Police in Harare yesterday reportedly ordered opposition parties under the banner of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) to change the venue of tomorrow’s planned feedback rally from the city centre, citing security concerns.

The rally had been scheduled to take place at Africa Unity Square, but police ordered Nera members to meet at an open space opposite the Harare Showgrounds. Nera legal representative and MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the development, saying they might be forced to oblige with the police directive.    
“They (Joint Operations Command) said we should continue with our feedback rally, but they said we should move to Freedom Square because there is an international ministerial conference at Meikles Hotel,” he said.

“The rally is going on, but we have not agreed on the venue as yet. We wanted to do this at Africa Unity Square, but we are reviewing our position in view of the reason given, but definitely we will have the feedback rally on Wednesday (tomorrow),” Mwonzora added.
Police recently sanctioned the rally, but imposed stringent conditions reportedly to curb incidents of violence.

The rally is meant to update opposition activists on the police ban on demonstrations against procurement of biometric voting registration kits by government and its reluctance to implement electoral reforms.

Tomorrow’s rally comes at a time when leaders from various opposition parties met last week to map the way forward, after having declared a deadlock with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).

They declared an electoral crisis and now want Zec disbanded and allow the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations to conduct the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe. Newsday

Who is telling the truth?

The national broadcaster, ZBC in the afternoon yesterday announced that President Robert Mugabe was on Monday presented with a wheelchair. They termed it “a special mobility chair.”

After 2 hours, that breaking news item was changed to portray rather “a massage chair.” Below was a discussion following the news release:

Gweru City Council has said it might be forced to re-tender for $1,2 million earth-moving equipment after a local company Rubitech which won the tender failed to deliver within the stipulated period.

Rubitech won the tender in November last year for the supply of equipment that include a grader, bulldozer, backhaul loader, and excavator.

The equipment was supposed to have been delivered last year, but only a grader has been delivered.

Town clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza said the delay in delivering the equipment has resulted in council failing to maintain its road network as well as service stands in Mkoba 21.
“We have not received all the equipment that we tendered for because the company that was awarded the tender to procure the equipment has not delivered. They keep telling us that they are yet to be allocated foreign currency for them to bring in the equipment,” she said. “The process has hampered our plans to repair our roads and servicing of Mkoba 21 stands and it’s now incumbent upon council on whether we vary the conditions of the initial tender or we go for the company which came second in the tendering process. I think all things being equal we need to go to the second one depending on whether the second one is within our budget.”- State Media

FUNERAL parlours are allegedly scrambling and touting for bodies at Mpilo Central Hospital, a development that has infuriated residents and hospital authorities.

The Chronicle news crew yesterday visited the hospital and observed a number of agents scrambling to talk to bereaved families for business.

A nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity said some of the agents also go into hospital wards to check for bodies at any time of the day.

In an interview, the hospital’s clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said the institution was having a headache dealing with representatives of funeral parlours who have become a public nuisance.

“We don’t condone businesses who clandestinely conduct their operations. They must follow proper channels. We wouldn’t want people to be touting for bodies. Death is sacred and it is unAfrican for individuals to make business on death,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He said the problem of touting for bodies has persisted for some time and the hospital engaged an association representing funeral parlours to no avail.
Dr Ngwenya did not immediately provide the name of the funeral parlours association the hospital engaged.

“It appears this has been going on for some time although it might have not been reported,” he said.

A Bulawayo resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “A relative recently lost a child and as we learnt about his death, these funeral parlour agents were all over us pleading that they can provide the best funeral services. Has society lost its humanity to the extent of taking pride in making money over death? Where is the decency?”

The Real Estate Institute of Zimbabwe (REIZ) says more businesses are deserting expensive offices in central business districts (CBD) of towns and cities across the country in favour of cheaper converted residential units.

REIZ president, Mr Siza Masuku said a number of companies have closed CBD offices citing high operating costs and prohibitive rentals.

“We have noted especially here in Harare that between 40 to 50 percent of the buildings are being vacated. Most occupants have closed down while some have relocated to cheaper places.

“This is because of high rates and rentals being charged in the CBD. Some occupants are being affected by the tough economic conditions and that is why they now favour cheaper rates,” he said.

A similar situation is being experienced in Bulawayo where there are many empty buildings and office space in the CBD. Shopping malls like Nkulumane and Entumbane, have also been deserted and now few businesses operate there because of rentals.

Mr Masuku said his organisation was trying to bridge the gap between property investors and tenants through analysing the market to come up with measures to help reduce high operating costs, which frustrate businesses.

He told Business Chronicle that the other challenge they face as REIZ was that landlords and tenants were not willing to give them information that can help the property sector in the country.

“Property owners are not willing to give us information, which we then put together and help analyse the sector.

“We want to see how the sector is performing overall and this would help to compete for attention for foreign investment. We also want the foreign investors to see us as important in the property sector,” said Mr Masuku.

He added that if information was made available the association would help advise landlords and tenants on fair rentals and the value of buildings.

According to REIZ, Zimbabwe’s real estate sector experienced a slowdown in the uptake of commercial property developments in the first quarter of this year due to high cost of capital.- State Media

Fourteen years after she was paralysed following a road traffic accident, a 62 year old Bulawayo woman is appealing for assistance.

Ms Margaret Moyo was injured while on her way to her rural home in Plumtree in 2003 when a Dokotela bus she was travelling on plunged off a bridge into Gwayi River.

She suffered a broken spine which has rendered her unable to move from the waist downwards ever since.  Ms Moyo used to work in Botswana, but stopped following the accident.

The woman who lives in a hallway in Mabutweni suburb, said she was appealing for well-wishers to assist her to go through physiotherapy as she has not given up on walking again.

She also requires food and other essentials.

Ms Moyo said she would be grateful if she can also be provided with accommodation at a place like a church or some premises which her family can look after.

She said she approached Dokotela Bus Company for compensation to no avail.

“Life is hard, as you can see, we live in a hallway. I cannot call this a room because it is the passage to every other room in the house, being central. I cannot move, so I use this peanut butter bottle to urinate in and that bucket over there to relieve myself. This room is the bathroom, kitchen, toilet, bedroom and lounge all in one. My husband was retrenched from work and life is just unbearable,” she said.

Ms Moyo said her family had become nomads as they are often evicted due to her condition.

“People cannot bear my condition and almost every two months we have to secure a new place to stay. People fear the health risk that my condition brings. No one can be ok with a person pooing in the house. I am confined to this bed and it is hard for my husband and daughter to lift me onto a wheel chair because of my weight,” she said.

“If I didn’t have kids I would have given up because it is so hard, so painful,” said Ms Moyo in a bedside interview.

“They’re my motivation; they are what is keeping me going.”

She said she used to enjoy doing her household chores and worked in Gaborone for her family but she can no longer manage.  She now uses a wheelchair and has limited upper-body movement.

“I wish I could afford physiotherapy because I still have hope that I will someday feel better and be able to stand on my own feet. I also wish for my own space that I will someday call a home,” she said as she tried to force a smile on a weary face.

Ms Moyo’s husband, Mr Mehluli Mpala (64) narrated how much his family’s life changed for the worse following his wife’s disability.

“We were both employed but she was the major breadwinner as she worked in Botswana. I lost my job and the little pension that I get is not enough for paying rent. My wife tries to make some reed vases for sale but she tires easily of late due to her deteriorating condition,” said Mr Mpala.

“I feel sorry for my daughter who has had to give up her childhood and dreams to help me take care of her mother. We assist each other to lift her off the bed to the floor, bathe her and help her when she needs to relieve herself. It’s unfair for the landlord and other tenants because we live in the open space that has doors to their rooms. The smell can be unbearable, and I feel that at times we are asking for too much if we expect people not to complain.”

Well-wishers can contact the family on 0774 780 751- State Media 

Shyleen Mtandwa | Monsignor – Fr. Kizito Mhembere who was Parish Priest at St. Canisius Catholic Church in Marlborough, Ward 41 has died.

MP for Harare West Jessie Majome said of his passing, “I am saddened by the news of the death of Fr,Kizito Mhembere. I extend my deepest sympathies to St. Canicius Parish and the Archdiocese of Harare and his family.” More to follow…

Ray Nkosi | President Robert Mugabe received a wheel chair from his Ministers this morning as a belated birthday gift, immediately earning himself the nickname ‘Chair Leader.’

Zimbabweans have taken to social media to poke fun at the 93 year old leader who has in recent months been seen at international gatherings, struggling to walk, stand and many times captured on camera fast asleep.

News of Mugabe’s birthday gifts from his wife and cabinet ministers was broadcast on the national broadcaster ZBC, which announced the “mobile chair”, while the Emmerson Mnangagwa controlled Herald gave it a black out. The Herald also ignored Mugabe’s please for disputes to be resolved outside the media and demos.

Linking the special event today, Mugabe’s wife, Grace had already prepared the nation, telling the world that her husband would rule to a 100 years from a ‘special wheelchair.’

“We are going to create a special wheelchair for President Mugabe until he rules to 100 years, because that is what we want,” Mrs Mugabe said. “That is the people’s choice. We want a leader that respects us.”

THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) workers say they are in a panic mode following reports that 2 000 jobs were on the line, with the victims likely to go home without terminal benefits.

The planned job cuts were expected to have taken effect starting March 31, following a similar move in 2015, where NRZ offloaded over 400 of its workforce without terminal benefits after taking advantage of a July 17 Supreme Court ruling.

The ruling gave employers the green light to terminate workers’ contracts on three-month pay notices only.

Concerned workers told Southern Eye they have pleaded with their employer to reconsider the move, as that would further impoverish them.
“We are being told that the parastatal wants to retrench over 2 000 of its workforce with effect from March 31. This is a very sad scenario,” a concerned worker said.

“We are told people will be sent home without packages, especially those who have not yet reached pensionable age. They will go with only their pay notices.”

The employee added: “As we speak, many people are no longer working. They go to work and sit. They are waiting for those letters to come and are saying why should they work in order to be dumped at will like what is being planned.”

But NRZ spokesperson Nyasha Maravanyika urged workers to remain calm, as the matter was still at board level.

“That issue is being handled at board level, so it’s at policy level. We understand the board is seized with that kind of discussion and no worker has been told that he or she will lose his or her job,” Maravanyika said.

“We would want to say that NRZ has not told anyone that he or she will be retrenched. It is unfortunate that such a rumour could have demotivated workers, but we are saying they must not fear anything.” – Newsday

THE Makoni District Heroes’ Acre was desecrated when three Rusape men did the unthinkable and grew hundreds of mbanje plants on top of fallen gallant fighters’ graves.

Detectives in Rusape recently arrested the trio of Abdulla Zacharia (38), Tafirenyika Dollar Marima (42) and Taurai Nyamudzura (27) – all of Magamba Extension, Rusape for growing mbanje and violating fallen heroes’ graves.

The three pleaded guilty to the charges of growing mbanje. Zacharia was sentenced to 18 months, Marima three years and Nyamudzura was made to do 270 hours of community service.

Marima, Nyamudzura and Zacharia appeared before provincial magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi and Mr Gift Mutigwa prosecuted.

Mr Mutigwa said: “On March 17, police received a tip-off to the effect that there were people growing maize at the district shrine.

“When police arrived, no-one was seen at the fields, but discovered that there were some mbanje plants which were growing freely. Detectives noted that there was some soil basins with manure underneath, which showed that someone was looking after the mbanje plants.

“The following day around 5am, the detectives, who were on surveillance, saw Marima and his wife, Tsitsi Tsokota entering one of the fields at the graveyard. Marima plucked some green mbanje leaves from one of the plants and stashed them in his trouser’s pocket. As the two were about to leave the field, detectives emerged and arrested him. Marima admitted that the field and mbanje was his and the next field belong to Zacharia, who on arrest admitted the field belonged to him,” said Mr Mutigwa.

Nyamudzura also pleaded guilty when he appeared before Mr Kubonera and Mr Chawatama prosecuted.

The three, also appeared before Rusape provincial magistrate, Mr Shane Kubonera, as self actors, and denied charges of contravening Section 110 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9.23, which criminalises tempering with graves.

The State led by Mr Chawatama told the court that the accused persons removed tombstones from graves and cultivated maize and mbanje at the heroes’ acre.

“On the date unknown to the State, but during the period extending from December 2016 to March 18, 2017 and at Makoni Heroes’ Acre in Rusape, the accused persons removed tombstones from graves, cultivated maize at the graveyard and destroyed the surroundings by cutting down trees.

“On January 25, 2017 the accused persons were seen preparing the land for cultivation by Gilbert Paya the secretary of the Makoni District Fallen Heroes’ Trust and were advised to stop cultivating at the premises, but went on to plant maize in the graveyard.

“The accused persons destroyed tombstones which marked the grave boundaries and they can no longer be identified,” said Mr Chawatama.

Mr Kubonera adjourned the matter to April 10, 2017 for trial. – State Media

She could not hold back her tears. The event was emotional and she just let them flow down her cheeks. Leonard Dembo’s fans were quick to comfort her. Yes, these were tears of joy, but they wanted her to express her happiness through other emotions.As the event progressed, she eventually smiled and laughed. Everyone else laughed with her.

ZIMRA has resorted to escorting fuel trucks in transit from the Forbes Border post to Plumtree and Chirundu border posts after it recently came to light that fuel trucks purporting to be in transit are in fact offloading the fuel in Zimbabwe, prejudicing the State of millions of dollars in excise duty.

Post Business came across a ZIMRA escorted convoy of 10 fuel trucks in transit to Botswana along the Mutare-Plumtree via Harare highway. ZIMRA officers were escorting the trucks from Forbes Border post before handing them over to their Harare counterparts just outside Marondera.

The Harare ZIMRA officers were expected to hand over the trucks to a Bulawayo team in Gweru. This new exercise ensures that no fuel is emptied in Zimbabwe.

“We have decided to escort the fuel trucks in transit to countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana and Zambia after losing a lot of money.

“Since we started this exercise, our revenues have improved significantly,’’ said a ZIMRA officer who declined to be named.

Investigations by Post Business show that ZIMRA was charging excise duty of around US$19 500 from one truck with a trailer carrying 60 000 litres of petrol.

It therefore means that if the Botswana bound 10 trucks were to offload their 600 000 litres in Zimbabwe without paying duty, ZIMRA would lose US$195 000, hence the tight checks and balances to ensure that nothing would be lost.

Recently, some fuel truck drivers purportedly in transit to the DRC, tampered with the ZIMRA seals, emptied the fuel in Zimbabwe and replaced it with water before proceeding to Chirundu where they were intercepted by the police and ZIMRA after detecting a suspicious detour using its newly installed electronic cargo tracking system.

When ZIMRA conducted a physical search on the trucks together with other stakeholders, it was discovered that the sealing slips had been tampered with and the liquid in the trucks was taken for tests at the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority.

The trucks were allegedly found carrying 140 000 litres of water instead of diesel amid suspicion they had offloaded the fuel in Chitungwiza.

ZIMRA had not charged excise duty for the fuel at Forbes Border Post after being duped the cargo was destined for the DRC. This prejudiced the State of $55 650.

ZIMRA board chairperson Mrs Willia Bonyongwe said evasion was one of the major problems facing the revenue collector.

“It is so sad what we are doing to our country when you look at our roads and hospitals. I believe without evasion, we could collect enough for all our recurrent and most of our capital expenditure as a nation,’’ she said.

Staff Reporter| The latest in the anti Kasukuwere protest has seen ZANU PF’s former Harare province youth chairman Godwin Gomwe deny being part of the march against the National Commissar.

A viral circular sent out claims that Gomwe is the coordinator of today’s march being held in Bindura.

But Gomwe told ZimEye the report is not true. He vehemently dissociated himself from the anti-Kasukuwere march.

“I am from Harare province, this program is for Mash Central,” he said.

He continued, “No I saw the circular yesterday, the author is not known.

“It is tarnishing my name, I was kicked out of ZANU PF 2 years ago, where would I get such powers?,” said Gomwe.

“That circular does not make sense it was written by a Grade 2 drop out, it is totally invalid,” he continued while saying he is not in any protest today. However just as he was talking to ZimEye via phone, the volume of loud singing and political slogans was rising and upon being asked about it, his phone was switched off.

The state media reports claiming that Kasukuwere is to blame for allegedly plotting to unconstitutionally unseat President Mugabe. It also claims that other provinces are also reported open to the idea of passing a no-confidence vote on Kasukuwere “whose presidential ambitions are now in the public domain.” More to follow…

MEANWHILE, BELOW WAS THE DISPUTED CIRCULAR:

To all members of the party zanu pf

Let’s all unite and remove all the G40 members in our party .
Tomorrow we going to mash central all provinces are invited here are the dates for the demos
1 ) 03/04/17 mash central kasukuwere, kanengoni, mafios and mashange .

2) 04/04/17 manicaland , chimene, chipanga and undenge

3) 05/04/17 Midlands machaya, smelly Dube and makosini

4) 06/04/17 mash east parirenyatwa, bimha, nyamupinga, zhanda, mbwembwe and mutsvairo

5) 06/04/17 masvingo jaboon, shumba D, chimedza ; ndaarombe, makonese and muzembi

06) 07/04/17 Bulawayo mpoko, Buto Gatsi, Anna and mlilo

7) 07/04/17 mash west chombo, mombeshora, chengeta ,zhuawo and gangarahwe

8) 08/04/17 mat north Jonathan moyo and Richard moyo

9) 08/04/17 mat south choen, sibanda and khaya moyo

10) 10/04/10 Harare zanu pf hq all provinces taking back the HQ Tavengwa, mashayamombe, savanhu, chikukwa and takataka

For more information and donations contact the organisers cde G Gomwe 0773219386 and Musona on [email protected]

It’s now or never .
Donations in cash or kind is highly appreciated

We will keep you posted and tell you the next move after the demos

Pamberi nezanu pf

Yours cde Gomwe

“I was trained to kill and destroy …but I am now as soft as wool” – Mnangagwa

Tough-talking Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa – dubbed “Ngwena” or “the crocodile” – is set to take over from Robert Mugabe as President of Zimbabwe.

It’s been a very long wait to the top for the 71-year-old Mnangagwa, but the timing could not be better. War veterans who last year July for the first time told Mugabe to his face he must with immediate effect hand over to Mnangagwa, have maintained their resolve.

President Mugabe has been in power for 37 years, and although he will be reaffirmed as Zanu-PF’s leader this week, people now openly discuss “life after Bob”.

A purge of current Vice President Joice Mujuru and her supporters has seen Mugabe shift his support behind Mnangagwa

Yet relations between Mnangagwa and the veteran leader were not always cosy.

Violent campaigns

Mnangagwa was himself the victim of a purge in 2004, when he lost his post as Zanu-PF secretary for administration after being charged for excessive ambition while angling for the post of vice president.

Four years in the relative wilderness followed, most of it at the department of rural housing, allowing Mujuru to become VP and the undisputed favourite to succeed Mugabe.

The 2008 elections, when he was made Mugabe’s chief election agent, were to change Mnangagwa’s fortunes.

Mugabe lost the first round, but his supporters were not going to make the same mistake in the second round, which was marred by violence, intimidation and seen by international observers as rigged.

In the same year he took over from Didymus Mutasa as head of the Joint Operations Command, a committee of security chiefs, which has been accused by rights groups of organising violent campaigns to crush dissent.

Mnangagwa was subjected to EU and US Sanctions imposed on Mugabe and his close allies over disputed elections and rights violations, but during the period promptly given control of the powerful Ministry of Defence.

It was a return to the spiritual home that made Mnangagwa a force in Zimbabwean politics in the first place.

The consummate securocrat

Chinese-trained, Mnangagwa’s political career has mirrored his path through the security services.

Born in the south-western Zvishavana district on 15 September 1946, he completed his early education in Zimbabwe before his family relocated to neighbouring Zambia.

His grandfather was a chief while his father was a political agitator for the repeal of colonial laws that disadvantaged blacks.

In 1966, Mnangagwa joined Zimbabwean guerrillas fighting colonial power Britain,becoming one of the youth combatants who helped direct the liberation war after undergoing military training in China and Egypt.

He was part of a group which carried out several raids against government facilities, including blowing up a train near the south-eastern town of Masvingo.

He was arrested following betrayal by a colleague and sentenced to death only to be saved from the gallows by his youthful appearance.

He was released after serving a 10-year sentence.

At independence in 1980, Mnangagwa was appointed minister of national security.

Soft and diplomatic

He was in charge of state security during an anti-dissident crackdown in the 1980s that claimed thousands of lives.

With the then Minister of Defence and the Minister of Home Affairs, Mnangagwa oversaw the operations of the feared Fifth Brigade, a Korean-trained crack unit that was deployed to crush anti-government dissidents in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces

His role in the crackdown, known locally as “Gukurahundi”, and his stern demeanour earned him a fearsome reputation. Mnangagwa has never been one to mince his words.

He once remarked that he was taught to “destroy and kill” – although he later claimed to be a born-again Christian.

He has accused the West of trying to plunder Zimbabwe’s resources.

“Our detractors with the help of sellouts have been working hard to bring about anarchy in Zimbabwe but that will not help because we will crush them.”

Dismissing threats of street protests by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) last year, Mnangagwa said: “We will not be distracted by toothless and harmless dogs.”

Takavafira Zhou, a political scientist at Masvingo State University says Mnangagwa is “a hardliner to the core”.

“He calls himself soft as wool and wants to portray himself as a soft and diplomatic person but the truth is he is a hardliner to the core,” Zhou told AFP.

“Many people are afraid of him. Whether he will change remains to be seem. We may be in for a surprise as Mugabe may choose someone else who is not Mnangagwa as vice president but that could lead to a volatile situation.”

It is unlikely that Mnangagwa has been waiting all this time just to play bridesmaid.

He would bring to the office vast wealth and is believed to be among Zimbabwe’s wealthiest individuals with interests in gold mining.

A US diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks in 2008 described Mnangagwa as having “extraordinarily wealth” saying he brought home a huge coffer haul from Zimbabwe’s intervention on President Laurent Kabila’s side as Kabila sought to ward off rebels. – AFP/Agencies

A Johane Masowe yeChishanu leader based in Beitbridge, Tinotenda Chikwanha, allegedly attacked a fellow church prophet, John Takura with an axe following a fight over use of a spirit medium while prophesying.

The incident allegedly occurred on March 25 at Chikwanha’s shrine at the Zimbabwe-South Africa border post when Chikwanha prophesied that Takura was using a spirit medium to prophesy in church. Chikwanha argued that use of a spirit medium contradicted the church’s doctrine. This did not go down well with Takura who later confronted Chikwanha (32) at his shrine, leading to the alleged physical fight. Chikwanha attacked Takura with the back of the axe on the left shoulder.

Chikwanha denied the assault charge last week when he appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Trevor Nyatsanza. He was remanded to April 3 for trial.- Newsday

Association of Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe (ARDC)chairperson and property developer Killer Zivhu has threatened to challenge Norton MP Temba Mliswa (independent) in next year’s general elections on a Zanu PF ticket.

Zivhu, whose political interests have hitherto been confined to his rural home of Chivi in Masvingo, said his decision to challenge Mliswa was triggered by media remarks made recently by the latter, where he accused the Zimbabwe Amalgamated Housing Association (ZAHA) director of swindling homeseekers in Norton’s Galloway Park suburb.

“I had no intention to contest for a constituency or go to Parliament, but after Mliswa’s unsolicited assault on my person and the lies therein, I think it is time someone called this guy to order. I have decided that if my party [Zanu PF] allows me, I will contest him in Norton.

Following ZimEye’s expose over the weekend, Chinese trucks carrying diamond mining equipment looted from Chiadzwa on their way out of the country have been blocked from entering Mozambique.

Business at Forbes Border Post in Mutare nearly came to a standstill when at least 15 trucks loaded with equipment from a Chinese diamond mining company in Chiadzwa were blocked from entering Mozambique.

It was not clear which Chinese mining company was repatriating its equipment after government last year forcibly stopped diamond mining companies from operating in Chiadzwa to pave way for the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Mining Company (ZCDC), which has so far proved to be a huge disappointment.

The Standard reports indicated that the equipment was either being moved to Mozambique or the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sources at Forbes Border Post said the trucks were stopped by authorities at the point of exit.

Anjin, a joint venture with the Zimbabwe military, last year took government to court arguing the decision to evict the company from the Marange diamond fields was illegal and violated bilateral agreements between Zimbabwe and China.

The group contested the formation of ZCDC but that has not stopped government from moving in and pushing out all private diamond players.

Another Chinese company that had operations in Chiadzwa was Jinan.

Efforts to get comment from Immigration and Zimra officials were fruitless last night.

Mines minister Walter Chidhakwa was also not reachable

Terrence Mawawa, Mberengwa | In a strange incident that has shocked local villagers, a man brutally attacked his neighbour following a dispute over a dog.
Mandlaenkosi Siyarota of Rugara Village, Mberengwa, was hit with a hoe handle ,several times by his neighbour, Tawedzerwa Dube, following a row over the latter’ s dog.

According to police in Mberengwa, Dube confronted Siyarota and accused him of using his dog to guard his field from menacing baboons.
“Dube approached Siyarota and accused him of using his dog to guard his field against menacing baboons. The two began to fight. Siyarota then attempted to hit Dube with a hoe handle but he was overpowered. Dube then hit Siyarota with the hoe handle several times on the head,” police in Mberengwa said.
Vengai Maphosa, Siyarota’s uncle, confirmed the incident and said Dube handed himself to the police.
“I received a phone call from Dube and he apologised for what he did.However I told him to hand himself to the police and he complied. He is currently in custody at Zvishavane Prison,” said Maphosa.
He added: “I took my nephew to White Hospital where he was transferred to Gweru General Hospital.”
Dube’ s relatives are also looking into the matter as a family.

WAR veterans have vowed to continue backing Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid to succeed President Robert Mugabe ahead of next year’s general elections or else they would vote for “a stick”.

Speaking at a round-table discussion hosted by the Youth Forum Zimbabwe in Chitungwiza last week, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) spokesperson Douglas Mahiya argued that this was in line with the Zanu PF leadership structure agreed to under the Mgagao Declaration of 1975.

Mahiya said former fighters were “fed up with the internal chicanery” that seems bent on denying Mnangagwa his chance at power.

“It’s a matter of principle and would first want to correct Mgagao (the 1975 agreement by wartime commanders to remove then Zanu leader Ndabaningi Sithole in the turmoil that rocked the party following chairman Herbert Chitepo’s death). Mgagao is not the one that accepted Mugabe. Mgagao refused Sithole. Only that,” Mahiya said.

“What happened is that there was later a congress in Mozambique (Chimoio 1977), which brought civilian leadership by the directors of the politics at the time, the military wing who are the war veterans now. We laid the party structure, the one we are talking about today.

“We agreed there that the civilian structure would be religiously followed with no attempt to stop each other. That is why Emmerson (Mnangagwa) is quiet. We must respect the sacredness of the structure of the revolution which even caused the deaths of our gallant sons and daughters.”

War veterans last year issued a damning communiqué that described Mugabe as a genocidal leader who has abused Zanu PF structures and manipulated processes to stay in power longer that had been anticipated.

First Lady Grace Mugabe has audaciously declared that Zimbabweans will vote for Mugabe’s “corpse” if it were on a ballot.

“This country does not belong to Mahiya, where if I end my term of governance, I will handover to Mai Mahiya. We are going to use the mass-line. For 37 years? We will not be fooled again. The thing is bigger than what you know. If they don’t want Mnagwagwa,then we as war veterans will vote for a stick instead,” he added.

Mahiya said the ZNLWVA was planning to hold an all stakeholders’ conference soon to produce the Zimbabwe Freedom Charter, which will be founded on the principles of the liberation war.

He reiterated that the former freedom fighters would support any political party that upholds the liberation war ethos and freedom charter.

“We do not belong to anybody now. We are up for grabs. There is generally a political convergence in Zimbabwe and if you look at churches, the youth and other sectors . . . so there is generally a convergence in Zimbabwe, the people are in agreement in their efforts in seeking how to end the challenges they are facing today,” Mahiya said. – Newsday

MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai went behind his national council and agreed on a memorandum of understanding with embattled National People’s Party leader Dr Joice Mujuru for a pre-election coalition without input from the rest of the leadership. It is understood that in the agreement, Mr Tsvangirai would lead the touted coalition, while Dr Mujuru would upstage three incumbents in the MDC-T as vice president.

The MDC-T has three vice presidents — Ms Thokozani Khupe, and Messrs Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri. The terms of the agreement are said to have caused friction in the MDC-T, especially among the party vice presidents and their supporters.

Dr Mujuru recently told BBC’s HardTalk programme that she was working on an MoU with Mr Tsvangirai that would see them work together.
Insiders said Mr Tsvangirai unilaterally told the national council and the national executive that he would personally handle coalition talks.

“He has already signed an MoU with Mujuru on their positions, which will see Tsvangirai contesting as presidential candidate, while Mujuru will be the deputy president,” said a national council member.

We will then have about three or four more smaller parties, among them Welshman Ncube’s MDC, we have already agreed with them. Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party was not in the picture until very recently.”

Another source said Mr Tsvangirai was likely to face resistance from his national executive when he formally presents the terms of the coalition agreement with Dr Mujuru.

“For instance, what happens to the three vice presidents that we already have?” said a source. “Those are some of the serious questions he will have to answer.

“If he says we will have two vice presidents, it means Khupe will automatically fall by the wayside, since we already have a female vice president and that won’t augur well with her f action.

“That is the reason Khupe’s faction was and is still reluctant to get into this coalition with Mujuru. They will make sure they frustrate it even through people in NPP.”

Messrs Chamisa and Mudzuri were said to be sweating over the emergence of Prof Ncube in the picture, which could force Mr Tsvangirai to play a tribal balancing game by elevating him to be one of the vice presidents.

MDC-T spokesperson, Mr Obert Gutu claimed there were no divisions in his party on the proposed coalition.

Asked to comment on what the status of the three incumbents will be in the event that Dr Mujuru is appointed vice president of the coalition, Mr Gutu said: “Just be patient. You will be the first to be advised as soon as a deal has been clinched.” – Agencies

Zanu PF youth leader Godfrey Tsenengamu has rubbished the Zanu PF demonstration against National Commissar Savior Kasukuwere set for Mashonaland Central tomorrow.

State media reports that Zanu PF Mashonland Central Province is pressing for the ouster of Kasukuwere, accusing him of trying to sabotage recent Women’s League demonstrations. In a hard hitting statement circulating on social media Tsenengamu declares that he will not be unleashed as someone’s ‘dog of war’.  See his statement below;

Godfrey Tsenengamu | Cdes l am not in.

Am not going to take part in tomorrow’s demonstration in Bindura. Say whatever you wish against me but l stand firm on this position.  I remain true to the cause but am not a willing tool for abuse anymore.

I don’t support Kasukuwere and his cabal but no one should feel like they own me to a point of unleashing me as a dog of war against their foes. Whosoever gave those excessive powers to Kasukuwere to cause pandemonium in the party, still has the same authority to withdraw them and doesn’t need anyone to demonstrate to take back their power which they had rented to Kasukuwere.

The same way they booted out Cdes Mutsvangwa and Togarepi from the Politburo without a demonstration, they can do so to Kasukuwere without involving us. I don’t hate or despise anyone but am tired of this divide and rule tactic where divisions are perpetuated for the benefit of individuals against the collective interests of the party.

When War veterans wanted to protest against Kasukuwere, water cannons and tear gas were used on them. Espinah Nhari died after highlighting the same problem to the leadership. Youth leaders were haunted out for challenging this cabal.

Main wing leaders and chairpersons in the provinces were booted out challenging G40.

When Kasukuwere would just fire elected chairpersons through a phone call it was okay with them. When he assumed the role of the Women’s League PC sidelining Chinomona, it was proper for them.

They want me to believe that all along they saw a woman in Kasukuwere and suddenly it has turned to be the opposite. For the first time we heard at the airport a new slogan ichiti “Pamberi naPC wedu vaKasukuwere” ko nhasi zvadii?

Can someone now tell me what has changed?
Convince me why we must do this today?
Whose game are we playing here?
Whose cause are we pursuing?
Who are we serving?

The game here is clear. Someone is not sincere but trying to play hide and seek games. After realising that the events of the past week were backfiring, someone somewhere wants to pass the blame to us for the fights that erupted in the G40 at their instigation.

In the past three days they have been everywhere as they were busy building bridges and mending relations that had gone sour in the past week and now they want us to appear to be vindictive so that they continue manipulating the G40 as they will be fearing an ascendancy to power of someone they have been made to hurt and thus the G40 will be scared and continue to fight in the corner of their master against us.

No

Not anymore

Akatora chikwambo chake kana zvapesana ngaasada kutishandisa, ndiye anoziva kwaakachitora nezvaakachitorera ngaanodzosera ega.
Hatidi kuzorana chifuta pamuromo kuti tiite sekunge tadyawo nyama yacho tese.

Vanoenda endai henyu but l am here telling you that this will backfire. Mvura inotevera payakambofamba napo.

INI KWETE NDARAMBA ZVEKUSHANDISANA NEKUITISANA.

Godfrey Tsenengamu

Terrence Mawawa Mwenezi | Local election monitoring organisations and pressure groups have slammed the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), for manipulating the voter registration exercise in the Mwenezi East Constituency.
ZEC, seen by political observers as grossly biased towards Zanu PF, has released a shocking figure of 47159 registered voters, triggering fears the whole process is fraudulent.

In a statement released by Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development on Friday, the outreach exercise carried out by ZEC in Mwenezi East Constituency, between February 23 and March 23, was dubious and calculated to tilt the election results in favour of Zanu PF.
“We are puzzled to learn that 47 159 voters were registered in Mwenezi East Constituency. This effectively means the whole process lacks sincerity.

It is practically impossible to have such a massive number of voters in a rural constituency. The by-election is just a dead rubber because of outright rigging,” said COTRAD in a statement.
A Heal Zimbabwe Trust official said ZEC’ s refusal to engage key stakeholders in the voter registration process exposed the commission’s gross incompetence.
“There is need to overhaul the ZEC setup.There is overt bias towards Zanu PF within the ZEC structures,”said the Heal Zimbabwe Trust official.

According to figures released by ZEC, 62 polling stations have been established in the constituency.
“The voter outreach programme went on smoothly.We can confirm that 47 159 voters were registered for the coming Mwenezi East By-election,”said a ZEC official.

•Artisanal miners wilfully ingest metal

•Rivers depleted of fish

A HARARE man who was booked at a local hotel was yesterday allegedly stabbed by a suspected prostitute who got jealous after he engaged the services of her rival.

Sources told The Chronicle that the man, who appeared to be in his late 20s, stormed out of his hotel room shortly after 9AM, screaming as blood gushed out of a wound following the vicious attack.

“We were busy serving our bosses breakfast when we heard a man screaming and there was blood all over his body. He rushed to the reception and narrated his ordeal to the people manning the desk,” said the source.

The man whose name could not be immediately established was, according to the source, stabbed with a knife by the woman who was not happy that he had hired another woman to spend Saturday night with. After committing the offence the suspect fled.

“It appears every time the man is in Bulawayo he would engage the services of the suspect but on that particular night he had opted for another woman and that incensed the suspect resulting in her stabbing him in the arm,” said the source.

After the incident, police were called to the scene and the man was taken to hospital.

When The Chronicle news crew visited the hotel, the man confirmed the attack, but refused to give further details.

He however appeared to be in a stable condition.

“Don’t worry it’s okay,” he said.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said she had not yet received a report on the matter.

TWO armed robbers pounced on a Bulawayo pharmacy at the weekend and got away with over $600 after threatening to shoot employees.

The armed robbery occurred on Saturday at 7.50PM at Third Avenue Pharmacy situated along 3rd Avenue and Lobengula Street, 10 minutes before the pharmacy closed at 8PM.

The attackers are said to have threatened to shoot the pharmacy’s two employees before getting away with $640 in the fourth armed robbery in the city within a month.

A source said the two gunmen pointed a pistol at a male employee, Mr Bongani Mkandla, demanding cash.

“Bongani then called one Caroline Chikerema who was at the dispensary and informed her to hand over all the money to them and she complied,” said a source.

The Chronicle visited the pharmacy yesterday but it was closed.

The pharmacy’s owner, Mr Daniel Sibanda, said his employees complied with the armed robbers’ demands to avoid being attacked.

“The workers said the two walked in pretending to be looking for some drug. When they were still in the process of serving them, the two turned against them demanding cash. They even cocked the gun and pointed it at the employees,” he said.

Mr Sibanda said the employees feared for their lives and handed over all the money which was in the pharmacy.

He said the armed robbery occurred while there were no security personnel manning the premises.

Mr Sibanda said they are now in the process of installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) to enhance security in the shop.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said investigations were underway in connection with the armed robbery.

She said there was a need for companies to enhance their security through employing security guards and installing CCTVs.

“We can only emphasise the need for businesses to enhance their security while we increase our patrols. But the public should be cognisant that police cannot be everywhere at all time. We want to urge business to bank their money as well,” said Insp Simango.

ZANU-PF Bulawayo Provincial Youth Deputy Commissar Tichaona Chikwava (33) allegedly battled for about three hours with his cellmates at Bulawayo Prisons who wanted to sodomise him.

A court heard Chikwava from Makokoba suburb sustained injuries on his face last week when he fought with other prisoners who were determined to sexually assault him.

Two weeks ago, Chikwava was sentenced to 12 months in prison for faking former provincial youth chairperson Mr Khumbulani Mpofu`s death and asking for a  $1 000 funeral donation from the party.

On Friday last week, his lawyer Mr Dumisani Dube of Mathonsi, Ncube law chambers appeared before magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi pleading with the court to give him $100 bail pending appeal.

Mr Dube said the court must consider substituting a custodial sentence by ordering Chikwava to perform community service.

“The court did not consider his mitigation when they were sentencing my client. The accused person is a first offender and he pleaded guilty to the charge.

He is also the father of a minor who is supposed to attend school. I submit that there is a possibility or chance of custodial sentence or an option to pay fine,” said the lawyer.

“I have been advised by the prison guards that the rights of my client were infringed this week. They informed me that his cellmates tried to sodomise him and then they started to fight for about three hours and he has a swollen face.”

The magistrate granted Chikwava bail of $100.

“The accused person is ordered to surrender his travel documents to the clerk of courts and is also ordered to report to Mzilikazi police station once a week,” said Mr Mkhwananzi.

The court heard that Chikwava and Blessed Mushandu faked Mr Mpofu’s death in order to get the donation. However, Mushandu pleaded not guilty to the fraud charge and State failed to prove that he committed the crime.

He was acquitted.

Last week, the court heard that the pair requested   $1 000 donation from the party.

Police dramatically swooped on Chikwava and Mushandu on March 22 at the Zanu-PF offices while the duo was waiting to be given the money.

However, Mushandu disappeared along the way to Donnington Police Station.

Mr Mkhwananzi convicted Chikwava on his own plea of guilty to fraud.

He sentenced Chikwava to 12 months in prison but suspended four months on condition that he does not within the next five years commit a similar crime.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said on March 22 Chikwava and Mushandu went to the Zanu-PF offices in the city to ask for a donation for the burial of a party member.

“The accused persons introduced themselves to a complainant, operations director Cde Robert Noel Hugo (44) as members of the party. They produced fake donation papers,” said Mr Dlodlo.

“The accused persons produced a fake death certificate indicating the deceased as Mr Mpofu and requested $1 000 for funeral expenses.”

The court heard that Hugo became suspicious and enquired from other Zanu-PF members who told him that Mr Mpofu was still alive.

Mr Dlodlo said Hugo reported to the police leading to the arrest of Chikwava and Mushandu. -State Media

Policy Co-ordination and Promotion of Socio-Economic Ventures minister Simon Khaya Moyo says he is back after almost a year on medical leave.

Moyo, who was absent from duty for more than nine months due to ill health, returned to work last week and yesterday told The Standard that he was “ready to run”.

“I am back to work my brother and ready to do my duty. What else do you want me to say? It’s all systems go for me,” he said.

The minister, who doubles as the Zanu PF spokesperson, was reportedly in South Africa where he was receiving medical attention. Yesterday he said he could not talk about his health in an interview.

“My brother, I can’t talk about my health; what should be important is that I am now at work,” he said.

“Are you not happy that I am back? Never mind speculation, I am here to serve my people.”

Misheck Sibanda, the chief secretary to the president and Cabinet had earlier confirmed the minister’s return.

“Yes, he is back in the country but he is yet to report for work. I don’t know when he will come to work,” he said on Friday.

Zanu PF secretary for administration, Ignatious Chombo has been acting as the ruling party spokesperson during Khaya Moyo’s long absence.

Khaya Moyo, despite being away from work for over a year, continued to draw a full salary while he was on the prolonged sick leave.

Critics and lawyers said in a normal environment Khaya Moyo should have resigned or forced to resign after six months, but Information minister Chris Mushowe recently dismissed the assertion.

Lawyer, Valentine Mutatu, said labour laws allowed one to take paid sick leave of up to three months, with another three usually unpaid.

Thereafter, one has to consider resigning on health grounds or be forced to retire. – The Standard

President Robert Mugabe and his Cabinet are responsible for suing ministers and other government bureaucrats fingered in blatant theft of millions of government dollars by Auditor-General Mildred Chiri, Parliament has said.

This comes after Chiri has routinely issued adverse reports on abuse of public funds, but they have gone largely ignored with no discernible action taken against the culprits.
Last year, the auditor-general’s report on Appropriation Accounts, State Enterprises and Parastatals found 22 ministries out of a total 26 to have abused funds as well as having flouted procurement procedures and governance rules.

Police have said they cannot act on the persistent allegations of corruption against ministers because there was no complainant.

Assistant clerk of Parliament Johane Gandiwa said the Public Accounts Committee — a body in the legislature that must study public audits — had no fiduciary responsibility for levelling corruption charges against thieving ministers.

“It is not the duty of Parliament to govern. Parliament does not appoint ministers. It is the duty of the Executive. We cannot be a complainant. We expect the Executive to take up the issue,” Gandiwa told a recent workshop in Gweru to enhance editors’ understanding of the mandate and functions of Parliament and the Public Accounts Committee.

“It is against the principle of separation of powers,” he said, referring to a political doctrine prescribing separation of political power between the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
Mugabe recently urged the public to presume ministers’  innocence until proven guilty.

Speaking on his 93rd birthday interview, Mugabe said: “We only hear so and so is corrupt. Well, this could be the case. Perhaps the big fish might also be capable of hiding their corruption. I don’t know. Or are people afraid to come out and even come to us and say so and so steals such amounts and we investigate that.

“For now we only hear big fish, big fish, big fish. People were in the habit of accusing the others of being corrupt with no evidence.

“I will investigate but I don’t want political attacks as it were…if there are evidence we will pursue that evidence and certainly we will deal with the persons.”
Gandiwa noted that evidence discovered from an audit cannot be used in a judicial
proceeding.

The courts’ main objections are based on the auditor receiving the corruption assumptions in out-of-court discussions, normally subject to the hearsay rule.

The assistant clerk of Parliament however said parliamentary portfolio committees “are pushing.” He said there were legislative reforms underway to bolster anti-corruption efforts.
Gandiwa said the Public Accounts Committee — chaired by an opposition MP Paurina Mpariwa — recently came up with 18 recommendations directed at Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, which have all been accepted by the Finance minister.

Chinamasa told the National Assembly last month he has started a process to take action over damning exposés by the AG.

The Finance minister said his handicap was that he did not have the staff to comb through the voluminous auditor’s reports.

This was after legislators called on Parliament to bring the Executive to order for grand scale theft of public money which has deprived some of Zimbabwe’s poorest citizens of better access to fundamental services such as health and education.

Years of evidence indicate that Zimbabwe’s current political system is built on patronage and that ultimately high-level corruption is rewarded rather than punished.

Chinamasa said he had to negotiate with the Civil Service Commission so that government creates an establishment solely dedicated to reading the government auditor’s reports and responding to them.

“I believe we are almost getting there,” Chinamasa said. “You cannot respond to all those auditor’s reports unless there is some team dedicated to ploughing through all those reports and disseminating or rather discriminating what may not be quite true and what is true and correcting the mistakes which are pointed out in those reports.”

Antony Chigumba, director of audit in the AG’s office, said they were “a Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Zimbabwe” that examines, audits and report to Parliament on the management of public resources with the aim of improving accountability and good corporate governance.

But despite the AG’s myriad damning corruption reports, the State has failed to hold the highest members of government accountable for theft of public funds, despite its stated commitment to eradicating corruption and much good work from investigators and prosecutors at the technical level. – Daily News

THE Government will not distribute condoms in primary and secondary schools but will instead pursue other HIV intervention strategies that resonate with the mandate of schools, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said.

Director HIV/Aids and TB unit in the Health Ministry Dr Owen Mugurungi told Parliamentarians in Kwekwe last week that emphasis should be placed on sexual reproductive health and HIV education rather than endorsing an illegality.

His remarks followed a presentation by the National Aids Council (Nac) which showed that girls as young as 10 years maybe engaging sexual activities. There has been widespread debate on whether or not condoms should be distributed in schools, with proponents of the idea arguing that school children should have access to protection as they were becoming sexually active early.

Dr Mugurungi said distribution of condoms in schools might create more problems than those intended to be solved.

“We will not distribute condoms in schools. No! We know that condoms are effective in fighting HIV, but we will not give them to school children. We would rather provide education and counseling to these children. Distributing condoms may create more problems for us,” he said.

Dr Mugurungi said he was happy that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had also taken a similar stance against the distribution of condoms to school children. He said efforts should be put to encourage school children to delay sexual debut.

“I’m glad that the ministry of education said it will not distribute condoms in schools. Their mandate is to provide education, not to dish out condoms. We don’t want to appear as if we are endorsing sex at that age. Actually what we should be working on is encouraging these kids to delay sexual debut not to give them condoms,” he said.

Dr Mugurungi said while some school going children were already sexually active, the numbers may not necessarily warrant distribution of condoms in schools.

Presenting the Mid-term Zimbabwe National HIV Strategic Plan III (ZNASP) to legislators, Nac monitoring and evaluation director Mr Amen Mpofu said statistics showed that HIV prevalence was higher among young girls than in young boys. He said the trend which maintains until the 40 to 44 years age group could be an indication that girls were debuting sex earlier than boys and were doing so with older men.

“Our girls are starting sex early, perhaps as early as 10 years old, as you can see from these statistics which show HIV prevalence in the 10 to 14 years age group being higher among girls,” he said.

He was however, quick to dismiss the idea of giving school children access to condoms, saying the country’s laws were against early sexual debut.

On condom uptake in the country Mr Mpofu noted a discrepancy in the number of condoms distributed annually and the number of people who may be using them. He said last year the country surpassed its target for condom distribution in 2016 of 100 million. A total of 104 million condoms were distributed last year.

The latest Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) however, shows that about 50 percent of females and 31 percent males aged between 15 and 49 years who had more than one partner in the past 12 months used a condom during their last sexual intercourse. The Ministry of Health and Childcare targets to increase the country’s condom uptake in the 15 to 49 age group as part of efforts to reduce the country’s HIV incidence rate. – State Media

by Shyleen Mtandwa | More than 500 people who were settled by Zanu PF at Kingdale farm in Norton have been evicted for illegally occupying “private” land by a local land development company.

The private land developer, Muparahwe properties last week, sent security details who chucked out the occupants who the private land developer said used politics to “invade” the property in 2014.

“ Last week they served us with eviction letters and told us that we should vacate this place claiming that we were illegally occupying this land, and yesterday they came with armed security details and invaded our houses,” said one of the evicted lady.

“ They came here and throw away our belongings accusing us squatting at their land, but what we know is that this is state land which we as Zimbabweans also has a right to occupy,” another victim said. “We have been staying here since 2013 and this company has not been serving land despite forcing us to pay monthly development rates and we are surprised to see them coming to evict us,” a male adult identified as Mutema said. Norton Member of Parliament, Temba Mliswa, mid last week, rushed to the farm where he held a meeting with the residents.

After the meeting Mliswa engaged Kudzayi Kadzere of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights with the aim of approaching the courts seeking for the suspension of the evictions. “I can confirm that Mliswa has approached us and we are in the process of getting instructions from the clients,” said Kadzere.

Muparahwe housing development company director, Cuthbert Mpame maintained that the evicted residents were illegal settlers. “I have consistently engaged Kingsdale occupiers even when I could have had them ejected on 20 October 2013, when the Constitutional Court gave us the green light to do so. At that time I engaged minister Chombo and the housing cooperatives and Zanu PF leadership, and agreed that they be given right of first refusal or first option to purchase the stands,” he said.  He said at least 900 occupants took up the offer while the rest resisted.

“Then in March 2014 a group of over 500 Zanu PF persons fronted by their local leadership went on to illegally occupy stands violently displacing purchasers,” he added .

The Zimbabwean government has ordered the Zimbabwe Republic Police to mount only a single roadblock, within a 10km radius.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo says there will only be a single roadblock over a 20km stretch.

He also ordered the police to use a one-stop shop arrangement. This follows frequent complaints by motorists, tourists over the number of roadblocks and accusations that police officers are extorting motorists.

Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi has in recent days also complained the disproportionate number of roadblocks saying they discourage tourism.

Speaking to the state media, Minister Ignatious Chombo said: All Provincial commanders have been instructed to submit their monthly roadblock schedules to Police General Headquarters (Operations) to ensure effective monitoring of deployments in line with the organisational policy of erecting roadblocks at a distance of not less than 10km apart.

One-stop-shop roadblocks, which are multi-purpose, are being implemented to avoid duplications. Increased supervision of deployed personnel is going to be enhanced to correct any inconsistencies with policies and directives.

A review of all deployments is being done with a view to rationalising the roadblock deployment system in order to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.

Staff Reporter| Matabeleland North Provincial chairman of the Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC, Thembinkosi Sibindi, who was last night reported to be fighting for his life at the Wankie Colliery Hospital after being involved in an accident in Lupote area of Hwange, has died.

Sibindi and five other officials were involved in the mishap late Saturday evening.

Party sources told ZimEye.com that Sibindi and five others were travelling from a party meeting in Lupane when the vehicle they were travelling in was side-swiped by a trailer of a heavy vehicle coming from the opposite direction, forcing the vehicle to overturn several times.

ZimEye.com could not immediately establish the conditions of the other senior MDCT provincial officials, but the party members described their conditions as critical. Further details were still sketchy at the time of writing. This is a developing story – REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR LIVE UPDATES

Ray Nkosi | MDC Vice President Thokozani Khupe has called for equality between men and women ahead of the crucial 2018 elections.

In a belated Women’s Day statement Khupe said, “Today we commemorated a belated International Women’s day in Bulawayo at the Large City hall. This year’s Theme is #BeBoldforChange.”

“As woman we want an inclusive society where all genders have equal opportunities, as we are equal in the eyes of the Lord, we are equal in the eyes of the law and we are equal in the eyes of the society,” said Khupe.

“Together we can make a difference in delivering change so that everyone has a better life,” Khupe went further to say.

A Bulawayo man based in the United Kingdom allegedly abandoned his wife of more than 10 years and secretly tied the knot with his South Africa-based lover, much to the chagrin of his in-laws.

The man, Mr Carlton Ndlovu, married his lover Ms Sindisiwe Moyo at a Matsheumhlophe venue last weekend while his wife Ms Sibonginkosi Siwela was in the UK. According to Ms Sibonginkosi Siwela’s mother, Mrs Gladys Siwela the two are customarily married.

“This man married my daughter and they have a 12-year-old daughter who they stay with in the UK. I can bring the clothes that he gave to us as part of amalobolo. We are not privy to details that he had divorced our daughter, as far as we are aware he is our son-in-law,” said Mrs Siwela.

Sunday News spoke to Ms Sibonginkosi Siwela from her base in the UK. She said she got to know about her husband’s affair via social network.

“The relationship between Carlton and Sindisiwe started on Facebook, that is when I realised they were seeing each other. We argued about it and he said he was stopping the affair and all was well. I did not know that they continued and got to the extent of visiting each other,” she said.

Ndlovu is said to have left for South Africa where his new lover was based in 2015. He is alleged to told his wife that he was taking some equipment back home, yet he was taking his girlfriend to meet his family members.

“He went to South Africa where she was based to see her. He even showed his mother the girl and they paid lobola for her behind my back. When I discovered it he apologised and said his family forced him to marry the girl and said he regretted paying lobola for her. At that point I left him to stay alone and he followed me begging me and my daughter to come back home. After some time we moved in with him and stayed as a family again. In July 2016 his father passed away and he had no money at all and I footed the bills as he was my father-in-law,” she added.

“He then decided he needed to come to Zimbabwe to see his family since he had not come home for his father’s funeral and he purchased the air ticket intending to travel in February this year. He lied and said he will be in Zimbabwe for two weeks yet he had arranged to be away for six weeks. I stumbled on his air tickets while I was cleaning that is how I found out his real travel dates,” she said.

She added, “Later on I saw some WhatsApp messages on his phone between him and the girlfriend where they were talking about a wedding. I confronted him and he gave unsatisfactory answers. He said he had resumed communication with the girl because when he purchased a residential stand in Zimbabwe and she was the one who had the documentation following his father’s death so he was trying to get the papers back.”

He allegedly told her that he wanted to bring the girl closer to him so that she releases the documents for the stand. When she asked him about the wedding he said his relatives were just telling him to play along with the story of a wedding so that he gets his papers but he insisted he was not marrying Sindisiswe.

“However, I managed to get a wedding invite and saw all the details. He however, left on 6 April and went to South Africa because he is only allowed to travel anywhere besides Zimbabwe. So I do not know how he sneaked into Zimbabwe. I lost out on a lot of money because I was supposed to travel to Zimbabwe on 25 March as per agreement but he cheated me and travelled knowing very well that I had no one to leave our child with,” she claimed.

After discovering the affair the distraught wife contacted her husband’s lover to tell her that Carlton was married to her and that they have a 12-year-old daughter but she would have none of it. Sources claimed Mr Ndlovu left Zimbabwe in 2006 as an asylum seeker in the UK.

“He left as an asylum seeker and he cannot legally come back to Zimbabwe. He arrived in South Africa and came via unscrupulous means into Zimbabwe as he is not allowed into the country using his passport. We suspect he came using omalayitsha (cross border transporters) who smuggled him into the country,” said a source.

A Sunday News crew managed to gain entry into the wedding venue which was guarded by police officers who ensured that no unwanted people entered. Mrs Siwela (mother-law) who had also gone to the wedding venue to try and get an audience with the Ndlovu family over the issue was ejected by two police offers who said she was not welcome. However, a scuffle ensued and she was handcuffed and detained. She was later taken to Hillside Police Station where she was charged for “conduct likely to breach peace” and paid a fine of $10, she told Sunday News.

An angry mob belonging to the Ndlovu family also charged at reporters and uttered unprintable words, threatening to “deal” with them. Security details sealed off entrances to the venue and only one gate was opened for all people to use as there was screening of guests. The marriage officer announced just as the wedding commenced that no one was going to disturb the proceedings.

“We are omitting some sections of these processings because we have the marriage certificate already. We have already spoken, we do not want any photographers, and we have our own official ones so no one should be seen taking pictures using their phones. Today is their day, no one should come and disturb their wishes so respect that,” he said.

Ushers were seen milling around the venue cautioning those that were seen holding mobile phones as there were strict instructions that no pictures should be taken. The Sunday News crew managed to talk to the heartbroken Mrs Siwela after the wedding. She said she only wanted to talk to the Ndlovu family, although she had been failing for the past two weeks since Ndlovu came back to Zimbabwe.

“I do not care if he is over my daughter, it’s his decision to make. I am only concerned with how this issue was handled because as far as I am concerned my daughter still regards Carlton as her husband. He cheated my daughter because the rings he used today were bought by my daughter under the impression that she and Carlton were getting married one day, but then he said he did not like the rings and had to take them back to the shop, while he knew he wanted to use the rings to wed his secret wife,” said Mrs Siwela. – State Media

A total of 15 National Assembly members and Senators underwent TB screening, HIV and diabetes testing in Shurugwi on Friday, as part of efforts to encourage the public to get examined for the three related diseases.

The HIV and TB co-infection rate in Zimbabwe is estimated at about 70 percent and TB is considered as the major cause of death among HIV positive patients. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) about 10 percent of global TB cases are linked to diabetes.

The legislators, members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care, underwent the tests on the sidelines of the World TB day commemorations at Selukwe Primary School in Shurugwi, Midlands province. Although the lawmakers did not make their results public, they believe the move to be tested in public will help change the mindsets of people and encourage them to get tested.

Chairperson of the parliamentary TB caucus, Dr Paul Chimedza said the move by law makers was meant to demonstrate to the public the importance of testing for the three diseases. Dr Chimedza who is the Zanu-PF MP for Gutu South, said as leaders, the legislators were leading from the in the front the fight against TB and HIV.

“What we wanted to do was to demonstrate what should be done. As opinion leaders we had to walk the talk and we went through all the stages in public and we hope this will inspire people to take these tests,” he said.

Added Dr Chimedza, “If we are to achieve our goal of ending TB by 2025 we need to mobilise people to undergo screening for TB. This year’s theme captures what exactly needs to be done for us to end this scourge.”

MP for Chiwundura constituency (Zanu PF) Cde Kizito Chivamba said the gesture by MPs will help fight the stigma against TB.

MP for Mabvuku Mr James Maridadi (MDC-T), who also underwent the tests, said it was important for people to know their status regarding the three diseases.

Mr Maridadi also bemoaned the lack of adequate domestic funding for the health sector, urging Government to observe the Abuja declaration. The Abuja declaration recommends that governments allocate 15 percent of their annual budgets to health.

World TB day is commemorated annually on 24 March. This year’s belated commemorations were held under the theme;

“Unite to end TB: Leave no one behind”. TB remains a public health threat in Zimbabwe with the country ranked among the 30 TB high burdened countries in the world. The country seeks to end TB 2025. – State Media

THERE was drama at Gweru’s Magistrates Court last Monday when a woman, who allegedly teamed up with her boyfriend to assault her husband and was due for trial fainted and had to be taken to hospital by an ambulance.

Samantha Nzira who was due for trial, together with her co-accused and boyfriend Nkosilathi Ngulube, gave court officials a torrid time as they tried in vain to resuscitate her.
The two are facing assault charges for bashing Nzira’s husband, Mr Ottis Chikoto.

Before the fainting incident Sunday News witnessed Nzira shouting obscenities at her husband, attracting a crowd at the court premises. She was accusing Chikoto of using juju on her.“I did not want to get married to you and you know it. But you had to use juju so that l could marry you. You only married me because you wanted my money since you are paid peanuts at your workplace,” said Nzira.

Mr Chikoto dismissed Nzira’s fainting as just an act to delay the trial. “She is just acting to delay the trial. She has never had such a problem before and I have known her for more than five years.

She thinks the court will acquit her on the basis that she is not fit to stand trial,” said the seemingly unfazed Mr Chikoto.

Nzira’s alleged boyfriend, Ngulube who was also present at the court premises said Nzira was suffering from seizures.

“She suffers from seizures and it happens every time she gets angry. The seizures usually last for about five minutes and then she becomes normal. I am surprised her husband doesn’t even know that,” said Ngulube.

Ngulube and Nzira were recorded in a video assaulting Mr Chikoto. The video went viral on social media.

THE Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Lazarus Dokora, yesterday threatened teachers with early retirement for failing to understand and appreciate the new education curriculum.
Speaking at a meeting with school heads from the Midlands Province, Dr Dokora said teachers and headmasters at some schools were ignorant of the new education curriculum framework and that might force the Government to review the retirement age.

“We cannot move on like this. There are going to be a lot of causalities. Now do you want us to review the retirement age of teaching downwards because we can lobby Government for that?” he said.

Dr Dokora accused headmasters of failing to educate teachers on the new curriculum. He said some teachers and school heads from the seven provinces that the ministry has visited so far did not fully understand the curriculum, a development he said may hamper full implementation of the framework.
The ministry is moving around provinces unpacking the new curriculum to school heads to ensure that all teachers become aware of, and grasp the rationale behind the new learning programme. Dr Dokora added that visits by ministry officials in the seven provinces had shown that most teachers lacked basic appreciation of the new curriculum framework.

“I was surprised when I went to Mutare and realised that there are teachers who are not aware of this document (curriculum). Yesterday when we were in Mashonaland West Province some teachers stood up and testified that they had not seen such a document. It is the same story in five other provinces that we have visited.

“Now there are two things, when we said on 28 November, 2014 school headmasters should superintendent over the consultation of the new curriculum most of them delegated. When they delegated they did not get a full feedback on what transpired. When we met school headmasters in Nyanga they said they were not privy to the goings on. We released enough copies for all schools in the country,” he said.

Dr Dokora said there has been a social media onslaught on the new curriculum by teachers who were ignorant of the rationale behind the framework after failing to access the document despite the fact  that the ministry distributed enough copies for all schools across the country.

Some teachers and school heads from the Midlands Province who attended the meeting also professed ignorance of the contents of the new curriculum. Asked if they had read the document the school heads failed to respond, creating an impression that they had not read it. Dr Dokora said teachers were foot soldiers in the implementation of the new curriculum, therefore they should be fully educated on the programme.

Meanwhile, Dr Dokora revealed that the ministry required about 7 000 more teachers immediately to enable the full implementation of the new curriculum. He said the ministry had presented the request for teachers before Cabinet for consideration. – State Media

THE Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers held a breakfast meeting on the March 23, 2017 to review how bond notes have fared in the prior 100 days.

I was part of the panelists who included RBZ Deputy Governor Dr Kupukile Mhlambo, and Professor Ashok Chakravarti, who is a Senior Consultant in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

There was consensus from the panelists, as well as the attendees, that bond notes have so far worked to the satisfaction of many, even though parallel market activities are threatening to destabilise the currency regime.

Importantly, it was agreed bond notes are only a transitional measure, not permanent solution to the country’s cash crisis.

However, unlike many who believe the wide use of the US dollar is the root cause of the country’s economic challenges and are thus advocating for the adoption of the rand, I am of the view that the unbalanced state of the economy and limited ability to attract and retain capital are the key challenges facing Zimbabwe’s economy today.

As such, the solutions lies in rebalancing the economy towards increased production and exports whilst at the same time slashing consumption and imports.

These efforts should be complemented by measures to attract and retain capital. When the RBZ announced its intention to introduce bond notes as part of measures to deal with cash shortages on May 4, 2016, the market was skeptical.

It viewed the move as a deliberate ploy to reintroduce the Zimbabwe dollar.

As such, it was very difficult for the RBZ to sell the idea due to the broken trust between the RBZ and the market.

It is not surprising that it took the central bank more than six months to introduce the surrogate currency.

Evidently, RBZ was overly cautious and wanted to avoid failure as this could have spelt doom to the whole economy.

Today, it’s only fair to give credit to the RBZ for the project. What is working well so far?

The successful introduction of bond notes was made possible by the measured way in which the currency was introduced.

Bond notes continue to be tied to exports so as to minimise the occurrence of inflation. So far, only US$102 million bond notes have been injected into the economy from exports accrued since May 4, 2016 when the export incentive scheme was unveiled.

Bond notes, together with other transactional platforms such electronic and mobile money, have seemingly cash shortages less prevalent than they ought to have been. RBZ statistics show electronic transactions increased from US$7 billion in 2009 to US$57 billion by end of 2015, as the market gets accustomed to using electronic money.

The surrogate currency is largely trading at par with the US dollar.

However, the parallel market and a three-tier pricing system —for US dollar, bond notes and POS transactions — are beginning to emerge.

But the availability of the surrogate currency in small denominations has helped contain parallel market trade.

The sheer amount of bond notes than need to be traded for one to start making meaningful profits makes this business uneconomical.

For instance, a forex dealer requires at least 2 000 bond notes to trade only US$10 000 for an average spread of US$100. This amount of bond notes requires a sizeable purse to carry around.

The same reason has also discouraged unscrupulous elements from counterfeiting the surrogate currency.

Most importantly, the distribution of bond notes among banks is well managed such that even those with limited exports are receiving a decent share.

It is, however, not without its shortfalls as a currency solution in Zimbabwe today.

An appreciation of the root cause of cash shortages is an ideal starting point to addressing the challenges. As highlighted earlier, there seems to be divergence of views on this subject.

On one hand, there are some who think Zimbabwe’s cash shortages lie in the unbalanced state of the economy.

On the other hand, there are those who believe the usage of a strong currency is the major problem. Professor Ashok Chakravarti is the major sponsor of the latter view.

The Bankers Association of Zimbabwe and Consumer Council of Zimbabwe are also converts of the same view.

They believe the country will become more competitive by merely changing the name of the local currency — from dollar to rand.

Their preference for the rand is also based on the fact it is non-externalisable, unlike the US dollar, which is attractive globally as a reserve currency.

But they seem not to consider the fact that the market has high preference for the rand to the US dollar.

Any forced conversion at a devalued dollar-rand exchange rate would have enormous repercussions which will lead to litigations.

Savings, pensions, and cor­porate balance sheets would need to be similarly devalued, though in a less catastrophic way to dollarisation in 2008/ 9.

My view is that switching to the rand is not a short-term solution.

Unless the rand fell steeply, the country will remain hugely uncompetitive because of deep-seated structural chal­lenges that have made it diffi­cult to rebalance the economy. As such, the faltering economy can be traced to the unbal­anced state of the economy. This imbalance is reflected by high levels of consumption and imports against low production and exports levels.

Production constraints in Zimbabwe largely reflect the existence of deep-seated struc­tural challenges.

Poor infrastructure, high cost and unreliability of util­ities, scarcity and high cost of capital, antiquated machinery and obsolete technology are some of the challenges affect­ing the local industry.

Given the low levels of pro­duction, the high consump­tion levels in Zimbabwe have resulted in increased reliance on imports. This economic imbalance has conspired with the country’s inability to attract and retain both local and foreign capital to produce the undesirable state of an fal­tering economy in stress.

Limited capital inflows can be traced to poor investment policies as demonstrated by the country’s low ranking in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index.

Equally, the poor investment policies and market indisci­pline has resulted in undesir­able levels of capital flight.

The RBZ reported that in 2015 alone, the country lost about US$2 billion through external­isation.

Efficacy of bond notes

Admittedly, bond notes have been less potent in curtailing externalisation.

As long as influence-ped­dlers who have the ability to access the US dollar and cart it across the border loom large on the economy, prospects to sig­nificantly cut smuggling will remain dim.

No wonder an US$600 mil­lion is reportedly sitting in off­shore accounts when the coun­try is in dire need of capital to rebuild.

There is need for the country to exorcise the demon of cor­ruption, which is something that can not be done by bond notes.

Whilst the non-externalis­able argument by rand pro­tagonists sound sensible, it is important to understand that sound investment policies are a precondition to attract and retain capital.

That is why externalisation is not a major problem in Zam­bia, which has more US dollars in circulation than Zimbabwe.

The DRC and Mozambique use both US dollars and their own local currencies but exter­nalisation remains low.

It is important to recognise that bond notes were intro­duced as an export incentive.

Being a commodity-depend­ent economy — with more than 80 percent of her export revenue contributed by gold, tobacco, platinum, chrome and diamonds — the incen­tive made sense to Zimbabwe in view of easing commodity prices.

Evidently, the export incen­tive scheme alone has been less potent to boost exports.

The country’s export levels remained depressed at US$3,4 billion in 2016, which is a seven percent decline from US$3,4 billion a year earlier.

This, coupled with high lev­els of imports at US$5,4 billion (2015: US$6,1 billion) resulted in trade deficit of US$2 billion (2015: US$2,5 billion).

This has seen nostro fund­ing challenges deepen, with foreign payment backlog at other banks reported to go as far back as a year.

Arguably, this has ignited the parallel market for currencies and the return of Old Mutual Implied Rate since September 2016.

As pointed out earlier, boost­ing the country’s production and productivity largely depen­dends on addressing real issues relating to infrastructure defi­cit, antiquated machinery and obsolete technology, scarcity and high cost of capital among others.

The sheer amount of capital required to cover the infra­structure gap of US$14-20 bil­lion, together with an esti­mated US$5 billion needed to reindustrialise the coun­try, calls for sound policies to attract an retain both domestic and foreign capital.

This makes the implementa­tion of ease of doing business reforms more urgent. It’s quite comforting that some notable progress is being registered in that front.

Bond notes can only do so much. Unlike what many think, bond notes can not solve all the country’s economic ills.

Those charged with the responsibility of growing the economy and formulating pol­icies should also step up.

◆ Persistence Gwanyanya is the founder and CEO of perconAdvisory, head of the financial advisory portfolio of Zimbabwe Business Arts and Hub, and executive member of the Zimbabwe Economics Society. Feedback: [email protected], WhatsApp: +263773030691. You can read his blog at percyconadvisory.com

As the warring Zanu PF factions reach a dead end in their fights, President Robert Mugabe will this week preside over two important forums.

The state media reports that the Zanu-PF’s Politburo and Central Committee will meet this week for crunch indabas.

In a statement yesterday, the ruling party’s Secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo said the Politburo and Central Committee meetings would be on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

“On Wednesday 5th April and Friday 7th April 2017, Zanu-PF will hold its 308th Ordinary Session of the Politburo and 105th Central Committee respectively. Both meetings will be held as usual at the Zanu PF Headquarters and will start at 1000 hours. Members of both organs are urged to be on time to attend these meetings.

“Critical issues pertaining to the Party as well as national development will be discussed. Agendas will be availed on the day of the meeting. His Excellency, the President and First Secretary, RG Mugabe will chair both meetings,” he said.

Among the issues likely to be discussed include the fate of Women’s League Deputy Secretary Eunice Ntombizodwa Moyo and Sarah Mahoka, who were last week expelled pending a Politburo determination.

Zanu-PF Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and party Mashonaland Central chair Dickson Mafios could also to be under the spotlight amid growing calls for them to be removed from their positions.

Harare based Prophet, Lazarus Mashavave has come under fire for ‘blessing’ tobacco farmers who are seeking to prosper as this is being viewed in some quarters as contradicting his mission of delivering those addicted to smoking.

The leader of Life Giving Spirit International Ministries stationed at Premier Tobacco Auction Floors is on record saying he had delivered men who were addicted to smoking among other problems. Men who were addicted to smoking were invited to the church, for deliverance prayers last year.

They practically smoked cigarettes at the Exodus Revival Conference and later testified they no longer had the urge to smoke. They were also later followed to their homes were they testified that they had quit smoking. While tobacco remains one of the foreign currency earners, Christians have remained at crossroads on the route to take about tobacco farming. But they are clearly against smoking.

However, it seemed contradictory for the prophet to bless producers of tobacco which in turn has cigarettes as one of its by-products. The Sunday Mail Religion spoke to some farmers at last Wednesday services after they went to the altar to receive prayers for their problems.

A 29 year-old farmer, Mr Kimton Nyanhongo from Nyazura, Mahere Village said he had no another option than to seek spiritual deliverance as he was in the habit of misusing money after selling his crop yearly.

“I have two wives and our only source of income is farming. The only time I get money is after selling my crop but every year I go back home empty handed.

“I have tried in my powers to restrain myself from abusing the money but I have since realised that it is something beyond my control,” said Mr Nhanhongo.

He added, “My conscience is also telling me that with the seed money that I have given to the man of God my crop will be bought with good money.

“I will call you telling you that I am now in Nyazura with all the money. This year no more hookers, I am sure even my wives will be surprised,” he said.

Another farmer, Mrs Afreda Muranda from Chiendambuya said for the past six years she had been growing tobacco but had all her money stolen soon after selling her crop on three different occasions.

“I am here because of two issues; on three occasions after selling tobacco I lost my money to thieves. I now believe that I have a curse that is upon me hence I am seeking spiritual help. There is no harm in trying considering that my family depends on farming tobacco,” said Mrs Muranda.

Mr Jacob Zongondi, from Mutorashanga said he heard from a friend that there is a prophet who is assisting farmers to get better grades when selling their crop and he decided to approach him.

“These days you just have to try everything. You don’t know what God has in store for you. The prophet prayed for me last night (Tuesday) and today (Wednesday). I decided to come again today because I have realised that this could be my opportunity to prosper. I don’t know if his powers are from God or not but what I know is that he cannot fool all these people who are here. They have seen something good in him,” said Mr Zongondi.

However, Trinity Inter-denominational Church leader, evangelist Moses Mugadza said ‘blessing’ tobacco or tobacco farmers to prosper in their field is against Christian principles.

“The Bible says people should be good stewards of their bodies which means they should refrain from anything that defiles it. This includes drinking alcohol and smoking.”

He quoted 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 which states that, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.”

“People might claim that tobacco can be used for other things but they should be reminded that making cigarettes is the major end product of tobacco,” he added.

LGSIM spokesperson, Pastor Simon Chivasa said their leader had not done anything sinister.

“Christ spent much of His time ministering in the market place and of the twelve apostles that Jesus called, most were businessmen not synagogue ministers. Before Christ said, ‘follow Me’ he had to minister to people’s needs first. That is what the prophet is doing.

“The Bible in Luke 19:10 says, ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost’ that is the main purpose of the servants of God,” said Pr Chivasa.

The church has been operating at the auction floor since last year.- State Media

The recently commissioned Victoria Falls International Airport, which is capable of handling wide-bodied aircraft, is beginning to hold sway in the resort town, with indications human traffic will exponentially increase as new airlines begin plying the route.

There are indications tourism industry operators in neighbouring Zambia, which also commissioned new radar equipment and a new terminal at the Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula (former Livingstone Airport) on December 23 last year, fear their businesses will suffer as a result.

While the Zambian airport, which claims to be closest to the Victoria Falls, has to capacity to process 700 000 passengers per year, the Victoria Falls airport now has potential to handle 900 000 more at 1,6 million passengers.

The US$150 million facelift of the Victoria Falls airport, funded by China Eximbank, which entailed construction of a new four-kilometre runway, made it possible to land wide-bodied, long-haul aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A330.

Private sector player African Sun Limited (ASL) gave the clearest indication yet of how the new airport could be a boon for the hospital sector.

ASL chairman Mr Herbert Nkala claimed in the group’s year-end financials to December 31, 2016 weekly airline seat arrivals — measuring the number of passenger carried by airlines — are forecast to rise 40 percent.

“We are further encouraged by the optimism of the tourism industry arising from the completion of the Victoria Falls Airport expansion and refurbishment, which will lead to increased foreign arrivals and improve our occupancy at our Victoria Falls properties.

“A number of airlines have expressed interest in the route, and those that have confirmed that they will fly into Victoria Falls will increase the weekly airline seat arrival by 40 percent,” said Mr Nkala in a statement accompanying the results.

Government says RwandAir will be introducing direct flights from Kigali, Rwanda sometime this month.

Rwanda is considered one of the fastest growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa.

Kenyan Airways will be launching direct flights from Nairobi to Victoria Falls beginning May 18.

Also SA Airlink, which was the first newly introduced airline to land at the new airport in March, is expected to introduce daily flights from Cape Town to Victoria Falls from July.

Ethiopian Airlines made its first direct flight from Addis Ababa to Victoria Falls on Sunday last week.

Overall, there are expectations the new airport will tip the scale in favour of local tourism.

Encouragingly, recent statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) show that passenger arrivals in the resort rose to 20 305 and 17 017 in January and February this year from 17 256 and 16 188 respectively a year earlier.

In fact, in January alone, an additional 3 000 passengers have been processed through the airport than in 2016.

A United States luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, has since named Zimbabwe the best destination for travellers to Africa in 2017.

The US is one of the country’s biggest traditional source markets.

Bullish

Local hospitality industry players are naturally bullish the new development in the resort will drive margins and profits.

Chairperson of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Victoria Falls chapter Mr Christopher Svovah said there is a direct correlation between air connectivity and socio-economic growth.

“It enhances destination accessibility and connectivity and whenever there are airlines, there is socio-economic growth. This growth will not only be in Zimbabwe, but across the region.

“We anticipate that 90 000 new seats are coming into Victoria Falls and this will increase volumes for taxi drivers, food outlets, hotels and all other hospitality institutions,” said Mr Svovah, who is also the Rainbow Hotel (Victoria Falls) general manager.

Notwithstanding the positive developments, the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism (ZCT) says the country needs to take ownership of the new product and package it for the international market.

“For the airlines to be coming in, it is a major endorsement for the destination, especially Victoria Falls, which is a seventh wonder of the world. This means we have more capacity, easy access and what is left for us is to aggressively package the destination.

“We don’t want to have a beautiful product and fail to market it. We must take ownership of the packaging and not let our cousins across the Limpopo take all the limelight,” said Dr Taka Munyanyiwa, a consultant with ZCT.

The Victoria Falls is now connected to major regional capitals such as Lusaka, Luanda, Windhoek, Gaborone, Pretoria and Maputo.

Extortionate pricing

But experts say for Zimbabwe to get the maximum possible benefit from arrivals there is need to review the relatively high pricing models for local tourism products.

The use of a strong US dollar as a unit of exchange compared to weaker regional currencies, most particularly the Zambian kwacha, is eating into the country’s competitiveness.

Reports suggest Zambia is presently benefitting the most as it is offering accommodation for visitors who only come to the Zimbabwean side for day visits.

HAZ said the challenge was to downwardly review prices.

“The challenge is the cost in Zimbabwe; as tourism players we don’t operate outside the rest of the economy. We need to appreciate that Zimbabwe is 30 percent more expensive than the region.

“The way out is to come up with tourism packages that are way below what is already there. For instance, if we can have a package of R10 000 covering a return ticket, accommodation for three nights and breakfast and one or two activities, it would be better,” said Mr Svovah.

It is believed the recently introduced 15 percent Value Added Tax on amounts spent by foreign tourists is making the situation even worse.

ZCT is presently engaging Government to keep the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority at bay after the latter slapped a US$5,3 million tax bill on two hotels in Victoria Falls last year. The 112-year-old Victoria Falls Hotel, owned by Emerged Railway Properties – a joint venture between the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Zambia Railways – and jointly managed by African Sun and Meikles Africa, owes the bulk of the bill at US$4,1 million.

Victoria Falls Lodge, a privately-owned lodge in Zambezi National Park, is said to owe Zimra US$1,3 million in unpaid taxes.

And ZCT believes it is such costs that should be revised, if not scrapped, to make Zimbabwe the tourist destination of choice.

“We currently have the debate with the Minister (of Finance Patrick Chinamasa) over zero-rating tourism products,” said Dr Munyanyiwa. – State Media

Staff Reporter| Matabeleland North Provincial chairman of the Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC, Thembinkosi Sibindi, is reportedly fighting for his life at the Wankie Colliery Hospital after being involved in an accident in Lupote area of Hwange late Saturday evening.

A comment could not be obtained immediately from senior party officials.

However, lower ranks of the party told ZimEye.com that Sibindi and five others were travelling from a party meeting in Lupane when the vehicle they were travelling in was side-swiped by a trailer of a heavy vehicle travelling from the opposite direction, forcing the vehicle to overturn several times.

ZimEye.com could not immediately establish the conditions of the six senior MDCT provincial officials but the party members described their conditions as critical. More details on the accident were still sketchy at the time of writing.

Staff Reporter| Matabeleland North Provincial chairman of the Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC, Thembinkosi Sibindi, is reportedly fighting for his life at the Wankie Colliery Hospital after being involved in an accident in Lupote area of Hwange late Saturday evening.

A comment could not be obtained immediately from senior party officials.

However, lower ranks of the party told ZimEye.com that Sibindi and five others were travelling from a party meeting in Lupane when the vehicle they were travelling in was side-swiped by a trailer of a heavy vehicle travelling from the opposite direction, forcing the vehicle to overturn several times.

ZimEye.com could not immediately establish the conditions of the six senior MDCT provincial officials but the party members described their conditions as critical. More details on the accident were still sketchy at the time of writing.

A man from Umguza who indiscriminately assaulted his ailing four-year-old stepson to death for visiting his uncle at night, has been sentenced to eight years in jail.

Khumbulani Sibanda (30) of Plot 3 Helensvale brutally assaulted Brighton Sibanda using a switch. The boy died five days later as a result of the injuries sustained during the beating.

Sibanda, who was initially facing a murder charge, was convicted of a lesser charge of culpable homicide by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Francis Bere.

Sibanda will serve an effective six years in jail after two years of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar offence.

In passing sentence, Justice Bere condemned Sibanda’s conduct, saying it was deplorable. The judge said Sibanda as the deceased’s step father had a responsibility of protecting the boy.

“The deceased having been a stepson to the accused person must have had legitimate expectations to be protected by his step father who, however, sadly turned out to be his killer. Adopted children just like biological ones, deserve equal protection from their parents who must exhibit the greatest form of love and protection,” said Justice Bere.

He said the force used by Sibanda in assaulting his step son was excessive.

“We consider it highly aggravatory that the accused used excessive force in assaulting the deceased when he was fully aware that the boy was not well. To assault a sick four-year-old in the manner that accused person did is grossly inhuman and such conduct is reprehensible. Accused person was merely being cruel to the deceased and he must be adequately punished,” ruled Justice Bere.

The judge said it is imperative that the citizens of this country acquaint themselves with the current provisions of the constitution whose aim is to strengthen the protection of children.

Prosecuting, Miss Nokuthaba Ngwenya said on October 23, 2015 in the evening, Brighton went to his uncle’s home where he lied to him that he was left home alone and was therefore afraid.

The court heard that at around 8PM, Sibanda followed his stepson carrying a switch. On arrival he inquired about the whereabouts of Brighton and he was shown the room where the boy was sleeping.

“The accused person went into the room where the deceased was sleeping and started assaulting him several times all over the body,” said Miss Ngwenya.

She said after assaulting his stepson, Sibanda took the boy home. On the following morning, Brighton told his stepfather that he was not feeling well.

The boy was taken to Mpilo Central Hospital three days later and he was admitted. Brighton succumbed to the injuries sustained as a result of the attack on October 28. – State Media

A couple from Bulawayo was arrested last Wednesday for possession of mbanje with a street value of about $87 000.

Police raided Partmore Bonde (47) and Nomvulelo Ncube of Nkulumane suburb at their home following a tip-off.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the successful raid.

“I can confirm the arrest of a man and a woman who were found in possession of over 140 kilogrammes of the illegal drug ‘dagga’ at their home.

“The two were raided following a tip-off and about 140 kg of dagga were recovered in one of the rooms at the house,” she said.

Insp Simango applauded members of the public for the tip-off saying such contributions by communities made police work easier while keeping communities safer.

“We are grateful to the community’s efforts of giving us information and we want to thank them. If we continue working together in such a manner, we will live in crime-free societies. We urge you to continue giving us information on any suspicious behaviour so that we bring law breakers to book,” she said.

A neighbour who preferred anonymity said residents knew Bonde and his wife had started a dagga selling business and decided to sell them out to police before things went out of hand in their neighbourhood.

“We gave police a tip-off so that they could arrest them because use of these illegal substances contributes to the increased crimes that we are reading about everyday in the papers. Such people need to be put behind bars because they are bad characters in our community. Police detectives conducted a search in their house and six 50 kilogramme bags were found stashed in one of their rented rooms,” said the neighbour.

A police source said at first Bonde denied owning the bags of dagga saying he had just been asked to keep the bags by a friend and had no idea what they contained.

“Later, he admitted he was the owner. He said it was his first attempt to sell the drug. He said he was making little from vending, so he decided to venture into drug pushing to make more,” said the source. – State Media

President Robert Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao has hailed the appointment of Justice Luke Malaba from public interviews conducted to fill the vacant post of Chief Justice, reflecting his uncle’s reduced authority under a constitution adopted three years ago.

Under the old Constitution repealed in 2013, Mugabe had singular authority to pick the head of the judiciary, but the new charter prescribes that candidates must be interviewed by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), a panel of mostly senior judges and lawyers.
Mugabe then chose from three names submitted by the JSC.

Malaba, Constitutional Court (Con-Court) judge Paddington Garwe, JSC secretary Rita Makarau and Judge President George Chiweshe were nominated by the JSC to conduct the public interviews.

The Chief Justice-designate scored 92 percent in the interviews, while Makarau garnered 90 percent and Justice Garwe came out third with 52 percent.

Malaba, 65, who has been acting chief justice since March 1, was appointed substantive CJ by Mugabe with effect from March 27, according to the JSC.

A University of Zimbabwe law student had attempted to scuttle the interviews after petitioning the High Court to halt the interviews, arguing the process was not transparent since the candidates were colleagues of, and known to, the interviewing panel.

The High Court initially ruled in favour of the student, Romeo Zibani, who also wanted Mugabe alone to appoint the chief justice. Vice President Emmerson Mnagagwa then filed an executive note revealing plans to amend the constitution to give Mugabe that sole responsibility.

The JSC, which employs all judges and magistrates, appealed the decision at the Supreme Court, automatically setting aside the High Court ruling.

The interviews then proceeded, culminating in the appointment of Malaba.
Zhuwao, speaking in his personal capacity and as a law student, said it was illogical that his counterparts in Cabinet wanted to subvert the will of the people as enshrined in the Constitution.

Parliament has initiated the amendments to the new Constitution, with public hearings on the proposed changes underway.

“As somebody who was involved in the making of the Constitution and as a law student, I believe the JSC did the correct thing to do as had been confirmed by the Supreme Court.
“I am excited that His Excellency has appointed Malaba as the chief justice. I am not in a position of expressing his competency, but he is a product of a constitutional process and he deserves the job,” Zhuwao said.

Revealing stark differences that emanated in Cabinet, Zhuwao, who is also the minister of Indigenisation, said when they registered their opposition to the changes, they were told to wait for Parliament.

“In Cabinet, there were those who were against Amendment (No 1) and we were told to go to Parliament and oppose it.

“Right now there is a public outreach programme and I am observing what people are saying, and no one has been able to convince me that the Constitution in its present state is inadequate.

“For starters, we have to acknowledge that the office of the President is the highest in the land and it is determined by people, so what is wrong with the JSC route to submit names to the president?

“If we allow the president to rule through the will of the people; why not the Chief Justice?” Zhuwao asked sarcastically. Mnangagwa had argued that there was an anomaly when juniors in the JSC interview their seniors.

“Whatever people may say, it is the president who has appointed the chief justice. I am failing to understand the logic of people who were opposed to this process.

“The president had the final say and the JSC only acted as far as recommending, so the concerns raised by those who are seeking to amend the Constitution are illogical,” Zhuwao said. – Daily News

A Mutare woman was arrested after sending insulting messages to her ex-husband, Rasheed Chinhema (40), labelling him a wizard for divorcing her and marrying another.

Zanu PF youth leader Godfrey Tsenengamu has rubbished the Zanu PF demonstration against National Commissar Savior Kasukuwere set for Mashonaland Central tomorrow.

State media reports that Zanu PF Mashonland Central Province is pressing for the ouster of Kasukuwere, accusing him of trying to sabotage recent Women’s League demonstrations. in a hard hitting statement circulating on social media Tsenengamu declares that he will not be unleashed as someone’s ‘dog of war’.  See his statement below;

Godfrey Tsenengamu | Cdes l am not in.

Am not going to take part in tomorrow’s demonstration in Bindura. Say whatever you wish against me but l stand firm on this position.  I remain true to the cause but am not a willing tool for abuse anymore.

I don’t support Kasukuwere and his cabal but no one should feel like they own me to a point of unleashing me as a dog of war against their foes. Whosoever gave those excessive powers to Kasukuwere to cause pandemonium in the party, still has the same authority to withdraw them and doesn’t need anyone to demonstrate to take back their power which they had rented to Kasukuwere.

The same way they booted out Cdes Mutsvangwa and Togarepi from the Politburo without a demonstration, they can do so to Kasukuwere without involving us. I don’t hate or despise anyone but am tired of this divide and rule tactic where divisions are perpetuated for the benefit of individuals against the collective interests of the party.

When War veterans wanted to protest against Kasukuwere, water cannons and tear gas were used on them. Espinah Nhari died after highlighting the same problem to the leadership.
Youth leaders were haunted out for challenging this cabal.

Main wing leaders and chairpersons in the provinces were booted out challenging G40.

When Kasukuwere would just fire elected chairpersons through a phone call it was okay with them. When he assumed the role of the Women’s League PC sidelining Chinomona, it was proper for them.

They want me to believe that all along they saw a woman in Kasukuwere and suddenly it has turned to be the opposite. For the first time we heard at the airport a new slogan ichiti “Pamberi naPC wedu vaKasukuwere” ko nhasi zvadii?

Can someone now tell me what has changed?
Convince me why we must do this today?
Whose game are we playing here?
Whose cause are we pursuing?
Who are we serving?

The game here is clear. Someone is not sincere but trying to play hide and seek games. After realising that the events of the past week were backfiring, someone somewhere wants to pass the blame to us for the fights that erupted in the G40 at their instigation.

In the past three days they have been everywhere as they were busy building bridges and mending relations that had gone sour in the past week and now they want us to appear to be vindictive so that they continue manipulating the G40 as they will be fearing an ascendancy to power of someone they have been made to hurt and thus the G40 will be scared and continue to fight in the corner of their master against us.

No

Not anymore

Akatora chikwambo chake kana zvapesana ngaasada kutishandisa, ndiye anoziva kwaakachitora nezvaakachitorera ngaanodzosera ega.
Hatidi kuzorana chifuta pamuromo kuti tiite sekunge tadyawo nyama yacho tese.

Vanoenda endai henyu but l am here telling you that this will backfire. Mvura inotevera payakambofamba napo.

INI KWETE NDARAMBA ZVEKUSHANDISANA NEKUITISANA.

Godfrey Tsenengamu

A SUSPECTED thief from Bulawayo who got stuck for two days in a chimney while on a mission to steal yesterday made a U-turn and denied the offence.

On Thursday he had confessed to unlawful entry and theft.

Andrea Zunga (33) of Makokoba suburb appeared before magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya, who remanded him in custody to April 10 for commencement of trial.

“I didn`t steal anything. I was trapped inside the chimney while l was trying to enter the building,” he said.

Zunga was part of a gang of three that hatched a plan to enter Thabiso Youth Centre in the same suburb through the building’s two chimneys on Monday night.

The court heard that Zunga’s partners Bernard Khona and Phillip Zobe, are still at large.

He is now widely known as Zungu or Mgijimi, a zombie from popular South African soapie, Isibaya.

The names have stuck after pictures of Zunga looking like the powdered zombie soon after being rescued from the chimney, were posted on The Chronicle website on Wednesday.

Prosecuting, Ms Leane Nkomo said on March 29 at around 9AM, Thabiso Youth Centre official Ms Sibonginkosi Masuku heard a hoarse voice from the chimney and suspected that there was someone who was trapped inside.

“Ms Masuku then informed police and the Fire Brigade. The accused person was rescued from the chimney by the fire brigade team through destroying the chimney,” said Ms Nkomo.

“The accused person confessed to the police that he had come to steal from the youth centre with his friends who managed to get out using another chimney. He said he used the wrong chimney and he got stuck for two days.”

The prosecutor said Khona and Zobe managed to get away with a Lenovo laptop, two computer speakers, two monitors, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a leather jacket.-state media

Actor, Joe Mafela’s TV lounge tombstone is trending on social media.

This is after his family forked out “hundreds of thousands” of rands to ensure the actor’s “flashy” tombstone embodied the life he lived.

The tombstone which was unveiled during Mafela’s burial on Wednesday is a replica of a living room complete with a plasma TV, TV stand and couch.

Bataung Memorial Tombstone’s CEO Lebohang Khitsane said it took just three days to create the massive tombstone, which was unveiled at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg.

“The family approached us to come up with a stone that adequately represented the actor’s life and we decided on the design. We wanted to reflect how Joe entered many of our living rooms and kept us entertained since we were children, from the times of Sgudi Snaysi and Going up to recently.

“The tombstone was to symbolise that he kept us entertained in our lounges and now we have given him his own to rest in,” Khitsane said.

He said Mafela’s family was extremely happy with the design adding that it had taken his team three days to work on the tombstone.

The tombstone is a complete marble living room with a plasma TV, a coffee table, a TV stand and a couch. It is also unique in that the gravestone has a QR code which visitors can scan to view clips, photos and music videos of the late entertainer.

Khitsane refused to comment on the amount that the family paid for the stone, but said that it ran into “hundreds of thousands of rand”.

The family also refused to speak on the cost of the stone and said that they preferred to focus on Joe’s legacy.

“It wasn’t about the money, it was about giving Joe a fitting farewell and paying proper tribute to him. He was such an important part of people’s lives and we really loved the idea of having him immortalised like this.

“Joe loved nothing more than to come home at the end of the day and just sit on the couch and watch TV,” Mafela family spokesperson Millicent “Milly” Mulelu said.

TshisaLIVE reached out to several tombstone companies and were told that there were several factors that would have gone into creating the one-of-a-kind stone.

“The location of the stone is in a prestigious part of the cemetery and can only be installed by certain companies. You also have to look at how quickly they had to make the stone and the materials involved,” a spokesperson for Tombstone Factory in Johannesburg said.

Three independent companies agreed that the cost of the stone would be well over R100 000 but less than R300 000. – Newsday

The Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T has filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking to compel the State Procurement Board (SPB) to conduct site validation tests and publicly disclose its chosen supplier for the provision of the biometric voter registration (BVR) kits.

The opposition party said the SPB must complete the necessary contractual formalities on or before April 17 this year.

The party’s application followed the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) announcement that government had dumped the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the procurement of the BVR kits and instead handed over the control to the SPB.

MDC-T argued the move by the country’s electoral body was in violation of section 235 of the Constitution. “Any such surrender of control by the first respondent (Zec) in preparing for elections is unconstitutional, as the first respondent must stay independent and take orders and directions from nobody else and nobody (save a court to stop Zec breaking the law) may interfere with Zec’s functioning,” MDC-T national secretary for elections in the dialogue with Zec, Murisi Zwizwai said in his founding affidavit.

“Moreover, it will also be illegal because it contravenes the Procurement Act in many ways … as Zec is now a constitutional body, and not a statutory body. It is not a procuring entity as defined in the Procurement Act.”

Zwizwai further said instead, Zec must carry out its constitutional duties to register voters and compile voters’ rolls without delay, adding it was “now departing suddenly from its own time-line required to do so”.

“Zec presently has no current valid voters’ rolls for all Zimbabweans, yet general elections may be called lawfully at any time on under 90 days’ notice … so Zec legally has to start to register voters and compile rolls urgently,” he said.

“We hope after perusing this application, respondents (Zec and its chairperson Justice Rita Makarau) will acknowledge that pledge was correct and Zec’s procurement of BVR kits via the electronically-based UNDP process must be allowed to continue as pledged then, with no more interference or delay,”

In the application, MDC-T together with one Takudzwa Mavure, a prospective voter, cited Zec, its chairperson Justice Makarau and the SPB as respondents.

“This is an application seeking to compel third respondent (SPB) to conduct site validation tests and publicly disclose its chosen supplier for the provision of BVR kits and consummate the necessary contractual formalities on or before April 17, 2017,” the party said.

“Further, applicants seek to be furnished with electronic copies of specific documents used in the tender process. This application concerns Zec’s procurement, via electronic tender, of BVR kits specialist equipment urgently needed for voter registration.”

According to the MDC-T, a procedure using a UNDP system and funds was agreed in advance with government and stakeholders together with itself whereby electronic documents supplied to possible bidders included the terms, conditions and selection criteria to be applied to all tenders.

The party said 12 electronic tenders were received, but seven were not technically compliant, leaving five to be evaluated by experts.

MDC-T said Zec shortlisted three of the five candidates for a full week of site validation tests (field tests) and of those three, the lowest successful bidder should have been the supplier in line with the tender rules.

However, MDC-T further said when Zec’s shortlist of three was expected to be made known, Justice Makarau said government had taken over funding of the procurement process.

“This application is made as, on the eve of the day Zec was due to announce the supplier, State media quoted second respondent (Justice Makarau) as instead announcing that Zec had abandoned procuring the kits in liaison with UNDP and had handed over control of its site validation tests, selection for the BVR kits and control over when each of these will be done, to third respondent,” the party said.

“Both Zec and government initially accepted this in entering a tripartite agreement with UNDP to procure BVR kits through the UNDP process and Zec’s legal status has not changed. Hence, SPB will be acting ultra vires the Procurement Act if it takes over any part of the Zec’s procurement process.”
The party said on Friday last week, as it was finalising the urgent chamber application, Justice Makarau sent a letter saying government would not take over procuring the BVR kits, but confirmed it was now providing the funds.

The party further said the disclosure by Zec that “those who were involved from the beginning will be considered” takes the whole BVR tendering process and voter registration back 10 weeks to January 17 and not forward as was urgently required.

“Clearly, all stakeholders will suffer irreparable harm if such a reversal is allowed and SPB now controls field testing and procurement procedures and can select the BVR supplier, even from among the tenders already expertly evaluated and eliminated in accordance with the tender procedures they all accepted,” the party said. The matter is yet to be heard. -Newsday

A Top Bulawayo lawyer and suspected serial fraudster, Russel Dzete and four cohorts spent a night in prison for allegedly defrauding three people of $38 600 and R60 000.

Dzete who was employed at Marondedze, Mukuku and partners legal practitioners and his partners Binary Mkandla (46), Edmund Makonese (53), Simangaliso Muringi (49) and Austin Moyo (60) of Cowdray Park allegedly deceived three people through selling them non-existent stands.

A court heard that Dzete, Muringi, Makonese and their co-accused Qhawe Ndlovu who is still at large duped Ms Pamela Ngwenya of Pumula North suburb of $24 100.
Dzete, Moyo and Mkandla also allegedly conned a teacher Ms Sithokozile Gumbo of $5 000 and R60 000 through selling her a stand which did not belong to them.

Mr Obias Bidi of Burnside suburb allegedly suffered a prejudice of $9 500 after Dzete allegedly sold him a stand which did not belong to him in Emganwini suburb. Mr Bidi constructed a house up to roof level before he discovered that he had been deceived.
Dzete, Muringi, Makonese, Mkandla and Moyo appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya.

Dzete pleaded not guilty to three counts of fraud and his co-accused who were each facing one count, also pleaded not guilty. Mr Tashaya granted them $300 bail each.

“Accused persons should continue residing at their known places of residence. “You are ordered to hand over your travelling documents to the clerk of courts and you are also to report twice per week at your nearest police station,” he said.

Mr Tashaya remanded them out of custody to April 10. Prosecuting Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said the five duped three people of $38 600 and R60 000 between September 2015 and May 2016.

In September 2015, Makonese acted as an estate agent and misinformed Ms Ngwenya that they were selling a stand in Matsheumhlophe suburb.
Mr Dlodlo said Makonese, Dzete and Muringi ordered Ms Ngwenya to deposit the money into the law firm trust account.
“On September 22, the complainant deposited $23 000 into Marondedze and Partners Trust account. On the following day he paid $800 to Dzete as commission and a further $300 was paid towards drafting the power of attorney,” he said.
The court heard that the accused person withdrew the money and converted it to their personal use.
“Dzete further tried to use his office to fraudulently change ownership of the property using forged documents by obtaining a High Court order  compelling the charge of ownership in favour of the complainant.
“The offence came to light when the High Court discovered that the particulars of the owner of the residential stand were forged.”
In December 2015, Dzete, Mkandla and Moyo claimed to be the owners of Mr Felix Moyo’s stand which is in Selbourne Park and advertised it in a local newspaper purporting it was for sale.

Mr Dlodlo said the stand was initially $15 000 but Ms Gumbo negotiated with the trio until they reduced the price to $13 000.

“On December 23, 2015, the complainant proceeded to Dzete`s office and met the trio and an agreement of sale was drafted after the complainant deposited $4 000 into Marondedze Mukuku and Partners’ CBZ trust account.

“On the following day, Dzete ordered the law firm clerk to withdraw the money that was deposited by the complainant,” said Mr Dlodlo.

“On December 31, 2015 the complainant proceeded with R60 000 to Dzete’s office. Dzete took the money and gave the complainant a receipt as proof of payment.” On June 1, 2016, Dzete met Ms Gumbo in the city centre and encouraged her to make an effort and finish paying for her stand.

The prosecutor said Ms Gumbo paid $1 000 and the trio converted the money to their personal use.

Mr Dlodlo said the matter came to light in December 2016, when Ms Gumbo got suspicious after reading in a local newspaper that the trio had duped other people by selling them the stand which did not belong to them.

The court heard that investigations were carried out and the complainant suffered a prejudice of $5 000 and R60 000. Nothing was recovered. – state media

Terrence Mawawa, Mwenezi | A local man is battling for his life at Neshuro District Hospital after his wife bombed him with a bout of hot water over an alleged extra marital affair. Police in Mwenezi told ZimEye.com Isaac Dziva was hospitalised last week after her angry wife scalded her with hot water.

The police said Dziva’s wife became suspicious when he did not return home claiming he could not cross the flooded river near the couple’s homestead.

Dziva owns a carpentry shop at Neshuro Growth Point. “Dziva told his wife he could not cross the flooded river near the couple’s homestead such that he had to sleep at Neshuro Growth Point,” police in Mwenezi said.

When Dziva returned home he went straight to the bathroom where his wife pursued him and poured hot water on him, local villagers said.

“When Dziva came home after spending the whole night away, his wife became angry and scalded him with boiling water,” said a local villager.

When contacted for comment, Dziva who could hardly talk because of the severity of his injuries, said he was not in a position to relate what happened. Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) has expressed concern at the high incidence of domestic violence cases.

“We are deeply worried about the frequency of domestic violence cases across the country. We therefore call for patience and tolerance. There is need for dialogue rather than violence,” said COTRAD in a statement.

Terrence Mawawa Masvingo |Zanu PF National Secretary for Administration, Ignatius Chombo has threatened Masvingo State Minister, Shuvai Ben Mahofa over the African Union( AU) cattle donation pledged by President Robert Mugabe two years ago.

Chombo wrote to Mahofa instructing her to comply with Mugabe’s directive after the latter openly defied her boss last year. Mugabe pledged 300 cattle to the AU. The letter comes against the backdrop of Mahofa’s claims that the province does not have the capacity to provide the required number of at least 50 cattle per province. Last year Mahofa openly told Mugabe Masvingo Province was hard hit by drought such that there was nothing to expect from the famine ravaged region.

An irate Chombo wrote a letter to Mahofa indicating it was mandatory for the province to provide the stipulated number of cattle.

Mahofa performed a sudden U-turn and said her team was on the ground working on the issue.

“We received a letter on the AU cattle donation issue and we are busy working on the matter. We are not forcing anyone to make a contribution,”said Mahofa.

The controversial Minister said there was nothing sinister about the letter.
According to party sources Mahofa is afraid of being sacked following several warnings on her reckless utterances.

” Mahofa is now under immense pressure and she has to act on the matter. There are growing calls for her dismissal and she is fully aware of what is happening,” said a senior Zanu PF official.

National People’s Party leader Dr. Joice Mujuru has apologised profusely for the public fighting that occurred between her two spokespersons Jelousy Mawarire and Gift Nyandoro on Thursday.

Speaking on the ZimEye LIVE-BLAST program last night, Mrs Mujuru said she is sorry. “I am yet to meet with the rest of the team…as you know our NPP is not a violent party, and what we are promoting in the party is peace…yes there could be contradicting statements according to the report… but on the whole let me just say to the world and to the members in particular…. that I apologise profusely for what happened yesterday because we are not a violent party. Our party promotes peace… FULL VIDEO:

A SUSPECTED thief from Bulawayo who got stuck for two days in a chimney while on a mission to steal yesterday made a U-turn and denied the offence.

On Thursday he had confessed to unlawful entry and theft. Andrea Zunga (33) of Makokoba suburb appeared before magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya, who remanded him in custody to April 10 for commencement of trial.

“I didn`t steal anything. I was trapped inside the chimney while l was trying to enter the building,” he said.

Zunga was part of a gang of three that hatched a plan to enter Thabiso Youth Centre in the same suburb through the building’s two chimneys on Monday night. The court heard that Zunga’s partners Bernard Khona and Phillip Zobe, are still at large.

He is now widely known as Zungu or Mgijimi, a zombie from popular South African soapie, Isibaya.

The names have stuck after pictures of Zunga looking like the powdered zombie soon after being rescued from the chimney, were posted on The Chronicle website on Wednesday.
Prosecuting, Ms Leane Nkomo said on March 29 at around 9AM, Thabiso Youth Centre official Ms Sibonginkosi Masuku heard a hoarse voice from the chimney and suspected that there was someone who was trapped inside.

“Ms Masuku then informed police and the Fire Brigade. The accused person was rescued from the chimney by the fire brigade team through destroying the chimney,” said Ms Nkomo.
“The accused person confessed to the police that he had come to steal from the youth centre with his friends who managed to get out using another chimney. He said he used the wrong chimney and he got stuck for two days.”

The prosecutor said Khona and Zobe managed to get away with a Lenovo laptop, two computer speakers, two monitors, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a leather jacket. – state media

By Staff Reporter | National People’s Party leader Joice Mujuru has poured cold water over reports that she is against MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai leading the opposition grand coalition. She tells Simba Chikanza on ZIMEye LIVE BLAST that people should give her and Tsvangirai a chance.

“My colleague Tsvangirai and myself are planning for a meeting. Can you give us a chance until Tsvangirai and I hold a press conference and we tell you what we have concluded,” said Mujuru.

Justice Luke Malaba is set to “rule Zimbabwe” for three years.

Sources reveal that Malaba who was this week announced to Zimbabwe’s most powerful post as the new Chief Justice, will preside until his constitutional retirement age of 70 in January 2020.

Malaba who is currently 67 years old, was born on 3 January 1951. Mnangagwa supporters however say their records say Malaba is 68 instead of the former.

Legal experts in the ZimEye newsroom reveal that the Chief Justice job is crucial for the Presidency because the CJ effectively rules Zimbabwe as they can with a simple dot of the ink, stop President Robert Mugabe.  This is the reason why the post has for decades been a thorn in the side for President Robert Mugabe.

Below is the short history of Zimbabwe’s Chief Justices since 1980.

2017 to current – Luke Malaba, who is known for opposing the verdict granting Robert Mugabe powers to hold the 2013 “NIKUV” elections, was appointed CJ yesterday 28th March 2017. He is set to hold the post till 2019.

2001 to 2017 – Godfrey Chidyausiku (A former minister in Mugabe’s cabinet, and a chief Mugabe propagandist who later on attempted staying on beyond the legal age of 70. He was blocked from his attempts and forced to retire this year.)

1990 to 2001 – Anthony Gubbay (a Jewish Zimbabwean, who was fired by Mugabe as punishement for ruling Mugabe’s violent land reform program unlawful)

1984 to 1990 – Enoch Dumbutshena, a Shona, Zimbabwe’s first black judge in 1980, and served as Chief Justice from 1984 to 1990. He later attempted politics but failed as ZimEye reveals. Presidential aspirant Noah Manyika tells ZimEye he came out of the system to challenged Robert Mugabe.

1980 to 1984 – John Fieldsend, a British lawyer, the first Chief Justice of Zimbabwe. He was appointed for a fixed term and assumed office on 1 July 1980. Born in England, Sir John (as he later became) was brought up in Southern Rhodesia. After graduating in law he practised as an advocate in Bulawayo. In 1962 he was appointed a judge of the High Court, but resigned in 1968 in protest against the decision of the Appellate Court to grant judicial recognition to the government of former premier, Ian Smith. – ZimEye

Staff Reporter | An anonymous political analyst has penned an article equating President Robert Mugabe to an inebriated lunatic driving a bus with Zimbabweans as passengers.

The article which has attracted a huge circulation on social media platforms goes as follows:

“Have you ever heard of a story of a man suffering from a mental illness whose name was Mamvura in areas such as Sadza in Chikomba?nHe was well known in Njanja and Hwedza.

He used to spend time at Sadza Township and stood by watching buses that came there: some heading to Buhera, some Hwedza, and some to Masasa and Nharira or the other way round when all buses would be going to Salisbury.

Some drivers had a system of leaving buses idling as they went to eat sadza and maguru or mazondo and passengers ran to the toilets and replenishing their stocks of beer and so on.

Women with babies had a chance of changing nappies while others just dropped to have fresh cool air. You know the baking heat in Zimbabwe and what happens if you travel by bus.

Anyway back to Mamvura.

He had always told people braaing meat and drinking clear cold Castle, Black Label or Lion or masese (Chibuku) that one day he was going to drive one of the buses. People laughed as they dismissed him; a mad man driving a bus? His madness was getting worse, so they said.

One day Mamvura got on one of the buses left idling and drove away towards Buhera. People were shocked. The driver and his conductor and other passengers chased the bus on foot. Some passengers clutching several quarts of beer in both hands ran side by side with the bus, but were swallowed in the dust and gave up as Mamvura felt encouraged and increased speed. They gave up the chase.

Those on the bus cried. They tried to jump off the moving bus but Mamvura was smiling and increasing the speed. He enjoyed the noise from the wailing passengers.

As the bus approached a bridge ahead, some passengers began praying so that their souls can be received well in heaven. And the unexpected happened. Mamvura crossed bridge but could not change the gears from the depression forcing the engine to go silent and the bus stopped.

Some passengers broke windows and jumped out fearing Mamvura could start the engine. Many got injured. There was Mamvura laughing softly with a triumphant spirit that like he always promised, he had driven the bus.

Zimbabwe is the bus. Mugabe is Mamvura. We are the passengers. We failed to guard our country from being driven by a mad man long back. We left Zimbabwe idling and Mamvura jumped onto the driver’s seat. Some of us are chasing the bus from outside and those inside are crying daily.

Food for thought.”