The Justice ministry yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) to translate the national Constitution into all 16 official languages.

The country’s new Constitution – which came into force in 2013 – is currently in English, and only provides abridged versions in only eight vernacular languages.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the New Government Complex, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi described the MoU as historic and a necessity.

“Government is obligated in terms of Section 7 of the Constitution to promote public awareness of the Constitution by, inter alia, translating it into all officially recognised languages and disseminating as widely as possible.

“It is in accordance with this constitutional directive that government has embarked on a number of programmes and projects to ensure that the majority of our citizens are aware of the provisions of our Constitution,” Ziyambi said.

The initial phase of translation is going to be carried out on four vernacular languages — Shona, Ndebele, Kalanga and Tonga — in an exercise that is expected to be completed in the next three to four months.

The process will involve top jurists and linguists and other independent parties.

ZCBC representative father Fraderick Chiromba said: “This work of translating the Constitution has also made us to have a better understanding of the Constitution itself.

“We thank the government for the opportunity to translate the Constitution. It also helps the people not to just have the understanding of the Constitution but to own it as well.- Daily News

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is expected home this week from South Africa, where he is receiving medical treatment, his spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka has revealed.

“He is fine,” Tamborinyoka said, adding: “He will definitely come back home this week.”

Tsvangirai last year disclosed that he has cancer of the colon and had been frequenting neighbouring South Africa for treatment, amid calls back home that he should relinquish power to one of his deputies due to ill health.

Some members in his party were reportedly burning the midnight oil mobilising party structures to call for a special congress to recall him as leader.

Tsvangirai was in South Africa when the military launched Operation Restore Legacy that saw former President Robert Mugabe resign under pressure to give way to his ex-deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe briefly reportedly “to negotiate a transitional government with Mnangagwa”, but returned to his hospital bed in South Africa after Mugabe’s former deputy named his Cabinet that excluded opposition parties.

Mnangagwa’s special adviser Christopher Mutsvangwa accused Tsvangirai of making outrageous demands for him to be part of a transitional arrangement, but Tamborinyoka rubbished the claims, saying his boss never went into negotiations with the President.- Newsday

For the first time in eight years, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) interviewed veteran sungura musician Hosiah Chipanga signalling an end to the ban they imposed on the controversial artiste in 2009.

In a report headlined “Chipanga’s new album set to be a record breaker,” ZBC all but confirmed that the Mutare-based artiste was now back in their good books.

The report, whose unusual complimentary tone took the Ndafunga Zano singer and his fans by surprise, stated:

“Chipanga also said his forthcoming album titled Gumi Remitemo YaMwari Yakazara (The 10 commandments of God) and will be a hard-hitting social commentary, is expected to hit the airwaves soon.

“For now Chipanga said despite having fallen on hard times, his latest offering will show that he is not a spent force as he is still crafting lyrics that are being described by many as par excellence.”

In an interview with the Daily News yesterday, Chipanga conceded that the ZBC interview came as a “pleasant surprise.”

“I was equally surprised to see ZBC reporters coming for an interview. It is a positive development in my music career to be back on national television after such a long blackout. I hope they will go on to play my music again,” the Kwachu Kwachu singer said.

He added that he has been encouraged by recent political developments which propelled Emmerson Mnangagwa to the presidency.

“Mnangagwa is trying his best to correct his predecessor’s mistakes just like what the biblical Joshua did after Moses,” he said.

Efforts to obtain an official comment from the State broadcaster were fruitless.

Firstme Vhitori, who is in the public relations department, referred the Daily News to her boss who repeatedly did not answer his phone.

The new ZBC stance runs contrary to their 2009 position when they banned Chipanga’s album Hero Shoko because of its “provocative political statements.”

In a letter written by then ZBC secretary Norman Mahori to Chipanga’s lawyers, Gutu and Chikowero Attorneys, the national broadcaster confirmed the ban of the controversial artiste:

“After listening to the six tracks on Hero Shoko we are of the view that some of the tracks contain provocative political statements which we feel is out of place especially during this time of the infancy of the inclusive government.

“As a public broadcaster, it is our duty to promote harmony in society. We will accord airplay to those tracks which we found to be in order,” said the ZBC official.-Daily News

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday effectively ended police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri’s 24-year tenure as boss of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) by sending the top cop on leave pending retirement as he rang several changes to the security sector in a major shake-up.

Chihuri’s deputy, Godwin Matanga, has been named acting Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) boss.

The changes were announced by chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda who revealed in a statement that Chihuri went on leave Friday.
Chihuri attended the Zanu PF extraordinary congress last Friday.

“Commissioner-General of Police,…Chihuri, started his leave on 15th December, 2017 pending retirement from the service. Deputy commissioner general Cde Godwin Matanga has been appointed acting commissioner-general of the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” Sibanda said in a statement.

As first reported by the Daily News two weeks ago, Mnangagwa has made several changes to the security sector, including retiring Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) General Constantino Chiwenga whom he replaced with Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) commander, Phillip Valerio Sibanda.

Chiwenga’s retirement, pending redeployment, paves way for him to become vice president.
Sibanda will be replaced by Edzai Chimonyo — Zimbabwe’s former ambassador to Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda, who has been recalled from diplomatic service.

Sibanda will now superintend over the powerful ZDF — composed of the ZNA and the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ).

Also as first reported by the Daily News, Air Vice Marshal Elson Moyo, has been promoted to the position of AFZ commander, replacing Perrance Shiri who is now minister of Lands and Agriculture.
Air Vice Marshal Shebba Shumbayaonda had briefly replaced Shiri as Air Force boss in an acting basis.

Shumbayaonda’s fate is unknown. Moyo will be deputised by former air commodore, Jasper Marangwanda, who has been promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal. Shiri was promoted to the position of Air Chief Marshal on retirement.

Also promoted on retirement was former ZNA chief-of-staff, Sibusiso Moyo, who goes a rank up from Major-General to Lieutenant-General. He is new Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister.

Major-General Engelbert Rugeje has also been promoted to lieutenant-general following his resignation and subsequent appointment as Zanu PF national political commissar.
Brigadier generals David Sigauke; John Mupande; Paul Chima and Hlanganani Dube have all been promoted to major generals.

In his statement, Sibanda said the changes were with immediate effect.
But the major highlight of Mnangagwa’s changes was the announcement of Chihuri’s looming departure from the police force.

The 64-year-old ex-combatant’s tenure was marred by widespread allegations of corruption and gross human rights violations, which were levelled against him and the police force.

Chihuri has been under intense pressure to quit the police force ever since the ZNA carried out the
“Operation Restore Legacy” which led to the fall of former president Robert Mugabe who resigned on November 21 after Parliament had put in motion impeachment proceedings against
him.

This was further highlighted by thousands of ordinary Zimbabweans who booed him at the inauguration of Mnangagwa on November 24 when he was about to take his oath of allegiance to the new president.

Chihuri was firstly booed as he arrived at the packed 60 000 capacity stadium.
His humiliation reached the peak when he read his loyalty pledge as people vented their anger and chanted “he should go, he should go, he should go”, while others rolled hands to signal a substitution, a sign that is normally used in football.

Contrary to the gratitude expressed to other members of the security sector, Chihuri, reportedly seen as part of a component of the security forces who wanted to defend Mugabe’s hegemony, had a torrid time maintaining composure as he struggled to read through his loyalty pledge.

Chihuri was mainly unpopular for the numerous roadblocks which were being mounted by the police which the public alleged were meant to extort motorists.

Apart from triggering a public outcry, the ubiquitous roadblocks drove away international tourists who complained of harassment and demands of bribes by cops manning them. Chihuri received his military training at Mgagao in Tanzania and had been the longest-serving police chief after he assumed the helm of the force in 1993. He took over the reins as acting commissioner in 1991 replacing Henry Mukurazhizha.

Two years later he eventually became substantive police commissioner in 1993.
In 2008 he was appointed to commissioner-general when the post was created to replace that of commissioner. Daily News

Police in the Midlands are appealing to members of the public to help identify the body of a female adult who died on admission at Kwekwe District Hospital after she experienced some labour pains while at a bus terminus in Kwekwe.

Acting Midlands police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said the now deceased had no identity particulars with her, and the body had been stuck in mortuary at Kwekwe District Hospital since July this year.

By Sydney Barson| The MDC T is a party driven by commitment and sacrifice and this is why it has remained intact despite efforts by ZANU PF to destroy it through maiming and murdering of its members, the party’s Vice President Nelson Chamisa has said.

Speaking at a Christmas Goodies event organised by the youth assembly in Harare Monday, Chamisa appreciated efforts done by the youth and encouraged everyone in the party to rally behind Morgan Tsvangirai in the harmonised elections pegged for 2018.

“We have on record 66 000 members who are survivors and about 500 to a thousand heroes who have been murdered in the struggle and we are only left with seven months to complete the change.” Said Chamisa.

At least 50 families from the ten provinces of Zimbabwe received a consortium of goods which included things like flour, cooking oil, soaps and many others.

“The beneficiaries are the families of victims of ZANU PF repression, those currently incarcerated and orphans whose parents have been killed for simply calling for change in Zimbabwe.

“We started small but we are glad the initiative is growing stronger each year.” said Secretary for Health and one of the coordinators Vimbai Mavherudze.

She said the youth worked hard in scouting for donations and pledges mainly from Zimbabwe and South Africa and thanked Zimbabweans for their generosity despite a harsh economic environment.

One Baba Musarurwa a beneficiary said he was trully grateful for the youth assembly for remembering him and others and was certain the 2017 Christmas will indeed be different.

By Dorrothy Moyo|President Emmerson Mnangagwa is Africa’s best expert of economics, a local pastor has said.

The controversial Obadiah Msindo said Mnangagwa has all ability to turn Zimbabwe’s economy around.

Msindo has a pile of controversies including a rape case and another involving a debt all for which he has endured time in prison. He is also known for declaring that an election win by the opposition would be a curse to the nation.

Last month, Msindo was slapped with a 90 day civil imprisonment sentence for defying a court order to pay a debt of more than $10 000 to prominent Bulawayo modelling agency owner, Ms Sipho Mazibuko.

The preacher runs the Destiny for Afrika Network leader Reverend Obadiah Musindo.

Yesterday Msindo was quoted by the Newsday paper saying Mnangagwa is anointed and those opposing him are wasting their time.

He also added saying the President is a shrewd businessman and a strategist who should be supported as he can be trusted to turn around the economy.

“President Mnangagwa is a shrewd businessman and a God-fearing man,” he said.

He continued saying, “he speaks business and he knows business and he is a strategic man and l am confident that he is going to change the economy of this country. I don’t think there is a President in the entire Africa who knows about the economy than our President.

“Many Africa countries have been earning billions of dollars because of their connections to China, look what they are doing in Angola and Mozambique and the same can be done here.

“Those who are opposing him are wasting their time, the man is anointed, he should not have survived the poisoning, only God saved him, the bloodless takeover shows that God was behind the takeover.

The country needs a man like him. The business community has endorsed him, his companies are viable, some of the politicians’ businesses are broke and he is leading by example.”

A man from Hwange will forever curse the day he decided to be ungrateful to his friend after he was sentenced to 12 months in jail for stealing his bank ATM card.

Tembo pleaded guilty to four counts of theft when he appeared before Hwange magistrate Mrs Portia Mhlanga-Moyo.

He was lucky to be spared jail life after the magistrate suspended six months on condition of good behaviour.

The remaining six months were suspended on condition that Tembo completes 210 hours of community service at the Hwange magistrate’s court.

Prosecuting, Mr Onias Nyathi said Tembo was invited for a beer drink by Mr Nyoni of G11C Lwendulu a fortnight ago.

Tembo then stole the card at Glow Service Station in Hwange where they had stopped to refuel.

“On 5 December at 11pm, the complainant hired a taxi and proceeded to Glow Petroleum for refuelling. He gave the fuel attendant an ATM card and furnished him with a PIN code so the vehicle could be refuelled,” said the prosecutor.

Mr Nyathi said after fuelling, the attendant Mr Botha Maruvisi handed over the card and it was received by the accused, who hid it.

The court heard that the two drove to Truck Inn and Mr Nyoni demanded his ATM from Tembo who, however, denied ever taking it from the attendant.

Mr Nyoni went back to the fuel attendant who confirmed that he had given the ATM card to Tembo.

The court was told that the following day, Tembo, who had memorised the PIN code, went on a shopping spree at OK Supermarket where he bought groceries worth $93 using the card.

During the same day, he swiped for fuel and packets of cigarettes with a combined value of $49.

Tembo was arrested after investigations by the police.- state media

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda has today announced that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander General Constantino Guvheya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga has retired, pending redeployment.  Lieutenant General Phillip Valerio Sibanda has been promoted to the rank of a full General and assumes the post of Commander Defence Forces (CDF). Before this latest promotion and appointment, he was Commander, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA).

In a statement, Dr Sibanda also announced the retirement of Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner General Dr Augustine Chihuri.
“Commissioner General of Police, Dr Augustine Chihuri started his leave on December 15, 2017, pending his retirement from the Service,” he said. “Deputy Commissioner General Cde Godwin Matanga has been appointed Acting Commissioner General of Zimbabwe Republic Police.”

President Mnangagwa also promoted Air Marshal Perrance Shiri to the rank of Air Chief Marshal on retirement. Major General Sibusiso B Moyo was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General on retirement, while Major General Engelbert Rugeje has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General on retirement. Dr Sibanda said the three remained part of the National Reserve Force.

Ambassador Major General Edzai Absolom Chanyuka Chimonyo has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, and assumes the post of Commander Zimbabwe National Army, taking over from Gen Sibanda. Before this latest promotion and appointment, Major General Chimonyo was on secondment to the then Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania, with multiple accreditations to the Republics of Burundi and Rwanda.

Air Vice Marshal Elson Moyo has been promoted to the rank of Air Marshal and assumes the post of Commander, Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ). Before this latest promotion and appointment, Air Vice Marshal Moyo was Chief of Staff, Joint Operations and Plans at the Zimbabwe Defence Forces headquarters. Brigadier General David Sigauke, Brigadier General John Chris Mupande, Brigadier General Paul Chima and Brigadier General Hlanganani Dube were promoted to the rank of Major General, while Air Commodore Jasper Garikayi Marangwanda was promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal.- state media

Police boss Augustine Chihuri has been accused of discriminately firing three Indian police officers without conducting any disciplinary action — a move which has been slammed by the High Court.

In an application seeking reversal of their job terminations Yakub, Imraan and Zunad Musa claimed their employer had embroiled himself in a family fight between them and another Indian family “Savannias” and arrived at the decision to fire them.

However, High Court judge justice Alphas Chitakunye has ordered that the respondents who are cited as Chihuri, Police Service Commission and Home Affairs ministry reverse the dismissal decision and return any confiscated items belonging to the Indian brothers.

“The summary dismissal of the applicants by the respondents communicated on September 23, 2016 received by applicants on October 3, be and is hereby set aside,” Chitakunye ordered.

“Applicants’ personal items confiscated pursuant to the dismissal are hereby restored.”
The brothers who have been in the police force since 1987 were served with a letter notifying them of termination of their employment on October 3.

The letter alleged they had put the Indian community under terror by engaging in criminal activities.

CID Homicide had repossessed police apparel that was being used by the trio in discharge of their duties including identification cards, radios, traffic beacons lights and firearms.
According to court papers no investigations were carried out by any police section to ascertain the allegation but they were subsequently dismissed from work. Daily News

The First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa says wetlands are a national economic asset that has the potential to transform livelihoods.

This came out at the national preservation of wetlands project where the First Lady planted a Mukute tree near the National Sports Stadium in Harare.

The continued land degradation is threatening the country’s wetlands, hence the need to preserve them.

The First Lady, who is also the Zanu PF Deputy Secretary for Environment and Tourism, said there is need to rescue wetlands which are under siege from cultivation and construction of houses.

The project was pioneered by an environmentalist 63 year old Mr Never Kasasa who applauded the First Lady for responding positively to addressing environment issues.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Oppah Muchinguri revealed that her ministry will distribute over 70 000 seedlings for planting across the country to compliment the command agriculture.

The country has approximately 1 117 wetlands covering about 793 348 hectares.
Sixty percent of these wetlands are in communal and resettlement areas and are mostly under threat from land degradation.- state media

The net is fast closing in on former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo who is accused of siphoning more than $400 000 from a State-owned enterprise — the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef), the pro President Emmerson Mnangagwa Daily News reports.

A week ago, government sent on forced leave Zimdef’s top executives to pave way for a forensic audit to be facilitated by the Auditor-General.

Zimdef’s chief executive officer Fredrick Mandizvidza; principal finance director and administrator Nicholas Mapute; human resources manager Ignatius Noah Kajengo; corporate legal secretary Servious Kufandada; chief accountant Ropafadzo Mukamba and senior revenue manager, James Gombarago have all been sent on forced leave.

For more details get today’s copy of the Daily News. Telling it like it is. Without fear. Without favour. _ Daily News

Dear Editor | Response to Oppah Muchinguri’s pasi naJoyce Mujuru Slogan

Ko kumbotiwo pasi ne cash crisis ? Pasi ne unemployment ? Pasi nenhamo ? Pasi nembavha dzekuba $15 billion yenyika.

Ko kumbotiwo pamberi ne gutsa nyika? Pamberi ne development ? Pamberi nema basa?

Joice Mujuru ndiye cash crisis here?

Oppah Muchinguri is now as good as president. After all these years in politics and government , she still behaves like a silly over excited youth league member. Hamusi mava neva zukuru here nhai vice president Muchinguri?

Does Joice Mujuru need to be fixed so that people can live better lives or it’s the economy that needs to be fixed ? If it’s the economy that needs to be fixed then take your eyes off Joice Mujuru and look at the economy.

People want Jobs and you are busy looking at Joice Mujuru.

Kana muchiti pasi nemhandu, mhandu yacho ngaive cash crisis , ngaive unemployment , ngaive mbavha, kwete munhu akazvigarira kumba achidya hake sadza rake muchinyararire…. What a shame…

MDC Vice President Nelson Chamisa has held a Christmas party remembering the children of departed party cadres who were killed by the regime for fighting for a democratic  Zimbabwe. Hon. Chamisa presided over a hand over ceremony of groceries donated by party members to cheer the orphans during the festive season.

Another Presidential Guard soldier has been nabbed for allegedly conniving with a gang of armed robbers that stormed into a Harare businessman’s premises and subdued him to surrender US$91 000 under the guise of Operation Restore Legacy, a court heard.

Nelson Mateyo was advised to apply for bail at the High Court when he appeared before Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba on Saturday.

He was remanded to December 28 when his workmate Elvis Machinga, 26, who is also attached to the Presidential Guard and co-accused Fortune Sibanda — a convicted cop who participated in the robbery will also be back in court.

Sibanda, 31, was jailed five years for robbery on September 18 this year but was released on bail pending appeal by the High Court.

At that time Sibanda who had served eight years in the police force had connived with another cop Kundai Mukwarimba, 35, Bekezela Masuku, 44, a police special constabulary, Dickson Morosi, 32, Chris Kadungure alias Butter Makiyi, 46, and Kelvin Makiyi, 26 and mounted a fake roadblock at Hudson Road in Belvedere and robbed an Indian investor of $56 800.

Soon after committing the latest robbery Sibanda reportedly bought an Isuzu Bighorn.

In the current matter, prosecutor Linda Gadzikwa alleged that on November 28 this year Sibanda in the company of Machinga, Mateyo, Vengai Shoko, Gift Chimuka, Banga, Matuke and others whose names are not yet known to the police hatched a plan to rob the complainant.

The court heard that Sibanda and his accomplices drove to 108 West Road, Avondale West, Harare in a white van and confronted the security guard who manned the offices pretending to be members of the Zimbabwe National Army military police looking for accommodation.

It was alleged that the gang suddenly produced pistols and ordered the security guard to surrender gate keys.

After gaining entry into the premises Sibanda lied that they were on a State-sanctioned operation and wanted to interview the complainant but later left after failing to locate him.

The court heard that when Sibanda returned to the premises on November 29, he reportedly stormed into complainant’s office and accused him of dealing with former ministers Ignatius Chombo and Saviour Kasukuwere.

They claimed that the complainant had been sponsoring a Zanu PF G40 faction in a conspiracy to assassinate President Emmerson Mnangagwa, money laundering and hoarding of cash among other allegations.

The complainant and his secretary Louise Smith were put under arrest and subdued.

Sibanda and his accomplices ransacked the premises and took $15 200, 410 Singapore dollars, 3 050 Dirhams, 16 000 Thai Bhat and 4 000 Hong Kong dollars.

Smith and her boss were dragged into a blue Hyundai Sonata before being driven to Rainbow Towers’ car park and further to the conference centre.

Five more accused persons emerged and threatened to detain the complainant and his secretary before forcibly taking $6 000 from his wallet.

They continued threatening to subject the complainant to thorough beating if he refused to disclose where he kept more money.

The complainant succumbed to the pressure and revealed that he was keeping money at his Gift Investments Company at number 9 Hood Road, Southerton in Harare.

Sibanda then ordered the complainant to summon his wife who had keys to those premises and one of the accused persons took control of her car and drove to Gift Investments.

The gang ransacked the premises and stole $70 000 from a safe before proceeding to his house at 15 Grasmere lane, Borrowdale, Harare and searched the place for more loot.

The court heard that Sibanda and his accomplices held the complainant, receptionist and his wife hostage while they went around town before giving him $4 500 and ordering him to leave the country immediately.

The victims were dropped off at an open space near Harare Show Grounds before Sibanda and his accomplices went away with the loot.

A total of US$90 832, 3 050 Dirhams, 16 000 Thai Bhat and 4 000 Hong Kong dollars was recovered. – Daily News

Every year, thousands of migrants risk their lives on a treacherous journey from their countries to Zimbabwe in search of educational opportunities at various tertiary institutions around the country.

Despite Zimbabweans being known for their warm reception to foreigners, the story is different for female students who are reportedly subjected to all forms of harassment including sexual.

Female Student Trust, Executive Director, Evernice Munando noted that sexual harassment is a common phenomenon globally especially among female students.

Mary (not her real name), an Equatorial Guinea female student who came to Zimbabwe in 2015 to pursue her tertiary education has had a difficult time with lecturers at her institution. She reckons that language barrier was at first her biggest obstacle as she failed to assert herself resulting in being subjected to abuse by her lecturers, other male students and the general public especially in the Central Business District.

“I came to Zimbabwe in 2015 and never thought I would go through such horrendous experiences, I had previously heard glorious stories of how Zimbabweans are warm and good people, but my own experience tells a different story.

“From the beginning, Zimbabwean men didn’t treat me fairly as a foreigner.

“It started when l arrived at Harare Polytechnic as a student, I wasn’t even able to speak a single English word, so most men would tease me in shona or english but i never got to understand it, It pissed me off because after they say something, they would burst into laughter while I stood there frozen.

” One of the most disturbing cases was when one of my lecturers offered me extra lessons for English language, It appeared like a noble gesture but it turned out the other way.

“When l got into his office, l found condoms on his table but l wasn’t able to ask, he then gave me a French movie translated to English and he told me to go and watch, so that l will be able to understand.

“When l was about to go, he grabbed my hand and kis_sed me, l ran out of his office, l did not tell this to anyone because i felt ashamed.

“Another problem came when l was looking for industrial attachment, men offered me all sorts of promises If I fall for them. To be frank, l fell in love with three men in the hope of getting a place for industrial attachment,” said Mary.

Other foreign students cited corruption as another problem they are facing in Zimbabwe especially from lecturers who demand them to pay in cash or kind for their course work to be considered.

“Being poor is a crime in Zimbabwe you can’t succeed in anything without paying for it, sometimes lecturers ask for payment from us for them to give us higher marks and considering that we always want to return to our home countries,sometimes we end up giving in to their demands as they willfully fail you,” said Leoma, another foreign student from Mozambique.

Meanwhile Secretary of labor and Social welfare, Ngoni Masoka called for a change of attitude towards migrants and refugees saying people need to move away from attitudes of defensiveness, fear and intolerance.

“It is time that we deploy our efforts in changing the migration narrative. We need to see migrants as our brothers and sisters in search of a better life, far away from poverty, hunger and the unjust distribution of the planet’s resources.

“A change of attitude towards migrants and refugees is needed on the part of everyone, moving away from attitudes of defensiveness, fear and intolerance,” said Masoka.

International Organization for Migration Chief of Mission Ms. Lily Sanya said challenges and difficulties of international migration require enhanced cooperation and collective action among countries.

“Migration draws increasing attention in the world nowadays.

“Mixed with elements of unforeseeability, emergency, and complexity, the challenges and difficulties of international migration require enhanced cooperation and collective action among countries and regions to maximize the positive impacts of migration while lessening the adverse impact.

“The United Nations is actively playing a catalyst role in this area, with the aim of creating more dialogues and interactions within countries and regions, as well as propelling experience exchange and collaboration opportunities,” said Sanya.

According to Human Rights Watch, migrants are facing violations including denied access to fundamental rights such as the right to education, work and health which is discriminatory especially to international female students.

UNESCO Good Policy and Practice in HIV & AIDS and education booklet, states that schools are not always aware of national policies established by education ministries.

There is often a gap between policy and practice, with good intentions hindered by lack of policies, failure to communicate departmental policy to schools, lack of guidelines for educators and learners, and lack of training for school governing bodies.

With Zimbabwe hosting students from Southern African countries such as Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi among others, a lot needs to be done to tighten screws and address legal gaps to end sexual harassment of foreign students in the country.

Source: 263Chat

Five people died and eight others were injured in three separate accidents that occurred along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway at the weekend.Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the accidents, which she blamed on speeding.

“The first accident happened at 82-kilometre peg at Insuza. The driver, Allen Mazhinji was driving a Honda Fit, carrying five passengers to Bulawayo. He was over-speeding and lost control,” she said.

“He veered off the road and hit two trees before overturning once. A female adult and a girl died on the spot, while the other four survived. According to our report, they sustained head and eye injuries, while one of them complained of chest pains. They are admitted at Mpilo Central Hospital.

“The second one happened on the same afternoon at Lupote in Dete. The driver was also speeding in his Mazda Attenza to Bulawayo. He lost control and overturned before landing on the driver’s side. He sustained serious head injuries and is still admitted at Hwange Colliery. The other passengers were also injured and are in hospital.”

Makonese said the third accident was reported along the Victoria Falls-Hwange road stretch near Matetsi area yesterday morning, killing three people on the spot, while the driver was said to be in a critical condition.

Police expressed concern over the increase in road accidents not withstanding that the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe has rolled out massive road awareness campaigns throughout the country.- Newsday

By Shiellah Sibanda| There has been chaos at the country’s two busiest borders Beitbridge and Forbes for nearly a week to date as hundreds of trucks remain stuck there. ZimEye was on Monday morning told this is due to an IT problem – the software used to process clearance data is said to be down. ZimEye has received several complaints for days to date and the below pictures were taken at Forbes Border post Monday morning. It was not clear at the time of writing when the situation will return to normal- SEE PICTURES.

Below is the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Lieutenant-General Phillip Valerio Sibanda’s full announcement on his ending of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ Operation Restore Legacy –

END OF OPERATION RESTORE LEGACY

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE COMMANDER ZIMBABWE NATIONAL ARMY: LIEUTENANT GENERAL PHILLIP VALERIO SIBANDA:

18 DECEMBER 2017

Good Morning Zimbabwe!!

The Defence and Security Services, come before you, once again, to pronounce the end of ‘Operation Restore Legacy’.

‘Operation Restore Legacy’ was launched on 13 November 2017 and its main objective was to remove criminals that had surrounded the former President resulting in anxiety and despondency amongst our people. While some of the individuals have been accounted for, others skipped the country. This notwithstanding, the objectives of the operation have to a large extent been achieved. Besides the above-mentioned objective, Operation Restore Legacy has had wider implications on the political, economic and social activities of our people. In this regard, a new political dispensation has been ushered-in to take Zimbabwe into its rightful place within the SADC and the world at large.

The nation will recall that before the statement that was issued by the Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantino Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga on 13 November 2017, many political economic and security events had taken place all of which had the effect of causing anxiety and despondency among the generality of our people, as well as destabilizing the Defence and Security Services of our country. The General’s statement was followed by a series of political events, the highlights of which were the resignation of the former President, Cde RG Mugabe, from the seat of power; followed by the inauguration of His Excellency, President Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, as the second executive President and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces since the country’s Independence in 1980. Since then the appointment of a new cabinet on 30 November 2017, and the holding of the Extra-Ordinary Congress of the ruling ZANU-PF Party and many other events are now history which we have all been witnesses to. As a result of these political developments, normalcy has returned to our country. It is for this reason that as your Defence and Security Services we announce the end of ‘Operation Restore Legacy’ today, the 18th December 2017.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all Zimbabweans for their support, patience and understanding during the five weeks of ‘Operation Restore Legacy’. We understand and regret the inconvenience and anxiety that this operation might have caused in certain circles of our nation, but as most of our people would agree, this was all for the good of our nation.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the various Security Services who participated in the Operation for their diligence: courteousness when dealing with the public and commitment to duty. We also want to make special mention of the Veterans of our liberation struggle and former detainees and war collaborators for their mobilization efforts which resulted in the massive turnout by Zimbabweans for the solidarity march on 19 November 2017. This day was historic and will be remembered for generations to come.

As Operation Restore Legacy comes to an end, it is our hope as your Defence and Security Services that our people will remain united, shun corruption, be law abiding and focus on working hard for the development of our country. In this regard, we are all reminded by what the President said in his inaugural speech at the National Sports Stadium on 24 November 2017 and I quote “As we focus on recovering our economy, we must shed misbehaviours and acts of indiscipline which have characterised the past. Acts of corruption must stop forthwith. Where these occur swift justice must be served to show each and all that crime and other acts of economic sabotage can only guarantee ruin to perpetrators”

Furthermore, your Defence and Security Services would like to remind all Zimbabweans to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious objects and individuals to law enforcement agents. This is because some of the members of the G40 cabal that had surrounded the former Head of State are now bad-mouthing the country from foreign lands where their intentions to harm the peace and tranquility that exist in our country have been pronounced. It is, therefore, the duty of every Zimbabwean to ensure that these malcontents and saboteurs and others of like mind are not allowed to succeed.

Today as the Defence Forces handover all normal day to day policing duties to the Zimbabwe Republic Police we to urge all our citizens to allow for a smooth transition

UPDATE – Senior military and police officials have arrived, among them Major General D.Nyikayaramba, Charity Charamba (ZRP Spokesperson), and Gen. Paradzai Zimondi (Prisons Boss).  CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING…

Staff Reporter| Defence Forces Commander Constantino Chiwenga called journalists to a special press conference at Josiah Magama Tongogara barracks slated for 9.30 am today, Monday.

In your own view, what does Gen. Chiwenga want to announce today?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 18, 2017

It was still not clear at the time of writing what he is to publicly announce.

The meeting was scheduled to begin 50 minutes ago.

But by 9.50am the meeting was still to convene. The latest indication by 9.55am was that Chiwenga might not appear in person and his statement will likely be read by another officers –

Drama upon drama has been the trend of events as the police yesterday appeared to  ignore the backlash arising from Presidential Advisor Chris Mutsvangwa’s Friday Army statements. The ZRP said they will allow the army to work with the force for several months running into the upcoming 2018 elections.

The announcement was made as analysts at the weekend warned that the development will disturb market confidence.

This was announced by the officer commanding police in Mashonaland West Province Senior Assistant Commissioner Rangarirai Mushaurwa who said the ZRP will work with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) throughout the holidays all the way into election time next year.

He said this will be to maintain law and order during the festive season and in the run up to the 2018 harmonised elections.  She announced saying this is in line with the ZRP theme for 2018: “ZRP promoting Gracious Peace and Economic Stability”.

Senior Asssistant Mushaurwa said, “it is in this spirit of promoting peace that you see us today, and in the future joining hands with other security organs in campaigns, patrols and other law enforcement activities.

“With the forthcoming harmonised elections due next year in 2018, this theme resonates very well with our constitutional mandate as espoused in section 219 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) that is preserving the internal security of Zimbabwe, among other functions.”

The Zanu-PF Youth League had become dysfunctional as it was being controlled by the G40 cabal, with former executive members using it as a conduit to loot funds without carrying out any meaningful programmes to promote youth development.

This is contained in the Central Committee report presented to the Extraordinary Zanu-PF Congress last Friday. The exact amount of looted funds could not immediately be established amid reports that members of the G40 cabal operated in secrecy.

“It is disheartening to report that the department performed dismally during the period under review,” reads the report. Most of the department’s time and resources were used to propel the objectives of the cabal (G40).

“The expelled Kudzanai Chipanga, Innocent Hamandishe, Mpehlabayo Malinga, Tongai Kasukuwere, Xavier Kazizi and Annastancia Ndhlovu hijacked the management of affairs of the Youth League. They completely took over the administration of the organ, thereby becoming the voice and face of the Youth League, overshadowing critical sub-departments of the organ. All this was meant to loot and plunder the organ’s resources.”

The report also accused members of the G40 cabal in the Youth League of spreading hate speech and being divisive.

“Most, if not all, of the Youth League programmes were not being administered from the party headquarters,” reads the report.

“Most of the meetings were being held outside the party premises by the top six of the national executive. The cabal used the Youth League to spread divisive speeches which sowed disunity among the party membership, denigrated the uniformed forces with a view to cause despondency and pandemonium among the Zimbabwean citizenry.”

Current members of the Youth League also extended their apologies to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, war veterans, party leadership and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for the insults and vilification they were subjected to by the expelled G40 cabal members of the Youth League.

The report also revealed that the Youth League owes various services providers over $350 000.

“The debts are only some of the few that have approached the department since the expulsion of the cabal,” reads the report. “There was no proper administration of the department as business was being done clandestinely in order to bar the secretariat from noticing the cabal’s shenanigans.”

Meanwhile, our Bulawayo Bureau reports that the Zanu-PF Youth League has said it mistakenly announced that Cde Leslie Ncube had been elected as its new secretary for legal affairs.

The Youth League executive elected new office bearers at the weekend, to fill 10 posts that fell vacant following the expulsion of G40 cabal members.

The elections were held on Saturday, a day after the ruling party’s Extraordinary Congress.

The new secretary for administration Tendai Chirau told our Bulawayo Bureau that the announcement had a mistake.

He said Fuluphelile Mlea had since been elected to occupy the position of secretary for legal affairs, instead of Ncube as previously announced.

“I want to correct Ncube’s election as the secretary for legal affairs in the party’s National Youth League,” he said. “It was an anomaly. He’s not occupying the position, but Mlea from Matabeleland South province was elected to that position. I would like to apologise to Ncube for the inconveniences caused.”

Chirau was elected to his new position on Saturday, together with Getrude Mutandi (finance), Godfrey Tsenengamu (commissariat), Silas Chimbiro (security), Sibongile Sibanda (external relations), Elizabeth Masuku (transport), Yeukai Simbanegavi (information and publicity) and Tonderai Bosha (indigenisation).

The election results await Politburo ratification.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa re-instated former youth leader Pupurai Togarepi at the Zanu-PF’s Extraordinary Congress and tasked him to fill the vacant posts.

The elections were conducted via secret ballot at Zanu-PF headquarters, with  Lewis Matutu becoming Togarepi’s deputy, taking over from Mr Mpehlabayo Malinga.- state media

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | Masvingo State Minister Josaya Dunira Hungwe has said the government cannot run the Tokwe Mukorsi because of too much corruption and bureaucracy.

Hungwe said private organisations would run the project efficiently compared to government departments.

Speaking in Masvingo last week Hungwe said government officials were lazy, corrupt and ineffective.

“There is no doubt that Government will stifle progress at Tokwe Murkosi Dam because of corruption, greed and bureaucratic tendencies. As such we recommend that the project must be managed by a private agent,” said Hungwe.

“We have failed to run the project effectively in the past and we feel there is no change so we want a private agent to take over the management of Tokwe Mukorsi Dam,” said Hungwe.

He said a crucial meeting would be held next week to determine the way forward on the project.

There has been no progress at Tokwe Mukorsi Dam for the past few months because the inter- ministerial task force responsible for the management of the project is failing to implement proper decisions.

By Paul Nyathi | After months of a series of resignations, dismissals and counter accusations, Joice Mujuru’s National People’s Party has officially split yet again.

Former Mujuru funder South African based millionaire businessman and UN World Tourism Board Member Cuthbert Ncube has announced the formation of a splinter party the Zimbabwe Rainbow Party.

Speaking in an interview with ZimEye.com Ncube who earlier this year contested Vice President elections in the NPP said that his party is awaiting to be officially launched at a ceremony in the next few weeks.

“The party has been fully set up and busy recruiting membership throughout the country,” said Ncube who claims to be the interim leader of the party until congress is held.

Ncube said that his party is gearing to contest strongly in next year’s General Elections throughout the country.

“We will be contesting in all parliamentary seats, senate and council throughout the country and we have already started building structures in all the constituencies,” he said.

Ncube was Mujuru’s biggest behind the scenes funder since the NPP was formed under Zimbabwe People First party before it split.

He part ways with Mujuru after the NPP internal elections in March which he described as unconstitutional and unfortunate.

Other former members of the NPP believed to be part of the new party include dismissed Treasurer General Wilbert Mubaiwa and several members from the NPP provincial committees in Bulawayo and Harare.

Terrence Mawawa, Mvuma | A local woman stunned mourners at her son’ s burial when she urinated into her father-in- law’ s mouth, claiming she wanted to appease the deceased’ s spirit.

The woman, Martha Mudzorwi, of Village 74, Huchu, Mvuma, whose late son was married to Kenneth Zwihoko’s daughter claimed that her son’ s spirit was restless because of the way he died.

Mudzorwi’ s son was hit by a car and died under mysterious circumstances.

Mudzorwi appeared before Magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda in Mvuma last Wednesday. She was charged with public indecency.

The court heard that Zwihoko collapsed soon after his son-in- law’ s burial.

Mudzorwi then went to the place where Zwihoko was lying and urinated into latter’ s mouth.

“Zwihoko died soon after the incident.

Mudzorwi collected a handful of soil from her son’ s grave and shoved it into a sprawling Zwihoko’ s mouth,” Prosecutor Michael Kazomba told the court.

Mudzorwi claimed that she urinated into her in-law’ s mouth to appease her son’ s spirit.

“I wanted to appease my son’ s spirit because he died under hazy circumstances,” said Mudzorwi.

“There were some disputes between my son and our in-laws and surprisingly he died when he had gone to South Africa with his wife,” Mudzorwi said.

Mudzorwi was however acquitted by Magistrate Chibanda.

By Paul Nyathi | Just when President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been making assurances to the nation that prices of basic commodities and most locally produced products will not be going up, Zimbabweans woke up to a shock weekend on Saturday when most of the basic commodities in the country shot up by between 10% and 15%.

The biggest shock to Zimbabweans was the increase of the price of bread from between 90 cents and $1 to up to $1.20 in some retail outlets.

Giant bread producers Baker’s Inn were the first to announce their price increases of up to 15% on Friday. All the big bakeries increased with the same margin on Saturday without engaging key stakeholders like the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe and the retailers bodies.

The ordinary loaf rose from $0.90c to a $1.00 and the premium loaf went up from $1.00 to anything between $1.10 to $1.20.

In A statement the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers blamed the price increase on raw material suppliers who increased their prices effectively affecting the end users.

“It is unfortunate that retailers bear the brunt of price increases yet most times we simply maintain the ordinary mark-ups after suppliers have raised prices,” the body said.

A snap survey carried out by ZimEye.com in Bulawayo on Sunday morning indicated that there was a somewhat deliberately created shortage of bread to instil the price increase.

Consumers interviewed by ZimEye.com claimed that the increases were a ploy to sabotage newly installed President Emerson Mnangagwa.

“Why are they increasing pieces just two weeks into Mnangagwa’s reign and a day after he warned business against unjustified price increases,” said a Bulawayo consumer.

Terrence Mawawa | A man who was caught redhanded having sex with his neighbour’ s donkey pleaded guilty to bestiality charges on Friday.

The 23-year-old man, Malvern Ngwenya from Jambezi Area was arrested after he was caught stark naked – having sex with his neighbour’s donkey.

Ngwenya pleaded guilty to bestiality when he appeared before Magistrate Rangarirai Gakanje on Friday.

Ngwenya told the court he was influenced by demons to perform the shameful act.

The court heard that last Tuesday around 2000 hrs Ngwenya tiptoed into his neighbour Bernard Mlauzi’s livestock kraal.

He then undressed and started having sex with his neighbour’ s donkey.

“Mlauzi’s son, Sipho heard some movements in the kraal and went to investigate whereupon he found the naked Ngwenya on the back of the animal.

” The accused was caught red-handed having sexual intercourse with a donkey.

Upon realising that he had been caught, Ngwenya jumped off the back of the donkey and ran away leaving all his clothes behind,” the court heard.

Sipho then picked up the clothes and alerted some neighbours.

A report was made to the police leading to Ngwenya’ s arrest.

Ngwenya will be sentenced on Monday.

By Paul Nyathi | December 22 is meant to be National Unity Day but Matabeleland pressure groups and political parties are defying the day claiming that the day has never brought unity to the country.

Led by a Bulawayo cultural pressure group Ibhetshu Likazulu, hundreds of people from in and around Bulawayo are expected to take part in the march set for Unity Day to denounce the day which they claim is a celebration of the end of the Gukurahundi killings more than a national unity day.

On 22 December 1987, the then opposition party PF ZAPU led by the late Dr Joshua Nkomo signed a Unity Accord agreement with Robert Mugabe of ZANU to establish the current ruling ZANU PF party.

One of the conditions of the agreement was that Mugabe was to withdraw what has since turned out to have been his private army wing which was executing the Gukurahundi atrocities.

The soldiers had already encountered for officially recorded 20 000 deaths in the Matabeleland and Midlands region.

A group of about 60 former ZIPRA soldiers, an armed wing of PF ZAPU during the liberation war, who had deserted the National Army which was being formulated were given an amnesty to stop their bandit operations in exchange of the withdrawal of the 2000 soldiers from the 5th brigade army wing which executed the Gukurahundi killings.

Ibhetshu Likazulu in conjunction with several other Matabeleland pressure groups and civil society organisations have thus refused to recognise the holiday as National Unity Day but opting to call it a celebration for the end of the killing of the 20 000 people by the ZANU PF led government.

Since the signing of the unity accord, government and ZANU PF declared the agreement as a closure to the atrocities with former President Mugabe declaring the period of killings which lasted five years as a moment of madness.

Ibhetshu Likazulu is coordinating a march for the people of Matabeleland to demand that the government calls for a truth and reconciliation commission which will bring the perpetrators of the killings to public trial.

The march is scheduled to start from the Joshua Nkomo memorial statue in the CBD of Bulawayo to Makokoba township’s Stanley Hall where a memorial service for the victims of the atrocities will be held.

Police in Bulawayo could not commit to ZimEye.com if the march had been sanctioned by any of the police or the army.

Pregnant HIV-positive mothers who do not take precaution to prevent transmission of the virus to their unborn babies are liable for prosecution and face up to 20 years in prison under the country’s laws, a lawyer has noted.

Anyone living with the virus who has sexual intercourse with an HIV-negative partner using protection without disclosing their status may also be legally liable, even when transmission has not occurred, Mr Lizwe Jamela of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said.

In an interview on the sidelines of the just-ended International Conference of Aids and STIs in Africa (Icasa) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast Mr Jamela, who heads ZLHR in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces said the country’s laws on deliberate transmission of HIV were too broad and should be reviewed.

He said the broadness of the laws made almost everyone who is sexually active liable for prosecution, and thus called for the repealing of the legislation.

Under section 79 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23 deliberate transmission of HIV is a criminal offence which attracts a sentence of not more than 20 years.

“On the face of it the law talks about deliberate transmission of HIV but when you analyse it further you observe that almost everyone can face prosecution,” he said.

Section 79 (b) states that “Any person, realising that there is a real risk or possibility that he or she is infected with HIV; intentionally does anything or permits the doing of anything which he or she knows will infect, which he or she realises involves a real risk or possibility of infecting another person with HIV, shall be guilty of deliberate transmission of HIV, whether or not he or she is married to that other person, and shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years”.

Mr Jamela said, “Anyone can fall into that category. There is just too much conjecture in that law.

“If a pregnant woman who is HIV-positive fails to undergo the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme she is liable for prosecution.

“Anyone who is HIV positive who has intercourse with someone who is negative and uses protection can still be prosecuted under this law because that person would have done something which involves a real risk of possibility of infecting another person with HIV.

“The fact that one used protection can only be used as mitigation but not to absolve anyone.”

He added, “So under this law, the criminal offence is not only about deliberate transmission but even exposure to risk of transmission, which in my view is very wide and broad.”

Mr Jamela said the law should either be amended to deal specifically with cases of deliberate transmission or be totally repealed.

“We don’t need a law that criminalises HIV. Instead we should be reinforcing the human rights response to HIV intervention by increasing issues of education and advocacy.

“We could limit the law to genuine cases of deliberate transmission,” he said.

Mr Jamela further argued that it was also humanly impossible to prove in a court of law who would have infected who between complainant and defendant in cases of deliberate transmission of HIV.

“Judiciary can’t deal with who infected who. There is no technology to generate evidence to prove that. So in most cases the person who would report first becomes the complainant. But what if the complainant is the one who infected defendant, how do you prove that?

“For a criminal conviction to happen someone should be guilty beyond reasonable doubt, but we have people being convicted of deliberate infection when that threshold has not been passed,” he said.

Head of the HIV and TB unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Owen Mugurungi described the enactment of the law as “a moment of madness”.

He said the law was counterproductive in the fight against stigma around HIV.

“It was a moment of madness. This is what happens when decisions are made based on emotions.

“The law attacks the basic rights of people living with HIV. It’s counter-productive to our interventions and defeats everything we are trying to do to fight the virus.

“That law causes people to go underground, it scares away people from getting tested because it stigmatises HIV,” he said.

Dr Mugurungi added that there was engagement between the National Aids Council and legislators to look into possible ways of repealing or amending the law so that it does not criminalise HIV.

Zimbabwe Network of People Living with HIV (ZNPP+) national chairperson Sebastian Chinhaire said the law countered the country’s efforts to end Aids by 2030 and should be done away with immediately.

“We should do away with that law. We will not end Aids by 2030 if we still have that law. All the gains recorded in the fight against HIV are being reversed by this law. It should go,” he said. state media

While ladies of the night put on the right makeup, lashes, musk and dresses to entice clients, their counterparts in the political arena use words, and exaggerated loyalty to charm the mighty and powerful.

It sounds like fiction that at her peak, former first lady Grace Mugabe’s face was emblazoned on cars of adoring Zanu PF faithful and her word was almost the law.

Grace and her husband, former president Robert Mugabe attracted thousands to their rallies but now many, including those who once sang their praises, have like political turncoats abandoned them.

But crossing floors and denying allegiances did not start with the fall of Grace and her husband, it is as old as prostitution and in Zimbabwe the once runaway winner was former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo.

“It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first,” former United States president Ronald Reagan once said in the 1980s.

And in Zimbabwe there is little difference between the two “professions”.

The fights in Zanu PF are as old as the political party itself formed in 1963 after splitting from Zapu.

Fast forward to 2014 when former vice president Joice Mujuru was pushed out from Zanu PF while some cheered, hundreds, tails between their legs left the ruling party crestfallen but determined never to rejoin the former revolutionary party.

Thousands of former Zanu PF officials peeved by Mujuru’s ouster, including some who even once vowed never to rejoin the party like Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, are knocking on the ruling party’s door, pleading for readmission.

The likes of Bhasikiti called Zanu PF by all sorts of names but today they are ready to go back to the ruling party and perhaps salvage a parliamentary seat, because the outside was never rosy.

Harare lawyer and aspiring Member of Parliament Fadzayi Mahere said principle is key in politics.

“If young politicians flip flop, take people’s trust and money for granted, then Zimbabwe’s future isn’t safe. Let’s do better. Principle is king,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

The culture of political flip-flopping has become engrained within the ruling party and extends beyond the party as those that had joined the opposition are also making a beeline back to the ruling party.

Some like Bhasikiti, were part of Mujuru’s initial political outfit Zimbabwe People First (ZPF).

The party later split, which resulted in Mujuru forming another party called the National People’s Party (NPP), while Bhasikiti remained with ZPF.

Bhasikiti recently wrote a letter to Zanu PF seeking to be re-admitted to the party.

He is not the only one of those people that purportedly left Zanu PF, who are now jostling to return to the party that has been in power for the past 37 years.

There is also Acie Lumumba, who left the party and formed his own Viva Zimbabwe in June 2016.

Two years down the line, the political leadership in Zanu PF has changed and he announced that he is back to the ruling party.

“The reasons for my resignation on May 29, 2016, no longer apply: the party has forcefully and credibly begun the process of reforming itself and the ruling party is now in the unique position to drive positive change in Zimbabwe, as enunciated by its new leader,” Lumumba said in his statement announcing his return to Zanu PF.

Zanu PF representative in the United Kingdom, Nick Mangwana, however, on Twitter said the flip flopping of the party members is proof that power rested in the leadership as opposed to the people.

“Zimbabwe needs to reform but it cannot reform unless Zanu PF reforms first. The flip flopping of its members & supporters was evidence that power did not rest in the people but leadership which used largesse and patronage to paralyse & control membership. That has to change,” Mangwana said.

Like Lumumba, another Zanu PF youth leader, who had officially broken ties with the ruling party and joined the Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (Zipp) is Godfrey Tsenengamu.

Tsenengamu recently quit Zipp and went back to the ruling party.

Announcing his resignation from Zipp, Tsenengamu said: “I write to officially inform your honourable office of my resignation from Zipp with immediate effect.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the Zipp leadership as led by (Dr) Blessing Kasiyamhuru for the honour that it had bestowed on me to serve the partnership in various capacities. I am grateful.”

Another member to follow in his footsteps is former Zanu PF youth leader Jim Kunaka, who had joined Mujuru’s political outfit.

He later returned to Zanu PF.- Daily News

The Unity Accord of 1987 is posing serious headaches for President Emmerson Mnangagwa who gave himself two days to handpick his two deputies.

This comes amid indications that Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander General Constantino Chiwenga could make history by becoming the first decorated soldier in post independent Zimbabwe to land one of the posts straight from the barracks.

Mnangagwa is required by the party’s constitution to pick the other deputies from a powerful cast of contenders in the former Zapu, which is proving to be a herculean task for him.

The list includes veterans of the liberation struggle who were in the Zipra High Command, among them retired colonel Tshinga Dube; lieutenant general Phillip Vallerio Sibanda; retired brigadier general Ambrose Mutinhiri (Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister) and Stanley Nleya, whose Chimurenga name was Elish Gagisa.

There are also dark horses in the form of Kembo Mohadi (Defence minister) and Jacob Mudenda, the current Speaker of Parliament.

Selecting the most deserving Zapu cadre from the cast is proving to be a difficult task for Mnangagwa because his choice must not just appeal to Zapu cadres but the military as well, which sees itself as the party’s stockholders.

His appointee must also not be out of step with Zanu PF’s core values of loyalty and tribal balancing — an art perfected by Mnangagwa’s predecessor, Robert Mugabe.

And more importantly, the appointee must bring about unity of purposes at the top, which cascades across party structures countrywide, especially as the country heads towards polls in 2018.

Signed on December 22, 1987 to end ethnic violence that had broke out in the Midlands and Matabeleland regions, the Unity Accord vests the power to appoint two vice presidents in Zanu PF’s first secretary and president.

The agreement makes the point that national unity, political stability and order, social and economic development can only be achieved to their fullest under conditions of peace and unity primarily of Zanu PF and PF Zapu — the signatories to the Unity Accord.

It has been the tradition in Zanu PF that whenever a vacancy arose on the Zapu side of the equation, former Zapu cadres would meet to make recommendations based on seniority.

When Joshua Nkomo died in July 1999, he was replaced by Joseph Msika, who was also replaced by John Landa Nkomo following his demise in August 2009.

The practice was abandoned in 2014 when then party president Robert Mugabe ignored submissions by Zapu cadres who met at the late Cephas Msipa’s residence in Gweru to deliberate on whom among them was to succeed John Nkomo, who had died in January 2013.

Breaking with protocol, Mugabe settled for Phelekezela Mphoko whom many thought was a rank-outsider.

Mphoko became the only VP on the Zapu side to leave office while still alive after he fell out with the military due to his closeness to Generation 40 functionaries, especially Mugabe’s wife, Grace.

The country has been without its two vice presidents since last month when Mnangagwa was fired from both government and Zanu PF.

After Mnangagwa and his Team Lacoste faction made a dramatic comeback last month — riding on the military’s intervention in Zanu PF’s internal politics — Mphoko, who was the other vice president, became part of the collateral damage targeting key members of the rival Generation 40 faction.

Whoever would have been appointed to the position of vice president and second secretary of Zanu PF would automatically become Mnangagwa’s deputy in government.

Zimbabweans were left in suspense on Friday after Mnangagwa delayed revealing the identity of his two deputies.

The conjecture has it that he is in a dilemma as he has too many constituencies to reward.

University of Zimbabwe political Science lecturer, Eldred Masunungure, told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that despite his unenviable position, Mnangagwa would ensure that the military establishment is placated by elevating Chiwenga straight from the barracks.

He said while Mnangagwa has already appointed major general Sibusiso Moyo as Foreign Affairs minister, the real silver medal for the military was having their person in the presidium.

“If you checked carefully at the Zanu PF congress, Chiwenga appeared to be dressed in vice presidential attire. He did not pose as a military figure and it looks like he realises that time is ripe for him to land the top post and that he is within striking distance,” Masunungure said.

He said Mnangagwa might actually be worried about the choice of Chiwenga’s replacement as head of the ZDF, claiming the uniformed forces were not as united as they acted in pushing Mugabe out.

“Candidates such as Mohadi and (Simon Khaya) Moyo are real contenders with the former having been loyal to Mnangagwa for a long time and was even targeted for suspension by the G40. The same does not, however, apply to Moyo who has had links with (former vice president Joice) Mujuru, which saw him miss out narrowly in 2014.

“Tshinga Dube to me is a more serious contender because he is known to have stood by Mnangagwa’s faction even risking losing his job as he backed the Christopher Mutsvangwa-led war veterans against G40. He may actually have a better chance than the other two I have mentioned because he is a very solid war veteran with impeccable history.”

Contacted for comment, Dube told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that while in the past the Zapu side of Zanu PF would be given an opportunity to meet and decide on who to second, according to their seniority, it was up to Mnangagwa to decide what criteria he will use.

“As it stands, I would say the most senior from our side is Mashonaland East Provincial minister Ambrose Mutinhiri although he is senior to me by a few months having trained together in 1963,” Dube said.

“The likes of Mohadi came in much later in the 1970s but what we used to do is to meet and decide. For example, when Joshua Nkomo died we decided that the national chairperson of the party Joseph Msika should be elevated and we did that gain with John Nkomo.

“However, this was dropped in 2004 when we sought to have Khaya-Moyo to replace Nkomo only to find … Mphoko’s name featuring. We did not know where that had come from because we had had a meeting that waschaired by … Msipa in Gweru that came up with a position. Now we know that the criteria used was that Mphoko was close to the (former) first lady, Grace Mugabe.

“We will follow the same process if we are given the chance but it is up to the appointing authority at the end of it all. – Daily News

Prices of some basic commodities, including bread, sugar and mealie-meal, have gone up over the last month, marginally raising the cost of living for urban households.
Figures from the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe show minor increases in the cost of the family food basket, driven largely by hikes in prices of bread, mealie-meal, sugar, tea leaves, milk, rice and laundry bars.
These price movements, according to the consumer watchdog, are a result of fuel price fluctuations, multi-tier pricing and profiteering retailers.
The price of a standard loaf of bread went up yesterday from US$0,90 to US$1.
According to the CCZ’s December 2017 Report, the monthly food basket for a family of six increased by roughly US$4,50.
Reads the report in part: “The cost of living as measured by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe’s has gone up. The low-income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six increased from the end-October figure of US$593,55 to US$598,16 by end of November 2017, showing an increase of US$4,61 or 0,72 percent.
“As CCZ, we assume the increase in prices could be attributed to various factors, these include fluctuation of fuel price, multi-tier pricing by retailers: some supermarkets have taken advantage of these situations by increasing the prices of basic commodities by small amounts such as 1c, 2c, 3c to 40c and consumers are not able to notice the change.”
The report continues: “The increase in prices could also be attributed to the festive season where retailers take advantage of consumers having much to spend. The use of mobile money has also been noted as attributing to an increase in basic commodities, especially at retail shops that do not have merchant codes and charge an extra percentage on goods.
“(Because of) avian flu that has struck Zimbabwe’s poultry market and also the banning of poultry from South Africa because of the same, there has been a shortage of eggs on the market and some increase in poultry meat. We also assume that this has been the cause of the increase in prices of beef products.”
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Mr Denford Mutashu said yesterday’s bread price hike was arbitrary.
Mr Mutashu said, “It is true, the price of bread went up (yesterday morning). I have spoken to retail managers and they confirmed that but most of the stock that came in (yesterday) was at the old price.
“Bakers have increased the price of bread by about 10 percent, meaning a loaf that was selling at 90c is now US$1 and so on, because retailers put a mark-up of 10 percent.
“We have not been consulted on this and clearly, this is just an arbitrary move. From where we stand, we are also trying to know why they hiked the price.”- state media

Farirai Madhumbe | Former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s favourite Zanu PF youth leader Kudzanayi Chipanga has been replaced by Pupurai Togarepi.

Chipanga became the face of the highly charged Presidential Interface rallies at which Grace would spit venom against her perceived enemies in Zanu PF. Chipanga was subsequently arrested and humiliated after the coup and is facing charges of publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in Section 31 (a) (iii) of the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9.23 or alternatively causing disaffection among the police force or defence forces as defined in section 30 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The state media reports that Zanu-PF National Youth League Executive yesterday elected new office-bearers to fill 10 posts that fell vacant following expulsion of G40 cabal members.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa re-instated former leader Pupurai Togarepi at the Zanu-PF’s Extraordinary Congress in Harare last Friday and tasked him to fill vacant posts.
Elections were conducted via secret ballot at Zanu-PF headquarters, with Lewis Matutu becoming Togarepi’s deputy, taking over from Mr Mpehlabayo Malinga.

Other new secretaries are s Tendai Chirau (administration), Getrude Mutandi (finance), Godfrey Tsenengamu (commissariat), Silas Chimbiro (security), Sibongile Sibanda (external relations), Elizabeth Masuku (transport), Yeukai Simbanegavi (information and publicity), Leslie Ncube (legal affairs) and Tonderai Bosha (indigenisation).
The election results await Politburo ratification.
In an interview with our Harare Bureau, Togarepi said: “The main message is unity and forgiveness. We expect the youth to work together in harmony and no more purging of members. No more insults. We must respect our elders; war veterans, the army and the entire party leadership must be respected.
“Youths must mobilise for the ruling party. They are the future of Zimbabwe and their mobilisation should be exemplary. They should help in voter registration and everyone in the Youth League has a duty to explain where we are and where we are going.
“In addition, the youth should be peaceful; there’s no need for violence during election time. Zanu-PF has the support of the people, and I want to encourage young people to stand for election as councillors, Members of Parliament.”

By Dorrothy Moyo| Below are direct official quotes of top government officials, Presidential advisor, Chris Mutsvangwa and Masvingo Provincial Minister Josiah Hungwe as they stated that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is going to use to army to win the upcoming 2018 elections.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs Josiah Hungwe last week told a Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting that Zanu-PF will use the Zimbabwe Defence Forces when campaigning in next year’s harmonised elections.

He said: “In the Bible, the Kings ruled with the army on their side. Saka patinoenda ku2018 elections musasiya soja. (Zanu PF) Chairman, soja apa imi mberi. (When we campaign in 2018, do not leave the army. We will move side by side with the military),” he said.

Meanwhile Presidential advisor Chris Mutsvangwa speaking on Friday said, “We will win resoundingly, better than the 1980 elections and we will mobilise heavily working with the ZDF.” WATCH MUTSVANGWA IN THE VIDEO BELOW –

https://youtu.be/bgQ_Bfnh9k4

PLEASE NOTE: This afternoon at 5pm ZimEye explores the impact of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisor, Chris Mutsvangwa’s statement on the Zimbabwean economy. The development comes as the price of bread shot up yesterday. The program will be streamed LIVE. READ MORE ON CHRIS MUTSVANGWA’S STATEMENT – CLICK HERE

While Gumbo had not made his motive known, the state media cast forth planks pointing to a literal return to ZANU PF. If it turns true, this will be three years after his expulsion for his association with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

Mr Gumbo has been spotted at several party and Government functions with the latest being the just- ended Zanu-PF Extraordinary Congress in Harare on Friday where he attended as a member of the war veterans association.

Speculation has thus been rife that Mr Gumbo, a renowned freedom fighter is contemplating rejoining the revolutionary party following the crumbling of Zimbabwe People First due to power struggles and divisions.
Zanu-PF Midlands provincial chairperson Engineer Daniel McKenzie Ncube confirmed that Mr Gumbo had verbally expressed his willingness to rejoin the revolutionary party but was still to formalise his interests.

Eng Ncube said Mr Gumbo had expressed a lot of optimism in the new dispensation.
“I personally spoke to Cde Gumbo and he expressed a lot of optimism in the new leadership. He verbally expressed his interests to come back to the party. However, he is still to express his willingness formally. If he does so as a province we are going to take it up and the party will decide,” said Eng Ncube.

Contacted for comment, Mr Gumbo was diplomatic about it but hinted that there was a possibility of him rejoining Zanu-PF.

“I have been attending State functions of late and on Friday I attended the Zanu-PF Extraordinary Congress. I did so as a war veteran and as an observer so people mustn’t read too much into it. It (rejoining Zanu-PF) would be a good thing, however, provided that certain things are clarified.

“I am not a young person itching for positions, I am past that stage. All this I’m not doing it on my own, there are certain people who are supporting us and making suggestions,” he said. – state media

Pregnant HIV-positive mothers who do not take precaution to prevent transmission of the virus to their unborn babies are liable for prosecution and face up to 20 years in prison under the country’s laws, a lawyer has noted.

Anyone living with the virus who has sexual intercourse with an HIV-negative partner using protection without disclosing their status may also be legally liable, even when transmission has not occurred, Mr Lizwe Jamela of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said.

In an interview on the sidelines of the just-ended International Conference of Aids and STIs in Africa (Icasa) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast Mr Jamela, who heads ZLHR in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces said the country’s laws on deliberate transmission of HIV were too broad and should be
reviewed.

He said the broadness of the laws made almost everyone who is sexually active liable for prosecution, and thus called for the repealing of the legislation.

Under section 79 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23 deliberate transmission of HIV is a criminal offence which attracts a sentence of not more than 20 years.
“On the face of it the law talks about deliberate transmission of HIV but when you analyse it further you observe that almost everyone can face prosecution,” he said.

Section 79 (b) states that “Any person, realising that there is a real risk or possibility that he or she is infected with HIV; intentionally does anything or permits the doing of anything which he or she knows will infect, which he or she realises involves a real risk or possibility of infecting another person with HIV, shall be guilty of deliberate transmission of HIV, whether or not he or she is married to that other person, and shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years”.

Mr Jamela said, “Anyone can fall into that category. There is just too much conjecture in that law.
“If a pregnant woman who is HIV-positive fails to undergo the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme she is liable for prosecution.

“Anyone who is HIV positive who has intercourse with someone who is negative and uses protection can still be prosecuted under this law because that person would have done something which involves a real risk of possibility of infecting another person with HIV.

“The fact that one used protection can only be used as mitigation but not to absolve anyone.”
He added, “So under this law, the criminal offence is not only about deliberate transmission but even exposure to risk of transmission, which in my view is very wide and broad.”

Mr Jamela said the law should either be amended to deal specifically with cases of deliberate transmission or be totally repealed.

“We don’t need a law that criminalises HIV. Instead we should be reinforcing the human rights response to HIV intervention by increasing issues of education and advocacy.
“We could limit the law to genuine cases of deliberate transmission,” he said.

Mr Jamela further argued that it was also humanly impossible to prove in a court of law who would have infected who between complainant and defendant in cases of deliberate transmission of HIV.

“Judiciary can’t deal with who infected who. There is no technology to generate evidence to prove that. So in most cases the person who would report first becomes the complainant. But what if the complainant is the one who infected defendant, how do you prove that?

“For a criminal conviction to happen someone should be guilty beyond reasonable doubt, but we have people being convicted of deliberate infection when that threshold has not been passed,” he said.

Head of the HIV and TB unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Owen Mugurungi described the enactment of the law as “a moment of madness”.

He said the law was counterproductive in the fight against stigma around HIV.
“It was a moment of madness. This is what happens when decisions are made based on emotions.
“The law attacks the basic rights of people living with HIV. It’s counter-productive to our interventions and defeats everything we are trying to do to fight the virus.

“That law causes people to go underground, it scares away people from getting tested because it stigmatises HIV,” he said. – state media

Prices of some basic commodities, including bread, sugar and mealie-meal, have gone up over the last month, marginally raising the cost of living for urban households.

 Figures from the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe show minor increases in the cost of the family food basket, driven largely by hikes in prices of bread, mealie-meal, sugar, tea leaves, milk, rice and laundry bars. These price movements, according to the consumer watchdog, are a result of fuel price fluctuations, multi-tier pricing and profiteering retailers.

The price of a standard loaf of bread went up yesterday from US$0,90 to US$1.

 According to the CCZ’s December 2017 Report, the monthly food basket for a family of six increased by roughly US$4,50.

Reads the report in part: “The cost of living as measured by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe’s has gone up. The low-income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six increased from the end-October figure of US$593,55 to US$598,16 by end of November 2017, showing an increase of US$4,61 or 0,72 percent.

“As CCZ, we assume the increase in prices could be attributed to various factors, these include fluctuation of fuel price, multi-tier pricing by retailers: some supermarkets have taken advantage of these situations by increasing the prices of basic commodities by small amounts such as 1c, 2c, 3c to 40c and consumers are not able to notice the change.”

The report continues: “The increase in prices could also be attributed to the festive season where retailers take advantage of consumers having much to spend. The use of mobile money has also been noted as attributing to an increase in basic commodities, especially at retail shops that do not have merchant codes and charge an extra percentage on goods.

“(Because of) avian flu that has struck Zimbabwe’s poultry market and also the banning of poultry from South Africa because of the same, there has been a shortage of eggs on the market and some increase in poultry meat. We also assume that this has been the cause of the increase in prices of beef products.”

Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Mr Denford Mutashu said yesterday’s bread price hike was arbitrary.

 Mr Mutashu sai:, “It is true, the price of bread went up (yesterday morning). I have spoken to retail managers and they confirmed that but most of the stock that came in (yesterday) was at the old price.

“Bakers have increased the price of bread by about 10 percent, meaning a loaf that was selling at 90c is now US$1 and so on, because retailers put a mark-up of 10 percent.

“We have not been consulted on this and clearly, this is just an arbitrary move. From where we stand, we are also trying to know why they hiked the price.”

Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe chairperson Mr Tafadzwa Musarara added: “To us, it’s just outside economics. It could be politics at play or something like that. We don’t bake bread, but we are bakers’ biggest raw material supplier and need to acquit ourselves in that regard because flour prices have not gone up since 2008.

“The price of flour has remained at US$32 for 50kg, and if we have not increased our prices, what could have caused them to increase theirs? Wheat from Command Agriculture was being sold to millers at subsidised prices in order to manage the price of bread.”

National Bakers’ Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Ngoni Mazango could not be reached for comment.

At Zanu-PF’s Extraordinary Congress in Harare last Friday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa encouraged business to refrain from unjustified price reviews.

He said: “Meanwhile, I exhort all retailers and service providers to desist from wantonly increasing prices. I urge us to stop profiteering tendencies. Let us give our new economic era a chance. We can achieve this by working together and putting our nation first.” – state media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa says he will represent cross-sectional interests, standing for the rights and aspirations of all Zimbabweans.

His remarks follow an edgy period in domestic politics that saw the highly divisive G40 cabal channel factionalism, regionalism and tribalism; in addition to fuelling cronyism that drove alleged criminal activity by a few elites.

“I am a President of women and men; the young and the old; the able-bodied and the physically-challenged; the rich and the poor; the well and the sick. I am an emissary of all the veterans and heroes, dead or alive, who through their blood sketched the cause and mission which my Presidency must promote, must actualise and advance.

“I am a President for Ndebeles, Shonas, Zezurus, Ndaus, Karangas, Manyikas, Vendas, the Chewas, Sothos. I am also the President for the Tongas, Tswanas, Xhosas, Khoisans, Shangaans, Kalangas, Nambyans and other races, all who are celebrated in our national Constitution. The role you have given me, and the Office you have inserted me into can never be partitioned to  anyone.”

Political scientist Professor Charity Manyeruke said President Mnangagwa’s national outlook reflected political maturity and statesmanship.

“It is a very important message coming from a national leader. It shows that President Mnangagwa has a vision in terms of nation-building and he is already taking practical steps to unite the people,” said Prof Manyeruke.

“It shows that unity will be a key factor under his administration where he is seeking to pull Zimbabweans in one direction, working in unison to develop the country.

“The message shows that he is not discriminatory and he is prepared to unite the people under the banner of one Zimbabwe. His message also shows that he is anti-racist.

“It is derived from the unity shown by the people of Zimbabwe during the solidarity march which was organised by the war veterans where Zimbabweans of all races, creed and political affiliation came together as one for a common cause.”

University of Pretoria PhD scholar and political commentator Mr Alban Gambe added: “After a period of political polarisation, it was important for the President to deliver a message of unity.
“He did just that by pledging to represent all Zimbabweans and not just those who support his political party or those who come from his province.

“It is critical at this juncture, especially when we are due to hold elections in a few months’ time. Given the history of political intolerance in some areas, it was important that President Mnangagwa assured all the people of Zimbabwe that they are well represented through his administration.” state media