President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is seeking the services of Interpol for the extradition of former Zimbabwean ministers Professor Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwao, who allegedly committed some crimes while they were serving under ousted former president Robert Mugabe.
According to the privately-owned Standard newspaper, the government is using all channels at its disposal to arrest the three, believed to be the ringleaders of a botched grand plan for former First Lady Grace Mugabe to succeed her husband.
The newspaper quoted Home Affairs Minister, Obert Mpofu, as saying they are looking for individuals, who committed crimes inside and outside Zimbabwe.
He said, without elaborating, “We are doing everything possible to ensure that those that have committed crimes within Zimbabwe and are outside Zimbabwe are brought to book. If it means engaging Interpol, we will go that route.
“The process is two-pronged, we are looking at the local investigations and outside investigations and outside investigations, they involve Interpol … We are talking about all those that committed crimes in Zimbabwe and if they committed crimes, they will be involved in this exercise.”
The three escaped when the Zimbabwe Defence Forces seized control of key state institutions on November 15 and put then president Robert Mugabe under house arrest after declaring that they wanted to get rid of “criminals” surrounding Mugabe.
The army claimed that Mugabe was no longer able to government due to the individuals who were forcing Zanu PF members aligned to Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was eyeing the presidency at that time, to step down from state and party positions in preparation for the Zanu PF Extra Ordinary Congress designed to put Mrs. Mugabe in a striking position for the presidency.
Acting police chief Matanga inspecting some policemen and police woman.
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces defused the move resulting in Mnangagwa of the so-called Team Lacoste faction of the ruling party to become president. Mrs. Mugabe and her Generation 40 members were then forced to flee.
Professor Moyo and Kasukuwere are believed to be living in Kenya while Zhuwao is said to be in South Africa.
VOA Studio 7 was unable to independently verify the latest developments with Interpol, the world’s largest international police organization, which according to www.interpol.intel, comprised 192 member nations.- VOA
By Farai D Hove| Botswana’s president Ian Khama was for a long time the MDC-T’s best friend and at one time Morgan Tsvangirai would even flee to Khama’s private residence and spend weeks inside there. But the events of the last 5 weeks suggest that the man has turned his back on Tsvangirai, according to a ZANU PF leader.
Khama is now full swing behind ZANU PF and has done several things so so far including deporting Emmerson Mnangagwa’s arch enemy, Phelekezela Mphoko, the ruling party’s UK chairman Nick Mangwana claims.
Mangwana writing on Tuesday morning, scoffed at the MDC saying, “who are the MDC’s fraternal allies in the region? Botswana’s BDP is back in brotherhood with Zanu PF.
“President Khama attended ED’s inauguration, sent PR Mphoko back in a Kombi and sent Rtd Lt Gen Masire to Congress with high praises for the new admin showing, a turn in relations,” he wrote on his Twitter portal.
Has Khama truly turned his back on Tsvangirai?
No conclusion can be made perhaps until and after both Khama and his BDP have made an announcement to the effect because Khama used to attend the former President Robert Mugabe’s functions during the time of his public scuffles with the 94 year old.
Perhaps a visible sign that she does after all listen to advice – The latest pictures of Vice President Gen Constantino’s wife, Mary taken Tuesday morning at the Tongogara memorial, show the 2nd Lady who was subjected to much public ridicule over her “revealing” dressing at the just ended ZANU PF Conference, clothed all over – to the extent that one cannot even see her ankles. ZBC PICTURES –
President Emmerson Mnangagwa told potential investors in South Africa last week that it was time to forgive and forget the past.
He has forgiven the “cabal”- the G40 faction of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front that was about to take over the country and install former first lady Grace Mugabe as vice-president- except for three.
“Whatever offence we committed to you, please put that behind you. The word says forgive, forgive,” he said. “I forgive the cabal, I have said bygones are bygones and they are back in the country except for the three who still are doing something funny but it will also end.”
It is not clear who the three are but two are obvious. They are Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere who are reported to have fled to Kenya.
Kasukuwere has been relatively quiet but Jonathan Moyo has been on the attack through his twitter account arguing that what happened in Zimbabwe was a military coup and the junta has taken over.
Although Moyo said he was quitting tweeting on 15 December because he had “major offline work to do” he came back on 23 December to comment on the appointment of Constantino Chiwenga as vice-president of ZANU-PF.
Moyo said this was confirmation of what he told the politburo in his video on 19 July.
Moyo thanked former President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace “for saving us when the Junta tried to kill us on 15 Nov.”
It is not clear how Mugabe and his wife saved Moyo and his colleagues or who the “us” was but one of the people Moyo was with was Saviour Kasukuwere.
It is also not clear who the third person Mnangagwa was referring to as some reports say it is Paddy Zhanda while others say it is Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao.
Zhuwao only made noises before his uncle resigned and has been quiet since, though reports say he is in South Africa.
Whispers in the social media, however, question whether Moyo and Kasukuwere really escaped especially in view of what Moyo said on his twitter account that the house in which he and Kasukuwere were together with their families was attacked by 25 SAS (special air service).
Their escape to Kenya, the whispers say, could be a ruse because Moyo’s current wife, Beatrice, comes from Kenya, and her family is highly politically connected.
Her father was a Member of Parliament and her brother Nicholas Salat popularly known as Nick took over his father’s seat, though he is currently not an MP. He is the secretary general of the Kenya African National Union (KANU).- insider
Dear Editor, I am a 30 year old young woman who enjoys reading ZimEye.com. I love the diversity, interaction and wonderful exchange of ideas, this is what a media house in a new democratic Zimbabwe should operate like.
However, I am sad to say that we are not yet there editor. There is a saying “democracy is like a tokolosh, many talk about it but noone has actually seen it.”
After President Robert Mugabe resigned, we were told all our problems were over, we danced and cheered at the prospect that we are now a free nation, with freedom of speech being essential in our daily interaction with those in power.
Kudos to women like Kerina Mujati who have remained resolute demanding accountability from our new leaders President Mnangagwa and his wife Auxillia. These two as Mujati points out have the mammoth task in the next 7 months of proving they are different from the past leaders, they have been exorcised from the Zanu PF culture of intolerance. Is the First Family aware of the bullying, blackmail, threats and abuse meted against those with alternative views, doing so in their names? Indeed there are cyber bully brigades working round the clock who are threatening directly or indirectly those who have alternative views. If women like Kerina are silenced, then we are doomed as a nation.
Mr President must be reminded that it was exactly this culture of fear and intolerance that gave birth to the MDC in the late 90s people were tired and became more bold in challenging the system head on. You have 7 months Mr President to prove to Zimbabweans that they can indeed elect you into office and that their future under your leadership will be safe. Right now your body language speaks a scary language.
But again Mr President increased oppression and silencing of opposition is only a recipe for a serious revolt, learn from other countries in the world. Zimbabweans are watching. Kudos Kerina.
By Mazvi Mazilankatha | As my learned PhD colleagues’ keyboards grow hot with overuse in this race to predicting who will win the Zimbabwe Presidential Elections 2018, perhaps the best indicator for me came from a very unlikely source and the content of the analysis, short, captivating spoke volumes. My friends who are savvy journalists, professors, editors and pastors and priests all pale in comparison to that of an old lady who in a conversation with me, her daughter, did not even know that she was potentially influencing the outcome of the 2018 election.
While my friends are gesticulating and throwing e-punches from across the political floor on Facebook, old ladies like my mother are living and breathing the future results of political outcomes. So how is it that this age group remains the most underserved yet most influential in determining the political trajectory of Zimbabwe and indeed Africa. And I am not talking about the well-known millions of seniors referred to as the rural voters. There is a target group that seems to go undetected and that is the senior population domicile in the cities. Chances are that these senior folks have either never voted or they stopped voting choosing to stay away from the whole confusion and violent ridden exercise. Cultivating them is like finding pure gold.
My call to my mother to wish her Merry Christmas should have lasted some very happy five minutes but the neighbourhood update was essential than discussing the Christmas rice and chicken menu. My mother and her friends had been busy the past week assisting isolated widows and orphans. Sometimes these orphans included homeless teens and college students. My mother and her team cooked for the orphans and cleaned the widows’ homes. Madube and her team are very busy women. I recall that she was once involved in initiating a clean up campaign for North End suburbs. This initiative took hold and other women duplicated it in their neighbourhoods. The success of this selfless volunteerism earned her team attention with local councillors who requested to help and rubberstamp the programs into a campaign for their elections. The good women of North End said no; this was a local women volunteer initiative with no political overtones.
My mom is not a rural voter. Come to think of it, I have never discussed voting with her but now I am curious as to what her leanings are. I also know that her retired friends are headmistresses, teachers, nurses and doctors. These women are the backbone of the cities. They are not struggling to warrant being bribed by seeds for their vote. In fact, they are untouchable. They probably have serious reservations against the ruling party as they witnessed how the icon Joshua Nkomo was treated. Their husbands may have also been involved in the liberation struggle one way or the other and when all was gone and done, the victory went to Harare and they were left clutching the horrific effects of Gukurahundi.
So now as I wish Madube a merry Christmas she thanks me for my thoughtfulness at sending the money so that they could enjoy a wonderful Christmas.
“We almost had no Christmas, Irene.” She says sounding a bit panicked. I ask her why not?”
“Hapana mari munyika!” she says. I am a bit shocked that there is no money in circulation. So, what did you do, I ask her. My mother tells me that she Ecocashed her groceries at the local TM Supermarket.
Bukavu: A residence of President Joseph Kabila was burned down early Monday in a suspected militia attack that killed a police officer in the Democratic Republic of Congo, witnesses said.
So-called Mai-Mai armed groups were probably trying to steal goods from the building in Musienene, North Kivu province in the country’s troubled east, according to a military official.
“The residence of the head of state in Musienene has been targeted in an attack from 03:00 and then burned by the Mai-Mai,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“The attackers ransacked everything before setting the house and some vehicles on fire.”
Kabila spends most of his time in the capital, Kinshasa, but is believed to have several homes across the country, including a farm.
Musienene regularly sees protests against Kabila’s extended time in power and demonstrations over insecurity.
He has managed to cling to power despite his second and final term as president officially ending in December 2016.
Elections to replace him never took place and a deal was eventually brokered that enabled Kabila to stay in office until a vote that was due to be held in 2017. The poll has since been postponed until December 23, 2018.
“We saw the flames consume the residence of the president of the republic when we awoke,” said Pascal Mukondi, a resident of Musienene.
Another resident said they “feared retaliation” from the army.
Armed Congolese groups and foreign forces control swathes of territory in North Kivu province and fighting is relatively common.
In a separate development, nine soldiers were killed in two ambushes by a suspected rebel militia group in South Kivu province, the military said Monday.
“The army recorded a loss of nine soldiers in two ambushes in the Baraka operational zone”, a unnamed military official told AFP.
A lieutenant was killed on Sunday in the village Lweba, 7km from the Baraka district, the official added.
The other deaths came in an attack two days earlier.
“Our hospital received the bodies of eight soldiers killed by bullets on Friday,” an official at a hospital in Lulimba, a village 60 kilometres south of Baraka, told AFP.
The military official accused the Mai-Mai militia of being responsible for both attacks, adding that DR Congo’s army lost “important material”.
By Associated Press| Monrovia- Liberians head to the polls Tuesday for a runoff election between a former international soccer star and the vice president to replace Africa’s first female head of state.
For the first time in more than 70 years, the West African nation founded by freed American slaves will see one democratically elected government hand power to another.
The runoff was contested twice in court, with its original Nov. 7 date delayed after the third-place Liberty Party filed a complaint of fraud that was dismissed.
Nearly 2.2 million voters have the choice between 51-year-old former soccer star and senator George Weah and 73-year-old Joseph Boakai, who has served as vice president of the impoverished nation for 12 years.
Liberians showed up in large numbers for the first-round election on Oct. 10. Economist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is stepping down after two terms in office that brought the country out of back-to-back civil wars and grappled with the Ebola outbreak that killed nearly 5,000 Liberians in 2014-2015.
National Elections Commission lead lawyer Musa Dean told The Associated Press that everything was ready for Tuesday’s vote to go ahead, and that a mandate by the Supreme Court for a cleaned-up voter roll to be posted at all 5,390 polling places will be met.
Many Liberians turned out over the weekend to check their voter registrations, with some finding it difficult.
“We can’t be left out,” said one, Pinky Frank. “This election is about our future, our children’s and their children’s future so we have to take it seriously.”
Sirleaf initially said she would support her vice president, but amid allegations that she preferred Weah she has backed off publicly supporting either candidate.
Weah draws his support from the younger generation. This is his third time running for the presidency, and 60 percent of Liberia’s population is under 30.
Weah leads the ticket for a coalition party, the Congress for Democratic Change, with Jewel Taylor-Howard as his vice presidential running mate. She is the ex-wife of imprisoned former warlord and President Charles Taylor.
“We don’t see how we will lose this election because we are not leaving any stones unturned,” party chairman Nathanial McGill said.
The two candidates both saw hardships growing up and have made those experiences part of their campaigns.
“Like many of you, I have been a victim of poverty,” Weah has said, promising new futures and jobs.
Boakai has promised to make road reconstruction the center of his development drive, saying that “when you have roads, all other things can happen.” He also has promised to create 50,000 jobs in the first 150 days.
The vice president’s Unity Party had filed a complaint with the Supreme Court that the elections commission had prematurely set the runoff date, but the complaint was overruled last week.
The party is still concerned about missteps, chairman Wilmot Paye told the AP.
“What we want the world to know is that we are going into this process with reservations,” he said. “We will not compromise anything that looks like an attempt to deny the will of the Liberian people.”
Staff Reporter| President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to get a massive public rating boost if he continues with his plan to expose convicted Harare fraudster, Wicknell Chivayo.
Chivayo won for himself nearly $1 billion worth of tender business from the government owned ZESA, and two years ago snatched a straight $5million payment for the Gwanda Solar Project which has yet failed to kick off.
Highly placed family sources told ZimEye.com Mnangagwa is not at all backing Chivayo as the fat belly businessman has recently suggested on LIVE video.
“Just watch events in the coming few days the President is dealing with Chivayo,” the family member who cannot be named due the sensitive nature of the disclosure told ZimEye at the weekend.
He then assured the public saying, “don’t think ED is quiet, he is very smart and he does not change his position.”
The latest on Chivayo has seen the government’s National Economic Conduct Inspectorate (NECI) last week demanding documents relating to the Gwanda Solar Project and the Munyati Power Station.
Thousands of Zimbabweans voiced on ZimEye saying Mnangagwa is going the right direction and so far opinion ratings have seen the new President gain in popularity.
https://youtu.be/OqbcQCBRsVk
The letter serves as a follow up to the request for documents done through a letter dated 7 December 2017 and a subsequent meeting between NECI officers and the Managing Director, Mr. Wicknell Chivayo, on the same date.
NECI is still waiting for the urgent delivery of the documents below:
• Intratrek Zimbabwe, bank statements from January 2015 to date;
• Cash book; and
• All other documents pertaining to the Gwanda Solar Project and Munyati Power Station held by the company.
An expeditious submission of the above information will be appreciated.
Meanwhile, Chivayo two weeks ago publicly shrugged off reports that he was arrested over his irregular dealing with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA). As ZimEye.com has covered him for over 2 years to date, Chivayo has done nothing convincing on the project resulting in the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) taking over the management of the project. His lawyer, Advocate Thabani Mpofu two weeks ago also denied the reports that his client was arrested despite being earlier quoted word for word.
Staff Reporter| Gen Constantino Chiwenga and other soldiers are perfectly okay for Zimbabwe top government posts, because even Britain has 56 soldiers inside its parliament, argues a UK lawyer.
Dr Masimba Mavaza, writing on ZimEye.com on Tuesday morning, says even the United States’s database is littered all over by hundreds of solders’ names who go back right down to the nation’s very founding in the late 1700s. The nation’s founder, Gen George Washington was a himself coup leader. He led the first successful armed struggle against Britain in a battle that then swiftly created the United States Of America.
Soldiers are better than civilians at obeying the law, Mavaza further argues.
He continues saying, “military members can-not be wished away. They are not monsters. They are citizens who have sacrificed for the good of the masses and they should not be politically discriminated because they are soldiers.
“Politics can-not be stable without the army. There is no country in the world where soldiers are not part of politics. In the British House of Commons there are 56 ex-military men and women as MPs. In the US Congress the number of ex-military men has actually grown to 108.
“Actually military people are more disciplined than civilian politicians in using the military. Former Conservative leader Ian Duncan Smith, a former Lieutenant in the British Army and Spokesman for the Brexit would not have been approved in Zimbabwean politics. Politicians in Zimbabwe are busy misleading the public and saying that the appointment of army personnel is dictatorial. It should be noted that being military is being political and dropping into mainstream civilian politics is only a change in the phase of politics. In 1971, membership of the US military service was at its peak, veterans made up 72 percent of members in the Congressional House and 78 percent in the Senate. In 1981, that number dipped to 64 percent of members, but veterans still made up a majority of Congress. So you need to adapt and stop moaning.” – CLICK HERE T READ MORE
As we get to the end of the year below are some reflections to some shocking psycho -techniques by the former Mugabe regime which crumbled last month. These are seen in the way it used to create fear fences by appointing to senior military posts generals with terror infusing names. Below are some of them:
Shiri (A Bird as in literal flying – Head of the Airforce)
Chiwenga (Deep Hatred – Head of the Defence Forces)
Chihuri (Locker – meaning literally I will pick you and lock you all up!- Head of the Police)
Zimhondi (Scary Murderer/Killer- used to scare all offenders within and without the prison walls)
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| The appointment of the military personnel is government is not only peculiar to Zimbabwe. World-over governments are filled with ex-army officers and there is no one who complains about it.
In politics ex-military members can-not be wished away. They are not monsters. They are citizens who have sacrificed for the good of the masses and they should not be politically discriminated because they are soldiers.
Politics can-not be stable without the army. There is no country in the world where soldiers are not part of politics. In the British House of Commons there are 56 ex-military men and women as MPs. In the US Congress the number of ex-military men has actually grown to 108. – CONTINUE READING…
Actually military people are more disciplined than civilian politicians in using the military. Former Conservative leader Ian Duncan Smith, a former Lieutenant in the British Army and Spokesman for the Brexit would not have been approved in Zimbabwean politics. Politicians in Zimbabwe are busy misleading the public and saying that the appointment of army personnel is dictatorial. It should be noted that being military is being political and dropping into mainstream civilian politics is only a change in the phase of politics. In 1971, membership of the US military service was at its peak, veterans made up 72 percent of members in the Congressional House and 78 percent in the Senate. In 1981, that number dipped to 64 percent of members, but veterans still made up a majority of Congress. So you need to adapt and stop moaning.
Many American presidents served in the military, but also quite a few did not serve.
Washington served as an officer in a non-American military (he was a militia officer when the British still ruled the original 13 states), and only one (Teddy Roosevelt), won the Medal of Honor.
George Washington- Virginia Regiment (British army) during the French and Indian War. Served as a general in the U.S Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Thomas Jefferson- Virginia Militia during the American Revolutionary War did not see action but he was a soldier; James Madison- Virginia Militia during the American Revolutionary War.
James Monroe-was an Army officer during the American Revolutionary War. Monroe served in several battles, and was wounded at the Battle of Trenton. He went on to become the president of America.
Andrew Jackson-Served as a courier for American militia units at age 13 in the American Revolutionary War.
He was captured by the British and held prisoner. While a captive, he was beaten by a British officer for refusing to polish the man’s boots. Jackson’s brothers both died during the war (one in battle, the other due to illness while a prisoner with Andrew). Also, his mother died of illness while in British captivity. He commanded American troops in the War of 1812, and the Creek War, and the First Seminole War.
William Harrison was a -U.S. Army officer in the Northwest Indian War and in the War of 1812.
John Tyler was a militia officer during the War
James Polk-Tennessee State Militia officer.
Zachary Taylor was a -U.S. Army in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican-American War.
Millard Filmore was a -New York State Militia during the American Civil War.
Franklin Pierce was a -U.S. Army officer in the Mexican-American War. He was wounded at the Battle of Contreras.
James Buchanan was a -Pennsylvania State Militia in the War of 1812. When the British invaded neighboring Maryland in 1814, Buchanan enlisted as a private in Henry Shippen’s Company, 1st Brigade, 4th Division, of the Pennsylvania Militia, and served in the defense of Baltimore. Buchanan is the only president with military experience who never served as an officer.
Abraham Lincoln was an-Illinois State Militia officer in the Black Hawk War.
Andrew Johnson-Appointed as Brigadier General and Military Governor of Tennessee during the American Civil War.
Ulysses S. Grant-U.S. Army officer in the Mexican-American War, and a general in the American Civil War.
Rutherford B. Hayes-U.S. Army officer in the American Civil War. Hayes was wounded at the Battle of South Mountain.
James Garfield-U.S. Army officer in the American Civil War. Saw action in several battles, and served as Chief of Staff to General Rosencrans.
Chester A. Arthur-New York State Militia as aQuartermaster officer during the American war.
Benjamin Harrison-U.S. Army Brigadier General in the American Civil War. Participated in many battles and campaigns, including Sherman’s March to the Sea.
William McKinley-U.S. Army officer in the American Civil War. Participated in many battles, including the Shenendoah Valley Campaigns. Had a horse shot out from under him.
Theodore Roosevelt-U.S. Army officer in the Spanish-American War. Teddy Roosevelt remains the only President to receive the
Zimbabweans woke up to a shock headline from one of the state media broadsheets the Herald, “Mutare ATMs dispense cash” screamed the headline. The story goes on to detail how there was good cheer in Mutare last week as a significant number of depositors managed to withdraw cash from their accounts at most banks ahead of the Christmas holidays. Angry Zimbabweans took to social media with one Duke Muponde writing, ” Yes cash machines dispense cash, what were you expecting cows?.”
President Emmerson Mnangawa’s ally Energy Mutodi wrote the article below on the 25th of August, at the time it seemed like a big joke that long serving President Robert Mugabe would be removed by his own army from power. On the eve of the 14th November elements of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces gathered around Harare, later taking over the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Services, after which they went live to tell the nation and world that “President Robert Mugabe is safe, we are targeting criminals around him.” Mnangagwa who had fled into exile is now back appointed interim President of Zimbabwe until elections are held.
Energy Mutodi | As President Robert Mugabe begins to look for a possible successor from among his subordinates, Zimbabweans are anxious to know who will eventually be picked to become the country’s second executive president.
Decision making in succession issues has always been a problem among africans; resulting in civil wars, repetitive coups and economic turmoil.
In Lybia for example, Muammar Gaddafi was killed after more than 42 years in power and with no clear successor named.
In Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo was defeated in a civil war and jailed overseas while his wife was also prosecuted and jailed for 20 years for aiding her husband in his efforts to retain power at all cost.
In Uganda, President Milton Obote was in 1971 overthrown by Idi Amin, the Commander of the Defence Forces after the later suspected the president was about to retire him and sent him to jail for embezzling army funds.
In Bakina Faso, President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida were overthrown just three weeks before general elections by General Gilbert Diendere who immediately took over power.
Between 1966 and 1999, the army held power in Nigeria without interruption apart from a short-lived return to democracy between 1979-1983.
There are more than 200 successful and unsuccessful coups that have occurred in Africa since 1960, prompting scholars like Folly Bah Thibault to investigate why coups are part and parcel of political change in Africa.
Unwillingness to peacefully handover power, failure to name a successor, ruthless crushing of dissent, economic mismanagement and state capture by those close to the incumbent are among the reasons why coups are rampant in Africa.
African leaders are to a large extent obsessed with power, do not know when to stop, commit countless crimes while in office and delegate power to their family members much to the disappointment of the military.
While a military takeover maybe far fetched in Zimbabwe, it is important for President Mugabe to be careful in naming his successor.
Any suspicion of unfairness or discrimination on account of tribalism or factionalism may backfire.
The President needs a maximax approach in arriving at the solution. (Refer to article titled: “Zim future gloomy as politicians take too much risk”, posted here on 14 February 2016).
There are key stakeholders that need to be consulted among them the military and the whole security establishment called the Joint Operations Command that is chaired by Vice President Mnangagwa.
Although Professor Moyo and his associates may suggest that the President has no business consulting the army, it is impossible to contemplate that ZANU PF can exist without the army collaborating its efforts to retain power.
It can only be naive for anyone to believe that the President has been in power for 37 years without the army giving him crucial support.
Several army chiefs have been quoted in the media saying that they would not permit anyone without liberation war credentials to lead the country.
Several times, the opposition has complained of intimidation of its supporters by the CIO and army officials such as ‘champion farmers’ who maintain a heavy presence in constituencies during election time.
Furthermore, the 2008 electoral defeat of the party for the first time in its history and the subsequent violent runoff clearly demonstrated how the army is key in determining who leads the country.
It is therefore an empty talk that the gun does not lead the pen in Zimbabwean politics.
The role the Zimbabwean army has played in nurturing President Mugabe’s rule can therefore not be overemphasized.
Any successor without the backing of the army will therefore be rejected, irrespective whether they have liberation war credentials or not.
Another critical block to consult is the ZANU PF membership itself, mainly the provincial executives that have been directly elected by the people.
It is an unfortunate situation that most provincial executives have been imposed by the politburo, making them unable to control their provinces.
This is the cause for the votes of no confidences that have characterized the party recently.
Probabilistically, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has a high chance to become the next President,having gained support from businesspeople, students, party activists and the international community.
His only major set back is his karanga origin, that President Mugabe’s close relatives and friends hate with a passion.
It is true that tribalism has played a major role in determining crucial appointments in both the party and government.
A zezuru unconquerable team is itching to have another one of their own replace President Mugabe at all cost.
They have suggested Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi as the successor.
This is stubborn behaviour to say the least.
While President Mugabe has condemned tribalism several times even during youth interface rallies, he has failed to rein in his subjects who continue to hate each other on tribal basis.
It is difficult to accuse the President himself of tribalism although the on-going succession debate presents him with a very tricky temptation that could permanently harm his legacy.
Often you hear people say people from this tribe will not rule while some tribal extremists believe a karanga is unelectable.
This is despite the fact that the people of Zimbabwe have given President Mugabe overwhelming support without considering whether he was born in the north, east, west or the south.
Tribal conflicts can not be underestimated as they account for civil wars in Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria and in Sudan where the country was split into two halves; North and South Sudan.
The liberation struggle that was waged against the Smith regime united all Zimbabweans irrespective of their language diversity and origins, making the ideals of the struggle paramount in guiding the nation.
Zimbabweans therefore need to rise above tribalism if the next President is to be accepted by all.
Other factors to consider include gender issues, particularly considering if a woman can lead the country at this point in time and if yes which woman?
First Lady Grace Mugabe can be a potential successor to President Mugabe if she successfully lands the third Vice President slot that has been suggested recently.
However, elsewhere where First Ladies have succeeded their husbands, the situation has been disastrous.
(Energy Mutodi is a Doctoral Degree candidate at the University of Cape Town. Currently a student of Law, he holds a Bachelor of War Studies and Geography from the University of Zimbabwe Centre for Defence Studies and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the UZ Graduate School of Management. He is a member of ZANU PF).
By Paul Nyathi First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa took a swipe at prison authorities and the Ministry In Charge of Prisons for the appalling conditions at the country’s prisons.
Mrs Mnangagwa who spent Christmas morning with female inmates at Chikurumbi Prison told the inmates that conditions in the prisons cannot be allowed to continue as they are, putting blame on the Ministry responsible for the substandard conditions in the facility.
The First Lady may have quickly forgotten that her husband Emmerson Mnangagwa who is now the President was until a month ago the Minister of Justice responsible for prisons. “I visited the places where you, sleep, bath and even eat and was shocked because the place are not fit for human habitation,” said the First Lady.
She promised the inmates in front of the prison authorities and Ministry officials who had accompanied that the conditions in the prison must be worked on and completed by end of January next year. Mrs Mnangagwa shared Christmas goodies with the 180 female inmates in the prison which also houses 15 children under the age of 12 who are staying with their mothers in the filthy conditions.
If you are trully a reformist as you claim and honourable then may you prove it by attending to the following important areas at the earliest convenience:
1) The disadvantaged and most vulnerable members of our society need immediate help. This group includes the street kids, persons with disabilities, Prisoners – an honourable new government that l know empts all its prisons and starts afresh. Give them a good Christmas Box or New year surprise. Walk the talk. You are known of being against death penalty, this is your time to make sure that death penalty is removed completely from our Constitution. Remember the old regime had subjected all prisoners at death row by failing to feed them. Can you do the right thing by releasing all of them soonest. That inturn will give you chance to downsize and reorganise Prison staff. It is the right time to send Prison Officers for retraining so that they reach Correctional Officers status. Also it is chance to upgrade their conditions of work. The Correctional staff is very important in a nation in that amongst their duties is rehabilitation of offenders. An effective rehabilitation program is vital if a country is to achieve a reduction in crime rate. Is this not time to have a register of vendors and hence assisting them to acquire small loans so that they may upgrade their small businesses? They have to move from vending to being small business operators. Give help to the old who have no one to turn to, help single and unemployed women with children whose husbands may have dumped them or passed away.
2) Make sure something is urgently done to improve the water, drug, food and service delivery situations at all state and Council hospitals and clinics throughout Zimbabwe.
3) Address the issue of tribal and racial imbalances as soon as you can. Let no tribe or race gets to a point of feeling that they are inferior to other tribes or races in our country. Zimbabwe is for us all and we should value each other, together as one. The first step can be by ensuring that the 3 main languages (English, Ndebele and Shona) have been declared official languages and hence introduced at all schools without delay.
4) May you be sincere enough by making sure that the soldiers/any security details you are deploying on Social Media do not spread hate speech as they are currently doing. This is reminding us of the Mugabe era. Do you know that they are already threatening Social media users with unspecified action including death. May you help us by making sure that that is addressed forthwith. Respect the fact that we as the public have freedom of speech as is enshrined in the constitution.
I am aware that you might be facing too many issues most of which you and your former boss Mugabe neglected for more than 37 years. Instead of wasting resources on those who are trying to surpress freedom of speech on Social Media and other places, you better channel such resources and attention to the most critical areas of our society.
By releasing prisoners you would have saved so much money which may then be channeled towards hospitals etc. The earlier you take action the better.
Do not forget to remind the nation that when Albert Matapo and 6 others spent 7 years (2007 to 2014) at Chikurubi Max Security Prison on treason charges as they were being accused of attemting to carry out a Coup (an actual one which was carried out by Chiwenga for you in 2017) in order to install you that was total fabrication by Zanu. The nation needs to know the truth. This was all fake and you might shade light as to why your counterparts in Zanu were making such lies. This record has to be put straight now that you are the one incharge. It should be known that you and us never knew each other whether directly or otherwise. It is the best time for you to tell the nation the truth about it once and for all.
Thank you very much indeed.
Yours sincerely,
Albert Matapo
Your Co-Accused for Treason Case (according to Zanu lies)
Five people died and 5 others were injured in an accident which involved a haulage truck and a cross border commuter omnibus along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway.
The accident occurred at the Runde River Bridge.
Three died on the spot and the other 2 died upon admission at Masvingo General Hospital.
National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the accident was a clear case of negligence.
She said the driver of the omnibus had total disregard for the passengers he was carrying as evidenced by his attempt to overtake in front of oncoming traffic.
She urged drivers to exercise caution on the roads and only overtake when it’s clear.
Senior Assistant Commissioner Charamba also urged motorists to avoid speeding.
She also called on passengers to play their role by confronting drivers who break road rules and speed.
In the event that the drivers are adamant, she urged members of the public to call on Harare Number 04-748836, saying the police will be able to assist them.- state media
Twenty-five babies have been born as at 12 midnight to 2pm today at major referral hospitals in Harare.
Christmas day is a day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and many people are proud to be associated with the day.
It was a blessing for babies who were born on a day like which is celebrated by many world over.
Dade Getrude senior nursing officer maternity ward, Harare Central Hospital and Loice Terere midwife Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital have expressed gratitude with the figures although some mothers delivered their babies with minor complications.
Mothers who spoke to the ZBC News said they were happy to deliver on a day celebrated by many Christians as the day Jesus Christ was born.
One father confessed that he had given his son the name Emmanuel meaning ‘God is with us’.
Harare Central Hospital recorded the highest figure of 11, while Parirenyatwa had nine and Chitungwiza Hospital five babies, with the number expected to increases as the day progresses.
The mothers have been however encouraged to follow the rules and regulations on breast feeding to keep their babies healthy.- state media
Paul Nyati | First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa continues to make her own popularity by getting into ordinary citizens and being part of the people.
On Friday she won the hearts of the people of Gwanda rural people when she took to the dance floor to dance to the popular tune in the area “Ngamnak’ uSaMamoe.”
The First Lady joined a dance group of orphans from a local orphanage to show dancing skills that thrilled hundreds of peiple who attended her visit to the orphanage. She received a huge applause from the crowd who immediately drew comparison between her and the former First Lady Grace Mugabe.
Kerina Mujati | The Public Relations Team for Auxilia and Dambudzo Mnangagwa must be told straight in their miserable faces that there is nothing special or unique about what this bloody power grabbing couple are doing.
We have been helping as women from here in the Diaspora or at personal level but have never run to the media for recognition. We have sacrificed our hard earned pennies whilst the Mnangagwas were busy thieving and living in opulence calling us Diasporans sellouts.
There is nothing to write home about your kneeling down or donations Auxilia we have done it before you and never sought praise like you do. Dr Amai (Grace mugabe) has done great work for our communities but was never desperate to be captured on camera. We have walked down this road while you were busy looting our Diamonds and Gold….now you using State funds you want us and the world to stop and give you credit????Aagh suka wena, asifuni bumbulu Auxilia.
Uyahlanya try something else. Nothing to write home about your visit to Chikurubi those women, men and children they need more than your bottle of drink. There are many challenges affecting inmates not your packet of crisps to their children. Yous should be paying them monthly allowances for the work they are doing. There are more pressing issues to do with their living conditions and rehabilitation that no one talks about.
They haven’t lost their human rights even if they are in prison. There is an urgent need to address their Mental and Physical wellbeing. How is the Prison Services preparing these men and women to be rehabilitated other than trying to sugar coat their dilemmas? Suka wena Auxilia ndozvonetsa matofo akabatiswa pito. Stop insulting us.
How many years have you been in Government but never thought of addressing their issues during Question Time in Parliament ? It had to take you to become a wife of a Coup President to realise that Chikurubhi Prison has neglected inmates? Ndati suka wena. Keep trying but chokwadi chaicho ma Copycats munosvota chamunongogona chete kuda kuitira vanhu vakazvitanga noise. Thathekile suka. #cd3sistermwenewazvo#
Eddie Cross | 2017 was quite a year – it seemed to go by so fast! Almost left us breathless! The culmination of course was the “retirement” of Mr. Robert Gabriel Mugabe from the position of President, Head of State, Commander of the Armed Forces etc. etc. after 37 years of almost total power and control. I think the person who felt this “wind of change” most was his second wife, a scheming harridan of a woman who in the end was his downfall.
His replacement in terms of the Constitution is Emmerson Mnangagwa who is no stranger to us in Zimbabwe. He was at Mugabe’s side in the war, at Independence and served in the government for all 37 years. He has had a controversial career, first as Minister of State security, then as Minister of Justice and Defence, Minister of Finance for a short period and finally, Vice President for two years.
In 1983 when I was General Manager of the Dairibord – a large Parastatal in the dairy industry, I got a call one day from the Catholic Mission in Lupane to say that the army was in the district and causing mayhem. I called the then Secretary to the Prime Minister (Mugabe) and Cabinet, Charles Utete, and asked him what was going on. I invited him to fly with me in a light aircraft to see for ourselves. He replied after 30 minutes that this was “nothing to do with me, too sensitive and I should leave it alone”.
The Catholics sent me a report on the problems in the district (it was the start of Gukurahundi – the “storm that cleans”) and I took this report with me on a business trip to Scandinavia where I shared it with four foreign Ministers and asked them to get their Prime Ministers to call our Prime Minister and urge restraint. When I got home I was summoned to the Ministers Office and there I was given a transcript of my discussions with the Norwegian Secretary of State and I was given a severe warning from the Minister of State Security to “never do that again, or else”. That was Mnangagwa.
I took the advice and watched from the sidelines over the next 4 years as the supporters of Joshua Nkomo were bludgeoned into submission. Tens of thousands lost their lives and perhaps a million people fled their homes for South Africa.
Of interest to me as an economist, was his short sojourn at the Ministry of Finance. I do not recall the circumstances, but I do remember how effective he was in a very short space of time. This view was reinforced by the senior Civil Servants in the Ministry who said he was clear headed, did not have to be told anything twice, made decisions and was a pleasure to work with. Most of all he took advice and listened. So often a weakness in so called “strong men”.
I have been a Member of Parliament for ten years, during that time we have had many interchanges with Emmerson. He has a very sharp mind and a sense of humor but if you do take him on, expect no prisoners. The one thing that always impressed me was his automatic authority in the House of Assembly – often a rowdy and unruly place. If he stood up in a debate or at question time, a hush would descend on the House. Very few command that kind of control.
His nick name – the crocodile (Ngwenya) is very apt as all such Shona nick names are – we all have them – I have had several, not all complementary. But in this case when he sits in Parliament with his eyes closed, you know that he is listening and will react if prodded. When he does attack – its fast and he takes no prisoners, ask Joice Mujuru and now Robert and Grace Mugabe.
Mugabe’s departure was received with national celebrations – people poured onto the streets and the party went on through the night. This was proceeded by the extraordinary and completely spontaneous demonstrations the previous Saturday when perhaps 1.5 million people took to the streets of Harare in support of the army and calling for him to step down. What stunned the world was the completely peaceful nature of this outpouring. What impressed me was its universal character, the people demonstrated all over the country, even in rural villages and towns.
But what next? What does 2018 promise at this point in our history. What I would have liked to see was a national government, negotiated with all stakeholders in some form of national convention which would govern the country until we were ready to return to democracy – in, say, 5 or 6 years. It was not to be and despite his willingness to consider such a possibility, Mnangagwa was eventually forced to compromise with his security chiefs and the result was a cabinet made up of some exceptional figures and some who are simply people who are as guilty as anyone of massive corruption and human rights abuse.
The other thing that we saw was the military junta, that has, in effect, been largely responsible for running the country and making key decisions, has come out into the open and taken key seats in the new government. The man who ran the “smart coup”, General Chiwenga has been appointed Vice President. But in his place is the best soldier in the country – a real professional who will change the face of the armed forces and ensure that we have a small, but highly proficient army which does not dabble in politics.
So, what lies ahead for us in 2018? Firstly, we know the most crucial event is the election, which must take place in July or August this coming year. The President has made it clear, he is going to deliver a free and fair election, the outcome of which cannot be contested by anyone. He knows what that entails, and that the international community will hold him to his word and demand that he delivers in every way. The signs are already there that this is being considered and that changes are being implemented. He is the master mind behind the 2013 elections when ZANU-PF could literally decide who would win and who would lose. The result a clear victory for ZANU-PF with a two thirds majority in the House and another 5 years for Mugabe.
Mnangagwa is in absolute control of the State and I think he is going to deliver. One of the key elements behind this strategy is that he knows the opposition is in shambles. The other thing he knows full well is that only a democratically elected government will be recognised by the international community and recovery and reconstruction of the Zimbabwe State and Economy is not possible without that.
I was given a transcript of his speech in Shona to the faithful at the ZANU-PF headquarters in Harare when he returned from his brief exile while the coup was planned and executed. In that address he showed clearly that he understood what a free and fair election meant for him and the party. He told them not to interpret the mass displays of emotion as support for ZANU – it was the very opposite and was simply a clear demonstration of how much the Mugabe leadership was hated.
He also made it clear that his own record was a hindrance and that he and the party had a lot to do before they could win a free and fair election. The key, he argued was to get the economy back on its feet and to restore hope among the people of Zimbabwe. The one thing I know about this man is that he is an operator and should not be underestimated. He appointed his cabinet on Sunday, swore them in on Monday and held his first Cabinet on Tuesday, setting his new ministers targets for the first 100 days and threatening that any minister who failed to achieve his or her targets was vulnerable.
Already you can feel the impact of this early momentum. Time alone will tell, but the early indications are that we will see very significant changes in 2018 and that our economy and maybe our country, will begin the long road back to where we should have been, but for the Mugabe era.
As South Africa celebrates Christmas, the music industry has suffered a huge loss as news surfaced that Robbie Malinga passed away.
Malinga’s label manager Kenny Tlale confirmed the musician’s death to TshisaLIVE.
The details around Malinga’s death are still unclear. The Mthande and Baby Pleasehitmaker has played down claims about his ill-health in the couple of months.
The 47-year-old was rushed to hospital in June over, with reports suggesting he was anaemic.
Musicians have paid tribute to Malinga on social media.- News24
Although there was a low turnout at the Splash Festival Re-Energised and the Soul Brothers show at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo on Friday and Saturday respectively the entertainment value was high.
Splash Festival Re-energised was being held as a make up for a washed out show last month and Soul Brothers were making a return to the city for the first time without their late lead singer David Masondo.
The shows were expected to pull scores of fans who had last seen Soul Brothers over 10 years ago and Dan Tshanda three years ago. It was also days before Christmas and people tend to let loose during this period.
However, this was not the case as people only started trickling into the venue on Friday at 8PM for the Splash Festival Re-energised.
On the poster was Tshanda, Matshikos, Dalom Kids, Peacock, Mpho Majika and the crew delivered.
In 2010 when Splash held their show at the Khumalo Hockey Stadium, as early as 5PM before gates were opened scores of people were already milling around the stadium and until late into the night there were long queues of people trying to gain access.
The euphoria surrounding Dalom Music at that time was that Dan Tshanda was riding on a hit song Lufuno. The last time Tshanda and crew were in Bulawayo was three years ago at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds, but the numbers of people at the show, though big, showed signs of waning.
On Friday it was a different story as, there was no jostling at the gate and the venue was virtually empty. It started filling up at around midnight with supporting acts entertaining the crowd.
As with any show there were some incidents. The crowd were constantly being annoyed by two MCs —DJs Woza Dynamite and Ntokozo from South Africa.
They disrupted everything on stage during breaks with their antics and soon the audience’s patience started to wear thin. Sensing that their uncouth behaviour might cause chaos, organisers resorted to switching off their mics whenever one of them had it in hand.
Apart from those two forgettable characters the show went on and it was a good night out for Dalom Music lovers as the artistes delivered.
The next day at the same venue the Soul Brothers headlined the show. It was also a low turnout, but it was a more mature crowd.
The show was vastly different from the previous night’s which was punctuated by wild dancing, sing-alongs because of the high levels inebriation among fans. At the Soul Brothers show, fans were seated watching attentively. When artistes such as Ihashi Elimhlophe, Zinja Ziyamluma and Steve Kekana had finished their acts they were given a round of applause each time.
Wild cheers ushered the Soul Brothers to the stage.
Although they do not have the enigmatic velvet voiced Masondo, the group still had a well-choreographed act.
Moses Ngwenya, the only surviving founding member of the group, was at the top of the stage playing away on two keyboards.
All in all the show was a good outing for Mbaqanga music lovers who are the older generation.
Perhaps if the show had been held in the afternoon, at the same venue more of them could have attended.Chronicle
A Gweru woman has accused a local ferrochrome smelting company, Xin Yu Mining Corporation, of firing her because she was pregnant.
Angela Gwatiringa, who was employed by Xin Yu as a control room assistant, was recently relieved of her duties by the company after she indicated that she was now heavily pregnant and wanted some leave days.
“I indicated to the company’s human resources manager, Mr Kudakwashe Chitakure that I needed some leave days because I was feeling heavy,” she said.
“When he approached the company directors they gave him the directive to fire me and the following day I was handed a dismissal letter.”
Ms Gwatiringa said she had since approached the National Employment Council after she could not get joy from the management.
“What disturbs me is that, is it a crime to fall pregnant?’ she said. “Labour laws have a provision that when someone is pregnant she will be given maternity leave.
“The company is ignorant of labour laws and workers were always threatened by management, which claims to be politically connected. If you try to voice your concern, you are automatically fired and this is what has happened to me. The management claims they have a strong political connection.”
Mr Chitakure confirmed that they fired Ms Gwatiringa. He said the allegations that she was fired because she was pregnant were false.
“Her job was technical, she was working in a control room and there were concerns that she was not doing her job properly,” said Mr Chitakure.
“The dismissal was based on incompetence. I was not even aware that she was pregnant, so the allegations I think are coming from the fact that she is disappointed.” Chronicle
Farirai Madhumbe | First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa continued with her public photo shoots, this time visiting Chikurubi Female Prison, where she handed out Christmas goodies to female prisoners and their children.
However, MDC National Excutive member Charlton Hwende asks if Mrs Mnangagwa also met Yvonne Musarurwa improsoned on trumped up charges. Asks Hwende on Facebook, “Madam First Lady I hope you also met Yvonne Musarurwa a political prisoner serving 20 years for being our MDC National Youth Deputy Organising Secretary she doesn’t need a coke and a 2 piecer but freedom and a new Zimbabwe”
The MDC has in the past warned that the country’s poor human rights record will not improve if the new Emmerson Mnangagwa-led government continues to apply the law selectively.
“The government should also release our supporters, Yvonne Musarurwa, Last Maengahama and Tungamirai Madzokere who are all rotting in prison for crimes which they did not committee.”
High Court judge, Chinembiri Bhunu sentenced the trio to 20 years in prison earlier this year for killing ZRP officer, Inspector Petros Mutedzi, in Harare’s Glen View arae during political clashes,” the party said in a statement.
Political parties are not eligible to apply for broadcasting licences in terms of existing laws, but are instead guaranteed access to available broadcasting services, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has said.
The statement follows queries by MDC-T vice president and Kuwadzana MP in Parliament last week on procedure for broadcasting licences for political parties.
BAZ chief executive Mr Obert Muganyura said Section 8 and 20 of the Broadcasting Services Act prohibits political parties from controlling or seeking broadcasting services.
“The BAZ would like to advise all political parties that the broadcasting law of Zimbabwe does not allow any political party to be the provider of any radio or television broadcasting service.
“This prohibition is in terms of Section 8 of the Broadcasting Services Act which provides for persons disqualified to be licensed, and Section 20 of the same Act under limitation of control of licences,” said Mr Muganyura.
He said according to Section 8 of the BSA, radio and television broadcasting licences can only be issued to corporate bodies and political parties do not meet this criterion.
Mr Muganyura said Section 20 of the same Act prohibits political parties and organisations from holding or having control of any broadcasting or signal carrier licence.
He said the section meant a political party or organisation could not be a shareholder in any broadcasting licence.
“Political parties, therefore, need not consider establishing their own radio or television stations as such stations cannot be granted the authority to operate in terms of the law.
“What political parties can be guaranteed of, as provided by law, is access to broadcasting services during an election period, in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which regulate the media during that period,” said Mr Muganyura.
Mr Chamisa
Mr Chamisa, who is also former Minister of Information, Communication and Technology claimed other countries availed broadcasting licences to political parties and that Zimbabwe must not be an exception.
In 2015, the MDC said it was planning to establish its own radio and TV stations arguing they were not getting enough airtime from the national broadcaster.
The party has also in the past published its monthly newsletter titled Real Change Times.
It also enjoys wide coverage in the local mainstream media in addition to the pirate Studio7 radio station based in and funded by the United States.- state media
The Zanzibar Border crossing to Botswana is closed until further notice because the Limpopo River is flooding. The Home Affairs Department says it’s not safe for travellers. Officials are advising travellers to use the Platjan Border as an alternative. Meanwhile, traffic is building up at the Beitbridge Border Post to Zimbabwe.
Was Mnangagwa WISE OR JUST STUPID to appoint SOLDIERS to government posts 5 months before ELECTIONS a time when he desperately needs to build public favour?
First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa visits Chikurubi female prison on Christmas Day and presents Christmas goodies to inmates and their children…. – State Media pics –
By Farai D Hove| Most Zimbabweans in the below representative sample have claimed that Gen Constantino Chiwenga will not be a good deputy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s. It was not clear at the time of writing why people have come to such a conclusion- Final results:
Is Chiwenga going to be a good deputy to President Mnangagwa?
Staff Reporter| When president Emmerson Mnangagwa arrived at the Methodist church in Mabelreign yesterday morning, he was somewhat greeted by the same song which was used when the disgraced Bishop Nolbert Kunonga was kicked out of the Anglican church 4 years ago. Now, this could have been mere coincidence, no insult at all intended, but MDC Alliance leader, Jacob Ngarivhume notes stating that this was the case yesterday. “This is the song Anglicans sang when they defeated Kunonga?” he asks.
The lyrics of the song are as follows:
“Tinokudza Zita rako, Baba vanodiwa, neusiku hwakanaka.
By Farai D Hove| A truck belonging to a long time Robert Mugabe business partnership, Sabot transport was involved in a horrific traffic accident that saw scores killed at the weekend.
Fifteen people died countrywide in 13 road traffic accidents recorded on Unity Day last Friday while four others were killed in another accident along the Harare-Beitbridge Highway on Saturday.
Scores others were killed when the Sabot transport truck collided head-on with a kombi plying the Chivi, Masvingo, Beitbridge route.
Sabot which has a fleet size of over 500 horses and over 1200 trailers, has been sustained under the ownership of the controversial Billy Rautenbach who has partnered the former President Mugabe. Rautenbach is also known for demolishing villagers’ properties in Chisumbanje when he 6 years ago made false claims that he was going to electrify the whole of Manicaland using ethanol from his new energy project.
Scenes from the accident in pictures published by ZimEye.com were gory and highly disturbing in what could be the worst accident of its nature in Zimbabwean history.
The number of those who have been injured so far could not be ascertained at the time of going to print.
Full statistics for Saturday and yesterday’s road accidents were not available and police said they would release a comprehensive report today as they were still compiling figures.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said an analysis of the road traffic accidents revealed that of the 13 accidents, nine were caused by speeding, while four were as a result of inattention and misjudgment.
“Two pedestrians were knocked down at the 132km peg along the Harare-Mukumbura Road while another one died on the spot near Fairbridge, Bulawayo, as they tried to cross the road.
“In yet another incident, which occurred at 2.30am at the 258km peg along Masvingo-Beitbridge Road, one person died after one of the drivers encroached into the lane of oncoming traffic. The same circumstances were also recorded in two other accidents that occurred in Harare and Chivhu. The circumstances point to fatigue/human error,” Chief Supt Nyathi.
He said most accidents were recorded during the early hours of the day.
“As police were are urging motorists to avoid speeding and to exercise extreme caution on the road and to be on the lookout for pedestrians and animals. Pedestrians must check both sides of the road and ensure that it is safe to cross before crossing any road,” he said.
“Encroaching into the lane of oncoming traffic is suggestive of fatigue or sleeping while driving. We urge drivers to take breaks when on long journeys and to desist from taking alcohol and drugs which may impair their judgment,” he said.
Last year, 16 people were killed while 45 others were injured in 106 road traffic accidents that occurred on Christmas Day compared to only four deaths in 2015.
Although police could not release the total number of deaths from December 15 when the festive period officially started, the 16 deaths in one day last year compared to four in 2015 were disturbing given that many motorists failed to travel due to liquidity constraints.
Indications were that speeding and overtaking errors were to blame for most of the accidents. Statistics released by the police indicate that 106 accidents were recorded on Christmas Day last year alone compared to 81 recorded. – State Media/Additional Reporting.
Terrence Mawawa, Gweru| In an incident that stunned court officials, a local woman dumped her husband for not bathing properly.
The woman also shocked her in-laws when she parted ways with her husband because he did not want to be hygienic as she expected.
The woman’s husband, Ishmael Mhanga, (23) of Mkoba 14, Gweru, appeared before Gweru Provincial Magistrate, Pathekile Msipa last Friday facing domestic violence charges.Mhanga allegedly assaulted his wife with clenched fists following an argument.
The court heard that Mhanga wanted to have sex with his wife and she refused arguing that he was stinking.
True men don’t bath especially after drinking & smoking, IS THIS TRUE?
Mhanga’ s efforts to plead with his wife came to naught and a heated argument ensued.
“On December 4 Mhanga wanted to have sex with his wife but she refused.
This angered him and there was an argument. The wife then rushed to the police station where she reported that she had been assaulted by Mhanga,” the court heard.
The woman also left the couple’ s matrimonial home and told her in-laws she was not happy with Mhanga’ s refusal to bath properly.
Mhanga pleaded guilty but Magistrate Msipa acquitted him.
A Gweru woman has accused a local ferrochrome smelting company, Xin Yu Mining Corporation, of firing her because she was pregnant.
Angela Gwatiringa, who was employed by Xin Yu as a control room assistant, was recently relieved of her duties by the company after she indicated that she was now heavily pregnant and wanted some leave days.
“I indicated to the company’s human resources manager, Mr Kudakwashe Chitakure that I needed some leave days because I was feeling heavy,” she said.
“When he approached the company directors they gave him the directive to fire me and the following day I was handed a dismissal letter.”
Ms Gwatiringa said she had since approached the National Employment Council after she could not get joy from the management.
“What disturbs me is that, is it a crime to fall pregnant?’ she said. “Labour laws have a provision that when someone is pregnant she will be given maternity leave.
“The company is ignorant of labour laws and workers were always threatened by management, which claims to be politically connected. If you try to voice your concern, you are automatically fired and this is what has happened to me. The management claims they have a strong political connection.”
Mr Chitakure confirmed that they fired Ms Gwatiringa. He said the allegations that she was fired because she was pregnant were false.
“Her job was technical, she was working in a control room and there were concerns that she was not doing her job properly,” said Mr Chitakure.
“The dismissal was based on incompetence. I was not even aware that she was pregnant, so the allegations I think are coming from the fact that she is disappointed.” – state media
By Wilbert Mukori| After 37 years of one of the most corrupt oppressive and murderous regimes in modern human history that has forced ¾ of the country’s population into a life of hopelessness and despair. One would have thought that people of Zimbabwe will clear and united in wanting the dictatorship to end. It is therefore very disappointing that there are people like Victor Gore who believed “a lot has changed” and list them on ZimEye as follows:
1) no interface rallies 2) no abusing politicians by Grace Gucci 3) Road blocks are fewer 4) Bob’s face’s disappeared from the media 5) ministers now understand the word stress &unemployment 6) Grace Gucci has stopped it, hatichamunzwi. 7) Made MDC panic & fly to seek help from racist Donald Trump!
indepth…Wilbert Mukori
No wonder dictators like Robert Mugabe have thrived in Zimbabwe. When you have a people with such a shockingly low opinion of themselves, who have been crashed and ground into the dust all their lives and yet think nothing of it; it is easy to see why the corrupt, vote rigging and oppression will never stop.
The Zanu PF ruling elite have enjoyed absolute power, amassed wealth and enjoy lifestyles of unparalleled comfort and leisure. Last month’s coup, “Operation Restore Legacy” as the coup plotters called it, was about restoring the absolute power back in the hands of the Joint Operation Command, the Junta that has ruled the country with an iron fist all these last 37 years.
Mugabe, the leader of the Junta, had turned against the other thugs and wanted to hand over power to his wife and her G40 supporters. The rest of the Junta members had no choice but to point a gun at his temple and force the tyrant to resign. Other than that nothing else had changed, the Zanu PF thugs are still in total control and they have been flexing their muscle to punish the losing G40 leaders.
To get the national economy back on track, Zimbabwe needs to do something to end the endemic gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and to scrap all Mugabe’s foolish policies. Mnangagwa has already scrapped some of the more obvious and obnoxious laws such as the indigenisation law and has made a half-hearted go at ending corruption – half-hearted because he has gone after the corrupt G40 members but has allowed his own faction members go free. Worst still he has done absolutely nothing to implement the democratic reforms to end the country’s culture of lawlessness, political violence and vote rigging.
Zimbabwe is still a nation ruled by thugs, the removal of Mugabe alone did not transform Zanu PF from a ruthless dictatorship into a law abiding democratic party. A black mamba does not seize to be a deadly snake just because it has shed-off its old skin.
Whatever President Mnangagwa does on the economic front it will all come to naught as long as he has done nothing to end Zimbabwe’s reputation as a lawless nation ruled by thugs. He could not have
had a more ominous start to his presidency – he is the beneficiary of a military coup and his cabinet is stuffed to the rafters with Zanu PF’s most cold-blooded thugs.
Indeed, if Mnangagwa was to make any foolish attempt to implement democratic reforms to ensure free and fair elections then one thing is certain Operation Restore Legacy mark 2 in which he too will be forced to resign. The Zanu PF thugs have just got taken their respective seats in the dictatorship and they are not going to risk being booted out of power in a free election.
It economic changes are the seed, it is great that President Mnangagwa is paying attention to ensure we have good seed to plant. But by failing to restore the rule of law and holding free and fair elections, he is failing to ensure he has good soil to plant the seed. What good is it to have the best seed if you sow it in rocky soil or in among the weeds and thorns?
Yes Zimbabweans had dreamt of freedom, human rights and economic prosperity during the fight to white colonial oppression but deep down in the hearts of hearts they never believed that Mugabe and his Zanu PF thugs would make that dream come true. So when the tyrant turned their whole world upside down to deny them their freedoms, rights and very humanity the people were disappointed but not shocked, they half expected it to happen.
After 37 years of Zanu PF corrupt and tyrannical rule the people are very pleased Mugabe has gone. They contend with Mugabe’s departure and do not dare ask who is coming after him because they already know it will be another dictator, they do not expect anyone else would be shocked if he/she was anything other than another corrupt, incompetent and murderous thug.
“No more interface rallies!” said Gore! Such a deplorable lack of ambition is shocking from even one person but when this at national level one is left speechless. Zimbabwe is in this hell-on-earth economic and political mess because we have had the great misfortune of having corrupt and incompetent leaders in both the ruling party and the opposition but all because we have one of the naïve and ignorant electorate with zero ambition for themselves and the nation.-zsdemocrats.blogspot.co.uk
Fifteen people died countrywide in 13 road traffic accidents recorded on Unity Day last Friday while four others were killed in another accident along the Harare-Beitbridge Highway early yesterday.
The number of those who have been injured so far could not be ascertained at the time of going to print.
Full statistics for Saturday and yesterday’s road accidents were not available and police said they would release a comprehensive report today as they were still compiling figures.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said an analysis of the road traffic accidents revealed that of the 13 accidents, nine were caused by speeding, while four were as a result of inattention and misjudgment.
“Two pedestrians were knocked down at the 132km peg along the Harare-Mukumbura Road while another one died on the spot near Fairbridge, Bulawayo, as they tried to cross the road.
“In yet another incident, which occurred at 2.30am at the 258km peg along Masvingo-Beitbridge Road, one person died after one of the drivers encroached into the lane of oncoming traffic. The same circumstances were also recorded in two other accidents that occurred in Harare and Chivhu. The circumstances point to fatigue/human error,” Chief Supt Nyathi.
He said most accidents were recorded during the early hours of the day.
“As police were are urging motorists to avoid speeding and to exercise extreme caution on the road and to be on the lookout for pedestrians and animals. Pedestrians must check both sides of the road and ensure that it is safe to cross before crossing any road,” he said.
“Encroaching into the lane of oncoming traffic is suggestive of fatigue or sleeping while driving. We urge drivers to take breaks when on long journeys and to desist from taking alcohol and drugs which may impair their judgment,” he said.
Last year, 16 people were killed while 45 others were injured in 106 road traffic accidents that occurred on Christmas Day compared to only four deaths in 2015.
Although police could not release the total number of deaths from December 15 when the festive period officially started, the 16 deaths in one day last year compared to four in 2015 were disturbing given that many motorists failed to travel due to liquidity constraints.
Indications were that speeding and overtaking errors were to blame for most of the accidents. Statistics released by the police indicate that 106 accidents were recorded on Christmas Day last year alone compared to 81 recorded .
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has declared that police officers should not be involved in the transport business as part of measures to end corruption and restore public confidence in the force, according to reliable sources.
The ZRP has also ordered an end to all unnecessary salary deductions for its members save for those done through the Salary Service Bureau.
Police sources said the order was made by Acting Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga last week during a meeting he held with senior police officers.
Some of the senior officers who attended the meeting said the acting police chief also ordered that all the money that was being deducted through Kuyedza Women’s Club be done according to the force’s policy, that is voluntarily or willingly.
“The police chief emphasised during the meeting that the following should stop; that is unsanctioned money collection. Kuyedza should be done as per policy-standing and that resources constraints should not be used as an excuse for poor service delivery,” said one of the police sources.
The ZRP will soon conduct audits to check for any malpractices, according to the sources.
The sources added that, “He also said there was not going to be any transport business among officers and that members should work towards building public confidence. And that indiscipline and corruption should stop.”
“He (Acting Comm-Gen Matanga) also said the retirement age is 55 years according to the Police Act, 65 years for Public Service Commission. He said members should prepare for it.”
Upkeep fees that were reported to have been paid by recruits have also been banned and their training should be funded by the force.
Last week, the ZRP admitted to inadequate supervision and unbecoming behaviour by its members, leading to erosion of public trust, faith and confidence in the force.
Addressing senior officers in Harare, Acting Police Commissioner-General Matanga said the force would not hesitate to resuscitate the National Development Committee and to empower the Inspectorate Unit to enhance supervision of police activities at all levels.
“There is a well-known Shona saying that, ‘kugona chivi kuzvituka’. May I, therefore, urge all of us to self-introspect, accept that our challenges emanate from lack of or inadequate supervision and unbecoming actions by some of our members, which have no doubt eroded public trust, faith and confidence in the police service,” he said.
“The young police officers need our constant and regular guidance so that they do not stray and malign the good name and image of the police service.”
Acting Comm-Gen Matanga said refresher, developmental and induction courses would be conducted with renewed vigour so that all officers had in-depth knowledge of police work.
Customer satisfaction, professionalism, respect, courteousness and restraint, Acting Comm-Gen Matanga said, would be the epitome of all police activities.- state media
Editor stop lying saying Mnangagwa went to church without a motorcade. This video which you avoided showing us reveals it all zvionerei mega musanyebere vanhu mhani imi!
There was mixed reaction to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s appointment of Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi as party-vice-presidents yesterday with some saying it was a payback while others said people should give the President a chance.
Mnangangwa posted the appointments on his official twitter handle and here are some of the reactions.
Emmerson D. Mnangagwa -Today, I have appointed former Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, Constantino Chiwenga and former State Security Minister, Kembo Mohadi as the ruling ZANU-PF’s new Vice Presidents and Second Secretaries. I’m looking forward to working with them to the success of our nation.
Mwana Wevhu- I still don’t understand the motive behind the appointment.. Is it friendship or payback?
Xolisani Sikhosana– It’s payback baba
Douglas Mwonzora– You are militarising state institutions. Those who thought you might reform the state institutions are better advised to think again.
Gerald Maguranyanga– Hon DM. I disagree with u. Lets not criticise just because. Let’s genuinely support this new administration & see how it goes. It’s early days to go all out & attack everything. ED deserves a chance. I’ve given ED the benefit of the doubt.
Elvin Mcluvin– Is there any chance that you will reinstate Prof Jonathan Moyo as a minister?
Ndumiso M. Ndlovu- Did you know? 32 of the 45 American presidents have had some kind of military service to their name?
Thadious Chigodo- Masoja auya, if they say left turn, right turn, they mean it. Discipline and focus gore rino. Hezvoko ma Ministers no more mediocre performance. Non performing Ministers tumai General Mr President. Iwe neni tine basa.
Build Zimbabwe Alliance- Mr. President, it is alleged that the Fly Africa airline you travelled on to get to SA is actually a family owned business? Could you give clarity on the matter. Thank you.
Tafara Mangoma- Fly Africa is not family business to the president. Its owned by Mr C Mugwagwa
Robert moyo- The appointment of Chiwenga as VP confirms that Mugabe was ousted through a coup. I wonder if we gonna have free and fair elections next year.
Staliyan – Yeah should have known when you talked of no business as usual you meant business through the gun. Why so many soldiers in government to begin with are we really going to have a free and fair election next year.
Gerald Maguranyanga – Yes we will have a good election next year. Want a bad one? Wish for it.
Staliyan- I’m not wishing for a bad election no but on the contrary I hope for a good credible one so that we can actually and finally get this terrorist group completely out of power and then start holding them accountable to everything that they have done through the years.
@molifimaleka- hahaha pay back time…nothing for mahala madala. – insider
Ray Nkosi | MDC Alliance leader Jacob Ngavhirume has come out to expose how soldiers in civilian clothes stormed the Methodist church in Mabelreign before President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his wife Auxillia joined the Sunday service.
Wrote Ngavhirume on social media, “My friend was at that church. He messaged me earlier to say there were so many soldiers in civilian who came to the church as early as the church was being prepared for service. He said to me I am expecting a top government official to be here today. When ED (Mnangagwa) walked in he was not surprised.”
Mnangagwa and his wife were photographed in the church amidst speculation why it has taken them so long to join the congregation of a church the President is quoted in the media to have been a member of for decades.
Writes Ngavhirume, “There were scores of security details in plain clothes. Those two were for PR. This strategy won’t fool citizens for ever.”
Terrence Mawawa, Gutu | Local businesspeople have expressed satisfaction at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s frantic efforts to introduce policies that attract foreign investment.
The businesspeople who spoke to ZimEye.com yesterday said they were happy to note that there was a significant improvement in the circulation of money since November when Mnangagwa was sworn in as the President of the country.
An official at Gutu Spar said: ” As you can see we are very busy today.I can say there has been a notable improvement in the circulation of cash and we are happy with President Mnangagwa’ s investment policies.”
An operations manager at Tiger General Dealer said business had improved tremendously since Mnangagwa’ s inauguration.
“This month we have managed to record the highest sales since the turn of the millennium and that is very encouraging.
As businesspeople, we are willing to work with the new government and we are fully behind President Mnangagwa,” he said.
By Paul Nyathi | Thousands of cross border travellers between South Africa and Zimbabwe using the Beitbridge border post are certainly set to celebrate much of their Christmas at the port of entry.
Border control officials on both sides of the borders especially those handling travellers coming into Zimbabwe are failing to cope with the huge number of travellers who are reaching to tens of thousands.
As at sunset on Sunday it was taking up to twelve hours for a single vehicle to pass through the two border posts.
Bekithemba Zulu a traveller from Johannesburg travelling to Bulawayo told ZimEye.com that he took exactly eleven hours to get through the two border posts due to the long queues at the border posts.
“I got to the border at about 6am thinking that the border would be clearer in the early hours of the morning but it took me exactly 11 hours to get through the two borders,” he said.
Vehicles waiting to get through tge two borders stretched for about ten kilometres back into South Africa on the South African side of the border.
Vehicles intending to cross out of Zimbabwe into South Africa also stretched about 5 kilometres backwards into Beitbridge town in Zimbabwe.
South Africa is host to close to One Million Zimbabweans who are in that country as economic refugees.
A number of them make their way to Zimbabwe for Christmas Holidays to visit their families and a vice versa visit South Africa to spend holiday with their loved ones who may have failed to make it home.
Watch video of vehicles waiting to get through the border on the South African side of the border.
By Sydney Barson| The President’s inaugural statement “let bygones be bygones” was a reference to those who were G40 supporters so that the public do not start taking revenge, It did not refer to opening the violence of the past for truth and reconciliation, State Provincial Affairs Minister for Manicaland Monica Mutsvangwa has said.
Addressing the Churches in Manicaland (CiM) clergy and lay leaders on Wednesday in Mutare, Mutsvangwa said diversity is an asset and she wants a healthy opposition to keep the ruling party on their toes.
The Churches had raised a plethora of issues for the minister to address.
She said she will take off her Zanu PF hat when there are more important issues at stake. She has already been working with other parties in Parliament and wants to do it in Manicaland.
“Healing is an important national priority and Manicaland should be one of the first areas for the NPRC to operate in at provincial level because there are a lot of broken hearts.” Mutsvangwa said.
She said she was willing to go through the process of truth and reconciliation herself.
“The President’s directive is that people must be persuaded by the parties, not forced. Everyone using election-related or other forms of violence must be brought to book immediately.
The Churches implored government to rein in the police and proposed people centred re-training of the police.
“Police need training not only from government which is committed to a professional force that respects the public, but also from members of the republic who refuse to allow the police to get away with corruption and abuse.” She added.
Referring to a question on Zimbabwean diasporans she said government must respect their umbilical cord with home.
She has moved a motion in Parliament that there be a Diaspora Policy to encourage integration of the diaspora into the nation building discussions and efforts and promised to facilitate this in government.
A CiM member Rev Shirley DeWolf said corruption was a cancer which has slowly but surely embedded itself in the once jewel of Africa and is a cause for concern from the Church.
Responding to the issue of corruption Mutsvangwa said: “With something so deeply embedded in all parts of national life naming and shaming is the only way to root out corruption.”
Her main focus now is on getting the economy up and running so that it will have quick returns for those most disadvantaged.
Said Mutsvangwa, “There is now lots of investor goodwill, but investors are waiting to see how we will manage things. Banking issues are among my first priorities.”
She said she has been working for a long time on a strategy to resuscitate the formal sector of business while not pulling the rug out from under the vendors and their dependents.
Meanwhile she has met with vendors in Mutare and the City Council to put in place measures requested by vendors.
Mutare City fathers with the aid of the military arm have been at the helm of criticism from the public for destroying their livelihoods by effecting a murambatsvina Part 2.
The Churches also asked the minister to investigate and strategize how to close down the lethargy and greed around the Chiadzwa diamonds industry and under put it under international standards.
To date Manicaland has nothing to point at after the Chiadzwa diamond rush and the $15million loot.
One key result area of the interface was that the Church should not underestimate its impact on political processes and must continue to give guidance.
Mutsvangwa asserted that the Church and government must pledge never again to allow a person of political ambition to use the Church as a platform for furthering a political agenda.
She hopes the church will give her constant feedback from the community about their needs and expectations, as people talk differently to their Churches than to politicians.
Terrence Mawawa | Dynamos legend Calisto Pasuwa faces arrest for illegally occupying a residential stand.
A warrant of arrest was issued against the former Warriors and Dynamos Football Club coach Calisto Pasuwa last week.
Pasuwa is in trouble for occupying a council residential stand without approval.
He subsequently skipped a court hearing resulting in the issuing of the warrant of arrest against him.
On November 8, 2017, a Manyame Rural District Council inspector on patrol in Seke asked Pasuwa (47) to produce documentation for his residential stand in the area.
He, however, allegedly failed to produce the documents.
“The accused person (Pasuwa) had no legal right to occupy or use communal land without lawful authority,” read a police statement.
“I was lawfully allocated this piece of land by the village head and I observed all formalities, including having my name registered in the village head’s book for forward transmission to Manyame Rural District Council,” said Pasuwa.
By Paul Nyathi | Wind back to November 6, 2016, in Pretoria South Africa, Vice President elect Kembo Mohadi was given a white handkerchief by Profit Sherphard Bushiri and was assured that the piece of cloth would open avenues for him.
Bushiri gave Mohadi who was Minister of State Security at the time a guaranteed prophecy that he will be promoted and given a crown to a higher position.
When he returned from the prophetic sermon, beleaguered then President Robert Mugabe savaged him heavily in a ZANU PF politburo meeting accusing Mohadi of playing the succession battle using prophets.
“Ahh vakomana, kutoteerera zvimapurofita zvenyu izvi? Munhu akafunda chokwadi? Ahhh, imika imi’ [surely you pay attention to these prophets, learned people like you?]” said Mugabe then.
Exactly one year to the prophecy, on the 6th of November 2017, Mohadi was fired from Mugabe’s governmemt and the party.
Perhaps with the use of the handkerchief given to him to defeat all plans against him, Mohadi returned to clinch the second most senior position in the country as Vice President.
Since Mugabe was overthrown, Mohadi has made several public appearances where he is seen occasionally wiping his head and face with a white handkerchief, could it still be the same piece of cloth from the prophet and could it be the one that steered him to the top national position.
Watch Bushiri give Mohadi the handkerchief and prophecy.
Nicknamed “Mr Perfect” in military circles, a few can deny that as General Constantino Chiwenga pursues his new assignment, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces could not have been left in better hands than those of General Phillip Valerio Sibanda.
Those who worked with him during the liberation struggle and have acquainted themselves with him post-Independence know the qualities he brings to his latest appointment.
A senior ex-Zapu cadre who spoke to The Sunday Mail last week was all smiles as she gave insights into the General’s early life in the struggle, including his inclination to become a pastor.
Jane Lungile Ngwenya, one of Zimbabwe’s most senior surviving nationalists, said she was proud of Gen Sibanda’s elevation and his role in fostering national cohesion.
“. . . I particularly recall Sibanda because I had known him earlier as a Zanla combatant. And now that he is General of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, memories of his younger days are now flooding back to me.
“He was a pure gentleman. Even at a young age, you could tell that he was destined for leadership. His demeanour and countenance made him stand out among others.
“I also know that during his younger days, he had aspired to be a pastor. This showed that he had qualities of diligence and leadership.”
Ngwenya said soldiers such as General Sibanda are some of the unsung heroes, who played a key role during the 1987 unity talks.
“I know that during these talks, the military were crucial in ensuring that there was peace at the end,” she said.
“There were commanders such as Valerio Sibanda, who were very sober during these talks and stood firm in telling our leaders that they needed to sign the accord. It was not only him; there were others too.”
Gen Sibanda is a decorated liberation fighter, who joined the armed struggle in 1973.
His Chimurenga name was Ananias Gwenzi and he rose to become one of Zipra’s commanders.
He also served as a member of the Zipra High Command and also as Chief of Reconnaissance for the wing’s military intelligence.
At Independence in 1980, Gen Sibanda joined the army and rose through the ranks, becoming Major-General in 1994.
Gen Sibanda headed the United Nations Mission in Angola as the Force Commander in charge of peace and national reconciliation (1995-98).
He was elevated to Zimbabwe National Army Commander in 2003.- state media
Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Hon Petronella Kagonye celebrating her 40th birthday in the capital, Harare! Makorokoto! Amhlope! An eventful birthday it was, announced her ministry in a tweet. PICTURES –
President Jacob Zuma says his Zimbabwean counterpart has given him assurances that former president Robert Mugabewill be looked after as an “elder”.
This emerged after a meeting between Zuma and the new Zimbabwe president, Emmerson Mnangagwa in Pretoria Thursday.
“I have been assured that the founding father of Zimbabwe, former president Mugabe, will be looked after. There will be no problems at all,” Zuma was quoted as saying by the private NewsDay.
“He (Mugabe) is our father. He grew up in the struggle and we have appreciated that this is what is important that in Africa, we should look after our elders,” Zuma added.
Mugabe was forced to resign November 21 after a military operation that quashed the rise of Grace Mugabe and a faction of loyalists known as G40.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba told the state-run Herald that Mnangagwa had indicated to Zuma that “President Mugabe remains not just safe but revered as the founding father and leader of Zanu-PF and that there is no intention to victimise him or degrade his reputation”.
Mugabe – who was briefly put under house arrest together with his wife during last month’s military operation -left the country earlier this month for routine health check-ups in Singapore. It’s not clear when he is due back.- News24
By Farai D Hove| Scores of Zimbabweans are feared dead after a kombi they were traveling in crushed head on into a Sabot truck at Lundi in a manner never seen in Zimbabwe.
The kombi plies the Chivi – Beitbridge route, sources said.
Details were sketchy at the time of writing. PLEASE NOTE – Other pictures are too gruesome
– REFRESH THIS PAGE AS THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY –
Thousands of desperate Zimbabweans from Mutare and other cities across the country are flocking to Manicaland Chimoio in Mozambique to buy groceries, which are far cheaper than those found in local supermarkets.
Prices of most goods in Zimbabwe went up drastically recently, sparking outrage from long-suffering consumers.
A visit by The Standard People last Thursday showed that Zimbabweans had become the biggest shoppers for groceries in time for Christmas.
Zimbabweans were swamping shops in Manica and Chimoio like Shoprite, VIP and Jumbo Cash & Carry where basic commodities and canned beer were being loaded onto vehicles.
Fish and chicken have also become popular with the Zimbabwean shoppers. Shop owners in Manica and Chimoio were working overtime and on many occasions unable to cope with the demand created by Zimbabwean shoppers.
The shoppers were exchanging the Zimbabwe bond notes for Mozambican meticals.
In interviews, the Zimbabwean shoppers said they had no option but to cross the border to do their shopping in Mozambique. “The pricing system in Zimbabwe is pure madness. We have no option but to come here to do our Christmas shopping.
The prices are far much cheaper than those in Zimbabwe,” said Emmanuel Chinhema. “Things should not be like this at a time when we have a new government in place.
“We never thought that with this new leadership, Zimbabweans would end up going to Mozambique to buy groceries like we are doing,” said another shopper, Lucia Mandiopera.
The average price of a full chicken in Zimbabwean supermarkets is $15 while in Mozambique it is going for $7.
Basic commodities fetch almost half the price of those in Zimbabwe. Unemployed youths have joined the great trek to Mozambique to become porters, lugging consignments of commodities belonging to traders for a fee.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers Association president Denford Mutashu attributed the rapid rise in commodity prices to the debilitating foreign currency crisis crippling the country.- state media
Following the defeat of his ex-wife, Nkosazana, President Jacob Zuma’s days have closed in on him – a South African news paper writes that an ANC leadership is being dispatched to advise him to step down.
The development comes after Zuma was viewed as the the ANC’s tired horse who has also soiled the party. Before the events of last week, Zuma was claiming that the ANC is in danger of being taken over by capitalists; but he himself has been the face of capitalistic state capture as seen in the report by the country’s former Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela.
The paper, City Press even quotes party insiders stating that the proposal was that new President Cyril Ramaphosa and new ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, an ardent Zuma loyalist, would lead the discussions with Zuma.
FULL TEXT: A delegation from the newly elected ANC leadership will be dispatched to President Jacob Zuma to advise him to step down voluntarily, as pressure mounts on him to immediately give Cyril Ramaphosa space to rebuild the party’s battered image.
In the days following Ramaphosa’s victory over his rival Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at the party’s 54th elective conference in Johannesburg, ANC leaders have been involved in intense discussions about a conflict-free exit for Zuma from the presidency.
There is pressure that Ramaphosa – who will deliver the party’s January 8 anniversary statement and preside over the national executive committee (NEC) lekgotla – should be the one to chair the Cabinet meeting later next month and deliver the state of the nation address in February.
Another view was that Zuma should be allowed to make the state of the nation address his farewell speech and signal a smooth handover.
One ANC leader said: “It was said that he should be requested [to step down] outside of the formalities of the NEC processes, to avoid making it appear as if the NEC removed him. If he does not cooperate, a resolution of the NEC can be easily secured. We all agree that the sooner he goes, the better.”
Party insiders close to the process said the proposal was that Ramaphosa and new ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, an ardent Zuma loyalist, would lead the discussions with Zuma.
He will be told that this is to salvage the party’s reputation before the 2019 general elections and, that if he sees out the rest of his term, his scandal-tainted image will hurt the party at the polls. Elections are expected before June 2019.
While many of Zuma’s supporters have accepted that change needs to happen, some insist he should resist calls to cut his tenure short by 18 months.
“Let me tell you, that thing of a recall is not going to happen to Jacob Zuma,” said one source close to Zuma.
“He is not Thabo Mbeki and you must know that this is not over for Zuma.”
The ANC recalled former president Mbeki in September 2008, eight months before the end of his term.
What complicates matters is that, unlike after the December 2007 Polokwane conference when Zuma emerged with a clear majority that enabled the recall, this time the spoils are almost evenly split.
The Zuma insider said the ANC was “headed for trouble like you have never seen before”, citing the roughly 50/50 split in the top six and the NEC.
“This is not unity, it is chaos,” he said.
THE TWO CENTRES OF POWER
Ramaphosa supporters say he will be emboldened by the national conference resolution on the two centres of power between Luthuli House and the Union Buildings. It states that ANC headquarters enjoy central authority and those in government have to toe the line.
“In the resolution, it is clear that the centre of power is in Luthuli House and it is there, even in Ramaphosa’s speech. He was asserting his authority that he is now in charge on behalf of the ANC, which is the centre of power for all its members, including Zuma,” said another ANC insider.
If the Zuma recall proposal is defeated in ANC structures, Ramaphosa supporters expect an opposition party to table a motion of no confidence in the National Assembly, based on the latest damning court rulings against Zuma.
They believe that under the cover of a secret ballot, ANC MPs are likely to side with the new leader and vote for Zuma’s departure. They are also putting faith in the fact that even Cabinet ministers who appear loyal to Zuma may try to curry favour with Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa’s backers say Zuma’s resignation will enable him to hit the ground running and win over disillusioned ANC voters well ahead of the crucial 2019 general election.
But Zuma’s backers say they have sufficient numbers on the NEC to fight back.
“We are ready for them and we will tell the branches that they are sowing disunity, despite the conference being clear on the need for unity,” one Zuma lieutenant said.
ZUMA COULD BE DANGEROUS
An ANC insider said Zuma could be dangerous if he was “fighting with his back against the wall”.
“The moment you begin to pursue them, they develop ideas, and they will remove you before you remove them,” the insider said.
“If, finally, he is sent packing, it won’t be because of a recall, but there will be negotiations for him to go.”
Ramaphosa’s allies say that, as ANC president, he occupies a powerful position and could manage and influence the NEC just like Zuma had, blocking and reversing its decisions.
“Politically speaking, you need to have power, authority and influence, and this is what any president possesses,” said former ANC North West deputy chairperson and Ramaphosa supporter China Dodovu, adding that ministers, deputies and other key appointees in government would tailor their allegiances to keep their jobs.
Dodovu said that because many leaders “are controlled by their stomachs” and “think more about their families and friends than about the general welfare of the people”, they will toe the new leadership’s line.
“My take is that no one will resist the call for President Zuma to step down. They will be scared to raise their hands and object. They fully know there is a risk of losing a lucrative position with its perks.”
Dodovu predicted that “the decision to recall President Zuma will be smooth” and “will not be resisted”.
‘NO REASON TO RECALL ZUMA’
Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane told City Press that talk of two centres of power was misplaced and there was no need to recall Zuma.
“If Zuma is to be recalled, there must be a reason, just as there was for [Mbeki]. Here we must hear what the reason will be and I am sure leaders will apply their minds. But it can’t be that even before the president closes the conference and there is a declaration, that you people are running with a headline. It is so malicious. You are hurting the ANC,” she said.
The two centres of power is “a silly discussion because a member of the ANC is a deployee in government and you execute the mandate of the ANC”.
Mokonyane said the discussion has turned to “fashionable politics that are hurting the ANC”. Recently, there have been “narratives that are hurting the movement and people grab on to them for various agendas”.
If the ANC wants to resolve the overlap of party and state presidents between its elective conferences and the general elections, it should consider harmonising the timing of the two events, she said. South Africans should appreciate that Zuma “did not come to this conference to seek a third term”, and should respect that he is “left with a year or so to end his term”.
“When the time comes for him to account for his second term in government, it will be done. All other things are malicious gossip and insinuations.”
Last month, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete told City Press that the matter of Zuma’s recall would be the first item the new leadership should be preoccupied with.
She is against a recall, saying the 18 months between the conference and the general election are important to allow the party’s new leadership to take conference resolutions and apply them – “including how you restructure government”.
ZUMA MEETS PARTY ELDERS
Meanwhile, City Press learnt that Zuma met ANC elders this week, where the transition was discussed.
Among those who attended the meeting were former deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe, ANC stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and leaders from the Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma camps.
A conciliatory Zuma is said to have congratulated Ramaphosa and spoken about how, in 1994, Nelson Mandela had wanted him to succeed him and how Mbeki wanted Dlamini-Zuma to succeed him. He spoke about how Mbeki was Oliver Tambo’s preferred successor, but the younger man gave way to Mandela.
The gist of Zuma’s message was about the crucial role of elders, who have always advised on succession planning in the ANC.
City Press understands that Zuma told the gathering “unity is important because we need each other in the battlefield, and to mobilise society ahead of 2019”.
He said he knew he was not liked much, but he played his part and did his best to ensure pillars of the Freedom Charter were implemented. He urged the incoming leadership to continue the good fight.
Zuma praised Dlamini-Zuma for her courage. Sources said it was “an emotional moment that ended in hugs and with him wiping what appeared to be tears from his eyes.”
He then joined Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma’s hands.
Today marks exactly one month after president Emmerson Mnangagwa rose to become Head of State.
By Victor Gore | A lot has changed,
1) no interface rallies
2) no abusing politicians by Grace Gucci
3) Road blocks are fewer
4) Bob’s face’s disappeared from the media
5) ministers now understand the word stress &unemployment
6) Grace Gucci has stopped it , hatichamunzwi.
7)Made MDC panic & fly to seek help from racist Donald Trump!
While ED may have made many mistakes, I can see he is now a changed man. If he was stealing he stole enough to be completely satisfied. We can not trust those who still need stealing to be well off economically and health wise( I am not mocking nor disrespecting anyone). Look at how much money vanished from MDC ‘s coffers without trace. Tsvangirai has fought a good fight (at least we have a meaningful opposition) this is as far as he can get. He can do MDC a great favor by stepping down. – By Anonymous| READER COMMENT
By Shylene Mtandwa| PDP leader and former Finance Minister, Tendai Biti says nothing has changed with the removal of former President Robert Mugabe
Writing on Sunday afternoon, Biti said “2017 is the most defining year of our lives.the year in which a big chapter was closed and a new one opened.
“But it has also become clear that the challenges of yesterday are still with us. That it will require much more than removing an individual before the country is free,” he wrote on his Twitter handle.
Is it true that nothing has changed?
Is it true that nothing has changed in Zim since Mugabe was removed? @BitiTendai
This is so unAfrican, there is not even a grave to talk about, the pictures below show the place where Zimbabwe’s liberation fighter and singer Cde Chinx Chingaira Makoni was buried earlier this year. Certainly not the grave of a liberation war hero.
Decomposed remains of a Nkayi man who was working at a farm in Matobo District were found hanging by a rope from a tree in a suspected case of suicide.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele said Shakemore Sigola (28) who was working at Fox Farm in Matobo was found hanging by passersby last Wednesday at Enyandani Farm also in Matobo. He said Sigola was last seen alive more than a week ago, adding that the motive behind the incident was yet to be established as investigations were still in progress.
“We are investigating a suspected suicide case where a man who used to work at Fox Farm in Matobo District was found hanging by a rope from a tree in a bushy area at Enyandani Farm. He was positively identified by some villagers who were his neighbours.
“His body was at an advanced stage of decomposition which indicates that he had been there for several days. Sigola disappeared from his workplace on Friday last week and no one had seen him since then. The motive behind the suicide is yet to be established,” he said.
Insp Ndebele urged members of the public to desist from committing suicide when faced with challenges. He urged people to seek counselling services or to share their problems.- state media
Zimbabweans will tomorrow celebrate their first Christmas without Robert Mugabe as president in 37 years, with some vowing to have celebrations to remember.Mugabe, who was blamed for the country’s deep seated economic problems, was forced to step down by the military last month, and was replaced by his long-time ally Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Zimbabweans celebrated the military takeover with street parties and marches.
However, 2017 was punctuated by economic woes of all sorts, from the cash crunch to the recent price hikes of basic food commodities.
But despite this, the spirit of Christmas and good times has prevailed and most families will indeed celebrate the day in style. Some still travel hundreds of kilometres, often on dusty and bumpy roads, just so they can be with their families in the rural areas.
The Chinhaka family is doing just that this Chritsmas.
“We all go to kwaChikwaka every Christmas with our families. Our mother looks forward to this day when all six of us descend on her homestead and spoil her rotten.
“It is our way of saying thank you for the sacrifices,” said Edgar Chinhaka, who is the eldest of the four boys and two girls.
“They are all married and live in different parts of the country but will all make time to go home.
“My sister is in South Africa but she is on her way and come Sunday evening, we all make a convoy and go home.”
For Amiga Chitemere, a teacher at Hallingbury School in Mabelreign, Christmas is a time to be with family, showing each other love.
She will be catering for 20 people on Christmas Day and also plans to visit her in-laws in Mhondoro.
“It is time to show love and thank God that He is born in our hearts,” she said
Charles Kautare, the ZNNP+ Harare provincial chairperson said he was spending Christmas with his family.
“I would like to be with my family and maybe outdoors. I might even surprise them with a lakeside booking,” he said.
In the diaspora, Zimbabweans will also be celebrating Christmas in a big way.
Adleid Rusike, a Zimbabwean living in South Africa said she was headed for Sun city with her family.
“We are leaving this afternoon for Sun city and will be back on December 27,” she said.
Harare’s CBD was a hive of activity yesterday, with last-minute shoppers dashing from one shop to the other. Major supermarkets had huge promotions, which were meant to make the shopping experience bigger and better
.
Clothing chains like Edgars and Jet also had mark downs to allow families to buy presents for each other.
Exchanging gifts on Christmas is fast becoming the norm, with churches even joining in.
“Although there is a cash crisis, people are still buying gifts and business is better than on other days,” says Sheila from Zone boutique in First Street.
Fast-selling products included lingerie, shoes and dresses.
Mbare Musika, as always, was a bustle of activity, with many people catching buses to their rural homes.
Touts jostled to get passengers for the mostly “chicken” buses destined to the far away rural homes, which are often visited once every year around Christmas.
Amid the chaos, the nifty fingered ones made a killing picking people’s pockets as they were largely distracted by the overwhelming atmosphere.
For many, Christmas day will start with a church service, which on a day like this will be short to allow congregants more time with their loved ones.
Children still love to put on new clothes and receive gifts from their parents and friends.
However, there are those who carefully saved towards their holiday and booked in resort areas away from the bustle of the city.
Hotels and lodges in places like Nyanga with its gorgeous mountains, Vumba and its mystic weather and the ever popular Victoria Falls, are all fully booked.- thestandard
Staff Reporter| Hell broke loose inside the Anglican Church in Rusape Sunday morning.
There was near violence when the sitting priest was in the middle of service told by congregants, “you are a thief.” Allegations by the church folk are that the male vicar allegedly misappropriated church funds.
The accusers were mostly women and some can be seen in pictures supplied ZimEye Sunday morning.
Further details were not available at the time of writing as church members who briefly spoke to ZimEye were being bundled into the Rusape police station. PICTURE BELOW:
Should politicians and rich people be given front row seats in church? The Bible says this is forbidden, and US President Donald Trump together with his predecessor Barrack Obama have been given back seats. But this was not the case today.
The following are the latest ZBC pictures of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his family taken Sunday morning at Mabelreign Methodist Church, Harare:
Should politicians and the rich like Mnangagwa be given front row seats in church? Mnangagwa was given the best seats at the Methodist Church today.
As Fraud Convict Wicknell Chivayo is given more ZESA tenders after already swindling $5million public money, a clinic has endured 15 months without electricity since August 2016.
Open letter to ZESA the ZETDC
ELECTRICITY CHALLENGES ZIMUTO SIDING, WARD B, MASVINGO NORTH.
Having worked so hard and from our meagre earnings, managed to have electricity connected to our village in Zimuto Siding, under ward B of Masvingo North constituency, it was our belief that our lives and those of fellow villagers were going to be transformed for the better.
We drilled boreholes and built water tanks in preparation for irrigation projects, and we powered all these projects with elelectricity. For two weeks we enjoyed piped water only to be disappointed when our transformer was said to have developed a fault on August 5, 2016, up to now ZETDC has not been able to replace or repair this transformer.
Our meeting with Mr Machingambi was a very cordial one but yielded nothing as his promise to have electricity restored by June 2017 never materialised.
Our transfomer services the only major clinic we have in the area, Zimuto Clinic, which serves the majority of the people in Zimuto. The clinic uses drugs that have to be refregirated. Without electricity these drugs cannot be stocked.
The clinic also serves most of the expecting mothers when tbey have to deliver. Without electricity these pregnant mothers are having to bring candles for lighting during delivery. I sympathize with the hard working nurses who have to work under these conditions where they have to assist in the delivery process using candles, they at times use lighting from their cellphones that is if they are charged
I have personally witnessed one lady who had been bitten by a snake during the night and had to be attended to at this clinic. We had to use our cellphones to provide lighting for these nurses. On record is another man who had injured himself with an axe, again the nurses had to rely on their phones to provide lighting during the stitching process.
Again this transformer serves Government departments at this business centre, namely the Police, Agricultural extension Offices, Veterinary etc. All these departments keep stock of drugs for community use. Without electricity all these departments are affected in one way or the other. We never thought we would go for more than a year without power being restored. Rural electrification has been a marvel for many, but if there is no proper maintenance every noble project is doomed to fail.
Our project was supposed to create a greenbelt of Masvingo. With all the resources invested in this project we are nothing but a laughing stock in the community. Our cattle troughs are dry, no irrigation to talk about, all as a result of a transformer that has gone for more than a year without being repaired. We engaged our Member of Parliament, Davies Marapira to air our plight, nothing has materialised. Several letters have been submitted to ZETDC to express the importance of power at Clinic level, veterinary, household, as well as the Police, and Mr Machingambi confirms receipt of these.
One other option available which the ZETDC manager Mr Machingambi pointed out was to link our line to the transformer that serves the main shopping centre and to join this only one or two poles would be needed plus the cable to link this line. The lines are only a few metres apart. The transformer at the shops has the capacity to power the other section that is being serviced by this faulty transformer. Is this a case of one of those projects that have to develop into a white elephant under our watch.
By Farai D Hove| Most Zimbabweans in the below representative sample have claimed that Gen Constantino Chiwenga will not be a good deputy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s. It was not clear at the time of writing why people have come to such a conclusion- The voting is still on and to participate, click below:
Is Chiwenga going to be a good deputy to President Mnangagwa?
Thousands turned out to the National Stadium to witness the conferment of Emmerson Mnangagwa as the new President of the Republic of Zimbabwe when he took over from Robert Gabriel Mugabe who was forced to resign following the pressure from Zimbabweans, lead by the Zimbabwe National Army.
Mnangagwa inherited an illegitimate crown from his mentor Mugabe following discredited elections that the country has held since 1985. I say discredited elections since 1985 because the 1985 elections were held in a repressive atmosphere as Mugabe was trying to create a one party state by then, as evident from his attempt to crush Zanu PF by unleashing Gukurahundi on the innocent souls of Midlands and Matebeleland who were known to be anti-Mugabe. The violence that took place in the 1990 elections is well documented. It was in the 1990 elections when Patrick Kombayi was lucky to escape with his life after he was intentionally shot and left for dead by government agencies, who despite being found guilty for the attempted murder, were pardoned by Mugabe and released from prison.
The only free and fair elections Zimbabwe has ever had were the 1980 elections which brought Zanu PF into power, and Zanu PF, through the greediness and cruelty of its officials, is the author of all the suffering Zimbabweans have gone through. I therefore would like to warn Zimbabweans not to vote for Zanu PF candidates at all levels of the competition in the 2018 elections, particularly its presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa. My reasons for calling on Zimbabweans not to vote for Emmerson Mnangagwa are as follows:
1. Despite Zanu PF forcing some Western countries to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe because of Zanu PF’s corruption, political intolerance and violence on its political opponents, Mnangagwa at his inauguration ceremony made a demand that sanctions against Zimbabwe should be unconditionally lifted and Zimbabwe should be allowed back into the international community without question. Many people did not stop to think what Mnangagwa meant by this, or its implications on the suffering of Zimbabwe. What he did in that speech was to justify the brutality and suffering Zimbabweans had gone through under Mugabe. The result is that the international community will not lift sanctions on Zimbabwe. No meaningful attempts will be made to implement reforms that can result in credible elections, and naturally if Zanu PF supporters see that their party is losing the elections, will resort to violence to deny people their victory. The result is that investors will continue to shun Zimbabwe, unemployment will continue to rise while the Zanu PF top officials who have looted enough wealth for life will continue to enjoy life while the ordinary Zimbabweans continue to suffer
2. Emmerson Mnangagwa is a liar who has unashamedly tried to dissociate himself with Gukurahundi when his statements made at Zanu PF rallies are well documented, thanks to The Chronicle which quoted him verbatim during rallies, such as the one held in Victoria Falls in March 1983. We have been told the truth by Dydmus Mutasa that Gukurahundi was a cabinet decision. Besides, Mnangagwa was Minister of State Security, in addition to his statements quoted in the Chronicle, hence for him to try and dissociate himself with Gukurahundi is an insult to the intelligence of Zimbabweans. Anyone who was a minister and was part of the Gukurahundi decision as informed by Mutasa does not deserve a single vote, whatever post they are contesting for, in the 2018 elections.
3. Soon after taking over from Mugabe, Mnangagwa unconstitutionally appointed Provincial Resident Ministers, when one of the reasons for which Zanu PF wanted to impeach Mugabe was that he had disregarded the constitution of Zimbabwe on the creation of Provincial Councils. A leader who disregards the constitution should never be trusted. Additionally, he also thought he could get away with unconstitutionally appointing 8 people who were not members of parliament into the cabinet. Fortunately, analysts were quick to point out the anomaly, forcing Mnangagwa to reduce the number of non-parliamentarians to the required number of 5. But that shows what a schemer we have for a President. Certainly, such a schemer should not be allowed to run the affairs of the country beyond what the illegitimate crown inherited from Mugabe allows. Had alert analysts not voiced concern, Mnangagwa would have continued with 8 ministers who are not members of parliament.
4. Mnangagwa is trying to shield Lacoste leaders from embarrassment while humiliating the leaders of the G40. He has a list of the Lacoste officials who have externalised funds, yet cannot take immediate action against them as he has with the G40 leaders. He is giving some of them time to escape the country and enjoy their externalised ill gotten wealth. He should act on the names.
5. Emmerson Mnangagwa is cruel, to the extent that he said at a Zanu PF rally that if he was God he would starve MDC supporters of oxygen so that they would die. He is known to have created a youth group in Kwekwe which he sponsored to cause harm to MDC supporters, and late the G40 when factionalism pitting his Lacoste fanction and the G40 began in Zanu PF
6. His looting of diamonds in the Democratic Republic of Congo is well documented in the United Nations reports
7. Mnangagwa makes partisan decisions which do not carry the national sentiment. He declares 21 February, the birthday of Dictator Mugabe, based on the recommendations of bootlicking Zanu PF youths. Did he ever consider the feelings of the rest of Zimbabweans who have suffered under Mugabe, who he want to commemorate Mugabe’s birthday? This proves Mnangagwa continues to bootlick Mugabe even in his retirement. The little good Mugabe did to Zimbabwe does not count given that just three years after independence he was already killing innocent sons of the soil in Matebeleland and Midlands through Gukurahundi
8. Mnangagwa has unwittingly told Zimbabweans his regime will try to achieve some quick gains that will hoodwink people to trust him. His quick gains were well publicised in the media, including state media, but many people have not realised that the real intention is to try to fool people that he and his team are capable of turning around the economy because of some gains made in a short space of time. He will try to hoodwink people to forget about reforms which are the key to investment inflows. People of Zimbabwe, open your eyes wide and see Mnangagwa’s intentions. He will divert resources to areas where people will see some quick gains and steal the elections, and the suffering will continue after the elections. Zimbabwe needs broader reforms which will lead to credible elections for the economy to thrive.
9. Mnangagwa visited South Africa and addressed Zimbabweans based in that country. For him, it was important to only encourage them to come back home – obviously he thinks he has charmed enough to win their votes. Instead he should also have told them of plans in place for them to vote from the Diaspora, just as our Mozambican counterparts can vote from Zimbabwe during elections in Mozambique.
10. Mnangagwa unwittingly told the recent Zanu PF Congress that elections will be held sooner that most people expect, an indication that he, like Mugabe in 2013, will rush the country to elections while the quick gains are still influencing the people’s opinion, without real reforms that will unlock the country’s economic potential
11. Corruption is so entrenched within Zanu PF to the extent that Mnangagwa’s trusted Lieutenant Josiah Hungwe has argued that tenders should be given to private companies because all government enterprises are completely corrupt. And we know that all government departments and parastatal organisations are staffed by Zanu PF appointees. Voting out Zanu PF candidates is the only way to stamp out corruption.
Here are my 11 reasons from my observations and knowledge of Mnangagwa why Zimbabweans must vote out Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF out and give the country a new start. I implore all Zimbabwe not to ignore these reasons, and those with more evidence against Zanu PF should share to fully inform the electorate before they plunge the country into further chaos by voting in Zanu PF candidates in 2018
Who is telling the truth between Mnangagwa and Kasukuwere?
Are you ready to create a pure “monya” President who vanishes like Kasumuzu Banda and survives every poison attack?
By Farai D Hove| The events of the last 8 weeks which have been filled with much action, drama, trepidation and excitement, have seen the country’s arch enemies Emmerson Mnangagwa and his nemeses Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere making claims against each other – the latest of these is a hot story that they both fled on foot into Mozambique while running away from each other, literally.
Mnangagwa’s escape happened on the 7th November 2017 and Kasukuwere’s was two weeks later, although a Mutumwa Mawere tele-conversation claimed it happened on the dingy coup night of the 14th November.
Mnangagwa on Friday speaking to Zimbabweans in South Africa claimed that he walked over 30km on foot fleeing Zimbabwe into Mozambique. But several witnesses who saw him on the 7th November say that he was actually driven out through the Forbes Border post into Mozambique accompanied by bodyguards and a driver. Yesterday ZimEye.com revealed the satellite map tracker showing where and when he was spotted at the Forbes Border post. Mnangagwa has since been likened to Malawi’s founding President Kamuzu Banda after many of his other claims of assassination including poison attacks were probed and found having serious holes in them.
Kasukuwere on the other hand in a private conversation with businessman Mutumwa Mawere has made claims while speaking of the events that transpired from the day soldiers descended onto his house on the 14th November last month. He said when the soldiers arrived for the first time, he was actually inside the house just as they opened fire.
He said both him and Prof Jonathan Moyo ran away on foot like Edgar Tekere and Robert Mugabe did in 1974. He said this without clearly explaining the connection with Prof Moyo’s presence and how they ended up in the bush together.
When the snipers first arrived, they opened fire on the house and upon that time Kasukuwere sounded the alarm. When the alarm blew up loudly, the snipers retreated while fearing that other soldiers who guard Kasukuwere (personally assigned by the President’s office) would be alerted and there would be a full blown open war.
Readers please note concerning the below claims that Kasukuwere has told ZimEye that Mawere “broke ethics, recorded a private conversation without permission and broadcast it.” He told ZimEye while cautioning people against believing the below narration hook, line, and sinker.
Upon that time they then fled on foot non stop into the bushes where-ever they could find an escape route and flee. He said they even passed through parks and continued on and on…
Said Kasukuwere, “[they] just jumped the durawall and started firing.
“I was inside the house…I think our alarm saved us, I think so, and we didn’t make any noises, we just kept quiet…
“but the alarm continued to go…so …they … after 10 to 15 minutes of heavy shooting then they left.”
Kasukuwere said it was at that point that they quickly left the house and escaped before the soldiers could come back.
A Grace Mugabe vicar was thoroughly bashed and humiliated by vapostori while together with ZRP cops in Budiriro 3 years ago, and has now seen fate upon fate befall him. The man is also guilty of attacking Kariba based preacher Patrick Mugadza early this year.
By Paul Nyathi | TheApostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) which hosted Grace Mugabe’s controversial Super Sunday rally, endorsing her as the next Vice President held a Press Conference on Friday to dismiss their leader Archbishop Johannes Ndanga.
The council dismissed Ndanga for appointing Grace as the patron of the church without discussing the issue with the board and for also individually appointing ZANU PF inclined members into the board without consultation.
By Farai D Hove| The G40 Kingmaker, Prof Jonathan Moyo claims that the Zimbabwe National Army killed many people during the just ended November coup that removed president Robert Mugabe and put in his place his fired deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Writing from the diaspora, Prof Moyo on Saturday published a number of pictures of his property and also those of a presidential security aide, Albert Ngulube’s battered face and head. Beyond Ngulube, Prof Moyo did not state who exactly according to his claims was killed only saying “there are untold fatalities…” PICTURES
5/5 My politburo video of 19 July 2017 on the Mnangagwa/Chiwenga coup plot has been proven by events. About the coup, it’s a lie to say it was bloodless. There are untold fatalities, rampant torture, illegal arrests & detentions & internal & external displacement of citizens! pic.twitter.com/tcF08vhUUc
A 16-year-old boy in Harare’s Hopley suburb died after being severely assaulted by a man who wanted to “teach him a lesson” for proposing love to his girlfriend.
The suspect and his alleged accomplices are now in remand prison.
The Sunday Mail has gathered that Admire Tsuro (25), Noworry Regu and Knowledge Chinorwiwa (19) allegedly accosted Munashe Shumba at Mazvimbakupa Shopping Centre, Hopley, on December 8.
It is alleged Tsuro was angry over Shumba’s reported advances towards his 22-year-old girlfriend and wanted to “teach him a lesson”.
Tsuro and his sidekicks then assaulted the teenager, it is alleged; and Shumba later made a police report, leading to the trio’s arrest.
Shumba, who sustained injuries during the assault, was admitted at Harare Central Hospital on December 11, and died four days later.
Tsuro, Regu and Chinorwiwa were subsequently arrested early last week, charged with murder.
They appeared before Mbare magistrate Ms Tafadzwa Miti who remanded them in custody to January 8, 2018.- state media
Former Warriors and Dynamos Football Club coach Calisto Pasuwa was last week arrested for occupying a council residential stand without approval.
He subsequently skipped court, and a warrant of arrest is out for him.
It is alleged that on November 8, 2017, a Manyame Rural District Council inspector on patrol in Seke asked Pasuwa (47) to produce documentation for the land he occupies in the area.
He, however, allegedly failed, and was later arrested.
The papers at Chitungwiza Magistrates Court reads: “The accused person had no legal right to occupy or use communal land without lawful authority.”
In his statement to the police, Pasuwa insisted he was legally settled.
“I was lawfully allocated this piece of land by the village head and I observed all formalities, including having my name registered in the village head’s book for forward transmission to Manyame Rural District Council,” he said.- state media
Former Midlands Minister of State Jason Machaya was denied bail and remanded in custody till January 15, 2018 when he appeared before the Gokwe Magistrates Court facing charges of criminal abuse of office after he fraudulently acquired 1 000 residential stands from Gokwe Town Council and later resold them.
The complainant in the matter is the State represented by Officer-in-Charge CID Gokwe, Stanford Chimbunde. It is the State’s case that sometime in 2013, the Gokwe Town Council requested for 3 000 residential stands around Mapfungautsi Extension from the Local Government ministry and the request was granted.
Machaya, as chairperson of the provincial lands committee, allegedly made a request of commonage allocation from the 3 000 stands, which entitled him to receive 10% of the allocated stands in line with the Commonage Law. The State alleges that between 2011 and 2017, Machaya demanded 1 000 residential stands when he knew he was supposed to get 300.
Machaya allegedly hired a private land developer, Striations World Marketing Property Developers, to service the stands. On December 20 this year, police detectives interrogated Gokwe town engineer Clemence Madondo, who confirmed that they had allocated 1 000 stands to Machaya after he demanded them.- agencies
Professor Jonathan Moyo | With Chiwenga appointed Vice President. I take a break from my break to say the appointment confirms the 15 Nov military coup. President Mugabe was ousted not to benefit Zimbabwe but Chiwenga & Mnangagwa personally. Coup commanders and coup tribalists have been promoted to higher offices!
For the record, lawful Zimbabweans know the JUNTA and its Illegitimate coup govt aren’t one & the same thing as the COUNTRY. President Mugabe did not have to be humiliated and ousted in a MILITARY COUP by Zanu PF TRIBALISTS claiming loyalty to him. No! No!
The decision by the Junta and Mnangagwa to take away from PF Zapu, with no election, the post of National Chairman has destroyed the Unity Accord. It’s gone. Everyone can now see that the MILITARY COUP was done by gukurahundists and tribalists in Zanu PF!
The Junta & ED’s ZanuPF tribalists have committed:
*Gukurahundi atrocities: 1980-1987
*Military violence on Mujuru & others: 2008
*Gamatox purges on Mujuru & supporters: 2014
*Coup to oust & humiliate Pres Mugabe: 2017
*Armed attacks on G40 & backers: 2017
#2018UnityIsKey!
My politburo video of 19 July 2017 on the Mnangagwa/Chiwenga coup plot has been proven by events. About the coup, it’s a lie to say it was bloodless. There are untold fatalities, rampant torture, illegal arrests & detentions & internal & external displacement of citizens!
Ray Nkosi | General Constantino Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga who was this morning appointed Vice President by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is in another social media storm after pictures of his went viral on social media in a visit to a vapostori shrine. ZimEye.com could not establish when the pictures were taken at the time of going to press. See pictures below.
Paul Nyathi | ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa may have struck a wrong code in his efforts to find closure to the Gukurahundi atrocities of the eighties.
Addressing about 300 people at a function held in Bulawayo on Friday, Dabengwa invited the people of Matabeleland to gather in August next year and rebury all the Gukurahundi victims in descent graves even without authority from government.
“Let us rise in numbers next year around August to October and go out through the entire region with picks and shovels and dig up all the people lying in the shallow graves and bury them,” said Dabengwa.
“You need not worry about the coffins we will be able to get those,” he said.
Further to that Dabengwa said that Matabeleland people should not invite the Gukurahundi atrocities perpetrators, chief of who he singled out President Emerson Mnangagwa, to apologise to the victims claiming that there can never be an apology on premeditated murder.
“In do not agree with sentiments that say Mnangagwa must come and apologise to us for the atrocities before we can start accepting him as president, they executed the murders after careful planning that’s why they have not apologised in 30 years, leave them like that don’t ask for their apology,” he said.
Dabengwa urged the people of Matabeleland to begin to realise that the solution on the Gukurahundi issues lies within the region and not from the same government which executed the killings.
Responding to Dabengwa’s calls, Alliance for National Salvation ANSA leader Moses Mzila Ndlovu said that Dabengwa’s call was out of order as it is tantamount to tempering with evidence “which will be required soon.”
“Dabengwa’s call doesn’t work, we can not at a time when we are pushing for investigations on the killings start tempering with the evidence,” he said.
Mzila said that what needs to be done first is to work at voting out the government that harbours the perpetrators of the atrocities so that a new government can effectively deal with them.
Another Bulawayo veteran politician, Felix Magalela Mafa also dismissed Dabengwa claiming that his call for the tempering with the mass graves is out of order as it will disturb vital evidence of the killings.
Mafa also said that reburials can not just be done without consulting the families of the murdered people as per cultural requirements.
At least 20 000 people are suspected to have been killed and buried in shallow graves and disused mines throughout Matabeleland and part of Midlands province during the Gukurahundi era of 1982 to 1987.
Farirai Madhumbe | War Vets leader Doug Mahiya has had to run for dear life after being chased from Harare South by a Major General Tarwirei.
Mahiya according to ZimEye.com sources had gone to the constituency as a potential Parliamentary candidate hosted by Harare Provincial Chairperson Masimirembwa who was set to introduce him.
The rest is history after Major Tarwirei set rowdy youths on Mahiya. “They run over 2kilos vasina mota! Let military rule resistance brew in ZANUPF!! Tozoita mass march in support of ZANUPF civilians as before handiti!,” wrote one Zanu PF supporter on social media.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has lived up to his word of promoting the Buy Zimbabwe initiative and on his first foreign assignment to South Africa on Thursday, he chose to use a locally owned private airline, Fly Africa.
Fly Africa is the only locally owned airline outside Air Zimbabwe which is owned by Government.
Officiating at a Buy Zimbabwe awards ceremony in Harare recently, President Mnangagwa said: “Buy Zimbabwe efforts through its annual Buy Zimbabwe Awards should be applauded. The campaign seeks to actively promote home-grown products for the domestic and global markets.”
In line with this objective, President Mnangagwa walked the talk by using Fly Africa which is a low cost airline wholly owned by locals.Fly Africa executive chairman Mr Cassidy Mugwagwa applauded the move by President Mnangagwa saying it would help to grow the local industry.
He said the confidence that President Mnangagwa had expressed in their brand as Zimbabwe’s First Citizen was a seal of approval and a huge milestone in the aviation industry.
“It is an inspirational moment that one will never forget,” he said.
“The President has raised the bar and we will strive for greater heights because in our view, this is a seal of approval from the highest office. When the President talks about Buy Zimbabwe, some think it is mere talk but with this development, it is clear that he practices what he preaches to the nation.
“One major way we can contribute to the growth of our economy as Zimbabweans is to promote and having confidence in our own products and brands. To us at Fly Africa, this is a brand endorsement and we say thank you Cde President, may you call again.”
Mr Mugwagwa said their objective at Fly Africa was to become Zimbabwe’s most favoured mega brand in the aviation sector in the shortest possible time.
“We have been carrying people since August and now we carried our President and this is no mean achievement by any measure. We are hoping to land on our maiden Johannesburg trip on or before January 15, 2018. What has been keeping us is the reservation system linked into the security system, which is the advanced passenger processing system which is linked to the department of Home Affairs in South Africa and our own security agencies here. All those systems are now up and our website will also be running by the second week of January, 2018 where passengers can book and buy tickets online,” he said.
In line with the Buy Zimbabwe initiative, Mr Mugwagwa said they were putting extra flights for the Victoria Falls route to cater for carnival-goers before the end of this month. Herald
Joice Mujuru’s opposition political party will take legal action to stop any splinter group using the name National People’s Party (NPP), secretary-general Gift Nyandoro has warned.
This comes after the opposition party has split into two groups, the ex-vice president-led NPP and the National People’s Party Democrats (NPPD).
The breakaway party comprises the party’s national youth chair Lloyd Masiya, deputy national organising secretary Susan Chuma, secretary-general Diaspora Constituency Beulah Chavarika and secretary for Education Enock Mapanje.
Nyandoro told the Daily News that reports the party had split into two opposing factions were “pure nonsense”.
But when asked whether his party would take legal action against any group using the name NPP, he said yes.
“This group which calls themselves NPPD comprises persons who have been fired from the party,” Nyandoro said, adding that in terms of Article 2 of the party constitution, “it is clear that the name of the party and its symbol shall belong exclusively to the party for use by its members only.”
“It is therefore clear that the party name and symbol cannot be used by non-members like the group comprising (Munyaradzi) Banda, Mai Chuma, Masiya, Kuda Gara, Willard Gwerevende, Mapanje, among others,” Nyandoro said.
“Whilst the formation of a political party by those fired is their democratic right, they cannot purport to be doing so using our party name and logo as these belong exclusively to the party.
“Legal processes are currently in motion to bar the expelled members from putting the name and symbol of the party into disrepute”.
Masiya and his group, while concurring with Nyandoro that there was no split, said by coming up with the NPPD, they were carrying out their own version of
“Operation Restore Legacy” — a military intervention that topled long-ruling president Robert Mugabe and ushered in the country’s new President, Emmerson Mnangagwa into office.
“As such, we agree with the so called NPP legal department that there was no split but Operation Restore Legacy under the banner NPPD,” Masiya said.
He accused Nyandoro’s legal department of not doing anything when “vultures overturned the constitution.
“As NPPD, we are totally unfazed by political midgets and Lilliputians masquerading as legal supremos.
“The so-called expulsions are mere political dreams and allegations with no legal ramifications.
“We are strong and fully geared after completion of the cleansing ceremony and the party is back to the people,” Masiya declared.
This comes as the NPP has been rocked by a spate of desertions, with many accusing Mujuru of being captured by a small cabal seeking to push their factional agendas.
The Daily News heard that meetings have been extremely fractious, with much violent argument, barracking and interminable hair-splitting as every tiny point is dissected and analysed.
The disgruntled party members first wrote a letter to Mujuru last week, seeking her redress to their concerns, but claim that she did not take heed of the early warnings.
“Following the refusal by the NPP president to address our concerns as outlined in our petition on outstanding grievances of 12/12/2017 addressed to ..Mujuru, we, the aggrieved members of the party do hereby denounce the NPP top five leadership consisting: the president …Mujuru, the vice president John Mvundura, the vice president, Sam Sipepa Nkomo, the national secretary-general Gift Nyandoro, the national chairperson Dzikamai Mavhaire,” the splinter group said in a statement yesterday.
According to the group, the five top leaders have presided over the death of democracy and constitutionalism in the NPP and have “captured” Mujuru to an extent that she is subverting the will of the membership.
As the party continues to disintegrate, NPP’s provincial treasurer Canaan Matiashe, organising secretary Albert Mukaratirwa, secretary for Information and publicity Norman Mbizi and provincial chairperson Garikai Dzimunya, also tendered their resignation letters on Monday. Daily News
By Paul Nyathi | The Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) which hosted Grace Mugabe’s controversial Super Sunday rally, endorsing her as the next Vice President held a Press Conference on Friday to dismiss their leader Archbishop Johannes Ndanga.
The council dismissed Ndanga for appointing Grace as the patron of the church without discussing the issue with the board and for also individually appointing ZANU PF inclined members into the board without consultation.
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association has hailed the appointment of Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje as the Zanu-PF national political commissar saying the move will help reconnect the party with its liberation ethos.
Lt Gen Rugeje, a veteran of the liberation war, was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa into the Zanu-PF Politburo during the party’s extra ordinary congress last Friday replacing Mr Saviour Kasukuwere who was expelled along with 25 other members of the G40 cabal.
The President also appointed Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri as the party’s chairperson among a number of appointments.
War veterans are on record calling for the deployment of a person with liberation credentials to the Zanu-PF commissariat department so that they guide the party in accordance with the party’s liberation ethos.
They condemned the conduct of Mr Kasukuwere, a key member of the G40 cabal, who used the position to purge perceived enemies of his clique especially targeting party cadres with a liberation background.
ZNLWVA spokesperson Cde Douglas Mahiya yesterday said Lt Gen Rugeje’s appointment marks a shift towards getting the party back on the rails in the aftermath of the chaotic and destabilising politics of the G40 cabal.
“We hail his appointment to the position of political commissar. Remember, we have always encouraged the party to deploy someone with a liberation background in the party’s commissariat department.
“It is the articulation of the revolutionary principles and ethos that should guide the party in its activities,” he said.
“The party and the people will benefit from those principles. We will be able to actually position the party in its former position, that of a party guided by the liberation principles and ideology.”
Political analyst Mr Richard Mahomva weighed in saying the party’s ideological values need to be celebrated and imparted especially on the youth.
“Cde Rugeje’s appointment is quite significant in addressing the long dismissal of war veterans’ participation in the party. Therefore, his tenure must play a decisive role in anchoring long lasting binding terms to unity in the party and country at large,” he said.
Mr Mahomva said, in line with President Mnangagwa’s address at the Zanu-PF extraordinary congress, the party must connect with the youth and impart the liberation tradition and ideology to future commissar s.
“That way, ideological values of the party will be carried into the future,” he said.
Addressing Zanu-PF members as he opened the congress, President Mnangagwa said the G40 faction and their destructive politics had not only destabilised Zanu-PF but also brought confusion in the country.
“It had destabilised the party, causing absolute divisions and disquiet in the nation which sat on edge. The party ideology, rules and protocols were being desecrated daily; or simply being brushed aside at will,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Party structures were overrun, while elected office-bearers were summarily suspended and dismissed at speeds of caprice and vaulting ambition. Corrupt activities and corrupt individuals were daily sanitised while millions of dollars were being stolen and stashed outside the country.”
President Mnangagwa said the G40 cabal created a self-serving environment that shielded corrupt tendencies and criminals.
“The economy bled from repeated rampant smuggling. The country was violated with impunity. Disaffection was building especially from among the youths who were seeing their hopes of a bright future slipping away,” he said.
“Veterans who had sacrificed to liberate this country were not just being reviled; they were being abused and incarcerated on flimsy pretexts.
“Party events were manipulatively re-engineered to contrive a show of popularity and unanimity. Party mobilisation was reduced to coercion. Party rallies became expensively choreographed pseudo-events dominated by a roving core group which used different venues in order to create a misleading illusion of populism which belied the bitter discontent which simmered beneath, threatening to boil.”
The Zanu-PF First Secretary said the G40 group derailed the ruling party from a progressive and people oriented organisation.
“Let us draw lessons from all that happened. We must vehemently defend to the hilt the party values, cultures and traditions.
“Revolutions do get infiltrated and corrupted and once corrupted, they degenerate and lose direction,” said President Mnangagwa.
“We must never lower our guard and must arrest any negative tendencies that creep into the party to hold, corrupt and alienate us.” Herald
Two Batswana teenagers were remanded in police custody last Friday after their arrest on allegations of killing and secretly burying a 30-year-old Zimbabwean man who had hired them for a piece job in Mahalapye.
According to the police, the teenagers killed the Zimbabwean on November 24 after completing the job he had hired them for.
Police Superintendent Isaac Mamadi said the two suspects were later arrested after driving away in the deceased’s car.
The suspects then led the police to a river between Mahalapye and Mokotswane villages, where the deceased’s decomposing body was recovered.
“Our investigations are still ongoing, but from what we gather, issues arose after payment when the deceased gave the suspects half the amount he had promised them because he was not fully paid,” Mamadi said.
“The deceased’s body was decomposed when it was exhumed and there were signs of wounds and cuts on the head.” mmegi
Morgan Tsvangirai | The statement published in the Newsday of today purportedly under my authority but issued by our Secretary General is unfortunate, misleading and grossly false. I would like to state categorically that the MDC-T entered into an electoral alliance agreement in good faith with its partners on August 5 2017. That agreement includes seat allocation and is binding on all parties.
The MDC-T Election Directorate will issue guidelines on candidate selection for seats allocated to it, and such guidelines are yet to be issued out.
The agreement is informed by our National Council resolutions of December 2016 and August 2017 and cannot therefore be rescinded by a personal opinion of a leader. The National Council, the supreme decision making body in between Congresses, has been appraised at every turn on the negotiations with our Alliance Partners. In addition our Secretary General or any other leader other than the President has no authority to speak on matters pertaining to the Alliance unless authorised to so by myself and such authority was not given to him.
I would like to assure our partners and the generality of the people of Zimbabwe, who demanded this unity during my national tour in January 2017, that the alliance, which is the only hope to secure change in this country, is intact and not under threat from any quarter.
By Paul Nyathi | Opposition MDC leader Professor Welshman Ncube has taken to task a Newsday reporter Obey Manayiti for publishing falsehood in a widely read article claiming that Ncube said MDC Alliance leader Morgan Tsvangirai is untrustworthy.
In a WhatsApp chat between Ncube and Manayiti, the MDC Alliance coalition spokesperson demands to know from the journalist where he ever made the sensational the allegations against Tsvangirai.
“Good morning Obey. I am very disappointed in your commentary in the story. When was I seething with anger? When did I make any accusation against Tsvangirai? When did I say Tsvangirai was an untrustworthy partner? Why on earth attribute to me things I never said?” asked an upset Ncube.
Shockingly, the reporter who is quoted as the author of the story expresses ignorance of the issue altogether.
“Good morning Prof, I haven’t seen the story as yet but I will check and come back to you,” he responded.
“I am very upset. Tell me when did I say Tsvangirai was bent on perpetuating ZANU PF rule when I NEVER even mentioned Tsvangirai,” said Ncube after sharing the story with the journalist.
“Oh I see, I will raise it at work. However, sometimes we use Tsvangirai as a symbol for his party,” responded the journalist requesting to do a follow up story to try and put correct facts on the matter.
“We should not do journalism of this kind. What is the Agenda for creating fake news in this instance? What happened to professional honesty? I certainly have no interest in a follow up story. The newspaper has an ethical and professional obligation to withdraw the false statements attributed to me which I didn’t say. That is the only solution to the publication of falsehoods,” Ncube responded angrily.
Farirai Madhumbe | President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed his two Vice Presidents General Constantino Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, amidst concerns that the latter might have blood on his hands.
Mohadi was in 1999 implicated in the murder of Lutheran World Federation employee Strover Mutonhori, who was accused of having an affair with Mohadi’s wife Tambudzani.
Mutonhori disappeared from the Omadu Hotel in Kezi, only for his decomposing body to be found on the 17th of August 1999 at the Whitewaters Range in Matopos.
Local media reports that Mutonhori Tambudzani with family sources saying the two allegedly had an affair.
Tambudzani the state media reports has filed a notice of intention to defend summons by her husband who is seeking a decree of divorce. Mphadi told the court recently that he had not enjoyed sex with his wife since the MDC was formed in 1999.
Mohadi, who is also Beitbridge East MP and his wife, the Senator for Beitbridge, have been married for 36 years and have four children who are now adults.
Tambudzani (nee Muleya), who is the defendant in the matter, through her lawyers, Phillips Law Legal Practitioners, last week filed her notice of appearance to defend the claims being made her husband at the Bulawayo High Court.
Mohadi, through his lawyers, Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers, last month approached the same court seeking the nullification of their marriage, claiming it has irretrievably broken down.
“Be pleased to take notice that the defendant has on 29 September 2017 at 3.10PM entered an appearance to defend the above action. The summons was served on the defendant on 27 September 2017,” read the papers.
In his founding affidavit, Mohadi, who is the plaintiff, said there were no prospects of a reunion since they stopped staying together as husband and wife more than 18 years ago.
“The plaintiff (Mohadi) submits that the marriage between the parties has broken down irretrievably to such an extent that the parties no longer live as husband and wife,” he said.
Mohadi said they have not been intimate with each other for more than 18 years.
“The plaintiff and the defendant (Tambudzani) have not been staying as husband and wife for over 18 years now, which is the cornerstone of any normal marriage. The parties have lost love and affection for each other and no longer share common interests,” he said.
In papers before the court, Mohadi said while he was still staying with his wife, they acquired movable and immovable property even after their separation, but wanted the court to distribute the assets equally.
The Minister said during the land reform programme, he was allocated a farm by the Government at Lot 1 of Lot 10 Jopembe Beitbridge, Umzingwane Estates, where he made some developments, but was willing to give the property to his wife.
The parties also acquired a homestead at Dipeni in Beitbridge under Chief Sitauze area and there are a few goats and some sheep.
Mohadi said during the subsistence of the marriage, they acquired several household goods, which he was proposing to share equally with his wife.
Some of the assets include an eight tonne Nissan UD truck, two three tonne Nissan Cabster trucks, an E320 Mercedes Benz and a Nissan Navara, which is a non-runner.
Other vehicles mentioned in court papers include a non-runner vintage, a Toyota Land Rover Discovery, an E280 Mercedes Benz, a Nissan Patrol and Toyota Hilux single cab.
The couple also owns two motorbikes, five tractors, four houses, three in Beitbridge and one in Harare, generators and several motor pumps.
By Paul Nyathi | Farmers Rob Smart and his son Darreyn were on Thursday given a thunderous welcome by villagers at Lesbury Estates in Headlands communal lands east of the Harare.
The now almost delict farm had been taken over by Tebernacle Missions leader Bishop Trevor Manhanga a self confessed ZANU PF and Robert Mugabe loyalist who already had two farms.
The ZANU PF die hard clerick evicted Robert Smart from Lesbury farm with the help of armed police and ZANU PF militia early this year.
The Smart family had stayed at the farm for more than eight (8) decades and only to be evicted after Bishop Manhanga had claimed that he was “given” the farm by government.
“I am in legal and lawful possession of an offer letter issued on 15th March 2015 to a piece of land measuring 100 hectares of Lesbury Estates in Makoni District,” he said on taking over the farm.
“ There are at least two other persons known to me who also have valid offer letters to land on Lesbury Estates, namely the current Chief Tandi (Mr. William Samhungu) and Mr. David Nyakonda. I am not privy to the amount of land that has been offered to them but none of us is in dispute with each other,” Bishop Manhanga said.
The Pro –President Robert Mugabe cleric said, Mr Smart deserved to be evicted because he was “arrogant”.
The eviction of the white farmer, left over 10 000 local villagers who depended on the farmer in terms of employment stranded.
According to the villagers where Lesbury farm is situated, Mr Smart was instrumental in developing their area.
They said the white farmer was also repairing local roads as well as incentivizing teachers at local schools.
With a military escort, Robert Smart made his way back into Lesbury farm about 200km east of the capital, Harare, on Thursday to cheers and song by dozens of workers and community members.
“We have come to reclaim our farm,” sang the women and men, rushing into the compound.
Ruling ZANU PF party supporters, led by the liberation war veterans evicted many of Zimbabwe’s white farmers under a violent land reform program led by Mugabe.
The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Angeline Masuku has urged the people of Bulawayo to work hard towards the development of the province and to remain united as was envisaged when the Unity Accord was signed.
Masuku was speaking yesterday to commemorate the signing of the Unity Accord on December 22 in 1987.
The Unity Accord ended disturbances in the country’s Matabeleland and Midlands provinces in the 1980s.
“This is an important day that should be valued by every Zimbabwean. When the former President Robert Mugabe and the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo signed the Unity Accord, it brought peace in Zimbabwe.
“I want to call upon the people of Bulawayo to respect this day because it brought peace to the people of Zimbabwe.
“Where there’s no peace there’s is no development. It’s therefore important to promote peace and maintain it at all times,” said Masuku.
She said Unity Day was not just a holiday, but a day to reflect and remember how the country’s leadership managed to bring peace to the country.
“I was one of the 10-member committee which was tasked after the signing of the Unity Accord to preach the gospel of unity. The committee consisted of five Zanu members and five from Zapu.
“I was one of the Zapu members. Our task was to make sure that people don’t fight or incite violence in the communities. It was not an easy task because in some areas the people were violent against us while some chased us away,” said Masuku.
“Our lives were at risk but we soldiered on because we wanted to see a peaceful Zimbabwe. This led to the 1990 congress held by the united Zanu-PF, with both parties brought together.”
She said the people of Bulawayo should remember that the unity experienced today was fought for.
“It’s therefore important to work together in bringing Bulawayo back to its status of being the country’s industrial hub. If we work together we’ll succeed.
“The new Government that has come in should reflect unity in the entire country,” said Masuku.- state media
Tragedy has befallen a Zimbabwean family after it was involved in an accident that killed a woman and her 18 months-old daughter, leaving her husband and son hospitalised after they returned home for the holiday from Australia where they are based.
Mr Emmanuel Ngoni Mpofu (34) and his son Romero Emmanuel Nicholas (14) survived the accident which killed his Australian wife Ms Penno Elizabeth Claire (32) and daughter Anaishe Elizabeth Mpofu. The crash occurred around 6PM near Victoria Falls along the Victoria Falls-Kazungula road on Thursday.
Claire and her daughter suffered head injuries and died on the spot.
Police said Mr Mpofu failed to control the vehicle resulting in it veering off the road and overturning before it rolled several times.
“I can confirm that two people, a woman and her daughter died on the spot at about 6pm on Thursday on the Victoria Falls-Kazungula road,” said police officer commanding Victoria Falls District Chief Superintendent Jairos Chiwona.
He said Mr Mpofu was still admitted to Victoria Falls District Hospital yesterday while Romero was treated and discharged.
Police suspect that Mr Mpofu, who was driving a Zimbabwean registered Toyota Regius towards Victoria Falls from Kazungula, was speeding.
“The driver lost control of the vehicle resulting in it veering off the road and overturning before it rolled several times. Initial investigations show that the driver could have been speeding. We would want to urge motorists to observe road rules,” said Chief Supt Chiwona.
Meanwhile, police in Matabeleland North Province have warned members of the public against violent and unruly behaviour during the Christmas Holiday.
In a statement, ZRP Matabeleland North provincial spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese said police will be in full force to prevent criminal activity.
She said the province will be receiving thousands of people especially for the iflix Victoria Falls carnival which starts next week Friday hence criminals might want to take advantage of the situation.
Insp Makonese said common crimes during this period include burglary, stock theft, theft, mugging, assault and public violence as well as traffic offences.
“The province traditionally receives many people this period and we want to urge those visiting to make sure they deal with recognised agents and lodges and not to deal with strangers as they are prone to falling victim,” she said.
“We also advise people not to leave their homes or kids unattended as they may also fall victim. Let’s avoid violence when we gather to celebrate Christmas and we know some people want to celebrate using firecrackers or by skidding cars, let’s be careful as this is dangerous.”
Insp Makonese encouraged people not to buy livestock products from unregistered dealers as they may be working in cahoots with stock thieves.- state media
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has assured countries in the region that his government will continue looking after the welfare of former President Robert Mugabe, South African leader and Sadc chair Jacob Zuma revealed on Thursday.
Zuma told journalists in Pretoria following a closed-door meeting with Mnangagwa that the new Zimbabwean leader had assured him that Mugabe was in good hands.
“I have been assured that the founding father of Zimbabwe, former President Mugabe, will be looked after. There will be no problems at all,” Zuma said.
Mugabe was forced to resign last month following a November 14 bloodless military intervention aimed at stopping a brutal internal power struggle that had engulfed the ruling party Zanu PF, hence threatening the stability of the country.
The then Zimbabwean leader, who was placed under house arrest, initially dug in, but capitulated after Zanu PF triggered impeachment proceedings against him on November 21.
Zuma paid tribute to Mugabe and, like Mnangagwa, referred to the former Zimbabwean strongman as “our father”.
“He [Mugabe] is our father. He grew up in the struggle and we have appreciated that this is what is important that in Africa, we should look after our elders,” Zuma said.
Both Mnangagwa and Zuma once served as heads of civil and defence during the liberation struggles of the two countries.
Making his maiden foreign trip since taking charge, Mnangagwa said he had called on Zuma for guidance.
“I felt on my 26th day in office I must come to my brother and receive guidance. He is a very experienced President,” he said.
“I felt that the challenges we face, the first port of call is to go to my colleague and say Your Excellency, I have taken the leadership of Zimbabwe, I seek your guidance in whatever challenges I may face. I have had no doubt he would give his complete and honest guidance.”
South Africa is Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner and Mnangagwa said his administration would be economic-oriented.
“My administration will focus on economics and trade co-operation. South Africa is Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner. There might be challenges, but as brothers and sisters, I have come to assure President Zuma that we should feel open to discuss any challenges in order to grow our respective economies and co-operation,” the President said.
Mugabe and Mnangagwa fell out in the last days of the former’s Presidency, with the then Zanu PF leader using public platforms to denigrate his deputy, while the then VP’s supporters claimed he had been poisoned at a rally in Gwanda using ice-cream from Gushungo Dairies owned by the former First Family.
The former President is currently in the Far East for routine medical treatment at the expense of the State.- Newsday
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| The appointment of the military personnel is government is not only peculiar to Zimbabwe. World-over governments are filled with ex-army officers and there is no one who complains about it.
Terrence Mawawa, Gweru| In an incident that stunned court officials, a local woman dumped her husband for not bathing properly.
A Gweru woman has accused a local ferrochrome smelting company, Xin Yu Mining Corporation, of firing her because she was pregnant.
In the days following Ramaphosa’s victory over his rival Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at the party’s 54th elective conference in Johannesburg, ANC leaders have been involved in intense discussions about a conflict-free exit for Zuma from the presidency.
Stadium to witness the conferment of Emmerson Mnangagwa as the new President of the Republic of Zimbabwe when he took over from Robert Gabriel Mugabe who was forced to resign following the pressure from Zimbabweans, lead by the Zimbabwe National Army.
Mozambique while running away from each other, literally.
