After the removal of Robert Mugabe last month, ZANU PF has done nothing whatsoever to avert another disaster, most Zimbabweans have declared in a poll participated by 217 people. To ensure reliability, the entries were screened by strict IP filter that ensures only human beings vote. Below were the results:
What has ZANU PF done so that we don’t have a “repeat dynasty” in the next few years?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 8, 2017
Below is the delayed LIVE broadcast of APA party leader, Nkosana Moyo’s meeting in Bulawayo today:
https://youtu.be/aeuyKrFjfCM
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| 2017 has been a year with a great difference, it has been a year where ZANU PF imploded and almost destroyed itself. It is a year where adults where treated like children in front of the nation and no one said a thing. It was a year where a vice president acted as a lawyer he is not and walked into a police station to release criminals, twice not once. It was a year where none government workers and none executive workers had more powers to fire the executive without remorse. Indeed 2017 have been a very different year and an extra ordinary year.
it was indeed a year where the president fired his Vice President and he was fired in turn by his handpicked Politburo. It is the year where most senior ZANU PF cadres flip flopped their allegiance in two weeks and betrayed those who trusted them. This was the year when the VP made a thunderous come back with the help of the army and the people. People showed their dislike of the clique which had taken over the government abusing the first lady, it took the courage of the army to step in and restore the Legacy of the president, and that of the freedom It was clear that Zimbabwe’s freedom was watered with the blood of many and that sacrificed blood was being soiled by the so called educated and not the brave ones. The liberation history was being erased in few rallies and those who fought and survived it were being ridiculed daily. The army was pushed to the edge and nobody ever thought that their reaction will bring in some changes.
The intervention of the army in Zimbabwe was not a coup as we know it. it was a forceful persuasion by the army to have law and order prevail. it was reversing a coup which was perpetrated by the civilians in the executive or around it. The army made it clear that it was targeting the criminals who have usurped the country and its powers, however the master mind to the curtail managed to evade the arms of the law. Some have declared war on the new President this war was declared on twitter. The world. Policy on coups is understandably hostile, with law preventing foreign assistance to governments whose “duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree.” (This law is one reason that U.S. officials are often reluctant to use the word.) The world and the AU have similar anti-coup rules in place. But the Zimbabwean situation took everybody by surprise; the intervention was to the benefit of the public and the public showed by the huge march which was never seen since 1980. Zimbabwe showed its maturity by spilling no blood and reaching a transition which was peaceful. Actually the intervention was so peaceful more than our elections to an extent that people are calling for a peaceful coup every five years instead of elections.
But is our kneejerk opposition to military coups misplaced? We can all agree that coups overthrowing democratic governments are never good, but coups restoring order and restoring confidence in people should be applauded. Those who are removed are not expected to be happy, many shed tears and at least it was tears not blood.
It is true that the very forces that sanctimony comfortably condemns can sometimes be the most effective ally of democracy.” After all, whether or not a leader survives often depends more on the support of those around him than the support of citizens. Zimbabwe becomes the second country in the History of the world to manage a transition without a single crack of fire arm. this is after the Portuguese peaceful coup of 1974.
In general, coups have been much more likely to lead to a return to elected government since the Cold War.
“Installing a democratic system is a clear route to establish a legitimate government and to assure international support,” While this could mean the leader will lose power, at least it “affords him the opportunity to negotiate a privileged position in the government, retire with his life and livelihood, or at least survive in exile.” this did not have to happen in Zimbabwe, there was no coup per ser. the army came in to re align the decaying system and to restore the legacy. There was no problem with the army and its other armed forces, there was an unsaid agreement and very few departments faced some punches but not very fatal. it indeed created a gap between the army and some security organisations, but the necked truth is that they will find each other for the goodness of our country. What pushes any action is the national pride and Zimbabwe being a peace loving country the actions mirrored the peace bestowed in each and every Zimbabwean heart.
In general, though, it is wise for the world to maintain a general bias against supporting coups. The Zimbabwean situation was not a coup and it has shown the world that a change can be effected without blood.
Zimbabweans have shown that life as God given is indeed important and has to be protected, the changes we are having now in Zimbabwe will go a long way to show the world that we are a people of peace not a people of war. The gun leads to democracy and democracy is protected by the gun. – [email protected]
https://youtu.be/aeuyKrFjfCM
By Paul Nyathi | Presidential hopeful Nkosana Moyo is currently holding a youth interface dialogue in Bulawayo at Sekusile Hall on Nkulumane Bulawayo.
About 100 people are in attendance in the dialogue.
ZimEye.com will be throwing a few live broadcasts as the dialogue proceeds.
By Patrick Guramatunhu | Whilst many people have, until last month’s military coup, happily displayed photographs of themselves with then President Mugabe; it was a great honour to say they knew the man. The photographs disappeared over night after the coup! The cleansing was a lot more difficult for those like Justice Rita Makarau who had been very, very close to the tyrant.
The nation remembers a photograph of a smiling and contended Rita Makarau kneeing before then President Mugabe; proof of just how close she was to the tyrant. Well that photograph has come back to haunt her!
“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau is reported to have written letters to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other ZEC commissioners notifying them of her intention to resign as the head of the electoral body,” reported Zimeye.
Whilst this is welcome news, we, ordinary Zimbabweans, must not make the mistake of reading too much into this as happened when Robert Mugabe was finally forced to resign as President. Rita Makarau is not resigning because she was blinded by the light of enlightenment; she has seen the error of all the years of presiding over a body that has systematically denied the people their right to free, fair and credible elections – the very thing ZEC was sworn to delivery. She is now resigning in shame and recompense for betrayal of the law and the nation. No!
Rita is resigning because she was close to Mugabe and in her twisted sick mind and of her follow Zanu PF thugs, being caught in the wrong factional “basket”, as Mugabe once said, is a crime worse than high treason. Rita knows that she had a simple choice, jump off or be stripped of all her amassed loot and thrown into Chikurumbi Prison with the other G40 faction leaders.
These factional wars in Zanu PF are internal matters that have resulted in the “baby dumping”, a phrase Grace Mugabe wielded like a sword before she was baby dumped herself, of some party members and the reassignment and promotion of others. Zanu PF is a party of thugs and so the baby dumping has been ruthless.
It would be a big mistake for ordinary Zimbabweans to see the resignation of Rita Makarau as the guarantee next elections will finally be free, fair and credible. Many people thought the demise of Robert Mugabe was the end of the corruption, vote rigging and murderous tyranny, they were wrong. The corruption, vote rigging, etc. was more than the work of one man, Robert Mugabe; it was the work of all those in Join Operation Command, the Junta headed by Mugabe and Mnangagwa; the Police, Judiciary, ZEC, down to the village headman who carried out the Junta’s orders.
Yes, the military coup removed Robert Mugabe as the head of the Zanu PF dictatorship but replaced him with another dictator, Emmerson Mnangagwa. The dictatorship itself has remained and so the corruption, vote rigging, etc. will continue as before. Rita Makarau is resigning because she is from the G40 side of the Zanu PF political divide someone else will be appointed to take her place. ZEC will continue to play its role in denying the ordinary people their right to free, fair and credible elections to ensure no regime change. There is therefore nothing for us povo to be particularly pleased about Rita Makarau’s departure from ZEC.
The Zanu PF dictatorship is just as ruthless as ever regardless the demise of Rita Makarau and Robert Mugabe. The Zanu PF dictatorship is like thorn trees that have choked the life out of crops and fruit trees the farmer has tried to grow. Whilst the events of the last three years have been a heavy storm that have shaken the thorn trees forcing them to lose truck-loads of leaves and broken off branches still it will be foolish for the farmer to his crops and fruit trees will finally thrive. The storm has done nothing to disturb the thorn trees’ roots and they will choke the crops as before! – SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.co.uk
Terrence Mawawa, Chivhu| A daring teacher shocked all and sundry at Hama High School when he squeezed a pupil’s testicles for merely making noise.
The teacher, Oliver Mutero nearly killed the form two pupil when he grabbed his testicles claiming he was making noise.
The case was heard before Mvuma Magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda last week.
For the State Prosecutor Michael Kazomba told the court that on October 29, 2017 Kazomba entered a study centre at the school where he accused the pupils in the room of making noise.
He chased one of the pupils and crushed his testicles as a form of punishment for making noise.
As a result, the pupil’s private parts were swollen.
Mutero was sentenced to 420 hours of community service.
The magistrate urged teachers to desist from venting their pent up frustration on pupils.
By Farai D Hove| ZANU PF activist, Acie Lumumba has booked convicted fraudster Wicknell Chivayo, for a special program to teach youths on business. Chivayo is the same man who swindled $5million ZESA tender money for the Gwanda Solar project which project he would never do.
Lumumba says he wants youths to be taught business by Chivayo.
Lumumba on Thursday announced in writing saying, “Those who have met Sir Wicknell will tell you he is a completely different Wicknell in person vs online, like all of us I guess?
“After spending a few hours with him before listening to Chinamasa read the BUDGET speech my advise is this. If you are a young person who wants to get into the procurement business, there is a lot to learn from this man.
“I’ve asked him to spare time each month to meet with young businessmen who have an interest in procurement. I will unpack the story behind this man which I know all too well soon.”
SEE BELOW THE REACTIONS FOLLOWING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT:
State Media- The main business of the Zanu-PF Extraordinary Congress will be held in one day next Friday, with the other two days being for arrival and departure, the revolutionary party’s spokesperson Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo revealed yesterday.
The move is in line with the stance taken by the party’s new First Secretary and President Emmerson Mnangagwa to commit more time on implementation and cutting of unnecessary expenditure.
The budget of the Extraordinary Congress has also been reduced from the $8 million proposed by the G40 cabal that was in charge of important portfolios in the party, before they were expelled for leading the revolutionary party astray.
Khaya Moyo said preparations for the Extraordinary Congress to be held at the Robert Mugabe Square in Harare were at an advanced stage.
He said delegates would arrive on December 14, followed by the congress on the next day and departure on December 16.
“Preparations are at an advanced stage and the organising team is on the ground with each member doing his or her duties for the event to be a success,” said Khaya Moyo.
“Before the main event, we are going to have a Politburo meeting on December 12 and the Central Committee will meet the next day.
“Delegates will start arriving on December 14 and the following day it’s the Congress proper. The main event will be done in a day and delegates will have to go back on December 16.”
Initially, the Congress was supposed to run from December 12 to 17, before Zanu-PF revised its budget downwards.
The revolutionary party has established sub-committees to prepare for the Congress.
The sub-committees are for documentation and legal, finance, security, transport and welfare, health, entertainment, environment and tourism and information and organising.
The sub-committees will report to Congress.
Khaya Moyo said about 6 000 delegates were expected to attend.
“We have also extended invitations to foreign delegates,” he said.
“Delegates are being accredited in their respective provinces except for a few who will be accredited in Harare.”
Delegates expected to attend the event are members of the Central Committee, National Consultative Assembly, National Council of the Women’s League, National Council of the Youth League, Provincial Executive Councils and all district chairpersons from the main wing, Women and Youth Leagues.
The Congress is expected to endorse the recalling of former President Robert Mugabe and the installation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the First Secretary and President by the Central Committee on November 19.
The Central Committee also indicated that President Mnangagwa would be the party’s presidential candidate in the 2018 harmonised elections.
The Congress is also expected to uphold the decision by the Central Committee to expel G40 cabal members such as former First Lady Grace Mugabe, Phelekezela Mphoko, Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere, Ignatius Chombo, Walter Mzembi, Kudzanai Chipanga, Mandi Chimene and Letina Undenge. – state media
Staff Reporter| Former Local Government Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere has spoken of the events that transpired from the day soldiers descended onto his house on the 14th November last month. He says when they arrived for the first time, he was actually inside the house just as they opened fire.
He says both him and Prof Jonathan Moyo ran away on foot like Edgar Tekere and Robert Mugabe did in 1974. He says this without clearly explaining the connection with Prof Moyo’s presence and how they ended up in the bush together.
He spoke to businessman Mutumwa Mawere late Thursday.
When the snipers first arrived, they opened fire on the house and upon that time Kasukuwere sounded the alarm. When the alarm sounded out aloud, the snipers retreated fearing that other soldiers who guard Kasukuwere would be alerted and there would be an open war. Upon that time they then fled on foot non stop into the bushes where-ever they could find an escape route and flee. He says they even passed through parks and continued on and on…
Says Kasukuwere, “[they] just jumped the durawall and started firing.
“I was inside the house…I think our alarm saved us, I think so, and we didn’t make any noises, we just kept quiet…
“but the alarm continued to go…so …they … after 10 to 15 minutes of heavy shooting then they left.”
Kasukuwere says it was at that point that they quickly left the house and escaped before the soldiers could come back.
NARRATION LOADING VIDEO –
https://youtu.be/UZBipMqW_EU
By Farai D Hove| Convicted fraudster and Chikurubi inmate (2005 – 2008 ) who fronts himself as a successful businessman, Wicknell Chivayo has allegedly returned to Zimbabwe. His colleague Acie Lumumba announced saying that Chivayo is in Zimbabwe and Lumumba posted a picture of the two together saying he was with Chivayo in Harare before the budge presentation on Thursday.
Chivayo’s said “return” comes after he had left Zimbabwe for Mozambique and then the United Kingdom last week following the army’s Operation Restore Order last month. A geo-tracker on the man shows he was in Mozambique as detected on the 3rd December 2017. The geo-locator shows him in Maputo at 11.01am on the 3rd December.
The next morning at 7am on the 4th December, Chivayo was recorded physically in the United Kingdom in an area called Bryanston.
On the 7th December, Lumumba reports alleging he is now in Zimbabwe and posts an undated picture of both of them standing together with another unnamed colleague.
Lumumba then announces in writing, “Those who have met Sir Wicknell will tell you he is a completely different Wicknell in person vs online, like all of us I guess? After spending a few hours with him before listening to Chinamasa read the BUDGET speech my advise is this. If you are a young person who wants to get into the procurement business, there is a lot to learn from this man. I’ve asked him to spare time each month to meet with young businessmen who have an interest in procurement. I will unpack the story behind this man which I know all too well soon.”
It was not clear at the time of writing how Chivayo could have returned to Zimbabwe having stayed in the UK for only two days. As it was announced that Chivayo has returned, the national power utility, ZESA announced that it’s directors are meeting with a view to make Chivayo re-imburse it the $5million Chivayo unproceduraly obtained without a bank guarantee. Chivayo was awarded tenders for the US$200 million Gwanda solar project, the US$73 million refurbishment of the Harare Power Station, a US$163 million project to restore Munyati Power Station as well as the US$248 million Gairezi Project, but has failed to deliver.
More than a year ago he told ZimEye.com that he is waiting for a bank loan, and this was after receiving the $5million cash payment.
Lumumba however announces that he is in Zimbabwe and says that he wishes that Chivayo trains young people on how to do business.
STATEMENT: The Coalition of Democrats (CODE) says it is concerned by the continued failure by government to prioritise most fundamental Constitutional provisions in its budget statement, a development which is indicative of its misplaced expenditure priorities.
While considerable effort has been made towards the education sector, CODE notes with concern how very little money has been allocated to health, lands and agriculture at the expense of not so critical and unproductive sectors such as defence and the office of the President.
CODE President, Elton Steers Mangoma expressed fears that Zimbabwe is slowly turning into a military state looking at how the sector was chewing a large chunk of government expenditure.
“One wonders why we are putting so much money to defence yet we are failing to adequately fund health, lands and agriculture,” said President Mangoma.
He queried the logic behind allocating $231 million to the Office of the President yet failing to allocate $10 million towards independent commissions.
It is absolutely preposterous because our government is trying all means to make us believe we are making progress economically, socially and politically yet we are in fact entrenching some dictatorship, he added.
CODE said it is equally worried over government failure to fund Constitutional provisions such as devolution. Section 14 of the supreme law of the land provides for the preservation of national unity and the prevention of all forms of disunity and secessionism through ensuring the democratic participation in government by all communities and citizens, the equitable allocation of national resources and the participation of local communities in the determination of development priorities within their areas through devolution.
It is not acceptable that government has not allocated adequate resources towards the establishment of provincial councils so that people can make decisions at the local level, said President Mangoma, adding that these should have been put up considering that they would not have cost a lot of money.
The budget has dismally failed to address this, indicating that government is not committed to upholding the Constitution.
CODE said it is disturbed that governments actions reflects that it is not committed to investing in democracy hence the negation of any meaningful allocation of resources towards activities that improve democracy and the implementation of Constitutional provisions such as the independent commissions.
The budget reflects that the cost of democracy is too much. They have failed to provide for the implementation of the Constitution because it costs money yet they are throwing money at some things that are not Constitutional, said President Mangoma.
It is also disappointing that the government wants to make independent commissions subservient, replacing them with people who cannot be able to do their jobs properly.
It is sad that government continues undermining the Constitution besides taking away the livelihoods of those people running them, he said.
CODE is also worried by the proposed move by government to deploy soldiers to the Beitbridge border post not only because of the costs associated with the move, but its political implications.
President Mangoma pointed that already, the army is everywhere.
“If restoring legacy means the army being there in every facet, then it means we are basically coming under army rule and this is not acceptable, he said.
CODE therefore urges the army to go back to their barracks because this is a civilian country.
Our parties also notes with concern that Minister Patrick Chinamasas budget is full of hot air because the essential problems that have been there economically have not been addressed and they remain there to haunt the ordinary citizen.
It is equally disappointing that there is no commitment towards addressing issues of the budget deficit and its continued impact on dragging down growth and sustainable growth. Government has failed to contain the costs and the things that fuel inflation neither has it addressed the challenges causing the money to be in short supply hence the country is back to square one.
In other areas of the budget, government wants to be seen to be doing something without actually doing anything.
CODE is also calling on government to ask for debt forgiveness instead of riding on false hope that the country will be able to honor its debts.
Clearly, Zimbabwe has shown that it has no capacity to repay any debts, let alone meet its recurrent expenditure hence CODE is urging government to be bold enough to ask for debt forgiveness and this process should start now rather than tinkering around the edges.
We note with concern how Minister Chinamasa’s budget sounds like it will cause some changes economically, but we are aware that this statement reflects that nothing will happen.
CODE is therefore calling on government to be sincere when crafting national strategies and come up with practical solutions that better the lives of ordinary citizens instead of majoring on minors.
Staff Reporter| As he walked out of prison yesterday, it became fully clear that there are no charges and no known evidence whatsoever that former Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo attempted hiring Israeli mercenaries to kill Defence Forces Commander, Constantino Chiwenga.
The revelations came against the backdrop of rising allegations that Chombo is in trouble primarily for that reason. The only live charges were explained earlier on Thursday night by Chombo’s lawyer Prof Lovemore Madhuku.
https://youtu.be/wA6A51ihzvg
By Dorrothy Moyo | Mystery surrounds the resignation of the controversial Zimbabwe Electoral Commission boss Rita Makarau.
Makarau’s sudden resignation comes within two weeks of the appointment of Emmerson Mnangagwa to the Presidency.
Makarau was former President Robert Mugabe’s favourite of sorts having served at various posts directly appointed by Mugabe.
Her resignation was confirmed today by the Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi who professed ignorance of the reasons.
“Yes, she sent her resignation yesterday (Thursday) and I saw it today in the morning as I spent the day in Parliament on Thursday. She just indicated she wants to resign from ZEC, but she did not give any reasons,” said Minister Ziyambi.
Before her resignation, she was holding three different senior posts, something MPs and analysts questioned as to her ability to avoid a conflict of interest.
She will now remain a Supreme Court judge, and also secretary for the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).
When grilled by MPs recently, former Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Retired Major General Happyton Bonyongwe said conflict of interest did not arise, as the appointments were Constitutional.
“If elections were to be contested in court, there is only one role which Justice Makarau will play,” he said while responding to MPs’ questions.
Bonyongwe continued saying, “the issue of Justice Makarau being Secretary of the JSC and head of ZEC has not interfered with the decisional independence of judicial officers seized with such matters and neither have appointments of contact or conflict been created.”
MDC ALLIANCE: ALTERNATIVE NATIONAL AGENDA TOWARDS THE TRANSFORMATIVE DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENTAL STATE, DELIVERED BY TENDAI BITI CHAIRPERSON OF THE POLICY AND RESEARCH COMMITTEE ON THE 8TH OF DECEMBER 2017 AT HARVEST HOUSE 44 NELSON MANDELA AVENUE HARARE.
Introduction
In November of 2017, the country went through a major political upheaval sphere headed by a “military intervention’ which commenced on the 14th of November 2017.
That intervention saw, a massive turnout of Zimbabweans on the 18th of November 2017 virtually across the globe, which force of authority resulted in the resignation of President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday 21st of November 2017.
On Thursday 6 December 2017, the recycled Minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa presented a budget to the country under the theme of a “New Economic Order”, which sought to move the country away from a trajectory of controls and lack of reform to a modicum of reform.
We in the MDC Alliance recognize that Zimbabwe is on a knife edge faced with the following challenges:-
It appears from the budget presented yesterday, that the new authorities, are intent on implementing some modicum of economic reform, whilst maintaining a tight grip on power and political space.
In our respectful view, Zimbabwe is now entering a dangerous space of the reproduction of a Beijing model in respect of which political space is closed but legitimacy is bought through the bribery of some economic reforms and the capacity to make the right noises and the correct sound bites, without any substantive reforms.
We in the MDC Alliance are clear that:-
In this document we deal with the issue of economics alone and in the following terms:-
The Fiscal Deficit
The challenges arresting the country result from the pursuit of a fiscal deficit which has been pursued by Minister Chinamasa a departure from the discipline of cash budgeting maintained by the Government of National Unity ironically in the sad presence of President Mugabe.
We in the MDC Alliance expected a total departure from deficit economics which Minister Chinamasa did not commit to doing.
Instead, the 2018 budget, in normative terms, seeks to reduce the budget deficit to 4 percent from 10 percent in 2017. However, there are gross misrepresentations. Economic hygiene and planning for a budget deficit are divorced.
Just for the avoidance of doubt this is possible, during the first year of the Government of National Unity even after paying bonuses for the civil service, the country still had a budget surplus.
The revenue targets of 5.1 billion dollars in 2018 is without justification and will worsen the already envisaged budget deficit of 4 percent to GDP and government will only be able to collect around 3.5 billion dollars.
In our respectful view, Minister Chinamasa was supposed to present a budget which is around the realistic figures of 3.5 billion dollars.
Structural reform
Brave structural reforms were supposed to be taken in the 2018 budget primarily on the wage bill which is currently taking more than 90 percent of the total budget.
We are of the view that the 3700 youth officers retrenched are just but a drop in an ocean considering the fact that the government employs around 550 000 workers.
We submit that the budget was supposed to envisage reducing the size of civil service by half primarily through the weeding of ghost workers in a phased period of three years.
Macroeconomic framework
The budget projects growth rates at 4.8 percent with inflation targeted at 3 percent.
The underlying framework justifying 4,8 percent growth rate is non-existent, inflation is already way above 3 percent due to the high cost of the US dollar. With the existence of multi exchange rates real inflation is above 40 percent with some commodities as high as 240 percent there framework is therefore not legitimate
It is self-evident that the new regime is desperate to create the image of economic reformers and economic liberators.
We contend that the projection of a significant increase in agriculture production in the 2017-2018 season, which in the budget framework, is credited to have a growth projection of 10.7 percent is fictitious.
The framework also projects growth in respect of the electricity and water sector to be in excess of 28.5 percent, another miscalculation considering the lack of transparency in the tendering and licensing process of new energy and power projects in Zimbabwe which have been used as an instrument of patronage.
There is a desperate attempt to create in Zimbabwe a Singaporean model in respect of which legitimacy is bought through economic performance while the political space is closed.
We in the MDC Alliance restate that Zimbabwe is not China, Rwanda or Ethiopia.
The ZANUPF government we have known is incompetent, dishonest and predatory; nothing will persuade us that 2018 will be any different.
Expansion of Command Agriculture
The attempt to further militarise the nation is not only unfortunate but ancient. The pursuit of a dirigiste approach has been exposed dating back to the days of the Cold War when it was adopted in Eastern Europe. We maintain that command agriculture is another version of Mugabe’s failed presidential inputs scheme albeit with some ingredients of state capture.
In this presentation we put aside the political shortcomings including the fact that the beneficiaries of the scheme are only those connected to ZANUPF excluding the rest of the farming population.
We make the point that the loan that was used to finance the scheme has been clandestinely negotiated, the cost of the money is too high and just like many other loans there is no involvement of parliament.
We are therefore concerned that the expanded command agriculture will put a premium of more than a billion dollars most of which will be abused and not go directly into the farming activities.
It is our respectful submission that agricultural reforms must focus on the following issues.
Financial and Monetary Crisis
Owing to the huge budget deficit created by Minister Chinamasa from 2013 to date, government sought to monetise its activities including ZANUPF programs through the printing of money through two instruments namely toxic treasury bills and the bond notes.
Treasury Bills did not only create a liquidity crisis but also crowded out the space for private sector borrowing.
The government also raided RTGS balances and NOSTRO accounts at the RBZ which are depositor’s funds from all the banks in Zimbabwe. As a result a crippling financial and liquidity crisis has ensued resulting in the adoption of bank transfers another fictitious scheme which is not backed by any value.
This resulted in the ballooning of broad money supply (M3) disproportionate to the actual value in the financial market.
The budget ought to have dealt with this issue; the Minister instead states that the government will reduce the raiding of the RBZ to 20 percent when the right thing to do is to stop borrowing from Central Bank forthwith.
The RBZ net claims on the Central Government reached US$3.5 billion as of September 2017.
Domestic Debt
The government’s pursuit of deficit financing and total lack of fiscal restraint has resulted in a sharp spike in domestic debt.
Part of the domestic debt has been created by the reckless assumption of the legacy debt of domestic parastatals including that of the Central Bank.
A large part of the debt is borne by the ever growing and expanding budget deficit.
The government of Zimbabwe puts domestic debt at US$4.O14 billion, as of the 30th June 2017.We are of the firm view that domestic debt is now around US$7 Billion even excluding the anticipated budget deficit of US$3.5 Billion. This is a view shared by many leading economists in the country.
There’s no doubt in our minds that the budget deficit is a direct product of ZANU PF failure. A comparison between the GNU and the post GNU era reflects this fact.
We in the MDC Alliance contend that the huge chunk of this debt was accrued through extra legal means which entails by-passing the scrutiny of parliament as stipulated by the laws of the land.
We therefore demand that there be an audit of this debt to determine what the money was used for so as to ensure culprits are brought to book and that the government accounts to the people of Zimbabwe through parliament.
The MDC Alliance rejects the lipstick reforms, half backed budget and chats an alternative policy direction Towards a Transformative Democratic Developmental State.
We therefore suggest the following solutions
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Zimbabwe’s new Director General of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). Isaac Moyo who was serving as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa and Lesotho has been given the post in terms of Section 226 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa also re-assigned and appointed permanent secretaries.
The appointments and re-assignments are as follows:
Mr Ringson Chitsiko-Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement
Mr Martin Rushwaya-Defence, Security and War Veterans
Mr Melusi Matshiya-Home Affairs and Culture
Mr Willard Manungo-Finance and Economic Development
Ambassador Joey Bimha-Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Mrs Virginia Mabiza-Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
Mr Ngoni Masoka-Labour and Social Welfare
Dr Desire Sibanda-Higher Education, Science and Technology Development
Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango-Primary and Secondary Education
Mr George Magosvongwe-Local Government, Public Works and National Housing
Mrs AbigailShonhiwa-Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development
Mr Munesu Munodawafa-Mines and Mining Development
Dr Thokozile Chitepo-Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Mrs Sibusisiwe Zembe-Women and Youth Affairs
Mr George Charamba-Information, Media and Broadcasting Services
Brigadier General Dr Gerald Gwinji-Health and Child Care
Mr Prince Mupazviriho-Sport, Arts and Recreation
Engineer Sam Kundishora-Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security
Ambassador Grace Mutandiro-Environment, Water and Climate
Dr Judith Kateera-Presidential Affairs, Monitoring and Implementation of Government Programmes.
Engineer George Mlilo-Transport and Infrastructural Development.
Presidential spokesman George Charamba has for the first time given insights into some of the factors that contributed to the frosty relationship between former president Robert Mugabe and his war time colleagues.
In his last days in office, Mugabe had been cut off from the old guard in Zanu PF, and put on a short leash by members of the Generation 40 (G40) faction, which drew clout from former first lady, Grace.
Charamba, who served as Mugabe’s spokesperson and has continued with the same duties under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, spoke of how perceived foes of the first lady were denied recognition even when they clearly deserved it.
He narrated how the concept of a memorial institution for Mugabe was presented to the nation as if it was a product of former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo when it was, in fact, conceived by Mnangagwa.
Moyo broke the news in August that government had approved the idea of establishing a university named after Mugabe at a cost of $1 billion.
He said the institution would concentrate on science, technology and engineering and would also have a research institute.
On Wednesday, Charamba lifted the lid on what had happened behind the scenes.
He said he was privileged to have been part of a meeting convened by the then vice president (VP) to discuss the concept and the architectural drawings done by architect, Joel Biggie Matiza.
The meeting was also attended by General Constantino Chiwenga, of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
“The first time I saw it was when he (Mnangagwa) invited me and army general Chiwenga to look not only at the concept of it but also the drawings of that institute, which papers ED — then as a vice president — had discussed with the former president Mugabe,” said Charamba.
“It was at that meeting, where I was wearing my hat as an academic, suggested that to create an institution that was dominated with the notion of museum would freeze RG Mugabe yet RG Mugabe was much more than legacy. He is a continuing set of ideas that must not only shape the present but must also be imparted to the future — making him a living force by asserting and elaborating his ideas. That evening, the concept was revised to incorporate a university element,” he added.
At that meeting, it was suggested that Mnangagwa was to engage Grace so that she becomes part of the project.
Charamba had reasoned at the time that by bringing Grace into the project, it would help mend the fence between the former first lady and Mnangagwa.
Relations between Grace and Mnangagwa had started to deteriorate, with the former first lady using public platforms to humiliate the man who had lived in her husband’s shadows for nearly six decades.
She accused Mnangagwa of plotting to unseat Mugabe — an allegation that has since come to pass.
Charamba also became the target of her insults due to her closeness to Mnangagwa.
Cap in hand, he was publicly humiliated by Grace at a rally in Chinhoyi for being an accessory of Mnangagwa’s Team Lacoste faction that did not see eye-to-eye with G40 over Mugabe’s succession.
Charamba narrated how he tried to have Mnangagwa and Grace smoke a peace pipe with his effort coming to naught after the university project was handed to Moyo to run with.
“I knew that she (Grace) had envisaged an orphanage that would morph into a primary school, then a high school and ultimately a tertiary institution. That was before the concept of an RG university came. So I had that in my mind and said to the then vice president, shefu Amai had the same idea, and given the bad blood that was already evident between the two I counselled that it was wise for the then vice president to take his proposal at the formative stage to the first lady so that he would not be seen to be excluding her from plans that sought to consolidate the legacy of the then president who, after all, was her husband,” said Charamba.
“At the back of my mind, I was mindful of two things. One, my deteriorating relations with the then first lady, based on a misconception which she had developed that I did not respect her and she narrowly interpreted my mission as the communications officer to cover the then president while excluding her,” he said.
“My second calculation was in fulfilment of my role as a public relations officer. Realising the growing estrangement between the then VP and the first lady, which seemed to gather fury with every interface rally, my calculation was such a good gesture, which the then VP had thought voluntarily and invested so heavily at a personal level as a sign of goodwill to the then first family,” he added.
“…What I cannot say with certainty is when the former vice president then approached the then first lady with the drawings, I think the drawings were done by (former Mashonaland East provincial minister Joel Biggie) Matiza and the horror, the horror, I later read and heard that chinhu chiya chatorwa (it had been taken away) from the then vice president chikapihwa Jonathan to mind which, by the way, could still have been correct to the extent that Professor Moyo was still the minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, except what I could not understand the expunging of ED’s role in this whole project on the one hand and the exaggerated extolling of a late comer in the project.
“I got to know about this strange outcome through Cabinet minutes when I read that Jonathan Moyo had made the presentation making the then vice president a guest in a project he had started. My efforts at restoring communication between the two had backfired,” said Charamba.
Interestingly, Grace has also previously lashed out at Mnangagwa for taking her ideas and presenting them to the nation as if they were his.
She claimed at one of the youth interface rallies that she was the brainchild of the Command Agriculture programme, profiled as one of the signature projects of Mnangagwa.
On Wednesday, Charamba also revealed that the 21st February Movement musical galas had to be stopped for fear of creating another platform that would have been used by the former first lady to create divisions in the party.
“We stopped the commemorations because Ambuya vaka complainer. I could see the same being used against the VP,” said Charamba.
The presidential spokesman also revealed how Grace and her allies also gate crashed into the writing of Mugabe’s biography.
He said following the death of former Information minister Nathan Shamuyarira in June 2014, a decision was made to resuscitate the writing of Mugabe’s biography under the management of historian, Phyllis Johnson.
“Then one fateful day that project was rudely taken from her, and I use the word rudely advisably. You should have seen the poor woman, she just got a sharp plain instruction kuti dzosa, and who was going to do that it was again Jonathan,” said Charamba.
He said these incidents gave him the impression that Mugabe’s legacy had morphed from being the business of Zanu PF to that of a few individuals around his wife, Grace.
He said Mugabe had become a captive of the Generation faction now scattered across the world in the wake of his fall.
“So looking at these seemingly unrelated matters, I got a distinct impression that the then president’s legacy had ceased to be a matter for his party, Zanu PF but for preferred members working with the first family — it was a family affair,” he said.
“If you consider that vakuru had picked Shamuyarira (to write the biography), you notice it was not just a choice based on his attributes but it was a gesture of symbolically surrendering his life and legacy to the party he had served and led, after all his life and legacy was to a large measure the life and legacy of the party, which is why it could only be written by the spokesperson of the party in the form of Shamuyarira. This was a classical case where competence and loyalty coincided,” said Charamba.
He said instead of talk about a life well lived, there were in fact talking about how that life was being misappropriated for a future political project — changing from retrospective to being prospective.- Daily News
A debate has exploded following Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa’s budget having been labelled ‘a joke’ by former Finance Minister Tendai Biti. They are both qualified lawyers, save that Biti is a step higher, a barrister.
Who is a genius between Chinamasa and Biti?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 8, 2017
By Terrence Mawawa| Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has described the 2018 National Budget as a big yawn.
The budget was presented by Finance and Economic Planning Minister Patrick Chinamasa in Parliament yesterday.
Speaking in Harare today Biti said Zimbabwe was on a knife edge as a result Zanu PF’ s disastrous policies.
Who is a genius between Chinamasa and Biti?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 8, 2017
“Our country is on a knife-edge, my statement is not just a negative critique of what was presented yesterday but it seks to offer sustainable solutions.
The military coup was not the first one in this country, in 2008 JOC conducted a preemptive coup to prevent Tsvangirai from being sworn in as President of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is facing a constitutional crisis, we have tanks on the streets and we are surviving in a new era so there is need to deflate this military party institution.
Our people are surviving on less than $0.35 a day and the budget does not address such fundamental issues,” said Biti
He added:”The projection of inflation is unrealistic. It is also hard to imagine where $5.1 billion will achieve-the only figures they will achieve are the expenditure figures, in fact they will surpass them.
If you think you can reform by firing 3739 youth officers when you have 20 000 ghost workers then you are joking.”
By Farai D Hove| Former Higher Education Minister, Prof Jonathan Moyo has spoken following the decision by government this week, to freeze his financial assets.
Writing Friday afternoon Prof Moyo said, “a coup needs a cure.”
This was interpreted by many to be a statement made in direct reference to last month’s coup which saw his nemesis Emmerson Mnangagwa parachuting to become President Of Zimbabwe. Below were some further comments by some Zimbabweans:
Terrence Mawawa| Civil servants are quaking in their boots following the decision by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s government to embark on a massive retrenchment exercise.
3000 youth militia members currently on government payroll will be dismissed soon as part of measures to reduce expenditure.
Speaking in Parliament during the presentation of the 2018 National Budget yesterday Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Patrick Chinamasa said government would abolish the youth officers posts to reduce expenditure.
An estimated total of 3 479 militia members will be affected.
In August this year, former President Robert Mugabe ordered the reinstatement of over 2 000 youth militia members who had been retrenched.
Mugabe claimed that the youths had been retrenched without Cabinet approval.
Youth officers commonly known as ‘Green Bombers’ were used by Mugabe’s regime to terrorize innocent Zimbabweans, brutalize opposition party members, force people to buy ZANU PF membership cards.Some were implicated in politically motivated murders over the last 20 years.
Political analysts told ZimEye.com the militia members were rewarded with jobs because of the role they played in tormenting opposition supporters.
A Correspondent| The sole man tipped replace President Jacob Zuma as South Africa’s governing ANC heads to congress next week, has said he believes the woman who accused Mr Zuma of rape over a decade ago was telling the truth.
Zuma’s deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, told a local radio station: “Yes, I would believe her.”
The development comes against the backdrop of Zuma being found not guilty of raping Fezekile Kuzwayo – the daughter of an old family friend.
Ramaphosa is competing against Zuma’s ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to become the leader of the ANC in a contest starting next Saturday.
Meanwhile Zuma’s Office said in a statement :”The Presidency has noted the media reports attributed to the Deputy President of the Republic who is quoted as having stated that he believed the version presented by Khwezi in the criminal proceedings between State v JG Zuma when he was interviewed in one of the radio stations.The rape allegations against President Zuma were properly considered by a Judge of the High Court. Having evaluated the totality of the evidence, the court acquitted the President of the rape charges. The Presidency affirms the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the primacy of the courts as the final arbiters in disputes in society.”
Norton MP and Mnangagwa nephew, Temba Mliswa has spoken his views out on army generals being ministers. He says there is nothing unusual with this development.
“Zimbabweans this is for us, it’s not for His Excellency Cde Mnangagwa, to be able to champion this, he can’t do it alone….” FULL VIDEO BELOW –
https://youtu.be/rjg_MAwJExE
What has ZANU PF done so that we don’t have a “repeat dynasty” in the next few years?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 8, 2017
With up to four married couples working inside cabinet, Zimbabwe risks degenerating into another bedroom coup. This is so particularly at a time when besides removing Robert Mugabe last month, nothing else has been done to remove the Mugabe culture of state capture.
There are at present four married couples inside governmnent:
1. Emmerson Mnangagwa and his wife Auxillia.
2. Ziyambi Ziyambi and his wife Florence.
3. Christopher Mutsvangwa and his wife Monica.
4. Sibusiso Moyo and his wife, Loice Matanda Moyo.
Following the spirited news coverage against convicted fraudster Wicknell Chivayo, the power utilility ZESA has decided to meet to demand he returns the tender $5million loot he obtained for the Gwanda Solar project.
This comes amid revelations exposed by ZimEye.com for the last 2 years, that Chivayo was just a briefcase businessman who illegally obtained the cash disbursement using ministerial access. He would weeks later travel around the world boasting that he is a successful businessman and many times feature in photo shoots with former President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace, and even the current President Emmerson Mnangagwa. ZimEye has exposed the government for failing to detect the simple facts that Chivayo is a convicted fraudster who even stayed at Chikurubi maximum prison for over 3 years.
SEE THE VIDEO BELOW-
https://youtu.be/p-T_CAmrwP4
Meanwhile, the weekly Independent has revealed the development stating:
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority Holdings (Zesa) board will meet next week to deliberate on energy contracts awarded to dodgy businessman Wicknell Chivayo amid reports parliament will soon move a motion requesting the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) to cancel energy deals that were awarded to his Intratrek company, the Zimbabwe Independent has heard.
This comes at a time ZPC is moving to mobilise resources for the project as announced by Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa during his 2018 budget presentation in parliament yesterday.
Furthermore, implementation of the Gwanda Solar Energy Project will commence in 2018, following the granting of incentives to the ZPC to enable it mobilise funding from the market. At least $66,7 million will be mobilised during 2018, focusing on construction of a 25MW solar plant under Phase I of the project,” Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa said. Chivayo was awarded the $200 million Gwanda solar project, the $73 million refurbishment of the Harare Power Station, a $163 million project to restore Munyati Power Station as well as the $248 million Gairezi Project, but has failed to deliver.
The Energy ministry in October ordered ZPC to subcontract the Gwanda project after Intratrek failed to implement the controversial deal, despite receiving a $5 million advance payment without a bank guarantee – against the standing rules. ZPC wants the $5 million back.
The Gwanda Project is part of three controversial solar projects, each generating 100 megawatts, which were approved by government.
The initial cost, as of 2014, was $183 million for each of the projects, bringing the total cost to $549 million.
Soon after being awarded the tenders, the winning companies demanded price escalations, resulting in the projects ballooning to a total cost of $720 million.
In an interview this week, the Zesa group chief executive officer Josh Chifamba said his organisation will meet next Friday to deliberate on Chivayo’s deals.
“The board is meeting next week and top of the agenda are the Chivhayo deals,” Chifamba said. “The tender process was above board but we are not happy with the way the former minister (Samuel Undenge) pushed for the advance payment of $5 million without a bank guarantee.”
Investigations by this newspaper revealed that despite being given an advance payment of $5 million, Chivayo did not commence any work at his Gwanda solar project site.
Parliamentary sources this week said a motion will soon be moved to direct ZPC to cancel the deals controversially awarded to Chivayo. Parliamentarians will also request that he pay back the $5 million he was paid in advance without a bank guarantee.
“We will summon ZPC to parliament so that they explain how they issued Chivayo the energy contracts and also urge the power company to make sure that Chivayo pays back the $5 million,” said a legislator.
Chivayo was paid $5 million upfront before commencing work at the behest of Undenge, despite failing to do any meaningful work on site.
A year after winning the multi-million-dollar tender and despite getting the $5 million payment for pre-commencement works, Intratrek Zimbabwe reportedly abandoned the project site after only three months’ work, it has emerged.
The $5 million covered feasibility studies, topographical surveys, borehole sinking, site clearance, geo-technical surveying, site fencing, wayleaves and construction of administrative structures.
Last year, the Independent reported that Zimbabwe’s power generation projects have been inflated by more than $500 million, raising suspicion that Zesa managers and senior government officials could have corruptly benefitted through price escalations.
Zesa has been endlessly rocked by massive tender scandals in which government entrusted the country’s critical multi-billion-dollar energy projects to dodgy businessmen who have criminal records, ranging from fraud to drug trafficking.
Zimbabwe Football Association President, Dr Phillip Chiyangwa has hailed remarks made by Honourable Patrick Chinamasa during the 2018 budget presentation as a welcome development.
Dr Chiyangwa said it is refreshing and encouraging for the Finance and Economic Planning Minister to mention the revival of sport as instrumental in aiding the new dispensation’s economic recovery thrust.
“I am glad that the new leadership shares my dream of revolutionising the sports industry so that it actively contributes towards the gross domestic product.
“In football, we are ready to work with the government towards the construction of state of the art facilities that are crucial in our quest to host major tournaments,” said Dr Chiyangwa.
Minister Chinamasa made the budget presentation to parliament on 7 December, where he indicated that government will work towards establishing a vibrant sports industry, centered on multi-sports facilities to be constructed around the country.
The minister made specific reference to the need for bucket seats at sports facilities as is the norm elsewhere. – ZIFA
Saviour Kasukuwere’s former deputy, Kazembe Kazembe has rubbished a rumour that claims he is President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture told the weekly publication, the Weekend Post it is easy to track his life and family history. He said: “that’s social media nonsense. You can ask the people who I grew up with. It’s all lies. People will always talk.
“I don’t live in a vacuum I grew up in Mazowe. Go to Concession, go to Africa University, go ask who I am. I am established, its very easy for you to find out who I am.
“I was in soccer for a long time why didn’t you ask me this then? Social media can say anything. I am here in Zimbabwe. I didn’t grow up in a vacuum. I went to universities which are here and my records are there. Please, this is rubbish.”
A contagious hot rumour went wild last week as it reported that former Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo is in trouble for particularly being caught red handed in the process of engaging mercenaries from the dreaded Israeli national intelligence agency, Mossad.
ZimEye took time to investigate the claims which have seen the following conclusion being assumed: “The battle between the generals and Chombo is not stealing money but hiring Mossad to kill them. The battle between Chipanga and the gunmen is not about Corruption! “No no no!” But his knowledge about Mosad and the planned elimination of Generals. Also think about it? Are Chipanga and Chombo the ONLY Criminal elements the Army wanted to weed off ZANU PF? We have nearly a full month now. Are they not able to arrest more? You the Reader. Dont you know about other corrupt officials? Isnt it that the Generals are presently dining with some of them? Iwe. Look at things properly and with an analytic eye. This fight is personal. (Story is First Hand Information given to a Jail Guard by Chombo at his Prison Cell.) True.”
Yesterday ZimEye was told by Dr. Chombo’s lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku the rumour is unfounded. He explained that there is not even a single mention of the aforementioned allegations. Here Dr Madhuku responding to ZimEye on the matter in the video below –
https://youtu.be/wA6A51ihzvg
—————————————————————–
Meanwhile, the full text of the rumour is below:
Every country with Dictator keeps a certain amount of money in the Central Bank in case of a coup. This money is not touched or used by anybody except on the directive of the President. With Zimbabwe only two days before the coup d’etat, Mugabe had talked with the Israelites (Mosad) that his military would like to make a coup d’etat. They discussed about the cost of hiring snipers and a batallion to counter this. The Israelites sent in a Foward Team to Zimbabwe two days before the coup for reconnaissance purposes, negotiating and signing of the contract. The main aim was to eliminate all the Commanders of the ZDF before the implementation of the coup d’etat. On the day before the coup d’etat, Robert Mugabe summoned Chombo (Minister of Finance) and Mangudya (Reserve Bank Governor). They discussed with Mosad about the costs. The deposit which was charged was US 10 Million. Mangudya was ordered to release the money and give it to Chombo so that they would pay Mosad. Hence the statement by Grace “Kana imi muchiti munogona kupfura nesuwo tinogona kupfura”. She was confident their plan to eliminate Chiwenga, Shiri, Chihuri etc. was going to work. Note if this plan had come to fruitation?
Kudzai Chipanga also knew about the Mosad deal. Like Amai he had all the hopes in it and never thought the Coup d’etat would succeed particularly with the help of Mosad. That is why he was so daring to read his Communiqué at ZANU PF Head Quarters. He was sure Chiwenga and his guys would not withstand Mosad and particularly with the assistance of Lungu who had aggreed to use Zambia as launch pad for Mosad. Mosad had already set up an office and Drone Lounge in Zambia.
Mugabe, Amai, Chombo, Chipanga and Lungu never thought their plan would fail. That’s why Chipanga was even dare enough to challenge the generals.
Back to our story. 10 Million deposit amount was collected and put at Chombo’s residence before the night of the coup d’etat. At the house were Mosad Elite snipers. But everything went suddenly wrong for Mugabe and his team. Mangudya sold out their deal to the Generals. He told them about Mosad and the 10 Million deal. The coup d’etat went on before the 10 Million was expatriated out of Zimbabwe by Mosad. Mosad and the 10 Million were still at Chombo’s residence. The Generals particularly knew the Mosad deal and the 10 million hence the need to raid armed to the tooth. The ZRP body guards at Chombo’s residence exchanged fire with the army. In fact they started firing. They were now under command of Mosad. They thought no one would beat them particularly with the help of the Israelites. At Chombo’s residence 4 ZRP body guards and 10 Mosad Snippers were shot dead. Only one ZNA soldier died. That is why the entry at Chombo’s residence was forceful. When the resistance was crushed the second phase was to find the 10 million. During the exchange of fire between the coup d’etat soldiers and Mosad, Chombo had hidden the bags containing the money in the ceiling. Iye pachake Chombo had no personal money of this magnitude at his house. So when confronted Chombo refused any knowledge of this money. So came the thorough beating. The soldiers knew it was there and Chombo was refusing. Chombo thought they would give him a minor beating and later leave him to enjoy his loot. He was totally wrong. It was not even Chombo who told them that the money was in the ceiling. The gunmen searched the whole house on their own until they found the money. This denial of knowledge of the money warranted more beatings to Chombo according to the gunmen.
Also take note of events: Mugabe refused to resign at the first instance claiming “We have friends” meaning Mosad and Zambian Lunga. After the coup, Lungu had decided to go on with the plan but Chiwenga threatened to take every inch of Zambia within 1 hour. Lungu sat down with his generals who confirmed it as true. They admitted they would not stand Zimbabwean fire power. He tried to ask for assissitance from Botswana and Botswana also refused siting the same shortfalls. When Mugabe was refusing to sign he didnt know about all these outside happenings. When Mugabe was finally shown the battered Chombo and the dead Mosad Snippers he knew totally well that their plan had flopped.
CONCLUSION.
The battle between the generals and Chombo is not stealing money but hiring Mosad to kill them. The battle between Chipanga and the gunmen is not about Corruption! “No no no!” But his knowledge about Mosad and the planned elimination of Generals. Also think about it? Are Chipanga and Chombo the ONLY Criminal elements the Army wanted to weed off ZANU PF? We have nearly a full month now. Are they not able to arrest more? You the Reader. Dont you know about other corrupt officials? Isnt it that the Generals are presently dining with some of them? Iwe. Look at things properly and with an analytic eye. This fight is personal. (Story is First Hand Information given to a Jail Guard by Chombo at his Prison Cell.) True.
By Farai D Hove| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been questioned on why soldiers are still deployed on the nation’s streets when yet Zimbabwe is not at war and the country now has a sitting President. The questions were raised by the MDC Chief Whip Innocent Gonese on Wednesday.
Mnangagwa must by law explain to the public why the army is still deployed.
Said Gonese, “Mr. Speaker, the reason why I am raising this matter is because whilst the President has the authority to deploy the Defence Forces, I believe that when this happens, there is an obligation by the President, as Commander-in-Chief to inform the nation and from my recollection we have not been informed by the President himself of the need for the deployment of the Defence Forces.
https://youtu.be/cTsifYzE9fU
“I have no problem Mr. Speaker Sir, if that is done in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. My worry is that at this point in time, and because that deployment specifically must be authorised by the Head of State. I believe Mr. Speaker Sir, that this is not something which must be done willy-nilly – it is something which must be done after due consideration.
“In that regard, the nation should be informed from the highest office in the land and this does not seem to have happened.
“What we have had Mr. Speaker, there are pronouncements which have been made by members of the Defence Forces and members of the Police Force jointly but I believe that, if we are to follow the dictates of our Constitution, it is imperative that the Head of State informs the nation of the need to have the Police Force to be assisted by the Defence Forces.”
Below was the full text of the exchange –
HON. GONESE: Hon. Speaker, I rise on a matter of privilege. Thank you very much Mr. Speaker Sir. I will begin by saying that Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy. My matter of privilege is related to the provisions of our Constitution and in particular, I am referring to the provisions of Section 119 on the role of Parliament as read with the provisions of Section 213. Mr. Speaker, I am sure that you are familiar with the provisions of that Section but for the benefit of all Hon. Members, I will just highlight what the Section provides.
In terms of Section 119 of our Constitution, Parliament is obligated to protect this Constitution and promote democratic governance in Zimbabwe. Further to that, Parliament also has the power to ensure that the provisions of this Constitution are upheld and that the State and all institutions and agencies of Government at every level act constitutionally and in the national interest.
Having read the general provisions Mr. Speaker Sir, I will now revert to the matter which is of concern and that is in terms of Section 213; in respect of the deployment of the Defence Forces. It is clear in terms of that provision that the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces has the power to authorise the deployment of the Defence Forces or the power to determine the operational use of the Defence Forces.
Further to that, with the authority of the President, the Defence Forces may be deployed in Zimbabwe as follows;
Mr. Speaker, the reason why I am raising this matter is because whilst the President has the authority to deploy the Defence Forces, I believe that when this happens, there is an obligation by the President, as Commander-in-Chief to inform the nation and from my recollection we have not been informed by the President himself of the need for the deployment of the Defence Forces. I have no problem Mr. Speaker Sir, if that is done in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. My worry is that at this point in time, and because that deployment specifically must be authorised by the Head of State. I believe Mr. Speaker Sir, that this is not something which must be done willy-nilly – it is something which must be done after due consideration. In that regard, the nation should be informed from the highest office in the land and this does not seem to have happened. What we have had Mr. Speaker, there are pronouncements which have been made by members of the Defence Forces and members of the Police Force jointly but I believe that, if we are to follow the dictates of our Constitution, it is imperative that the Head of State informs the nation of the need to have the Police Force to be assisted by the Defence Forces.
That is the reason why I am rising Mr. Speaker, that as Parliament, it is our duty and obligation to ensure that at all times as a nation; we follow the dictates and the provisions of our Constitution. Where there is an element of doubt and where there is lack of clarity, it is important for us as Parliament to ascertain, verify and clarify so that all of us are in the picture as to whether we have indeed followed the provisions of the Constitution. That is my concern Mr. Speaker and that is the reason why I have reason with this matter of privilege, to have this clarified for us as to whether in fact it was the Head of State who gave that authority because it does not appear to have been done in accordance with the Constitution. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: While you are upstanding, can you clarify which deployment you are talking about.
HON. GONESE: The deployment in the country Mr. Speaker. We have members of the Defence Forces – they are assisting the police as I have already pointed out. The Constitution allows for that, but only in the circumstances where the Head of State has authorised that course of action. I am saying that as Parliament, we have not been officially informed by the Head of State, and the nation at large has not received any notification. I believe that if that happens, due process must be followed. The Head of State could have addressed the nation in that regard or a Statutory Instrument could have been gazetted or a general notice to inform the nation at large – that does not seem to have happened and that is what is the gravamen of the matter. Because, when that happens Mr. Speaker, I would like to assume that things must be done transparently and openly. For it to be done transparently and openly, the public must be notified in some way which I am not aware of Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. You have not contextualised your observation Hon. Member. Can you be more specific?
HON. GONESE: I will do so Mr. Speaker. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
HON. GONESE: Let me go back to the provisions of the Constitution.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. I am very clear of the provisions of 213.
HON. GONESE: Thank you Mr. Speaker. So, in view of those provisions which are very clear, my submission is that when you have members of the Defence Forces performing the duties that they are performing, that amounts to a deployment.
THE HON. SPEAKER: You mean now?
HON. GONESE: Yes, I mean now Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Okay.
HON. GONESE: I mean now Mr. Speaker. We have a Head of State who was inaugurated; His Excellency the Hon. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, who is the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in this country. I am saying Mr. Speaker, that in terms of the provisions which I have adverted to, it is my respectful submission.
THE HON. SPEAKER: I am very clear, I am very clear now.
HON. GONESE: You are very clear, yes. So I am saying, at this point in time Mr. Speaker, we have members of the Defence Forces who have been deployed and in my understanding, they are definitely assisting the Police Service. We obviously have the Police Service whose primary responsibility is to maintain law and order. There are circumstances …
THE HON. SPEAKER: I thought you have made your point.
HON. GONESE: Yes, thank you. I thought you wanted me to clarify.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order. I have two observations. Hon. Chinotimba, I had not recognised you; that is one. Hon. Members at the back there, yes, can you stop your tete-a-tete please. The second thing is that you cannot rise before the Chair has responded to the point of privilege.
Yes, I hear you Hon. Gonese – I will engage His Excellency the President and I should be informed accordingly and will advise accordingly.
*HON. CHINOTIMBA: On a point of order Mr. Speaker. My point of order is on privilege. If you can see on your left and on your right, you can see that it is a bright day. We want to congratulate the Ministers. We usually had challenges pleading with the Ministers that they come to Parliament to answer our questions but today, you have just seen yourself that we should thank them and it should continue like this.
We want to congratulate people like Hon. Perrance Shiri, Hon. Moyo for the new appointments and I wish them well in their new deployments. Even people are saying what is not proper in this House but the truth of the matter is that our President, Hon. Mnanagwa did a sterling job as you can see. So I stood up to thank His Excellency Hon. Dambudzo Mnangagwa that whatever he has done, we should be thankful. We usually have problems with Ministers who do not attend Parliament on Wednesdays to answer questions but today all the Ministers are here. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! Thank you Hon. Chinotimba. However, the coming of the Hon. Ministers also implies that the Hon. Members of Parliament must attend and not disappear, leaving out certain motions undebated. Thank you.
Terrence Mawawa,Zvishavane| A local woman was stabbed to death over 25 cents and two bottles of mineral water.
In the shocking and bizarre incident, the woman, Varaidzo Sibanda(29) of Kufa Village under Chief Masunda, refused to surrender her bond coin(25 cents) and the mineral water to suspected thieves.
Two men, Wellington Maposa (25) and Hosea Vengesai(33) have since appeared in court facing murder charges.The matter was heard before Zvishavane Magistrate Shepherd Munjanja last week.
Facts were that Sibanda was walking home when the two suspects approached her near Highlands Suburb in the mining town.
“The two emerged from a bushy area and produced a knife and then ordered Sibanda to surrender her belongings.
She told the two that she only had 25 cents and two bottles of mineral water.
She refused to hand over the money and the two bottles of mineral water.
The two men then stabbed Sibanda several times on the left side of her chest and on her left hand.
They took the 25 cents and the mineral water and fled, leaving the woman bleeding profusely,” the court heard.
Sibanda was rushed to hospital and she died as a result of the injuries she sustained.
Maposa and Vengesai were remanded in custody to December 14.
By Staff Reporter| The Ret Army Captain, who still has “live” charges on his head for allegedly organising a coup to remove Robert Mugabe and install Emmerson Mnangagwa, has disowned President Mnangagwa.
The man, Albert Matapo endured the longest prison stay (without trial) since independence 1980. He was jailed in 2007 purely on Mnangagwa’s account in a series of events that were set to see President Mnangagwa himself being slapped behind bars.
On 29th May 2007, the Robert Mugabe led Zimbabwean government claimed they had foiled an alleged coup d’état attempt led by Matapo involving almost 400 soldiers and high-ranking members of the military set to happen on June 2 or June 15, 2007.
10 years later, ZimEye has besides interviewing Matapo himself, followed up with prison officers who handled Captain Matapo during his time inside the filthy Chikurubi maximum prison and one senior male officer told ZimEye he to this day still believes that Matapo was “clearly” Mnangagwa’s agent.
“I know he was later released and exonerated, but vanga vari vese avo naMnangagwa tinozviziva,” the officer who cannot be named as he is not allowed to speak with the media said.
Since the latest coup happened last month in November which swiftly and successfully ushered Mnangagwa into State House, many now expect Captain Matapo to fly back to Zimbabwe and serve his “boss” Mnangagwa’s government.
But an irate Matapo told ZimEye.com he does not want to have anything to do with Mnangagwa. He went further and declared that he has actually never had anything to do with Mnangagwa.
“I was accused of doing a coup for Mnangagwa, I would like to make it clear now that he has made it to become President that I have nothing to do with him, I have never had anything to do with him, and I will never want to do anything with him,” declared Captain Matapo on the LIVE ZimEye program.
In another program filmed in July this year, Matapo screams out saying:
“Mnangagwa belongs to Chikuribi, Mugabe belongs to Chikurubi!”
It has now become convincingly clear that when he was arrested in 2007, Captain Matapo had actually started a political party, The United Crusade For Achieving Democracy (UCAD) and CIOs randomly rounded him up together with other members who had gathered in his offices in Harare; they then drove them away for torture under charges of attempting to remove Mugabe and install Mnangagwa. But years later inside Chikurubi, they failed to successfully convict Matapo of the crime. He was eventually released in 2014 following intervention of his lawyers and now lives in the diaspora.
On the day they were arrested in May 2007, another witness Gilbert Kagodora, treasurer for the MDC, says he and Matapo were arrested by men suspected be CIOs on May 29.
“We had gone to meet Matapo for business together with three other party activists at Winston Court along Fourth Street. Initially, they told us that we were being arrested for dealing in foreign currency and they then proceeded to blindfold us with masking tape. They also tied our hands and took us into a van downstairs. I could not tell exactly where they were driving us to.”
By Court Correspondent| ZANU PF’s new political commissar, Victor Matemadanda has been cleared in a court case in which he was charged of insulting former first lady, Grace Mugabe.
The insult charges were in September altered to mean insulting her husband, Robert. (SEE VIDEO as Matemadanda spoke to ZimEye on the case in September.) –
https://youtu.be/64W6psafCEU
Yesterday Magistrate Josephine Sande withdrew charges against him.
The dropping of the case comes after the State had asked to withdraw the matter before plea saying that Prosecutor-General Ray Goba was yet to peruse the docket. Prosecutor Francisca Mukumbiri was handling the file.
Mukumbiri yesterday said that if need be Matemadanda would be summoned to court.
Matemadanda’s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa stated that the State should put a specific time-frame to drop the charges in the event that they fail to summon him.
At the end however, magistrate Sande formally withdrew the charges against Matemadanda. WATCH AND HEAR MORE ON THE CHARGES BELOW:
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has blocked the blowing up of over $219 million on expensive cars by ministers, chiefs and MPs.
This was announced yesterday by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa.
Chinamasa said that Government also turned down a request for furniture by Government Ministries and Departments which would have amounted to over $50 million, part of the total $219 million.
“As the country strives to mobilise funding for critical projects and programmes, it is imperative that we deploy the resources to priority areas that address the needs of the country in a cost effective manner,” said Chinamasa.
He continued saying, “Treasury is in receipt of requests for procurement of utility and conditions of service vehicles amounting to $169 million broken down as follows: Parliamentary vehicles, $21 million; chiefs’ vehicles, $14 million, Independent Commissions, $9 million; Civil service members, including Ministers, $93 million; and utility vehicles, $32 million.
“Furthermore, requests for procurement of furniture for Government Ministries and Departments amount to over $50 million. Clearly, the fiscus cannot sustain the above demands, if we are to achieve the objectives towards a ‘New Economic Order’. Hence, the 2018 Budget took account of value for money and affordability as guiding principles in the allocation of resources, and is unable to provide for the above vehicle requests.” – state media
At least 20 elderly people, including a 53-year-old woman in Mhangura, are now able to read and write after enrolling for non-formal education at Mhangura Primary School.
In separate interviews, the elderly pupils welcomed the move by Government to provide them with an opportunity to receive education even at an advanced age. The 53-year-old Grade 1 pupil, Mrs Letty Mhora, said the programme had so far enabled her to read and write. She is looking forward to sitting for her Grade 7 examinations in 2022.
“My teachers are Madam Kauta and Madam Mudziviri. They are doing a wonderful job as I can now read and write, which I could not do when I enrolled at the beginning of the year,” she said.
Mrs Mhora implored parents and children to value education.
“I urge parents who are failing to pay for their children’s fees and other children absconding from schools to take education seriously because it is the key to a better life,” she said.
Another elderly women, Mrs Awanji Goke, said her father failed to send her to school.
“I failed to go to school at the right age because my father neglected our welfare after the death of our mother, so this has come as a golden opportunity to catch up on what I failed to do decades ago,” she said.
The elderly learners have to juggle between school and taking care of their children and grandchildren.
“Currently, we are failing to raise money for fees and uniforms,” said 40-year-old Grade 3 pupil Mrs Shupikai Tazvivinga.
“The main reason for this is that there is no industry around here that can employ our husbands or children, so we struggle to balance our needs and those of our children, but we will soldier on.”
The learners appealed for financial assistance to enable them to complete their studies. Others said they needed birth certificates, which will enable them to sit for national examinations.
A teacher at Mhangura Mine Primary School told the state media that the school had 14 non-formal Grade 1 pupils and seven Grade 3 pupils, who enrolled at the beginning of the year, and are all elderly. – state media
State Media – Chitungwiza Central Hospital’s striking matrons and nurses resumed work on Tuesday after meeting with management to resolve an impasse following a picket over the shortage of resources. Nursing staff downed tools last Friday. In an interview on Tuesday, the hospital’s chief executive officer Dr Obadiah Moyo said all was now well.
“We have had a situation at the hospital where our nursing staff went on strike over shortage of resources. The situation was resolved after we convened a meeting with them and this follows another emergency meeting last Thursday with the Ministry of Health and Child Care permanent secretary, Dr Gerald Gwinji, to request for more resources for the hospital. Dr Gwinji managed to rescue the institution by allocating funds ($60 000 as a rescue package). The funds will cater for pharmaceuticals, food and other provisions,” said Dr Moyo.
Dr Moyo said as a result, the nursing staff resumed their duties.
“The nursing staff’s requirements will be met at the latest this Friday,” he said.
The institution has put in place an emergency supplies committee, which will include nurses and doctors to strengthen the supply chain and is expected to react significantly and timely to the needs as and when they arise.
“It was noted in the meeting that sanctions had contributed tremendously to the shortage of resources and that the joint venture partnerships had kept the institution going. However, there would be a means to review the joint venture partnerships in order to go back to the status quo gradually as the sanctions are lifted,” said Dr Moyo.
Dr Moyo said the shortages at the hospital were also as a result of little funds they were receiving from Government.
“The institution submitted a bid for $18 million in the 2017 budget, but was only allocated $900 000 and of that, we received $500 000, which was inadequate for all our requirements. The Ministry has tasked the National Pharmaceutical Company of Zimbabwe (NatPham) to identify all the products required by the institution,” he said.
The hospital’s matron, Ms Dorcas Chairuka, who represented the nursing staff, confirmed that they had since resolved their differences.
“We had a situation where nurses were unhappy because of shortage of resources, but we convened a meeting with Dr Moyo yesterday (Monday) and he sourced some funds. The resources are now there and we are rendering quality nursing care while everything is now in order and all our nurses are back at work,” he said. -state media
By Shiellah Sibanda| All roads lead to Illford, London tomorrow Saturday the 9th of December where MDC members will meet for Christmas bash. The function time will be from 2.30pm till 11.30pm. Venue details are as below:
https://youtu.be/cTsifYzE9fU
Why Is President Mnangagwa Allowing Gun Soldiers To Beat Up Innocent People?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 8, 2017
What are soldiers still doing on Zimbabwe’s streets making it look as if Zimbabwe is at war? Why are soldiers being allowed to act like policemen as they go about beating up women and kids? – These were some of the questions that dogged social platforms yesterday and the development comes following two videos of women being assaulted one of them which is below – .
https://youtu.be/Dm4yIUPZfPM
https://youtu.be/cTsifYzE9fU
State Media- The youths renounced their membership of NPP at Zanu-PF Headquarters before the revolutionary party’s national Commissar Victor Matemadanda and Secretary for Youth Affairs Pupurai Togarepi.
In their statement, the youths said: “We strongly believe in and adhere to the founding values of the liberation struggle. These were discarded when Zanu-PF was captured by the former First Lady (Dr) Grace Mugabe and her G40 cabal.
“It was in defence of the revolutionary legacy that we stood by Mai Mujuru, the former Vice President of Zimbabwe when she was ill treated by the former First Lady.
“Now that Operation Restore Legacy has successfully brought back order in the country, we have, therefore, freely and willingly decided to rejoin the revolutionary party, Zanu-PF, and work together with our freedom fighters and all willing citizens to rebuild our country. This is effective immediately.”
The youths urged Dr Mujuru to retrace her footsteps and find a common ground with her comrades in Zanu-PF. Matemadanda welcomed the youths and commended them for rejoining the revolutionary party. He said unlike his predecessor Mr Saviour Kasukuwere, who always received reports of party members’ expulsion with uncontrolled excitement, he welcomed all people in Zanu-PF.
“Operation Restore Legacy did not end with the ZDF alone, but your coming back to the party is also part of that operation,” said Matemadanda. “Unlike the behaviour of my predecessor who enjoyed playing music each time a party member was expelled, to me losing one party member is like losing your child.
Former Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo’s customary daughter, Pokello has reportedly split from her husband, Elikem.
A possible divorce is in the way, swirling reports say.
The state owned Herald has also joined the pile of reports which state that the former Big brother housemates have fallen out of love.
The rumours began last month when the queen of swagger failed to acknowledge her husband’s birthday on November 7.
It had been the couple’s tradition to celebrate their special days on social media writing lengthy love messages so fans were quick to notice this time when Pokello did not say anything.
More evidence emerged when the two unfollowed each other on social media signalling a possible collapse of a “fairy tale” love affair which had won the couple considerable admiration in Africa.
Although both of them did not confirm anything, Elikem posted a screenshot of an article that says “Trouble in paradise of Elikem and Pokello” on his Instagram account. Many shared their concerns with one fan commenting “Work it out. Marriage is said not to be easy. Both of you should not be concerned more about success than building your family.”
It seems the couple has been secretive over the state of their union, an interview with Ghana’s JoyNews Elikem said he was not ready to confirm anything.
“I am not ready to spit out what is private at home out on air to say yes I am divorced or not. I am sure it is not anyone’s business so to speak,” said Elikem.
The Herald says they attempted contacting Pokello for a comment, but her number was not available.
This not the first time the couple has been linked to such rumours of a troubled celebrity couple. During the early stages of their relationship, they allegedly had issues concerning Elikem’s past relationship with ex-wife of Ace Ghanaian footballer, Nii Odartey Lamptey.
Elikem is back in Ghana and the two have continued with their lives posting about their work deviating from their usual inseparable tendencies.-state media
A Correspondent| Two people died on the spot near Shabane mine on Thursday.
The state media reports an unconfirmed number of survivors with various injuries when the vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned in the early hours of Thursday near Shabanie Mine along Buchwa road.
The state owned ZBC quotes Officer the Commanding Zvishavane District Inspector Edward Ncube confirming the accident although he said he was yet to get the full details.
The injured were reportedly rushed to Shabanie Mine Hospital where they are currently receiving treatment.
Although it is not clear what led to the accident, ZBC News said it understands one of the vehicles, a commuter omnibus was heading towards Zvishavane from Mazvihwa with an unspecified number of passengers.
The driver of the commuter omnibus lost control before the vehicle veered off the road and overturned.
The policeman who allegedly caused mayhem when he invaded Police boss Augustine Chihuri’s house with a gun yesterday, appeared at Rotten Row Magistrates court today.
The police Support Unit cop, Hardlife Maukazuva, has been charged with 3 counts of theft, attempted murder and malicious damage of property.
It is the state’s case that Maukazuva ttempted to loot Gen Chihuri’s movable property early morning yesterday.
He was remanded in custody to 21 December.
The state owned Herald reports that he ran amok after his bid to loot property from the premises was foiled.
The report quotes police sources saying Chihuri’s gardener saw the suspect stealing household property and alerted an officer who had come to the house for a routine inspection at around 9.45am. The officer then confronted the suspect who, however, became agitated and started firing shots at the officer with his FN rifle. The besieged officer took cover and called for backup from Police General Headquarters.
“Backup swiftly arrived and a gunfight ensued lasting over three hours. The suspect allegedly tried to escape by using one of Dr Chihuri’s vehicles, but failed as the house had been surrounded. He then set the house on fire, damaging a significant section of the property’s roof,” said the source.
The suspect, attached to ZRP’s Support Unit, was then arrested after running out of ammunition. The Air Force of Zimbabwe and Fire Brigade then put out the fire before ZRP’s forensics and ballistics teams attended the scene. Investigations were still underway.
Part of the house’s roof was reduced to ashes. However, the value of goods and property destroyed during the melee could not be ascertained. Efforts to get comment from the police were fruitless by last night. Dr Chihuri’s neighbours said the incident started around 9 am and ended around 2pm after the whole area had been cordoned off.
One of the neighbours, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The policeman from Support Unit was on duty alone when he started looting some clothes, television sets and other property in the house. He was later confronted by a gardener and there was an exchange of words.”
The neighbour further said a few minutes later, a senior police officer who had came for a routine inspection arrived at the house was informed by the gardener about the incident. The police officer confronted the suspect, resulting in a nasty exchange of words between the two.
“The senior police officer then phoned senior officers at the Police General Headquarters informing them about the behaviour of the police constable. This did not go down well with the police constable, who then produced his firearm with the intention of shooting his colleague. He fired shots but missed during the process,” said the neighbour. It is reported that a few minutes later, the house had been cordoned by armed police officers, resulting in an exchange of gunshots, which lasted for almost three hours.
The police constable is alleged to have run out of ammunition and decided to burn down part of the house before he was arrested. Fire brigade from the Air Force of Zimbabwe was summoned to the scene and managed to extinguish the fire.
Police officers from the ballistics and forensic departments, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and senior officers from Harare province also visited the scene.
Terrence Mawawa, Zaka| Local villagers are already hysterically celebrating Winky D’ s scheduled show at Jerera Growth Point on Saturday.
Winky D will perform live at a show meant to promote peace and tolerance ahead of next year’s harmonised elections.
The show was organised by Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT).
HZT executive director Rashid Mahiya said the show was organised in collaboration with various stakeholders including the Election Resource Centre (ERC) and Zimrights to encourage citizens to register to vote.
“Commissioners shall also be present at the venue to assist potential registrants with proof of residence letters.
We shall also take time to raise awareness on the voter registration process,” Mahiya said.
Terrence Mawawa| The First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has indicated she will not leave her constituency although her associates have advised her to relinquish the post.
Auxillia Mnangagwa’ s sympathisers including Oppah Muchinguri advised her to step down as MP to pave way for another Parliamentary candidate.
Muchinguri told a weekly publication she expected Auxillia Mnangagwa to avoid the blunders made by her predecessor, Grace Mugabe.
However, the First Lady has insisted that she will not leave her constituency.She is the MP for Chirumhanzu Zibagwe Constituency.
Addressing party supporters in the constituency last week, Auxillia Mnangagwa said she had no plans to step down.
“I will not abandon you and I have no plans to step down because we have been together for a long time.
Let me assure you that we will be together and I cannot leave you simply because of my new role as the First Lady,” she said.
By Simba Chikanza| Former Minister Of Finance Ignatius Chombo is still in jail despite winning bail appeal.
Dr Chombo’s lawyer, Prof Lovemore Madhuku told ZimEye at 8.20pm Chombo could not obtain actual physical release from remand prison due to procedural constraints.
“He will be getting out in the morning, the procedures are that we have to make the payment, the bail and then surrender the travel documents, and that couldn’t be done because we only got judgement this evening,” he said.
Prof Madhuku also responded on wild allegations which say that Chombo was caught with $10million and that at the time of his capture by the army, he was attempting to fund mercenaries to kill army generals. HEAR PROFESSOR MADHUKU SPEAKING TONIGHT – refresh this page to watch…
Chombo has been in remand prison for the last two weeks after having been initially captured by the army and detained for 9 days and then re-arrested this time by the police.
High Court Justice Edith Mushore ordered that he surrenders his passport and the title deeds to his Harare home as part of the bail conditions.
He was also ordered to report three times a day at Malborough police station, and not interference with state witnesses.
As previously reported by ZimEye, Zimbabwe’s new government under Emmerson Mnangagwa, has confirmed the latest move to freeze the bank accounts of former ministers Professor Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere.
The two’s accounts have been frozen as “investigations” continue on their activities in the country.
While Minister of Home Affairs and Culture, Dr Obert Mpofu confirmed the development on the national broadcaster, several bank managers also testified they have received instructions on the matter.
Below is the official note:
Directive to all financial institutions Freezing of accounts re: Prof. Jonathan Moyo and Mr. Saviour Kasukuwere (former government ministers)
1) You are directed to identify and immediately freeze:
(i) all accounts in the name of the above-named individuals; and
(ii) any accounts in which the said individuals are directors or have a known beneficial interest.
2) You are further directed to submit, in writing, a return to the Unit, by no later than the 8th of December, 2017, listing and giving particulars (including balances) of all the accounts that you would have identified and frozen in terms of this directive.
3) Where you have not identified any relevant account, you shall nevertheless submit a nil return.
4) Where you are in doubt regarding whether or not any particular account is linked to the named subjects, you shall contact the Unit for further direction.
5) The effect of the freeze is that (except any inflows into the account, which shall be processed normally and immediately notified to the Unit) no other transaction shall be processed from a frozen account until further, the Unit directs otherwise.
Terrence Mawawa |Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa has predicted total economic revival in the country by March 2018.
Speaking in Parliament today, Chinamasa said the Government had put in place measures to enable private and government controlled companies to operate at full throttle by March 2018.
Chinamasa conceded warped policies led to the closure of companies in the country.
He cited harsh and stringent requirements set by former President Robert Mugabe as the major contributory factors to the current economic quagmire.
“We have tabled strategic measures to ensure total economic recovery by March 2018.
Government will cede 80% of its shares in the Cold Storage Commission to NSSA as part of measures to revive the country’s defunct industrial sector.
We also have a grand plan to revive other government entities. Our major thrust is to create employment,” said Chinamasa.
He added, “We will root out bureaucratic elements, lazy and corrupt individuals.Ghost workers will also be fired because we cannot continue to pay them while they are idle. “
https://youtu.be/cTsifYzE9fU
By Terrence Mawawa| President Emmerson Mnangagwa is moving to severely alter Robert Mugabe’s controversial Indigenisation Act which blocked foreigners from investing unless they cede 51% of their total shareholding.
Analysts had for years called for this Act to be repealed.
The development was revealed by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa in his budget which included the new bill proposal. (FULL LIVE REPORT & ANALYSIS TO FOLLOW ON ZimEye.com).
The proposed Finance Bill now restricts the 51% shareholding factor to “diamonds and platinum. These two are now the only sub-sectors to be designated as ‘extractive.’
Accordingly, the proposed Amendments will confine the 51/49 Indigenisation threshold to only the two minerals, namely diamonds and platinum, in the extractive sector.
The 51/49 threshold will not apply to the rest of the extractive sector, nor will it apply to the other sectors of the economy, which will be open to any investor regardless of nationality.
Reserved Sector
The Reserved sector is only for Zimbabwean citizens, and for non-Zimbabweans, entry into the Reserved sector will only be by special dispensation granted by Government.
As we seek to attract both local and foreign investments, existing and potential investors become fully guided by the Amendments we seek to effect through the Finance Bill that is being brought to this August House.
Senior judges who sit in the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission have told the President to live by his word and by the constitution to among other things, allow diasporans to vote from where-ever they live. Other issues were on stopping the invasion of white owned farms and also compensating those who lost their properties, and the last matter being the one of the Gukurahundi matter.
FULL TEXT:
ZHRC Statement on the New Political Dispensation and Prospects of a Zimbabwe
Where Human Rights are Protected, Promoted and Enforced.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) acknowledges the position taken by the Second Executive President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa in his inauguration speech delivered on the 24th of November 2017 to focus on Unity, Peace and the Development of our Nation. In particular the ZHRC is encouraged by the President’s declaration that he intends to serve Zimbabwe “as the President of all citizens regardless of colour, creed, religion, tribe, totem or political affiliation.” This is a critical declaration as it resonates with the core principles of human rights, premised on the tenets of equality and non-discrimination as provided for in Section 56 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (Number 20) Act, 2013.
In line with this positive trajectory, the ZHRC expectantly looks forward to the President and his new administration tackling some of the critical human rights issues that the country has been grappling with over the years as detailed below:
1) The ZHRC applauds the President for recognising the need to compensate all those who lost their land during the implementation of the country’s Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP). In the same vein, the ZHRC encourages the President and the new Government of Zimbabwe to consider ending the eviction of the few remaining white farmers in recognition of their citizenship status and to ensure that they are treated like any other Zimbabwean in the allocation of land.
2) The President in his speech encouraged the many Zimbabweans who have left the country over the years to come back home and help in the rebuilding of our Nation. This is a bold acknowledgment of the fact that these Zimbabweans remain citizens of our country regardless of where they may be currently resident. As a first step towards embracing these citizens, and accepting the immense contributions they have made towards sustaining our country through diaspora remittances, the Government is encouraged to put in place measures to ensure that they are able to vote from their current locations during the 2018 general elections as provided for in Section 67 (3) (a) of the Constitution which gives every Zimbabwean citizen above the age of eighteen (18) years the right to vote. In line with the same provision, prisoners should in our view also be allowed to exercise their right to vote.
3) The ZHRC has noted the call by the President for Zimbabweans who externalized foreign currency and other assets to repatriate such resources by the end of February 2018 or face prosecution. This is an important call in that if heeded, the repatriation of these resources will go a long way in kick-starting the growth of our economy and easing the cash shortages which the country has been struggling with for over a year. The cash crisis has had a negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights by Zimbabweans including the right to dignity, as citizens including the elderly and persons with disabilities have been forced to sleep in bank queues as they seek to access their money.
4) Whilst acknowledging that building peace and reconciliation falls within the mandate of our sister commission, the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), the ZHRC encourages the New Government to address the issue of the Gukurahundi disturbances that took place in the Matabeleland Region and parts of the Midlands Province in the early to mid- 1980s. Addressing this issue of national concern will help in ensuring closure on the part of the affected families, whilst at the same time ensuring that Zimbabweans are able to move forward together in the spirit of forgiveness and oneness.
The ZHRC acknowledges that there are many other human rights issues that require the attention of the President and his new administration. However, the Commission expresses the view that addressing the above issues will play a critical role in setting the country on a positive path and this in turn will help in progressively addressing the other myriad human rights challenges that require attention.
Issued by the ZHRC in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on 1 December 2017
Staff Reporter| The humiliated former Zanu-PF national youth leader, Kudzanai Chipanga has won his bail appeal.
Chipanga was today granted $500 bail.
He was ordered to reside at 826 Jarcana Close in Greystone Park. Other conditions are that he must report to the local police twice a week between 6am-12 noon & 3pm- 6pm.
He was also ordered not to interfere with state witnesses.
PRNewswire/AsiaNet-Pakistan– Last week, authorities in Zambia arrested and held six individuals, including two pharmacy owners, involved in the illicit sale of HIV and malaria test kits in Lusaka, the country’s capital. The arrests took place using evidence gathered during a 5 month-long investigation by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Inspector General (OIG).
In the weeks prior to the arrests, OIG carried out joint investigative work with the Zambia National Task Force (ZNTF). The task force consists of the Zambia Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Zambia Medical Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), Ministry of Health (MOH) and Zambia police.
“We coordinate closely with international partners to thwart the work of criminals who prey upon the U.S. Government-supported global health supply chain,” said Jonathan Schofield, OIG’s Special Agent in Charge overseeing global health investigations. “Our recent work with partners in the U.S. Embassy in Zambia and ZNTF has stopped several offenders who exploited international aid for personal gain. We continue to obtain additional information on ways the supply chain was compromised, allowing it to be repaired, strengthened, and better positioned to serve the people of Zambia in the future.”
The U.S. Government provides HIV and malaria test kits, along with other health commodities, under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the President’s Malaria Initiative, and through contributions to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The commodities, provided in Zambia and around the world, are intended to be distributed to beneficiaries without charge.
Last week’s arrests stem from a proactive initiative that OIG began in Lusaka in June 2017. OIG visited pharmacies across the city to determine if U.S. Government-funded products were being sold for profit. During these visits, OIG quickly identified individuals involved in the illegal sale of stolen HIV and malaria test kits, which were later confirmed to have been provided through U.S. Government and The Global Fund programs. OIG shared evidence from its investigation with members of the ZNTF, triggering joint investigative efforts that led the ZNTF, assisted by OIG, to detain 13 individuals involved in illegally selling the test kits.
Following the arrests, six individuals are considered the main targets of the investigation and remain in jail.
Zambian authorities released an additional seven individuals after they secured bail on the condition that they return for further questioning.
OIG conducts independent investigations and audits to make U.S. foreign assistance programs more efficient, effective, and accountable. Promoting integrity in the global health supply chain stands among OIG’s top investigative priorities and OIG operates worldwide to investigate complaints of fraud and misconduct in global health programs. This work includes its “Make A Difference” (MAD) campaign and hotline to protect the integrity of antimalarial programs overseas. The campaign operates in Malawi, Benin, and Nigeria and publicly calls for citizens to oppose theft and counterfeiting of antimalarial commodities and to recognize the dangers they present.
More information can be found on OIG’s web site, which also provides instructions for using the office’s hotlines to report fraud, waste, and abuse.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has moved to freeze all bank accounts belonging to Prof Jonathan Moyo and former ZANU Pf Commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere.
A government instruction names the two’s estates as subject to government control following an investigation.
Below is the order:
Directive to all financial institutions Freezing of accounts re: Prof. Jonathan Moyo and Mr Saviour Kasukuwere (former government ministers) 1) You are directed to identify and immediately freeze: (i) all accounts in the name of the above-named individuals; and (ii) any accounts in which the said individuals are directors or have a known beneficial interest. 2) You are further directed to submit, in writing, a return to the Unit, by no later than the 8th of December 2017, listing and giving particulars (including balances) of all the accounts that you would have identified and frozen in terms of this directive. 3) Where you have not identified any relevant account, you shall, nevertheless submit a nil return. 4) Where you are in doubt regarding whether or not any particular account is linked to the named subjects, you shall contact the Unit for further direction. 5) The effect of the freeze is that, (except any inflows into the account, which shall be processed normally and immediately notified to the Unit) no other transaction shall be processed from a frozen account, until further the Unit directs otherwise.
Harare Correspondent| A ZNA soldier in Kuwadzana 4 was caught on camera brutally assaulting a woman while in uniform.
The incident happened yesterday at around 1 pm.
At the time he was spotted by ZimEye sources, his top was found oozing blood from woman’s body. “Hello assist violent solja abvisa munhu mazino…” one resident screamed out.
The soldier was only identified by the name, Tatenda and it was not possible to obtain his full identity particulars. The motive for the violence could neither be ascertained at the time of writing. -ZimEye will continue to investigate and update our valued readers and contributors in due course.
https://youtu.be/Dm4yIUPZfPM
https://youtu.be/eK68F9BA5fQ
Staff Reporter| Last week three accidents happened at the same spot one after the other in a single 48 hour period of upset upon upset. These were at corner Robert Mugabe and 2nd Street. The accidents many say are clearly avoidable, were luckily captured on CCTV video by a local hardware shop which also sells these cameras, Nation Hardware Shop. Elsewhere there are hundreds of other accidents happening without either reporting or spotting.
https://youtu.be/h8FXOMdyqvY
Two cars hit into each other at 6.32am this morning. In the second accident, a truck is filmed LIVE smashing into a sedan traveling in 2nd Street. The first accident was on Wednesday night at 9.40pm, while the second was 23 hours later Thursday 8.26pm.
The incidents, revealed by ZimEye.com were all filmed by the watchful CCTV cameras of the Nation’s Hardware shop, which also sells these quality CCTV cameras.
The shop’s Sales Manager, Dusty Jusip told ZimEye, the robot was likely to blame since it shows green while at the same being red.
ZimEye continues to cover accidents around the country and these can be monitored on the LIVE satellite map – ….
Secret inside another secret of another secret in Harare was the order of things yesterday amid reports of what many say was a clear cover up by the powers that be following the gun raid of police boss Augustine Chihuri.
It took close to 200 minutes for the army to subdue a ZRP cop. More shady details 
emerged when it was claimed the police officer was a thief who had attempted to burgle Gen Chihuri’s households.
The state media has maintained their report that the gun wielding policeman who attacked police boss, Augustine Chihuri’s house yesterday morning, fired and exchanged gunshots with other cops for over 3 hours until at about 2pm, and no one was hurt.
The report has no mention whatsoever of the two (2) people who some neighbours say were killed in the dramatic attack.
The report also claims the attacker who is a serving police officer, simply wanted to burgle his boss, Chihuri.
This account seems to contradict that of witnesses at the scene yesterday. THE STATE MEDIA REPORT IS BELOW AND ALSO WATCH THE FOLLOWING LIVE PROGRAM LAST NIGHT featuring Huddersfield University politics and law expert, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda.
FULL TEXT OF STATE MEDIA REPORT – A rogue policeman guarding Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Dr Augustine Chihuri’s house in Borrowdale, Harare, yesterday morning ran amok after his bid to loot property from the premises was foiled.
Police sources said Dr Chihuri’s gardener saw the suspect stealing household property and alerted an officer who had come to the house for a routine inspection at around 9.45am. The officer then confronted the suspect who, however, became agitated and started firing shots at the officer with his FN rifle. The besieged officer took cover and called for backup from Police General Headquarters.
“Backup (soldiers and a helicopter) swiftly arrived and a gunfight ensued lasting over three hours. The suspect allegedly tried to escape by using one of Dr Chihuri’s vehicles, but failed as the house had been surrounded. He then set the house on fire, damaging a significant section of the property’s roof,” said the source.
The suspect, attached to ZRP’s Support Unit, was then arrested after running out of ammunition. The Air Force of Zimbabwe and Fire Brigade then put out the fire before ZRP’s forensics and ballistics teams attended the scene. Investigations were still underway.
Part of the house’s roof was reduced to ashes. However, the value of goods and property destroyed during the melee could not be ascertained. Efforts to get comment from the police were fruitless by last night. Dr Chihuri’s neighbours said the incident started around 9 am and ended around 2pm after the whole area had been cordoned off.
One of the neighbours, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The policeman from Support Unit was on duty alone when he started looting some clothes, television sets and other property in the house. He was later confronted by a gardener and there was an exchange of words.”
The neighbour further said a few minutes later, a senior police officer who had came for a routine inspection arrived at the house was informed by the gardener about the incident. The police officer confronted the suspect, resulting in a nasty exchange of words between the two.
“The senior police officer then phoned senior officers at the Police General Headquarters informing them about the behaviour of the police constable. This did not go down well with the police constable, who then produced his firearm with the intention of shooting his colleague. He fired shots but missed during the process,” said the neighbour.
It is reported that a few minutes later, the house had been cordoned by armed police officers, resulting in an exchange of gunshots, which lasted for almost three hours.
The police constable is alleged to have run out of ammunition and decided to burn down part of the house before he was arrested. Fire brigade from the Air Force of Zimbabwe was summoned to the scene and managed to extinguish the fire.
Police officers from the ballistics and forensic departments, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and senior officers from Harare province also visited the scene.
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| A lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University has been implicated in a sexual relationship with a ZRP Cop’ s wife.
The lecturer, Botman Nyasha Ebson was allegedly involved in a sexual relationship with Nyaradzo Nyoni who was a student at Great Zimbabwe University. Nyaradzo is married to Detective James Nyoni.
The matter was heard before Magistrate Sibongiso Mkandla last week.
The court heard that James became suspicious when he read some text messages in his wife’ s mobile phone.
He then carried out some investigations and discovered that Ebson had a sexual relationship with his wife.
The court further heard that Ebson demanded sex from Nyaradzo in return for high marks.
Ebson told the court that James allegedly threatened to kill him when he tried to clarify the matter.
He vehemently denied he had a relationship with Nyaradzo.
Ebson was fined $ 100 for making false reports against James.
By Farai D Hove| Details have emerged on how President Emmerson Mnangagwa secretly fled Zimbabwe on the 7th of last month after being expelled from his job as Vice President.
His personal advisor Christopher Mutsvangwa spoke on Tuesday in Manicaland revealing that Mnangagwa actually escaped through Mozambique via road not air as has been previously reported. SEE ON THE MAP THE ROUTE OF MNANGAGWA’S ESCAPE:
Earlier reports claimed he attempted to flee to Mozambique and was blocked at the Forbes Border post. The report said he then returned to Zimbabwe and was eventually assisted by the army to escape via air to South Africa.
The report was covered on the day it happened after reporters from a local newspaper traveled to the border post after hearing of the man’s violent encounter at the border.
The local paper, TellZim had claimed that he returned back into Zimbabwe.
But Mutsvangwa told ZANU PF supporters in Manicaland on Tuesday Mnangagwa escaped into Mozambique. He said this as he thanked the people of Manicaland for helping the now head of state safe passage.
The original report confirms Mutsvangwa’s account as it reveals that after a scuffle at the border, Mnangagwa returned into the car he was in and they quickly fled the scene. Mnangagwa who was in the company of four other people believed to be his relatives, had a torrid time trying to exit the border despite that their passports had already been stamped.
Eye witnesses who spoke to the TellZim journalists said the problem started when Mnangagwa’s car was being searched by security details at the border.
“When he reached at the exit gate, it took almost 20 minutes searching his car and at that moment he disembarked the car after being delayed. The gate pass was for five people but only four people were there.
“He started walking back to the entrance gate but no one could quickly identify him as he was wearing a poor boy cap. He was stopped by police who grabbed him from behind but stopped after noticing who he was.
“Another policeman who had his AK47 cocked was unfortunate as he was kicked by Mnangagwa’s aide who had come to whisk him away. They fled the scene in two cars while the other car managed to cross the border,” said the source.
The incident happened around in the morning of the 7th November 2017.
After that incident, the then Manicaland Minister Mandi Chimene then mocked Mnangagwa labelling him a border jumper. Ironically the same Chimene is now the one holed up in Mozambique where she is said to be in hiding following the Operation Restore Order coup mid last month.
“We thank you the people of Manicaland for giving our President safe passage into Mozambique when he was about to be killed by the G40 so that he comes back alive to lead the country. I would like to applaud you for being bold enough,” said Mutsvangwa
He continued saying “we would have lost our President if you did not accord him the opportunity to escape.”
He mocked Mugabe saying he is a powerless old man “now relegated to the Blue Roof by people to rest,” said Mutsvangwa.
By Tapson Muchena| The palpable elation at the departure of Robert Mugabe has suddenly evaporated amid gasps of disappointment and disbelief. President Mnangagwa’s eagerly awaited cabinet has turned out to be a coterie of criminals. The anticipated inclusive ministry with new blood, technocrats, and an infusion of youth has not eventuated. Instead we have a combination of familiar, corrupt faces and military officers. For ZANU PF, it is “steady as she goes”… the ship of state is set on its course.
Clouds without water – Zimbabweans have been conned! Their unbounded optimism that a new era had dawned has dissipated like the morning mist as hard reality appears above the horizon. The hard reality is that, in what Eddie Cross has called “slick, totally ruthless operation that had all the hallmarks of Emmerson Mnangagwa”, the military and the war veterans cleverly manipulated the emotions of the people and invited them onto the streets in order to give a semblance of legality to the coup that was not a coup. That was no spontaneous popular uprising. The people were manipulated and exploited by those in power.
The hard reality is that ZANU PF and the war veterans used the military to get rid of Mugabe and to tighten their grip on power. And power is what it is all about. The triumvirate of ZANU PF, the military and the war veterans that has deposed Mugabe has a vision of a Zimbabwe ruled by ZANU PF forever.
Mugabeism is dead but ZANU PF has not passed away. Mugabe had lost the people and was leading ZANU PF to destruction. Mnangagwa’s brief is to steady the ship of state on a course to economic recovery and to win back popular support while ensuring the continuance of ZANU PF rule.
Zimbabwe is not a one party state and ZANU PF requires a strategy to maintain the dominance and a grip on power that it has achieved. So how might ZANU PF’s strategy to maintain power work in a democratic Zimbabwe?
A recent book by Australian political scientist John Keane, When Trees Fall, Monkeys Scatter, examines how the Chinese Communist Party continues its unbroken rule of 68 years despite numerous predictions that the system would fail. His analysis reveals eerie parallels to the Zimbabwe situation and explains how adaptability and responsiveness have replaced rigid authoritarianism to maintain the party in power. What would happen if Keane’s model were applied to government in Zimbabwe?
The key for ZANU PF would be to draw heavily on the tools of democracy. The party would use voting, elections, and opinion polls widely and constantly, employing numerous polling agencies and cutting-edge methodologies to read public opinion and mood.
Local communities would elect their own leaders. Local and regional governments would conduct votes on matters like proposed developments, parking regulations, and environmental protection laws.
Rather than keeping the lid on everything, the party would use the internet as an early warning device keeping ZANU PF leaders abreast of trends in internet chatter in real time and enabling them to prepare considered responses to fomenting issues.
The Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology and Cyber Security would become much more than the ‘Ministry for WhatsApp’ as the party monitors public opinion and the public mood by intensively surveying the internet. This will not just be censorship to crack down on organised dissent, it will be proactive by conducting wide-ranging online forums and debates, even live-streaming them.
In short, ZANU PF would use democratic methods not to grant democratic freedoms but to create a pseudo-democracy in which it would manage public grievances, respond to public concerns and pre-empt mass dissent in order to maintain its grip on power.
Responsiveness would be the key to ZANU PF’s strategy and Zimbabwe would become a “respondocracy”.
Could this really happen? Would it work in Africa? Just look next door… Botswana has been a respondocracy for 51 years and they change their leadership every ten years without fail. The opposition in Botswana is strong but not strong enough to rule because the respondocracy takes on board sound opposition policies and ideas and implements them before the next election. The end result is that opposition thinks while government implements. The BDP retains power and the ordinary Batswana are happy. Is that what we want for Zimbabwe?
ZANU PF may have ruled Zimbabwe for the past 37 years but they have forfeited any moral right to govern. Do we want our country to continue to be run by a corrupt cabal of thieves and murderers that operates with impunity and an arrogant sense of entitlement? We must continue to fight to remove this blight from our land if we truly want a free, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe.
Enthusiasm for the new President has waned since he selected a cabinet packed with ZANU PF dinosaurs. His appointment of generals to the ministry confirms that there really has been a military coup. Neither at home nor abroad is he seen to be returning the country to democracy and the rule of law as will be necessary to gain the assistance of the international community to restore the economy. The prevailing sentiment seems to be to stand back and wait to see what happens…
So right now there is a hiatus in Zimbabwe. The opposition must make the most of this opportunity to act decisively by forming a united coalition to contest the election in eight months time.
The coalition must of necessity be built around the largest established opposition party but Morgan Tsvangirai must resign immediately. ZANU PF correctly sensed that the electorate would not vote for an ageing leader who was clinging to the Presidency. Neither will the people vote for a sick man who is desperately clinging to leadership.
Thokozani Khuphe must put the people before her personal ambition and throw her support behind Nelson Chamisa. By doing so, she will unify her party and likely swing the decisive youth vote behind the young leader.
If we are to have any chance at all, Nelson Chamisa must step forward to quickly rally the disparate opposition parties into one cohesive force. He must broaden the appeal of the coalition by transforming the MDC Alliance into the Zimbabwean Alliance and lead a truly united opposition into the election.
There is not a moment to be lost!
Tapson Muchena is an academic and a keen observer of the Zimbabwe situation. He can no longer remain silent. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @TapsonMuchena
The Harare man accused of taking advantage of his neighbour’s absence to sneak into his bedroom and become intimate with his wife has maintained that he did not rape the woman. He says he only kissed and fondled her, with her consent.
Nkosilathi Sibanda (27) is alleged to have tiptoed into his neighbour’s bedroom while naked in the wee hours and got into the woman’s blankets. It is the State’s case that the accused started caressing and kissing the woman before raping her.
Sibanda, who is denying the rape allegations, appeared in court last week before Mr Hosiah Mujaya for commencement of the defence case following the dismissal of his application for discharge at the close of the State’s case.
Sibanda, through his lawyer Mr Tapiwa Makanza, successfully made an application to recall State witnesses, saying they had audio recordings they intended to play in court and recross-examine the witnesses.
He and the woman’s house mate, identified as Miriam, recorded a conversations between the victim and her relatives as she was informing them of what had transpired. In the recordings, the woman is heard crying while making a phone call to her cousin, asking her to rush to her house, saying Sibanda had fondled her in the dark.
She is also heard informing her relatives that she felt that the person fondling her was heavier and his skin’s scent was different from that of her husband. Mr Makanza questioned why the woman did not tell her relatives that Sibanda had raped her, but instead told them that he fondled her.
“In your evidence, you told the court that you became aware that it was not your husband when Sibanda penetrated you, adding that his manhood was different from that of your husband,” he said.
“But in the audio clip, you are telling a different story. You told your cousin that you felt that the person fondling you was heavier and his skin’s scent was different from that of your husband before switching on the light. So, at what point did he rape you?
“Why did you not give your relatives all the details of what had transpired if indeed he had raped you?”
In another recording, one of the woman’s relatives was heard shouting at Sibanda, asking him why he attempted to rape the woman.
“Why did you do this?,” said Mr Makanza.
“Do you know that at law it is an offence? So, after fondling her what did you want to do next? You wanted to rape her, right?”
Mr Makanza then said: “This is a clear indication that you were not raped, but only fondled and kissed by my client with your consent.
“You fabricated the rape allegations and lied in your evidence to suit the court proceedings.”
In response, the woman said when her relatives came to the house, she was still in a state of shock, hence she could not give them all the details. She said she later confided in one of her cousins, whom she took to another room and told her she had been raped. The woman insisted that Sibanda raped her, but the accused insists the two had an affair. The trial continues on Saturday. – state media
The state media has maintained their report that the gun wielding policeman who attacked police boss, Augustine Chihuri’s house yesterday morning, fired and exchanged gunshots with other cops for over 3 hours until at about 2pm, and no one was hurt.
The report has no mention whatsoever of the two (2) people who some neighbours say were killed in the dramatic attack.
The report also claims the attacker who is a serving police officer, simply wanted to burgle his boss, Chihuri.
This account seems to contradict that of witnesses at the scene yesterday. THE STATE MEDIA REPORT IS BELOW AND ALSO WATCH THE FOLLOWING LIVE PROGRAM LAST NIGHT featuring Huddersfield University politics and law expert, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda.
FULL TEXT OF STATE MEDIA REPORT – A rogue policeman guarding Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Dr Augustine Chihuri’s house in Borrowdale, Harare, yesterday morning ran amok after his bid to loot property from the premises was foiled.
Police sources said Dr Chihuri’s gardener saw the suspect stealing household property and alerted an officer who had come to the house for a routine inspection at around 9.45am. The officer then confronted the suspect who, however, became agitated and started firing shots at the officer with his FN rifle. The besieged officer took cover and called for backup from Police General Headquarters.
“Backup swiftly arrived and a gunfight ensued lasting over three hours. The suspect allegedly tried to escape by using one of Dr Chihuri’s vehicles, but failed as the house had been surrounded. He then set the house on fire, damaging a significant section of the property’s roof,” said the source.
The suspect, attached to ZRP’s Support Unit, was then arrested after running out of ammunition. The Air Force of Zimbabwe and Fire Brigade then put out the fire before ZRP’s forensics and ballistics teams attended the scene. Investigations were still underway.
Part of the house’s roof was reduced to ashes. However, the value of goods and property destroyed during the melee could not be ascertained. Efforts to get comment from the police were fruitless by last night. Dr Chihuri’s neighbours said the incident started around 9 am and ended around 2pm after the whole area had been cordoned off.
One of the neighbours, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The policeman from Support Unit was on duty alone when he started looting some clothes, television sets and other property in the house. He was later confronted by a gardener and there was an exchange of words.”
The neighbour further said a few minutes later, a senior police officer who had came for a routine inspection arrived at the house was informed by the gardener about the incident. The police officer confronted the suspect, resulting in a nasty exchange of words between the two.
“The senior police officer then phoned senior officers at the Police General Headquarters informing them about the behaviour of the police constable. This did not go down well with the police constable, who then produced his firearm with the intention of shooting his colleague. He fired shots but missed during the process,” said the neighbour.
It is reported that a few minutes later, the house had been cordoned by armed police officers, resulting in an exchange of gunshots, which lasted for almost three hours.
The police constable is alleged to have run out of ammunition and decided to burn down part of the house before he was arrested. Fire brigade from the Air Force of Zimbabwe was summoned to the scene and managed to extinguish the fire.
Police officers from the ballistics and forensic departments, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and senior officers from Harare province also visited the scene.
By Own Correspondent| Three well known MDC-T members were yesterday morning killed in a disturbing car accident that saw their vehicle being marred beyond recognition.
The accident Wednesday morning happened near Manyame St Marys.
“MDC Youth Assembly Glen Norah Constituency lost three gallant sons of our struggle for democratic change, announced the party’s Harare Province Youth Assembly Secretary, Denford Ngadziore.
He told ZimEye, “we lost the following comrades in a car accident in the early hours of Wednesday 6 December 2017 on their way from Chitungwiza. The deceased are Aaron Munyanyi , the District Youth Secretary for Home affairs, Courage Chadzamira District Youth Secretary for IT and Anold Runyowa Ward 28 Youth Secretary for elections.”
There were four people in the car and the fourth is currently being treated in hospital.
“It is sad that we have lost our dedicated comrades soon after their immense contribution during the intensive voter registration exercise in their constituency which will go a long way to grow the critical Presidential victory in 2018.
“As Harare Province we sent our deepest condolences to both MDC Family in Glennorah and affected families.
“Mourners are gathered at number 422 Glennorah A in Harare and funeral arrangement will be announced soon.”
Nomazulu Thata| To verify my facts regarding Nkosana Moyo’s flip-flopping: the world has suddenly discovered that the presidential aspirant and leader of the Agenda of People’s Alliance (APA), Moyo, more than a week ago declared that his party willing, he would be happy to be part of Mnangagwa’s government. Nkosana Moyo said he is ready to serve in President Mnangagwa’s government. What happened later then? Was he invited by his cousin: Mukaranga from Masvingo?
How unfortunate, how disturbing, how misleading is our presidential hopeful Dr. Nkosana Moyo. Is he sure he was going to serve a government that came to power through the back door: the military take-over, the military coup, the putsch? Is he comfortable to have to joined a Zanu PF government, a government full of thugs? Would it be wise if he just abandoned APA and joined Zanu PF, end of story?
He is not alone in this flip-flopping! Some most established opposition parties fell into the trap. President Tsvangirai was airlifted from his sick-bed in South Africa to come and legitimise the military take-over. Gullibly and naively he hurriedly went home to be part of the inauguration of the Second President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. We saw how he hugged newly sworn President Mnangagwa in the hope that all will come to “fruition” on his part, we all know it. Richard Morgan Tsvangirai does not learn from his mistakes at all. We know how he was cheated by Jonathan Moyo, not to field any candidate in Tsholotsho North, only for Jonathan to turn against him after winning the Tsholotsho constituency with a land-slide, joined Zanu PF. We know too how he insulted Tsvangirai, a hand that fed, in 2005 Jonathan Moyo was in the cold when Zanu PF sacked him from government and party because of the Tsholotsho Saga with Mnangagwa, and he badly wanted to reinvent himself by winning the Tsholotsho seat, he did with the help of Tsvangirai.
Again Themba Mliswa did the same in Norton. MDC-T assisted Themba Mliswa to win Norton seat. Themba won the parliamentary seat and then after he showed MDC-T a middle finger. Now press fast forward, November 2017, Zanu PF knowing Tsvangirai’s weaknesses well, they did that to him too AND IT WORKED. Tsvangirai must have been promised “big” for him to leave his sick-bed, he abandoned chemo-therapy treatment going home at the invitation of Zanu PF, after the inauguration his party was left to hang and dry. The rest is open knowledge in the social media. No need to repeat what we already know. Who is telling the truth between Mutsvangwa and MDC-T is neither here nor there.
We the general population had hoped that technocrats, legal experts of the likes of Tendai Biti will come handy and give us ground-breaking insights to the events of November coup, the military take-over of the state and its consequences and precedence it can give to other countries in the region. Tendai Biti, was silent on the
coup, he was hoping he will be invited to the gravy train and “eat” with the rest of them. When he was not invited he vented his disappointment on Voice of America. It’s cold outside government in Zimbabwe. One wonders how he was going to be part of the cabinet without a mandate from the people! The silence of such personalities such a Biti actually legalizes the whole coup processes; it gives legality to a government that came through the back door. The present government of Mnangagwa is illegal. The silence of the well-known legal fraternity gave the international community the impression that the coup was supported by the people and therefore must be given recognition.
Excluding Dr. Alex Magaisa and David Coltart from them all legal experts in Zimbabwe, Alex Magaisa tried in his tweets to explain to us in layman’s language we understand, what the military coup actually means in modern context: the constitution was seriously breached. Infightings in a political party do not in any way mean that the solution has to be military take-over of the government. The military has no mandate to take sides in a political party disputes unless if the military is openly saying they are Zanu PF wing of the government. We are grateful for those legal explanations Magaisa passionately offered on social media if one was following his tweets.
Nkosana Moyo is not alone who expressed his willingness to join Mnangagwa’s government. General Dumiso Dabengwa openly supported the coup take-over. He went live in South African media: he was for the coup, he said. He went further to express his willingness to be part of the government of Mnangagwa. A good question comes in: if he was given a post, or he will be given a post as vice President, on what mandate will he serving the country? General Dabengwa has never won elections since the Millennium in Bulawayo and Mathebeleland. He tried twice both in general elections of 2013 and by-elections of 2015 and they failed dismally and embarrassingly. The constituencies in Bulawayo and Mathebelelands rejected Zapu and Dabengwa long back. Would we be excused if we say he was going to represent himself in that government, because it appears that Mnangagwa government is a government that is packed with appointments of appeasements rather than abilities and capabilities to execute service to the people? As someone from Mathebeleland, General Dabengwa should spare us the pain, he should respect our pain. The Zanu PF congress is coming in a week’s time; he may make it as Vice President in Comrade Mnangagwa’s government.
In Nkosana’s “You Tube” Mnangagwa’s Cabinet; we expected from Nkosana Moyo to hear poignant points that indicate to us that this is the man of the moment. We wanted to hear Nkosana talking about corruption and how absurd and one-sided the new Mnangagwa government deals with it. It would appear that those accused of corruption are G40 victims only. There is NO holistic approach to corruption and its eradication. For Nkosana Moyo to just pick the weakest link from Mathebeleland: Obert Mpofu, leaving all those corrupt ministers in the new government from Mashonalands is wholly unfair and shows how fearful our presidential hopeful is. It is
easy for him to crush the people of Mathebeleland than elsewhere. Start with Obert Mpofu’s life style and end with Mnangagwa’s life style of looting public funds.
We wanted to hear Nkosana explaining to us his sudden turn-around, he changed his mind in joining the government of Mnangagwa because the Zanu PF party is still the same as it was; the system Mugabeism has not collapsed because of the departing of Robert Mugabe, he could not be part of it. We wanted to hear him say he could not be part of the military junta that got into power through the back door. We wanted to hear him say Mr. Ignatius Chombo is not the only one who was corrupt: name and shame all those who are corrupt: where is the 15 billion dollars diamond revenues that rightly belong to the people of Zimbabwe. When the military discovered 8 million dollars in Chombo’s house, how many millions of dollars does Chiwenga, Mnangagwa, Chihuri, Zimondi, and Obert Mpofu: the list is very long, have in their houses today.
Why did we not hear in his “you tube” about the 8 dollars in millions they found in Chombo’s home anymore? Why this selective morality of punishing the party G40 criminals because they lost the Zanu PF infighting? What about the 7 billion dollars that were supposed to be put in Lacoste bank account in China by Chiwenga’s visit to the country before the military coup, but China refused to release the loot to him, instead they wanted to put it into Mugabe’s account of G40?
When we talk about corruption we want all those facts known to the public and not one-sided purging of corrupt G40 elements only. Lacoste is not clean either, it’s just that they call the shots, they are in power. Looting of public funds was done by all of them: Lacoste and G40 in equal measure. Why is Mnangagwa protecting Mugabe in that manner we do not understand? There are deep secrets he is fearful they spill over to the public and we know what we have always been fearing those atrocities happened: known by Mnangagwa and Mugabe: both of which are murderers and thugs in equal measure.
Given his academics and “Mother Theresa” approach to politics, Nkosana would have explained to us that this euphoria and hysteria that engulfed the nation was good and bad: good in the sense that it removed Mugabe from power, but the over-excitement of the nation played in the hands of the military that desperately wanted legitimacy internationally and they got the recognition they wanted. That mood of victory and celebration was quickly taken away from the nation when Mnangagwa started to show his true colours. Now we hear of military abusing the civilians in Kwekwe and elsewhere. The military used the povo in the way they wanted them, they have dropped them, and the means-justified-the-ends-ethics were at play. The military is today brutalizing the civilian population at will. The mood is now military in the sense of the word.
The cabinet is still the same, the difference is that Mugabe is absent: Nkosana Moyo was not invited to the new government of Mnangagwa despite the fact that he had openly indicated his great interest in being part of the new dispensation.
Nkosana Moyo should have explained to us more about the inaugural speech of the president that was wholly meant to please the international community than the peoples of Zimbabwe. “Let bygone be bygones” is not enough to heal the loss of loved ones, wounds of the maimed, petrified and fearful peoples of Zimbabwe who are nursing wounds of uttermost loss and untold brutality of Mnangagwa and the military; murders and brutality whose masterminds was Mnangagwa and the military. Nkosana should have asked such pertinent questions: how the government can promise to compensate white farmers and he does not go further to say how he is going to heal the nation’s wounds of the divided nation, a nation divided politically and ethnically.
Why did President Mnangagwa in his inaugural speech omit it altogether or refused or incapable of saying: “I am sorry” for the atrocities committed in 1980s and their compensation and offer immediate healing processes country-wide. Why did he fail to say sorry for the farm invasions that left thousands killed, maimed raped, livelihood destroyed, why did he not say sorry to Murambatsvina: “operation clean up” to all those who were affected and have not recovered from those painful human rights atrocities? Mnangagwa and the military were the masterminds of the 2008 criminal suppression of Tsvangirai ascendancy to power in 2008. Because we are Africans: our lives and their destruction do not matter at all Mnangagwa’s speech reached out to the international community, no olive branch to the very people he is president of.
But Ambassador and UN-General Secretary Kofi Annan did not disappoint the people of Zimbabwe and the region at all. He is wholly aware of the dangers of military intervention in such fragile countries of Africa. This military intervention has started in Zimbabwe; it will be elsewhere in the very region anytime now. The precedence has been set. If SADC did not react in Zimbabwe’s military take-over, why will they react in any other country in Africa? The military take-over in Zimbabwe was not constitutional, much as we wanted the back of Mugabe, his removal was necessary, but his system is still intact, Mugabeism still lives on: free and fair elections would have changed the regime of Mugabe; it has to be democratic processes that give sustainable political changes and certainly not the military option: the coup, a putsch! This is what Ambassador Kofi Annan is saying!
When I listened to Nkosana Moyo’s “You tube” speaking, personally I was convinced he could make a competent leader of Zimbabwe. He has his economic recovery policies in his fingertips and are convincing enough. He really knows what he is talking about in terms of Zimbabwe’s economic recovery: his passion means he thought through all stages of economic recovery. Nkosana Moyo must remove fear in him. This “mother Theresa and academics will not usher him to winning elections.
The language in politics is crude out there: Zanu PF is evil and barbaric, on the other hand, Nkosana is meek, evidenced with his wanting to join Mnangagwa’s government at this point in time, 8 months before elections he wants to throw away his presidential aspirations, what for, is he not good enough even better than Mnangagwa by far, he is politically clean. Does he doubt himself? His body-language sold him in that video clip: was at pains in answering the question about “pasi nemhandu” this meant he would be criticizing Mnangagwa openly.
Nkosana Moyo lacks charisma just like Mnangagwa, which we can always overlook. Dr. Moyo, fear is not an option! A leader is not fearful. Flip-flopping does not make good leadership. Go out and make rallies without fearing, those guerrilla war-fare campaigns may not work with Zanu PF because Zanu PF knows that trade better. I do not rule you out; my critiques are not to make or break, I am just that tiny cog in the game of politics: you may win these 2018 elections elegantly: success is success at the end of the day!
Staff Reporter| Many people threw a party last month when the army removed former President Robert Mugabe in a coup, but little did they know that political change coming out a military process “is always going to result in violence begetting violence.”
This may be the reason why Zimbabwe has seen violent scenes of vendors wanting to assault military police officers who last week launched n attack on them. The sad Zimbabwean situation including the gun attack on Police Commisioner Augustine Chihuri could result in Zimbabwe losing its investor friendly status internationally, explains Huddersfield University academic Dr Nkululeko Sibanda. VIDEO:
By Sports Reporter| Zimbabwe soccer giants Highlanders and Dynamos disappointed their legion of fans after failing to emulate their illustrious achievements of the past.
Dynamos flattered to deceive and crumbled when it mattered most while Bosso were inconsistent in the just ended soccer season.
Both clubs are likely to part ways with their respective coaches according to impeccable sources.
Highlanders are desperate to bring back one of their most adored sons, Rahman Gumbo- a fine midfielder during his olden days.
Gumbo won two league titles with Bosso as a coach and he also won several trophies with the Bulawayo Giants as a player.
“The executive committee will soon finalise matters with Rahman Gumbo because they believe he has what it takes to restore Bosso’ s glory days,” said a source at the Bulawayo Giants.
Dembare are also unhappy with Mutasa’ s credentials following his failure to guide the Harare Giants to the league title.
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Vendors here have pointed out that President Emmerson Mnangagwa should be given time to prove his mettle as the President of the country.
Mnangagwa who was sworn in two weeks ago following the resignation of his long time boss, Robert Mugabe, said his priority was economic recovery and employment creation.
However, analysts have remained deeply cynical about Mnangagwa’ s potential to revive the comatose economy due to his lengthy association with Mugabe.
Speaking at a ward meeting here today, Masvingo Association of Flea Market Trades Chairperson, Tenson Mukapa, said Mnangagwa had the potential to revive the country’ s waning economy.
“Why are we using the past to condemn Mnangagwa? He must be given the chance to prove his potential to revive the economy.
People are too cynical about the President’ s ability,” said Mukapa.
Members of the association also said it was too early to castigate Mnangagwa.
“Let us stay positive, we are vigilant and watchful, if he fails to deliver, we will tell him straight away,” said a member of the association.
Pandamonium, gunshots and blaze at Chihuri’s home
Staff Reporter| Police boss Augustine Chihuri’s house endured over 3 hours of gunshots, the state media (Herald) claims.
They however say the attacker, a well known uniformed police officer just wanted to loot. ZimEye.com today explore the reasons why Chihuri was targeted and in the first program, ZimEye revealed that there has been a build up of anger among junior officers against their boss over several violations which include institutionalised corruption.
ZimEye ealier on reported that Chihuri’s house went into flames following over 15 minutes of gunshots exchange from inside the house. The matter of the 15 minute duration was submitted by neighbours (check the program starting at 5pm.) However the state media reports from security sources that the gunshots were actually for a long 3 hour duration.
Chihuri’s mansion was at the time of writing still barricaded by heavily armed members of the Zimbabwe National Army and the Airforce of Zimbabwe.
The sources told ZimEye.com that heavy gun fire exchanges emanated from inside the house and some civilian employees at the house were seen jumping out of the premises over a three metre high perimeter wall.
The sporadic gun exchanges continued on before a large burst was heard and the house went up in a huge blaze.It is believed it was actually bombed.
City of Harare Emergency Services personnel and the fire brigade immediately arrived at the house followed by a huge contingent of the Zimbabwe National Army and Airforce.
Besides commotion in the police force, Chihuri has been in trouble with the military since the take over from former President Robert Mugabe.
ZimEye.com is keeping watch of information and events from the house and details will be made available as they unfold. – the program will start at 5pm.
https://youtu.be/IOfvdtkvzhQ
Staff Reporter| ZimEye is receiving more details on the skirmish reported at Police Commisioner Augustine Chihuri’s house Wednesday morning.
While Chihuri’s official spokespersons’ cellphones remained unreachable, journalists and witnesses near the scene have confirmed that there has of a truth been a disturbing scene at the property.
A video shows an army helicopter dispatched to the area. A fire service truck was also sent out.
While it was not clear at the time of writing what caused the scuffle, journalist Mduduzi Mathuthu said “a colleague attempted to set the house of fire.”
It was neither clear to what extent the reported fire had damaged the property.
There has for the last 3 years been growing anger in the police force against Chihuri over several corrupt practices including bribery and other concerns. – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY – refresh this page for the updates.
By Dorrothy Moyo| A wild rumour continued to swell early Wednesday morning that there has been gunfire near Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri’s house, against an atmosphere of silence by the country’s police spokesperons.
The report also claimed there is a fire at his Greystone Park house.
But Chihuri was today listed on the schedule of delegates at the official ceremony for the renaming of KGVI Barracks.
The phones of Police Spokesman Commissioner Charity Charamba and her colleague Paul Nyathi were both not reachable. Further attempts to get details from other officers were neither fruitful. ZimEye.com will continue to investigate while we check with Commissioner Chihuri himself – ZimEye
PART1 –
By Daphne Magidi| I remember when General Chiwenga addressed the nation and that evening I made a post arguing that a lot of people did not understand the Generals’ Speech. Surely they didn’t, even up to today they still haven’t and unfortunately the majority of those people are in opposition not forgetting some within Zanu-Pf.
The only people who could have grasped the agenda of the speech were people such as myself who are not aligned to party politics. I remember debating and advising my friends from the opposition MDC as they kept telling me I was wrong I was the one who did not understand the speech. There were three things I plucked out instantly now – that a coup was imminent. The reasons would be the following –
My opposition friends did not condemn any of these statements publicly if I missed this please enlighten me. They simply rejoiced and I could see them on Facebook singing the song “ Dzamutsana mutsana, Tsuro nembwa.”
‘N’anga neinobata Amai,”
With eyes 👀 as open as mine I told them not to rejoice at ‘N’anga neinobata Amai,” as I knew this would affect them too – if Mugabe is removed by the Generals then what’s left for the MDC to do after that? Wasn’t this their job all along?
But they lashed at me saying I’m an enemy of progress and a Mugabe sympathiser. Like a prophet however I could see the non existent future of the MDC in Zimbabwean politics. As this “Coup that wasn’t a coup“ /Revolution was Operation Restore Zanu PF Legacy. To be further precise, it was Operation Restore Mnangagwa.
Sometimes it’s good to visit history before history revisits you. We went down memory lane to revisit history of Zimbabwe, analyse Zanu pf history and why Mugabe stayed in power that long , who was his power source? I reminded my friends from the MDC of our efforts over the last 20 years to remove Mugabe and who stood between us and him. I remember as a very young girl running across the city centre from the South African embassy when it was along Enterprise road in Eastleigh to my late sister’s house in Highfields at Willowvale flats on foot because Morgan Tsvangirai had led the biggest strike in Zimbabwe’s history and the soldiers were out on the streets with tankers together with the police. That was in 1997.
I flashed back to 2008 (11 years later) when Tsvangirai won and the election violence that followed and the massive rigging, death, rape and torture of a lot of opposition supporters not forgetting Gukurahundi in the 80s.
I asked MDC who was behind this violence? I asked them to read Mnangagwa’s letter when he fled to SA, to go back and replay or re-read the Generals’ press conference held a week later. The general Constantino Chiwenga was straight forward in his speech and I noticed lots of Zimbabweans misunderstood it. I even made a post highlighting that. I told opposition to analyse the coup why there is one and for who? Who is behind it? Next after a failed coup attempt, the generals suddenly start negotiating with President Mugabe. You don’t negotiate in that context but of course they did. Who negotiates a take-over?
But opposition was waiting in the docks for Zanu pf to remove Zanu pf at their convenience, right they fail Bob lectures the generals the constitution reminds them the power is with the people – That’s when our oppressors remembered it was our revolution which we started years back and they stopped us then in less than 24 hours they have us on the streets and suddenly Mugabe goes.
Barely a few hours later Chinamasa reminds the opposition that the events taking place are Zanu pf eternal politics as the opposition assumed it was a national solidarity march they thought they had lots of power to be involved transitionally. But they should have Hijacked that revolution when I advised them to do so (Zanu pf had placards advertising ED as the new president and they wanted their VP back ) MDC should have marched with all their campaign points but No they just wanted to see Mugabe go. Why attack a useless 94 year old and not his system which is bound to live forever? With ignorance as per usual of the real events, they simply marched .
Mugabe was not only issue that is where MDC lost it – as opposition they seemed to tell the world they only had a problem with Mugabe not Zanu pf or anyone else in his party. Also they seem to have been lost in translation with the Mugabe must go slogan – He is gone they have nothing else to say, no policies to counter Zanu pf and with ED doing well with international relations and domestic policies there is no vacancy for MDC in Zimbabwe and outside. They are left looking like the old Zanu pf with the same leader for 18 years who is very ill and 3 Vice Presidents. MDC is now everything Zanu pf is running from. So now he is gone they seem to look buried like lost sheep. The people removed Mugabe. Now Zanu pf is making it look like they removed Bob- people see them as heroes now and there is no transitional government, something MT hoped for no wonder why he was passive throughout events so not to disappoint his future employers.
Now that you are all conscious – Welcome to Operation Restore Zanu pf Legacy, Welcome to Operation Restore Mnangagwa Legacy. Welcome to Mnangagwe, ooops, Zimbabwe!
I wish all opposition politics a speedy recovery. Good day
By Farai D Hove| Former Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo has had no joy today as his appeal for bail was lifted once again.
Chombo together with former Zanu-PF Youth League leader Kudzanayi Chipanga are appealing for bail in their case on charges ranging from corruption to publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in Section 31 (a) (iii) of the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9.23 or alternatively causing disaffection among the police force or defence forces.
It was a sombre scene as Chombo had his appeal lifted once again. The hearing was postponed until tomorrow as the State request more time to file its response. State prosecutor Mr Edmore Nyazamba sought postponement arguing they received a transcript of the record of proceedings from the magistrates’ court late.
The former ZANU PF Youth leader, Chipanga, is charged with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in Section 31 (a) (iii) of the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9.23 or alternatively causing disaffection among the police force or defence forces.
https://youtu.be/Y6GKdYtwphY?t=23s
Staff Reporter| China today vowed to support President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The announcement was made as the Asian nation announced a $150 million loan for building a new parliament building in the Zvimba outskirts of Mt Hampden.
The Chinese ambassador revealed, “…a concessional loan which has the RMB 1.05 billing, this will be financial support to upgrade the airport, the Robert Gabriel International Airport here in Harare. its a concessional loan what we are going to sign today is a framework agreement. So the Chinese government will continue to support the Zimbabwean government and the people in their economic revival and social development. The agreement we are going to sign today is just a testimony of our efforts and our friendship that withstands the test of time. I think more deals will be signed in the future, with this I thank you. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE –
The announcement was this morning made that the money can be repaid in a long 20 year period.
China has expressed strong will to reach the full potential of China-Africa economic partnership.
This commitment was first made during the country’s as the second China-Africa Investment Forum (CAIF) held last month. CAIF, which gathered some 500 high-level Chinese and African business leaders, and came to facilitate business meetings between the main stakeholders of trade and investment of China and African countries.
China has in the past 20 years risen to become Africa’s main economic partner. With over 10,000 companies active on the continent, the value of its trade with Africa reaches $190 billion in 2016. It now exceeds that of India, France and the United States combined.
There is however still considerable potential for growth in the China-Africa economic partnership and analysts project that revenues generated in Africa by Chinese companies could increase by 144 percent by 2025.
The government was this morning scoffed at by news readers for misplaced priorities – obtaining a 150 million to build a new parliament building in Zvimba and construction extensions for the Robert Mugabe airport.
Business Reporter| A top Chinese business delegation has just announced a $150million loan to the Zimbabwean government.
The new government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa was this morning told it can be repaid in 20 years.
This was announced at a function in Harare attended by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa as he shared a table with a Chinese business representative. FOLLOW THE UPDATES HERE –
….
1030: The state media updates have ended
1023: President Mnangagwa is now being accompanied by Commander Defence Forces General Constantino Chiwenga to the Saluting Dais where he will take his last salute.
1020: Amai Tongogara is now on the podium and says today is the biggest day of her life. She speaks of her gratitude at having the barracks renamed in honour of her late husband.
“As Zimbabweans, we hold our heads high in pride of our nation, its government and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces who guard this history,”
She says a momentous occasion like this cannot happen overnight and has been in the pipeline for a long time.
She finishes her address.
1015: “In concluding my remarks I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the nation, the Tongogara family and other families as well as my apologies for the delay in recognising our heroes,”
He ends by calling for unity in enabling the regeneration of Zimbabwe.
1012: His Excellency asks the children to stand up and says “as you can see the names show that they were given by a man at war,”
1011: President Mnangagwa says there’s no doubt that the name Tongogara is associated with Zimbabwe’s liberation. He displayed true resistance against the Rhodesian forces and showed commitment to the liberation cause.
1008: ”It not possible to exhaust all the good works the late general did. The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is now introducing public lectures through which they’ll share the history of the country’s road to liberation so as to avoid the pitfalls of yesterday,”
1007: ”The renaming of our institutions goes a long way in preserving our nation’s history that we will bequeath to future generations. We should never ever forget the role played by the rest of the late gallant sons and daughters in liberating the country and as such the renaming of these containments should not appear as if it’s erasing the exploits of other cadres who are too many to mention,”
1001: President Mnangagwa says Tongarara was one of the greatest military strategists who went for his initial training in 1965 before going for further training in 1967 in China. He was heavily involved in the recruitment of ZANLA cadres in Zambia.
PLEASE NOTE DUE TO NETWORK CHALLENGES ONSITE WE WILL BE POSTING IMAGES WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE
0949: President Mnangagwa is now on the podium
0940: President Mnangagwa has unveiled the plaque.
0937: Minister Mohadi has now invited President Mnangagwa to unveil the plaque. Tongogara’s widow Amai Angeline Tongogara and children who include Hondo, Conrad, Tichafa, Bvumai, Granger and Nyaradzo are in attendance.
0932: He says he is humbled by an occasion which was long overdue and that breaks from the shackles that tied them to the country’s colonial past. Minister Mohadi says Tongogara was his commander and friend whom he met and worked with in Zambia when Mohadi joined the struggle in 1971. He says Tongarara was above party politics who didn’t know of Zanu or Zapu. Mohadi says this is one of the most important days of his life and feels humbled to be part of the Tongogara family. He says he felt he had been in the wilderness and is now home. He says it is his singular privilege and honour, which he has never been given before, to invite President Mnangagwa to come unveil the plaque.
0929: Minister of Defence, Security and War Veterans Kembo Mohadi is now on the podium.
0915: Major General Douglas Nyikayaramba spoke of the immense role played by the Tongogara in the liberation of the country.
0900: Army barracks countrywide will officially be renamed today, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa presiding over the main event at King George VI Barracks in Harare, which has since been renamed after late national Hero Josiah Magama Tongogara. All other army barracks will now bear the names of national heroes.
PART1 – On MDC-T and Operation Restore Mnangagwa Legacy
By Daphne Magade| I remember when General Chiwenga addressed the nation and that evening I made a post arguing that a lot of people did not understand the General’s Speech. Surely they didn’t, even up to today they still haven’t and unfortunately the majority of those people are in opposition not forgetting some within Zanu-Pf.
The only people who could have grasped the agenda of the speech were people such as myself who are not aligned to party politics. I remember debating and advising my friends from the opposition MDC as they kept telling me I was wrong I was the one who did not understand the speech. There were three things I plucked out instantly now – that a coup was imminent. The reasons would be the following –
My opposition friends did not condemn any of these statements publicly if I missed this please enlighten me. They simply rejoiced and I could see them on Facebook singing the song “ Dzamutsana mutsana, Tsuro nembwa.”
‘N’anga neinobata Amai,”
With eyes 👀 as open as mine I told them not to rejoice at ‘N’anga neinobata Amai,” as I knew this would affect them too – if Mugabe is removed by the Generals then what’s left for the MDC to do after that? Wasn’t this their job all along?
But they lashed at me saying I’m an enemy of progress and a Mugabe sympathiser. Like a prophet however I could see the non existent future of the MDC in Zimbabwean politics. As this “Coup that wasn’t a coup“ /Revolution was Operation Restore Zanu PF Legacy. To be further precise, it was Operation Restore Mnangagwa.
Sometimes it’s good to visit history before history revisits you. We went down memory lane to revisit history of Zimbabwe, analyse Zanu pf history and why Mugabe stayed in power that long , who was his power source? I reminded my friends from the MDC of our efforts over the last 20 years to remove Mugabe and who stood between us and him. I remember as a very young girl running across the city centre from the South African embassy when it was along Enterprise road in Eastleigh to my late sister’s house in Highfields at Willowvale flats on foot because Morgan Tsvangirai had led the biggest strike in Zimbabwe’s history and the soldiers were out on the streets with tankers together with the police. That was in 1997.
I flashed back to 2008 (11 years later) when Tsvangirai won and the election violence that followed and the massive rigging, death, rape and torture of a lot of opposition supporters not forgetting Gukurahundi in the 80s.
I asked MDC who was behind this violence? I asked them to read Mnangagwa’s letter when he fled to SA, to go back and replay or re-read the Generals’ press conference held a week later. The general Constantino Chiwenga was straight forward in his speech and I noticed lots of Zimbabweans misunderstood it. I even made a post highlighting that. I told opposition to analyse the coup why there is one and for who? Who is behind it? Next after a failed coup attempt, the generals suddenly start negotiating with President Mugabe. You don’t negotiate in that context but of course they did. Who negotiates a take-over?
But opposition was waiting in the docks for Zanu pf to remove Zanu pf at their convenience, right they fail Bob lectures the generals the constitution reminds them the power is with the people – That’s when our oppressors remembered it was our revolution which we started years back and they stopped us then in less than 24 hours they have us on the streets and suddenly Mugabe goes.
Barely a few hours later Chinamasa reminds the opposition that the events taking place are Zanu pf eternal politics as the opposition assumed it was a national solidarity march they thought they had lots of power to be involved transitionally. But they should have Hijacked that revolution when I advised them to do so (Zanu pf had placards advertising ED as the new president and they wanted their VP back ) MDC should have marched with all their campaign points but No they just wanted to see Mugabe go. Why attack a useless 94 year old and not his system which is bound to live forever? With ignorance as per usual of the real events, they simply marched .
Mugabe was not only issue that is where MDC lost it – as opposition they seemed to tell the world they only had a problem with Mugabe not Zanu pf or anyone else in his party. Also they seem to have been lost in translation with the Mugabe must go slogan – He is gone they have nothing else to say, no policies to counter Zanu pf and with ED doing well with international relations and domestic policies there is no vacancy for MDC in Zimbabwe and outside. They are left looking like the old Zanu pf with the same leader for 18 years who is very ill and 3 Vice Presidents. MDC is now everything Zanu pf is running from. So now he is gone they seem to look buried like lost sheep. The people removed Mugabe. Now Zanu pf is making it look like they removed Bob- people see them as heroes now and there is no transitional government, something MT hoped for no wonder why he was passive throughout events so not to disappoint his future employers.
Now that you are all conscious – Welcome to Operation Restore Zanu pf Legacy, Welcome to Operation Restore Mnangagwa Legacy. Welcome to Mnangagwe, ooops, Zimbabwe!
I wish all opposition politics a speedy recovery. Good day
State Media – Eight Nyanga farmers perished in a road accident on their way from collecting agricultural inputs last Friday. The accident happened barely 100 metres from the collection point at Kute Business Centre.
A 28-months-old baby, Rosemary Ropafadzo died on the spot, the driver, Samuel Aaron Mandikuwadza, who died on admission at Nyanga District Hospital. Six others, whose conditions were critical died at Mutare Provincial Hospital. They were all from Ward 14, under Chief Saunyama’s area.
They were aboard a Toyo-Ace truck, belonging to the late Mandikuwadza. The farmers had collected seed maize and fertiliser under the Presidential Inputs Scheme at Kute Business Centre (Dodzo). The accident occurred at the 60km peg along the Nyanga-Ruwangwe Road.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa, confirmed the accident. He revealed the names of five deceased person from the eight — Rosemary Ropafadzo (28 months), of Nyamukupe Village, Aaron Samuel Mandikuwadza (56), of Hamunakwadi Village, Aquiline Mafuwo (62), of Samvenge Village, Annatoria Maritinya and Joyce Mumhanyi — all under Chief Saunyama’s area.
Insp Kakohwa could not release the names of the three others who died on Monday at Mutare Provincial Hospital as their next of kin had not been notified. The eight succumbed to head, chest and neck injuries. Seven others survived with minor to moderate injuries.
“The truck was travelling towards Ruwangwe and was involved in an accident at the 60km peg when Mandikuwadza lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road to the left, overturned once and landed on its left side.
“A 28-months-old baby Rosemary died on the spot, and Mandikuwadza died on admission at Nyanga District Hospital. The other victims were later transferred to Mutare Provincial Hospital for further treatment and later died,” Insp Kakohwa.
Nyanga Rural District Council chairperson, Councillor Moses Gutu, said the tragedy had plunged the district into mourning. Cllr Gutu said most of the victims were breadwinners.
“All the deceased were from Ward 14 and you can imagine the extent of the pain. These people were farmers who met their fate while trying to fend for their families. Their families have lost breadwinners, and it is unfortunate,” said Cllr Gutu.
“We buried the first five in their respective villages on Sunday, and sadly on Monday we received sad news from Cllr Mutsiwawo (Ward 14) that three other victims had died at Mutare Provincial Hospital. This exacerbated our pain.
“We do not know if the accident was caused by a defect on the vehicle or was just a design by God. I visited the scene and the accident happened on a straight and clear stretch that is less than 100m from the collection point (Kute Business Centre). You would not expect such an impact just after take-off,” said Cllr Gutu.
He thanked Nyanga South legislator, Cde Supa Mandiwanzira, for assisting the bereaved families. – state media
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| A Mnangagwa favourite who is also the ruling party Zanu PF’s prodical son Retired Colonel Claudius Makova has set his focus on the Bikita West Parliamentary Seat, party sources have revealed.
Col Makova alongside former Masvingo State Minister, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, officially announced their return to Zanu PF at a party meeting here on Sunday.
Ruling party sources told ZimEye Makova was widely tipped to wrestle the Bikita West Parliamentary Seat from current MP, Beauty Chabaya, a Grace Mugabe apologist.
“Makova has positioned himself to grab the Bikita West Parliamentary Seat.
This will then make him eligible for selection into the Cabinet,” said a Zanu PF Official.
They added saying:”Mnangagwa adores Makova because of his military background.This means Chabaya will be elbowed out to pave way for Makova.”
Makova has in past elections unleashed a reign of terror against perceived opposition supporters.
Both Chabaya and Makova were not immediately available to comment on the matter.
Terrence Mawawa, Buhera| A self styled prophet who inserted his manhood into a minor’s private parts under the guise of exorcising demons, was last week dragged to court for the offence.
Victor Chiminya(33), appeared before Magistrate Livingstone Chipadza facing rape charges.
He allegedly raped the minor on two different occasions.
Chiminya is a self confessed prophet at Sangano RaJehova Apostolic Church.
The 15- year- old girl was doing Form Two at Ndongwe Secondary School at the time she was raped.
According to facts of the State Case, Chiminya went to the place where the minor stayed with her guardians and claimed she was being tormented by demons.
He further said the demons would be exorcised through sexual intercourse. He then raped her. The incident happened on March 12, 2017.
On May 14, 2017, Chiminya raped the minor at Chimanye Homestead where he was conducting healing sessions.
Chiminya however accused his detractors of framing him.
Trial will continue next week.
By Acie Lumumba| Effective December 1, 2017 I, Acie Lumumba W.G. Mutumanje, returned to ZANU PF as an active member.
The reasons for my resignation on May 19, 2016, no longer apply: the party has forcefully and credibly begun the process of reforming itself, and the ruling party is now in the unique position to drive positive change in Zimbabwe, as enunciated by its new leader.
As before, I will remain focused on youth empowerment, and will continue to promote political participation of the young people in the political and reform processes.
There is no greater task before our generation than waging a war against self induced poverty. True empowerment is in removing barriers of entry for all Zimbabwean people as they pursue their various versions of prosperity.
The events of the recent weeks have united the country in a common purpose. We have a chance to overcome our differences and focus on critical reforms that deliver prosperity to our nation. In my lifetime I have never experienced a moment when the world gave us so much good will to hold our hand as we pick ourselves up to join the global community. I am motivated by window of opportunity to set our country on a pathway to recovery, I wish to be a part of that process. I recognize with great honor the comradery extended to me by opposition movements in our quest for a ZIMBABWE fir for all who live in it. I have a new and deep found r espect for the work they all do. I will continue to fight for that sacred idea.
Head Bowed
A.L.W.G.M Citizen
Own Correspondent| As the army carries out a cleaning up operation across the country, the Commissioner General Of Police, Augustine Chihuri has been accused of attempting to destroy evidence of bribery and corrupt practices through a ticketing syndicate.
In the years running up to the November coup, police officers under him were being ordered into a practice of traffic fining for the mere purpose of fund-raising.
For this reason Chihuri was booed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration last month.
Chihuri has since been accused by officers of ordering “Highway Patrol to take all the Books to Chikurubi where they are going to be destroyed. All books were transported this noon by National Traffic Bus and 2 Scania Lorries.
“Any incident that will lead to those books to be destroyed is mostly likely to happen. Prior to this there is a radio signal that instructed all traffic stations to destroy the books under their possession that were given filing instruction.
Let these criminals come to book,” a police source wrote.
Efforts to get a comment from either Chihuri or the spokesperson Charity Charamba were fruitless at the time of writing.
By Farai D Hove| ICT and Cyber Security Minister Supa Mandiwanzira has denied rumours that his Government shut down the internet during the day Tuesday.
He said instead, the government was deeply concerned that internet went down for most of yesterday. Mandiwanzira told the state media: “We are upset that internet connectivity is not available or has not been available for most of the day. Government is concerned about the situation.
“We expect that the operators must have redundancy so that if one aspect or connection is down, they can activate a different connection. It’s a requirement of their licensing that they must always have redundancy. How that redundancy has not kicked in for the nation to notice that there is no internet, we can not understand why.”
He promised that government will so facilitate more investors in the industry. He said the regulator would carry out an investigation and Government would respond accordingly.
“At this point, as Government, we want to facilitate business; we are pushing to make business successful and it is the direction of the new President, His Excellency Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, that this country produces,” he said.
“We must be productive, we must focus on work and on growth. We cannot achieve that as fast as we want if we do not have a key element of production, which is the internet, and therefore we are going to re-look at our service providers to make sure that they have all their systems in place to provide redundancy.”
Mandiwanzira said the incident made Government realise that there was room for investment in the sector to make sure the situation did not recur.
By Shiellah Sibanda| One of the men behind the BusStop TV says he today filmed a group of protesters who were searching for military police officers and during the process they assaulted a man they suspected to be connected to the military.
Writes Luckie Aaroni, “I shot this video at a demo in town today.
“The protestors were walking around town in search of the military police, municipal police and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) who are running a joint operation to remove or relocate vendors from the central business district.
“The guy being assaulted asked the protestors if they were genuine vendors or were just looking for trouble with the authorities. That question invited trouble for him.”
https://youtu.be/9C2gaTBMcaQ?t=33m58s
Hon. Chinotimba speaking on the state of health care in Zimbabwe
— Open Parly ZW (@OpenParlyZw) December 5, 2017
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| A senior Zanu PF Official has predicted a landslide victory for the ruling party in next year’s elections.
Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Chairperson Ezra Ruvai Chadzamira said the ruling party was ready to romp to victory in the 2018 harmonised elections.
Mnangagwa Is God Given / Or Army Given, WHAT'S THE TRUTH?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 4, 2017
Chadzamira is one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s advisors.
Addressing party members at a Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in Masvingo on Sunday, Chadzamira said opposition parties were in total disarray and the revolutionary party was poised for victory.
“Now that the G-40 cabal is gone, let us unite and focus on the 2018 polls.
Opposition parties are in disarray so we will win the coming elections resoundingly because we have managed to rejuvenate the party,” said Chadzamira.
He added: The opposition parties are clueless and confused. Zanu PF will continue to rule forever. “
