments, some of which are experiencing challenges, especially State Owned Enterprises such as the Cold Storage Company and those in the dairy sector will, in the process, be revitalised,” said VP Chiwenga.
He said good corporate governance was critical for the success of the programme thus constant evaluation and monitoring would become a key tenet.
“In terms of management and oversight, the programme will be implemented and monitored through the current National Integrated Command Agriculture Taskforce which falls under the Office of the President and Cabinet. I am pleased to advise that His Excellency the President gave me the mandate to superintend over this onerous but surmountable task.
“Within this broad implementation, monitoring and evaluation structure, there is a Thematic Committee on livestock production that is charged with providing expert advice and making recommendations to the task force on livestock matters. This structure will be adopted at provincial, district and local levels, mirror the already existing structures on the special programme on maize production for import substitution,” said VP Chiwenga.
Speaking at the same function Agriculture, Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Retired Air Chief Marshall Perence Shiri said beneficiaries of agricultural programme should bear in mind that the facility was a loan and should be in a position to repay within the stipulated period.
Also present at the occasion was Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Matabeleland South Province Abednico Ncube, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet and Chairman of the National Integrated Command Agriculture Taskforce Mr Justin Mpamhanga and the traditional leadership from Matabeleland South, among others. – state media/Additional reporting
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
Following threats by the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangira’s mother to commit suicide if acting President Nelson Chamisa and Mrs Elizabeth Tsvangirai show up at her son’s funeral ZimEye.com received the letter below.
Dear ZimEye, Gogo isn’t Morgan Tsvangirai’s biological mother. Acting President Nelson Chamisa is going to lead us. Zanu Pf need the weakest candidates like Elias Mudzuri and Thokozani Khupe such that they can pave their way through.
Mbuya Manyondai just respect her saMbuya asi havasi muma structure edu emusangano. wavo mwana Manyonda ari kuzanu pf uyu ndewe Mukoma. saka hapana chavano chinja MDC is a people’s project not a family or individual thing so the will of the people must be respected.
To all those vano rwadziwa na Chimisa I say get well soon. we must lay our Leader to rest in piece the icon of the Nation.- Mwana weMDC
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
By Terrence Mawawa| The late Morgan Tsvangirai’s mother, Amai Lydia, has spoken against her son’s successor, saying she does not want to see his face.
She also said she does not want to see Tsvangirai’s wife, Elizabeth.
Amai Tsvangirai voiced this out to someone near her at the airport while welcoming her son’s body, as she said in Shona, “Tell your Sekurus, I do not want to see either Elizabeth or Chamisa here, or otherwise as I stand here I will kill myself.”
Her exact words in Shona were “…udza vana sekuru vako, Eliza handidi kumuona pano…face yaChamisa handidi kuiona. Hezvino ndiripano ndingazvisungirira”
The video was screened on the national broadcaster, ZBC’s news bulletin.
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
Roman Catholic priest Father Fidelis Mukonori has revealed how he trained the late former trade unionist and MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai on peace-building.
Speaking at a Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) and Silveira House workshop on creating the environment for effective coverage of the forthcoming elections, Mukonori said Tsvangirai was among several international trade unionists to pass through the Catholic Social Justice and Development Centre outside Harare.
“Many of the leading labour movement leaders, teachers and those of professional reputation passed through our hands at the centre in our efforts for peace-building. Among those that I trained are the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai as well as the late former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba, who wanted to use his muscle due to his short build, but we told him to think to achieve anything on peace,” he said.
“We know workers were not being handsomely paid, but the only way was through good negotiating skills.”
Mukonori took a central role and mediated between former President Robert Mugabe and the military after the launch of Operation Restore Legacy in November last year, which ushered in a new government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Catholic cleric said it was imperative for journalists to create a better environment for the nation through well-balanced stories that give constructive criticism.
“As journalists, it is your primary role to inform the citizens with factual news that shape the nation. Personally, I approach those in leadership to advise them where they could have made mistakes,” he said.
“Do not be afraid to tell the truth. Not everyone can be ED (President), professors or truck drivers of this world. So, as journalists, be professional in your conduct. Do away with hate language that will never build trust among your readers. We have seen many blaming Zanu PF for the mess the country is in, but everyone is involved, as we are not taking our roles. It includes citizens, politicians, everyone and you as journalists to make our country a peaceful nation.”
Various organisations such as ZUJ, Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Election Support Network and Election Resource Centre, called on the media to build peace and report professionally without taking sides ahead of elections due to in the next five months. Newsday
Chaos broke out at One Command Barracks Saturday night, when the army was screamed at by MDC members. Military bosses wanted the body to lie in state for the night the way National Heroes are treated. But they have been ordered to release Morgan Tsvangirai’s body. “You refused to salute him when he was alive and now you want to do it afterwards!” one MDC member said.
ZimEye is doing LIVE coverage of the drama. Follow the video coverage here – REFRESH THIS PAGE TO WATCH:
By Stan Goreraza| Should we look to and expect thieves and murderers to sit in judgement and decide,Yes, indeed Morgan Tsvangirai was a hero? The same people whose thievery and murderous associations Tsvangirai fought and opposed.
You can’t give Tsvangirai National hero’s status because he already has it. You can’t make him a hero because he already is one. So whether you call him one or not, it has little to no effect.
Ten people can sit down and decide Tsvangirai is not a National hero. But millions, without even meeting, agreed Tsvangirai is a National hero.
There is that physical Heroes Acre somewhere near Warren Park where you will find the remains of many thieves and murderers.
But there is a prestigious Heroes Acre, built in the hearts of the people. This is where the loved like Joshua Nkomo lie and this is where the memory of Tsvangirai will take it’s place. It is not where your physical remains are interred that makes you a hero. It is where the memory of you is kept and how people will remember you that makes you a Heroe.
At the physical Heroes Acre lies nothing but bones, polished tombs and grave stones. But in the hearts of people you will not find graves. You will find the dead alive, kept as treasure for the most precious treasure is not kept under guard, lock and key, but in the heart, where the best thief in the world cannot break in to steal.
The thieves and murderers bury each other at their heroes acre , showering each other with lies and fraudulent deserts. But a man like Tsvangirai is buried with love and truth because he is buried by people from every corner of life.
Like treasure, they bury him in their hearts, where there is no death because the heart like the spirit does not die. There, he is made alive, though dead, because you cannot be dead where there is life.
By Staff Reporter| The late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has received military honour – his body has just been driven to One Command Barracks where it will lie in state overnight. WATCH THE LIVE PROCEEDINGS BELOW:
By Staff Reporter| “We do not want to ever again see another Zimbabwean who suffers in this country”, said Vice President Constantino Chiwenga Saturday afternoon.
Gen Chiwenga was speaking on the sidelines of the launching of a command agriculture program in Insiza, Mat South. He was flanked by the new Minister Of Agriculture Perrance Shiri. FULL VIDEO:
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation is carrying a LIVE coverage of MDC leadder Morgan Tsvangirai’s body’s arrival.
The MDC leader’s body arrived at Robert Gabriel International Airport Saturday evening. There were chaotic scenes at the airport with throngs of MDC supporters waiting to bid him fare well.
A sign of good times coming? – for the first time, MDC members were given LIVE coverage. – REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR UPDATES
The body of the late Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has arrived at Robert Mugabe International Airport. Chaotic scenes as supporters demand to enter airport grounds. pic.twitter.com/GijsREj1ga
Some Zimbabweans have opened debate on who they feel truly loved Morgan Tsvangirai between Locardia Karimatsenga and Elizabeth Macheka.
This came after pictures surfaced of Locardia consoling her mother in law, Amai Tsvangirai. “Saka where is Elizabeth ikozvino nhai? Ndipo patinoona ka kuti aida President wedu ndeupi ipapo,” wrote John Mhonda.
Who really loved Tsvangirai between Locardia and Elizabeth?
As MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s body is this weekend being prepared to be flown to Zimbabwe from South Africa, Zimbabweans in the UK are mourning the late Tsvangirai. The function is being grace by the MDC leader for the UK and Ireland, Tonderai Samanyanga, and many others who include Provincial Secretary Woman’s Assembly Manya Mary Ndoro, Iline Manhudzi Branch Chair Women Assembly, Patrick Chatukuta South East District Organising Secretary, Patricia Chinyoka Portfolio Secretary for Welfare. The event will be filmed LIVE on ZimEye.com
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By Paul Nyathi | Corruption accused Vice Chancellor of the University Of Zimbabwe Levy Nyagura has been released from custody on a $200 bail.
Levy Nyagura
Nyagura was arrested late Friday evening by the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission for dubiously awarding former First Lady Grace Mugabe a PHD degree in 2014.
Magistrate Florence Mazhambe granted Nyagura bail and ordered him to appear at the court on the 5th of March.
He was ordered not to interfere with the eight university lecturers Professor Gandidzanwa, Doctor Sadomba, Dr Mandizvidza, Dr Ruparaganda, Dr Musevenzi and Professor Mugani who petitioned ZACC for investigations to commence.
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.
It has been three years since we called for Grace Mugabe’s bogus PhD to be withdrawn from the University of Zimbabwe.
After the engagements with the then vice chancellor Levi Martin Nyagura, we realised that the natty professor was adamant and after all part and parcel of the cabal that illegally and foolishly awarded Grace Marajuta Marufu Mugabe a PhD.
Early this year the union through its president Achibald Madida wrote a letter to Nyagura giving him 48 hours to resign as the vice chancellor.
We today received a refreshing phone call for the union to witness the arrest of Nyagura.
This man!
Levi Nyagura has overstayed at the university and has presided over the collapse of the same. He like Tobaiwa Toneth Mudede was supposed to be retired long time ago.
We salute every student who fought this fight till the end, the lawyers who represented students in difficult times in defence of administrative justice.
Vice President Retired General Dr Constantino Chiwenga is expected to launch the livestock revitalisation programme in Insiza today.
The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) has partnered Zimplats to roll out the programme which will start running in Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North before being taken to other provinces.
Matabeleland South Provincial Administrator Ms Sithandiwe Ndumo-Ncube yesterday confirmed that VP Chiwenga would launch the programme.
“We’re excited about the livestock revitalisation programme because it’s important for our province. VP Chiwenga will be our guest of honour. The launch will take place at Tsomo Dip Tank, Village 13 in Insiza District,” said Mrs Ndumo Ncube.
ZAS head of programmes and public affairs Ms Roberta Katunga said the programme, which is also meant to promote sustainable agricultural activities, will complement the Government’s Command Livestock programme.
“Following national consensus on the need to revitalise communal livestock and production to improve livelihoods and mitigate climate change, Zimplats has partnered ZAS with support from the Ministries of Mines and Mining Development and Lands, Agriculture and Rural Settlement in a rural capacity building programme,” said Ms Katunga.
“The programme will entail the creation of livestock incubation centres in Matabeleland North and South and Mhondoro, where training in sustainable livestock rearing and crop production will be undertaken. Thereafter the programme will be taken to the rest of the country.”
She said the first phase would target insemination of 6 000 semen straws to 3 600 cattle.
Ms Katunga said this should potentially produce 1 800 bulls and 1 800 heifers.
“The second phase will increase the total semen straws to 16 000. Once successfully running, the programme is expected to be self-sustaining in the long term,” she said.
Ms Katunga said artificial insemination has to be conducted carefully to be successful, hence it will be done clinically.
She said the programme would also empower communal farmers with better livestock rearing practices so as to ensure sustainability.
“The proposed initiative seeks to introduce livestock production methodologies that support general agricultural production, enhance environmental farming practices and deliberately grow an improved national herd through a nationwide insemination programme,” Ms Katunga said.
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
STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, MR CYRIL RAMAPHOSA
16 FEBRUARY 2018
PARLIAMENT
Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Baleka Mbete,
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Ms Thandi Modise,
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP,
Former President Thabo Mbeki,
Former Deputy President FW de Klerk,
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and all esteemed members of the judiciary,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Premiers and Speakers of Provincial Legislatures,
Chairperson of SALGA and all Executive Mayors present,
The Heads of Chapter 9 Institutions,
Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders,
Leaders of faith based organisations,
Former Speaker Dr Frene Ginwala,
Former Speaker Mr Max Sisulu,
Invited Guests
Veterans of the struggle for liberation,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Honourable members,
Fellow South Africans,
It is a great honour and privilege to deliver this State of the Nation Address.
This Address should have been delivered last week, but was delayed so that we could properly manage issues of political transition.
I wish to thank Honourable Members and the people of South Africa for their patience and forbearance.
I also wish to extend a word of gratitude to former President Jacob Zuma for the manner in which he approached this difficult and sensitive process.
I wish to thank him for his service to the nation during his two terms as President of the Republic, during which the country made significant progress in several areas of development.
President Cyril Ramaphosa with First Lady Tshepo Motsepe sing along to the national anthem. (Gianluigi Guercia, AFP)
Fellow South Africans,
In just over 150 days from now, the peoples of the world will unite in celebrating the 100thanniversary of the birth of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
It is a day on which we, as South Africans, will remember the life of one of the most remarkable leaders this country and this continent – and indeed, the world – has known.
We will recount Madiba’s long walk to freedom, his wisdom, his unfailing humility, his abiding compassion and his essential integrity.
We have dedicated this year to his memory and we will devote our every action, every effort, every utterance to the realisation of his vision of a democratic, just and equitable society.
Guided by his example, we will use this year to reinforce our commitment to ethical behaviour and ethical leadership.
In celebrating the centenary of Nelson Mandela we are not merely honouring the past, we are building the future.
We are continuing the long walk he began, to build a society in which all may be free, in which all may be equal before the law and in which all may share in the wealth of our land and have a better life.
We are building a country where a person’s prospects are determined by their own initiative and hard work, and not by the colour of their skin, place of birth, gender, language or income of their parents.
This year, we also celebrate the centenary of another giant of our struggle, Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu.
Through her remarkable life and outstanding contribution, she defined what it means to be a freedom fighter, a leader and a diligent and disciplined servant of the people.
Through her leadership, she embodied the fundamental link between national liberation and gender emancipation.
As we mark her centenary, we reaffirm that no liberation can be complete and no nation can be free until its women are free.
We honour this son and this daughter of the African soil in a year of change, in a year of renewal, in a year of hope.
We honour them not only in word, but, more importantly, in direct action towards the achievement of their shared vision of a better society.
We should honour Madiba by putting behind us the era of discord, disunity and disillusionment.
We should put behind us the era of diminishing trust in public institutions and weakened confidence in leaders.
We should put all the negativity that has dogged our country behind us because a new dawn is upon us.
It is a new dawn that is inspired by our collective memory of Nelson Mandela and the changes that are unfolding.
As we did our minds of all negativity, we should reaffirm our belief that South Africa belongs to all who live in it.
For though we are a diverse people, we are one nation.
There are 57 million of us, each with different histories, languages, cultures, experiences, views and interests.
Yet we are bound together by a common destiny.
For this, we owe much to our forebearers – people like Pixley ka Seme, Charlotte Maxeke and Chief Albert Luthuli – who understood the necessity of the unity and harmony of all the people of this great land.
We are a nation at one.
We are one people, committed to work together to find jobs for our youth; to build factories and roads, houses and clinics; to prepare our children for a world of change and progress; to build cities and towns where families may be safe, productive and content.
We are determined to build a society defined by decency and integrity that does not tolerate the plunder of public resources, nor the theft by corporate criminals of the hard-earned savings of ordinary people.
While there are many issues on which we may differ, on these fundamental matters, we are at one.
We know that there is still a lot that divides us.
We remain a highly unequal society, in which poverty and prosperity are still defined by race and gender.
We have been given the responsibility to build a new nation, to confront the injustices of the past and the inequalities of the present.
We are called upon to do so under difficult conditions.
The state we are in as a nation is that while poverty declined significantly following the democratic breakthrough of 1994, we have seen reverses in recent years.
Poverty levels rose in 2015, unemployment has gone up and inequality has persisted.
For several years our economy has not grown at the pace needed to create enough jobs or lift our people out of poverty.
Public finances have been constrained, limiting the ability of government to expand its investment in economic and social development.
Despite these challenging conditions, we have managed – working together – to achieve progress in improving the lives of our people.
Even under conditions of weak growth, our economy has created jobs, but not at the pace required to absorb new entrants into the labour market.
This means that as we pursue higher levels of economic growth and investment, we need to take additional measures to reduce poverty and meet the needs of the unemployed.
Since the start of the current Parliament, our public employment programmes have created more than 3.2 million work opportunities.
In the context of widespread unemployment, they continue to provide much needed income, work experience and training.
We have taken measures to reduce the cost of living, especially for the poor.
Government’s free basic services programme currently supports more than 3.5 million indigent households.
More than 17 million social grants are paid each month, benefiting nearly a third of the population.
We know, however, that if we are to break the cycle of poverty, we need to educate the children of the poor.
We have insisted that this should start in early childhood.
Today we have nearly a million children in early childhood development facilities.
We are seeing improvements in the outcomes of our basic education system.
The matric pass rate increased from 60.6 percent in 2009 to 75.1 percent last year.
There are currently almost a million students enrolled in higher education, up from just over 500,000 in 1994.
As we enter a new era, we are determined to build on these achievements, confront the challenges we face and accelerate progress in building a more prosperous and equitable society.
We have seen a moderate recovery in our economy and a broader, sustained recovery in the global economy.
Commodity prices have improved, the stock market has risen, the rand has strengthened and there are early indications that investor confidence is on the rise.
We have taken decisive measures to address concerns about political instability and are committed to ensure policy certainty and consistency.
There is a greater sense of optimism among our people.
Our people are hopeful about the future.
Business confidence among South African companies has improved and foreign investors are looking anew at opportunities in our country.
Some financial institutions have identified South Africa as one of the hot emerging markets for 2018.
Our task, as South Africans, is to seize this moment of hope and renewal, and to work together to ensure that it makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our people.
This year, we will be initiating measures to set the country on a new path of growth, employment and transformation.
We will do this by getting social partners in our country to collaborate in building a social compact on which we will create drivers of economic recovery.
We have to build further on the collaboration with business and labour to restore confidence and prevent an investment downgrade.
Tough decisions have to be made to close our fiscal gap, stabilise our debt and restore our state-owned enterprises to health.
At the centre of our national agenda in 2018 is the creation of jobs, especially for the youth.
We are going to embark on a number of measures to address the unemployment challenge.
One of the initiatives will be to convene a Jobs Summit within the next few months to align the efforts of every sector and every stakeholder behind the imperative of job creation.
The summit will look at what we need to do to ensure our economy grows and becomes more productive, that companies invest on a far greater scale, that workers are better equipped, and that our economic infrastructure is expanded.
We will expect this summit to come up with practical solutions and initiatives that will be implemented immediately.
We will make a major push this year to encourage significant new investment in our economy.
To this end, we will organise an Investment Conference in the next three months, targeting both domestic and international investors, to market the compelling investment opportunities to be found in our country.
We are going to address the decline over many years of our manufacturing capacity, which has deeply affected employment and exports.
We will seek to re-industrialise on a scale and at a pace that draws millions of job seekers into the economy.
We are going to promote greater investment in key manufacturing sectors through the strategic use of incentives and other measures.
To further stimulate manufacturing, we will forge ahead with the localisation programme, through which products like textile, clothing, furniture, rail rolling stock and water meters are designated for local procurement.
We have already spent more than R57 billion on locally-produced goods that may have been imported from other countries.
Special economic zones remain important instruments we will use to attract strategic foreign and domestic direct investment and build targeted industrial capabilities and establish new industrial hubs.
The process of industrialisation must be underpinned by transformation.
Through measures like preferential procurement and the black industrialists programme, we are developing a new generation of black and women producers that are able to build enterprises of significant scale and capability.
We will improve our capacity to support black professionals, deal decisively with companies that resist transformation, use competition policy to open markets up to new black entrants, and invest in the development of businesses in townships and rural areas.
Radical economic transformation requires that we fundamentally improve the position of black women and communities in the economy, ensuring that they are owners, managers, producers and financiers.
Our most grave and most pressing challenge is youth unemployment.
It is therefore a matter of great urgency that we draw young people in far greater numbers into productive economic activity.
Young South Africans will be moved to the centre of our economic agenda.
They are already forming a greater proportion of the labour force on our infrastructure projects and are the primary beneficiaries of programmes such as the installation of solar water heaters and the war on leaks.
We continue to draw young people in far greater numbers into productive economic activity through programmes such as the Employment Tax Incentive.
Working in partnership with business, organised labour and community representatives, we are creating opportunities for young people to be exposed to the world of work through internships, apprenticeships, mentorship and entrepreneurship.
Next month, we will launch the Youth Employment Service initiative, which will place unemployed youth in paid internships in companies across the economy.
Together with our partners in business, we have agreed to create a million such internships in the next three years.
If we are to respond effectively to the needs of youth, it is essential that young people articulate their views and are able to engage with government at the highest level.
I will therefore be establishing a Youth Working Group that is representative of all young South Africans to ensure that our policies and programmes advance their interests.
Infrastructure investment is key to our efforts to grow the economy, create jobs, empower small businesses and provide services to our people.
We have invested heavily in new roads, power stations, schools and other infrastructure.
As some of our projects are taking time to get off the ground and to enhance our efforts, I will assemble a team to speed up implementation of new projects, particularly water projects, health facilities and road maintenance.
We have learnt some valuable lessons from our experience in building all the new infrastructure, which will inform our way ahead.
We will focus on improvements in our budget and monitoring systems, improve the integration of projects and build a broad compact on infrastructure with business and organised labour.
Mining is another area that has massive unrealised potential for growth and job creation is mining.
We need to see mining as a sunrise industry.
With the revival in commodity prices, we are determined to work with mining companies, unions and communities to grow the sector, attract new investment, create jobs and set the industry on a new path of transformation and sustainability.
This year, we will intensify engagements with all stakeholders on the Mining Charter to ensure that it is truly an effective instrument to sustainably transform the face of mining in South Africa.
By working together, in a genuine partnership, underscored by trust and a shared vision, I am certain we will be able to resolve the current impasse and agree on a Charter that both accelerates transformation and grows this vital sector of our economy.
Processing of the MPRDA Amendment Bill through both houses of parliament is at an advanced stage, with an indication by Parliament that the Bill will reasonably be finalised during the first quarter of 2018.
The Bill, once enacted into law, will entrench existing regulatory certainty, provide for security of tenure and advance the socio-economic interests of all South Africans.
We are extremely concerned about the rise in mining fatalities last year.
We call on mining companies to work together with all stakeholders to ensure that mine accidents are dramatically reduced.
One mining fatality is one too many.
Fellow South Africans,
Ultimately, the growth of our economy will be sustained by small businesses, as is the case in many countries.
It is our shared responsibility to grow this vital sector of the economy.
We will work with our social partners to build a small business support ecosystem that assists, nourishes and promotes entrepreneurs.
Government will honour its undertaking to set aside at least 30 percent of public procurement to SMMEs, cooperatives and township and rural enterprises.
We will continue to invest in small business incubation.
We encourage business to do the same.
The establishment through the CEOs Initiative of a small business fund – which currently stands at R1.5 billion – is an outstanding example of the role that the private sector can play.
Government is finalising a small business and innovation fund targeted at start-ups.
We will reduce the regulatory barriers for small businesses.
We are also working to expand economic opportunities for people with disabilities.
Among other things, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency – SEFA – has launched a scheme to develop and fund entrepreneurs with disabilities called the Amavulandlela Funding Scheme.
Agriculture presents one of the greatest opportunities to significantly grow our economy and create jobs.
Agriculture made the largest contribution, by a significant margin, to the improved growth of our economy in the second and third quarters of 2017.
This year, we will take decisive action to realise the enormous economic potential of agriculture.
We will accelerate our land redistribution programme not only to redress a grave historical injustice, but also to bring more producers into the agricultural sector and to make more land available for cultivation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete. (Gianluigi Guercia, AFP)
We will pursue a comprehensive approach that makes effective use of all the mechanisms at our disposal.
Guided by the resolutions of the 54th National Conference of the governing party, this approach will include the expropriation of land without compensation.
We are determined that expropriation without compensation should be implemented in a way that increases agricultural production, improves food security and ensure that the land is returned to those from whom it was taken under colonialism and apartheid.
Government will undertake a process of consultation to determine the modalities of the implementation of this resolution.
We make a special call to financial institutions to be our partners in mobilising resources to accelerate the land redistribution programme as increased investment will be needed in this sector.
Tourism is another area which provides our country with incredible opportunities to, quite literally, shine.
Tourism currently sustains 700,000 direct jobs and is performing better than most other growth sectors.
There is no reason why it can’t double in size.
We have the most beautiful country in the world and the most hospitable people.
This year, we will enhance support for destination marketing in key tourism markets and take further measures to reduce regulatory barriers and develop emerging tourism businesses.
We call on all South Africans to open their homes and their hearts to the world.
Our prosperity as a nation depends on our ability to take full advantage rapid technological change.
This means that we urgently need to develop our capabilities in the areas of science, technology and innovation.
We will soon establish a Digital Industrial Revolution Commission, which will include the private sector and civil society, to ensure that our country is in a position to seize the opportunities and manage the challenges of rapid advances in information and communication technology.
The drive towards the digital industrial revolution will be underpinned by the availability of efficient networks.
We will finalise our engagements with the telecommunications industry and other stakeholders to ensure that the allocation of spectrum reduces barriers to entry, promotes competition and reduces the cost to consumers.
South Africa has acceded to the Tripartite Free Trade Area agreement, which brings together SADC, COMESA and the East African Community.
The free trade area will combine markets of 26 countries with a population of nearly 625 million.
It will open market access opportunities for South African export products, contribute to job creation and the growth of South Africa’s industrial sector.
Negotiations towards the Continental Free Trade Agreement are progressing at a brisk pace, and it is expected that the framework agreement could be concluded soon.
South Africa will this year take over the chair of the BRICS group of countries, and will give priority to the promotion of value-added trade and intra-BRICS investment into productive sectors.
Fellow South Africans,
On the 1st of May this year, we will introduce the first national minimum wage in South Africa.
This historic achievement – a realisation of one of the demands of the Freedom Charter – is expected to increase the earnings of more than six million working South Africans and improve the living conditions of households across the country.
The introduction of a national minimum wage was made possible by the determination of all social partners to reduce wage inequality while maintaining economic growth and employment creation.
It stands as another example of what is possible when South Africans engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve differences and confront challenges.
To ensure greater coherence and consistency in the implementation of economic policy – and to ensure that we are better equipped to respond to changing economic circumstances – I will be appointing a Presidential Economic Advisory Council.
It will draw on the expertise and capabilities that reside in labour, business, civil society and academia.
The country remains gripped by one of the most devastating droughts in a century, which has severely impacted our economy, social services and agricultural production.
The drought situation in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape has been elevated to a national state of disaster.
This gives national government the authority to manage and coordinate our response nationally with support from all provinces.
This will ensure that we also heighten integrated measures to support the provinces that are hardest hit.
We are looking at activating the necessary extraordinary measures permitted under the legislation.
I commend the people of Cape Town and the rest of the Western Cape for diligently observing water saving measures.
We call on everyone in the country to use water sparingly as we are a water-scarce country that relies on this vital resource to realise our development aspirations.
Honourable Members,
On 16 December last year, former President Jacob Zuma announced that government would be phasing in fully subsidised free higher education and training for poor and working class South Africans over a five-year period.
Starting this year, free higher education and training will be available to first year students from households with a gross combined annual income of up to R350,000.
The Minister of Higher Education and Training will lead the implementation of this policy, while the Minister of Finance will clarify all aspects of the financing of the scheme during his Budget Speech next week.
In addition to promoting social justice, an investment of this scale in higher education is expected to contribute to greater economic growth, reduce poverty, reduce inequality, enhance earnings and increase the competitiveness of our economy.
Government will continue to invest in expanding access to quality basic education and improving the outcomes of our public schools.
The Funza Lushaka Bursary programme plans to award 39,500 bursaries for Initial Teacher Education over the next three years.
In an historic first, from the beginning of this year, all public schools have begun offering an African language.
Also significant is the implementation of the first National Senior Certificate examination on South African Sign Language, which will be offered to deaf learners at the end of 2018.
The Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative programme continues to deliver modern facilities to schools in rural and underprivileged urban areas across the country, with at least 187 schools being complete to date.
The programme will complete all outstanding projects by the end of the next financial year.
Social grants remain a vital lifeline for millions of our people living in poverty.
We will urgently take decisive steps to comply with the all directions of the Constitutional Court.
I want to personally allay fears of any disruption to the efficient delivery of this critical service, and will take action to ensure no person in government is undermining implementation deadlines set by the court.
We will finalise work on a permanent public sector-led hybrid model, which will allow a set of public and private sector service providers to offer beneficiaries maximum choice, access and convenience.
This year, we will take the next critical steps to eliminate HIV from our midst.
By scaling up our testing and treating campaign, we will initiate an additional two million people on antiretroviral treatment by December 2020.
We will also need to confront lifestyles diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
In the next three months we will launch a huge cancer campaign similar to the HIV counselling and testing campaign.
This will also involve the private sector as we need to mobilise all resources to fight this disease.
The time has now arrived to finally implement universal health coverage through the National Health Insurance.
The NHI Bill is now ready to be processed through government and will be submitted to Parliament in the next few weeks.
Certain NHI projects targeting the most vulnerable people in society will commence in April this year.
In improving the quality of life of all South Africans, we must intensify our efforts to tackle crime and build safer communities.
During the course of this year, the Community Policing Strategy will be implemented, with the aim of gaining the trust of the community and to secure their full involvement in the fight against crime.
The introduction of a Youth Crime Prevention Strategy will empower and support young people to be self-sufficient and become involved in crime fighting initiatives.
A key focus this year will be the distribution of resources to police station level.
This will include personnel and other resources, to restore capacity and experience at the level at which crime is most effectively combated.
In recognising the critical role that NGOs and community-based organisation play in tackling poverty, inequality and related social problems, we will convene a Social Sector Summit during the course of this year.
Among other things, this Summit should seek to improve the interface between the state and civil society and address the challenges that NGOs and CBOs face.
Fellow South Africans,
Growth, development and transformation depend on a strong and capable state.
It is critical that the structure and size of the state is optimally suited to meet the needs of the people and ensure the most efficient allocation of public resources.
We will therefore initiate a process to review the configuration, number and size of national government departments.
Many of our state owned enterprises are experiencing severe financial, operation and governance challenges, which has impacted on the performance of the economy and placed pressure on the fiscus.
We will intervene decisively to stabilise and revitalise state owned enterprises.
The recent action we have taken at Eskom to strengthen governance, root out corruption and restore its financial position is just the beginning.
Government will take further measures to ensure that all state owned companies fulfil their economic and developmental mandates.
We will need to confront the reality that the challenges at some of our SOEs are structural – that they do not have a sufficient revenue stream to fund their operational costs.
These SOEs cannot borrow their way out of their financial difficulties, and we will therefore undertake a process of consultation with all stakeholders to review the funding model of SOEs and other measures.
We will change the way that boards are appointed so that only people with expertise, experience and integrity serve in these vital positions.
We will remove board members from any role in procurement and work with the Auditor-General to strengthen external audit processes.
As we address challenges in specific companies, work will continue on the broad architecture of the state owned enterprises sector to achieve better coordination, oversight and sustainability.
This is the year in which we will turn the tide of corruption in our public institutions.
The criminal justice institutions have been taking initiatives that will enable us to deal effectively with corruption.
The commission of inquiry into state capture headed by the Deputy Chief Justice, Judge Raymond Zondo, is expected to commence its work shortly.
The Commission is critical to ensuring that the extent and nature of state capture is established, that confidence in public institutions is restored and that those responsible for any wrongdoing are identified.
The Commission should not displace the regular work of the country’s law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting any and all acts of corruption.
Amasela aba imali ka Rhilumente mawabanjwe.
We must fight corruption, fraud and collusion in the private sector with the same purpose and intensity.
We must remember that every time someone receives a bribe there is someone who is prepared to pay it.
We will make sure that we deal with both in an effective manner.
We urge professional bodies and regulatory authorities to take action against members who are found to have acted improperly and unethically.
This requires that we strengthen law enforcement institutions and that we shield them from external interference or manipulation.
We will urgently attend to the leadership issues at the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure that this critical institution is stabilised and able to perform its mandate unhindered.
We will also take steps to stabilise and strengthen vital institutions like the South African Revenue Service.
We must understand that tax morality is dependent on an implicit contract between taxpayers and government that state spending provides value for money and is free from corruption.
At the request of the Minister of Finance, I will shortly appoint a Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance of SARS, to ensure that we restore the credibility of the Service and strengthen its capacity to meet its revenue targets.
Our state employs one million public servants.
The majority of them serve our people with diligence and commitment.
We applaud them for the excellent work they do.
However, we know the challenges that our people face when they interact with the state.
In too many cases, they often get poor service or no service at all.
We want our public servants to adhere to the principle of Batho Pele, of putting our people first.
We are determined that everyone in public service should undertake their responsibilities with efficiency, diligence and integrity.
We want to instil a new discipline, to do things correctly, to do them completely and to do them timeously.
We call on all public servants to become agents for change.
During the course of the next few months, I will visit every national department to engage with the senior leadership to ensure that the work of government is effectively aligned.
I will also find time to meet with provincial and local government leaders to ensure that the state, in its entirety, responds to the pressing needs of our people.
Fellow South Africans,
Our country has entered a period of change.
While change can produce uncertainty, even anxiety, it also offers great opportunities for renewal and revitalisation, and for progress.
Together we are going to make history.
We have done it before and we will do it again – bonded by our common love for our country, resolute in our determination to overcome the challenges that lie ahead and convinced that by working together we will build the fair and just and decent society to which Nelson Mandela dedicated his life.
As I conclude, allow me to recall the words of the late great Bra Hugh Masekela.
In his song, ‘Thuma Mina’, he anticipated a day of renewal, of new beginnings.
He sang:
“I wanna be there when the people start to turn it around When they triumph over poverty I wanna be there when the people win the battle against AIDS I wanna lend a hand I wanna be there for the alcoholic I wanna be there for the drug addict I wanna be there for the victims of violence and abuse I wanna lend a hand Send me.”
We are at a moment in the history of our nation when the people, through their determination, have started to turn the country around.
We can envisage the triumph over poverty, we can see the end of the battle against AIDS.
Now is the time to lend a hand.
Now is the time for each of us to say ‘send me’.
Now is the time for all of us to work together, in honour of Nelson Mandela, to build a new, better South Africa for all.
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| There was commotion at Shakashe Primary School in Rujeko Suburb last week when disgruntled parents threatened to beat up the school head.
