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Shock As Rapist Infects, Impregnates 15 Year Old Girl

A man in Harare’s Epworth suburb was recently arrested for allegedly raping and infecting his neighbour’s 15-year-old daughter with HIV.

The teenager is pregnant, with the suspect (48) now in remand prison on a rape charge. In September 2017, the girl and a friend went to the suspect’s house to fetch borehole water. The suspect (identity withheld to protect the victim) then allegedly invited her into his house to collect a lid to cover her bucket.

As soon as she entered, the suspect — it is alleged – locked the door, covered her mouth with his palm and raped her. The girl’s friend, who had remained outside became suspicious and shouted to the 15-year-old to come out.

However, the suspect allegedly threatened to kill his victim if she dared scream or tell anyone about the abuse. He later released her. The abuse remained under wraps until December 2017, when the girl’s mother confronted her over her unusual gait and bulging stomach.

A police report was made, leading to the suspect’s arrest and subsequent appearance at the Harare Magistrates Court on December 9. A medical report seen by The Sunday Mail confirmed that the girl had contracted HIV and a venereal infection; and was 14 weeks pregnant.- state media

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“Tsvangirai Is Losing Next Election”, Eddie Cross Blows Out Again

The Morgan Tsvangirai-led opposition is not prepared to contest in any national election as the party is in shambles, senior MDC-T official Mr Eddie Cross has said.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, frank-talking Mr Cross said it was “quite obvious” that the 2018 harmonised elections were approaching with turmoil in opposition ranks. He said: “I think that’s quite obvious to everybody. The opposition is nowhere near ready for elections. The MDC Alliance has potential, but has not put its act together.”

Mr Cross reiterated remarks he made on his blog on Christmas, writing off the opposition and expressing confidence in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership. The post read, in part: “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.

“. . . He has a very sharp mind and a sense of humour, but if you do take him on, expect no prisoners . . . The one thing I know about this man is that he is an operator and should not be underestimated.”

Mr Gutu
Mr Gutu

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu tried to downplay major contradictions in the alliance, saying: “Morgan Tsvangirai is our leader and he is also the MDC Alliance presidential candidate for the 2018 elections. There are absolutely no disagreements in the MDC-T regarding the MDC Alliance.

“There is a lot of fake news that is being generated by misguided elements, particularly on social media. We are not worried one bit about these purveyors of fake news since we are already on a roll.” The MDC Alliance is in the throes of power struggles, with the latest ignited by a plan to allocate parliamentary constituencies which each party will run for come 2018.

MDC-T secretary-general Mr Douglas Mwonzora torched the storm by announcing that his party had begun selecting candidates. Other alliance members saw this as an attempt by the MDC-T to hoodwink them, and Mr Tsvangirai was forced to chastise Mr Mwonzora publicly.

The grouping comprises Transform Zimbabwe, Multi-Racial Christian Democrats, MDC-T, ZimPF, People’s Democratic Party, MDC and Zanu Ndonga. Collaboration among its members has been shaky since the alliance’s launch in August 2017 as key figures in the MDC-T remain uneasy about their “smaller partners”.

Mr Tsvangirai’s deputy, Ms Thokozani Khupe, national chairman Mr Lovemore Moyo and organising secretary Mr Abednico Bhebhe snubbed that launch. Now reports indicate that some senior MDC-T officials want Mr Tsvangirai, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, to step down. – state media

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Lungu Deploys Army To Fight Cholera Menace

Zambia’s president Edgar Lungu has deployed the army to help combat a cholera outbreak that has claimed 41 lives in the capital Lusaka and affected 1 550 more since September.

The initial outbreak began on September 28 according to the World Health Organisation and Zambia’s health ministry subsequently launched efforts to limit the spread of the disease.

Cholera is a water-borne disease which goes hand in hand with poverty and while readily treatable can be lethal if unaddressed.

“I have directed all the three wings of the Defence Force to join the Ministry of Health… to escalate efforts to minimise the spread of cholera in our capital city and the rest of the country,” Lungu wrote on his official, verified Facebook page late on Friday.

“Lusaka has been recording an average of 60 new cases every day. I’ve noted with great sadness that a total of 41 people have died of the disease since its outbreak.

“The outbreak was initially linked to contaminated water from shallow wells and unsanitary conditions in the residential and public areas affected. But we now note that the spread of cholera is being propagated through contaminated food.”

Lungu added that there would be a crackdown on street food stalls, bars and restaurants that do not meet minimum food hygiene standards.

“I am deeply concerned at the rampaging advance of the outbreak,” he said.- News24

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AFRICAN DESPOTS : Mnangagwa A Simple Extension Of Mugabe

In the tradition of dimming debate, the chattering class has reduced systemic corruption in South Africa and the near collapse in Zimbabwe, respectively, to the shenanigans of two men: Jacob Zuma and Robert Mugabe.

Zuma, the President of South Africa, currently faces possible impeachment for corruption, while Robert Mugabe has now been forcibly “retired” after 30 years as President.

Surely by now, though, it should be common knowledge that in Africa, if you replace a despot, but not despotism, you only oust a tyrant, and not tyranny.

How Kleptocracy Works

Emblematic of this is a thematically confused  article in The Economist, offering a description of the dynamics set in motion by the Zuma dynasty’s capture of the state.

At first, the magazine explains the concept of “state capture” as “private actors [having] subverted the state to steal public money.”

Later, the concept is more candidly refined: “The nub of the state capture argument is that Mr. Zuma and his friends are putting state-owned enterprises and other governmental institutions in the hands of people who are allowing them to loot public funds.”

Indeed. Corruption invariably flows from state to society.

And, “state capture” is quite common across Africa, even if “unfamiliar elsewhere in the world,” which is all the “context” The Economist is willing to provide.

“To avoid a dire, two-decade dynasty of dysfunction, South Africa’s ruling African National Congress should ditch the Zumas,” the magazine concludes.

That’s it? If only.

“The Corruption of South Africa,” courtesy of The Economist, hurtles between being an excellent exposé, yet providing nothing more than reportorial reductionism.

Continental context, if you will, is essential if one is to shed light on the “Dark Continent.”

To wit, the seductive narrative about the ANC’s new boss — and the man put forward as Zuma’s replacement — Cyril Ramaphosa, gets this much right: There is nothing new about the meaningless game of musical chairs enacted throughout Africa like clockwork. The Big Man is overthrown or demoted; another Alpha Male jockeys his way into his predecessor’s position and asserts his primacy over the people and their property.

Elections across Africa have traditionally followed a familiar pattern: Radical black nationalist movements like the ANC take power everywhere, then elections cease. “One man, one vote, one time,” to quote the book, “Into the Cannibal’s Pot: Lessons for America From Post-Apartheid South Africa.” Or, if elections do repeatedly take place, as they do in South Africa, they’re rigged, in a manner.

The Dangers of a Permanent Majority

For a prerequisite for a half-decent liberal democracy is that majority and minority status be interchangeable and fluid, and that a ruling majority party (the ANC) be as likely to become a minority party as the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA). In South Africa, however, the majority and the minorities are politically permanent, not temporary, and voting along racial lines is the rule.

So, as the dictator Mugabe hung on to power for dear life, reasonable people were being persuaded by the pulp and pixel press that if not for this one megalomaniac, freedom would have flourished in Zimbabwe, as it has, presumably, in Angola, Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, and the rest of strife-torn Africa south of the Sahara.

Reasonable people are also expected to infer from permissible analysis that now that Mugabe has been dislodged, his successor will not deign to commandeer the state’s security forces to subdue his opposition as his predecessor had done.

The pundit peanut gallery’s latest imperfect messiah in Zimbabwe is Emmerson Mnangagwa. His rickety political plank will promise indubitably what the majority of Zimbabweans want, including “equitable” land reform. A euphemism for land distribution in the Mugabe mold, this concept is anathema to private property rights.

Does Mnangagwa grasp that his country is bankrupt and that, unlike the mighty USA, Zimbabwe has no line of credit? Or that, as the great American writer Henry Hazlitt put it, “Government has nothing to give to anybody that it doesn’t first take from somebody else.” Or, that there are precious few left in Zimbabwe from whom to take?

The shortages and queues, courtesy of communism, exist in Zimbabwe as they did in the Soviet Union. Jokes from Hammer & Tickle, a book of black humor under Red rule, are not out of place in Zimbabwe:

“The problem of queues will be solved when we reach full Communism. How come? There will be nothing left to queue up for.”

Contrary to convictions in the West, any improvement experienced subsequent to the dethroning of the dictator Mugabe will be due to the West’s renewed investment in Zimbabwe and not to the changing of the guard.

For even if Mr. Mnangagwa proves no dictator-in-waiting, there is nothing in his political platform to indicate he will not continue to rob Peter to pay Paul until there is nobody left to rob.

Seemingly absent from the repertoire of both Mr. Mnangagwa and Ramaphosa is an understanding that only the rule of law and the protection of individual liberties, especially private property rights — for wealth-creating whites as well — can begin to reduce the dizzying scale of the two countries’ problems. Without these building blocks and bulwarks of prosperity and peace — Zimbabwe and South African cannot be rehabilitated.

“Even when regimes have changed hands, new governments, whatever promises they made on arrival, have lost little time in adopting the habits of their predecessors,” observed historian Martin Meredith, in The State of Africa (2005).

Of the forty-four countries of sub-Saharan Africa, The Economist’s own democracy index lists twenty-three as authoritarian and thirteen as hybrids. Only seven, including South Africa, hold notionally free elections.

Only two, South Africa and Botswana, did Meredith single out as relatively well-managed African democracies. And that was back in 2005!

Propounded by Duke University scholar Donald L. Horowitz, the arguments against democracy for South Africa, in particular, have considerable force. Finely attuned to “important currents in South African thought,” Horowitz offered up an excruciatingly detailed analysis of South Africa’s constitutional options.

In A Democratic South Africa?: Constitutional Engineering in a Divided Society (1991), Horowitz concluded that democracy is, in general, unusual in Africa, and, in particular, rare in ethnically and racially divided societies, where majorities and minorities are rigidly predetermined (also the dispensation presently being cultivated by craven American elites).

Prone to seeing faces in the clouds, the West, however, sees Mugabe’s epic villainy and Jacob Zuma’s confederacy of state-capturing knaves as nothing but a detail of history.

Lost in the din is the historically predictable pattern. Chaotic countries are hardly an anomaly in the annals of Africa south of the Sahara.

Ilana Mercer has been writing a widely published weekly column since 1999. She is the author of The Trump Revolution: The Donald’s Creative Destruction Deconstructed (June, 2016) & Into the Cannibal’s Pot: Lessons for America From Post-Apartheid South Africa (2011). This was first published by The Mises Institute

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No Christmas Cheer As Mugabe Vanishes With Cash

Like many Zimbabweans, Esau Makwindi is frustrated over the liquidity crisis that has made it near-impossible for ordinary people to get cash in the Southern African nation.

The resignation of President Robert Mugab has ushered in limitless hope in Zimbabwe, especially among people like Makwindi, a 19-year-old divinity student at the University of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe abandoned its own currency in 2009 amid hyperinflation that reached an annual rate of 231 million percent. Since then, the country has relied on foreign currency, in particular U.S. dollars and South African rand. But for more than a year, even that money has been scarce, making it hard for Zimbabweans to purchase the most basic necessities.

In his inaugural address, President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised that Zimbabweans would soon be able to access their earnings.

Those are words that soothe Makwindi, who wheels around his campus in a rickety wheelchair after a car crash took both of his legs last year. His savings, all $1,650 of it, sit in his bank account. But the vendor he wired that amount to can’t get the cash out to buy him what he so badly needs.

“I have ordered for my prosthetic legs in April,” he told VOA. “I have paid the amount, but the supplier is saying I cannot send you those prostheses because I cannot transact money, from here to South Africa. Since then, I have been waiting, until now.”

99 problems and cash is (number) one

VOA spoke to dozens of Zimbabweans on the streets of the capital, Harare, in the days after Mugabe’s resignation and Mnangagwa’s inauguration. Every Zimbabwean we spoke to said their biggest, most urgent concern is getting cash.

Professor Albert Makochekanwa is the chair of the economics department at the University of Zimbabwe. He says, he thinks Mnangagwa has taken positive steps to address the cash crisis, including announcing a three-month amnesty for top officials to return stolen government money, and working to make it easier to import goods.

But when will the crisis resolve? He wouldn’t hazard a firm guess.

“It’s very difficult to predict,” he told VOA. “But in the long run, I know, if all goes well, by next year this time, I think we’ll be close to a normal African functioning economy. But for this specific issue, it’s very difficult to say whether by January or what – that one, it’s very difficult.”

That may be cold comfort for Choice Zhuwao, who stood outside a bank in central Harare for the second day in a row seeking to withdraw $50, that’s the daily maximum banks will give. If he doesn’t get it, he said, his three children will be suspended from school for a month.

Jonathan, a security guard, said he had come two days in a row seeking cash. And what if he fails again? He said he’d take more, unpaid, time off work.

“I’ll talk to the superiors and ask for the time to go to come to the bank,” he said, his smile fading.

Where a $1 is not worth a $1

Cash is available on the black market, at sky-high rates, and Zimbabweans complain their only legitimate money source is more expensive. Businesses often charge higher rates for customers paying with cards or with the popular “EcoCash” mobile money application.

Clothing vendor Tracy Majoni says the fees attached to these money services are making her business run at a loss.

“If I want to get $100, cash, out of my EcoCash account, I am charged about three dollars,” she said.

Makochekanwa says that may take some time to change, but that confidence in the economy, from investors and from citizens, will eventually even things out.

“What fueled that is this issue whereby people have been keeping money in their homes because of their fear or limited confidence with the banking system,” he said. “So I’m sure if there’s improvement in terms of confidence in the banking system, and if also money starts coming in and we have this issue of a shortage of cash going away, I’m sure the prices and the money will converge to the same unit, whether it’s EcoCash, swipe or the actual currency.”

That day, Zimbabweans agree, can’t come soon enough. – VOA

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Drama As Mnangagwa Allies Force Taxis To Ferry People To His Bulawayo Rally

By Paul Nyathi | Commuter Omnibus operators in Bulawayo under the Bulawayo United Public Transporters Association (BUPTA) have told ZimEye.com that they have been forced to release their taxis on New Year’s Eve to ferry Zanu PF party supporters to welcome President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Joshua Nkomo Airport.

The taxi operators claim that the ruling party has ordered the transporters to bring their vehicles to the party offices in the city to ferry party supporters to the airport and back into the City at the Trade Fair grounds where Mnangagwa is expected to address the party in Bulawayo as President for the first time.

The transporters said that the party is offering each operator 40 litres worth of fuel coupons for their business.

The purported ferrying of party supporters to the airport comes at a time when ZANU PF declared that it will no longer be busing supporters to its functions and rallies.

Efforts by ZimEye.com to confirm the President’s visit to the city were not successful at the time of writing.

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BVR Work: ZEC Dupes Workers

Dear ZimEye

Can you help post this for me. I was in BVR exercise and am deeply saddened by non payment of our allowances. Worse still for the paid first phase we were paid 30 dollars per day instead of gazetted 55 dollars per day. Our training allowances was not paid as well. Can you shame ZEC and let this be known to the powers that be. We thank you for your job well done.

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DIRTY WATER BREAKTHROUGH- Mangudya Steps In

By Paul Nyathi| Harare Mayor, Councillor Benard Manyenyeni has revealed that Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Dr John Mangudya has released half the foreign currency needed by the City of Harare to purchase water purification chemicals.

“It is not a bad way to end the year when the Reserve Bank Governor phones to say that 2 days ago he released FOREX payments to two of the suppliers of water treatment chemicals for the City,” said mayor Manyenyeni in a statement on Saturday afternoon.

According to the mayor, Mangudya indicated that he was going to release the balance of the money as a matter of urgency to sort the dire water situation in the capital.

The governor made the commitment after initially promising to release the foreign currency in small amounts every week to which the mayor objected.

“He promised to avail a fixed amount a week for this critical need. I indicated that it was less than half of our needs. He then agreed to fund our full FOREX requirements for water treatment,” said Manyenyeni.

The City of Harare is involved in a critical water situation where visibly dirty and sewage contaminated water is being pumped to the residents.

Interviewed by journalists on Friday after a public dialogue on the City’s service delivery capacity, the Mayor battled to convince the city residents on the quality of the water encouraging residents to use the water with caution.

The mayor however feels hard done by his council executive staff who are not coming on board in prioritising finding solutions to the water problem.

“I did indicate to my Acting Town Clerk that in crisis situations like these we hold meetings 24/7. I am reminded of the former Town Clerk Dr Mahachi who refused to join me for a flood crisis in Warren Park suburb 3 years ago . The remark: “Mayor don’t call us for these things over weekends. You won’t get anyone – we will be at our farms!” Said Manyenyeni.

Watch video of Manyenyeni encouraging residents to exercise caution when using the city water….

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Chiwenga Will Never Betray Mnangagwa, Forget It!

Chiwenga Will Obey Mnangagwa To Death, He’s A True Constitutionalist

By Frank Gomwe| Dear Editor. People who are attacking vice president Constantino Chiwenga have got absolutely no clue what a civilised, trained and loyal soldier this great man is. A real man is one who will never lift a finger against a woman, his own wife and would rather be assaulted by a her and keep his cool throughout, never to be provoked emotionally or otherwise. This is the type of man who he is. Anyone wishing to understand who this great man is, can simply rewind those videos of him last month as Robert Mugabe was refusing to resign. What did Chiwenga do, force Mugabe to strike his pen down? No, not at all. Chiwenga can be seen chilled inside State House in his camouflage uniform and he was even still calling Mugabe, “Shef.” Mugabe only resigned at the end with the help of Kenneth Kaunda and the use of the masses to intimidate him, not the soldiers, not even one. Father Mukonori says Chiwenga was even slapped by Mugabe and did not object. He knows what the constitution says and that is why it was difficult to remove Mugabe and he had to respect the law until and until the old man chooses to bow away. And now see how the general risked his life to save Mnangagwa’s life. Will Chiwenga ever, ever rebel against Mnangagwa? Those who think so I simply fooling themselves. Ndapedza ini!

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Hlongwane Spills The Beans On Police: THERE ARE INVOICES

The former Sport Minister Makhosini Hlongwane, who is alleged to have been a member of Grace Mugabe’s G40 faction, has begun speaking against his arrest.

Hlongwane has questioned the police on his arrest which comes two days before another ZANU PF official Shadreck Mashayamombe’s house was last night raided by suspected party enemies and the police have said the attackers were motivated by political rivalry.

Police have of late saod he was found with 10 tonnes of soya beans.

Hlongwane’s lawyer, Nqobani Sithole has denied that his client was found with 10 tonnes of soya beans. He has said that the arrest was meant to victimise thr man since no charges were preferred.

Hlongwane’s lawyer is quoted by the local Daily News saying, “there were no charges that were preferred against my client. When the police got to his place, they were looking for rice and maize but they couldn’t find either. They instead found beans, which they took.

“There are invoices which we showed the police, which they have, showing the source of the donation.

He also said that contrary to reports, his client gave a witness statement and not a warned and cautioned statement.”

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Drama As 6 Foreigners Go On Hunger Strike In Harare Prison

Six foreigners arrested by the Immigration Department on allegations of staying in the country illegally have gone on a “hunger strike” at the Harare Central Remand Prison demanding their release or to be deported to their respective countries.

Some of them accused immigration officials of demanding bribes to facilitate their release although their cases have not been heard in the courts. The detainees narrated their ordeal to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Deputy Commissioner-General Dr Alford Mashange Dube who yesterday visited them after they were admitted to the prison hospital. He reportedly promised to address their grievances.

“When they (immigration officials) first arrested me, they demanded $5 000 cash so that they would release me. I did not have enough cash since my wife had just passed on. I only had about $1 650 which I offered them and they took it, insisting they would come back for the balance,” said Charles Oforma (47) from Nigeria who used to run a motor spares shop in Harare and has been in remand since 2015.

Ayele Derilo from Ethiopia, who has been in custody for five years, alleged that when he was arrested in Mutare, the officials asked him if he had any cash. Because he did not have any cash, they arrested him, he alleged.- state media

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CHIWENGA SECRET FILES: Will He Succeed Mnangagwa?

His wife is a beauty queen, his troops unseated Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, and his motorcade is fit for a president. General Constantino Chiwenga, head of the armed forces until earlier this month, is on a roll.

On Dec. 15 his 10-vehicle convoy, complete with soldiers toting AK-47 assault rifles, roared into a congress of the ruling ZANU-PF party. It was one of several displays of power by Zimbabwe’s generals since they helped oust Mugabe, the southern African nation’s ruler of 37 years, on Nov. 21.

Ostensibly Chiwenga, 61, is subordinate to the veteran politician who replaced Mugabe as president: Emmerson Mnangagwa, nicknamed the Crocodile. Mnangagwa, 75, was sworn in on Nov. 24 and promised to hold elections in 2018.

But since Mugabe was deposed and Mnangagwa installed, moves by senior military men have suggested the president is the junior partner in an army-dominated administration. Following a month of speculation about his role in Mnangagwa’s government, Chiwenga was named vice president on Dec. 23. He was also appointed defence minister on Dec. 29, so retaining control of the military.

That perception of Mnangagwa’s disempowerment is buttressed by reports seen by Reuters from inside Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). “The generals have tasted power and they are not willing to let it go,” reads one intelligence report, dated Nov. 29. “They want to enjoy the fruits of removing Mugabe from power.”

Another report, from Nov. 22, described the backroom negotiations to form a post-Mugabe government. “Chiwenga is the one going to have final say as power is in his hands. He is now the most feared man in government and party as well as the whole country,” it said.

The documents reviewed by Reuters are the latest instalments in a series of hundreds of intelligence reports the news agency has seen from inside the CIO dating back to 2009. Reuters has not been able to determine their intended audience, but the documents cover every aspect of Zimbabwean political life over the last eight years – Mugabe, the top echelons of his ZANU-PF party, the military, opposition parties and the white business community.

In the dying days of Mugabe’s regime, the CIO – the principal organ of Mugabe’s police state – split into two factions. One served the interests of Mnangagwa, the other those of his main political rival, Grace Mugabe, the president’s 52-year-old wife, according to several Zimbabwean intelligence sources.

Much of the content of the CIO reports has turned out to be correct, including an intelligence finding reported by Reuters in September that the army was backing then vice-president Mnangagwa to take over from Mugabe.

Army spokesman Overson Mugwisi did not respond to requests for comment on behalf of Chiwenga. However, a senior general appointed to Mnangagwa’s post-Mugabe cabinet, Air Force chief Perrance Shiri, said there was nothing wrong in having military men in government.

“Who says military people should never be politicians?” he told reporters at a lunch to celebrate the cabinet’s inauguration on Dec. 4. “I am a Zimbabwean. I’ve got every right to participate in the country’s politics.”

Mnangagwa did not reply to an interview request for this article and his spokesman, George Charamba, did not respond to a request for comment. Mnangagwa’s lawyer, Edwin Manikai, said the president wanted to “work with anybody who adds value to the economy,” in line with the new leader’s stated desire to halt Zimbabwe’s precipitous economic decline under Mugabe.

“DEMOCRATIC CORRECTION”

Mugabe’s removal started with soldiers entering Harare on Nov. 14 and announcing in the early hours of Nov. 15 that they had taken control. Military vehicles took to the streets and gunfire and explosions were heard in parts of the capital. “It is not a military takeover of government,” said General Sibusiso Moyo, reading a statement on TV.

The generals dubbed their project “Operation Restore Legacy.” They called the move a “democratic correction” against a 93-year-old leader whose decisions, they alleged, were being manipulated by an ambitious wife half his age. Reuters was unable to contact Grace Mugabe for comment.

Since his appointment, Mnangagwa has promised to rebuild relations with the West, to protect foreign investors and to hold elections.

“I intend, nay, am required, to serve our country as the president of all citizens, regardless of colour, creed, religion, tribe or political affiliation,” he said after being sworn in. The voice of the people was the “voice of God.”

But for many Zimbabweans, actions speak louder than words.

On Dec. 4, Mnangagwa appointed Shiri, the Air Force chief, to the post of minister of agriculture. Moyo, the general who had announced the military’s intervention, became foreign minister.

“Mnangagwa has got the reins but he cannot operate outside the generals that put him in office,” said Martin Rupiya, a Zimbabwean professor at the University of South Africa in Pretoria and an expert on the Zimbabwe military.

On Dec. 6, Foreign Minister Moyo publicly overruled Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa, a civilian lawyer, as he outlined the financial terms of a Chinese loan for Harare airport.

“You should tell the reporters not to include the terms,” Moyo told Chinamasa, wagging his finger at him and the reporters gathered at the finance ministry for the announcement.

Chinamasa said the incident was the result of a misunderstanding and did not reflect military muscle-flexing. Moyo did not respond to a request for comment.

Ever since a guerrilla war against colonial Britain and white-minority rule in the 1960s and 1970s, Zimbabweans have been used to the army and intelligence services playing a covert role in politics. But to many Zimbabweans, the appointment of military men to the cabinet was a shock.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change reminded the ruling party in a statement on Dec. 18 that “members of the security services are bound by the Constitution not to operate as political activists of any political party.”

Tendai Biti, finance minister in a 2009-2013 unity government, expressed concern at “the obvious militarization” of the Zimbabwean state. “You cannot make a direct transition from the barracks to public office. We believe citizens should have that right to choose their representatives,” he said.

International Crisis Group analyst Piers Pigou said the “deployment of serving senior military officers removes the last pretence of non-military bias in Zimbabwe’s politics. This is vintage wine in a camouflage decanter.”

AMERICA AND CHINA

If there were overt military rule, it could complicate Mnangagwa’s efforts to get Zimbabwe’s economy back on its feet, some Western diplomats say. Since the seizure by the Mugabe regime of thousands of white-owned commercial farms after 2000, Zimbabwe’s GDP has almost halved and the banking system has endured a meltdown that saw inflation top out at 500 billion percent in 2008. To kick-start growth, Mnangagwa will need to clear US$1.8 billion of arrears with multilateral lenders such as the World Bank. He will also have to attract private investors.

“These things don’t happen overnight, and they have to really show they will implement what they say they will do. That is key,” said Christian Beddes, the Zimbabwe representative of the International Monetary Fund.

Britain’s foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, told Reuters on Nov. 29 that Britain could extend a bridging loan to help Zimbabwe clear World Bank and African Development Bank arrears, but such support would depend on “democratic progress.”

U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas avoided the term “coup” to describe Mugabe’s overthrow, referring to it as a “military intervention.” Thomas said Mnangagwa’s administration should be judged by its performance – most notably whether it manages to hold credible elections next year. He was speaking on Dec. 6, two days after the cabinet was sworn in.

China too is an interested party. It has significant investments and loans outstanding in Zimbabwe and long ties to Mugabe, Mnangagwa and Chiwenga.

In early November, after Mugabe had sacked Mnangagwa for plotting against him, Mnangagwa met Chiwenga in China, said two sources familiar with the general’s movements. Chiwenga also met Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan, and the pair even discussed tactics to be used in the coup, according to two sources familiar with the talks. Beijing did not respond to a request for comment. Its Foreign Ministry has previously described Chiwenga’s visit as a “normal military exchange mutually agreed upon by China and Zimbabwe.”

Speaking at a signing ceremony for the Harare airport loan in December, Chinese ambassador Huang Ping said China’s government would “continue to support the Zimbabwean government in their economic development.”

GOLFING GENERAL

For Chiwenga, quitting as armed forces chief on Dec. 18 was the first time he had stepped out of uniform in more than four decades.

An ethnic Karanga like Mnangagwa, Chiwenga joined Mugabe’s Chinese-backed ZANLA guerrilla army in the early 1970s. He received his training in Mozambique, where he learnt Portuguese, as well as in Tanzania and China. As part of Mugabe’s close-protection unit in Mozambique, Chiwenga had regular exposure to Zimbabwe’s fiercely intellectual future leader, from whom the soldier acquired a respect for education and a keen nose for politics, according to a senior regional intelligence source who knows Chiwenga.

After independence in 1980, Chiwenga managed to thrive in the dangerous world of Zimbabwe’s security forces.

According to a 2014 domestic media report of his divorce settlement with his first wife, Jocelyn, he owned, among other things, properties in Harare’s exclusive Borrowdale Brooke neighbourhood, an apartment in Malaysia, a safari company, a fleet of luxury vehicles and a jewellery collection that included 40 gold watches, 45 sets of diamond earrings and a tiara. Chjiwenga has not commented on the report, which Reuters was unable to verify independently, and an army spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Asked about the report, Chiwenga’s ex-wife Jocelyn said, “You seem to have all the information already so what more do you want?”

Chiwenga’s name has been linked to several of the darkest chapters of Zimbabwe’s history. In 2003 he, Mnangagwa and Mugabe were among 77 Zimbabweans sanctioned by the United States for allegedly undermining “democratic processes” and causing “politically motivated violence” in elections the previous year. Mugabe’s administration denied committing human rights violations and rejected the sanctions as an example of international bias against his rule.

Chiwenga was also a senior figure in the western region of Matabeleland in 1983 during the so-called Gukurahundi massacres, in which the army’s North Korean-trained 5 Brigade cracked down on supporters of Mugabe’s liberation war era rival, Joshua Nkomo. An estimated 20,000 ethnic Ndebele, including women and children, were killed. Chiwenga was not directly involved, but as commander of 1 Brigade in the city of Bulawayo, he provided “logistical support” to the operation, according to the 2017 book Kingdom, Power, Glory by Australian researcher Stuart Doran that draws on recently declassified diplomatic and defence archives. Shiri, now minister of land and agriculture, was 5 Brigade’s commander at the time; Mnangagwa was minister of state security.

In a 2016 interview with Britain’s New Statesman magazine, Mnangagwa dismissed allegations he was a Gukurahundi “enforcer,” saying these were smears peddled by political opponents. An army spokesman did not respond to a request for comment by Chiwenga or Shiri about their role in Gukurahundi. As career military officers, they have rarely given interviews and are not known to have commented on the massacres.

Chiwenga was head of the army in 2008 when troops removed thousands of artisanal miners from the Chiadzwa diamond fields in the eastern district of Marange. Before the army moved in, Marange had been open to small-scale local operators. According to Human Rights Watch, at least 200 people were killed, and the army then went on to use forced child labour and torture in running the fields for its own benefit. An army spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

In Mnangagwa, most of whose career has also been spent in security or intelligence, Chiwenga has a formidable rival. But – at 14 years Mnangagwa’s junior – Chiwenga has time to play the long game for himself and his comrades in arms.

“The generals want Mnangagwa to run for one or two terms before handing over to Chiwenga,” the Nov. 29 intelligence report reads. “They want Chiwenga to be in power for two terms before handing over to the next general to be announced.”

(Reporting by Ed Cropley; Additional reporting by Emelia Sithole and Alfonce Mbizwo in Harare and Joe Bavier in Abidjan; editing by Janet McBride, Sara Ledwith and Richard Woods)- channelnews

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More Trouble As Mutare Probes Musindo

The Mutare City Council has widened its probe into alleged illegal land deals involving self-styled Zanu PF cleric and Destiny for Africa Network (DaNet) director, Obadiah Musindo.

This came after council auditors noticed that some stands allocated to Musindo were not recorded in its books, amid fears the stands could not have been paid for.

The issue generated heated debate during a full council meeting on Friday after acting city engineer Richard Simbi struggled to explain the alleged discrepancy.

“They paid for some stands, but as to what the audit has detected I do not know what happened to the other portion of the stands and I will have to look into the matter,” he said.

Town clerk Joshua Maligwa also raised a red flag over the matter, demanding accountability.

Contacted for comment, Musindo said: “I challenge them to engage the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to look into the allocation of stands to DaNet because I know all my papers are above board,” he said.- Newsday

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Thabitha Khumalo Says She Hasn’t Ceded Her Seat to David Coltart

By Paul Nyathi | MDC-T legislator for Bulawayo East Constituency Thabitha Khumalo has dismissed public statements from the Welshman Ncube led MDC that David Coltart has been given an unchallenged opportunity to contest next year’s general elections in the constituency for the MDC Alliance coalition.

In an interview, Khumalo says that she is not aware of the arrangement as her party’s National Council and National Executive have not set to deliberate on the allocation of constituencies to coalition partners.

The Welshman Ncube led MDC through Secretary General Miriam Mushayi this week circulated a notice inviting party members to send applications to stand as candidates in supposedly 31 of the 32 constituencies seconded to the party in the MDC Alliance coalition.

The notice declared that Bulawayo East Constituency was not available for consideration as it has been confirmed reserved for Senator Coltart. Reasons for reserving the seat to Coltart unchallenged were not given.

In her statement Thabitha Khumalo says that she is not in a position to comment on matters arising within the Ncube led MDC but can only speak on behalf of the MDC-T.

“I don’t know where the MDC is getting that information and I can not comment on it but can only say that as Deputy Speaker of the Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC we have not met nor made any declarations on the allocation of seats,” she said.

A top Ncube led MDC official who spoke to ZimEye.com on condition of anonymity said that Thabitha Khumalo is “being unreasonable” as she volunteered the seat to Coltart.

“I don’t believe this,” said the official.

“Thabitha is just being unreasonable, she volunteered the seat to Coltart without invitation to do so and its confusing how she now claims not to be aware of the arrangement,” said the official.

According to the official the Bulawayo East Constituency was set to be for the MDC-T in the arrangement but had to be swapped with Bulilima East to give Coltart the seat after Thabitha Khumalo volunteered the seat.

Khumalo narrowly defeated Coltart by 37 votes in the 2013 elections to land the seat.

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MDC Hawks Push Tsvangirai Out

Top MDC-T hawks have reportedly scaled up the campaign for an extraordinary congress in February next year to force party leader Morgan Tsvangirai to step down on health grounds and allow the opposition party to choose a successor ahead of the upcoming general elections.

The campaign, being conducted clandestinely through social media platforms, has allegedly identified the party’s deputy president Nelson Chamisa and secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, as front runners for Tsvangirai’s post.

Although the pair has denied allegations of angling to take over the MDC-T leadership, well-placed sources confirmed that the fights turned murkier recently as Tsvangirai was spending most of his time undergoing cancer treatment in South Africa.

According to a letter circulating on social media directed to the party’s national council, Mwonzora stands accused of mobilising for the special congress to engineer Tsvangirai’s fall.

The letter – #Mwonzoramustfall – also accuses the MDC-T secretary-general of being rebellious and secretly working with Zanu PF to undermine the MDC Alliance and Tsvangirai’s leadership.

The letter accused Mwonzora of featuring on a South African radio talkshow to call for an extraordinary congress to remove Tsvangirai as party leader.

“Douglas Mwonzora is a proxy of the Zanu PF military-backed Lacoste faction and he intends to weaken president Tsvangirai by calling him to step down, attacking the alliance agreement and making sure president Tsvangirai loses 2018 elections,” the letter read.

The contents of the letter were widely circulated after Mwonzora last week went public suggesting that the MDC-T should by-pass the MDC Alliance and field its own parliamentary and local government candidates in all contested seats across the country. He argued that the MDC Alliance was taking long to conclude negotiations on sharing of seats.

The remarks angered Tsvangirai, who immediately chastised his lieutenant for jumping the gun and overstepping his duties. It is understood that some MDC-T hawks then reportedly capitalised on the rift between Tsvangirai and Mwonzora and embarked on a campaign to have the former Nyanga North MP axed from the party, a move that would leave Chamisa unchallenged in the race to succeed Tsvangirai.

“The manifestation of a rebellious expedition by SG Douglas Mwonzora in the media shouldn’t go unchallenged. Actually, the surprising rebellion requires an appropriate response it deserves,” part of the letter circulating on social media reads.

Contacted for comment early this week, Mwonzora denied the existence of camps in the party and referred questions to Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka or party spokesperson Obert Gutu before dismissing the letter as a smear campaign by his detractors.

“It is just a smear campaign. I refer you to the presidential or party spokesperson. It is blatantly false and everyone in the party knows it,” Mwonzora said, before he took to social media to “set the record straight” and pledge his loyalty to Tsvangirai.

“I have full respect for him (Tsvangirai) and will do my best to make sure that he is successful. Some members have been deliberately twisting what I have said in interviews. They have deliberately bastardised my statements. Fortunately, all my interviews have been recorded and I have the recordings.”

Gutu declined to comment over the matter, saying he was out of the country.

“I am just seeing that statement circulating on social media. I don’t know about its source and/or authenticity. I kindly suggest that you check with SG,” Gutu said.

Efforts to contact Chamisa, who was understood to be in his rural home, were fruitless yesterday as he had not responded to questions sent to his mobile phone by the time of going to Press.

Tamborinyoka, who some sources claimed was in Chamisa’s camp, dismissed the allegations as a fallacy.

“I don’t want to dignify hogwash. I speak on behalf of the president and he has already spoken on the issue. I have worked with both Chamisa and Mwonzora, there are no camps in the MDC-T,” Tamborinyoka said.

“I suspect where this is coming from. Some of these characters soil their names through their own reckless and misguided statements. They should not use my name to clean their self-inflicted mess. My name is not toilet paper.”- Newsday

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Diasporan Crushed By Moving Train After Drinking Binge

An injiva from Tsholotsho died after he was run over by a train during a drinking binge with friends in Sawmills, Matabeleland North.

 Nkululeko Moyo (36) of Njibalala Line in Sipepa area died a few days after he had arrived home from South Africa to spend the festive holiday with his family.

Moyo was with his two friends, Mr Nkululeko Nyathi (37) of Rita Phiri’s homestead and Goodwill Sibanda (36) of Magwaza Line, Sawmills when the incident occurred on December 24.

The three, who were on a drinking spree, were moving around at night in Sibanda’s vehicle and upon arrival at Sawmills Business Centre, they decided to stop there for more drinks.
At around 2AM, the now deceased told his friends that he was going somewhere and he would return shortly.

After about an hour, his friends looked around for him and when they couldn’t find him, they decided to go home and retired to bed assuming that Moyo would find his way back home.
Moyo’s head, among other body parts, was crushed, indicating that he was run-over by a train.

It is suspected that he had been hit by the passenger train that had gone past the railway line during the night.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm we received a report of sudden death of a man who was run over by a train.
“We warn members of the public to be always careful when near railway lines. People should never play near the rail line, in fact never drink beer near those areas lest they get drunk and do not hear an approaching train,” she said.

Moyo’s body was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for post mortem. – state media

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Shock As Teen Kills Self After Drinking Spree

A 17 year old boy from Tsholotsho allegedly committed suicide following a drinking spree with a friend.

 Ndundu Nkomo of Mapane line, Skente area under chief Gampu allegedly hanged himself sometime between 6AM and 10AM on Boxing Day.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the sudden death report and said investigations were underway.

“I can confirm receiving a report of sudden death by hanging involving a 17-year-old.

“It is alleged the young man took his life after binge drinking with his friend. Reasons for the incident are not yet known.

“We encourage people to engage third parties when they are having problems in life rather than to resort to suicide.

“A problem shared is a problem solved. Engaging family, the police and church can lead to better results and solutions when in times of trouble,” she said.

The now deceased’s younger brother aged 15 allegedly discovered the body that was hanging from the roof of their grandfather’s bedroom hut.

A source who preferred anonymity said the now deceased left home at around 4PM in the company of his 16-year-old friend.

They allegedly went to Mapane Business Centre where they started drinking beer.

“They were seen drinking whiskey which they diluted with mineral water.

“The two parted ways at around 12 midnight with each proceeding to their respective homesteads.

“The following morning his younger brother discovered the body hanging in their grandfather’s bedroom hut,” said the source.

The juvenile’s parents are both based in South Africa.- state media

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Brothers Arrested For illegally Owning Guns

Two brothers, one of them based in Botswana, have appeared in court for illegally possessing a firearm and four rounds of ammunition.

 Sikhululo Ncube (50) and Linos Ncube (40) of Mzila village in Mphoengs were not asked to plead to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition when they appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Mr Joshua Mawere.

They were both remanded out of custody to January 4 on $200 bail each.

The state had opposed bail arguing that the two brothers were facing a serious offence and were likely to abscond before the firearm had been returned from forensic investigations to ascertain if any crimes had been committed in the country using it.

The two indicated that they were pleading guilty to the offence.

“I admit being in possession of the firearm and ammunition. I had taken them from my young brother Linos and buried them in the river bed,” said               Sikhululo.

Linos said: “I am the one who picked up the firearm in a pit in Gaborone in Botswana and brought it home. After I told my brother about it, he came and took it away.

“We are the ones who went and advised the police about the firearm leading to our arrest.”

Prosecutor, Mrs Rose Sibanda said on Christmas Day, police officers who were manning Tshitshi police base received information that the two brothers were in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

They made a follow up and managed to locate Linos who admitted that they had the gun and it was in Sikhululo’s possession.

The police together with Linos went to Sikhululo’s house and the firearm, a Z88 pistol with serial number TQ097483, was recovered from the field wrapped in a newspaper.

Four rounds of ammunition which were in a container were recovered in the house leading to the pair’s arrest.- state media

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EXPOSED: Moyo Politicising US$144million China Water Loan.

PRESS STATEMENT: The Residents Forum notes with concern the recent utterances on US$144million loan from China by Minister of Local Government July Moyo. The loan was secured during the time of inclusive Government.

Part of the money was abused by City Council Management who bought themselves vehicles and this was part of the reason for the sacking of former Town Clerk Tendai Mahachi. The Audit Report dated 10 June to 10 July 2013 which was commissioned by councillors and presided over by the deceased Deputy Mayor Clr Thomas Muzuva showed evidence of corruption on construction of 3 warehouses. The law provides that all tenders/procurement for Local authorities above $500 000 are done by the State Procurement Board whose Chief Executive officer ‘committed suicide’ early this year.

The $144 million loan was signed by central government through the Ministry of Finance .

The Central government has been riding on absence of the implementation of devolution, direct administration of the loan using their proxy Town Clerk . That is why Local Authorities are not given green light to choose who becomes a Town Clerk. The China loan was administered through an offshore account as agreed by Finance Ministry.

It is misleading from part of the Minister to expect clean water improvement in 2017 from City of Harare based on a 2012 loan which part of the money was abused. It is on record that the loan was signed and agreed when Council had been dissolved pending the 2013 elections.

Currently City of Harare is being owed over $700million and large sum of that money is from government, parastatals and residents who are failing to owner their bills due to economic hardships.

With improved economic recovery, payment for services is guaranteed and instead of addressing the fundamental economic question, government cancelled debts on rates and further cripple Local authorities revenue base. No cancellation has been backed by any budget allocation.

For over a decade now government is failing to remit 5% of its annual budget to Harare City Council. Instead of upholding constitutional provisions which include giving City of Harare its share as specified in Section 301(3) of the Constitution, Hon P Chinamasa in his 2018 budget statement said devolution is costly. He proposed amending the Constitution so as to further complicate issues of service delivery.

The current national administration should not expect councils to deliver when the powers of their operations and constitutional budget allocations are withheld.

As Residents Forum we view the current water crisis as the manifestation of three governance and economic justice questions:

1.Policy inconsistency and disregard of constitutional provisions- President Mnangagwa promised that a left turn will definitely be a left turn when he assumed power and the military which was the electoral college then used the Constitution of Zimbabwe as the hallmark of its operation. Can that be demonstrated on operations of Local Authorities, that is a multi million dollar question?.

2.The site of Harare is such that it has been built upstream of its water source. The wetlands preservation story is a priority for addressing water woes. What can government do to AVOID LONG CHEN PLAZAS IN HARARE?. When central government saw frogs on Long Chen Plaza, residents saw good quality water provisioning, flood attenuation services, reduced water purification costs on WETLANDS. Why is EMA crippled on preserving wetlands and why has the Harare Wetlands Map taken decades and decades at the Attorney General’s Office.

3. Economic recovery, forex availability and cash crisis. A sustainable debt management policy should be anchored on a strong economy offering jobs that ensure citizens pay for municipal services. If not, the $700 million owed to City of Harare can stretch into billions. Water Chemicals are imported and if forex cannot be availed to local authorities as we are currently witnessing we will revert back to 2007/8 cholera. Never be fooled, the 2007/8 cholera was triggered by former RBZ Governor Gideon Gono’s bearer cheques and it will be fuelled again by Governor Mangudya’s bond notes. The situation was stabilized by a multi-currency system emanating from a 2009.

Wayfoward

Give City of Harare its allocation, align laws and allow devolution of power and resources as starting points for claimed “POLICY CONSISTENCY” by President ED Mnangagwa.

Lastly we call upon City of Harare to be proactive and advise residents in advance of water and other challenges than to be reactive .

The recent statement from Minister of Healthy who said 95% of the current borehole water is contaminated it means the City and the Country are seating on a time bomb which need urgent attention of all stakeholders who should all play its part to improve quality of water and other social services

Resident Forum

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BREAKING NEWS – MP Mashayamombe’s House Raided By Suspected ZANU PF Militants, Brother Brutally Bashed, Ear Bleeding

By Simba Chikanza| Harare South MP Shadreck Mashayamombe’s house has been stormed into by suspected ZANU PF militants who assaulted his brother leaving him bleeding profusely. (SEE PICTURES).

The MP’s cousin was also assaulted.

The incident happened last night at 10pm and “the police arrived (5 hours later) at 3am Saturday),” Hon. Mashamombe told ZimEye.com

He told ZimEye after their arrival, the police said they suspect that the assailants were motivated by politics.

Hon. Mashayamombe has been accused of being a member of the G40 faction. But questioned on this he told ZimEye he has never been a G40 member. He said during the Robert Mugabe days like everyone else he was just a supporter of the President. “We used to support the President, simple”, he said.

He also said this is the second time he has been attacked. (FULL INTERVIEW to be streamed on ZimEye.com at 2pm).

– More to follow…

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Chombo Must be Wishing He Was Joram Gumbo

Dear Editor,

Jailed former Minister Ignatius Chombo must be wishing that he had been Joram Gumbo. Not that I condone what Chombo has done to ruin Zimbabwe. He deserves what is happening to him. Anyone corrupt must be dealt with according to the law, and anyone suspected of corruption must be investigated accordingly.

While Comrade Mnangagwa has vowed to deal with corruption, the only trouble we have with him is that he seems to be selectively punishing the thieves, targeting those with links to the former First Lady Grace Mugabe, while turning a blind eye to corrupt activities by members of the Lacoste faction within Zanu PF.

Joram Gumbo reportedly ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) board to approve the awarding of a 28 million euro (US$33,3 million) tender to Indra Sistemas and Homt Espana SA for the finance, supply and installation of an airspace management system without going to tender, but he is one of the ministers Mnangagwa chooses to take with him to South Africa on his official visit to that country. The report about Gumbo ordering the Civic Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe to award a project without going to tender warrants that Gumbo be arrested. Knowing as we do, an arrested person is innocent until proven guilty, so there wasn’t anything amiss for Mnangagwa to order the arrest of Gumbo who then had to prove himself innocent in a court of law.

Joram Gumbo was one of Comrade Mnangagwa’s favorites as evident from his being part of the President’s first trip out of the country as head of state. He is one of the untouchables. So how will Comrade Mnangagwa end corruption when he turns a blind to it when it involves members of his Lacoste fanction?

It seems Comrade Mnangagwa is doing the same thing as his mentor Mugabe.

Zimbabweans must reject this and vote Zanu PF out in the next elections.

Kennedy Kaitano

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How Mliswa “Created” Mnangagwa Presidency 15 Months Before Chiwenga Moved In

By Staff Reporter| Beyond the military generals, very little is talked about other people who played an important role in creating a Mnangagwa Presidency. Today we look at the Norton MP Temba Mliswa.

Mliswa, who is said to be also related to the President, 15 months before the Operation Restore Legacy was launched flew to the European Union and was the first to fight while publicly voicing that the western nations must begin to deal with Emmerson Mnangagwa as Robert Mugabe’s automatic successor. Mliswa said these things at a time when it was deemed treason to voice such openly.

The impact of those declarations caused Brussels to begin shifting its attention from MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai to Mnangagwa. Since that visit, EU MPs have closely followed after Mnangagwa.

The date was the 29th June 2016 and Mliswa spoke to ZimEye.com outside the parliament stating to avoid war, this was the best option for Zimbabwe saying ZANU PF can use their constitution to remove Mugabe from power. SEE VIDEO –

https://youtu.be/l0arrUlA7OU

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Chiwenga Must Resign, Writes Mbira

 Zimbabwe and democracy must be rescued from the barracks

By Farai Mbira| General Chiwenga’s recent dual appointment as Vice President and Defence Minister is worrisome to any free world, let alone abused citizens of Zimbabwe. This is just that and nothing personal. There is growing fear among the people that Munhumutapa building is turning into a military barrack. We are worried. Democracy must be rescued from the barracks at once. We need a clear separation of government and military institutions.
General Chiwenga must understand that while it is his constitutional right to pursue politics, the current situation is so delicate that he must consider implications.  We remain concerned that General Chiwenga remains, after the coup, in charge of the military as well as being Vice President. This creates serious threats and risks that cannot be ignored. General Chiwenga is an accomplished freedom fighter and disciplined soldier. His contribution as a liberation hero is well intact but now he must consider national interests above his personal ambitions.
It’s not that he cannot do the job, but that he will do so to promote his political ambitions at the expense of national interest. As we said before, these political positions he is holding are not based on the expressed will of the people but more on his military power. In democracy this should never be accepted; political power must be derived from the expressed will of the governed. Once we turn blind eyes to such we condemn ourselves to a new dictatorship. No matter how good the man is, the risk is too high and remedial costs unaffordable. We gave Mugabe blind loyalty and have already paid more than enough.
In my Christmas message to Zimbabwe and the Mnangagwa administration I pledged support were due and condemnation where necessary. Zimbabweans United for Democracy (ZUNDE) is ready to usher a new dispensation which values political corporation rather than meaningless antagonism. Opposition party does not mean opposing everything and anything done by government but more, offering alternatives and better solutions to national challenges. The government and the opposition must recognise each other and work together to produce the best outcome for the people.
ZUNDE wishes to applaud the police for the pledging to change and the progress so far. The pledge to restrict traffic management to the Traffic Section is welcome. This is commendable as the Chihuri traffic enforcement had been turned into a money collecting agency. The police should be more concerned with safety, law enforcement and crime prevention than protecting Zanu PF and harassing the opposition and road users.
The next challenge to the police is to stand professional and true to the constitution saluting the government of the day. The police should stay out of partisan politics. They should recruit based on merit and stop using Zanu PF offices as recruitment agencies. The police force must reflect the national demography. As opposition parties we must never be caused to fear the police but must always feel safe with them. The police must allow political parties to do their work without undue harassment from the police.
The argument for Operation Restore Legacy was that some criminals had captured the President. Equally concerning and deserving the same reaction is the case of some soldiers having captured the President! The President must be left to the guidance of the constitution to serve every citizen. No one or single section of society must be left to capture the President! Our government must never be taken to the barracks!
The military must understand that they are a creation of politics and that they serve the political leaders of the day. They must understand that we have come a long way spoiled by military abuse. Our political leaders must be chosen by the people and this is where we come in. ZUNDE is against the resort to loopholes and backdoor channels to Office of The President other than those provided by the constitution.
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Mnangagwa Runs No Twitter, Facebook Account?

By Paul Nyathi| Government says that President Emerson Mnangagwa and his wife do not run any social media accounts.

In a statement yesterday, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services secretary George Charamba urged the public to remain watchful of such accounts, presented as official communication channels belonging to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his family.

“The ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services wishes to advise members of the public that public communication involving the first family is conducted through official channels only,” Charamba said.

“This advisory comes against reports of rampant abuse of social media platforms by some criminal elements who have opened social media platforms in the name of the first family without their blessing and who are using the same accounts to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.”

Charamba’s statement comes in the back of questions on the authenticity of a Twitter account running under the President’s name, which takes swipe at people with opposing views to the President and his government.

Charamba said such accounts should be reported to the police.

He warned perpetrators that they would soon face the music for their misdeeds.

“Any communication ascribed to the first family riding on social media platforms, but which are outside the official channels should be treated with caution and, in any case, cross-checked with the ministry or office of the president and cabinet,” he said.

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Chungwa Dumps Makepekepe, Signs Contract with Polokwane City

Terrence Mawawa| Caps United star striker, Dominic Chungwa has left the Harare Giants to join ABSA Premiership side Polokwane City.

Polokwane City have signed the highly-rated striker on a three-year contract from the Green Machine.

According to Kickoff.com, the 2017 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League golden boot winner started training with City on Thursday after he arrived in South Africa on Wednesday.

The website also revealed that the club is working tirelessly to register Chungwa in time for their crunch league match against Mamelodi Sundowns next Saturday.

The former Green Machine player joins striker Walter Musona and goalkeeper George Chigova at the Limpopo based side.

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Welshman Ncube Takes Mnangagwa to Court Over Mphoko Pension

By Paul Nyathi | The leader of the opposition MDC Professor Welshman Ncube is representing former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko in court to push government to pay Mphoko a hefty exit package after being removed from the V P position in November.

Mphoko is reportedly taking government to court demanding that he be accorded a pension and exit package of a Vice President as stipulated in the constitution.

Section 102 of the constitution stipulates that a former President or former Vice President is entitled to a pension equivalent to the salary and benefits of the seating President or Vice President.

Mphoko’s demands come after President Emmerson Mnangagwa revealed a huge exit package for former President Robert Mugabe which left many people shocked.

Ncube confirmed to the state media that he is the legal representative of the beleaguered former Vice President.

The MDC-T, a coalition partner to Ncube in the MDC Alliance strongly condemned Mnangagwa for giving Mugabe the hefty exit package.

Ncube is the spokesperson of the Alliance.

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Gen Chiwenga Could Emerge SADC’s Most Feared General

By Farai D Hove| Gen Constantino Chiwenga could emerge SADC’s Paul Kagame, observers said yesterday.

Even MDC Spokesman Obert Gutu wrote out saying “Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga is now the new Minister of Defence,over and above being the Vice President of Zimbabwe. He who owns the piper calls the tune. Res ipsa loquitur… The facts speak for themselves.”

News readers on Friday morning reacted to the just ended swearing in ceremony of VPs claiming that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has given Gen. Constantino Chiwenga too much power by appointing him not only Vice President but also Defence Minister and furthermore War Veterans Minister.

One Emmanuel Chinyama said of Mnangagwa seeing the just ended coup, “all he needs to consolidate power at all cost but this time it will not work, trust me.”

Similar fears were also sounded by a Mnangagwa family member. “What you don’t know is that right now the real President running the show is Chiwenga,” a Mnangagwa nephew who refused to be named told ZimEye.com

Another contributor, Obrian Kavhuru said, “Mnangagwa is not in control, period.”

– REACTIONS:

Meanwhile, it was recalled that Gen Chiwenga during the war, occupied the expelled Saviour Kasukuwere’s powerful post of Party Commissar and Mnangagwa has in recent days even publicly referred Chiwenga as such, a position that has been the pivot of all ZANU PF squabbles since independence and that has seen the sudden death of many commissars.

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Murwira Speaks On Economy Research

Institutions of higher and tertiary education must focus on offering programmes that respond to the economy and contribute towards its revival through research, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira has said.

In his candid meeting with State universities’ vice chancellors in Harare yesterday, Prof Murwira said to achieve this, the ministry would establish innovation hubs at six State universities, which will steer science and innovation. He said the innovation hubs were part of 13 projects his ministry would focus on in the next 100 days.

“The vision of the ministry is to contribute immensely and expeditiously towards the turnaround of the economy in the shortest possible time. The ministry’s new economic trajectory should be based on the research culture, which must be inculcated and nurtured in all the universities which you are in charge of,” Prof Murwira told the vice chancellors.

These 100-day projects include conducting a skills audit meant to inform policy makers on current and future skills required for the science and technology sector, advances in technologies for critical sectors such as mining, agriculture, land use, wildlife management, water and minerals.

The plan also seeks to capacitate teachers in science teaching, promote good governance in Government and parastatals, increase absorption rate of Ordinary and Advanced level students in State universities, while addressing urgent infrastructure gap to match the increasing number of students enrolled.

Prof Murwira said his ministry would develop master plans for three more State universities in Marondera, Gwanda and Manicaland and also develop a national qualification framework that facilitated progression from basic school level education to higher education. He said all these programmes should be designed to answer challenges facing the economy, in particular and the country at large.

“This programmatic approach is aimed at developing specific areas of our economy using SMART (Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Results), and time framed for quick wins. This programmatic approach will guide all our operations. It will not be business as usual,” said Prof Murwira.

Prof Murwira said his ministry would be ready to support any research and teaching programme that had national impact covering all sectors of the economy. He challenged the universities to embrace indigenous knowledge systems in their researches to solve current challenges.

Speaking during the same meeting, University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura welcomed the 100-day plan, which is largely drawn from President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration speech. He said it fitted well into work they had already began as local universities to complement each other in higher and tertiary education. Prof Nyagura said local universities should make meaningful contribution to the country’s economy.

“We took a leaf from two universities we visited in Singapore where university students are producing spare parts for vehicles and we said, but we can also do this,” he said.

“So, this is what our taskforce, which is made up of all vice chancellors, is looking forward to achieve as we contribute to economic development.”

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Solve Currency Chaos To Arrest Price Hikes

Zimbabwe’s price increase puzzle will remain unresolved until government restores normalcy on the currency market that has multiple exchange rates and addresses the dollar note shortage, experts say.

The prices of basic commodities have been rising in the southern African country over the past six months as shortages of hard currency deepened.

Zimbabwe replaced its worthless dollar with mainly the U.S. dollar in 2009 but the economy has struggled over the last 24 months because of a massive domestic shortage of greenbacks.

In response to the crisis, last year Zimbabwe launched a surrogate currency, paper ‘bond notes,’ or ‘bollars’ which designed to ease acute shortages of hard currency backed by a $200 million loan from the African Export Import Bank.

The government’s voracious appetite for cash under former president Robert Mugabe – with no filip in either aid, credit or Foreign Direct Investment — also saw the central bank creating dollar surrogates in the electronic banking system on a far grander scale by extended use of Treasury Bills and the real time gross settlement (RTGS) system.

This money lacks the backing of sufficient currency reserves or gold – the prerequisite of any stable unit, with economists nicknaming the electronic dollars, “zollars.”

With little room to maneuver, the new administration of Emmerson Mnangagwa has pinned its hopes on achieving legitimacy at next year’s elections, which along with sharp reforms, will attract foreign credit and improved FDI inflows to solving the currency puzzle.

Meanwhile Zimbabwe’s use of USD, bollars (bond notes), zollars (RTGS), mobile money transfers has resulted in exchange rate disparities in the parallel market, the remaining source of hard currency. The greenback attracts a premium of 75 percent on the market.

Prices of food products as well as appliances rose by over 300 percent since September, with meats and bakery products causing a public outcry.

When he presented his state of the nation address last Wednesday, President Mnangagwa said price increases “raise the appeal of cheaper imports ,which has the effect of undermining current efforts to develop the local industry.”

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Sifelani Jabangwe says that meats price increase was driven by avian influenza.

Zimbabwe poultry industry was negatively affected by an avian influenza outbreak in the middle of the year causing low production of meat and eggs in the country.

“The other prices that were incurred were in the poultry and eggs due to the avian flu,” Jabangwe said.

However, due to demand, red meat has attracted higher prices.

The country also rely heavily on imports due to undercapitalised local manufacturers which import raw materials.

“Too many factors have caused the prices increases but l will focus on the main one which is the issue of foreign currency shortages; where manufacturers and suppliers buy foreign currency from the black market. lt is not a sustainable model; the foreign currency must be acquired through formal channels,” Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Denford Mutashu.

Importing require local firms to be well oiled with foreign currency and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe allocated $600 million in October under nostro stabilisation to cushion procurement of critical raw materials by manufacturers.

Local manufactures cannot meet the country’s demand, though government have introduced some measures like statutory instrument SI 122 of 2017 to restrict importation of finished products.

However local retailers have foreign products with some having three tier prices.

The Zimbabwean bond notes and mobile dollar are valued differently in the black market and products also have different prices with mobile dollar being unfavourable. Retailers favour cash which enables them to import their stock.

The economic experts say that the availability of forex will lower the commodity prices.

“We do not see the prices increasing but we see them stabilising for now if the $1,5 billion (African Export-Import Bank loan) comes in. The currency will have the correct rate being allocated and also by March when the auction floors open will have more flows coming,” said Jabangwe.

The southern African nation earn forex from tobacco and minerals exports. Tobacco exports stood at $898,9 million as at December 13 and the next auction floors are expected to be opened between February and March next year.

“We also need to agree that we do not arrest the forex dealers but what we do is addressing the fundamentals by making sure we try to stabilise our nostro accounts. We must commission that land audit president Emmerson Mnangagwa have spoken about in his inauguration. It has to be facilitated otherwise the country will continue facing inflationary challenges because output from farming is especially very low,” said Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce chief executive Christopher Mugaga.

In his inauguration speech, Mnangagwa said that farmers whose land was taken lawfully would be compensated.

Analysts also say that commodity prices are expected to drop after the festive season.

“In any case we expect prices to tumble especially after the 25th of December we expect prices to come down and we also expect that there is going to be stabilisation after the coming down of those prices because demand obviously will go down after the christmas activity,” Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Denford Mutashu.

Mutashu also said that the tumbling rate in the parallel market will reduce the forex demand with manufacturers closing for the holiday.

However, analysts say that the continuous price increases might increase fuel prices.

“My greatest fear at which both shortages and prices increases are happening, in the next two months will face a dilemma of either increasing the fuel prices or they will be shortages of fuel in this market,” said Mugaga.

So far fuel prices have remained stable.

According to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, low-income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six increased from the end-October figure of $593,55 to $598,16 by end of November, which shows a 0,72 percent. (additional reporting by Yeukai Musara and Almot Maqolo)- The Source

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Museveni’s Uganda And Mugabe’s Fall

 Andrew Mwenda | The fall of President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has been welcomed by many Ugandans with excitement. For many people tired of President Yoweri Museveni’s long rule, Mugabe’s fall gives hope that their nightmare is about to end. That a long serving president who had ruled his country like a colossus can fall from power must be encouraging to many anti Museveni Ugandans and worrisome to Museveni’s supporters.

Yet Mugabe fell not because he ruled for long but because of what I would call “family overreach.” Contrary to the sentiments of many Ugandans, those who have taken power in Zimbabwe – the army and most likely with former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa behind it – have not raised Mugabe’s longevity as an issue. Instead the attempts to purge ZANU-PF of its “historicals” precipitated the military intervention.

Thus Mugabe has been sidelined (I am avoiding using overthrown) because his wife was wrecking the foundation on which her husband’s power rested i.e. the old guard of ZANU-PF in both the political and military sphere. Indeed Mugabe has not been overthrown by the army. He had already been overthrown by Mrs Grace Mugabe.

The old man had been reduced to acting merely in the interests of his wife rather than the interests of the political and military structure that was a repository of his power. This is a coup against Grace, not Robert. In sidelining Mugabe, the political and military structure of ZANU-PF has reasserted its power.

Mrs Grace Mugabe has been ambitious, brass, reckless and arrogant. Yet she knew little about the dynamics of power. Like most people, she thought power in Zimbabwe resided in Mugabe. She did not appreciate that Mugabe, like any other leader in the world, cannot hold power singly.

Leaders act as representatives or faces of power. Their personality compliments and reinforces that power but it is never the foundation of it.

Once the structural foundation on which that power rests shifts, the face of that power loses it. Leaders wield power by making a series of bargains with the most powerful social forces in their societies.

An effective leader is not the absolute ruler who decides singly on the destiny of a nation (as western media and academic propaganda on personal rule in non western societies posits) but one who is a good referee to the competitions among powerful interests.

That is the source of Museveni’s or Vladmir Putin’s power, not their personalities. Personality does not create power, it buttresses it.

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ARMY IN: 2017 Year Of The Crocodile

Nelson Chenga |For the Chinese, whose influence on Zimbabwean society, politics and economy is by no means insignificant, 2017 was the Year of the Rooster. For many Zimbabweans, the rooster has long signified long-serving ruler, Robert Mugabe.

For eleven months, 2017 looked set to be the Year of the Rooster as well, with ominous signs 2018 could be the Year of the skittish Hen. All this changed dramatically when the rooster was supplanted by the crocodile. In a turn of events as swift as the giant reptile swoops on its prey, 2017 ends as the Year of the Crocodile. The year had begun well for the now deposed Mugabe. For the first time in years, the morbid annual rumour of his death did not rear its head as he holidayed into 2017. As usual, February, brought a big party to mark Mugabe’s 93rd birthday.

“It’s not always easy to predict that, although you are alive this year, you will be alive next year,” a reflective Mugabe told supporters attending his birthday rally in Matobo on February 25. The veteran politician, who also frequently declared that only God would remove him from his position, could also never have predicted that he would be deposed by his allies nine months later.

At Matobo, as had become a recurring theme at his rallies amid growing internal party dissent over his extended rule, Mugabe had even taunted those pushing to succeed him. “Some in their little groups are saying ‘Mugabe must go’. Where must I go?,” he asked. “If ZANU-PF says ‘you must step down’, I will step down,” he continued. On November 21, with ZANU-PF having secured by-partisan support to impeach him in Parliament, Mugabe did indeed step down. But this was not before army tanks rolled into central Harare, sealing off his offices and Parliament building on November 14.

Another tank blocked the way to Mugabe’s private residence, as the military, for long a vital pillar propping up Mugabe, intervened in a brutal ZANU-PF fight over his succession. Seven days later, it was over. Mugabe, one of Africa’s few remaining ‘Big Men’, was gone with little more than a whimper. His wife Grace, to many the catalyst for her husband’s unceremonious ouster, once described him as “a moving encyclopedia …very amazing at the manner in which he grasps issues, be they political, social, economic or cultural”.

But he failed to decipher the barely encrypted code telegraphed by the military from as far back as 2015, with devastating consequences for his lengthy political career. A candid confrontation with the generals on the sidelines of the Victoria Falls ZANU-PF annual conference in December 2015 was followed by the as yet unexplained ‘plot’ to bomb Mugabe’s Gushungo diary in Mazowe, now believed by many to be a ruse by military intelligence. February 2016 saw the former first lady accusing the military of plotting against the Mugabe family, widening the wedge between the former president and his commanders.

That July, war veterans who enjoyed the support of their erstwhile comrades still serving as senior officers in the military, issued a stunning document essentially denouncing Mugabe in terms of the reminiscent 1976 Mgagao Declaration which deposed ZANU’s founding president, Ndabaningi Sithole. Using terms previously unheard of within the ZANU-PF and war veterans system, the document, accused Mugabe of ‘dictatorial tendencies’ and charged that he had hogged all the spoils of the 1970s liberation war. All the while, Mugabe maintained that war veterans were just an affiliate of ZANU-PF and that serving veterans in the military were also subordinate to the party.

Politics, Mugabe’s mantra went, would always lead the gun. Intermittently, serving commanders, particularly Defence chief Constantino Chiwenga, would issue a nuanced rejoinder — politics only led the gun if it stays true to ideals of the ZANU revolution. The military, Chiwenga and his comrades argued, remained the ultimate stockholder of the revolution. There was a scarcely veiled caveat in Chiwenga and the military’s position — concern that Mugabe was straying. As far as ZANU and its successor ZANU-PF is concerned, there have always been consequences for straying off the revolutionary path.

It is hard to believe Mugabe did not see the signs. It is easier to assume he believed he could still control the fall out. As Mugabe’s last Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi said recently, the military had sent several warnings before its decisive intervention. Matters came to a head when Mugabe fired long-time ally Emmerson Mnangagwa as vice president, and appeared to clear the way for the elevation of his wife, Grace, to replace him. A little over a week after Mnangagwa’s November 6 dismissal, the tanks rolled into Harare.

Another week later, Mugabe had been forced to resign, with Mnangagwa as his replacement. Mugabe’s exit after an overt military operation scarcely raised any objections over constitutional considerations from the international community, showing the level of impatience both regional and global leaders had developed over his seemingly interminable rule. Locally, the fragmented opposition cheered Mugabe’s ouster and, for a fleeting moment, contemplated joining Mnangagwa’s government in what would have been a transitional administration to fix the economy and prepare for fresh, unimpeachable elections. Mnangagwa, however, set about cobbling up a government drawn solely from ZANU-PF as he seeks to heal the deeply divided party and prepare it for elections. He has also undertaken to ensure a clean vote, a key demand by the western powers he seeks to re-engage.- Finga

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George Weah : A Beacon Of Hope For African Footballers Set To Change The Face Of African Politics

Jomo Dyson | George Weah, the only player born in Africa to win the Ballon d’Or in 1995 and FIFA Player of the year in 1996 during his time at Italian giants AC Milan between 1995 and year 2000, is a true football legend.

Amazingly, news sources say he has been elected President of LIBERIA with a landslide victory after the December 2017 elections.

George Weah was a world class striker who combined athleticism with skill and he could do a lot with the ball comfortably. His work rate was second to none and indeed he was a great finisher. He won the Africa Footballer of the Year award 3 times.

Weah’s success will surely bring awareness for footballers based in Africa who are underpaid and not given enough respect. Sadly, football in Africa is to a greater extent controlled by politicians – leaving most former successful players in the peripheries.

Many African footballers are celebrating the rise of George Weah in the world of politics. His ascendancy has shown that football has power. George attributed his success at the global stage to Arsene Wenger who took him to French giants Monaco from Cameroon while playing for Tonnerre Yaounde who bought him from Africa Sports in Ivory Coast.

Big credit to Mighty Barrolle in Monrovia where George Weah humbly began his career and later joined Liberian side Invincible Eleven before packing his bags to join Ivory Coast side, Africa Sports D Abidjan. George played for big European clubs Monaco, AC Milan, Marseille, Chelsea and Manchester City.

I am sure his successful story will inspire many young footballers across the world. What a great legend this man is. Congratulations on being the President and we hope he will teach some dictators in Africa the democratic way to run a country. The man has lived in England, France, and Italy so I am sure he appreciates democracy.

 

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PICTURE: Mnangagwa And Wife Auxillia Gag Social Media Abusers

Ray Nkosi | President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his wife Auxillia have moved to gag those on social media who claim to speak on their behalf, some even opening accounts in their names. They have outlines official lines of communications meant to block those using and abusing their names on social media. Below is a statement released by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, George Charamba.

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Shock As Businessman Hangs Self Over Braai

A prominent businessman and mechanic from Gwanda allegedly hanged himself following an argument with his wife over where they should hold a Christmas Day braai. 

 Wilson Shane Murdochn (38) of 2nd Avenue in Gwanda Town allegedly suggested that they braai at the couple’s newly built house in Jacaranda suburb while the wife, Dorcus Siziba (29), insisted that they do it at their current place of residence.  The couple argued at around 10AM on Christmas Day and Murdochn was found dead on Boxing Day at around 7 AM.

Their part time employee, Mr Rabson Banda (31), discovered the lifeless body at the couple’s new house in Jacaranda when he reported for work. Murdochn’s body hanged from the roof truss with a nylon rope.

His wife is heavily pregnant with their second child. Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm we received a report of sudden death by hanging following a misunderstanding between a couple. They allegedly argued on where they could braai.

“The now deceased stormed out of the house and jumped into his blue Mazda pickup truck. He skidded around the yard before speeding out. The couple’s employee discovered the body at the couple’s new house the following morning.

“The body was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital Mortuary for post mortem,” he said.
Insp Ndebele urged couples to resolve their disputes amicably.

A source close to the couple said they argued on where to do their braai on Christmas Day.
“The argument got heated when the two failed to agree on a satisfactory venue. Murdochn grabbed his car keys and stormed out of the house. He skidded a few times in a scary way before he sped out of their Avenues home.

“He did not return home that day. His pregnant wife waited, hoping to see him when they had both cooled down.

“The following morning his wife received the shocking news that her husband had actually killed himself. It’s sad he left her pregnant and the fact that he has died before even having a feel of his new house,” said the source.

A businessman from the town who preferred anonymity said everyone was in shock over Murdochn’s decision to end his life.

“It is hard to believe that one can actually decide to end their life over such petty issues. We have known Murdochn as a strong hard working man and for him to allegedly kill himself is hard to accept. Maybe there was more to their issues than just a braai venue,” he said. chronicle

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Nurse Training Fraud Syndicate Busted

A syndicate that terrorised Masvingo and many parts of the country, swindling job seekers looking for nurse-training places of more than $60 000 by using fraudulently acquired ecocash numbers to receive bribes has been busted by the Police.

Six suspects including an Econet employee and two nurses were arrested and they appeared in court on Monday. Police believe more suspects could be on the run.

Patricia Magazini, the suspected ring leader based in Bikita and Beauty Dzviti, an Econet employee based at Jerera Growth Point in Zaka were given stiff bail of $300 each and are to appear on December 29, 2017 before Masvingo Magistrate Peter Madiba while four others were released because Police detained them beyond the permissible 48 hours before taking them to court.
Some of the suspects are being represented by Owen Mafa of Mutendi Mudisi and Shumba Legal Practitioners and there are 55 complainants who have so far approached the Police.
Two suspects Jairos Mupamhadzi and Respina Manjeru are nurses at Silveira Mission Hospital in Bikita and Odzi Rural Health Centre, respectively and they are husband and wife.
The other suspects are Hebert Munyikwa, Martha Nyapokoto who stay in Bikita.
This case is probably the worst cyber crime committed in Masvingo where more than 55 job seekers were swindled of a minimum of $840 each through fraudulently registered Ecocash numbers.
Dzviti is accused of issuing out lines to the suspects without following procedures and ascertaining names, ID numbers and addresses. She is also accused of receiving a bribe from Magazini in order to facilitate the release of the lines.
The case became difficult for Police to unravel because the suspects used cellphone lines registered under false names and addresses to commit the crimes.

It is the State case that Magazini, Jairosi Mupamhadzi, Respina Manjeru, Munyikwa and Nyapokoto opened Econet lines using fictitious names and addresses with the help of Dzviti. They then advertised nurse-training places at Masvingo Provincial and other hospitals on social media and The Herald and they used the fictitious Econet lines as their contact numbers.
The suspects demanded bribes of $840 from each of the applicants who expressed an interest in the places and they masqueraded and used names of senior nurses and doctors at Masvingo Provincial Hospital, the Provincial Medical Director’s offices and other clinics and hospitals.
The suspects also published a false list of successful candidates who were going to start their training programme in May 2018 and these names appeared in The Herald in September 2017. The purpose of the publication was to hoodwink the general public into believing that the scheme was genuine.  Many victims narrate heart-rending stories where their poor parents sold several beasts in order to raise money for the bribes.
Victims who soon realised that they were conned could not trace the culprits because the lines used were fraudulently registered and in some cases the lines were deactivated after they were used to swindle a number of people.
The crime was busted on December 15, 2017 when Police detective Power Gwande accompanied by a senior nurse at Masvingo Provincial Hospital who became worried that her name was consistently being used in the commission of the crime phoned one of the numbers pretending that they wanted a place and they were calling from Chipinge when they actually were in Masvingo.
They spoke to Magazini who asked them to meet her but later changed the meeting place .  When the investigating team arrived in Masvingo Magazini tried to change the rendezvous again but said she had heavy luggage and pleaded with her to stop changing meeting places.
Detectives were then deployed at Chicken Inn and they closely monitored the movements of Magazini who was already there arrived and arrested Magazini as she was receiving the bribe money.
She was allegedly found with some of the lines that were used in the commission of the crime. A search at her place revealed more evidence and it is then that she implicated the other five suspects including Dzviti.- Masvingo Mirror

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Another CIO Agent Eyes A Parly Seat

Former Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative Jevas Masosota has expressed interest in contesting in Chiredzi East constituency, where he is likely to face off with Zanu PF central committee member, Abraham Sithole for the right to represent the ruling party in the 2018 elections.

This was disclosed during a recent Zanu PF district co-ordinating committee (DCC) meeting at Chitsanga Hall.

Incumbent Chiredzi East MP Denford Masiya, who is also a former CIO operative, is unlikely to bounce back after the DCC meeting unanimously agreed to recommend that all the sitting legislators in Chiredzi be fired for allegedly dabbling in the G40 cabal’s politics.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Masosota said he was confident of winning the Zanu PF primaries and subsequently the parliamentary elections.

“I know I am going to contest with Sithole, who is more senior to me in the party, but I am not worried much about that. I am eagerly waiting for the party to announce the dates for the primaries and the game is on,” he said.

In Chiredzi North constituency, former MP for the area, Ronald Ndava, was hoping to bounce back if he manages to shrug off a challenge from little-known Roy Bhila.

Former Tongaat Hulett agriculture director Farai Musikavanhu could fight it off with incumbent Darlington Chiwa in Chiredzi West.

Former Chiredzi South MP Alois Baloyi is also hoping to take over the constituency from the serving MP, Retired Brigadier General Calisto Gwanetsa.

Despite President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s efforts to mend the cracks in Zanu PF by trying to reconcile party supporters, most Zanu PF members are already jockeying for constituencies currently held by suspected G40-aligned members.- newsday

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Mujuru Party In Turmoil As Two Senior Members Quit In A Huff

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | The empire that former Vice President Joice Mujuru built is crumbling with each passing day as defections continue to rock her party.

National People’ s Party (NPP), secretary for legal affairs Rodney Makausi yesterday resigned following serious divisions and infighting within the party structures while former NPP National Executive member, Shylet Uyoyo also dumped the party.

“I formally resigned from NPP and it would be incorrect to say I dumped the party . I merely exercised my legal and constitutional right to join or leave a political party and in my resignation letter to NPP I clearly stated that I could no longer devote myself to the party because of pressing commitments,” he said.

Sources close to Uyoyo said the former Zanu PF Provincial Women’ s League Chairperson would soon rejoin Zanu PF.

However NPP National Spokesperson Jeffryson Chitando downplayed Uyoyo and Makausi’s resignations saying party programmes would not be affected by the departure of the two officials.

“ I want to make it clear that the departure of the two will not affect the NPP at all. NPP is not made up of two members, but is a mass political party made up of many members who will continue to work tirelessly. We do not make noise when new members join NPP like what they are doing every day and we see no reason why there should be noise when two members decide to quit,” said Chitando.

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Mnangagwa Being Eaten Alive | OPINION

Fanuel Kaseke| Mnangagwa’s desparate measures to legitimise a coup and his government as well as the dire need to get relevance and popular support has now turned into a comic show.

lf you know him well popular support is something he was never born with sadly he now has been reduced into a mere political comedian rather than an intellectual guru leaving many wondering the real brains behind the coup. The entire blame is not with Mnangagwa as a person but ZANU PF overzealous supporters who don’t learn from their mistakes. With the captured state media failing as usual to report things as they are on the ground.

The difficulty of selling rotten meat is you need to put spices for it to be appealing, the art of deception. ZANU PF buffoons continue to embarrassingly try to draw distinctions between the former Robert Mugabe and the incumbent Emerson Mnangagwa, since they are non significant differences they are now forced to create them.

Mnangagwa got the stick too close to an election he has no much time to bribe the international community and the electorate. Hence he has so much to do but it is the pressure to do much in limited time that makes it look like a show. His fanatics the ones who created Mugabe the dictator through bootlicking and hero worshiping even when he went astray have once again rolled up their sleeves.

Educated Zimbabweans are now being made to look like fools even cabinet ministers perpetuate the dance for your supper charade they mastered during Mugabe’s erra. There is one thing l have learnt from Jesus that is the art of reading the signs of the coming time in Mathew 16. To those big headed Mnangagwa’s fanatics who think its too early to criticise Mnangagwa when he is doing what Mugabe was doing exactly in 1980 you have lost it. Mugabe was once a servant of the people until power happened to him.

What we know for sure about Mnangagwa is that he had a hand in the Gukurahundi Mascares he is on record calling the Ndebele people cockroaches l am prety sure Mugabe didn’t send him to say that. We know for sure at one pointing time in 2008 Mugabe wanted to retire but it was him and his deputy Chiwenga who told Mugabe to chill and that they had everything under control. By under control they were referring to the bloody June 27 run up election. We know for sure that Mnangagwa was a right hand man of Mugabe for over 50 years and most probably most of the things Mugabe implemented were crafted by Dambudzo. Precedents is enough room for criticsm lest we create another Mugabe.

Criticism will never stop Mnangagwa from delivering if he has the capacity to. Mugabe was criticised more than Mnangagwa, Mugabe never had sympathy of the western community but that never stoped him from rigging elections and oppressing us. Thats leadership standing tall amidst storms and adversaries proving your will.

There is only one way to silence critics that is by doing what they think you cann’t do. Mnangagwa must never feel comfortable like Mugabe did because once he does we will have another Mugabe. There are a lot of actions that Mnangagwa has taken since he assumed power that contravenes the constitution as a result he deserves to be criticised. ln as much as the opposition should give him space so should his fanatics they should him give space to do something meaningful and then praise him.

Maybe the opposition might stop criticising him not making funny headlines like Mnangagwa embraces Mangufuli style after being seen holding a tissue going to an ordinary toilet as if he is no ordinary human being – stop it! Mnangagwa is no saint we all know that he has a black past to clean white.People must never be quiet until he shows the will to clean it. He escaped the country just before unity day because he knew people were waiting to hear if he still thinks the Ndebele people are cockroaches. Everyone has a role to play in building a new Zimbabwe including critics lest we forget had it not been of Grace Mugabe and Jonathan Moyo Mnangagwa would still be nothing it was critics that gave him that seat.

Lets all come together and build the Zimbabwe we desire lets not be decieved that there is a new Zimbabwe when we have old wine in old wine skins. We are at risk than ever before Mugabe’s attempts to accomodate and empower young people and women as we all have seen they have been reversed in a flash. The new dispensation of factionalism in ZANU PF is not of ideology but the army versus war vetarans. We all can see how the army has strategetically been positioned in government. The former army general who lead the unconstitutional coup and brutalisation of Zimbabweans in 2008 is now the VP and minister of defense. Soildiers work on loyalty one way or the other the army still reports to Chiwenga. If you think these guys could stage a coup to usurp power and hand it democratically to the opposition forget and smile after that wake up from your dream. Aluta continua… Dont forget register to vote.

Writing in his own personal Capacity
Fanuel Kaseke is the, Vanguard Movement UZ Secretary General/ Spokesperson, Political Science Student, Human Rights Activist, Author, Poet, Orator, Motivational Speaker. He can be contacted for feedback on [email protected] whatsapp +263774 815 970, or twitter @fanuelkaseke for more articles visit my blog fanuelkaseke.blogspot.com or my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/fanuelkaseke_*

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“Intoxicated Grace Mugabe Sidekick Didn’t Listen To Us”

MDC-T has claimed that it used to advise self-exiled former Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandiitawepi Chimene of lack of freedoms in the country, but was ignored, as the firebrand war veteran acted as someone “intoxicated.’’

Chimene, who was a top G40 member, and used to throw vitriol at President Emmerson Mnangagwa, reportedly skipped the border to Mozambique and is reportedly seeking refuge in Burundi after escaping a military operation targeted at “criminals” surrounding former President Robert Mugabe.

MDC-T Manicaland provincial spokesperson Trevor Saruwaka yesterday urged G40 members not to apologise to the current government, as they were exercising their rights when they supported former First Lady Grace Mugabe, who was initially earmarked to be elected the country’s Vice-President at the Zanu PF extraordinary congress.

“When people are in power they should remember one day they will wake up out of power, hence, they must lead with honour and restraint. She (Chimene) went overboard like someone who was intoxicated. Now she is out of power reality has dawned on her,’’ Saruwaka said.

“Remember she (Chimene) is someone who was used to claiming that she was a powerful war veteran. So she should come back to Zimbabwe and enjoy her freedoms. Why is she running away? We used to tell her that there is no freedom in Zimbabwe and she was scornful.’’

He added: “No one should apologise for expressing different views. So all these G40 members who have been apologising, they should stop and come and join us and fight for our freedoms.’’

A number of G40 members have since sent apologies to Mnangagwa for supporting Grace, among them former Zanu PF Manicaland youth chair Mubuso Chinguno, who is reportedly in Lesotho.

Mubuso said he regretted being aligned to G40, claiming that they were misled. A top ally of Grace, Letina Undenge said she was used by the G40 cabal to advance their agenda.- Newsday

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Tafadzwa Penny Dies

Talented author and journalist Brian Tafadzwa Penny died in a car accident on December 23 at Wengezi turn off, 68km peg along Mutare-Chimanimani highway, when his younger brother lost control of their vehicle after hitting a pothole and smashed into an oncoming vehicle.

Penny, who was 36, is survived by his wife Monica Chikondowa and two daughters, all of whom were injured in the accident.

He died on the spot together with his younger brother’s wife and daughter and was buried in his rural home in Chimanimani on December 26.

Penny, who also studied journalism with City and Guilds Institute (London), was a regular contributor to NewsDay, writing stories on music, literature and film.

A co-director with the publishing concern, Forteworx Press, Penny had several of his pieces of poetry and short stories published in anthologies that included Garden of Eden, Flowers of a Dry Season, Tsuro Ndisunge (Nduri Dzinotapira), Zviri Mugapu and Dzinonyandura — Svinga Renduri.

Efforts are currently under way to compile a poetry anthology to be published in his honour early next year.- Newsday

 

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ARMY COUP-FACE OF EVIL RETURNS : CIO Uses Mnangagwa’s Name To Grab Farm Again

By Paul Nyathi | President Mnangagwa’s reputation hangs in the balance after a notorious CIO agent Rodney Mashingaidze has renewed his bid to take over the hotly disputed Maleme Ranch in Matobo Matabeleland South.

Mashingaidze who lost his bid to take over the farm two years ago after being blocked by former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko when villagers from the area hotly resisted him from taking over the farm, wants to settle at the farm in order to contest the Matobo North Constituency House of Assembly seat.

Villagers refused to let Mashingaidze grab the farm from white owner Peter Cunningham who is a third generation of the Cunningham family that settled at the farm over a century ago.

The villagers refused to be separated from Cunningham claiming that he was helping them with income generating projects at the farm that sustained them and he also trained them in various farming and survival skills.

Former Vice President Mphoko also ordered Mashingaidze to leave Maleme Ranch as it houses key State institutions, Big Cave Camp and Ebenezer Agricultural Training Centre.

In their bid to rescue their land the Villagers in the area have written a letter to Lands minister Perrance Shiri, seeking his intervention to stop Mashingaidze’s renewed take over of the property.

“It has come to our attention that Mashingaidze has been telling people that he is planning to come and retake operations of Maleme and Ebenezer,” the villagers’ letter read in part.

“This has been reported over the last two weeks with recent reports that he has been trying to mobilise village heads from the homestead area where he has been paying them monies to support him in his move to grab the farm.”

Sources close to Mashingaidze told ZimEye.com that the state security operative is very close to Vice President Kembo Mohadi and is making his latest move on the farm with his backing.

It is also on record that Mashingaidze is earmarking the Matopo North Constituency which makes him more desperate to grab the farm.

Dismissing Mashingaidze’s first land grab attempt Mphoko ordered Masjingaidze who is believed to be Mashonaland West to go and seek land and a constituency in his home area and not bother the people of Matobo.

Mashingaidze has operated as a CIO agent in Matabeleland South for about two decades.

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Mujuru Corners Mnangagwa On Role Of Securocrats In Politics

As the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national polls beckon, the People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC) has challenged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to introduce security sector reforms to guarantee the holding of free and fair elections then.

Mnangagwa recently reconfigured the security sector, retiring and promoting several security chiefs who served under former president Robert Mugabe, as he charts a new path.

At the same time, the president has also assured the nation and the opposition that next year’s elections will be peaceful, free and fair.

However, the PRC — a coalition that includes former vice president Joice Mujuru — said earlier this week that it was doubtful that the 2018 national elections would be free and fair because of the heavy presence of military chiefs in Mnangagwa’s government, as well as in the ruling Zanu PF.

“Zimbabwe is currently under the de facto control of a group of generals who operate under a veneer of a civilian Cabinet.

“Viewed from this perspective, the expanded role of the military in politics, economy and government makes Mnangagwa a mere rubber-stamping organ that endorses policies and policy ideas generated from KGVI (now Josiah Tongogara) barracks,” PRC secretary-general Gorden Moyo said.

Moyo said this while presenting a paper on the forthcoming 2018 elections during a discussion forum that was held in the City of Kings.

“Effectively speaking, Zimbabwe has now joined the league of Burma, North Korea, Pakistan and the like. Apparently, the military’s role in forcing Mugabe out and their continuing presence as key political players presents a major challenge to the rule of law, constitutional order and electoral democracy,” he added.

Mnangagwa has rung changes to the security sector and retired some key military personnel who played a prominent role in his rise to power. He appointed retired chief air marshal Perrance Shiri and former Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) chief of staff, retired lieutenant general Sibusiso Busi Moyo into his Cabinet, as well as naming retired lieutenant general Engelbert Rugeje as Zanu PF political commissar.

Mnangagwa has also named Zimbabwe Ambassador to South Africa Isaac Moyo as the new boss for the national spy agency, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) — while cutting loose long serving police chief Augustine Chihuri.

Yesterday, he swore in former commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, retired general Constantino Chiwenga as vice president, together with Defence minister Kembo Mohadi.

However, the PRC’s demands are similar to those made to Mugabe by the opposition before and during the 2009 inclusive government. Civic groups have also been agitating for sweeping electoral reforms ahead of the crunch elections which they say must be held in an environment which doesn’t promote disputes like what happened during the 2008 and 2013 polls.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai beat Mugabe hands down in the hotly-disputed 2008 elections.
However, the results of those polls were withheld for six long weeks by stunned authorities — amid widespread allegations of ballot tampering and fraud which were later revealed by former bigwigs of the ruling party.

In the ensuing sham presidential run-off, which authorities claimed was needed to determine the winner, Zanu PF apparatchiks engaged in a murderous orgy of violence in which hundreds of Tsvangirai’s supporters were killed in cold blood, forcing the former prime minister in the inclusive government to withdraw from the discredited race altogether.

Mugabe went on to stand in a widely-condemned one-man race in which he declared himself the winner.

 However, Sadc and the rest of the international community would have none of it, forcing the nonagenarian to share power with Tsvangirai for five years, to prevent the country from imploding completely.

“The recent electoral history of Zimbabwe is replete with acts of electoral terrorism by the members of the armed forces, including acts of violence and intimidation, arson and murder, including a vicious repression campaign against the members of the opposition parties, civil society, academia and labour in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2013.

“The rise of the military in November (this year) casts a dark cloud on the 2018 elections. Clearly, the military has emerged as the bedrock of Mnangagwa’s power and political commissars for Zanu PF ahead of the 2018 elections,” Moyo said further.

“To this extent, security sector transformation is crucial if the upcoming 2018 elections are to be seen to be credible, free and fair. This includes ensuring that all public statements and actions of the military reflect a commitment to a strictly neutral political role in accordance with the Constitution and international law,” he added.

Last month, the military launched Operation Restore Legacy, which led to Mugabe and his wife Grace being deposed from power and being placed under house arrest.

Several Cabinet ministers linked to the Generation 40 (G40) faction who had coalesced around Grace were targeted in the operation which ended only recently, with the soldiers only retreating to the barracks after five weeks of executing the operation.

The curtain fell on the veteran former Zimbabwe and Zanu PF leader on November 21 when he resigned moments after Parliament had started proceedings to impeach him.

Source:Daily News

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Lawyers Speak On Gen. Chiwenga’s Shoot To Presidium

Lawyers from the Veritas organisation speak on the presidium appointments of Gen Constantino Chiwenga and State Security Minister Kembo Mohadi.

BILL WATCH 50/2017

[29th December 2017]

Two Vice-Presidents Appointed and Sworn In

Zimbabwe’s new Vice-Presidents were sworn in by Chief Justice Luke Malaba yesterday morning, Thursday 28th December, in a brief ceremony at State House. They are Retired General Constantino Chiwenga and Mr Kembo Mohadi.

President Mnangagwa made the two appointments in terms of the Constitution’s special transitional provisions applicable to the office of President and the appointment of Vice-Presidents until 2023. Under those transitional provisions, Vice-Presidents, like Ministers, hold office at the President’s pleasure. [The transitional provisions are set out in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution, paragraph 14].

Vice-President Chiwenga made himself eligible for appointment by retiring from his position as Commander of the Defence Forces.

Mr Mohadi was previously a member of the National Assembly, as the ZANU(PF) MP for the Beitbridge East constituency. His seat became vacant as soon as he became Vice-President [Constitution, section 129(1)(c) – “The seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant … upon the Member becoming President or Vice-President”].

Term of office

In the normal course of events both Vice-Presidents will hold office until the assumption of office as President by the winner of the next Presidential election in July-August 2018.

Responsibilities

Although not Members of Parliament, both Vice-Presidents, like Ministers and Deputy Ministers, are accountable, collectively and individually, to the President for the performance of their functions. Each of the Vice-Presidents must also attend Parliament and parliamentary committees in order to answer questions concerning matters for which he is collectively or individually responsible [Constitution, section 107(2)].

One or other of the Vice-Presidents will be Acting President whenever the President is absent from Zimbabwe or is unable to exercise his official functions through illness or any other cause [as provided by section 100 of the Constitution].

Vice-Presidents must not, directly or indirectly, hold any other public office or be employed by anyone else while they are in office.

SIs 150, 152 and 153 will be posted on the Veritas website

www.veritaszim.net as soon as possible.

New Labour Court Rules

SI 150/2017 contains the new rules governing proceedings in the Labour Court, made by the judges of the court in terms of the Labour Act with the approval of the Chief Justice and the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. They replace the previous rules, although there is no provision for their repeal.

Collective bargaining agreement: Textile Industry

SI 151/2017 provides for wages in the industry effective from 1st October 2017 for the next 12 months or “until it is replaced by a substituting agreement”.

Commencement of Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act

SI 152/2017 brings this important Act into force with effect from 1st January 2018, as promised by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in his Budget presentation.

Retirement Benefits for Former Presidents

SI 153/2017 spells out the services, facilities and allowances which former President Mugabe and subsequent former Presidents will be entitled to use and enjoy. They cover four pages under headings such as Staff, Office and Equipment, Housing and household, Medical, Travel, Transport and Other benefits.

Government Gazette 29th December

Today’s regular Government Gazette contains only one statutory instrument, SI 154/2017, which sets out a collective bargaining agreement for the Transport Industry.

A Budget-related Government Gazette Extraordinary will probably be published late this afternoon, unfortunately too late for inclusion in this bulletin. Its contents will be dealt with a bulletin as early as possible in the New Year.

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Mnangagwa Tells New VPs To Perform, “But What Talent Do They Have?”

indepth…Wilbert Mukori

Wilbert Mukori | “The new Vice Presidents are not only expected to perform, but to show results and that entails guarding against complacency. They have to drive the Ministers,” said President Mnangagwa after swearing in Chiwenga and Mohadi as the country’s two VPs.

“The performance of the Ministers will be reflected by the supervision given by the two Vice Presidents so the assessment of the two will be based on what comes out of our ministries.”

Excuse me, comrade ePresidente, you did not appoint VP Chiwenga and VP Mohadi for their ability and competence as leaders. So why are you expecting them to perform well in anything? Anyone familiar with the workings of the ZDF who know Chiwenga is not intelligent as he has struggled to pass all the many courses he has done and he has never shown any notable aptitude in anything worth writing home about. The only reason Robert Mugabe promoted Chiwenga to the dizzying height in the Army is the same reason the tyrant promoted many others in the Army, Government, etc. including Emmerson Mnangagwa himself is because Mugabe liked to surround himself with simpletons he can order around.

Constantino Chiwenga is a simpleton, a very corrupt one to boot! He did not build that C&M mansion from his wages as Commander of ZDF?

President Mnangagwa has appointed Chiwenga VP not because he is talented individual. Chiwenga is VP because that is his reward for risking life and limb in staging last month’s coup that forced Mugabe to finally relinquish power. Others like Perrance Shiri and Major General Sibusiso Moyo who took played a major role in the coup are Ministers in President Mnangagwa’s cabinet, their reward.

Chiwenga was the ring-leader of the November putsch and VP post is his reward, period.

If President Mnangagwa is serious about rescuing Zimbabwe from the economic mess Mugabe and his team – of whom Mnangagwa was a key member – has bequeathed the nation then he should know that country must be governed by competent leaders with some common sense, at least and not these corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs whose only claim to power is out of entitlement for their contribution during the struggle for independence.

Comrade ePresidente Mnangagwa, the povo of Zimbabwe were clearly fooled by the changes brought about by coup as seen by the thousands who march in support on 18 November and the throng who greeted you during your last visit in SA. The truth is the thinking world was not fooled.

“Zimbabwe is open for business!” you announce, ePresidente.

There has not been any Foreign Direct Investors knowing at our door in response. There will be none coming because these people are shrewd enough to know the removal of Mugabe, significant as it is, is not enough to prove the country has stopped being a lawless nation governed but competent and accountable leaders.

Indeed, the promotion of coup thugs like Chiwenga and Shiri into your cabinet tells the world the Zanu PF thugs are back in total control of the country. Nothing has changed!

 

Zimbabwe will not be ready to do business with the rest of the world until it proves there is rule of law. And there is no better way of proving there is rule of law than holding free, fair and credible elections. I do not see the likes of VP Chiwenga and Minister Shiri spearheading the implementation of the democratic reforms required to ensure free elections! A cabinet of coup plotters is not going to deliver democratic free, fair and credible elections. Never!

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Zimbas In South Africa Attack Zimra

Zimbabweans based in South Africa have raised concerns over the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s (Zimra) random variation of the validity of Temporary Import Permits (TIP) for those driving foreign registered vehicles into the country. The worst affected are those visiting the country and fall under the Zimbabwe Special Permits (ZSP), which was recently replaced with the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP).

Under the country’s customs laws, visitors or Zimbabweans working outside the country who drive foreign registered vehicles, are allowed to bring in the cars duty free for a period of 30 days and renew at the expiry of that window. In case of defaulting, the vehicles are either seized or the owners are fined $500. In addition, motorists are allowed a window period of one week to exit the country from the date of the expiry of the TIP.

However, unscrupulous customs officers take advantage of this misinformation and fleece motorists of money during the one week window. In separate interviews, disgruntled motorists said the customs authority was restricting them to a visit of 10 days instead of the usual 30 days.

“This is despite the Department of Immigration having allowed us a stay of 30 days. In addition, the South African government has made a pronouncement that we can travel with the ZSP pending the finalisation of our new permits, which is likely to be completed in March next year, ”said one motorist. Herald

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Mnangagwa’s Fix In Getting Moyo, Kasukuwere Extradited

By Don Chigumba | Professor Jonathan Moyo, Savior Kasukuwere, Patrick Zhuwao and Mandi Chimene are on the run, there are claims that they could be in South Africa or Kenya while Mandi Chimene is believed to be hiding in Vumba Mountains or Mozambique . Out of all G40 crew members implicated in corruption, Prof Moyo’s name is becoming popular as if he was the only worst devil in both ZANU PF lacoste and G40. This piece therefore seeks to prove that Prof. Moyo is not such a ‘worst criminal’ deserving to be extradited. The paper also seeks to prove that a previous cold war between ED and Prof. Moyo could be a ‘hidden’ reason behind Prof. Moyo’s possible extradition.

There is a move by ZANU PF women’s league to use Zimbabwe’s extradition Act of 1982 Chapter 9:08 to bring Prof. Moyo home for trial with charges that are not yet public to the Zimbabweans. When ED was addressing business people in South Africa, the media claimed that he said he was ready to forgive G40 members except Professor Jonathan Moyo and his two friends. If ZANU PF government is to be forgiven for the atrocities committed during gukurahundi, ED has to forgive everyone including Prof. Moyo.

President ED forgave the former President Mugabe and his wife Grace, what about Prof. Jonathan Moyo? Who is the worst person among R.G. Mugabe, Grace and Prof. Moyo? The forgiveness extended to Mr. Mugabe and Grace by ED leaving Prof. Moyo outside the realm of forgiveness is questionable and possibly proving that the problem is a personal vendetta between Prof. Moyo and ED.

Days before ED took power through the military, Prof Moyo was a thorn in the flesh of ED, he challenged ED in the politburo and the Zimbabwean media is our living testimony.  I take Prof. Moyo to be a brave man and fighting a person of ED’s caliber is not an easy task. President ED should learn from Mbeki-Zuma conflict, in politics the one being victimized and mistreated will end up becoming a hero, the one being murdered will become a source of inspirations for the generations to come.

President ED was attacked by Mr. Mugabe and wife publicly and got sympathy from some sections of Zimbabweans including the military. Today, ED doesn’t even want to forgive Prof. Moyo and if Moyo is to be extradited, he will suffer in the hands of this current government, who knows, one day the political dynamics may change and the hunter may become the hunted. ED should stop building the political CV of Prof. Moyo but should work to unite the Zimbabweans.

The worst crime deserving extradition is genocide and Prof. Moyo’s hands are clean in comparison to most of the ZANU PF top officials. Today, ED government may find it difficult to contain Prof. Moyo’s criticisms because he is always speaking from a holy ground. His hands do not have blood that is why Kasukuwere and Zhiwao are quite, they know that their hands are not clean.

Prof. Moyo’s biggest mistake was the attack on media freedom, if he was to be extradited, he should be charged for ‘justice and freedom genocide’. He is the father and founder of AIPA and POSA among others but no one in ED government is talking about this. Prof. Moyo should be credited by ZANU PF for keeping it going through evil means.

The second worst crime deserving extradition is misuse of public funds, I believe that Moyo was involved in corruption of low magnitude compared to the majority of people in G40 and appointees of ED’s new cabinet. Prof. Moyo joined ZANU PF government when he was a poor professor and the time when the economy of Zimbabwe was no more. There are quite a number of ED’s appointees who were in cabinet since the year 1980 and now drunk with corruption, you cannot compare them with Mafikizolo like Moyo. Prof Moyo is alleged to be the ‘unholy beneficiary’ of grabbed farms and should be charged for causing hunger in Zimbabwe.

Conclusion

The government of ED is in a dilemma because of Prof. Moyo, he knows most of the hidden secrets about the members of the current cabinet. President ED’s government should concentrate much on national healing and not individuals like Moyo. If Ed forgave Mr. Mugabe and wife why can’t he forgive everyone who worked under them.

Prof. Moyo is useful for the opposition, it is just a matter of time, if not extradited, he will spill the beans before 2018 elections. For Zimbabwe to grow we need fearless people like Moyo who can speak their minds.

However, Prof. Moyo ate his own medicine wherever he goes (extradited to heaven or Zimbabwe) he has learnt a lesson of his life time. When he destroyed media and freedom of speech in Zimbabwe, God was watching and it’s time for him to pay back. Kasukuwere is another culprit, he thought leading by exploitation was the way to go now he is the master of exile crews. I therefore want to urge the advisor of ED Hon. Mutsvangwa to learn from the advisor of the former president Mugabe prof. Jonathan Moyo, politics is always dynamic. Exploit them today, they will revenge tomorrow.

Don Chigumba is a political analyst based in South Africa.

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Chombo Must Be Wishing He Was Joram Gumbo

Kennedy Kaitano | Jailed former Minister Ignatius Chombo must be wishing that he had been Jorum Gumbo. Not that I condone what Chombo has done to ruin Zimbabwe. He deserves what is happening to him. Anyone corrupt must be dealt with according to the law, and anyone suspected of corruption must be investigated accordingly.

While President Emmerson Mnangagwa has vowed to deal with corruption, the only trouble we have with him is that he seems to be selectively punishing the thieves, targeting those with links to the former First Lady Grace Mugabe, while turning a blind eye to corrupt activities by members of the Lacoste faction within Zanu PF.
Joram Gumbo reportedly ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) board to approve the awarding of a 28 million euro (US$33,3 million) tender to Indra Sistemas and Homt Espana SA for the finance, supply and installation of an airspace management system without going to tender, but he is one of the ministers Mnangagwa chooses to take with him to South Africa on his official visit to that country. The report about Gumbo ordering the Civic Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe to award a project without going to tender warrants that Gumbo be arrested. Knowing as we do, an arrested person is innocent until proven guilty, so there wasn’t anything amiss for Mnangagwa to order the arrest of Gumbo who then had to prove himself innocent in a court of law.
Jorum Gumbo was one of Comrade Mnangagwa’s favorites as evident from his being part of the President’s first trip out of the country as head of state. He is one of the untouchables. So how will Comrade Mnangagwa end corruption when he turns a blind to it when it involves members of his Lacoste fanction?
 
It seems Comrade Mnangagwa is doing the same thing as his mentor Mugabe.
 
Zimbabweans must reject this and vote Zanu PF out in the next elections.
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Tsvangirai, MDC Alliance Leaders Under A Serious Security Threat

Ndaba Nhuku | In the MDC T and now, MDC Coalition, security issues are presidential. This is to say the president and his trusted advisor handle and deal with security matters. It is, however, sad to note that the party and Coalition security still remains the most porous department. History always repeats itself. What happened a few years ago should serve as a lesson today. Let it open leadership eyes to what is likely happening.

If we look back a few years when Pearson Mbalekwa was MDCT advisor on Defence and Security he contested and won Zanu PF primaries for Zvishavane Runde Constituency.

When Paul Mavima was PA to Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara he contested and won Zanu PF primaries for Gokwe South.

Prior to Mbalekwa, Engelbert Rugeje was MDCT advisor on Security. He is the new Zanu PF commissar.

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Another Mugabe Minister Arrested

Former Minister of Sport, Arts and Recreation and Member of Parliament for Mberengwa East, Makhosini Hlongwane, was yesterday arrested at his farm on the outskirts of Zvishavane.

Police also seized about 10 tonnes of sugar beans that they found stashed at the former Minister’s farm.

 Acting police spokesperson for Midlands province Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the arrest last night.

She could however, not give details of the reasons for the arrest saying the ex minister was later released pending further investigations.

“I can confirm that police picked up Makhosini Hlongwane at his farm today (yesterday). A statement was recorded before he was released but investigations are still underway,” Asst Insp Mukwende said.

Sources close to the incident told The Chronicle that about eight police officers raided the ex-minister’s farm in the early hours of yesterday before they arrested him.
The sources said he was found with several tonnes of sugar beans which he could not account for.

“Police later loaded the sugar beans into a truck and went to Zvishavane Police Station with the former Minister. He was asked to produce receipts showing where he bought the sugar beans but he said they were donated by a company whose name he could not divulge,” said the source.- state media

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FULL TEXT: People Say President Mnangagwa Will Regret “Giving Gen. Chiwenga Too Much Power”

By Farai D Hove| News readers on Friday morning reacted to the just ended swearing in ceremony of VPs claiming that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has given Gen. Constantino Chiwenga too much power by appointing him not only Vice President but also Defence Minister and furthermore War Veterans Minister.

One Emmanuel Chinyama said of Mnangagwa seeing the just ended coup, “all he needs to consolidate power at all cost but this time it will not work, trust me.”

Similar fears were also sounded by a Mnangagwa family member. “What you don’t know is that right now the real President running the show is Chiwenga,” a Mnangagwa nephew who refused to be named told ZimEye.com

Another contributor, Obrian Kavhuru said, “Mnangagwa is not in control, period.”

– REACTIONS:

Meanwhile, it was recalled that Gen Chiwenga during the war, occupied the expelled Saviour Kasukuwere’s powerful post of Party Commissar and Mnangagwa has in recent days even publicly referred Chiwenga as such, a position that has been the pivot of all ZANU PF squabbles since independence and that has seen the sudden death of many commissars.

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JAH PRAYZAH BREAKING NEWS: Davido “My Lily” Show Cancelled

Jah Prayzah has cancelled his show with the Nigerian, Davido. Below was his announcement issued just after midnight Friday – 

It is sad to announce that MY LILLY concert will no longer be taking place tomorrow. This is to reasons beyond our control as we tried to ensure that all my fans enjoy the performance of the song live in Zimbabwe but unfortunately it wouldnt be, not this time again.

Over the past years we have tried to deliver what we promise, it pains me to say this time around we did not pull through in providing you with the event we promised.

For all those who had bought their advance tickets please visit the branch you bought the tickets from and an instant refund will be done for you.

Wish you all a happy new year and hope to see you in Kadoma on the 31st of December.

God Bless.

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HELL BREAKS LOOSE ON JACOB ZUMA: Judge Rules That President Must Be Impeached

By Farai D Hove|  Victory for the new ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa – hell has broken loose on South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma after the Constitutional Court declared that he must be impeached. The ruling even dismisses the whole parliament house which months earlier voted against the impeachment.

Zuma, the current President of Africa’s most industrialized economy, can now be impeached although it was not immediately clear at the time of writing what steps parliament are now to take.

Today’s fall comes short in the heels of his ex-wife Nkosazana’s sudden loss to Ramaphosa two weeks ago.

“We conclude that the assembly did not hold the president to account … The assembly must put in place a mechanism that could be used for the removal of the president from office,” Judge Chris Jafta declared Friday morning.

He continued saying, “properly interpreted, Section 89 implicitly imposes an obligation on the assembly to make rules specially tailored for the removal of the president from office. By omitting to include such rules, the assembly has failed to fulfill this obligation.”

The judgement is also a victory for Julius Malema’s EFF party who sued parliament.

It was not immediately clear what steps the ANC will now take as Zuma’s faction still controls key posts.

“The ANC will study the judgment and discuss its full implications when the National Executive Committee meets on the 10th January 2018,” the party said in a statement.

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Auxillia Mnangagwa Exposed For “Playing Spot Plastics Inside Hospitals As People Die”, But Who Is Better MADAM STOP IT vs MADAM SPOT IT?

By Dorrothy Moyo| First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was last week accused of playing spot plastics inside hospitals in front of cameras while people are dying. (CLICK TO READ MORE). This discussion led to Zimbabweans beginning to compare her with her predecessor, Grace Mugabe (CLICK TO READ MORE). 

She was thus titled “Madam Spot It”, a direct pun from Grace Mugabe’s title “Madam Stop It.” – Auxillia’s own husband, Emmerson in a file video expresses gratitude to Grace Mugabe for facilitating his rise to the presidium as he screams out, “Ndopazobva pauya, Madam Stop It!”

But…. 

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Mnangagwa’s Own Prophet Hinted “The Real” New President Of Zimbabwe Is Sydney Sekeramayi | IS THIS HAPPENING SOON?

But Mnangagwa still goes for help from these false prophets

“a prominent child of the soil with a name of city which is found in Australia” is going to be given a special assignment for the restoration of Zimbabwe.

By Farai D Hove| Perhaps the era of “prophets and their pockets” being exposed – President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s own trusted seer, the Madziwa based Mudzidzi Wimbo,  made a prediction that Robert Mugabe’s successor would be a man with the name of an Australian city pointing to Zimbabwe’s most senior war veteran, Sydney Sekeramayi. But this has turned out to be totally false.

“There is a prophet who said the next President of Zimbabwe will have a name similar to Australian Capital…..Is the Australian Capital called Emerson or Dambudzo?,” scoffed Mnangagwa supporter Francis Mufambi yesterday.

Wimbo was 2 months before the November coup quoted saying, Mugabe’s successor is a man “with an English/Australian name.”

Wimbo is not alone, there is another preacher who also voiced a similar prediction, SEE VIDEO

Pastor Ian Ndlovu of Divine Kingdom TV Ministries claimed that God has revealed that

“a prominent child of the soil with a name of city which is found in Australia” is going to be given a special assignment for the restoration of Zimbabwe.

News Readers have commented that they Mnangagwa still goes for help from these false prophets, and the President visited Wimbo days after becoming President of ZANU PF and the nation of Zimbabwe.

 

months before becoming President…Emmerson Mnangawga dressed in church garb

 

https://youtu.be/Av3w3R_wjNg

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Mnangagwa Has Militarised CSC – Teachers

“The civil service has never been a private entity. It has always been run by authorities reporting to the OPC, that is, chairperson commission, perm sec and minister. Its still one and the same. No power is been consolidated it has always been like that.- Clive Madzima

ARTUZ concerned about placement of CSC under OPC​| 29 December 2017

By ARTUZ| The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) condemns with the contempt it deserves, recent press proclamation by the Government of Zimbabwe placing the Civil Service Commission (CSC) under the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC).

This move undermines principles of good public administration as set out in the constitution. It is our submission that the process is designed to capture and militarise the Public Service as part of a broad and calculated move to control public sector workers.

By placing the CSC under the office of the President, the Mnangagwa regime is effectively seeking ways to directly spy on public sector unions and thus undermine collective bargaining principles and militarise negotiation processes.

The ideal scenario is to allow the CSC to be a stand alone commission independent from direct control of government. In this way workers and their employer can freely engage on improving working conditions and salaries for public sector employees.

Thus the recent move has no basis either at law or in the best interest of the workers. Examples of countries with the best public service practices like Canada show that government has minimal intervention. Closer home, the Botswana model is proof that when there is minimal government involvement, decent work in the public workplace can be a reality.

ARTUZ is however aware that the attempts at controlling the CSC emanates from the commandist mentality of the Mnangagwa regime. It also comes at a time that ARTUZ and other public sector unions have declared that in 2018 the fight for a living wage will be escalated, along with fights against the opaque 7.5% pension contributions and cancellation of vacation leave.

As a union we are consulting with our legal teams and membership to craft a multi-pronged response to this manifestly illegal move by Mnangagwa’s government. We further reiterate our readiness to organise and democratise the public sector working place, more so in rural schools.

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TOUCHING PICTURE: Harare Child Murdered By Step Mother

By Dorrothy Moyo | The below is the picture of little Velaphi, the Harare boy who was killed by his step mother.

“If you still remember Baby Velaphi who was interviewed on Tilder Show live in September this year Passed away on Christmas day and was laid to rest the following day…” the local StarFM says.

The report continues saying, ” Baby Velaphi suffererd from complications from a spinal injury that was caused by his Stepmother .

Thank you all for the Support and prayers that you showed during his in and out of Hospital

May his Soul Rest in Peace.”

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Western Union Cash Chaos in Zimbabwe

Date: 28 Dec 2017 | Dear Editor

How do we deal with Western Union agents in Zimbabwe who are sitting on our hard earned money? The Western Union remittances are costing us more in terms time, extra phone calls and multiple commutes by our relatives. Please help us to explore this upsetting matter.

Kind regards Gaudencia.

 

 

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Cameroonian Star Epoupa Dumps Dembare?

By Terrence Mawawa| Dynamos FC’ s Cameroonian forward Christian Joel Epoupa Ntouba is likely to leave the Harare Giants and join a South African Club.

There are high chances that the big bustling centre forward will join South African premier Soccer League Champions, Bidvest Wits.

Ntouba’ s departure means Dembare gaffer Lloyd Mutasa will have to search for the big striker’ s replacement.

The Cameroonian player’ s manager, Gilbert Sengwe has all but confirmed that Ntouba will leave the Harare Giants next season.

Ntouba will soon fly to South Africa from Cameroonian to commence trials.

“The position is very clear- Ntouba will join Bidvest Wits next week to commence trials.

I can also confirm that Bidvest Wits are eager to sign the player.

Given this light he is unlikely to return to Dynamos.

I can also tell you that the player will not come to Zimbabwe because he will fly to South Africa from Cameroon,” said Sengwe.

Ntouba scored 12 goals for the Glamour Boys in the just ended season.

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Road Accidents: 42 Killed

At least 42 people were killed in traffic accidents during the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says while more than 50 others were injured in 182 road traffic accidents countrywide, the figure could be higher.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba announced saying they are still compiling statistics for the other days.

On Unity Day, 15 people died countrywide in 13 road traffic accidents, while on Christmas Eve, 12 people died in 90 separate road accidents. On Boxing Day, 15 people died, while 34 others were injured in 79 road traffic accidents that were recorded countrywide. She also said an unknown motorist ran over a pedestrian along the Harare-Mutare Road near Genje Business Centre in Ruwa and sped off. She appealed to anyone with information on the whereabouts of the driver to report to the nearest police station.

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President Mnangagwa Not Safe From Military Coup Which Can Happen Anytime, Says ZUNDE

President Emmerson Mnangagwa risks a military coup which can happen anytime, writes the Zimbabweans United for Democracy (ZUNDE) President Farai Mbira.

 

By Farai Mbira| ZUNDE – President Mnangagwa must reform or risk going the Mugabe way

 
Zimbabweans United for Democracy (ZUNDE) is happy that this Christmas we have something to celebrate; the departure of the evil Robert Mugabe, courtesy of General Chiwenga. We, however, will celebrate it cautiously because we are yet to be assured of peace, freedom and meaningful democratic change. We are not sure yet that next year elections will be free and fair.  
 
It’s sad that Zanu PF declared that it will not reform itself out of power and that they will not relinquish power because of mere X (vote). In both cases we hear them loud and clear. It’s no rocket science to conclude that only he who can play rugby politics will dismantle the still intact Zanu PF dictatorship.
 
We have been waiting for the army to complete its national operation Restore Legacy to make an informed decision. Now that President Mnangagwa and General Chiwenga, the architects and beneficiaries of Operation Restore Legacy have come in the open we can now make a full understanding of what they did and why.
 
First, they did not restore anything not even a legacy, they propped themselves up and forced their own legacy on Zimbabwe. It was abusive of the masses to march them onto the streets to remove an evil person and his criminals from office only to declare a holiday in honour of the same evil person. How can we tell our children we removed Mugabe from office and then ask them to celebrate him?
 
How can we expect the people of Matebeleland, Midlands and Murambatsvina victims to celebrate Mugabe? This is an insult. How can the millions of Zimbabwean victims scattered in the diaspora be asked to celebrate Mugabe every year!
The army is not constitutionally empowered to grant after office immunity to Mugabe. Whatever has been agreed is binding only between them and Mugabe. We have issues with Mugabe and the constitution provides remedial procedures that we have a right to pursue. We have many people who have disappeared and Mugabe needs to tell us where they are; dead or alive. We will forgive him but he must let us know.
 
Secondly; it was claimed that Operation Restore Legacy was after criminals who had surrounded President Mugabe. These criminals where never named and as it has turned up, the so called criminals where political pillars holding the Mugabe regime, albeit through corruption or criminal means. Surely Chombo, the only significant arrest, could not have stolen all the missing money and property. Did we need tanks to arrest Chombo? The government must publish this list of criminals around the President that warranted troops and tanks to come out of the barracks!
 
The army must remember that it is compromised in this matter. In accordance with General Zvinavashe still standing orders, the military has all along secured and underwritten Zanu PF into office through sheer force. All this fits very well into the Mugabe doctrine our-guns-our votes which states that Zanu PF guns and votes are complimentary, they insure each other.
That Mugabe had to go is not debatable but what that meant was that Mugabe and his likeliness or image had to go. On removing Mugabewe gave and still give comrade Chiwenga thumps up. But he can’t remove Mugabe the way he did so that he could takeover. He removed Mugabe and the VPs with the participation of all of us and, therefore, he cannot take the same power on a one person nomination.
 
General Chiwenga can only be a true hero if he seeks public vote from the same public he worked with to remove Mugabe. To assume power simply by Mnangagwa’s single nomination he is no longer a hero but a mere contractor who is being paid for services rendered. Our appeal to comrade General Chiwenga is that, now that he has retired from the army, he cannot morally take-up the VP post after removing the incumbent in the manner he did.
 
General Chiwenga can join and contest for political positions in any of the political parties, including ZUNDE, or openly compete in the general elections in 2018 for public office. Constitutionally he could not have been a member of Zanu PF. For him to hold positions in Zanu PF he must be seen to be following the basic membership and promotion laws of the Zanu PF constitution. We understand that some positions will require him to having been a card carrying member of the party for a minimum number of years. However, how Zanu PF will do it it’s up to them!
 
Thirdly, and now that Zanu PF has used unorthodox and unconstitutional means to retain power, and, in light of its declaration that it won’t reform itself out of power and that it will not give up power just for a mere vote (X), we can only conclude that that the democratic struggle has now a new enemy and task master.
 
Fourthly; unless President Mnangagwa condemns and apologise for Zanu PF atrocities especially Gukurahundi and all post-independence election violence, abductions, torture and violent farm seizures, his credentials remain suspect and no better than Mugabe. To be taken serious Mnangagwa must reverse General Zvinavashe’s standing order that the military will never salute anyone without liberation struggle credentials, renounces the Mugabe doctrine our-votes-our guns, agree to comprehensive democratic reforms and implements them, agree to a credible 2018 election, scrap the oppressive legislations like AIPA and allow democratic practice (including not pursuing me for this article), he remains an image to the dictator Robert Mugabe.
 
President Mnangagwa must apologise for the abuse of the security forces, intelligence community, war veterans and collaborators for using them as tools and agents of gross human rights violations. President Mnangagwa must target corruption not individuals or political foes.
 
Lastly; unless the new service commanders give a public pledge and assurance never to interfere in politics, the generality of politicians from both sides will perpetually live in fear. There will never be freedom in this country for as long as that fear or risk remains. Even President Mnangagwa is no longer safe in his office for as long as this fear persists. Anytime, Operation Restore Legacy may crank into motion. This is how serious our situation has become.
 
The fear of the army must be resolved now and not later. The army must assure us that it will serve the government of the day and respect the constitution of Zimbabwe. The army cannot meddle directly, as it has done in any affairs of a political party, especially ruling party, under the guise of national security.
 
ZUNDE remains anxious whether in Mnangagwa and Chiwenga we have found freedom or just younger dictatorship. We fear the later. To the oppressed mases of Zimbabwe we say it’s not yet Uhuru until General Chiwenga and President Mnangagwa clarify all these issues or vabuda pachena. Freedom is a right from God and not dependent on politicians’ goodwill. We are free because God created us thus and not because of the government.
 
As a party, ZUNDE is available and ready to offer any assistance to make Zimbabwe a better place for all of us. We can participate in national events and occasions if President Mnangagwa’s government assures the security of opposition political parties. We will oppose where it is necessary and applaud where due.
 
It must be clear to President Mnangagwa and General Chiwenga that, as a nation, we have justified, through recent street action, the removal of a failing and non-performing President. If they perform well and fine, but if not, they risk going the Mugabe way. President Mnangagwa is equally captured as was President Mugabe; he squandered a clear opportunity to rebuild Zimbabwe. Closely monitored by the hungry power brokers surrounding him, he was and may remain a mere captured lame duck!
 
Merry Christmas Zimbabwe
 
Let’s be on the watch until we live and experience freedom.
 
Farai Mbira
ZUNDE President
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Rotina Mavhunga Should Be Ready On Standby For Mohadi

By Allan Wenyika| If the United Nations introduces an award for best performers in voodoo economics, Zimbabwe could easily bag top prize. I honestly don’t understand where ZanuPf-Lacoste got the crazy idea that they can turn the economy around by having ED running all over pretending to be a Magufuli, Mandela, Mother Theresa and Obama, all rolled into one.

The coup was easy because it had the support of the people. It needed their guns only, guns which they had already used to capture a sitting president without the knowledge or approval of the people, before inviting the same people to demonstrate so they could falsely portray their coup as a people-driven revolution when it was none of that.

The economy, however, is proving to be a different animal altogether and it’s quite confusing for the group of coup plotters who now find themselves in furnished government offices through a coup, but without any real idea how to make anything work.

Someone should have told them that a country’s economy needs the support of serious investors with real mulla, cash, shalati, and that serious investors only invest in stable and democratic countries where their mulla is safe, not in Banana Republics led by circus troupes and warlords whose only claim to power is access to guns and tanks.

The same investors who, during the coup, promised to support the resultant government are now singing a different tune as if it’s not them who made the promise. They now want to see a free, fair and credible election first before they can open their wallets. Ouch!

They’ve even hinted that they don’t care how many farms ED returns to their original White owners, or the number of visits they make to churches and Mapostori shrines, or the number of Chicken Slice boxes their wives deliver to prison inmates and hospital patients. No, investors just want to see a free, fair and credible election in 2018 before they can get interested. Who doesn’t know that to ZanuPf-Lacoste a free and fair election is like a police roadblock waiting to impound both the car and the driver for dangerous driving? (Lucky for ED, there’s MT another dangerous driver to contend with. ED may just survive, depending how fast Mugabe’s invested poisons and own viruses destroy their respective bodies, relative to each other, before the election.)

And now that Cde ED has just tasted humble pie after discovering that Mugabe lied to them when he said their land reform program was irreversible and that Zimbabwe would never be a colony again, maybe it’s time Allan Wenyika reminds him and Madzibaba Chiwenga that global finance can be a pain in the backside sometimes. They have to return the land to real farmers who know the use of land first and wait for instructions from their new imperialist bosses on how to proceed .

Funny how a group of warlords can successfully rob their way into government and immediately become sitting ducks with no clue how to proceed. It’s slowly dawning on them that their success is hollow and the promises they got from prospective investors were fools’ gold only meant to make them behave and avoid chaos. The West sure knows how to put serial killers in their place.

I think Malume Kembo Mohadi should help his two bosses in the presidium by quickly locating the whereabouts of Sister Rotina Mavhunga before it’s too late. She could come up with a more viable plan to deal with record unemployment and cash shortages in the banks. Last time she managed to produce a few gallons of pure diesel from granite rocks somewhere in Chinhoyi when petrol and diesel became very difficult to get.

Malume should remember Rotina very well; she is the then young woman who got them to remove their expensive shoes to gain access to her mountain shrine for a show of the famous petroleum rituals. Who knows? Maybe this time she could produce millions of jobs and loads of greenbacks from another mountain, or from a river, and help save a crocodile and a retired general from getting couped by the people’s vote in 2018.

If it’s from a river she only needs to be extra cautious, crocodiles live there too, and they bite to kill.

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Police Raid And Arrest Another G40 Minister

By Dorrothy Moyo|  Police have raided a former “G40 Minister”, Makhosini Hlongwane and confiscated 10 tonnes of sugar beans at his farm.

The former Sport Minister and Member of Parliament for Mberengwa East, was yesterday arrested on the outskirts of Zvishavane town where his farm is.

arrested…Makhosini Hlongwane

Police have to date not disclosed the reasons for arresting him amid rumours that it is all political, over allegations of belonging to the G40 faction which was aligned to the former President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace. The development follows other raids conducted during the Defence Forces’ s so called “bloodless coup” Operation Restore Order last month which saw the G40 mastermind, Prof Jonathan Moyo being exiled. To date his bank accounts and those of his colleague, the former ZANU PF National Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, have been frozen, and another G40 minister Ignatius Chombo is currently on bail.

Police yesterday announced they 10 tonnes of sugar beans which they allege was criminally acquired.

State media sources claim that Hlongwane could not produce receipts for the sugar beans They said his current confession is that they were donated by a company which he could not disclose.

Acting police spokesperson for Midlands Province Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the arrest saying Hlongwane was released pending further investigations. Ass’ Inspector Mukwende said: “I can confirm that police picked up Makhosini Hlongwane at his farm today (yesterday). A statement was recorded before he was released, but investigations are still underway.”

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Civil Service Now Falls Under The President’s Office

By Farai D Hove|  The Civil Service now falls under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office.

The President’s spokesman, George Charamba yesterday made the announcement saying that: “the old Ministry Of Public Service And Social Welfare has been reconfigured to the Ministry Of Labour And Social Welfare. The Civil Service now falls under the Office Of The President and Cabinet (OPC) and that includes all Public Service Training Institutions and the Zimbabwe Institute Of Public Administration.”

 

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Bosso Refuse To Release Star Player As Dembare Eye The Talented Midfielder

Terrence Mawawa | Highlanders FC are reluctant to release their star player King Nadolo and they are desperate to negotiate fresh terms with him, club sources centrepiece revealed.

Dynamos FC are reportedly keen to snatch the gifted Bosso midfielder, it has emerged.

Nadolo, whose contract with Highlanders expires in five days, wants to leave the club but Bosso Officials are determined to convince the player to stay at the inconsistent Bulawayo Giants.

Although no official comment could be obtained from Bosso, Nadolo’ s manager, Gibson Mahachi said Bosso were keen to renew the player’ s contract.

“Nadolo’ s contract with Highlanders expires on December 31 so we will wait to hear from Bosso.

I am yet to hear from the player as well,” said Mahachi.

A source at Bosso said:” We are on a rebuilding mission and Nadolo(22) is part of our plans so we will not release him. “

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Mnangagwa Slams Shock Price Rises

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has ruled out legislation against arbitrary price increases and instead directed Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development Minister Dr Mike Bimha to bring together stakeholders and take corrective measures.

In a brief interview after the swearing-in of Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi at State House in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the spirit of profiteering should stop to ensure economic development.

“We are very concerned as Government about the general prices on the market. I had a meeting yesterday with the Minister of Industry (Commerce and Enterprise Development) Dr Bimha (and directed him) to call the manufacturers, sellers and retailers and discuss with them. We don’t think it is good to go for legislation; we need to come to an understanding and have the people in these categories appreciate where we are coming from and where we want to go,” President Mnangagwa said.

The President went on: “They must have a human face. They mustn’t be profiteering because in some cases we find the same article is sold at this price in this shop, different from that shop. Why should the difference be 15-20 percent on one item? We have to interrogate those issues.”

Prices of basic goods have been spiralling since late September 2017 when social media speculated on commodity shortages ahead of the festive season, but that never happened.

This is the second time in as many weeks that President Mnangagwa has condemned price hikes. Addressing delegates attending the 6th Buy Zimbabwe Annual Awards in Harare last week, President Mnangagwa said the practice was “counter-economic” and could not be allowed to continue.

He said business should complement Government efforts to revive the economy by refraining from counter-productive measures like selling cash and use of a multi-tier pricing system.

“We need to examine our modus operandi as captains of industry and commerce if we are ever going to move forward. There are some dealers, suppliers and business owners who are in the habit of increasing prices willy-nilly without proper justification. Let me hasten to say my Government says no to such counter-economic practices,” President Mnangagwa said.

A survey report by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe ahead of the Christmas holiday showed that the cost of some items had gone down in major supermarkets.

CCZ executive director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema said: “We did a survey on major supermarkets (last week) and we have noticed that basic commodities prices in some supermarkets have decreased. Some goods have decreased by $1 compared to other shops, so we advise consumers to shop around. The basic goods whose prices have slightly decreased include cooking oil, sugar, mealie-meal and poultry products.”

Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Mr Denford Mutashu said prices would continue to decline following the National Competitiveness Commission’s intervention.

He said: “We expect the prices to go down further after Christmas. We have been engaging various stakeholders across the value chain, and have roped in the National Competitiveness Commission with a view to bringing down prices.

“We have also been engaging beef producers over the past week so that they reduce beef prices. Some of them have been taking advantage of avian flu which was affecting poultry products to increase prices of beef, which was now on demand. Beef producers were putting exorbitant mark-ups. So, we have been engaging them to reduce prices. In addition, we have also engaged Government on the issue; we are working on the matter.”- state media

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SHOCKER: Another Teen Killed In Drowning Accident

A 17-year-old drowned in Strand, Cape Town, on Thursday afternoon after he disappeared among bathers, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said.

This brings the total amount of drownings in the Mother City over the festive period to four.

In a statement, NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said authorities were alerted to the teenager’s disappearance shortly before 18:00.

When NSRI rescue swimmers arrived at the scene, lifeguards had already entered the water looking for the boy, Lambinon said.

His body was found soon thereafter and brought to shore where paramedics conducted “extensive” CPR.

“All efforts to resuscitate the teenager were exhausted, he was declared deceased,” said Lambinon, who sent condolences to the boy’s family.

Meanwhile, search and rescue operations are underway in Richards Bay where a 10-year-old has gone missing in the surf at Mtyani Camp.

The search for the boy is set to continue overnight, Lambinon said.

Although Cape Town has seen fewer drownings in the current festive season compared to previous periods, officials remain concerned that the upcoming New Year’s Eve weekend could see an increase in the number.

Public urged to have fun safely

In a statement on Wednesday, City of Cape Town MMC for safety and security JP Smith said in December 2016 seven drownings were recorded while there were 13 in 2015.

“Drowning remains a concern and we urge people to have fun safely and to swim where there are lifeguards,” Smith said.

On Tuesday afternoon, 34-year-old Ziyaad Sadien drowned near Gordons Bay while trying to save his 10-year-old son.

The father jumped from a fishing boat to rescue his child, but was overwhelmed by the water.

A Janaza, prayer service, was set to be held on Thursday evening in his honour.

Also on Tuesday, a 63-year-old man from Athlone was declared dead on the scene after he was found floating and unresponsive in the water at an education camp in Soetwater.

On Wednesday, A 20-year-old man drowned in Strand, Cape Town, after he was swept out to sea by a rip current.-News24

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Mohadi Hits The Road Running

Senator for Beitbridge Tambudzani Mohadi and a local parliamentarian Metrine Mudau have donated food hampers and blankets to 40 people among them orphans and senior citizens in Beitbridge West constituency.

Speaking during the handover of the donation at House of Hope orphanage in Hwunga area,  Mohadi said the donation was part of her annual programme to help the less privileged members of the community.

The politicians jointly handed over an assortment of food hampers to the beneficiaries on Boxing Day.

The food hampers comprised; sugar, rice, cooking oil, flour, tea leaves, salt, washing and bathing soap.

“It is very critical, this time of the year, that we remember to share the little resources we get with the less privileged of the society,” said Senator Mohadi.

Beitbridge West legislature, Mudau said they will continue identifying more people in need of assistance in the community, especially orphans, child headed families and the elderly.

She called on businesses and other corporates to consider giving back to the communities they operate in as part of their social responsibility.

More than 500 people have so far benefited from Mohadi’s annual charity programme.

Some of the beneficiaries are from Dulivhadzimo, Shabwe, Malala, Dite, Chaswingo and Lutumba areas.- state media

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Shock As Raw Sewage Flows For 3 Weeks And No Control

A health time bomb is ticking in Harare’s Mabvuku suburb as raw effluent has been flowing from the sewer system for more than three weeks without any corrective measures being taken.

The putrid stench that greets any visitor to the residential suburb of Mabvuku is the first telltale sign that all is not well in the area.

Raw effluent is flowing from the sewer system, causing a health scare for concerned residents who have endured the smell and generally unhygienic conditions for a period which could not be ascertained, as some said the overflow began three weeks back while others said it started two months ago.

With the rainy season in full swing, the sewage has become a fertile breeding ground for water borne diseases and malaria-causing mosquitoes in nearby swamps, prompting urgent remedial action.

An obsolete sewer reticulation system and the ballooning urban population pose a major challenge for the city of Harare in its efforts to satisfy the standards of proper sanitation.
— ZBC

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Hungwe Reckless Army Comments Cost Him Donor Support

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | Relief organisations have boycotted Masvingo State Minister, Josaya Dunira Hungwe’ s meeting to discuss the way forward on the Tokwe Mukorsi Dam Project citing the politician’ s utterances.

Hungwe had organised an urgent stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the selection method for investors for the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam Project.The meeting was slated for Today (Tuesday).

Hungwe organised the meeting amid reports that some donor organisations wanted to withdraw from
the project due to political interference.

Government officials at Benjamin Burombo Building said donor agencies were unhappy with Hungwe’ s ‘carefree’ political rhetoric.

Hungwe would neither confirm nor deny that the meeting had been cancelled.

“We are likely to meet on Friday because there are suggestions that government must leave the running of business at Tokwe-Mukosi to private companies,” Hungwe said.

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ARMY TRAUMA: Rugeje Terror Haunts Bikita Villagers

Terrence Mawawa, Bikita | The mere calling of Retired Major General Englebert Rugeje’ s name in Bikita District sends shivers down local villagers’ spines.

Villagers here have expressed cynicism about the newly appointed Zanu PF Political Commissar, Rugeje’ s sincerity in embarking on a peaceful campaign.

The villagers related how Rugeje tormented and intimidated suspected anti- Zanu PF elements in the area.

A villager from Chikuku Area, Bikita East Constituency, told ZimEye yesterday the appointment of Rugeje as the political commissar was an indication the new government was prepared to subvert the will of the people.

“There is commotion here following Rugeje’ s elevation to the top echelons of the Zanu PF Commissariat,” said the villager.

Another Villager from Bhengura, ward 4 Bikita South Constituency said he was tortured by a group of Zanu PF youths who were instructed by Rugeje to beat up local individuals thought to be sympathetic to the opposition.

“So you expect us to hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil when we are still nursing injuries and traumatic memories?

The Zanu PF mandarins are busy propagating the message of reconciliation simply because they want our votes.

We are tired of being fooled by the cunning ruling party honchos,”

A local teacher said:” I fled to South Africa because Rugeje and his men wanted to punish me for refusing to be used by the regime to manipulate the voting process. “

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Drama As Woman Fleeces Bank In Heist Gone Wrong

An employee with Premier Tobacco Auction Floors has been charged with fraud after she allegedly hacked into the banking system of a local financial institution from which she spirited nearly $10 000.

Lizzie Kandengwa, 40, was released on $50 bail when she appeared before Harare magistrate Josephine Sande charged with fraud.

As part of bail conditions, Kandengwa was ordered to continue residing at her present address and not interfere with witnesses and investigations until the case is finalised.

She was remanded to January 24 next year.

The complainant is a local financial institution.

Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that on November 21, this year Kandengwa connived with Stanley Mariko, Melody Basera, Hardlife Kafiramani, Tendai Chikumbirike, Erisha Kaitano and Tendai Meki and hatched a plan to defraud the bank by manipulating tobacco farmers’ accounts.

The court heard that Kandengwa then contacted Eustinah Chivige, a farmer from Headlands, and asked to use her bank account on the pretext that she wanted to receive money from a cousin.

At that stage Chivige’s bank account with the complainant had no money and she agreed to supply her bank details and mobile number.

It was alleged that Kandengwa and her accomplices then transferred $4 910 into Chivige’s account using the Zipit platform.

The court was told that Kandengwa then logged into the bank’s system using Chivige’s mobile number and another for Loveness Munzara.

It was alleged that using fraudulent means Kandengwa linked the two mobile numbers to the bank account.

She went on to use Chivige’s phone number and reversed the $4 910 transaction sending the amount into one of her accomplices Basera’s bank account, it was further alleged.

The court heard that Munzara immediately made another reversal of the $4 910 before the complainant had captured the first transaction.

It was further alleged that on November 27, Mariko misrepresented to another farmer Lameck Mukuwaza that Premier Tobacco was offering loans to tobacco farmers.

Mukuwaza wanted a loan and supplied his banking details and mobile number which is linked to the bank.

His account had no money and Mariko transferred $4 990 using Zipit but later reversed the transaction and offered to give the farmer cash.

Using the same modus operandi Kandengwa made a reversal of the $4 990 transfer to Kafiramani’s bank account while Munzara immediately moved the same amount before the complainant had picked the anomaly.

Mukuwaza’s bank account was subsequently overdrawn by $4 990.

The State alleges the complainant lost $9 890.

Source:Daily News

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Oppah Muchinguri’s Office Broken Into | BREAKING NEWS

 Unknown intruders broke into offices belonging to the Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri during the night over the weekend. The offices are housed at Kaguvi Building in Harare and the motive behind the break-in is still unknown.

As of today, it remains unclear whether or not there were any goods and property that went missing in these offices. Although the details are still sketchy, police sources who confirmed the matter said the offence was discovered on Boxing Day at around 4.30pm.A report was then made at Harare Central Police Station and a team of police detectives and other security agents attended the scene.

Investigations are still in progress and no arrests have been made in connection with the case.

“The offence was discovered on December 26, 2017 at around 16.30hours at the Water, Environment and Climate Change Ministry which is housed on the 12th Floor of Kaguvi Building. The case was reported a few hours later at Harare Central Police Station,” said a police source close to the investigations.

The Herald understands that a team of police detectives also visited the offices on Wednesday morning up until evening to continue investigations.- state media

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FUNERAL SHOCKER: Man Caught Having Sex At Wife’s Funeral Service

A Gweru man left Chiredzi people shocked when he was caught having sex with another woman during his wife’s funeral service.

Circumstances are that the accused Luscious Chiturumani stayed in Gweru with his wife Sibongile Mthetwa who allegedly died after a short illness.

Since Chiturumani had not fully paid the bride price, it was then decided that the deceased be buried in Chiredzi, her parents’ rural community.On arrival the deceased’s husband was accompanied by a woman whom he claimed to be his sister and he was accorded full respect as a son-in-law of the family.

The two were then given a courtesy room for them to rest as a family and they then retired to bed earlier than other people as visitors. More people were expected to join them in the room but none did and they took advantage of the situation and woke up to some early morning se_x.

Claims are that just before 6am someone smoking outside leaning on the window heard some funny sounds emanating from the room which the two were resting in.

The unidentified man then decided to call others to see what was happening inside. Unfortunately the doors had no locks and the two were found busy having se_x.

A close relative of the deceased identified as Grace Mtethwa confirmed the incident saying that Chiturumani had brought disgrace to their family as the case will remain the talk of town.

“It is very much disgusting what my uncle has done. Humbwa chaiwo.

“He has proven to be a dog and lacking any sense of morality. How can someone come all the way from Gweru to have se_x here aaah? I had never seen anything like such in my entire life.

“Apa haana kumbopedza kubhadhara roora racho but he found the courage to bring a prostitute saying it was his sister.

Mthetwa added;

“We gave them a room to sleep in at around 9pm.

“You know the setup yepanhamo taitoti in that room kwaizopinda vamwe vanhu 6 vozorara navo imomo zvanga zvisina problem coz ma rooms anenge asingakwane.

“You know at a funeral very few people retire to bed and if they do so it will be around 1am vatoneta nekuimba so I guess that is the advantage which the so called brother and sister took because no one joined them in their room.

“At around 5am a certain man came to a place where my aunts and I were sitting saying we should visit the room where he heard some sounds assuming there was a problem.

“Tichingopindamo takaona haasi mashura iyawo bhudhi na sisi vakanamirana, ndakazarirwa nehasha ende ndakanyara, in fact ndichiri kunyara nezvandakaona,” she said.

Mob justice is said to have followed for disrespecting the dead, the in-laws and again for deceiving people that the lady was his sister and agreeing to share a room with her.

The two were force-marched out of the room and Chiturumani was being slapped and kicked as he made the short walk to a car that was waiting for him in the yard.

Chiturumani’s phone has been off up to the time of going to print.

Source-H metro

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ARMY COUP: Mugabe And Grace Have Last Laugh

Ray Nkosi | After President Robert Mugabe’s resignation last November, many escaped total humuliation for a weaker and much emasculated former head of state soon to be subjected to further public humiliation.

However, this has not been the case it seems, for Mugabe and his wife Grace as they have literary walked away without the political power they enjoyed before but with very little changing in their lavish lifestyle – courtesy of new President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The local Daily News reports that Mnangagwa’s government has given the country’s  deposed former leader Robert Mugabe an eye-watering exit package which includes benefits commensurate with those of a sitting head of State.

Details of the frail nonagenarian’s massive golden handshake were announced in the Government Gazette on Friday under Presidential Pension and Retirement Packages Notice 2017.

Meanwhile, the Daily News has also learnt that the publicised exit package does not include the $10 million which was dangled to the soon to be 94-year-old as part of the negotiations which led to his ouster last month — and which also culminated in him being granted immunity from prosecution.

Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist for close to four decades, “resigned” from the top office on November 21 this year — hours after Parliament had initiated proceedings to impeach him.

This happened after he had refused to leave office during eight tense days that began with the military intervening in the governance of the country.

“The president, in terms of section 3(1) of the Presidential Pension and Retirement Benefits Act, hereby makes the following notice: “A former president of Zimbabwe, who has at any time since the 31st December 1987, been president of Zimbabwe for at least one full term of office, shall be entitled to the enjoyment of the following services, facilities and allowances — staff (a) the services of — (i) such security personnel as may be determined by the president, but no less than six, and to be increased by such number as may be determined by the  president whenever and for such period as the need arises; and (ii) two drivers and (iii) two private secretaries; and (iv) two aide-de-camp officers or personal assistants; and (v) two office attendants,” read  the notice in Friday’s Government Gazette.

The publicised raft of benefits details the number of staff at Mugabe’s disposal, as well as office and accommodation arrangements, including a private residence on a 5 000 square metres piece of land; comprehensive medical cover for him, his wife and children, as well as transport that includes top-of-the-range vehicles.

Mugabe and Grace are also entitled to diplomatic passports and private, first class international air travel up — to a maximum of four trips per  year. Mugabe will also receive a Mercedes Benz S500 series or any equivalent vehicle, one four-wheel drive station wagon or an equivalent vehicle, and one pick up van.

Apart from maintaining and fuelling the vehicles, government will also be obliged to replace all the vehicles after five years.

The 93-year-old also has the option of maintaining his long motorcade after government notified that Mugabe was entitled to the provision of “such adequate number of vehicles as may be determined by the president and which must be put at the disposal of the security  personnel and other staff serving the former president”.

Mugabe will also be entitled to a landline telephone, a cellphone, two computers and “such other office equipment and materials as may be determined by the president”.

In terms of accommodation, the former Zanu PF supremo will be provided with “a fully furnished official residence at any place in Harare”.

The housing benefits will also include any such befitting request made by Mugabe within two months of leaving office.

According to the gazette, Mugabe may request the construction of a single private residence at any place of his choice in Zimbabwe, and it will be granted. If he so chooses, he can also request for the payment of a lump sum which is equal or equivalent to the value of the private residence he so desires.

“In the case of his official residence … if the president (Mugabe) dies, his or her surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, his or her dependent child must continue to be provided with suitable state residential accommodation until – (i) in the case of a surviving spouse, the date on which he or she dies or remarries, whichever event occurs first; and (ii) in the case of the dependent child, the date which he or she dies or the date on which he or she attains the age of 21 years, whichever event occurs first,” the gazette reads.

The private residence is to be constructed on land not exceeding 5 000  square metres and the residence itself may not exceed a reasonably-sized house with five bedrooms, a guest wing with three bedrooms, a study, a swimming pool, two guardrooms and two garages.

In connection with the residence, government will on behalf of Mugabe employ three domestic workers, two gardeners, two cooks, two waiters and two laundry personnel.

Mugabe along with Grace will also be entitled to first class air and rail travel within Zimbabwe as well as first class international travel up to a maximum of four trips a year.

Other benefits will see Mugabe getting an entertainment allowance as determined by Mnangagwa.

Mugabe will also be entitled to payment of telephone expenses, water and electricity charges. The curtain fell on the veteran former Zimbabwe and Zanu PF leader on November 21 when he resigned moments after Parliament had started proceedings to impeach him.

This followed a military intervention code-named Operation Restore Legacy which saw the nonagenarian and his wife being placed under house arrest.

Several Cabinet ministers linked to the Generation 40 (G40) faction who had coalesced around Grace were targeted in the operation which ended only recently, with the soldiers only retreating to the barracks after five weeks of executing the operation.

Mugabe was accused of turning Zimbabwe, which was once the bread basket of Africa, into a basket case due to years of mismanagement and executive corruption.

Today, Zimbabwe is ranked among the poorest countries in the world.

 

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VP Kembo Mohadi Loses Parly Seat He Held Since 1985

Farirai Madhumbe | The recently sworn in Vice President of Zimbabwe Kembo Mohadi has lost his parliamentary seat for Beitbridge which he has held onto since 1985.

The seat is now vacant according to MDC- Alliance official Discent Collins Bajila, who today explained after the official swearing in ceremony of Mohadi, that the Beitbridge East House of Assembly seat fell vacant and by law, if a Member of Parliament becomes Vice President their membership of parliament automatically lapses.

“When Emerson Mnangagwa became VP in 2014, his Chirumanzi Zibagwe seat fell vacant. A by election was called and his wife Auxillia succeeded him. Kembo Mohadi has been Beitbridge MP since 1985. In 2005 when Senate was introduced, Mrs Tambudzani Mohadi became a senator. In 2008 when Beitbridge was split into Beitbridge East and West, Kembo took East while West went to Metrin Mudau,” Bajila said.

Now that Kembo leaves Beitbridge East after filling divorce papers against Tambudzani, it would be interesting to note whether sister Portia Mohadi or son Campbell Junior Mohadi or estranged wife will be deployed by the dynasties association.

Remember Andrew Langa and wife Clara run Insiza as their dynasty.

Clara has GMB and Rural District Council on remote. Their son Moses runs Agribank Filabusi.”

He also said Obert Mpofu and wife Sikhanyisiwe run Umguza.

“Mrs Mpofu is former Rural District Council boss. Now she is Proportional Representation MP for the Province,” he said.

“Just one dynasty fell. Many remain with us.”

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Shock As Minister Announces National Pledge To Stay

Government will not do away with the National Schools Pledge but might consider working on re-wording it and ensure that it is recited not only in the schools but at different fora.

The National Schools Pledge was introduced in schools last year and sparked outrage from all sectors with some suggesting that it was smuggled into the new curriculum as it was not part of the Dr Caiphas Nziramasanga report.

 Addressing teachers and other stakeholders at Mzilikazi High School yesterday at a curriculum review symposium, Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Professor Paul Mavima said the pledge would not be scrapped.

“We are a young nation, we have to affirm our Zimbabwean identity and we have also to affirm the various groups, ethnicities, regions of our country to make sure that we develop a strong national identity.

“It’s not true that Nziramasanga did not broach the national pledge. He had even written a small book on the need for the national pledge. His is not even a national schools pledge but a national pledge,” said Prof Mavima.

He said Dr Nziramasanga was proposing that the National pledge be all encompassing and not just be for school children.

“I have engaged him in the past two weeks, he has given me that book. He says maybe the wording of this pledge may not be the right wording.

“He also says it’s unfortunate that we are only requiring it for school children. It’s supposed to be a national pledge so that we build an identity around it,” said Prof Mavima.

“So when you just say because Nziramasanga did not mention it, let’s get rid of it, I don’t agree. If you say let’s help each other around the wording and also the level of application, I say kudos to you we can do that,” said Prof Mavima.

Teachers that attended the symposium said they want the new curriculum and the schools pledge to be done away with.

Prof Mavima said the call to drop the new education curriculum is not sustainable.

“The call to drop the curriculum is a call to take us back, it is suicidal and therefore not sustainable. We really have no dream to drop the new curriculum but to continue perfecting it until we realise the vision.

The vision is to use education as a transformative tool to help Zimbabwe to move into the 21st century, to help Zimbabwe to move from poverty to wealth and I think we can do this in one generation,” said Prof Mavima.

Teachers at the symposium highlighted a number of issues among them lack of infrastructure, inadequate training, difficult and too many tasks and projects.

The teachers suggested that more practicals be introduced other than Agriculture which is compulsory and straining the few teachers who take it at the schools

Minister Mavhima said tasks have to be localised to suit the environment and should be limited to one per year to ensure proper supervision.

“The tasks for Tsholotsho have to be different from tasks for Bulawayo because Tsholotsho is different from Bulawayo. Maybe you want the game rangers visiting the schools instead of the schools visiting the game parks because it’s not feasible always.

“There is a way you can be innovative about these things and be able to achieve your goals. Let’s work on things that impede the development of the new curriculum but let’s realise the value that this new curriculum brings to our nation,” said Prof Mavima.

The Minister said he was continuing with consultations and also engaging academics.

“I have started receiving recommendations, I have contacted deans from all universities, made submissions on the new curriculums and I have even contacted David Coltart who was Minister of Education prior to Dr Lazarus Dokora and he has given me his input. Dr Nziramasanga himself has given me his input. I continue to do these interactions with teachers and parents so that I get your inputs,” he said.

Prof Mavima said starting next month, 17 new schools would be constructed and are expected to be complete in six months.

“These new schools will be comprehensive with everything, science labs, and computer laboratories at every primary school. They are going to have decent accommodation for our teachers, we can’t afford a school that is not complete anymore,” he said. – state media

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Church Prays For Peaceful Elections

With 2018 harmonized elections now a few months away, the church has already set its sight on a peaceful plebiscite with the Chitungwiza based Victory Power International Ministries’ crossover all night prayer on the 31st of December dedicated to praying for a violence free process.

Victory Power International Ministries led by Bishop Believe Paradise and Pastor Mitchel Paradise believes God’s power will ensure the country remains peaceful during elections, something he reckons will help rebuild Zimbabwe.

In an interview with 263Chat, Bishop Paradise said the crossover night which will be punctuated by manifestation of the spirit of God and prophecy will also be about seeking divine guidance during the forthcoming elections.

“On the crossover night we are expecting the hand of God to move in the church and the purpose of the service is to make God lead our country in the coming year,” said Bishop Paradise.

“A lot of miracles are going to happen on the night, as well as deliverance, healing, thanksgiving and prophetic declarations,” he said.

“There is also going to be performances by our church choir, Africa Praise, as well as surprise guest Artist”

“We are inviting the Christians all over Zimbabwe to come and praise God with us on the night and those who will come will see the hand of God in the life” he added.

The role of the church in a country can never be under-estimated as it has always taken a leading initiative in praying for peace. With President Emmerson Mnangagwa promising a peaceful, free and fair elections in 2018, Bishop Paradise’s effort is a welcome development for the country especially now that the focus is on rebuilding the battered image.263chat

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Shock As Man Slits Own Throat In Suicide Bid

A man from Victoria Falls allegedly slit his throat in a suspected suicide attempt.

 Godwins Tshuma (28) from Chisuma village under Chief Mvuthu was found crying while holding his neck and bleeding severely on Friday last week.

He is reportedly battling for his life at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.

The Officer Commanding Victoria Falls District, Chief Superintendent Jairos Chiwona, confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm there is a case where somebody slit his throat reportedly as a suicide attempt, but the case is still under investigation. He is battling for his life in Bulawayo. We are neither saying there was foul play or not,” said Chief Supt Chiwona.

Tshuma, who attends Zaoga Church, is said to have been fasting and on Thursday he became unusually quiet and refused to sleep in the same room with his wife.

It is said that his wife went to check on him on Friday morning and found the room empty.

A search was carried out and he was later found walking, wearing only underpants.

His family took him to the hospital suspecting a mental illness and they could not get the help they wanted. They then took him to a prophet who prayed for him and he was taken home in Mkhosana, Victoria Falls.

Tshuma reportedly ran away from home.

He was later found crying while holding his neck which was bleeding profusely from a visible cut on the throat.
Tshuma was taken to Victoria Falls District hospital and due to the severe injuries, he was transferred to Mpilo hospital. – state media

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Donkeys Shot As Govt Refuses To License Abattoir

The Government will not license a donkey abattoir that is being built in Bulawayo.

The Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services DLVS) made the announcement last week as the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said it had put down over 10 donkeys that were destined for slaughter at the proposed facility.

Bulawayo SPCA Veterinary Surgeon, Dr Anele Dube said the donkeys which were being kept at a feedlot at Manningdale low density suburb were killed two months ago after the animal welfare organisation noted that they were in a bad condition.

This followed a visit by the SPCA and Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Zimbabwe (VAWZ) officials who recommended that the animals be euthanised as they were severely injured while others were sickly.

“We went there and identified about a dozen donkeys that were seriously sick and those were destroyed, they were euthanised humanely and we didn’t have any problems with (Mr Gareth) Lumsden (owner of the donkey abattoir) and we go there regularly at least once a week,” said Dr Dube.
Battlefront Investments had bought about 200 donkeys from areas such as Kezi, Plumtree, Nkayi and Gokwe for slaughtering at the abattoir in Waterford which was supposed to start operations before the end of October.

Pressure has been mounting on Mr Lumsden to drop the initiative with animal welfare groups considering instituting legal action.

DLVS director Dr Josphat Nyika said:

“We don’t know about the donkey abattoir, when it was constructed or if the construction has been completed. I have never seen any application for the setting-up of a donkey abattoir. We are the registration authority and after all we don’t have laws that allow for the registration of a donkey abattoir.

“It’s not even there on (Abattoir Inspection and Certification) SI (Statutory Instrument) of 1995 of the Veterinary Public Health thus it can never be registered. As the Department of Veterinary Services we report to the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development,” said Dr Nyika.

The other SIs that fall under the Abattoir Inspection and Certification are SI 111 of 1984 and SI 369 of 1998.

The non-licensing of the abattoir means Battlefront Investments’ investment of over $150 000 has gone up in smoke if the company does not convert the infrastructure to serve another purpose.

The company had intended to export donkey meat and hides to China where they are in demand especially the latter, to produce a traditional Chinese product called ejiao.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Lumsden by the time of going to press were futile as his cellphone went unanswered. – state media

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Mnangagwa Cautions Chiwenga, Mohadi

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned his newly sworn in deputies, Retired General Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi to guard against complacency saying they should hit the ground running and deliver on the promises government  committed to deliver to the country.

Briefing journalists at State House today (Thursday) during Chiwenga and Mohadi’s swearing in ceremony, Mnangagwa said their immediate task is to work with ministers to ensure development of the country.

“The new Vice Presidents are not only expected to perform, but to show results and that entails guarding against complacency. They have to drive the Ministers.

“The performance of the Ministers will be reflected by the supervision given by the two Vice Presidents so the assessment of the two will be based on what comes out of our ministries,” said Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa’s calls follows his stance since taking over from former President Robert Mugabe, to improve the work ethics, especially in the public service sector.

During his inauguration, Mnangagwa warned that days of complacency and absenteeism in the public service were long gone.- 263 chat

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EXPOSED: How Grace Mugabe, Undenge Threatened Lotto Winner With Death And Arrest

By Special Correspondent | It never rains but pours for former Zanu PF women’s league secretary for administration, Letina Undenge as cases of her abuse of power during the Robert and Grace Mugabe era start emerging.

Letina Undenge a very strong ally of the former first family, who is also the wife to former Minister of Energy, Samuel Undenge stands accused of threatening Kumbirai Ruguva with death and arrest after Rugava had demanded to be paid the balance of his Three Hundred and six thousand dollars which he won at Star Lotto Zimbabwe owned by Letina Undenge.  Rugava has decided to open up, as he feels that, the ZDF led operation restore legacy has given a voice to all the people who were abused and harassed by the G40 cabal under the name of the first family.

On  the 14th of  August 2013, Kumbirai Ruguva woke up to life changing news after he had struck the right numbers and won $306 000 during a lottery challenge but his excitement was cut short after Star lotto Zimbabwe only paid him  $130 000 instead of the $306 000 leaving a balance of $176 000. Letina Undenge and Star Lotto claimed that Ruguva was supposed to give them a satisfactory business proposal of how he intended to use the money if they pay him. Ruguva complied with their demand and submitted his business proposal only for it to be turned down as unsatisfactory by Star Lotto Zimbabwe.

Countless efforts by Ruguva to recover the rest of his price money from Star Lotto Zimbabwe were in vain as Letina Undenge started flexing her political muscle and at one time threatened Ruguva with death and arrest saying, “Usandinetsa otherwise uchazvifira zvinhu zvauri kunetsera” (Stop bothering me, you will die for that). At another time Undenge threatened to use her political power to get Ruguva arrested, “I am a very influential person and I will get you arrested any time” shouted Undenge after being confronted by Ruguva.

Fearing for his life, Ruguva made an appeal to the High Court under case number HC2746/13 to get his balance paid and the High Court made a ruling in his favour in 2014 compelling Star Lotto Zimbabwe to pay Ruguva his balance but Undenge is said to have used her close proximity to the then first lady Grace Mugabe to stop Ruguva from getting paid despite the High Court judgement.  Ruguva up to this day is still seeking for justice and hopes that the new administration will hold Letina Undenge and Star Lotto to account.

“All I wish is to be paid my balance, Mrs Undenge threatened me and my family but I am ready to forgive her as long as she pays me what belongs to me” said an emotional Ruguva. On the other hand, Undenge claims that she does not own Star Lotto, which she says was a joint venture and she was only the licence holder. She claims that she too is owed some money by some foreign white business people who she said were the real owners of Star Lotto and who had disappeared with her money and asserts.

If her claim is proven to be true then this also leaves her in another serious case to answer to the state as she helped in facilitating the externalization of funds by fronting foreign owned companies. Undenge has however expressed an interest to meet Ruguva and settle the matter as her political empire and power crumbled after her expulsion from Zanu PF a few weeks ago. Mrs Undenge was Secretary for Administration during the Grace Mugabe led Zanu PF women’s league and she together with Sarah Mahoka and Mandi Chimene were very vocal in insulting the then Vice President no President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

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Nkala Spills The Beans On The “Fake Ticket Joke” That Got Him Arrested

Hehehehe @ZimEye there we go. Thts the thread tht got me arrested… pic.twitter.com/SaniCDw9Fl

— #khuliyo (@NkueNkala) December 28, 2017

Ray Nkosi | Nkululeko Nkala, known as Khuliyo in music circles has come out to share more on the social media joke which got him arrested.

Responding on the ZimEye.com twitter account Nkala said, “Hehehehe there we go. Thts the thread tht got me arrested.”

 The state media reported earlier today that a social media joke turned nasty for a Bulawayo artist who was nearly jailed yesterday for claiming to be in possession of cheaper and counterfeit Kalawa Homecoming tickets ahead of the show which took place last night.

Nkala, known as Khuliyo in music circles, did not know that his joke would land him in trouble when he posted a fake South African number claiming it belonged to Oskido and claiming that those who wanted cheap tickets could get hold of the Kalawa Jazmee boss.

He had jokingly claimed that people could get tickets for as low as $5, yet the lowest selling ticket was going for $15.

His joke did not go well with the organisers of the most-attended annual show who thought he was illegally selling tickets and promptly reported him to the police.

The organisers, who include SA-based Oskido – the brains behind the famed event – caused the arrest of Nkala who was dragged to Bulawayo Central Police Station yesterday morning.

A video of Nkala seated on the police station benches was circulated on social media yesterday afternoon, with Oskido also pitching up at the station. Nkala is seen trying to justify himself saying it was just a jest.

“I was just playing on the WhatsApp group with one of the guys who was asking if he could get $5 tickets for the Homecoming show. I just randomly put a number saying its Oskido’s so if he wants cheap tickets, he should get in touch with him. It was just a plain joke,” Nkala is overheard explaining at the police station.

At that point, Oskido then interjects saying: “Do you know how much money we put into this gig. We don’t even make money. We’re trying to uplift local people, yet you mess up the show.”

In an interview, local Kalawa Homecoming organiser, Vusumuzi Siqalaba, said Nkala was made to clarify that there were no Homecoming tickets being sold for $5 through social media messages.

“We told him that he had to create another social media message stating that tickets are only being sold at Rainbow Hotel. And that the number he had sent does not belong to Oskido.

“There’re no fake tickets anywhere,” Siqalaba said.

Nkala said he had since apologised and paid a fine, insisting that he was joking. However, he said it seems someone was bitter with him, hence the need to try and embarrass him with an arrest.

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“Fearing Mnangagwa Govt”, 4 Zimbabweans Stuck At Bangkok Airport

By AFP: Bangkok – A Zimbabwean family has been marooned at Bangkok’s main airport for two months, Thai immigration police said Thursday, an ordeal over the holiday season that has drawn widespread sympathy among Thais.

The family, four adults and four children — who are aged between two and 11-years-old — have tried to leave Thailand since late October.

But they lack visas for onward travel, refuse to return to Zimbabwe and are denied re-entry to the kingdom after overstaying, trapping them in limbo in the airside area of the airport.

Their predicament first emerged after a Thai Facebook user posted a photo of himself giving one of the children a Christmas present.

The post, which explained their predicament, went viral as questions emerged as to how they had lived at the airport for so long.

Comparisons were quickly made with the 2004 film “The Terminal,” in which a man played by Tom Hanks finds himself stuck in a New York airport after his government collapses, rendering his papers useless.

Immigration police said the family entered Thailand in May on tourist visas.

On October 23 they tried to fly to Spain via Ukraine, but were denied by the airline as they lacked Spanish visas.

As they had overstayed their Thai visas by several months they were banned from re-entering the country.

They are trapped as they have also “refused to return to Zimbabwe citing their fear for their for their safety due to unrest in Zimbabwe,” the official said, requesting anonymity.

Airlines have been providing them with food.

Zimbabwe’s military pushed out 93-year-old despot Robert Mugabe in November paving the way for a transition from decades of mismanagement and authoritarian rule.

But there has been little unrest and the new president has encouraged Zimbabweans who fled under Mugabe’s rule to return home.

The family have applied for asylum hoping to be resettled outside of Thailand, which does not formally accept refugees.

Vivian Tan, a spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency in Bangkok said the UNHCR was “currently exploring potential solutions” for the family but could not provide more details for confidentiality reasons.

With visa-on-arrival agreements with many countries, Thailand has long been a destination for those fleeing civil strife and poverty.

But it does not allow refugees to legally settle in the kingdom, meaning those seeking asylum need to a find a third country option.

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Oppah Muchinguri’s Big Confession | OPINION

indepth…Wilbert Mukori

Wilbert Mukori | “The Zanu PF National Chairperson, Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, National Political Commissar, Retired Lieutenant General Dr Engelbert Rugeje and the principal of the Chitepo Ideological School, Munyaradzi Machacha have agreed that Zanu PF has to change its work ethic, adding that the era of bussing people around is over,” reported Bulawayo 24.

“The three were addressing Zanu PF provincial chairpersons and provincial commissars in Harare this Wednesday.”

Is this the party now admitting that it bussed people around to attend its rallies and, more significantly, to cast multiple votes?

I do not believe you can teach an old dog new tricks much less teach it to forget old tricks. I firmly believe Zanu PF has no intention of holding free, fair and credible elections next year; it will rig the vote as before. What the party will do different next year is go the extra mile, ten miles whatever it will take, to hide the evidence of vote rigging.

There are four bench marks to show Zanu PF has no intention of holding free, fair and credible elections:

  1. a)ZEC will not have the time to register 7 million, by its own estimate, voters and, worse still, to produce a verified voters’ roll. Until the Mugabe’s last cabinet reshuffle two months ago now President Emmerson Mnangagwa was VP and also Minister of Justice. He would have known that the voter registration exercise should have started January 2015 at the very latest for ZEC to given all would be voters a chance to register. Instead the registration only kicked off in mid-September 2017 and ZEC has been given five months to register the voters. A week ago, ZEC officials admitted they will only register 5 million instead of 7 million. How can this process be legal when it has disenfranchised nearly 30% of the electorate just like that!

Worse still, ZEC will not have the time to produce a verified voters’ roll, there is simple no time left with the voter registration finishing mid-February and voting set for July at the very latest. It was because there was not verified voters’ roll that nearly a million opposition supporters were denied the vote in July 2013 because their names were not in the constituency voters’ roll they expected. Also with no verified voters roll Zanu PF was able to bus its supporters from one polling station to the next casting multiple votes. The party will do the same again next year or bus marked ballots not people to avoid detection.

  1. b)Two years ago then President Mugabe admitted the country was being “swindled out of $15 billion in diamond revenue”. No one has ever been arrested and not one red cent has ever been recovered. A year ago, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa, told parliament he was receiving 1/6 of the expected diamond revenue. In other words, the swindling is still taking place. Some of the money has been used to build Zanu PF ruling elite’s ten bedroom plus mansions and their multi-million business empires. However, some of the looted money has been used to bankroll the party’s multifaceted vote rigging schemes.

How can we have a fair election when Zanu PF spends $15 billion plus on its campaign activities whilst the opposition will be very luck to amass $1.5 million?

  1. c)Zanu PF’s monopoly of the public media is totally unacceptable because it has denied the electorate the opportunity to hear the opposition’s points of view.
  1. d)SADC came up with a raft of democratic reforms including reforms to free ZEC and the Police to carry out their duties without fear or favour. None of these reforms were implemented during the GNU and the regional leaders recommended that the July 2013 elections must be postponed to allow time to have the reforms implemented.

MDC passed a party resolution not to contest future elections until reforms are implemented. “No reform, no elections!” Sadly, they have since disregarded the resolution in pursuit of the few gravy train seat Zanu PF gives away to entice the opposition to take part.

With no reforms in place it is IMPOSSIBLE to hold free, fair and credible elections.

“The three also called for people to register to vote in next year’s general elections,” continued the report.

Well there lays the political dilemma, the catch-22 of Zimbabwe politics. With not one sign of movement in any of the four areas above there is no doubt that Zanu PF is determined to rig next year’s elections or be it go the extra mile, ten miles or whatever it takes, to hide the evidence. The catch is if people register to vote or participate in any other way, they cannot complain after the event that the elections were rigged.

If people participate in the elections knowing, as we all do, that the process is flawed and illegal then it is assumed they are doing so because they have devised “Winning In Rigged Elections (WIRE) strategies” as MDC-T put it. If the strategies do not work, well tough luck; one must not complain that the elections were rigged.

So, for anyone with no WIRE strategies the choice is pretty simple do not register to vote or play any part because doing so gives the flawed process credibility.

Since there is very little the individual can do to stop the likes of Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Fadzai Mahere and all the others in the opposition camp contest next year’s elections regardless how flawed and illegal the process. Their beady eyes are set on the bait seats Zanu PF gives away and nothing short of shooting them dead is going to stop them contesting. The only this the ordinary Zimbabweans can do stay clean out of the whole thing; do not register to vote, do not attend any opposition rallies, etc. Show the whole world that these opposition politicians have lost public support and credibility.

Starve the flawed electoral process of political credibility and the international community including SADC will have no qualm in declaring the result null and void. SADC leaders would have never advised MDC leaders to boycott the July 2013 elections and then validated Zanu PF’s one-horse election result.

“If you go into elections next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done,” SADC leaders had warned Morgan Tsvangirai and his fellow MDC leaders in June 2013, according to Dr Ibbo Mandaza who attended the Maputo SADC summit too.

Zimbabwe’s economic recovery and political and social stability hinges on the country proving to the world that its days of lawlessness and thuggery are over. Removing the old dictator Mugabe and replacing him with another dictator, worse still in a military coup and then rewarding the coup plotters with cushy government post, will not fool anyone into believing the country has changed. Hiding all the evidence bussed voters when not even one reform has been implemented will impress the politically naïve and gullible Zimbabwe electorate but not the shrewd foreign investor.

 

President Mnangagwa must stop messing around, continue to rig the vote and hide the evidence. He must implement all the democratic reforms and then and only then can the country be certain the elections are free, fair and credible!

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Ghana Beats Zimbabwe, SA, Becomes First African Nation to Grant Citizenship to Black Americans

By Ndaba Nhuku| Ghana has broken history beating Zimbabwe, South Africa, and every other African country on restoring the ancestral and citizenship rights of black Americans.

34 black Americans have been swiftly made citizens in the continent’s first mass move to fixing the injustices of the slave trade which happened 300 years ago. The announcement can be seen in the following letter:

How will this benefit Ghana and it’s new citizens? Do the new citizens really see themselves as Africans? Africa is riddled with tribalism, where will they fit in? Will they be influential to help destroy the negative aspects of tribalism? How do Ghanaian people generally feel about the new citizens? Can the rest of Africa follow suit? How does one choose which country to go to? And what will their countries want and expect from their sons and daughters? Will this be for the rich only so that they set up businesses in Africa?

This is an exciting move by the Ghanian govt as it makes all black people unite in their continent of origin. This will raise interesting debate.

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Auxillia Mnangagwa Sheds “Croc Tears” While Usurping Ministers Powers

Kennedy Kaitano | The drama in Zimbabwe never ends.

When she visited female inmates in prison during her Christmas visit, First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa “promised the inmates in front of the prison authorities and Ministry officials who had accompanied her that the conditions in the prison must be worked on and completed by end of January next year”.
 
Barely a month ago, Zanu PF gave the reasons for firing former President Robert Mugabe that he had allowed his wife to usurp executive powers. Now who is she, Auxilia Mnangagwa to promise inmates that their conditions will be improved next month? Where does she get that authority from? She is now, just like Gucci Grace did, to order Government officials to perform certain activities within a specific timeframe? 
 
So should Zanu PF fire their President for not cautioning his wife not to usurp the powers of government structures? Zimbabweans should never expect Zanu PF to fire their new found president and also national president by default. I say Mnangagwa is National President  by default because he inherited an illegitimate crown after the bussing Nikuv voters as is now being unwittingly admitted by Oppah Muchinguri, Retired Lieutenant General Dr Engelbert Rugeje and the principal of the Chitepo Ideological School, Munyaradzi Machacha who made the disclosure while addressing Zanu PF provincial chairpersons and provincial commissars in Harare this Wednesday.
Auxilia Mnangwagwa was the wife of the now President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, when he was Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs which oversees the welfare of prisoners, and it is unbelievable to now hear that she is “shocked because the place is not fit for human habitation.” Probably we should believe in her shock, but that that tells a big story that she is faking her sympathies with the prison conditions. If she really cared, she would have visited the place before to see how the institutions that were, until just over a month ago, run by her husband, were functioning.
People of Zimbabwe, please open your eyes wide and see who really is saying things and making promises out of love of you and love of the welfare of Zimbabwe. Vote them our. Do not vote for anyone from Zanu PF in the coming election. They are all fake, they are taking us for a ride. A party that has been in power for 37 years and the country is still in the shambles that it is should be kicked out.
Zanu PF will never fire their new President for allowing his wife to usurp the powers of the executive, so let fire the entire Zanu PF in the next elections.
Please let us kick Zanu PF out in 2018.
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Social Media Joke Backfires On Zim Artist

A social media joke turned nasty for a Bulawayo artist who was nearly jailed yesterday for claiming to be in possession of cheaper and counterfeit Kalawa Homecoming tickets ahead of the show which took place last night.

Nkululeko Nkala, known as Khuliyo in music circles, did not know that his joke would land him in trouble when he posted a fake South African number claiming it belonged to Oskido and claiming that those who wanted cheap tickets could get hold of the Kalawa Jazmee boss.

He had jokingly claimed that people could get tickets for as low as $5, yet the lowest selling ticket was going for $15.

His joke did not go well with the organisers of the most-attended annual show who thought he was illegally selling tickets and promptly reported him to the police.

The organisers, who include SA-based Oskido – the brains behind the famed event – caused the arrest of Nkala who was dragged to Bulawayo Central Police Station yesterday morning.

A video of Nkala seated on the police station benches was circulated on social media yesterday afternoon, with Oskido also pitching up at the station. Nkala is seen trying to justify himself saying it was just a jest.

“I was just playing on the WhatsApp group with one of the guys who was asking if he could get $5 tickets for the Homecoming show. I just randomly put a number saying its Oskido’s so if he wants cheap tickets, he should get in touch with him. It was just a plain joke,” Nkala is overheard explaining at the police station.

At that point, Oskido then interjects saying: “Do you know how much money we put into this gig. We don’t even make money. We’re trying to uplift local people, yet you mess up the show.”

In an interview, local Kalawa Homecoming organiser, Vusumuzi Siqalaba, said Nkala was made to clarify that there were no Homecoming tickets being sold for $5 through social media messages.

“We told him that he had to create another social media message stating that tickets are only being sold at Rainbow Hotel. And that the number he had sent does not belong to Oskido.

“There’re no fake tickets anywhere,” Siqalaba said.

Nkala said he had since apologised and paid a fine, insisting that he was joking. However, he said it seems someone was bitter with him, hence the need to try and embarrass him with an arrest. – state media