The fate of Zanu-PF Women’s League national executive members Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo and Sarah Mahoka could be sealed today when the wing’s top 10 meet in Harare. Last week saw Women’s League members from the grassroots staging demonstrations against the pair in all the country’s 10 provinces over a litany of allegations, principally that of undermining the chairperson of the wing and First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe.

The women presented petitions to provincial chairpersons for onward submission to the organ’s national executive. The provincial chairpersons and members of the Youth League joined Bulawayo women last Friday and endorsed calls for the pair’s ouster.

FIVE people, two of them police officers, believed to be Highlanders’ Football Club supporters, died while five others were critically injured in an accident along the Bulawayo-Gwanda Road on Saturday night.

The accident occurred at around 8PM at the 20km peg, just before the meandering escarpment popularly referred to as “Danger” when the driver of a Toyota Gaia they were travelling in lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a tree.

The nine passengers and driver were coming from Barbourfields Stadium where Highlanders had taken on Caps United in the final of the ZNA Commander Charities’ Shield.

Bosso lost the match 2-3 after a penalty shootout following a 0-0 stalemate in regulation time.

The injured victims are admitted to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident.

It is more than a month since about 800 Tsholotsho villagers were evacuated to a temporary camp at Sipepa Hospital following the heavy rains that pounded the country, leaving most people homeless as a result of flooding.

The Government which declared the tropical storm-induced floods a state of disaster following the death of 246 people and the displacement of 1 985, has since appealed to local and international donors to assist in mobilising about $200 million to address the effects of the floods.

The swift response by the Air Force of Zimbabwe in evacuating the villagers saved lives in Tsholotsho but the Government remains with a mammoth task of mobilising more than $3,5 million required to relocate 298 families.

The relocation of the families to higher ground is the only permanent solution as these families have over the years been affected by floods each time the country receives above normal rainfall.

Tsholotsho North MP Professor Jonathan Moyo recently said the flood victims might stay at the camp for six months as the Government needs time to mobilise resources to build new homes, a clinic and a school for them in Saudweni and Tshino villages.

While they wait for this intervention, the flood victims, most of them women and children need functioning health care services, sanitation facilities, safe drinking water and food.

There are fears of outbreak of diseases as well as increased defaulter rate for those living with HIV and Aids, re-infection and new infections, unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

The National Aids Council (NAC) has partnered with its stakeholders in Tsholotsho to closely monitor the flood victims and make sure HIV and Aids is mainstreamed in the displaced community.

According to the Zimbabwe Population Based Impact Assessment (Zimphia) 2015-2016, Matabeleland North province has the second highest prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 64 with 20,1 percent after Matabeleland South province which has 22,3 percent.

Tsholotsho District HIV prevalence stands at 17 percent, well above the national prevalence of 14,6 percent.

These statistics show that the burden of HIV in the province remains high and calls for concerted efforts in tackling this pandemic that might worsen as a result of the floods.

NAC organised an advocacy meeting for heads of departments in Bulawayo recently, where Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Cain Mathema said this was the time when communities, particularly women and adolescent girls become vulnerable to sexual abuse and this would happen without protection.

He said HIV and Aids prevention among the flood victims in Tsholotsho should be treated as an emergency by all partners involved in community development.

“We need to prioritise HIV mainstreaming in displaced communities and Tsholotsho should not be forgotten. I call upon all stakeholders to mobilise adequate resources and services for Tsholotsho flood victims.

“The flood victims should come out of the camp richer, not only with knowledge of skills to prevent HIV but with life skills that will make them better members of the community. Let’s go out there in a co-ordinated fashion to mainstream HIV and Aids to the victims of flooding in Tsholotsho and let’s not leave anyone behind. We need to employ all the prevention strategies available,” said Minister Mathema.

He said it is not only the loss of homes and their belongings that affects displaced communities but the social safety nets and the health services provision that get disrupted.

“Many a times when we talk about disaster situations we forget to talk about HIV and Aids. This is a time and period when women and girls have no access to protection like condoms, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). I’m happy that NAC has taken the initiative to remind us about the risks that the flood victims face at the camp.

“When I see a number of those young adolescent girls at the camp that are not going to school, I’m immediately reminded of such risks including unwanted pregnancies, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases,” said Minister Mathema.

Matabeleland North provincial administrator Ms Latiso Dlamini emphasised the need for health practitioners to educate patients on the type of medication that they are taking.

A flashy South Africa-based Zimbabwean sangoma has been spared jail after a magistrate fined him $50 for wearing camouflage.

Bekezela Mlotshwa of Bulawayo’s Njube suburb was convicted on his own plea to unlawful possession or wearing comouflage by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube.

Mlotshwa who was represented by former magistrate Mr Abednico Ndebele of Mathonsi-Ncube Law Chambers, came to court wearing an eye-catching purple suit, pink shirt and white shoes.

Passing sentence, Magistrate Ncube said: “The court will consider that the accused person is a first offender who pleaded guilty and as such did not waste the court’s time.”

He said the court also took into account that wearing camouflage was not a serious offence.

“The accused is therefore fined $50 which should be paid before April 28 or alternatively 30 days in prison,” he said.

In Mlotshwa’s defence, Mr Ndebele said his client should have been stopped from importing camouflage material at the border.

A police officer last Thursday drove into a shop in Bulawayo’s Central Business District.

The officer whose name could not be obtained, overshot the kerb and smashed the hardware shop’s display window along Hebert Chitepo and 14th Avenue.

Q: You have stirred controversy by reportedly demanding a hike in MP salaries from about $2 000 to $10 000 at a legislators workshop in Harare, walk us through your presentation?

A: Maybe it is controversy that has stirred me. I hail from the people’s party where nothing less than excellence is accepted as a norm and habit.  I have no ‘pioneer column’ mindset of demanding benefits for service. Its utter distortion of the context and content of the legislators’ workshop held at HICC, Rainbow Towers Hotel, to insinuate that I am or was a ringleader in a non-existent demand. Admitted, I have very strong opponents because I am a strong proponent for what I stand for. Fortunately, I don’t stand for the alleged hike in salaries for politicians. The usual legion of attackers and haters always clutch on imaginations and concoctions to besmirch my otherwise pure and uncontaminated standing.

Q: Give us the facts then.

A: Facts are sacrosanct. Whereas lies are fast in speed, the truth is slow and permanent. Here is the truth; I sit in the Standing Rules and Orders Committee (SROC) as chairperson to the Legal and Procedural Affairs Committee. SROC is responsible for running affairs in and of Parliament. In my capacity as the chairperson, I was requested to present a report to the 350 members of Parliament on the laws pertaining to the running of Parliament that ought to be aligned to the Constitution. In that regard, I had to present on the legislative work so far done on the following four areas; standing rules and orders of Parliament, the Code of Conduct and declaration of assets by MPs, the privileges Immunities and Powers of Parliament Amendment Bill, the Parliamentary Salaries and Benefits Amendment Bill, together with the Pensions Amendment Bill. In my presentation, I highlighted the imperator of legislators publicly declaring all their assets in the public parliamentary register in line with section 198 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. I also made mention of the changes to the Salaries Act in line with section 153 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. For the record, at no time did I push for increase in salary. I also did not even address what MPs are currently getting as it was not part of my remit and brief. The committee’s task is to prescribe but not to describe the salary of MPs in terms of Section 153 of the Constitution.

Q: The fact that you are discussing the Parliamentary Salaries and Benefits Amendment Bill, what does it mean? Some critics allege you are being greedy by demanding a salary of $10 000/month when the economy is in such a state. What’s your comment?

Q: With the propensity of MPs to bunk Parliament, do you believe there is justification for such a reward being mooted under the Parliamentary Salaries and Benefits Amendment Bill?

A: Again the question doesn’t arise because it is based on erroneous facts and falsehoods. I have nothing to justify here. But you are aware that I have always complained even publicly about the absenteeism of ministers and other MPs in Parliament. Nobody should be rewarded for volunteering to serve.

Q: And I believe you were discussing assets declaration for MPs. What have you agreed?

A: Now you are talking. Parliamentarians must be at the centre of accountability being role models in honesty and exemplary leadership. As Parliament, we must lead in aligning the laws and rules governing Parliament to the Constitution.  We must also lead by example in exuding integrity and probity in our affairs, public or private. Motivated by such spirit, assets shall be declared with immediate effect as we await the enabling Act as envisaged and purposed in the national Constitution. Nothing in public life is entirely private. So, once a citizen steps forward and chooses to represent others, they would have consented to total and public scrutiny.

Q: After declaring assets, lifestyle audits would be conducted after how long?

A: A lifestyle audit is in actual fact a leadership audit. This is essential. Leaders are dealers in hope and such must transact in the currency of hope. In terms of the Code, audits would be regular, including having members of the public with the right to access any information as registered and kept at Parliament at any time during business hours.

Q: What will be the penalties for ill-gotten wealth in office?

A: The truth is that our legislative framework ought to be augmented to specifically deal with MPs misdeclaring and under declaring wealth. My personal view and conviction is that it is a vile and unacceptable circumstance for anyone to use a public office to enrich or elicit unfair advantage. The law should then stretch beyond mere criminal sanction for miscreant MPs to show that public service is not for self service in pursuit of personal enrichment or aggrandizement. The real problem is the existence of professional politicians, career ministers. We must deal with careerism and careerists. One should be an MP or minister to serve and not consider it a job from where he should derive livelihood. All should be gainfully engaged elsewhere and only come to politics to serve and nothing but to serve. All said and done, I am just way off the person that strangers to my world seek to portray me as being. I have been subjected to the crucible of public scrutiny and I am happy with that. – Daily News

Ethiopian airlines has launched its flight from Addis Ababa to Victoria Falls to improve accessibility of the resort town.

The aircraft touched down at Victoria Falls international airport at 1235hrs Sunday afternoon.

The aircraft was welcomed with a traditional water canon as well as cultural dances by traditional dance groups.

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Joram Gumbo is leading the delegation that is attending the ceremony and is joined by Ethiopian Airlines management, players in the tourism sector as well as the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ).

MISA-Zimbabwe notes with very grave concern the recent attack and threats against the state owned newspaper, The Herald by Zanu PF Political Commissar and Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Savior Kasukuwere.

The threats, which were made on 24 March 2017 on the sidelines of, an Agriculture field day held in Mount Darwin, pose serious s risk to the safety and security of journalists.

In a video clip that has gone viral on social media, Minister Kasukuwere is seen charging at and using abusive language towards a reporter from The Herald as he accuses the newspaper of pursuing a factional agenda. He goes further in the same foul language to attack the editor of the publication.

While the media is not immune to criticism, MISA –Zimbabwe would like to categorically put it on record that the language which Minister Kasukuwere is unbefitting of a public official. Furthermore, his abusive statements, particularly against the journalists working for The Herald exceeds the acceptable measure of fair criticism and can be interpreted as bordering on threats to the media even when they are discharging their lawful duties.

While there are grounds to question the ethical and professional conduct of The Herald of late, this does not give politicians the right to threaten the media. Zimbabwe has professional avenues that can be taken to register displeasure on the conduct of the media as a means of upholding, promoting and enforcing good practice and ethics in the Zimbabwean media.

MISA-Zimbabwe urges politicians and other public officials to exercise emotional restraint when they are addressing or interacting with the public mindful of the fact that journalists have the constitutional right to cover events as they unfold without hindrance.

Journalists , like any other citizen, have constitutional rights to personal security. Public officials, on the other hand, are mandated with ensuring that protection as the front liners in upholding the provisions and values of the constitution, the rule of law and fundamental human rights and freedoms. Within this context, Sections 61 and 62, which provide for freedom of expression, media freedom and the rights to access to information also apply. The media should be protected in its quest to ensure a well-informed citizenry.

This however, does not give the media absolute freedom to publish untruths. Journalists should rigorously subject information gathered to the ethical fact checks and balances of the profession. The media should also take necessary steps to retract any untruths within a fair and reasonable time where they err.

MISA-Zimbabwe therefore urges the Political Commissar or any other person for that matter who feels aggrieved by the media, to approach the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe for redress, without resorting to inciting violence and hatred against the media.

Terrence Mawawa Masvingo | Two rival factions in the crisis torn ruling Zanu PF party are engaged in another bloody turf war in the Mwenezi bi-election.

Following the nullification of the provincial election results last month-in which the G-40 had been soundly beaten, there has been heightened tension between the two camps.

Last Saturday the two camps held separate strategic planning meetings ahead of the Mwenezi East by-election scheduled for April 8.

Team Lacoste members converged at Masvingo Polytechnic where Masvingo State Minister, Shuvai Ben Mahofa, Gutu Central Constituency MP, Lovemore Matuke, Psychomotor Minister, Josaya Dunira Hungwe, Provincial Secretary for Administration, Ailes Baloyi and Mwenezi East Constituency candidate, Joosbi Omar were in attendance.

During the meeting Mahofa tore into the G-40 faction accusing the so called young turks of sabotaging the Mwenezi East campaign programme.

“Don’t take party members for granted.We know that there are some ambitious party members who think they know everything. If you want to leave the party please go peacefully, otherwise we will expel you,” fumed Mahofa.

Across town the G-40 meeting was chaired by Amasa Nhenjana. Provincial Commissar, Jeppy Jaboon, Provincial Youth Chairperson, Nobert Ndaarombe and Women’s League member, Veronica Makonese also attended the meeting held at Flamboyant Hotel.

The G-40 members took turns to savage Mahofa and Hungwe.

Bulawayo – A man who was in a Bulawayo supermarket that was raided by armed robbers this week threw a bottle of mayonnaise at one of them, it’s being reported.

The state-run Chronicle newspaper said the unnamed man, who was employed as a merchandiser, was at the back of Blesspark Supermarket in Mahatshula North suburb when the gang burst in on Wednesday around 7.30 pm.

The six masked men ordered customers to lie on the floor and told terrified till operators to empty the tills, the paper said.

Store supervisor Kanzara Mudeka was hiding behind a counter but the robbers located him and made him open the safe. The report said it was then that the merchandiser emerged from the back of the store and threw a bottle of mayonnaise at the attackers.

It hit one of them on the shoulder.The gang shot at the man but missed.

“They shot and narrowly missed him but they didn’t say a word. They just took the money and fled, leaving everyone lying on the ground,” Kanzara was quoted as saying. The gang got away with $1 200.

This is the second report of an armed gang raiding a Bulawayo store in less than a week.

A similar attack happened at the Cooland Supermarket in Nkulumane suburb on Saturday evening. In that incident, an employee was shot in the leg by one of a three-man masked gang. The gang got away with more than $1 100 US.

Zimbabwe is currently in the grip of serious cash shortages that the introduction of bond notes in November last year has done little to solve.

“What you should do is to remove some of the police from the roadblocks so that they patrol our neighbourhoods,” commented a Chronicle reader. – News24

Shyleen Mtandwa | The National People’s Party led by Joyce Mujuru yesterday held its inaugural elections for substantive office holders throughout the ten provinces in the country.

The much talked about tense elections saw a near return of the designed top six leadership of the party as was leaked to the media two months before. Preliminary results indicate that all of the six leaders except one who were circulated in the media ahead of elections were returned.  Mujuru earned the President position unopposed and is set to be deputised by the pair of John Mvundura and Samuel Sipepa Nkomo in the two Vice President set up system.

Sipepa Nkomo has amassed a huge lead over bitter rival Cuthbert Ncube with one of the nine provinces that voted yet to publish its results. Mvundura is having a slight edge over fellow Manicaland member Retired Brigadier General Elliot Kasu.

Gift Nyandoro is also comfortably set to be the Secretary General ahead of Petronella Musarurwa and Hamadziripi Dube in a tightly contested race. Veteran Dzikamai Mavhaire has landed the National Chairman position after being endorsed by six out of the nine provinces that voted.

The Treasurer General of the new party is set to be Engineer Wilbert Mubaiwa who has managed to land six provinces ahead of Matabeleland rivals Bukhosi Ntutu and Moffat Ndou. Mubaiwa is the only one of the top six leaders who was initially tabled as one of the top six leaders. He snatched the seat which was in the plan set up for Esnath Bulayani from Bulawayo.
Bulawayo province could not proceed with its elections as violence erupted before start of elections when members argued over the voters roll. Presiding Officer Jealous Mawarire called off the elections after members beat each other up and blocked the start of the voting session.

The Metropolitan Province was strongly divided into two factions one behind Sipepa Nkomo and another behind Cuthbert Dube in the run up to the elections.

The party elections directorate would not immediately say what was to happen regards the failed voting in the province.

TRANSPARENCY International Zimbabwe (TIZ) has threatened to take legal action against a freelance journalist who recently raised corruption allegations against the organisation in his online publication and creating a storm on social media.

The journalist published stories on his website alleging corruption at TIZ claiming to have been employed as a communication consultant before his contract was terminated.

“The TIZ board notes with concerns the publication of malicious articles ostensibly aimed at ‘exposing the rot’ of corruption at the institution,” TIZ said in a statement.

“The articles authored by Mr Byron Mutingwende make unsubstantiated allegations of corruption, cronyism, nepotism and other accusations only meant to deliberately damage the reputation of TIZ, its board, management and staff as well as its working partners.”

The corruption watchdog described as defamatory and outright lies allegations put forward by the journalist.

TIZ also denied allegations that it funded social movements, #Tajamuka and #ThisFlag, saying its scope of work did not mandate the organisation to subgrant or fund other organisations.

However, Mutingwende said TIZ’s intentions to sue him were baseless.

“I gave them time to respond and pursued all journalistic methods before publishing because I waited from February 28 to March 7,” said Mutingwende.

“Jane Ncube [TIZ executive director] said she was on leave and needed time, but the thing is they had their own timeline to respond, which was different from mine.”

Econet Security Guard Girlfriend Found Dead

A ZRP cop is seen, gloved all over, while pulling away the female lover’s body from the house.

Staff Reporter| Local villagers were left in a state of shock on Tuesday morning when an Econet Security guard and his girlfriend were found dead near Gutu Mission.

The two bodies were found in an advanced state of decomposition near an Econet Booster adjacent to the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) and their Gutu Mission.

The bodies were found on the floor, in a room which probably served as their bedroom.

Masvingo Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident saying he was waiting for further details on the matter.

Police in Gutu were alerted by local villagers and they collected the bodies which were found infested with maggots on Wednesday.

The police said the names would be released after the completion of the investigations on the cause of the mysterious deaths.

“A small boy detected a bad smell from the room and alerted other villagers,” Police in Gutu said.

There is wide speculation on the mysterious incident with some villagers claiming the two were bitten by a snake while other sources say the guard killed his girlfriend and committed suicide.

The villagers also suggested that the two could have been killed by the woman’s husband. ZimEye will avail the details as events unravel.

Top Emmerson Mnangagwa aide, the dreaded Nathaniel Mhiripiri was gunned down, an investigation has concluded.

The leaked details have been “blocked from the ink” in the state media.

Nathaniel Garikayi Mhiripiri was found with a bullet lodged in his head.

The post mortem found was done during the week by a pathologist at Harare Hospital.

Mhiripiri (67) was the Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial secretary for labour and production.

He was found dead at his Abeid Farm, 12km on the outskirts of Rusape, the week before on Tuesday after going missing for three days.

Officer Commanding Police in Rusape District, Chief Superintendent Garikayi Gwangwava, confirmed the post-mortem.

“It is true that the post-mortem was done at Harare Hospital on Tuesday and we have not yet received a full report from the pathologist without which we cannot comment further because we are not specialists,” he said.

Many in ZANU PF say Mhiripiri is a victim of Zanu PF succession wars and he was murdered due to his closeness to Emmerson Mnangagwa since he was openly against the rise of Grace Mugabe taking any leadership post in Zanu PF.

The man’s decomposing body was found adjacent to a stream, a few metres from a dust road leading to his farm house.

Writing on ZimEye, Dr Masimba Mavaza complained on why Mhiripiri was murdered. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

As the Zanu PF succession war intensifies President Robert Mugabe will mobilise Zanu PF party youths from the 10 provinces. Mugabe’s wife Grace launched her own parallel process weeks ago where she is meeting the women’s wing structures of the party.

The state media reports that Mugabe will this year host youth meetings in all the country’s 10 provinces, interacting freely with young people and addressing their concerns.

The meetings were proposed by the Zanu-PF Youth League and subsequently endorsed when the Politburo met in March 2017.

Youth League leaders will this week start laying the groundwork in Mashonaland East, Manicaland and Masvingo, the organ’s secretary, Kudzanayi Chipanga, told The Sunday Mail.

Chipanga said the meetings were a follow-up to the 2016 One Million Man Match which saw hundreds of thousands of youths reaffirm their loyalty to Zanu-PF and President Mugabe in a major show of the party’s mass mobilisation might.

Chipanga said, “We are going to have Presidential Youth Meetings whereby His Excellency, President Mugabe, will tour all provinces and meet youths. I apprised the last Politburo meeting on the matter, and there were no objections. These meetings are the brainchild of the Zanu-PF Youth League National Executive.

“In reaffirming the 2014 Congress resolutions, which say there should be one centre of power in the party, the President, we are compelled, as the Youth League, to have direct access to the President. The Youth League has facilitated direct interaction between the President and the youth.

“This is because we want the President to get first-hand information regarding youth affairs and also for the Youth League to get first-hand information from him. All this will ensure we know what to do and President Mugabe will also know our concerns and grievances.”

Chipanga continued: “We also took note of the fact that not every young person who wanted to participate in the One Million Man March made it to Harare, hence, we had to dispatch teams to the respective provinces to give them feedback.

“So, this year, we are not going to call our youths to Harare, but, instead, call on the President and First Secretary of the party to address them in their respective provinces. The programme will be phased; starting with the national youth political commissar, Innocent Hamandishe, visiting the provinces to sensitise our youth leaders on the visits.

“This will be followed by inter-district meetings which I will address. Then we will invite the President for the main programme. Our plan is to conduct this programme mid-year. We held the One Million Man March on May 25, so this programme should be around the same time.” – State Media

Imagine that you are going about your business at the Fife Avenue Shopping Centre and a skimpily dressed lady who you have never met before walks up to you and starts demanding payment for sexual services “rendered”.

With the natural reaction being confusion on your part, the lady who obviously appears to be a hooker, threatens to make a scene if you don’t give her a dollar.

In most cases you are forced to pay up to avoid the embarrassment, otherwise, good luck trying to prove your innocence and going toe-to-toe in an augment with a cold-hearted lady of the night.

Such is the harassment that unsuspecting men are now being subjected to in the notorious Avenues area where there has been a tremendous rise in prostitution activities since the Constitutional Court outlawed the arrest of women on charges of loitering or soliciting for sex.

While the issue of commercial sex workers who extort money from their clients has become a trend, these women seem to be stepping up their game as they are now targeting innocent men who happen to pass through their radar.

A targeted individual is approached with random accusations and is told to pay up a certain amount or endure the dramatic chaos that is bound to follow. In some instances these ladies hunt in packs so that if the victim tries to react, they gang up on him and cause even more drama.

As a journalist, I have encountered several individuals who have fallen victim to these pocket predators but I did not for a second think one day I would be a victim.

I was on my way home coming from the gym last Monday when I decided to pass through OK Fife Avenue to grab a couple of things. Had I been a prophet, I would have headed straight home. Little did I know that I would encounter one of the most embarrassing episodes of my life on this day.

As I was pushing my trolley heading for the tills, three girls who looked to be barely 18 approached and one of them greeted me as if we had met before.

While I was still trying to figure out what these girls wanted, the one who had greeted me started accusing me of running away without paying for the sexual services she had rendered to me in my car near Parirenyatwa some time ago. Mind you, I don’t even drive.

I was shocked because I had never seen any of these girls before and when I tried to explain that she was mistaking me for someone else, she blocked my path and highlighted that she was about to raise her voice and cause a scene if I continued denying any knowledge of what she was saying.

As I was still trying to come to grips with what was happening, the girl then demanded that I give her a dollar if I did not want to suffer any embarrassment.

At first I thought that it was a mere joke but then I realised that these people were serious and since I did not want to draw any attention I complied and told them that I would give them the dollar but only after I had paid for my groceries because I didn’t have loose (excuse the pun) money.

They agreed and all this while I was thinking that I could take the matter to the security guard but it dawned on me that if these characters were to cause a scene, the guard would just tell us to take it outside and I would even suffer more embarrassment so I decided to just pay, it was a dollar anyway.

One of the girls even asked if she could add a bottle of water on my tab and when I tried to ignore her, the one who was making accusations and seemed to be the gang leader insisted that I comply.

I was now regaining a bit of composure and my frustration was reaching boiling point and despite the fact that I could have easily overpowered the three of them in a physical confrontation, taking that route would have simply made things worse.

I even tried to call one of my cousins who stays nearby hoping that he would come and help me deal with the situation but apparently his phone was not reachable. At this point, one of the girls panicked but the group leader highlighted that even if I called someone she did not care, all she wanted was the dollar I was about to give her.

Although I tried to make as little conversation as possible this girl continued reiterating that she was not mistaken and that it was me she had hooked up with and this caused some of the people who were nearby to start staring.

While we were standing in the queue by the till, a journalist from a local newspaper who I happen to know walked in and I went to talk to him. As I narrated my ordeal, he advised me to show him my tormentors but when I turned around they had vanished.

Apparently they had recognised him as it turned out they realised that they might just end up in the newspaper which is why they decided to bolt.

If it was not for him I would have given them the money they were demanding not because I know them but in order to avoid causing a scene and to protect my reputation.

The following day, I paid the manager of the shop to inform him about my debacle and after reviewing CCTV footage from the previous day he told me that they would now be on the lookout for suspicious activity of that nature and would engage the police if such a situation arose.

During conversations with some of the people who do their business in this area including cab drivers and vendors, it emerged that this was the new con in town and it now seems like no-one is safe from these desperate commercial sex workers.

A cab driver (name withheld) plying his trade at Fife Avenue Shopping Centre said they were witnessing these scenes every now and then.

“This particular area has become a hunting ground for commercial sex workers who extort money from innocent citizens,” he said.

“A hooker will just walk up to you and say you owe her money from a previous encounter or whatever accusation she chooses and when you try to explain that you don’t know what she is talking about she will raise her voice and then tell you to give her a dollar or two if you don’t want further embarrassment.

“It is difficult for people to intervene because you can’t tell if the accusations are true or not so most of the time people will just watch on as the drama unfolds but usually people pay up because a dollar is not worth the embarrassment.”

Others claimed that some of the women walk around with male colleagues who are quick to jump into the confusing altercations pretending to make peace while they search and steal from the victim.

With competition rife in this prostitution haven, commercial sex workers are coming up with new and atrocious ways of making a quick buck. – State Media

THE widow of Apostle Charles Chiriseri, Pastor Petunia is in shock following successive deaths of three men accused of looting goods and cash at the accident scene.

A close relative speaking on condition of anonymity said Pastor Petunia has since dismissed claims that Apostle Chiriseri’s spirit was exacting vengeance on the accused.

“She believes God came to give life and life in abundance as in John 10 and not to bring death. So she does not even believe in praying for people to die, prophesying or even declaring that they should die. To her it is just evil, horrible.

“As a family grounded in that word people are in shock but what God says is what He will do. He is the one who said vengeance is mine,” the source said.

According to the relative, US$200, three brand new cell phones and a laptop were stolen at the scene of the accident.

In addition the source said the phone allegedly stolen by the late bus conductor had been traced after it had been given to a relative as an inheritance at the deceased’s funeral wake.

“I heard that a police officer told Pr Petunia that they traced the phone to a given address but the address had been non-existent. But the second time it is said the phone had been traced to the wife of the older brother of the deceased who had received it as inheritance during the funeral wake.

“When she was being asked who was to be contacted she said there were three cellphones in the car. But the people at the scene kept saying they had searched everywhere and found nothing after going back twice. That is when she realised that the phones had been stolen those first 30 minutes when the Kurai Bus passed by,” the source revealed.

The source highlighted that in family conversations, Pst Petunia had revealed that she was on WhatsApp when the accident happened and when assistance was rendered about 30 minutes after the accident she was conscious of what was happening.

He died on admission at United Bulawayo Hospitals on the same day. Another suspect, a Kurai Bus Service Conductor, Forget Chikweya who allegedly stole a Samsung S6 died on November 9 while Honest Hleza, a fire-fighter with Bulawayo Fire Brigade who allegedly stole a laptop died in December last year.

This is the same spot where Mkhokheli Mpofu, a police officer who was set to appear in court on March 28 for allegedly stealing $200 from Apostle Chiriseri’s corpse was recently hit by a car while manning a roadblock a fortnight ago.

“They stole a brand new Samsung which Pst Petunia was still paying for on contract, a new iPhone which Apostle had bought for himself from America and another old iPhone which was giving him problems and a brand new laptop,” the relative said.

“They stole a brand new Samsung which Pst Petunia was still paying for on contract, a new iPhone which Apostle had bought for himself from America and another old iPhone which was giving him problems and a brand new laptop,” the relative said.

“He in turn had given it to his wife who the moment she placed her sim card was tracked and confessed to the police how she got it. That’s when the police found out that the deceased was a bus conductor with Kurai Bus Service.

“God being God just wants to clean up this nation because obviously these things have been happening for a long time. And I believe it takes a true man of God to bring exposure to the truth. But as a family no one is wishing death on anyone. We actually pray for the families of those who died,” the source said.

HPMI spokesperson, Pastor Davison Svuure said Apostle Chiriseri had nothing to do with the deaths of the accused.

“We believe vengeance is God’s as scriptures say in Deuteronomy 32:35 that, ‘Beloved never avenge yourselves but leave the way open for God’s wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay (requite) says the Lord’.

“It is God alone who decides what He wants to do with issues. He is God by Himself. Whether the suspects were guilty of theft or not, only God knows. From a biblical point of view we believe that at death, the spirit and the body separate.

The body goes to the soil where it came from and the spirit of those that died in righteousness goes to a special place where our Lord God preserves them until the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

We believe our Apostle is in that place. It is important to note that according to Ecclesiastes 9:5-10 particularly verse 6.

“This speaks to the fact that the late Apostle Charles Chiriseri could by no means have had anything to do with what befell the now also late police officers,” Pst Svuure said.

However Pst Svuure said the Word of God had become flesh accomplishing what it was sent to fulfil.

“Here we see our faithful God’s promise that He will contend with those who contend with His loved ones (Isaiah 55:10-11; 49:25). He also says touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm”.

“In Zachariah 2:8, God further says, ‘He that touches you, touches the apple of my eye’. That said we need to make it clear that as a church we do not share in rejoicing that the alleged offenders have died. We go by Proverbs 24:17-18. We instead pray for their families and loved ones.

“We also say, those that are guilty are free to repent and make things right with God. He is merciful and forgiving. – State Media

A nurse at Fishock Home Nursing Services located in Cape Town South Africa was nabbed at the Harare International Airport while attempting to smuggle 12 kilograms of a drug believed to be used to neutralise cocaine. Leontiana Sims was arrested and taken to the Harare magistrates’ court after she was found with 12kgs of Ephedrine worth US$36 000.

Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment; Patrick Zhuwao says Green Bombers are here to stay.

“Everyone should be reminded that the National Youth Service is provided for in Section 20 of the constitution meaning it is going nowhere.

“We are actually putting resources to have all six NYS training centres reopened. The revamping of the service will not stop. In 2014, we churned out 109 graduates, in 2015 we had 320, in 2016; 320 graduated and this year, we are looking forward to have 1 260 graduates,” Zhuwao said.

He challenged Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) director and prominent rights activist, Jestina Mukoko – who is intensely opposed to the programme – to visit his offices for clarifications.

“I know it was something said by the ZPP so I want to understand what their concerns are and I want to explain to them what the national youth service is about. This also goes to anyone else who wants to understand the acceptability of any particular programme.

“Concerned people should also visit NYS camps and see what happens there because zvekutaura kwausina kuswera hazvibatsire and for me to engage someone I don’t know ndanzwa nemapepa kuti kitsiyatota ati chakati hazvibatsiri. Kitsiyatota ngaauye titaurirane,” Zhuwawo added.

The National Youth Service was launched in 2000 by the late Zanu PF national commissar; Border Gezi with the first camp established at Mt Darwin. tellzim

Some small opposition parties, including former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s National People’s Party (NPP), are not yet ready to endorse MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai as the leader of the country’s mooted opposition alliance ahead of next year’s much-anticipated national elections.

This comes as Tsvangirai has in recent weeks received ringing endorsements from a large cross-section of the opposition to lead the proposed coalition against President Robert Mugabe and his warring ruling Zanu PF.

The NPP said this week that it had “deferred” the question of who should lead the planned coalition to party supporters, in a move which analysts say is “another miscalculation” by the fledgling new kid on the political block.

“The sentiment that progressive forces should form a grand coalition is not in dispute, but the practical way of coming up with it has to be done by the party membership at the national convention.

“You are aware that we do not have a substantive leadership and what we are doing now is seeking to come up with that because time is running out.

“We must first have a team that can negotiate,” Mujuru’s spokesperson, Gift Nyandoro, told the Daily News on Thursday.

“As the NPP, we are going to our convention to choose legitimate leadership . . . This will also inform us on how we are going to approach the coalition.

“Thus, the question of who would lead the coalition is a matter that will be resolved by the party membership.

“But we definitely want a grand coalition to unseat Zanu PF but that should be done in a proper way,” Nyandoro added.

This also comes as Mujuru’s absence at the National Electoral Reform Agenda’s (Nera’s) rally in Harare on Wednesday — where opposition parties demonstrated against the government’s hijacking of the country’s quests to procure biometric voter registration (BVR) kits — raised eyebrows.

Strive Masiyiwa, the founder of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and its related companies in Africa (together forming one of the biggest telecoms group on the continent) has been named the 33rd greatest leader in the world in 2017 by Fortune Magazine.

Below is what Fortune Magazine says of Masiyiwa;

Few people have shaped modern Africa as much as Masiyiwa, whose telecommunications firm, Econet, came into being in 1998 after a long legal battle with the Zimbabwe government. His victory busted up a state monopoly and helped spur the development of private telecoms across the continent. Masiyiwa has since relocated to London, but his energetic and well-rounded philanthropy still makes an impact in Africa; he chairs numerous boards and has been lauded for supporting orphans, funding scholarships, and fighting hunger, poverty, and Ebola.

Shyleen Mtandwa | Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa has joined forces with the Christopher Mutsvangwa led war veterans faction.

Dabengwa sat at the top table with the leadership of the war veterans that has fallen out with President Robert Mugabe, as it regrouped and laid out an agenda to remove the veteran leader from power.

Dabengwa, leader of ZAPU a one time sworn enemy of the state, was once charged with treason in the early 80’s by the Mugabe regime.

“Comrades we are not here to be vituperative today. It is our day! We were not supposed to have this meeting, we have had it. The whole structures of government supported us to have our meeting. The institutional mechanisms we put in the country, a new arm, new intelligence system, a new police had no objections for us to have this meeting because its officers are part of us,” Mutsvangwa told the gathering of over 1000 war veterans.

A BULAWAYO couple, believed to be staunch supporters of the G40 faction in Zanu PF, has been fined $200 each after being convicted on charges of assaulting a fellow ruling party member belonging to the rival Team Lacoste camp, which is linked to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Ntombiyelanga Dube (34) and her husband Andifas Banda (38), of Magwegwe North, assaulted Zanu PF activist Obert Msindo (38) of Tshabalala at a Bulawayo hotel just before President Robert Mugabe’s 93rd birth day bash in Matopos last month.

The two were denying the charges of assault and theft of $200 when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Franklin Mkhwananzi.

The Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) is failing to clear a backlog of inmates at Mlondolozi Mental Health Prison in Bulawayo who are due for release because there is no tribunal board to discharge them.

According to the Mental Health Act, a special board and a tribunal board have to assess recommendations by the ZPCS to discharge patients from the special health institutions.

ZPCS psychiatrist, Dr Nemach Mawere said a number of patients at Chikurubi and Mlondolozi health prisons have been waiting to be discharged for several years.

He was speaking after the handover of the rehabilitated Mlondolozi special unit by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday.

Inmates emotionally dramatised through a play how the flawed system was frustrating them.

“We have quite a number of inmates who have been waiting for the tribunal to discharge them from prison. According to the Mental Health Act there are specific people who are supposed to sit on that board, which is entrusted with discharging patients.

“After thorough assessments, the ZPCS discharges deserving patients but this has to be approved by that special board. If the board has not approved the patients have to remain in prison. The tribunal has to include a psychiatric doctor, a magistrate and a senior official in the Ministry of Justice,” said Dr Mawere.

He said there was a challenge in bringing these officials together, resulting in patients waiting too long to be discharged.

“It has taken too long for the tribunal to sit because of attrition of staff. People were coming and going making it difficult to come up with a complete tribunal to set the inmates free.

“It has taken too long for the tribunal to sit because of attrition of staff. People were coming and going making it difficult to come up with a complete tribunal to set the inmates free.

He said the challenge has, however, been addressed with the tribunal expected to start sitting next month.

There is going to be a coup, the soldiers will take over. The only question is…

On the day President Robert Mugabe shuts his eyes, there is likely to be a coup, says Zimbabwe’s celebrated barrister and PDP president, Tendai Biti. (ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO)

War vets disowning that which they created

“Let’s not under-estimate what has happened today (on Thursday) with the war veterans,” said former Finance Minister Tendai Biti. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW…

Speaking during the weekly ZimEye LIVEBLAST session chaired by ZimEye’s Grace Kwinjeh, Biti continued while emphasising saying, “let’s not under estimate the war veterans are the people who liberated this country. So for all intents and purposes they have been the epi-centre, the heart of the creature known as ZANU PF. So what has happened slowly in the last two years culminating to today is the war veterans saying we are disowning that which we created. They created a rapture.

“I have got an uncle who is a war veteran called vaGandamuseve…he phoned me saying mwanangu, tapa Gupuro ZANU PF today. He was so excited. The reason why he was excited is because he understands the impact of what he has done. That is why I come back to my point that we are in a transition. ZANU is not the same. When in ZANU PF did you see ministers fighting each other?

“…If you read Jonathan Moyo’s Twitter, its a pure civil war. We heard what Sarah Mahoka used to say against Lacoste…what Mandi Chimene… so they are in an absolute war.  That’s why boycotting the election is not an option because ZANU is not the same thing, it has been rapturing and fragmenting since 2013. FULL VIDEO:

Terrence Mawawa, Mwenezi | A 26-year-old man hit his father-in-law with an axe handle following a domestic dispute with his wife.

Phineas Chimbudzi of Mapuranga Village under Chief Chitanga took an axe handle and struck his father-in-law who had visited the couple, hoping to resolve the domestic dispute in which Chimbudzi accused his wife of adultery.

The matter was heard before Magistrate Honest Musiiwa last week.

Representing the State, Prosecutor, Willard Chari told the court that on February 10,2017, Chimbudzi’s father-in-law, Solomon Kunguru visited the couple’s homestead, hoping to resolve the raging domestic dispute.

Chimbudzi accused Kunguru of meddling in his family issues. He took an axe handle and assaulted the latter all over his body.

Kunguru sustained a swollen arm and bruises.

Chimbudzi pleaded guilty and asked for clemency from the magistrate. He said he was willing to apologise to his father-in-law.

“The misunderstanding emanated from a text message. I then suspected my wife was having an adulterous affair. Kunguru armed himself with a machete and came to my house.

He struck me first and I retaliated. I assaulted him and told him he was defending his promiscuous daughter. He later returned and took away his daughter.

“However I must admit that I acted out of emotion. I want to apologise for what I did,” said Chimbudzi.

He was fined $ 80 or alternatively 30 days in prison.

Terrence Mawawa Masvingo | Senior National People’s Party (NPP) members have sensationally revealed how Kudakwashe Bhasikiti worked in cahoots with the Zanu PF regime to discredit former Vice President Joice Mujuru.
Speaking to Zimeye.com in exclusive interviews today the NPP officials said Bhasikiti was working with state security agents to denigrate Mujuru. Aspiring NPP provincial chairman Oliver Chirume said Bhasikiti and his ilk were Zanu PF agents.

“There is no speculation on the matter. Bhasikiti and his friends were given incentives by the regime to destroy Mujuru. That is why they pushed for the fielding of candidates in by-elections.They knew the party would be trounced in the by-elections so that they would portray a false image of dismal failure,” said Chirume.

NPP national executive member, Jeffryson Chitando said Bhasikiti received hefty perks from the ruling party to thwart the formation of the much touted grand coalition seen by many as key to an opposition victory in the 2018 polls.

“Bhasikiti’ s handlers were against the formation of the grand coalition.However the ploy was exposed in time. Bhasikiti has pulled out of the Mwenezi East by-election because his funders know the mission has been accomplished,” said Chitando.

Speaking on the NPP provincial elections scheduled for tomorrow Chitando said: “We will hold our provincial elections tomorrow and Chirume is likely to land the post of provincial chairman.Nyengeterai Dhliwayo is expected to take post of provincial chairlady while Trust Muganji is tipped to win the provincial youth chairmanship.Earnest Mudavanhu is likely to be elected provincial organising secretary while Rodrick Rutsvara and Noble Mugabe will battle it out for the post of treasurer.”

He said elections would be held to pave way for the formation of the grand coalition.

I ALWAYS wondered why this friend of mine had such good skin.

For a man, his skin is pretty flawless.

I never bothered to ask what he uses on his skin because well, it was really none of my business.

It wasn’t until recently that he passively mentioned his vanishing cream was out and he needed to visit a pharmacy to make a purchase.

I thought I hadn’t heard him right. Vanishing cream? Yes, he uses flipping vanishing cream!

It finally made sense. He controls his skin’s oiliness with vanishing cream, that’s why it is so flawless.

I got over my shock pretty quickly and thought, well, there’s really nothing wrong with a man who takes good care of his skin.

If he’s going to wear a hot blazer, a lavish watch and Tom Ford’s Black Orchid, why shouldn’t the nigger have good skin too?

Don’t use a towel at all on your face. It’s bizarre, I know but towels retain some bacteria after washes so you don’t want to take the bacteria on the rest of the body to your face.

It may seem unnecessary to mention but always wash your face first before the rest of the body, when the water is still clean and untainted by other products.

Unless of course if you’re using the shower. Find a good scrub that will help clean your skin further. It’ll take away the extra oils and unclog your pores.

Clogged pores cause pimples and black heads.

Good skin is an integral part of looking good because it has a bearing on your confidence and ultimately how you conduct yourself among people. To take care of your skin best, begin with adopting good hygiene practices.

He might as well get it all right! Few men really care about what they apply on their faces. They think it’s unmanly. But I honestly think there’s nothing wrong with a man who washes his face twice a day and uses shine control creams or sunscreen.

Until next week, flaunt your pattern and style and don’t forget to catch up with me on Twitter handle @Yolisswa, visit my blog,

Former State Procurement Board (SPB) chairperson Charles Tawonerera Kuwaza, accused of five counts of corruption involving over $1 million and ZW$2,5 billion, was yesterday freed on $2 000 bail.

Kuwaza is reportedly on a life support system at Metropolitan Clinic after he suddenly fell seriously ill soon after his arrest on Wednesday.

As part of bail conditions, Kuwaza was ordered to report on Monday and Friday at CID Commercial Crime Unit and to surrender title deeds to his Belvedere property.

His lawyer, Mr Shadreck Chisoko, however, told the court that he was having challenges in submitting the title deeds because it does not make reference to an address but only a stand number.

However, the court confirmed the title deeds. It is alleged that Kuwaza committed the offences while at the helm of SPB. Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa told the court that Kuwaza was employed by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) as SPB executive chairman from September 1, 2001 to November 27, 2015.

He said during his tenure of office, Kuwaza allegedly engaged in criminal activities to the prejudice of the State. The allegations stemmed from transactions unearthed by an OPC special audit.

According to the indictment, Kuwaza is facing one count of theft, two counts of fraud and two counts of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.

On count one, it is alleged that during his term of office, Kuwaza received on behalf of the SPB a donation of a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado registration number AAV 0184 from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

Instead of handing over the vehicle to SPB, Kuwaza allegedly converted it to his personal use, prejudicing the SPB of the vehicle, valued at $120 000.

On count two, Kuwaza, being a public officer, allegedly acted contrary to his duties by ordering SPB’s payroll officers not to deduct Pay As You Earn from his taxable benefits.

A PLUMTREE cop has been fined $100 after he failed to negotiate a turn and hit a police vehicle at a robot controlled intersection in the border town.

Farai Chimboora (31), a constable who is stationed at the Plumtree Police Station was convicted on his own plea of guilty to driving without due care and attention by Plumtree magistrate Mr Joshua Mawere.

He was fined $100 or sentenced to two months imprisonment in case of default.

A PROMINENT Bulilima businessman reportedly hanged himself from a tree in a bushy area following a family dispute.

Khaya Tsambani (58) who operates a general dealer shop and bottle store in Dombolefu Ward was found dead by a teenage herd boy on Wednesday afternoon.

Dombolefu Ward councillor, Mr Morgen Ndebele said Tsambani is reported to have had an altercation with his daughter-in-law a day before he took his own life.

Zanu-PF national secretary for the Commissariat Saviour Kasukuwere, yesterday thumbed his nose at Women’s League members who accused him of trying to sabotage nationwide protests against Eunice Sandi Moyo and Sarah Mahoka, saying he was no pushover.

In an angry diatribe against The Herald on the sidelines of a Command Agriculture Field Day at Chaminuka Training Centre in Mt Darwin, Kasukuwere vowed to take on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe and The Herald, whom he accused of having an agenda to split the party and Government.

“I am not scared. I am not a pushover. I am not Joice Mujuru. Do you even think I am Joice Mujuru? No, I am not! So I just want to make it very clear to you, Herald. No. Stop this nonsense!”

Kasukuwere who was flanked by his half-brother Dickson Mafios, claimed Herald journalists had become a State security concern.

“You want to foment problems in the party, foment problems in the country. Allow us to concentrate on development. Stop being silly and idiotic.

“You are really now a source of security concern in this country. You have a tendency of trying to find stories, you write stories without a source. You say Kasukuwere did not support what was happening . . . I put money,” he said.

Kasukuwere and the Harare provincial commissar Shadreck Mashayamombe, were openly accused by members of the Women’s League for attempting to sabotage Wednesday’s protests against  Eunice Sandi Moyo and Sarah Mahoka.

Members of the Women’s League held demonstrations across the country on Wednesday, demanding the ouster of Sandi Moyo and Mahoka.

The two are accused of undermining the authority of First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe, denigrating Presidential appointments, corruption and creating parallel structures in the Women’s League.

Kasukuwere and Mashayamombe allegedly spent the better part of Tuesday night making frantic efforts to block the protests.

The pair was reportedly working with other bigwigs in various provinces.

However, Kasukuwere yesterday challenged The Herald to disclose its sources, which is unheard of.

“You write my name, and where is your source? That source must come out in the open.

“We know of course that some of you are on an agenda, factional agenda, trying to cause regime change. Forget it.”

The party leadership, he said, would support programmes from the Women’s League.

“So what has been going on, we support. Women have given us their petitions. We will look at the petition and the appropriate disciplinary measures must be taken.”

Challenged on his declaration that journalists at The Herald were a security threat,  Kasukuwere claimed the paper was fronting a dangerous agenda: “You run away from reality, you want to create animosity in the party. You want to set an agenda . . .

“I am not into factions. I am not going to allow a situation where you undermine the sitting Head of State.”

He further accused journalists of hiding behind the newspaper by quoting unnamed sources.

“Some of them, who we know, some of them are criminals, who will give you those stories to try to further their agenda.

“We are not scared of them. So I am saying to The Herald, get your house in order. You are not saints. You are not people who can threaten us. You are trying to split the party for your own purposes. No. We respect the leadership of our country. All of them. President Mugabe, his vice presidents, all the way down the party.

“If somebody says Kasukuwere sabotaged this programmes and here is evidence and that person stands up, where is that person?”

He accused, without proffering evidence, Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly member Jimayi Muduvuri of being the source of the stories.

Asked who his rants were targeted at, Kasukuwere said: “Everybody is included. If you want me to include your minister, say it, I will also do it! If you want me to say Mushohwe, yes, all of you. I will take you on, all of you!

THE Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, who is under siege from  Zanu -PF women’s league members calling for her ouster from the party where she is the league deputy secretary, continued with her duties yesterday and attended the launch of the Njube-Lobengula Pastors Forum in the city.

The launch was held at UCCA church in Njube, where 68 members of the forum, their spouses and leaders from the respective churches converged.

Moyo called on churches to desist from fighting for leadership positions as it divides people and defeats the purpose of Christianity.

“Politics is everywhere even in our churches. At some point I was an executive member of the Zimbabwe Christian Council and I know what happens in churches. People are forgetting their role as Christians and fight for leadership positions.

A ZANU-PF Bulawayo Provincial Youth Deputy Commissar has been 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.

Tichaona Chikwava (33) from Makokoba suburb and his co-accused Blessed Mushandu who is on the run claimed Mr Mpofu had died.

They requested a donation from the party.

A court heard police dramatically swooped on Chikwava and Mushandu on Wednesday at the Zanu-PF offices while the duo was waiting to be given the money.

However, Mashandu disappeared along their way to Donnington Police Station.

Provincial magistrate Mr Felix Mkhwananzi convicted Chikwava on his own plea.

“Your worship, l did this because I desperately needed some money. I am appealing to the court to be lenient when sentencing me because l have a family to look after and l have only a television set as asset of value,” said Chikwava.

A 29-YEAR-OLD man from Chatsworth in Gutu has died after he was struck with an unknown object following a suspected beer brawl.

Tafadzwa Matekedza (29) of Mandiregerera Compound, Zoma Mine was found lying on the ground with a blood-stained shirt by a villager and was taken to Gutu Mission Hospital.

Matekedza, who had a deep cut on the back of his head and some bruises on his body, died the following day in hospital.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa said Matekedza died on Thursday.

Harare – Zimbabwe’s fragile opposition could be on the verge of forging a formidable grand coalition against President Robert Mugabe ahead of next year’s polls, as it emerges one of Morgan Tsvangira’s nemesis has buried the hatchet to stand up “dictatorship”.

Tendai Biti, the leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who broke away from Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) after the shambolic 2013 elections controversially won by Mugabe, exclusively told News24 on Thursday he was “putting Zimbabweans first”.

Biti said that pictures of him together with Tsvangirai being circulated on social media confirmed something “positive” was on the horizon for the fractured opposition.

Biti and Tsvangirai met for the first since 2014 on Wednesday at a joint opposition rally called to drum up support for wide-sweeping electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 polls tentatively set for July.

“Yes (something positive for the opposition is happening) I had not met comrade Tsvangirai since 10 April 2014,” said Biti.

“And when we met yesterday (Wednesday) there was some chemistry, it was like yesterday. There was a reconnection between us. We have to put the people of Zimbabwe first. We have to return to the status quo where we worked together and form a deadly combination.”

The PDP leader added that it was gratifying to see Zimbabwean opposition leaders and supporters speak with one voice at the rally demanding fair and free elections.

“We have formed a great team of Zimbabwean opposition and Morgan Tsvangirai and I are key components of this Dream Team,” said Biti.

Political analysts said Biti’s overtures to Tsvangirai indeed gave hope to Mugabe’s opponents, who were tired of the nonagenarian’s grip on power.

They said that the route taken by the PDP leader was “what the doctor has ordered”.

“It shows maturity and level-headedness. I think this is a commendable move and sends good signals to other opposition parties. There is strength in numbers. That is the only way to make meaningful contribution to challenging Zanu-PF’s political hegemony. Without unity, the opposition in Zimbabwe is doomed,” said Reward Mushayabasa.

Mugabe (93) has been at the helm of the country since independence from colonial Britain in 1980 but he does not show any signs of exiting the political front anytime soon despite visible old age and failing health.

He has accepted to be the Zanu-PF candidate next year, as he seeks a fifth term. News24

A BULAWAYO lawyer who sustained injuries when his car was involved in a head on collision with another vehicle which had encroached into his lane, is suing the owners of the offending car for more than $56 000 in damages and medical expenses.

The accident occurred on September 22 last year at the 35km peg along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo road.

Mr Tungamirai Nyengera through his lawyers, Shenje and Company, has filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing George McNamara, his son Martin and Nicoz Diamond Insurance Company as the defendants.

In papers before the court, Mr Nyengera said he suffered body injuries and lost his car and cellphone as a result of the accident.

He is demanding $56 600 being damages for disability, medical expenses incurred, loss of property, pain and suffering.

Former State Procurement Board (SPB) chairperson Charles Tawonerera Kuwaza has been arrested on five counts of corruption involving over $1 million and ZW$2,5 billion, which he committed while at the helm of the enterprise.

Kuwaza is now on a life support system at Metropolitan Clinic battling for his life after he suddenly fell seriously ill soon after his arrest on Wednesday.

The clinic ward where Kuwaza is admitted was yesterday briefly converted into a court room as Harare provincial magistrate Mr Elisha Singano held remand proceedings.

Mr Singano remanded Kuwaza at his hospital bed to today for bail hearing at the magistrates’ courts, which would be held in his absentia.

The defence lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu instructed by Mr Thabelani Nleya of Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans is representing Kuwaza.

Kuwaza was arrested on Wednesday and before he was booked for detention at Harare Central holding cells, his condition suddenly deteriorated and was rushed to Metropolitan Clinic.

Shyleen Mtandwa | Mass intimidation and violence are the order of the day in the Joyce Mujuru led National People’s Party.

There is a bloody run up to the inaugural internal party elections to chose the national executive council of the party tomorrow.

The elections will be held simultaneously in all the ten provinces of the party on Saturday to elect the top six members of the national executive council and another 110 members of the council, eleven from each province.

It is the election of the top six positions of the party that has attracted the most controversy dividing the party into two fierce factions which have seen some violent clashes take place.

The party is torn between two factions divided by allegiance to Interim commissar Dzikamai Mavhaire and current Matabeleland South Provincial Chairman Bekezela Fuzwayo Maduma.

Mavhaire leads a team of Elders Team with John Mvundura and Samuel Sipepa Nkomo as the two Vice President candidates while troubled Gift Nyandoro is standing for Secretary General and Bulawayo based Bukhosi Ntuta as Treasurer General.

The team alligned to Maduma has the younger pair of Cuthbert Ncube and Elliot Kasu for Vice Presidents and Petronella Musarurwa as Secretary General while Wilbert Mbaiwa is standing for Treasurer General.

Information reaching ZimEye.com from within the party indicates that as the campaigning intensifies, the under pressure Mavhaire faction has declared Harare and Masvingo Provinces as no go areas for the other faction. Threats of violence against party members who will welcome the young leader’s faction in the two provinces have been sent out to party members completely blocking the faction from campaigning in the two provinces.

In Bulawayo, reports of fierce rivalry over the two Vice President contestants in the region between Ncube and Sipepa Nkomo ended with chairlady Esnath Bulayani being assaulted by the youth members of the party.

In a statement, the party elections directorate warned party members against violence and intimidation or risk having their candidates disqualified.

BRIGHT Ndebele from Mzilikazi suburb in Bulawayo is said to be a bitter ex-lover and an “ex that can’t be solved”.

He is harassing his ex-girlfriend Mangara Dlamini, demanding that she returns to him despite the fact that she’s now married to another man.

Dlamini said her life had been hell from the time she broke things off from Ndebele as he was now in the habit of coming to her place to verbally and physically harass her and at the same time demanding sex.

The devastated Dlamini last week approached the court seeking a restraining order against Ndebele after he vowed that she was going to pay heavily for getting married to another man.

He declared that he was not going to rest until her husband divorced her and be single like him.

“Bright Ndebele is my former boyfriend and we separated sometime in 2012. Whenever he sees me, he follows me to wherever I would be going. He is also in the habit of coming to my place to verbally and physically harass me.

“Sometimes he forces me to sleep with him yet he knows that I am now married.  He sees I’m no longer into him and he is trying all sorts of things just to get to me. On 4 March he assaulted me and I sustained a swollen eye”.

She said she was now regretting introducing Ndebele into her life.

“He also phones my husband stating that he should divorce me so that I go back to him since he is not yet married.

My marriage is now on the brink of collapse because of his actions,” added Dlamini.

In response, Ndebele however, said it was payback time for Dlamini after she unceremoniously dumped him for another man’s arms.

“I am not opposed to what she said. The reason why I did this is because she is having an affair with another man despite the fact that she is married. Another issue is that she didn’t tell me that she was no longer interested in me and all along I thought we were still together,” said Ndebele.

Ndebele couldn’t however, get away with his defence, after presiding magistrate Sheunesu Matova ordered him not to verbally or physically harass Dlamini or go to her place. – State Media

Terrence Mawawa Buhera | A nurse at Murambinda Mission Hospital has been arrested for allegedly denigrating President Robert Mugabe.
Fentone Mangezi (36) is accused of undermining the authority of the President as defined in Section 33(2)(b) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.The case was heard before Murambinda Magistrate Dennis Mangosi last week.

Several people have been arrested for allegedly insulting the veteran leader who is accused by many of gross violation of human rights and shrewd policies. Mangezi allegedly uttered abusive and insulting words about Mugabe in public.

The court heard that Mangezi was at Chani Turn Off, along the Chivhu-Nyazura some time last month when he deliberately made remarks aimed at insulting Mugabe. He approached Ngonidzashe Mutsipa and Tarisai Nyanzira who were eating some sugarcane under a tree. He then allegedly insulted Mugabe.

“You have heard that the old man, Bob, is messing himself, he will be dead by April 18,”he allegedly said.

State security agents later trailed Mangezi and arrested him at Murambinda Mission Hospital.

Human rights groups and political analysts described the harassment of Mangezi by state security agents as a well calculated manoeuvre meant to close democratic space ahead of the 2018 polls.

” This is yet another attempt by the regime to intimate and harass innocent civilians, “said Mathias Rugwaro, a Buhera based human rights activist.

Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa has asked vapositori members to fervently pray for President Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa said Mugabe will rule Zimbabwe until he dies.

Speaking in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West Province, at Pamene Farm, owned by the leader of the Johanne Marange apostolic faith sect, Mnangagwa said the 93 year-old Zimbabwean leader’s rule will only end when God decides to take him.

He said some opposition parties will always talk about unseating the president while Mr. Mugabe is enjoying the seat of power.

This is not the first time the vice president has made such remarks as he was once quoted as saying the same thing in Chiredzi, Masvingo Province, during election campaigns.

Mnangagwa is allegedly leading a Zanu PF faction known as Team Lacoste, which wants him to succeed Mr. Mugabe. The other faction, Generation 40, is said to be led by First Lady Grace Mugabe. They have both denied leading any party factions. – VOA/Additional reporting.

The National Electoral Reforms Agenda (Nera) has approached Sadc, the African Union and the United Nations as part of efforts to force the government to reform the electoral system to level the playing field and ensure free and fair elections next year.

This follows the recent fallout between the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and political parties over the manner the country’s electoral management body was handling the proposed poll reform process.

Nera, a grouping of 13 political parties, wants Zec to facilitate voting by all Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, with the help of the regional and international community, in the 2018 general elections.

The Diaspora vote has become a thorny issue, with opposition political parties pushing for Zimbabweans living outside the country to be allowed to vote from their bases in line with the Constitution. But Zec insists that there was no legal framework allowing such voting to be conducted.

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe will rule Zimbabwe until he dies, Vice-President Emerson Mnangagwa has said.

Mnangagwa is touted as one of ailing 93-year-old Mugabe’s possible successors alongside First Lady Grace Mugabe, but the two have repeatedly denied harbouring any presidential ambitions, at least while the veteran Zanu PF leader is still alive.

Zanu PF is split between two distinct factions — G40 reportedly led by First Lady Grace and Team Lacoste which sympathises with Mnangagwa.

VETERANS of Zimbabwe’s war of liberation have declared war on President Robert Mugabe and made a clarion call for citizens to remove him from power in elections next year.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) secretary-general Victor Matemadanda told an indaba of the former fighters in Harare yesterday that Mugabe’s government had failed to deliver on the promises of the liberation struggle.

“As I am looking at you, I am thinking of 2018. We would want to discuss about the war veterans’ welfare, but in a country where $15 billion can be stolen and nobody is arrested we are just wasting our time,” Matemadanda said.

Secretary for Mines and Mining Development Professor Francis Gudyanga, who led the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) board since December 2013, never convened a meeting until a fortnight ago, but claimed $28 000 board sitting allowances, the court heard yesterday.

Prof Gudyanga was the only board member and never consulted the acting general-manager Richard Chingodza (41) and the corporation’s secretary Nomsa Moyo, whom he was supposed to hold meetings with, according to the Company Act.

This was exposed during cross-examination after Prof Gudyanga testified in a trial against Chingodza and the company’s acting deputy-general manager (finance and administration) Hannan Tongai Chitate (35).

Chingodza and Chitate are accused of swindling the company of $625 226, 88 after awarding themselves unapproved allowances. During cross-examination by Chingodza’s lawyer Mr Oliver Marwa, Prof Gudyanga was asked how many people sat in the board during his tenure.

He replied: “At the time I was chairperson, I was the only one in the board, no other person.” Prof Gudyanga was given the Company Act to confirm what the board should consist of. “According to the Act, the board should consist of the general manager, me, the corporation’s secretary and others,” he read.

Asked Mr Marwa: “Did you have any meetings with Chingodza after your appointment?” Prof Gudyanga said he never had meetings as a board since December 10, 2013 until two weeks ago when the board was dissolved.
Mr Marwa asked him if he was chairing a full board and the answer was negative. “Why were you paid sitting fees?” asked Mr Marwa.

Replied Prof Gudyanga: “It’s not just sitting, but decision making. No, it was not sitting fees, but boarding fees because we did not sit as a board. “The board is not all about sitting, but consultation and decision making. It took most of my time.”

Prof Gudyanga was shown a document reflecting that he received $875 monthly as board fees and $460 sitting fees for sitting 21 times, totalling $28 910. According to the document, tax deducted was $5 782 and Prof Gudyanga took home a total of $23 128.\

“For not sitting on the board you received this?” asked Mr Marwa, much to the amusement of the gallery. Prof Gudyanga said he knew some of the amounts. He refused to read out to the court the total amount he allegedly received.

The trial continues on April 25.

The prosecutor Mrs Molyn Mutamangira-Mavhondo alleged that contrary to their duties and without following the procedure, Chingodza and Chitate fraudulently awarded themselves allowances and loans amounting to $625 226,88 over a period extending June 2013 to April last year.

Chingodza, the court heard, benefited $390 985, which he awarded himself on various occasions as an acting allowance, medium-term loan, education loan, long- service award and back pay.

Two masked gun-totting men held employees and customers hostage at a supermarket in Mahatshula North suburb, Bulawayo, before seizing about $1 200 after opening fire and missing one person.

The incident happened  on Wednesday at about 7.30PM at Blesspack Supermarket. The suspects shot and narrowly missed a person who ambushed and threw a mayonnaise bottle, hitting one of them.

The suspects shot and narrowly missed a person who ambushed and threw a mayonnaise bottle, hitting one of them. Mr Mudeka said as the armed robbery unfolded, he hid behind a counter, but was later sold out. “The two were wearing masks, armed with a pistol and they entered the shop at about 7.30PM. They ordered everyone to lie on the ground. One of them pointed the gun at one of the till operators and demanded money,” he said.
Mr Mudeka said the till operator, a woman, rose to show him a till which had some money. He said the woman did not have a key to open it, so she was forced to punch figures as if she had sold an item.

“They looted every dollar that was in the till before demanding to see the supervisor. I was still hiding under my counter and the others pointed towards my direction. They came and demanded that I open the company’s safe, but I told them that we didn’t have any,” said Mr Mudeka.

He said the armed robbers threatened to shoot him and he showed them where they kept money. Mr Mudeka said the robbers got away with nearly $1 200.

He said a merchandiser who was at the back of the shop when the armed robbers entered, emerged unnoticed and threw a Mayonnaise bottle at one of them, hitting him on the shoulder.

“They shot and narrowly missed him but they didn’t say a word. They just took the money and fled, leaving everyone lying on the ground. Maybe the whole incident took about 10 minutes,” said Mr Mudeka.

He said the armed robbers escaped on foot, disappearing into a nearby bush. Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident. She urged shop owners to avoid keeping large sums of money in their premises.

The latest armed robbery follows another one which occurred last Saturday when three masked armed men raided Cooland Supermarket in Bulawayo’s Nkulumane 12 suburb.

Two men from Bulawayo have been arrested in Botswana for allegedly unlawfully possessing dagga which was in 90 bags.

Botswana Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner Witness Bosija, said the weight of the dagga was not immediately established, but it was in 90 bags of 5kg mealie-meal.