Lundi Girls High in Mwenezi District has been shut down while bridges in Mberengwa have been destroyed leaving nine districts inaccessible as floods continue to ravage the southern parts of the country.

The Civil Protection Unit has since urged communities living in low lying areas to be prepared to move to higher ground as there is still a risk of flooding in the country with most parts expected to receive more rainfall.

The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) was called to rescue 270 pupils and 23 staffers after water threatened the structural integrity of hostels at Lundi High School.

The girls were marooned on Sunday night before being evacuated to the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ)buildings for safety on Monday as water levels in the swollen Runde River rose to unprecedented levels, spilling into their hostels. Mwenezi District Administrator Ms Rosemary Chingwe said a rescue team comprising soldiers came to the school around 9PM on Monday and managed to rescue 23 employees who were marooned as their houses were surrounded by water.

She said although the situation is almost under control with the levels in Runde River having subsided, infrastructure like homes, roads, bridges and some toilets at some schools was destroyed by the heavy rains.

“The situation is under control after 270 girls were marooned but evacuated from their hostels to the nearest RCZ church. The 23 staff members including the matron whose houses are located on the same side with the girls’ hostels were also marooned but were rescued by the soldiers who went to the school around 9PM on Monday. They were initially evacuated into classrooms,” said Ms Chingwe.

She called on the Government to attend to infrastructure in the district as a number of activities are now at a standstill following widespread destruction.

“Infrastructure such as roads, toilets and some schools and clinics has been destroyed. Some areas are no longer accessible because small bridges have been swept away,” Ms Chingwe said.

“Coordination of rescue efforts at Neshuro Business centre where local authority and some Government offices are located including the district CPU offices is now difficult given the damaged roads. These rains have caused untold destruction in the district and I am told the situation is even worse in districts like Chivi where families were left homeless”.

Elsewhere, a humanitarian disaster is looming in Mberengwa West as the district has been cut off from other areas following the destruction of two high level bridges — Jeka-Chegato and Mwenezi along the Mwenezi River.

The Government says it needs about $500 000 to repair Mwenezi Bridge so that humanitarian aid can move in and villagers access other areas for health assistance and other social amenities.

As of yesterday, 4 000 homesteads, houses and Government structures had been destroyed by the floods which have also destroyed crops and livestock.

Pupils are reportedly not attending school while villagers and patients are failing to access Mnene District Hospital because the district has been cut off from the rest of the country.
Brave pupils and parents are using a makeshift but dangerous ladder balancing on the remains of Mwenezi Bridge to reach schools and the hospital.

Mberengwa West — the hardest hit district by torrential rains — has nine wards which are no longer accessible after flooding which has cut communication in the entire district.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Dr Joram Gumbo, who is also the Member of the House of National Assembly for the area, said Mwenezi Bridge was a major priority for the district to return to normal.

Midlands Provincial Roads Engineer, Mr Stephen Kamutema, said: “Equipment for the repair of the bridges is already on the ground. We are waiting for the rains to stop so that we start backfilling”.

Meanwhile, Tsholotsho district administrator, Ms Gladys Zizhou, has said floods are now affecting communities in Tsholotsho South.

“We’ve been evacuating people from communities affected by floods in Tsholotsho North but people in Tsholotsho South are now coming forward seeking assistance as their homesteads are being destroyed by the rains.

“Areas affected are wards 10, 11, 14 and 15. These include Dinyane, Gariya and other parts under Chief Gampu,” she said.

Ms Zizhou said a team of assessors was visiting the affected families and identifying what they need so that they can be assisted. She appealed to well-wishers to donate in cash and kind to the affected families.

CPU deputy director Mrs Sibusisiwe Ndlovu yesterday said low lying areas that include Tsholotsho, Muzarabani, Middle Sabi, Malipati and Chiredzi should be primed for evacuation.

“There is still a risk of flooding in the country as most parts are still receiving heavy rainfall. The ground is saturated and most of the rainfall received is being converted to runoff. Therefore, there are still chances of flooding in most of the low lying areas of the country.

“Communities living near all major rivers such as Mzingwane, Runde, Save, Shashe, Limpopo, Bubi and Mwenezi are urged to remain on high alert and monitor the situation closely and be prepared to move to high ground if the need arises,” said Ms Ndlovu.

She urged the public to desist from crossing flooded rivers. The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Majorie Munyonga said the national dam level average was now at 71,5 percent up from 65,5 percent.

“The majority of the major dams monitored by Zinwa are now full and spilling. Major gains have been recorded in dams such as Mzingwane Dam which is now full, Tokwe-Mukorsi Dam which is now 49 percent full and Inyankuni at 74,5 percent.

“The national dam level average stands at 71,5 percent up from 65,5 percent. The increasing number of spilling dams raises the risk of flooding in areas downstream of such dams,” said Mrs Munyonga. – State Media

Fired Gweru Mayor Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi allegedly victimised council employees to the extent that they were afraid to pursue the recovery of about $400 000 the former mayor’s companies owed to the local authority in unpaid bills.

An independent tribunal that recommended the firing of Clr Kombayi made the allegations in a report.

“It is alleged that the Mayor (Kombayi) abused his office by victimising council employees not to pursue recovery of money owed to council by accused and his companies which amount to $425 023,” reads part of the independent tribunal’s report.

Meanwhile, the local authority was allegedly prejudiced of thousands of dollars in illegal plan approvals and permits for subdivisions by an officer from the section of Town Planning.
In his progress report on the cash strapped local authority, the Minister of Local
Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, alleged that open spaces in Gweru were converted into residential stands by the Town Planning section with some stands encroaching into road ways.

He said the then Acting Director of Engineering Services was left by council and management to run the department unsupervised and pocketed money from illegal stands sales.

“One of the worst breakdowns of systems in the city of Gweru was in the area of development control and spatial planning. City officials had a culture of creating stands willy-nilly to the extent that most of the open spaces were converted into residential stands and some stands encroached into road ways.

Normal controls were non- existent. The town planning laws were violated as the acting director of Engineering Services was left to run the show unsupervised giving him the opportunity to pocket monies paid for plans and subdivisions he approved,” said the Minister.

Those who did not make the requisite illegal payments, he said, had their plans thrown away.

“Today internal control systems are now in place and the backlog on plan approvals has since been cleared. The chaos in the town planning section resulted in council being deprived of significant income from approval of plans and permits for subdivisions, money that should have been spent on council projects,” he said.

Minister Kasukuwere said an IT company would be engaged to capture all properties within the city boundaries and rate them so that all residents contribute to the council coffers for service delivery to improve further.

Last week, the minister fired the mayor and Clr Kenneth Sithole for gross misconduct, incompetence and mismanagement on the recommendation of an independent tribunal headed by Mr Isaac Muzenda.

The tribunal held hearings following the suspension of 15 Gweru councillors in August 2015.
The other 13 councillors have since returned to work. – State Media

Education Minister Lazarus Dokora has been tagged a secret jihadist preying on young children to indoctrinate them for religious fundamentalism, just after the Mugabe cabinet minister claimed that Zimbabwe’s first religion at independence in 1980 was Islam.

The development came as teachers and parents booed Dokora during a public meeting on Monday. He stated that Islam is Zimbabwe’s “re-designated indigenous religion.” His 1980 claim was dismissed by several teachers.

Dokora last year banned the Bible and voluntary club Scripture Union before reinstating the organisation following protests after falsely claiming that it is part of the education curriculum. 

Speaking on Monday, Dokora listed the Islamic religion as number one for Zimbabwe while pushing Christianity down to number (4) four.

While addressing panelists at a function covered by ZimEye.com, Dokora responded saying (VIDEO LOADING):
“And then of course there were the questions raised that: ‘is my my child going to be taught Islam?, is my my child going to be taught indigenous religion?’ said Dokora.

He continued saying, “in 1980 the curriculum that we fashioned for the republic, includes Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Bhudiism,” he voiced while using his fingers to elaborate the importance by order.

He emphasised saying, “I was a teacher, I was just a teacher in the classroom, and those were introduced at Grade 2.”

He reiterated his comment saying that the curriculum has always had the religions in the order laid out according to his list.

“Do you think we should take these themes and teach them to ECB?  Can I follow your thread, because you think its a new thing, and I am trying to get you to appreciate that it has always been there in the formula (order) that I have described to you..” WATCH THE FULL VIDEO BELOW:

Western governments have escalated machinations to influence next year’s harmonised elections by funding ‘dubious’ opposition projects and fomenting instability in the country using civil society organisations.

This comes in the wake of a surprise donation of US$5 million to the civil society by the European Union ostensibly to strengthen democratic participation and accountable monitoring by non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe.

Government yesterday said that it was following the events with interest. The donation was announced by the EU embassy in Harare in a statement on Monday.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Mr George Charamba, yesterday said Government was on the lookout for all nefarious and underhand machinations by the West ahead of the polls.

Said Mr Charamba: “The beast is in heat again. We are slowly inching towards elections and the Westerners are back with their mischief except they don’t know we are watching. We are also aware of their involvement in other areas including fomenting instability in the labour market.”

Political analyst Mr Godwine Mureriwa said the Western funding was aimed at aiding the opposition campaign especially in rural areas where they were perennial dismal performers.
“The timing of the funding is perfect for the opposition,” said Mr Mureriwa.

“The funding is being used as a basis for uniting opposition parties to form a coalition and this is why you see both (Morgan) Tsvangirai and (Joice) Mujuru were making desperate overtures to come together despite their organic ideological differences. Given their deep rooted interests in Zimbabwe’s political affairs, the EU also wants to have a formidable force outside the opposition structures to do the campaign especially in rural constituencies.

“They (EU) have elections in my mind and the civil society is just being used as a smokescreen to shield the real political agenda.”

In their statement the EU said: “The European Union in Zimbabwe has strengthened its support to civil society with a fresh call for proposals to promote democratic participation, good governance and accountability as well as dialogue amongst the different stakeholders in the country.

“In total, the EU provides 5 million EUR (5 315 000 USD) for proposals that address one of the two specific objectives.”

The first component is directed at Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that seek to enhance the role of civil society in the promotion of transparency, good governance and accountability to meaningfully participate in policy dialogue. CSOs that furthermore address gender equality and the rights of marginalised groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

“For this component, the EU provides EUR 3.5 million (3 720 500 USD).  The second specific objective for which proposals are invited is to strengthen civil society’s watchdog role in the implementation of the National Indicative Programme (NIP) focal sectors of governance and institution building, health and agriculture-based economic development for improved, accountable and effective development outcomes as well as sustainability. For this objective, the EU provides EUR 1.5 million (1,594,500 USD).”

The EU embassy in Harare had not responded to questions sent to it. An embassy official who spoke to this publication said he would only respond today.

Since 2000, Western governments have been funding opposition campaigns through non-governmental organisations. It is unfortunate that the funding has not yielded the desired results. The electorate is alive to what the local opposition stood for and beyond that much of the donor fund was used to fatten pockets of a few activists.

After the 2013 harmonised elections, the United States government admitted that donor funds were abused in Zimbabwe and withdrew most of its funding thereby plunging most opposition leaders into destitution. – State Media

Three Zanu-PF councillors in Gweru who were last week acquitted of gross misconduct will receive about $15 000 in backdated allowances.

Clrs Tiripapi Chipondeni, Charles Simbi and Joas Tsanyau will get allowances dating back to August 15, 2015 when they were suspended.

The Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, said the councillors were entitled to the allowances following their acquittal.
An independent tribunal headed by Mr Isaac Muzenda investigated 15 councillors for alleged gross misconduct, incompetence and mismanagement of council funds.

The three councillors are each set to get $4 750 for the 19 months they were on suspension while 10 MDC-T councillors will get nothing after having being found guilty of some of the charges they were facing.

“The three councillors will be paid their allowances backdated to the date they were suspended because they were found not guilty by the independent tribunal. Those who were found guilty but were reprimanded will get nothing from the council,” said Minister Kasukuwere.

The minister last week fired Gweru Mayor Hamutendi Kombayi and Clr Kenneth Sithole after a recommendation from the tribunal. He said by-elections will be held in the wards left vacant after the firing of the two MDC-T councillors.

“The town clerk (Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza) will work on modalities to the effect that the council by-elections are held in the vacant wards,” said Minister Kasukuwere. – State Media

Protesting civil servants have won their battle against the government at least so far after the state yesterday came out saying it is committed to paying their full 2016 bonuses.

The government however said those calling for industrial action should give dialogue a chance.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira, made the revelations yesterday.

Her remarks follow threats by civil servants under their umbrella body, the Apex
Council, to embark on industrial action if their bonus promises are not honoured.
Government has been offering stands for bonuses, a gesture some of the workers turned down.

Mrs Mupfumira said the threat to down tools was unfortunate as it was not only retrogressive, but defeated all efforts that had been made towards creating effective dialogue over the bonus issue through the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC).

“Government has received news of a threat to embark on an industrial action by the civil servants Apex Council over the non-payment of bonuses with surprise,” she said.

“Government remains committed to honouring the payment of bonuses as announced by His Excellency President R.G Mugabe. Civil servants have always been engaged through the NJNC or directly by myself as the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and my colleagues the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Hon. P Chinamasa or Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya where the reasons for the delayed payment of civil servants bonuses have always been explained fully,’’ she said.

Mupfumira said Government was ready to engage the workers and give feedback on March 6, the proposed date for the next meeting.

She said the Apex Council should be mindful of the meeting they held on the 25th of January where they resolved to consult their constituencies and said follow up meetings could not be held on the agreed date as one of the key stakeholders was not available.

Mupfumira’s words come after nurses from various Government health institutions countrywide yesterday downed tools demanding that their employer announce dates for payment of bonuses.

The nurses who join junior doctors who have been on strike for the past two weeks, are also demanding managerial positions in the public health system, which are currently reserved
for medical doctors.

They are also demanding an upward review of the nursing establishment and revision of their grading system.

A visit to Harare Central Hospital yesterday, showed that a few nurses from the maternity and paediatric departments were attending to patients while the casualty and out patients departments was manned mostly by student nurses.

It was business as usual at Parirenyatwa Central Hospital while reports from Rusape, Karoi, Mutare and Chinhoyi indicated that most of the nurses did not report for duty.

In an interview yesterday, Zimbabwe Nurses Association general secretary Mr Enock Dongo, said their members wanted Government to announce bonus dates instead of continued postponement of meetings.

“Members have agreed that they will only return to work when their issues are solved. So far, no engagement has taken place,” he said.

In their letter addressed to the Health Services Board, the nurses also demanded Government to review its structure, which currently gives priority to medical doctors at the expense of other professionals such as nurses.

The nurses are also demanding Government to review nursing posts as a matter of urgency as more and more graduates are becoming redundant soon after training.

“The process of reviewing staff establishment is long overdue. Over 4 000 of our members are still roaming the streets despite having trained and qualified,” said Mr Dongo. He said until these grievances were addressed, their members would consider returning to work.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association has welcomed the move by nurses to down tools calling on Government to urgently address challenges affecting the health sector.

ZHDA president Mr Farai Munatsi said while they had reservations on some of the issues raised by ZINA, their decision to join medical doctors was testimony to continued neglect to issues affecting the health sector. The latest development by nurses to down tools is likely to affect the health service delivery system in a big way since nurses form the bulk of health workers in Zimbabwe and are also the entry point to healthcare. – State Media

THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has issued a 30-day eviction notice to scores of Mabutweni residents- including a woman who owes the local authority 47 cents- to vacate the municipality-owned houses.

The eviction letters are dated February, 23 and the residents are supposed to have left the houses by March, 23.

In the letters, the council accused the residents of leasing out the houses in breach of their agreements with council.

The residents have denied that they are sub-letting the houses.

Council also cited delays in paying rent as another reason leading to the municipality repossessing the houses.

“The rent is not paid by the 7th of the following month and there is no explanation and that amounts to breach of the agreement…..You owe the council the sum of $0.47,” read the eviction notice to one of the residents.

“Could you therefore show cause why council cannot repossess and re-allocate the property to deserving persons on the council waiting list within a month of this notice. Failure to respond council will proceed to repossess and re-allocate the property without further reference to you.”

The affected residents have since approached the area councillor Lot Siziba to express their displeasure.

In an interview yesterday, Clr Siziba said it was illegal for the council to evict the residents.

He said some of people that have been given eviction letters know no other home except the Mabutweni houses.

Clr Siziba said the eviction of the residents was a result of corruption in the council’s housing department.

“I’ve raised this issue more than once. How does the council know that these people are not the owners of these houses? How did it conduct its audit to make conclusions that these people are not occupying these houses,” said Clr Siziba.

He said he has engaged human rights lawyers to investigate the matter.

“I will be presenting this to both the full council meeting and the Town Clerk (Mr Christopher Dube) because these people have nowhere to go.

“The council should not repossess a house because its owner has died and children are now occupying the houses. Where are the children supposed to go?” he said.

Mr Dube said residents occupying municipality houses should abide by the city’s by-laws.

He said plans were on course to transfer the houses to individuals but before that breach of ownership such as sub-letting of the houses remained illegal. – State Media

South Africa’s Home Affairs department has started raiding companies employing illegal foreigners around Gauteng Province to diffuse xenophobia related violence targeted at mostly Africans in the neighbouring country.

In April 2015, they also launched a similar operation dubbed ‘Fiela’ when confronted with a similar situation. The department is reported to have intensified the raids last week succumbing to calls by the instigators of the mayhem claiming that immigrants contributed to escalating social economic imbalances south of the Limpopo River.

The attacks, which are driven mainly by afrophobia, have been more pronounced in Pretoria where many Africans in that country are living in state of fear.

Home Affairs spokesperson, Mr Thabo Mokgola, said yesterday there was nothing sinister about the inspections they were conducting as they were in line with the law.
He said organisations or businesses in that country were bound by the law to ensure that at least 60 percent of the employees should be local citizens.

“There is nothing sinister about the inspections and the enforcement of the law.
“People should be documented and where there are violations, we won’t hesitate to enforce the law by weeding out the culprits,” he said.

In the last few weeks, tensions have been increasing around Gauteng, where immigrants were attacked and some had their shops looted forcing President Mr Jacob Zuma and his

Home Affairs Minister, Mr Malusi Gigaba, to intervene.

Mr Gigaba met with 35 African ambassadors and High Commissioners in Johannesburg last Friday, where he reaffirmed his government’s zero tolerance to xenophobia related violence against fellow Africans.

President Zuma also met his minsters of justice, crime prevention and security last Wednesday, where he set up an inter-ministerial committee on migration to tackle the new wave of violence in the neighbouring country.

“We strongly condemn the acts of violence and call upon citizens and non-nationals to exercise restraint, unite against crime and work with authorities to bring perpetrators to book,” he said.

President Zuma said it was wrong to solely blame foreigners for all criminal activities in South Africa.

In an interview yesterday, Zimbabwe Exiles Forum Chairperson, Advocate Gabriel Shumba said Zimbabweans and other foreigners around the Gezina and Sunnyside in the City of Pretoria were among those raided by home affairs officials.

“The raids apparently started last week. This is unfortunate in that it coincides with the advent of xenophobia attacks,”he said.

“Whilst the law is clear about issues of legal status. Let’s remember that invariably, those with valid papers have been frustrated when trying to renew them”.
Adv Shumba added that the behaviour of some law enforcing agencies deliberately or unwittingly fuels xenophobia either in acts or omissions.

He added that it was politically wrong to start or intensify searches for documentation when the situation was still volatile.

“Instead, all of us should be working towards prevention, healing, early warning and combating recurrence among other issues. There should be dis-juncture between rhetoric and practice. At present we need the fire of afro-phobia doused,” said Adv Shumba. – State Media

A man  from Matobo was yesterday acquitted of raping his “under-age” girlfriend who was said to be 12 years old when it was proved in court that she is 19.

The woman further destroyed the State’s case when she said the two were lovers.

Methuseli Ncube (30) had pleaded not guilty to a rape charge.

He told the court that he was in a relationship with Simangaliso Nkala.

“She insisted that we have sex. She told me that she was 16 years old. I suggested that we wait till she turned 18 but she laughed at me saying I’m not a real man.  I’m the only one who sees her as an underage girl. She said she had slept with men before,” said Ncube.

He said he finally gave in to her taunts and slept with her in August last year while he was accompanying her to her grandmother’s home.

“She sent two children to fetch me. On our way she said she was tired and wanted to rest. She suggested that we sit behind a rock. That was when we slept together. I realised that she was not a virgin. I used a condom but she mocked me for doing so,” he said.

Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mrs Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze acquitted Ncube after Nkala testified that they were lovers.

Nkala said she had consented to having sexual intercourse with Ncube.

“We slept together on several occasions. On the reported date he accompanied me and my younger brother home. Along the way we diverted into the bush leaving my young brother by the roadside. We didn’t have sex,” she said.

“I crafted the allegations because my parents were coercing me to tell them what happened. Had my younger brother not snitched on me I wouldn’t have mentioned to my parents that I was in a relationship with Ncube,” said Nkala.

Prosecuting, Miss Caroline Matanga told the court that on September 4 last year, Ncube met Nkala on their way from church.

“Complainant was in the company of her younger brother. Accused grabbed complainant by her back and carried her into the bush. They left complainant’s younger brother by the roadside. He raped her once then sent them home. Complainant’s younger brother told his mother what he had seen and complainant said she had been raped,” said Miss Matanga. – State Media

VIDEO LOADING…
Zimbabwe’s elderly pensioners have been pushed into a life of shocking abject poverty as the government fails to pay them 4 years running.

The pensioners, most of whom have retired to their rural homes, are still receiving monthly stipends, some as low as $40, a sizeable chunk which disappears on transport travelling to travel to town-centres to collect their pensions.

ZimEye in this special explores the plight of over 3,000 of them who are under the Zimbabwe Progressive Pensioners Trust.

The organisation’s chairperson Mrs Gertrude Zunde, speaks to ZimEye:

Shyleen Mtandwa | Troubled Zimbabwe People First President Joyce Mujuru is headed for more trouble as allegations emerge that she plans to impose her close ally as National Executive members of the party.

Discontent in the party came after a list of people purported to be earmarked to be “elected” into in top six positions was leaked in the social media.

Mujuru failed to do justice to the leaked information when she all but confirmed the list by driving party members to accept the aged trio of Ambassador John Mvundura, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo and Dzikamai Mavhaire as her First and Second Vice Presidents and National Chairman respectively.

Mujuru made the matter obvious when she told party members in a poorly attended rally in Bulawayo that as party President she will not be able to work with a young Vice President who will need orientation but would prefer elderly persons who have been in politics for many years.

The party goes for its inaugural elective congress within the next few weeks and a list of the top six officials who are going to be “voted” for at the Congress was last week leaked out of the party’s closets by a social media political analyst code naming himself “The Fox.”

The list puts Mujuru as the President deputised by her elders Ambassador Mvundura and Sipepa Nkomo with equally aged Dzikamai Mavhaire taking the National Chairmanship position an arrangement which has been heavily criticised by people within and outside the party.

Current Presidential spokesperson Gift Nyandoro formerly with the Tendai Biti led PDP is listed as the potential Secretary General while Mujuru’s most loyal supporter Bulawayo Provincial Chairlady Pastor Esnath Bulayai is expected to come in as the party Treasurer General.

Political commentators and analysts have already tagged the proposed leadership of the party as the weakest that the new party could have come up with in comparison to the leadership in the other political parties in the country.

The commentators are lambasting Mujuru for fighting to remove Mugabe who she accuses of old age and claiming to have failed to work with founding elders Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa for their age yet she has roped in the three veteran politicians of similar advanced age to be her immediate right hand people.

Several analysts who commented on Mujuru’s team described her as exhibiting signs of leadership insecurity on her part forcing her to want to rely and hide behind the influence of the old politicians.

A source within the party who spoke to ZimEye.com said that the team of six which Mujuru was building was designed by Mujuru and Mavhaire who are literally running the party on their own. The source said the team was not built on merit but on specific design by the two and Sipepa Nkomo who joined them at a later stage.

According to the source Mavhaire picked his long standing friend and colleague in ZANU PF Ambassador Mvunduru for the first Vice President position while he brought in Sipepa Nkomo who he recruited into to the party on a specific promise for Vice Presidency.

The source further reveals that in the scheming, Sipepa Nkomo was given a chance to pick one of his former PDP members into the top six where on he hand picked Nyandoro to be the Secretary General. The reliable source said that Nkomo’s initial choice was former PDP Deputy National Chairman Washington Sibanda but was turned down by the caucus as the Secretary General position was “reserved” for someone from Harare Province which saw Nyandoro as the obvious choice to come in with Sipepa Nkomo.

Sibanda has since been set up to be appointed as the Deputy National Chairman by Mujuru at the Congress according to the source.

In her own reserved appointment gap Mujuru is reported to have then picked on her long standing loyal backer Bulayai who is currently the Bulawayo Provincial Chairlady to the position of Treasurer General.

According to the source Mavhaire has already completed marketing the arrangement into the provinces and the set up is guaranteed of getting at least seven provinces nominating them unopposed for endorsement at the upcoming congress.

According to the proposed party electoral rules a person nominated by at least six of the ten provinces into the top six of the party is automatically elected into the position. Mavhaire’s planned campaign is said to have failed to get through into Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Matabeleland South provinces where the provincial chairpersons are reported to have outrightly rejected the imposition of the candidates into the members.

Government yesterday said it will continue soliciting views from civil servants on whether or not they want residential stands for their 2016 bonuses despite threats by union leaders to stage a demonstration. Unions under the banner of Apex Council met yesterday and announced they would be holding a demonstration over delays in bonus payments. 

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira said the survey being conducted by the Civil Service Commission would inform Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa on what decision to take. The unions demanded immediate payment of the bonuses.

Minister Mupfumira said the employer had a right to solicit for worker’s views as not all civil servants were unionised.

“We expect the results from the CSC survey tomorrow (today) and this is for Minister Chinamasa to get a view of what people are saying on the ground,” she said.

“We felt the views of those outside Apex Council have to be captured also, hence the survey and this is helpful to both parties. We will simply tell Minister Chinamasa to consider what would have come out of the survey. They can threaten to strike, but as long as they follow laid down procedures there is no problem. We will continue to dialogue with them and we do not tolerate threats.”

Some civil servants have since indicated that they prefer stands to cash, which come at zero deposit, as payment for their bonuses.

Minister Mupfumira said Minister Chinamasa was away, hence the decision to shift the dates of the meeting between Government and the union leaders.

“We are told the key stakeholder, Minister Chinamasa, is away and would be available on
March 1, hence our decision to move the meeting to March 6,” she said. “No one is playing politics because we cannot meet when the holder of the purse is not around.”

The meeting was initially scheduled for February 20 before being moved to yesterday and postponed to next Monday.

The meeting will also involve Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya.
Apex Council members yesterday said they would go ahead with their demonstration.
They described the Government survey on bonuses as “a phony”.

“Observing that Government has been shifting dates of meeting willy-nilly without due notice to the unions, disgruntled with Government practice of informalising crucial meetings on important issues such as the 2016 bonuses and collective bargaining, aggrieved by the unsolicited attacks on union leadership and undue interference with our members in contravention of Section 65 of the Constitution, the undersigned Apex Council members hereby serve due notice to Government that civil servants will hold a demonstration on Monday the 6th of March demanding immediate payment of our 2016 bonuses as per tradition and a stop to the public attacks on unions by Government,” Apex Council said in a statement.

Government recently offered its workers three payment options for 2016 bonuses, which included residential stands, a cash stipend coupled with non-monetary benefits and property investment bonds.

The employer is operating on a “shoe-string” budget and has been shifting the workers’ pay dates.- State Media

National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (Navuz) leader Sten Zvorwadza was yesterday removed from remand in a case he is alleged to have threatened to burn a local five-star hotel.

Zvorwadza was removed from remand by Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba after considering that the State witnesses were not availing themselves for court.
She advised the State to proceed by way of summons.

Allegations against Zvorwadza were that on June 26 last year, he took a seat in the hotel foyer and began shouting that he wanted to have breakfast.

Hotel management informed the police before he was ordered to leave the hotel.
Zvorwadza reportedly refused to leave the hotel and instead shouted: “You police are always disturbing my peace and abusing me. I am spending my money but you are after me.”

Zvorwadza allegedly demanded that Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko check out of the hotel because he was wasting taxpayers’ money. He is alleged to have threatened to burn the hotel.

The chaos that is ravaging public hospitals is set to plumb new depths after nurses issued a notice yesterday to join medical doctors in striking over their poor working conditions.

This comes as the strike by doctors enters its third week, forcing government to deploy army medics to try and mitigate the mayhem at major public hospitals, after the State failed with its ill-advised threats to force the doctors to return to work.

At the same time, the leadership of civil servants’ unions has also warned the government that their members are fed up with its endless promises to address their grievances, including paying them their bonuses.

“We were supposed to have met with government over the bonus issue today (yesterday) and that meeting was postponed to March 6, apparently because (Finance minister Patrick) Chinamasa went on leave,” the secretary general of the nurses association, Enock Dongo told the Daily News yesterday.

“This postponed meeting was itself supposed to have been held on February 20, and even that one was supposed to have been held much earlier.

“Our constituency has now told us that if we do not come back with bonus dates, they will be forced to engage in industrial action and not offer their services.
“Already, the nurses are overworked because they are short-staffed … and government should look into employing more nurses as they are burnt out.

“We also have a lot of issues that we have been calling for since last year that have not been addressed,” Dongo added.

Meanwhile, the president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), Edgar Munatsi, said they were continuing with their strike until the government acted on all the issues they have raised.

“The truth is there is no agreement. During Friday’s meeting, finance told us that they will look into the issues and look at how much it will cost them to increase call allowances, and they have not got back to us yet. For now our priority is the allowance,” Munatsi said.

Health ministry permanent secretary Gerald Gwinji said the doctors’ strike had exerted a lot of pressure on public hospitals, which were already struggling under the weight of a myriad other problems, including the shortage of drugs and continued under-funding by the government.

The doctors went on strike three weeks ago to press the government to honour its promises of improving their working conditions.

But stung by the strike, the government threatened that it was going to terminate the services of all doctors who continued to stay away from work — a threat that miserably failed to achieve the desired result.

Doctors want the government to revise upwards, to a minimum of $720 on call allowances for the least paid doctors, and that the Health Services Board urgently implements the agreed duty-free framework for all government doctors.

Despite the humongous problems bedevilling the public health sector, President Robert Mugabe’s misfiring government has once again allocated a measly budget to hospitals and clinics this year.

In his budget presentation in December, Chinamasa reduced the vote for health from $331 million to a disappointing $282 million — a figure that falls way short of meeting the big demands of the public health sector.

Recently, hospitals warned that they were left with two weeks’ supply of a major drug used during surgical operations — after major drug supplier, GSK, pulled out of the Zimbabwean market last year.

Last year, major referral hospitals also had to suspend many services as a result of the shortage of drugs, including painkillers — exposing how much things have fallen apart in the country since the early 2000s. -Daily News

FORMER High Court judge, Justice Moses Chinhengo, has approached the High Court seeking a decree of divorce against his wife, Josephine Judith Hatidani Chinhengo (nee Chatikobo) over irreconcilable marital disputes.

Chinhengo filed his divorce papers sometime in September last year, seeking termination of their 20-year-old marriage, which was blessed with two minor children.

In his declaration, through his lawyers Mhishi Legal Practice, Justice Chinhengo said the parties have since lost love and affection towards each other and have not been living together for the past four years.

“The marriage relationship between the parties has broken down irretrievably to such an extent that the parties can no longer live as husband and wife, more particularly in that…the parties have been continuously incompatible over important marital issues, which issues have not and remain unresolved,” the judge said.

“There are no reasonable prospects for the restoration of a normal marriage relationship between the parties.”

Chinhengo further said upon the court granting a decree of divorce, it would be in the best interests of the couple’s children that he be granted custody of the minors, with his wife being granted reasonable access to them on school weekends and public and school holidays.

“It will be just and equitable that the minor children of the marriage be maintained as follows:- that both parties contribute 50% of the children’s school fees, levies, top-ups and any other school- related expenses until university or the children become self-supportive, whichever occurs first.

“That both parties contribute 50% of the children’s medical aid with a reputable medical aid society and that both parties be ordered to contribute 50% of clothing and groceries for the children up to university or become self-sufficient, whichever occurs first.”

The former judge also said he was seeking an order to share proceeds of stand number 457 Nhungu Street, Old Windsor Park, Ruwa, in the ratio 70% and 30% respectively saying he acquired the property through resources he mobilised prior to the parties commencing a relationship.

He urged the court to grant his wife a Mitsubishi vehicle and all the movable assets at the couple’s matrimonial home.

In her response, Josephine, through her lawyers made a counterclaim in which she dismissed assertions that the parties had lost love and affection for each other.

“This is disputed that the parties have lost love and affection for each other. It is the plaintiff (Chinhengo) who has lost love and affection for the defendant (Josephine) and has moved out of the matrimonial home,” she said.

Josephine urged the court to grant her custody of their minor children and that the Ruwa property be sold and proceeds shared equally.

The matter is set to be heard today before High Court judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera. – Newsday

A LOCAL Aids service organisation has petitioned President Robert Mugabe to flex his Executive powers and declare compulsory HIV testing for all citizens, as a last ditch attempt to halt the spread of the disease.

The Citizens Aids Survival Trust (Cast) said this drastic action would initiate the process of ending death and destruction of “an entire black human race in sub-Saharan Africa and Zimbabwe in particular”.

The petition, which was signed during a Press conference last Friday, stated that the Constitution empowered Mugabe to curtail certain human liberties for the sole purpose of containing the spread of infectious, contagious and communicable diseases.

“The threat of destruction of our people is the biggest single matter of national interest. The right to safety and security from all manner of threats is enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” the organisation’s executive director, David Chiweza said.

He said Cast had, for the past 27 years, advocated for the institutionalisation of mandatory HIV testing.

In 2013, during a Sadc meeting in Malawi, Mugabe raised a storm when he openly suggested that the region should adopt forced HIV and Aids testing to curb the endemic.

“While there is need to respect rights of individuals, there is need to subject everyone to examinations because those who volunteer are not the ones who have been infected,” Mugabe said then.

Meanwhile, the organisation also petitioned the President to dissolve the entire board of the National Aids Council for failing to come up with effective mitigatory strategies against the disease.

“They are bereft of ideas and have negated their constitutional and legal duty to use the power vested upon them to apply their minds to stopping the spread of HIV,” Chiweza said. _ Newsday

UNITED States envoy, Harry Thomas Jr, has pledged to maintain cordial working relations with President Robert Mugabe’s government, although the Zanu PF leader recently expressed scepticism over newly-elected American President Donald Trump’s stance towards Zimbabwe.

Thomas Jr made the remarks last week during commemorations of the Black History Month organised by the Zimbabwe United States Alumni Association (ZUSAA).

“I am glad that President (Robert) Mugabe wants to have a good relationship with his counterpart, our 45th president,” he said.

“I want to say that we will maintain our policies here,” he said citing continued US support for health and humanitarian assistance, exchange programmes and the construction of the $200 million new embassy complex in Harare.

“America’s commitment to Zimbabwe has remained strong including through the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, which was started during President (George) Bush’s administration,” he added.

Black History Month, which is also known as African American History Month, is celebrated in February to recognise the rich heritage and vast achievements of African Americans throughout the course of American history.

Thomas Jr, who is in his second term as US diplomat to Zimbabwe, has served other countries such as Philippines and Bangladesh, India; Kaduna, Nigeria; and Lima, Peru. He also once served as director for South Asia at the National Security Council at the White House.

Mugabe recently told State media that he was unsure of how Trump would conduct himself on issues affecting Zimbabwe, especially after his predecessor, Barack Obama renewed travel and economic sanctions on the First Family on the eve of his departure. – Newsday

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old man who failed last year’s Ordinary Level examinations was arrested at Goromonzi High School while seeking to be enrolled for Lower Sixth form using a forged results slip.

Dick Chikadza’s Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) 2016 O-Level results slip had two Us, two Es, two Ds and a C and he did not sit for Computer Studies.

He replaced the results with five As, two Bs and a C.

Chikadza pleaded guilty to charges of presenting a forged certificate or diploma to a prospective employer or institution of learning with intent to gain employment or admission.

He appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Lazini Ncube and will be sentenced today.

The complainant in the matter is ZIMSEC represented by its assistant security officer, Mr Lee Banda.

Prosecutor Ms Francesca Mukumbiri told the court on February 13, Chikadza went to Goromonzi High School seeking to enrol for Lower Sixth.

He tendered the forged results slip to the school officials. Suspecting that the results slip was fake, Goromonzi contacted ZIMSEC.

According to Mr Banda, Chikadza sat for his exams at Oriel Boys High School and had only one pass in Integrated Science. He was immediately arrested. – state media

A MAN from Mzilikazi suburb in Bulawayo who was arrested last month for allegedly killing his mother after accusing her of bewitching his late daughter, has been freed on bail.

Amadi Nyathi (39) appeared before provincial magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing a murder charge.

He allegedly assaulted his late mother (name withheld) with a metal crutch all over the body after accusing her of practising witchcraft. Nyathi`s mother died after six days at Mpilo Central Hospital.

A court heard that Nyathi`s mother assaulted her son first.

She allegedly hit him with the same metal crutch after he forced her to open her wardrobe which was full of traditional herbs (muti).

The court heard that Nyathi tried to flee and his mother threw a brick at him.

He allegedly fell down and she followed to continue the attack.

Nyathi allegedly hit his mother after she dropped the crutch and grabbed his private parts threatening to bite them off.

Mr Tashaya did not ask Nyathi to plead and remanded him out of custody to 20 March 2017 on free bail.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said on January 13 this year at 10PM, Nyathi had an argument with his mother accusing her of witchcraft.

He allegedly assaulted her and she died in hospital six days later from injuries sustained during the beating.

Nyathi was arrested a day after his mother died.

“Accused assaulted the now deceased all over the body with a crutch. A misunderstanding arose after accused found the now deceased with items he believed were used for witchcraft. Complainant was taken to Mpilo Central Hospital where she died six days later,” said Mr Dlodlo.

“There are witnesses who saw accused assaulting the now deceased. He gave indications to the police that led to the recovery of the crutch he used in the assault.” – State Media

A Bulawayo magistrate has ordered an unemployed man who allegedly boasts of being a “super dad” after siring nine children with three women in three years, to pay $120 per month for the upkeep of one of his children.

Mr Tinashe Tashaya heard that Kudakwashe Maregedze (35) of Harare`s Glen Norah suburb has four children with Ms Rachel Lunga, four children with Ms Jesca Rudzayi and a child with Ms Sophia Jiri.

Ms Jiri (21) of Entumbane suburb dragged Maregedze to court seeking $206 for the upkeep of their six-year-old child.

She said Maregedze has never contributed to the upkeep of the child.

Mr Tashaya ordered him to pay $120 per month for the upkeep of his child starting from this month end.

“You have to deposit $120 into the applicant`s bank account. Maybe if you pay this amount you will stop impregnating women. I wish these other women can also drag you to court claiming maintenance because you are not behaving like a responsible man,” he said.

“You have to look for a job and maintain your child. Failure to do so you are going to be arrested and we will meet in criminal court”.

Ms Jiri said Maregedze was irresponsible.

“Your Worship, l’ve been struggling to maintain this child for the past six years. The child needs food, clothes and money for medication. Kudakwashe has never assisted me. He always hides when l go to Harare to look for him,” she said.

In response, Maregedze told the court that he could afford $10 per month as he is not working.

“Your Worship I have four children with Ms Rachel Lunga and four children with Ms Jesca Rudzayi and the other one with the applicant. All of these children need my support and I’m not working,” he said as he handed over nine birth certificates to the magistrate. – State Media

A South African based man axed his ex-wife (23) and the couple’s one year old son to death after the woman ditched him.

It is suspected the double murder suspect — Mkululi Moyo (30) — of Utandi Village under Chief Bvute in Mberengwa could have fled to South Africa after killing Ms Netsai Maruvise and baby Mthabisi on Thursday last week.

Police have since launched a manhunt for him. Acting Midlands Provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende yesterday said the incident occurred at Nyama General Dealer Shop, Neta Business Centre in Mberengwa.

She said Ms Maruvise was customarily married to Moyo. Asst Insp Mukwende said Ms Maruvise and Moyo separated sometime last year following an undisclosed misunderstanding.

She said Ms Maruvise moved from Utandi Village and settled with her sister and aunt who are shop keepers at Nyama General Dealer Shop.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a case of murder which occurred between February 23 and 24 at Nyama General Dealer Shop at Neta Business Centre, Mberengwa. It is alleged that Ms Netsai Maruvise and Mthabisi Moyo, an infant aged one were both murdered by Mkululi Moyo. Moyo is ex-husband of Maruvise and father to the infant,” she said.

She said on February 23, Moyo arrived at the shop to talk to Ms Maruvise since he wanted her back at their matrimonial homestead. Asst Insp Mukwende said around 8PM, on February 23, Moyo and Ms Maruvise failed to reach a consensus.

“Moyo left the shops but threatened to consult a witch doctor to kill Mthabisi in order to spite his ex-wife. On the same night, Ms Maruvise and Mthabisi retired to bed in one room while her sister and aunt slept in another room at Nyama General Dealer Shop,” she said.

Asst Insp said the following morning at around 6AM, Ms Maruvise’s sister went to open the shops and discovered her sister’s (Moyo’s ex-wife) body and her son’s with cracked skulls lying in pools of blood.

She said a report was made to the police who have launched a manhunt for the double murder suspect.

“The mother and child suffered skull fractures and were found in pools of blood. The suspect fled during the night. We are appealing to anyone with information that might lead to the arrest of Moyo to visit their nearest police station. We also appeal to members of the public to desist from using violence to solve disputes,” said Asst Insp Mukwende.
The bodies of the mother and child are at Zvishavane District Hospital awaiting postmortems, she said. – State Media

A Bulawayo man died instantly when a vehicle he was driving landed on his head and crushed it after he swerved to avoid a pothole.

Blessing Mudekwe (26) from Mzilikazi suburb was thrown out of the Iveco vehicle as it rolled along Masiyephambili Drive near Lobengula suburb and landed on his head.

The freak accident occurred around 4PM on Sunday.

Mudekwe’s brain was left splattered on the roadside and his family cleaned it up yesterday.

A family source said Mudekwe had three friends on board the vehicle.

“One of his friends is admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital while the other two were discharged with minor bruises,” said the source.

Following the accident, word spread on social media that Mudekwe had been decapitated.

“I didn’t see his head. I thought it was chopped off,” said one of his friends.

The state media yesterday caught up with Mudekwe’s family who expressed shock at the accident.

They however, dismissed the decapitation story saying his head was crushed to the extent that it could be assumed that it had been separated from the body.

“I think it was shock that led his friends to think that his head had been chopped off. It wasn’t removed but was flattened as the car landed on his face. He became unrecognisable but we have identified him. He had a deep cut on his arm but the rest of the body is still intact,” said Mrs Sitshengisiwe Dube, the family’s spokesperson.
She blamed the accident on potholes that litter the city’s roads.

“He swerved while trying to avoid a pothole only to land on other potholes. This resulted in him failing to control the car. He hit a street light pole and was thrown out of the vehicle on impact.

“Unfortunately, the vehicle landed on his head crushing it. We have identified him and today we went to the accident scene to sweep and gather bits of his brain that were scattered at the accident site,” said Mrs Dube.
She said this was not the first time Mudekwe was involved in an accident due to potholes.
She said recently Mudekwe and a friend were nearly hit by a car whose driver had lost control due to potholes.

“We can’t continue to lose lives because of potholes. Right now a young life has been lost due to the potholes. The council and Government should act on this,” she said.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the accident saying Mudekwe’s body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for post mortem.

“We also urge motorists to be cautious on the roads. With the rains we’re experiencing the roads have become slippery and the depth of some potholes may not be easy to see as they might be filled with water,” said Insp Simango.

Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube said the council will not shoulder the blame for the accident saying drivers should drive cautiously as it was common knowledge that roads were potholed.

Mr Dube said for council to improve on service delivery, residents should pay their bills.

Bulawayo deputy mayor, Councillor Gift Banda and ward 21 Councillor Reuben Matengu have been fired from their council positions following recommendations made by an independent tribunal.

Clrs Banda and Matengu, who appeared before the independent tribunal for gross misconduct and mismanagement following their suspension in September 2016, were reportedly served with the verdict from the tribunal last Friday but allege they have not been contacted by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

In an interview yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the Local Government Ministry, Engineer George Mlilo confirmed that the two had ceased being councillors.

“Yes the two have been fired. The tribunal has forwarded their recommendations to us on the two affected individuals. While we are yet to get to the finer details of the recommendations, the underlying issue is that they have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect,” said Eng Mlilo.

Government sources revealed that Clr Banda was found guilty of unprocedurally getting a lease for the construction of a social club at Hume Park but was exonerated in the purchase of a piece of land at Ascot race course for the construction of town houses.

However, the sources revealed that the Hume Park stand does not exist after the local authority made it clear that there was no available land in the suburb.

Clr Banda said:

“I have no comment. I am still talking to my lawyers. After that, I can give you a comment.”

Clr Matengu on the other hand confirmed receiving the verdict from the tribunal but said he was not satisfied and was preparing an appeal.

He was found guilty of selling a residential stand in Southwold suburb, which he had bought under a special facility which gave him a 40 percent discount on the purchase price but was not supposed to resell it according to the agreement of sale.

“I only got communication from the tribunal not the ministry but there are a lot of things which were ignored in coming up with this verdict. It was as if the tribunal were taking what they wanted and leaving out the key aspects.

“What boggles the mind is that when I did what I did I actually consulted the council management. I never at any point tried to hide anything, actually what I did was approved by management, so I guess I am being made to suffer for listening to council management,” said Clr Matengu.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) coordinator, Mr Rodrick Fayayo commended the verdicts, noting that residents did not condone corruption at any level.

“Corruption at any level should be dealt with, regardless of whether you are in council or central government. We further believe that corruption should never be politicised hence we are satisfied with the outcome of this tribunal,” said Mr Fayayo.

BPRA raised the red flag over the rate at which councillors were grabbing land in the city leading to the Government sending an investigation team to get to the bottom of the matter.

Last week, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Saviour Kasukuwere fired Gweru Mayor Clr Hamutendi Kombayi and Clr Kenneth Sithole following a recommendation by another independent tribunal.

The two were part of 15 councillors that were suspended on August 15 in 2015, facing allegations of gross mismanagement of council resources.

The other 13 councillors have returned to work. – state media

Air Zimbabwe is opposed to the granting of licences to foreign airlines such as Emirates to carry passengers between Harare and Lusaka, saying such a move disadvantages the national airline. Air Zimbabwe chief executive officer Captain Ripton Muzenda last week told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development that the Harare-Lusaka route was one of the most viable routes that the national airline must be enjoying. He said under the agreement with Emirates, the airline was supposed to carry passengers from Zimbabwe to Dubai, instead of carrying passengers between Harare and Lusaka.

“Our opinion as Air Zimbabwe is that this works against our favour that Emirates is operating between Harare and Lusaka,” said Capt Muzenda.

“It is not a fifth freedom because by definition of a fifth freedom, Emirates has a right to come to Zimbabwe and take passengers to anywhere in the world provided they take them first to Dubai.

“At present they are allowed to take passengers from Harare to Lusaka and terminating. So, this extends to seventh freedom, which we are opposed to.” Capt Muzenda said the fact that Emirates was allowed to ply the Harare-Lusaka route disadvantaged the national airline, as it was unable to compete with it.

He said given that Emirates had been allowed to ply that route, there were high chances that they could end up carrying passengers between Harare and Victoria Falls or Johannesburg.

“As a national airline, we are opposed to the granting of this seventh freedom that has been couched as a fifth freedom, said Capt Muzenda.
“If they fly to Harare, they must fly back to Dubai. They are allowed to fly from Dubai to Harare to Lusaka, but they should not be carrying passengers in between.

“This brings unfair competition. For your information, the Lusaka route is very lucrative.

“The Harare-Jo’burg is the most lucrative. Harare-Lusaka is equally competitive or very close to Jo’burg and Bulawayo. So, we are opposed to the granting of foreign carriers coming to ply those routes. We cannot oppose South African Airways flying between Jo’burg and Bulawayo because it’s by right, it is reciprocal.

“We also get to do the same. But we should not be giving the foreign carriers like Emirates seventh freedom to come into Victoria Falls and Cape Town. We oppose the granting of those.”

Capt Muzenda said one of their strategic objectives for this year was to buy an aircraft that they would own. He said all the aircraft they were operating were owned by Government. Capt Muzenda said they needed to ensure that they maintained 95 percent aircraft departure reliability, though they faced challenges from their old aircraft.

He said the other challenge they faced was lack of vehicles to carry their cabin crews.

Capt Muzenda said they were hiring two vans, adding that they intended to buy some vehicles for transporting cabin crews. – State Media

The Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa says it is keeping lines of communication open to assist Zimbabweans affected by the xenophobia attacks in South Africa.

This comes as the African governments engage South African authorities to curb xenophobia attacks.

African governments have engaged South African authorities to manage xenophobia attacks by South Africans on foreigners.

In a telephone interview with ZBC News, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa Mr Isaac Moyo said he together with other ambassadors from other African countries met with the Home Affairs Ministry on Friday.

He said the purpose of the meeting was to come up with an immediate solution to stabilise the situation.

Ambassador Moyo advised Zimbabweans living in South Africa to keep following the developments in South Africa and to stay home until the situation culms down.

Meanwhile, Zimbabweans in South Africa have been urged to contact the embassy in Pretoria and the consulates in Johannesburg and Cape Town for assistance.

A number of videos have been circulating on social media showing foreigners being physically attacked by South Africans who are alleging that foreigners are taking their jobs.

Zanu PF’s provincial election results for Masvingo, in which previously sacked regional chairperson and alleged Team Lacoste kingpin Ezra Chadzamira trounced Generation 40-linked (G40) bigwig Mutero Masanganise has presented the warring ruling party with a massive headache — what to do next.

As matters stand, President Robert Mugabe and his senior party lieutenants are dithering about releasing the results of the poll formally — seemingly more concerned about diffusing rising political temperatures within the party in the volatile province, although insiders told journalists yesterday that this was inadvertently also inflaming emotions further in the process.

All this comes as Zanu PF’s two major factions have escalated their fights ever since Mugabe gave his traditional birthday interview to the ZBC last week, in which he rubbished all his minions’ leadership credentials and their chances of succeeding him.

It was reported at the weekend that the G40 — which is rabidly opposed to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mooted presidential ambitions, and which is said to be backing Masanganise — is pushing to have the results of the Masvingo poll set aside, citing alleged rigging and other irregularities.

To complicate matters, there were also unconfirmed reports that Masanganise, a war veteran and retired army colonel, may be related to Mugabe.

At the same time, the insiders who spoke to the Daily News yesterday suggested that Zanu PF’s ever-fluid factional dynamics could be shifting again — with Mnangagwa’s allies, Team Lacoste, cranking up their own assault on the G40 who have been in buoyant mood over the past few weeks.

“It (Masvingo result) speaks to an internal rebellion in Zanu PF and the movement’s continuing implosion,” political analyst Maxwell Saungweme chipped in.

“The election result is an early warning sign to those in Zanu PF that once Mugabe is gone the power matrix will change. It also calls for the G40s to rethink their strategy after Mugabe, as Mugabe’s brand will be buried with the man,” Saungweme added.

On his part, University of Zimbabwe professor of politics Eldred Masunungure said it was unrealistic for the G40 to hope to hold sway in Masvingo.

“It’s common knowledge that Masvingo is a stronghold of Team Lacoste. For the G40, it was an ambition which was not realistic. They should have never harboured ambitions to take control of the province.

“But I don’t think the people of Masvingo are defying Mugabe. They are only saying that they are not swayed by the relationship between the president and this other candidate (Masanganise),” Masunungure told the Daily News.

In the provincial election results that became public on Thursday, Chadzamira crushed Masanganise — polling 12 393 votes against his opponent’s 4 888, amid allegations of rigging and failure by people in Mwenezi and some parts of Chiredzi to vote.

But Chadzamira has an uneasy relationship with party bosses after he was suspended last year on charges of indiscipline and inciting insolence, as well as engaging in violence.

He was subsequently replaced in an acting capacity by Amasi Nenjana, who is said to have reluctantly pulled out of last week’s race to pave the way for Masanganise.

Zanu PF has since said that its politburo will now have to determine the outcome of the provincial election at its next sitting, although Masanganise wants to have the results nullified.

In a statement, Masanganise accused politburo member and presiding officer, Joram Gumbo, of allegedly showing bias in favour of Chadzamira.

“The presiding officer displayed from the onset his bias towards a certain candidate and has continued to canvas public opinion by going public about a process which is yet to be concluded.

“We all wonder where the presiding officer got his 63 percent when the whole of Mwenezi District did not vote, Chiredzi District two thirds did not vote, in Gutu District a fragmentation of a few districts participated with Gutu North Constituency not having a single vote.

“In Masvingo District only Masvingo urban constituency voted with an average of two districts each having voted in the other four constituencies.

“Chivi South constituency was affected by heavy rains, while there was a circus in Zaka East constituency where the Member of Parliament was conducting elections,” Masanganise said.

Meanwhile, Mugabe — wittingly or unwittingly — appeared to confirm at the weekend why there is so much interest in the election of the party’s provincial chairpersons.

Speaking at his belated birthday celebrations in Matobo on Saturday, a tired-looking Mugabe accused his lieutenants of using their factions’ provincial chairpersons to push their succession agenda.

“Let me refer now to the unending problem of division within the party. We want a party which is tight … The party, as I said, is based on a party constitution and the party constitution provides how people can get elected from one position to another.

“Izvi zvekuti vanhu vanoti vanoda kudyarana kuti vaite create ma-chairpersons or groups dzinova-supporter ivo havambofa vakabudirira muZanu PF (those who connive to install their own chairpersons or groups won’t succeed in hijacking Zanu PF),” the nonagenarian warned.

Mugabe spoke as Zanu PF’s ugly tribal, factional and succession wars have got worse over the past few weeks, with the ruling party split between Team Lacoste and the G40 camp.

The nonagenarian also repeated on Saturday that he would neither retire nor name a successor, unless the deeply-divided ruling party staged an extraordinary congress to choose his successor if he decided to retire.

“If Zanu PF says I should go I will … For your own information, I never canvassed for any position, I rose up to my position … let the people judge for themselves … We don’t want imposition (of leaders) at all.

“People have said that I should choose a successor but that is what is called imposition. I don’t want and will never impose. This is the job of congress to choose those who will then come up and the party will elect.

“Whatever position you seek must be a position you get upon a proper election by the people … People who are busy forming their own groupings saying VaMugabe must go I ask myself where should I go,” Mugabe said.

But such statements have not gone down well with Mnangagwa’s allies, who include sacked Mashonaland Central youth leader, Godfrey Tsenengamu.

Last week, they warned the increasingly frail nonagenarian that he faced a big fight if he continued to thwart the Midlands godfather’s mooted presidential aspirations.

Tsenengamu also said that they would now openly campaign for Mnangagwa as Mugabe’s successor, raising the stakes high in the succession saga.

He was subsequently nabbed by detectives, a day after he held his press conference in the capital where he let rip at Mugabe and his powerful wife Grace.

Tsenengamu has since appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts where he was denied bail.

He is facing three charges: violating provisions of the draconian Public Order and Security Act (Posa) for holding his press conference without clearance, undermining the authority of the president and subverting a constitutionally-elected government. – Daily News

Zimbabwe’s prolific Multi-Talented  African Roots Music singer and world renowned sculptor-cum-businessman Bryn Taurai Mteki aka Sekurutau, who is back in the country after 16 years in America and Germany is basking in the glory of his newly found fame after two of his masterpieces won the global appeal.

No Doubt Sekurutau has proven he is the all-time greatest artist to hail from Zimbabwe impacted worldwide.

The 41-year-old sculptor had two of masterpieces presented to President Mugabe and another to FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the weekend.

Infantino was in Zimbabwe to attend the belated birthday celebrations for the Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) and ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa that were held at the Harare International Conference Centre.

However, the World football’s most powerful man paid a courtesy on President Mugabe at State House where he was gifted with the soccer ball stone sculpture as a token of appreciation for his visit.

Returning the good gesture, Infantino presented the Zimbabwean leader with the bronze piece, a realistic three-dimensional sculpture of President Mugabe.

Both sculptures exhibit Mteki aka Sekurutau’s trademark whose multidisciplinary artworks explore his creative genius in the exact form and content.

When you the soccer ball sculpture you do not confuse it for anything else and when you see President Mugabe’s bronze piece you know it is the Zimbabwean president.

Such is his great artistry of Sekurutau which has won him global appeal with some of his artworks found in private and permanent collection of world’s top galleries.

The two pieces will add on to his long list of masterpieces that have been presented to some of the world’s famous leaders including the likes of R.Kelly Jay-Z , Former Super eagles Austin Jay Jay Okocha , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Mike Tyson ,  Kirsty Coventry , Manchester United Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke,  Rev . Jesse Jackson and many more

In 2011, Sekurutau was commissioned to sculpt a piece for former FIFA president Sepp Blatter during his visit to Zimbabwe.

He has also produced the Calabash Women sculptures that adorned Johannesburg’s Sandton Square during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

Sekurutau comes from a family tree of great sculptors with his father Richard Mteki and late uncle Boira Mteki being renowned sculptors of the first generation. Apart from music and sculpture Sekurutau is a Businessman the Founder of BrynBrands Empire with interest in Retail Supermarkets, Bottle stores , Night clubs , Butcheries and fast foods as well as transport, mining and a Clothing line among others.

A Murehwa man who allegedly stabbed his wife more than 15 times leaving her seriously wounded, denied the allegations when his trial commenced last Friday at the Harare magistrates’ court.

Simbarashe Munakamwe (38) of Suka Village, Chief Mangwende, is facing attempted murder charges.

He told the court that he did not commit the crime, but his in-laws were fixing him.

He further said that he was on separation with his wife Rachel Kurwakumire.

When asked by magistrate Mr Themba Kuwanda why he separated with his wife and why her family would want to fix him, Munakamwe confessed that he stabbed his wife’s younger sister to death last year.

The 15-year-old girl was in Form Three and Munakamwe is said to have proposed love to her before killing her for ‘betraying’ him.

Munakamwe allegedly stabbed his wife while on bail for the murder case.

Kurwakumire, the court heard, later went outside the house to relieve herself and Munakamwe suddenly emerged from the dark and tripped her to the ground.

He then stabbed her on the head, the State alleged.

Kurwakumire screamed for help and Munakamwe kept stabbing her mercilessly all over the body until she became unconscious.

Her brother George who was sleeping in his bedroom rushed outside to investigate.

He then saw Munakamwe running away from the scene leaving the kitchen knife he had used to stab Kurwakumire on the ground.

Upon his arrest, Munakamwe told the police that he was in Mutoko on the day in question hence there was no way he could have stabbed his wife.

However, during investigations, the police obtained a printout from Econet which showed that Munakamwe had made calls while in Mhondoro on that day. – State Media

Terrence Mawawa Shurugwi In yet another case of paedophilia behaviour, 32-year-old Sadiki Zhuwao, stepped into his neighbour’s house and fondled a minor who was fast asleep claiming he had mistaken her for his wife.

Zhuwao of Makusha Village in Shurugwi arrived home at midnight and went into his neigbhour’s house where he pulled down the 10-year-old juvenile’s pants. Zhuwao told Shurugwi Magistrate, Tayengwa Sangster, he was excessively drunk such that he mistook the juvenile for his wife.

He further claimed that he had failed to identify his bedroom because he was drunk. The court heard that on January 24, 2017, around midnight Zhuwao gained entry into his neighbour’s house through a french door which had three broken glasses. Upon entering the house Zhuwao went to where the minor was sleeping and pulled her underpants down to her thighs.The minor covered her face with a blanket. The commotion woke up the minor’s mother who found Zhuwao in her daughter’s blankets.

Zhuwao was arrested and brought to court where he pleaded not guilty. Despite his plea of not guilty, Magistrate Sangster sentenced Zhuwao to 12 months in prison.Three months were suspended on good condition of good behaviour. The magistrate also expressed grave concern at the increase of paedophilia tendencies in the country.

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has threatened to relaunch the National Youth Service (NYS) programme — feared for producing Zanu PF terror groups, as the 2018 elections beckon, with opposition parties plotting to field a single candidate against him.

These include Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T, Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First and Welshman Ncube’s MDC, among others.

Introduced at the turn of the century by the late Zanu PF national commissar, Border Gezi, with the first camp established at Mt Darwin in 2001, the NYS programme churned out several thousand graduates, who came to be known as “Green Bombers” and were accused of gross human rights abuses and brutal crackdowns against opposition activists and supporters, particularly during election time.

But, Mugabe has on numerous forums defended it, saying the training programme was necessary to instil national pride, discipline and moral uprightness among the youths.

But, human rights groups and opposition parties believe the programme is a State-funded platform for Zanu PF youth militia training.

The programme was discontinued a few years ago due to lack of funding.

In 2015, Mugabe told guests at his 91st birthday celebrations in Victoria Falls that he wanted the programme resuscitated soon, and to include O Level graduates.

“We want to get to a stage where every student at O Level has gone through national service training. We want to enhance our national service training,” he said then.

“It is an important training indeed … so we want to build resources towards that,” he said then. – Newsday

A Bulawayo bus accident victim has filed an $86 000 lawsuit against Mzansi Express, after he got injured in a horrific crash that occurred along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road in 2014.

Florence Moyo, who was one of the passengers, claims she sustained multiple injuries when the bus driver, Isaac Mathanti Ncube, lost control of the vehicle, which eventually overturned and injured her on February 25, 2014.

The matter has been set to be heard on March 7 by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo.

In her summons, Moyo submitted that $6 000 was for special damages and $80 000 as general damages.

“Plaintiff’s claim against the defendant is for payment of interest on the total figure of $86 000 at the prescribed rate of 5% per annum from the date of issue of summons,” reads the summons in part.

In her declaration of the claim, Moyo submitted that on February 25, 2014, Ncube lost control of the bus near Mazunga area, resulting in the accident.

“The said accident was caused by the negligence of defendant (Ncube). In one more or all of the following respects, he travelled at a speed which was excessive, failed to stop or act reasonably, where the accident seemed imminent, failed to keep a proper look out in the circumstances, failed to keep the bus under proper control,” she submitted.

Moyo said the accident was due to negligence of the company through failure to service the bus so as to keep it roadworthy. She said she sustained injuries, which included loss of teeth, a double fracture on her right ankle, fractured ribs and damages to her spinal code. She said she is currently receiving physiotherapy and will continue to do so.

“As a result, the injury sustained by Florence Moyo, suffered damages in the amount of $86 000, which is calculated as follows, estimated future expenses $4 000, special damages consisting of cost or damaged items being lost cash in the sum of 12 150 rands, spectacles $300, cellphone $500, bus ticket $22, general damages as a result of pain and suffering, loss of amenities of life and permanent disfigurement $80 000,” reads the declaration of the claim. – Newsday

A mob from Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo stripped a self-confessed criminal naked and beat him to death after he was caught red-handed stealing from a house in the area, police confirmed yesterday.

The angry mob was allegedly chanting that Cowdray Park residents were tired of crime as they bludgeoned the thief with an assortment of weapons at around 3AM on Friday.

The man, who identified himself as Prince Dube of Nyamandlovu when residents demanded to know his name, allegedly broke into Mr Onias Nkomo’s house and stole a gas cylinder and a cell phone.

Mr Nkomo (50) told The Chronicle that he caught the heavily built Dube in the act and a fight ensued.

“We grappled and I was overpowering him when he started choking me. He bit me on the mouth and nose. I also sprained my hand in the tussle,” he said.

Mr Nkomo said he heard noise while he was sleeping and thought it was his son who was trying to sneak in a girlfriend.

“I went and sat on a sofa in the dining room. Dube had carried stuff outside and he returned with a torch. He didn’t see me as he concentrated on trying to disconnect my amplifier,” he said.

“My wife coughed from the bedroom and he panicked. He dashed out of the house and I followed him. I grabbed him from behind but he turned around, wrapped his strong hands around my neck and started choking me. He threatened to stab me if I didn’t let him go.”

Mr Nkomo said he screamed, alerting his wife who then summoned two of their neighbours for help.

“When my neighbours Khulekani Khuphe and Tamandiko Mpofu came, I was still wrestling with Dube on the ground. We teamed up to subdue him and tied his hands and legs. We had taken him into the house when a group of residents arrived baying for his blood,” he said.

Mr Nkomo said the residents demanded that Dube should be brought outside.

He said he does not know what happened after Dube had been released to the residents because he remained in the house while his daughter tended to his wounds.

“I was shocked when a police officer later came into the house informing me that Dube had died,” Mr Nkomo  said.

Mr Khuphe said Dube confessed that he had stolen from another house in the same neighbourhood and he led them to where he had hidden the property at a nearby bush.

“Among the loot was a gas cylinder, baby bathing dishes, a bucket with pots, plates and some kitchen utensils. There was commotion. People used various weapons to assault him while others tried to restrain the mob attack,” he said.

Residents who asked not to be named said about 20 people bashed a hapless Dube whose pleas for mercy seemed to make them angrier.

“He was a bloodied mess. They tore off his clothes and hit him with bottles, knobkerries, iron bars, fists and logs,” said a resident.

He said a majority of the residents fled when Dube started gasping for breath.

“They realised he may have been mortally wounded. By the time the police arrived and called an ambulance, the thief was dead,” the resident said.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident saying police were investigating a suspected murder case but have not arrested anyone.

She said vigilantes would not be tolerated.

Cowdray Park, according to residents, is a crime hotspot because most areas in the suburb do not have electricity. – State Media

A self confessed satanist serial killer from Gokwe who raped and killed a milk vendor after sucking her blood vampire style, has been declared insane by the High Court and referred to a mental health institution for further treatment.

Alois Tapiwa Nduna (28) recently confessed to raping and murdering 13 women in different parts of the country.

On Friday, he appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva facing a charge of murdering Ruth Ndlovu (37).

Nduna of Matanga village under Chief Jiri in Gokwe South is a self-confessed Satanist.

Justice Takuva ruled that Nduna could not be held legally responsible for killing Ndlovu, saying he was mentally ill at the time he committed the offence.

The judge retained a special verdict of not guilty to the charge because of insanity in terms of the Mental Health Act.

“The psychiatrists’ reports depict a disturbing background of the accused person. Although the reports say you are fit to stand trial, they highlight that the accused has a mental disorder and behaves like an animal,” he said.

“There is a probability that you raped the victim either after or before you killed her. From the evidence before this court, we are satisfied that you committed the murder because of insanity.”

Justice Takuva said Nduna was a danger to his family and society and needed to be taken to a mental health institution for treatment.

“The court therefore returns a special verdict of not guilty in terms of section 29 (2) of the Mental Health Act. Accordingly, it is ordered that the accused person returns to prison for transfer to a special institution for treatment. You are a danger to your family and society in general,” ruled the judge.

The State led by Mr Trust Muduma said on 19 March 2015 at about 5PM, Nduna met Ndlovu along a footpath linking Romney Park suburb in Bulawayo and the Bulawayo-Harare road.

He grabbed the woman by her neck and she fell to the ground. “As the deceased lay on the ground, accused tore a piece of a lacing from the woman’s petticoat and used it to strangle her,” said Mr Muduma.

To conceal the offence, Nduna dragged the body for about 131 metres into the bush and searched her handbag. He took a cellphone and disappeared from the scene.

Ndlovu’s husband tried to contact his wife but to no avail. Two days later, he discovered his wife’s body along the footpath and reported the matter to the police leading to Nduna’s arrest

Nduna, who is said to have committed several murders in Hwange, Zvishavane, Bulawayo, Chipinge and Masvingo, claims to be an agent of a satanic cult which thrives on human blood.

According to the psychiatrist’s report, Nduna had episodes of unpredictable behaviour which saw him vomiting blood while admitted to Mlondolozi Mental Health Institution.

He sent police officers fleeing from Mvuma Police Station after he vomited blood and ate it.

Nduna terrorised inmates and wardens at Khami prison using the same method.

He would wake up with 666, the Biblical number signifying the end of the world, inscribed in blood on his back where authorities claimed he could not have done it himself.

Nduna claimed he travelled outside the prison every night using supernatural satanic powers.

Mrs Nikiwe Ncube-Tshabalala of Webb, Low and Barry Legal Practitioners represented Nduna pro deo.- State Media

Scores of villagers in Umguza are defaulting in taking antiretroviral medication due to lack of healthcare services since 2000.

Villagers who were resettled in Umguza’s Wards One to Eight said they have no clinic and for 17 years, they have relied on Nyamandlovu or Bulawayo clinics which required them to use at least $8 for transport.

In an interview during a media tour last Thursday, Mrs Catharine Sithole, one of the six health workers, said most villagers defaulted as they could not afford to travel monthly.

“One of our greatest challenges is that we have not had a clinic ever since we came into this area in the year 2000. This has resulted in most of our HIV positive villagers defaulting in taking their medication and we usually struggle to trace defaulters given the poor road network,” said Mrs Sithole.

“Some children who tested positive have also failed to access ARVs because of the distance to the nearest hospital. We lack awareness campaigns around the issues of HIV and sexual reproductive health rights and some villagers have died due to denial of their status.”

She said about 300 homesteads relied on a mobile clinic which was accessible monthly.

“The mobile clinic has eased the burden though they skip some months without coming to this area. In the mean time we have made use of women’s self-help groups which we formed to curb the health information gap courtesy of Hope for a Child in Christ (HOCIC) and the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH),” Mrs Sithole said.

She said the groups also helped patients to generate income to cover transport costs to the nearest health institutions.

“We now have the privilege of discussing serious health issues like cancer, diabetes and HIV and we organise trips to Bulawayo to get tested. We have even started constructing toilets in the 18 villages so we minimise the risk of contracting cholera and diarrhoea.”

Miss Nomzamo Ncube from HOCIC said the groups were also a way to foster health seeking behaviours among Umguza’s villagers.

“So far we have helped women group themselves and come up with proposals to generate money to cater for their needs. We have trained them on agriculture, craft and motivated them to use the same groups and improve their access to healthcare,” said Ms Ncube.

She said the villagers were now willing to seek healthcare and were helping pregnant women in the area and adolescents access sexual and reproductive health rights.

CWGH securing rights programme officer Mr Mongi Khumalo said they would continue lobbying and encouraging the community to take an initiative in constructing the clinic.

“We have been doing advocacy among the communities and we wish to empower them with health information and skills so that through their own initiatives, they construct a clinic. So far they have sourced land and we will continue lobbying until they have access to proper health care,” he said. – State Media

A WOMAN from Burnside suburb in Bulawayo shocked a court when she refused to have a paternity test done on her two children after her husband claimed to be sterile.

The drama unfolded after Ms Anacleta Tshuma (30) filed for maintenance against Davy Ndlovu (52) seeking $340 for the upkeep of their two children aged seven and five last Friday. Ms Tshuma exploded when the magistrate, Mr Felix Mkhwananzi, said the couple should go for a paternity test asking who would take care of her two children if they turned out not to be her husband’s

“Are you going to assist me to look for the father of the children if he (Ndlovu) discovers that he is not the father? Is he going to change my children`s surname because they are using his surname. Who will take care of the children then?” she asked.

Ms Tshuma said Ndlovu was an irresponsible man and was not contributing to the upkeep of his children.

“Your Worship, l left this man in 2010 because he was not supporting our children. I need the money to buy food, clothes, medication and pay school fees for our children,” she said.

Ndlovu told the magistrate that he had failed to have a child in the first 43 years of his life and ended up seeking medical attention outside of the country.

He said a medical report revealed that he was infertile.

“I know that these are not my children but because of the love l have for her, l have been paying school fees and buying clothes. Since she decided to drag me to this court l want to show her that she is not clever. I demand a paternity test to be carried out next week,” Ndlovu said.

“These are not my children. I was failing to impregnate a woman and then in 2008 when l was 43-years-old l went to Thailand to seek medical attention. The doctors told me that I’m infertile. I got married to this woman but l didn’t tell her my condition. l kept it secret.”

He said he has been maintaining the children and his wife but last week she left their matrimonial home after she hit his mother with a bottle of cooking oil for no apparent reason. Ndlovu offered $150 for the upkeep of the children, saying he would sue Ms Tshuma for the money if the children turned out not to be his. There was further drama after court when Ms Tshuma allegedly disappeared without signing papers to authorise the paternity test.

Threats of retrenchment and delays in payment of salaries continue to haunt the economy as more companies opt for restructuring and downsizing operations in order to remain viable, a survey has shown.

In its national salary survey for 2016, Stratways Management Consulting, a Bulawayo-based labour consultancy firm, indicates that salary increases are unlikely in 2017 as companies are generally struggling to pay their workers on time with many battling salary arrears of up to five years.

Workers continue to be on the receiving end as some businesses are folding and owe large sums of money in unpaid wages and salaries.

The survey findings, which were released during a labour update seminar in Bulawayo on Friday, also show that some workers are being cornered to accept pay cuts in order to save their jobs.

“About 60 percent of companies surveyed have engaged in restructuring and retrenchment and most retrenchments have been guided by the minimum retrenchment package of one month salary for every two years worked.

“There are delayed wages in some cases going back five years. Some businesses have lost the capacity to pay wages completely,” reads part of the survey.

“Most employers and employees associations are unlikely to offer any salary increase in 2017 although unions and labour will continue to press for an increase.

“A number of managerial employees have taken benefits and salary cuts to save jobs. On average managerial salary cuts range from 10-15 percent. A majority of organisations surveyed have wages and salary arrears ranging from a few days to more than a year.”

As at October 2016, neither Government, local government, parastatals, manufacturing nor commerce or mining sectors, had increased salaries.

Recent reports indicate parastatals such as the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Hwange Colliery Company Limited actually have salary backlogs of more than a year.

The survey, however, shows that most companies were not being taken to court over delayed pay due to effective communication mechanisms with their workers over the state of their operations.

Industry capacity utilisation also remains subdued due to a myriad of challenges facing the economy although a positive 13 percent increase from 34 percent to 47 percent was recorded in 2016, according to the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI).

The survey also warns of negative growth due to the persistent foreign exchange shortages which affect input supplies resulting in erratic production with workers, in some instances, being sent on unpaid leave.

The survey further indicates the labour environment in the country is generally hostile to the worker as many employees are earning below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) estimated at $500 per month.

A poverty datum line (PDL) represents the cost of a given standard of living that must be attained if a person is deemed not to be poor. Basically, a household’s income should be able to buy the quantities of food, shelter, and clothing, deemed necessary for their basic upkeep.

However, a huge margin exists between the lowest paid and executives. Based on the Peterson method of job evaluation, top executives on the E2 grade earn between $10 000 and $20 000 per month with the lowest paid pocketing between $245 and $360 per month.

The situation is not entirely gloomy with the survey showing that benefits and allowances such as housing and transport remain available for many workers, in particular transport allowance, which is available across industries.

As for managerial employees, most benefits have been adjusted downwards to trim costs although some such as children’s school fees, medical aid and housing, have been hardly tampered with. On the bonus question, the survey indicates that where bonuses are not contractual, most organisations have scrapped them or reduced them or put in place an alternative payment plan. – State Media

A RARE bird species is making waves in Victoria Falls with scores of tourists flocking to the resort town to have a glimpse of it.

On Saturday, British Airways and South African Airways, both from Johannesburg, were full when they landed at the Victoria Falls International Airport while a chartered flight was expected as bird watchers flew in to see the pied wheatear and take pictures.

The first group of a dozen tourists arrived in the resort town on Friday after the migratory bird was spotted at the Victoria Falls International Airport on Thursday. Some arrived by road from Botswana after pictures of the bird went viral on social media. The bird, with a dark brown back, black tail, light brown chest and whitish lower part, has been switching positions on the roof of the facility and car park where scores of visitors with big cameras spent the day waiting to take pictures once it emerges.

Mr Charles Brightman of Victoria Falls, who had not returned a Business Chronicle call yesterday after promising to do so, reportedly spotted the bird first and immediately took pictures which he shared on social media.

Birding experts said it is the fourth time the bird species has been seen in Africa after being spotted twice in Botswana in 1984 and in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, some years ago.

Mr Niall Perrins from Bustard Birding in Johannesburg is one of the people who immediately flew into the country.

“We saw pictures after Mr Gavin Hunt sent them to Trevor in Cape Town and we immediately flew in to see it. This is a rare bird species in southern Africa and this is obviously an exciting moment for bird watchers.

“This type of bird is found in Eastern Europe and Asia and I think this one missed its way and did what’s called reverse migration when others migrated back northwards,” said Mr Perrins.

He said the bird could survive and retrace its route since birds have ‘a campus in their brains.’ Another bird watcher from Victoria Falls, who has been organising accommodation for those arriving in Victoria Falls, Mr Daryl Tiran, said this was an important occasion for those involved in birding. He said the bird was spotted on the day South African bird watchers were celebrating Flufftail Festival in Johannesburg, a festival of bird watching.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief operating officer Mr Givemore Chidzidzi, who was in Victoria Falls on Saturday, said:

“Zimbabwe is endowed with so many resources that we sometimes take for granted of which some of them have potential to attract tourists. Bird watching is a specialised niche market and this is good for us as a country to have people flying in to watch birds. What we have noticed is the power of social media and e-platforms which we should embrace as an industry to appeal to potential tourists out there,” he said.

The pied wheatear is a small migratory songbird with the male and female having very different plumage to one another. In spring, the male has a distinctive white breast and crown, a black face and black wings. In contrast, the female pied wheatear is much duller, with greyish-brown plumage and a white lower breast.

When migrating, experts said, the birds move individually and partner each other during breeding time. – State Media

A MAN from Lupane allegedly committed suicide by drinking a pesticide to avoid arrest after allegedly raping his young brother’s wife.

Ngoneni Ngwenya (49) from Mpahlwa Village 3 under Chief Mabhikwa died at St Luke’s Hospital last Tuesday moments before prosecutors could charge him with rape on his hospital bed.

Neighbours said he behaved like he was possessed a few days before the sex attack last Friday. “Ngwenya continually chanted that he was going to rape someone and commit suicide, in a chilling voice,” said a neighbour.

Ngwenya, villagers said, stayed alone at his homestead after his wife deserted him when she was impregnated by a neighbour. They said the woman disappeared on the day she was supposed to appear in court with her alleged boyfriend for infidelity.

Ngwenya allegedly raped his South African-based young brother’s wife on Friday night.

The woman reported him to his maternal aunt and he consumed a cotton pesticide on Saturday.

The Chronicle heard that Ngwenya’s body was awaiting a postmortem at St Luke’s Hospital mortuary.

Chief Mabhikwa confirmed the incident.

“I am aware there is such an issue in my area although there was no official report. I heard someone was rushed to hospital after consuming poison and later died,” said Chief Mabhikwa.

A neighbour who found Ngwenya writhing in agony in the bush on Saturday said: “We found him in the bush where he had fled to and consumed poison.

We immediately informed police who rushed him to St Luke’s Hospital where he was admitted.

“What happened is that on Friday Ngwenya went to his young brother’s homestead at 10PM and knocked at the door upon which the unsuspecting woman (24) opened for him. He sat on a sofa and harshly ordered her to sit next to him. He started fondling her and raped her while the kids were sleeping,” said the neighbour on condition he remained anonymous.

“The woman went to report the matter to her husband’s maternal aunt in the morning and the case was reported to the police. When he heard that police were looking for him, Ngwenya fled into the bush where he took cotton pesticide.

“That’s when we came across him in the bush,” said the neighbour.

Police provincial spokesperson for Matabeleland North Assistant Inspector Eglon Nkala could not comment on the issue as he was out of office. – State Media

The Government will investigate Gweru City Council to expose dozens of employees who allegedly prejudiced the municipality through false medical aid claims of up to $100 000 per person per month.

A preliminary forensic audit unearthed serious abuse of the council’s lax systems which saw unscrupulous employees making false medical claims from the local authority using fake receipts.

Council has since enlisted the services of Fidelity Life, a medical aid service provider where all council employees will contribute, to plug the loopholes.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said workers who illegally benefited would face disciplinary action.

“We now have a consolidated medical aid scheme for employees thereby ending fraudulent direct payment system for endless dependants with no limits amounting to up to $100 000 a month. We are looking forward to a forensic audit of the former system so that those employees who used the medical aid system for personal profit can be exposed and dealt with.”

Kasukuwere expressed satisfaction with the work which has been done by the outgoing commission which he said managed to restore corporate governance systems.

“Corporate governance is the basis upon which the council operates. I’m happy to report the restoration of systems in the city of Gweru. Some of the terms of reference that I gave the commission was the restoration of systems including the stopping of revenue leakages, extravagant spending, the prevention of double dipping and disciplining of wayward staff,” he said.

“The human resources department of Gweru has been problematic with an old fashioned and bloated staff structure. The coming in of the commission has seen the rationalisation of salaries in line with the 2014 Cabinet directive.”

Kasukuwere’s sentiments follow the firing of former mayor Mr Hamutendi Kombayi and former ward 9 Councillor Mr Kenneth Sithole after the duo were found guilty of corruption and mismanagement.

Seven other MDC councillors were also found guilty but were extended an olive branch and will return to town house together with three Zanu-PF councillors who were cleared of wrong doing. – State Media

Kuwadzana MP and MDC Deputy President Nelson Chamisa today went on a door to door offensive, “listening to people and educating citizens.” PICTURES:

 Terrence Mawawa, Gutu | A senior official in the women’s wing of Joice Mujuru’s Zim PF party has died.

Felistus Guni (45) was the deputy secretary for external affairs in the women’s wing. She succumbed to cancer last week after a lengthy battle with the deadly disease. She was buried at the family home in Guni Village, Gutu South Constituency. Zim PF and MDC-Tsvangirai supporters converged at the family homestead to bid farewell to the affable Guni who was regarded as a key political figure in the area.

Guni was diagnosed with cancer at at Morgenster Mission Hospital and she battled with the deadly disease for a long time. Guni’s mother Simbisai said the family had lost an illustrious and indefatigable pillar of strength.

“I am old and she was the one who looked after me.Life is going to be tough for the entire family without her,”said Guni’s mother. Zim PF provincial spokesperson, Jeffryson Chitando, described the late Guni as a dedicated party cadre who was determined to fight for democracy. “Guni was a vital cog in the women ‘s wing. As Zim PF we were saddened by her death.We will continue to strive for democracy and good governance despite the setback,” said Chitando.

Party sources revealed to ZimEye.com Guni’s death was a huge blow to Mujuru’s bid to take firm control of political events in the party following her simmering battle with her former colleagues, Didymus Mutasa, Rugare Gumbo and Kudakwashe Bhasikiti -among other members accused of infiltrating the party. “Mujuru is in a quandary following the energy sapping sparring with her former comrades who are battling to stop her from using the party name,” said a senior party official.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa “may be down but he is not out” former ruling party spokesperson and Cabinet minister, Rugare Gumbo, says of the Midlands godfather.

This is despite the frenzied speculation within President Robert Mugabe’s warring Zanu-PF that Vice President Mnangagwa’s mooted presidential aspirations are now dead in the water.

Speaking to journalists the forthright Gumbo who is now a senior official in the troubled Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) said he had no doubt that Zanu-PF’s succession riddle still had many twists and turns to come.

Madyira, as Gumbo is fondly referred to – and who worked with both Mugabe and Mnangagwa for many decades, before and after Zimbabwe’s independence from Britain in 1980 – also said it was “folly” to assume that Mugabe had shut the door on his deputy succeeding him.

He also said it could not be ruled out that Mnangagwa himself was “playing a game of hide-and-seek” with the nonagenarian, adding that the two men had a strong bond and longstanding relationship which was “only fully understood by them”.

“What is increasingly becoming certain is that Mugabe wants to die in office. When we were still in government he never hinted on his preferred successor and we never pressured him because we assumed that he would soon choose his successor,” he said.

Pressed to say whether he thought Mugabe had nuked Mnangagwa’s chances of succeeding him, Gumbo – who was expelled from Zanu-PF in 2014 with many other ruling party bigwigs on untested allegations of plotting to assassinate and topple the nonagenarian from power – said the two men were “sizing and testing each other up”.

“Mugabe has always been a slippery character because of all things he always wanted power the most. While many other liberation movements had a succession plan, Mugabe long decided against coming up with one.

“Still, I wouldn’t say Mnangagwa has been blocked out. However, what I know is that Mugabe and Mnangagwa vakateyanirana mariva (the have set traps for each other). They are playing each other and only time will tell who will win,” he said.

Gumbo, one of only two surviving members of the venerated Dare reChimurenga (liberation war council), also accused Mugabe of having used Mnangagwa “for a very long time”, warning further that continuing to sideline the VP could be “a dangerous game” given Zanu-PF’s current high stakes politics.

Speaking in his annual interview with the ZBC last week, ahead of his 93rd birthday, Mugabe appeared to rule out the chances of Mnangagwa succeeding him when he said he would soldier on in power – notwithstanding his advanced age and declining health – and that he would only step down if Zanu-PF asked him to do so.

“The call to step down must come from my party, my party at congress, my party at central committee … I will step down.

“But then what do you see? It’s the opposite. They want me to stand for elections. They want me to stand for elections everywhere in the party.

“Of course, if I feel that I can’t do it anymore, I will say so to my party so that they relieve me. But for now I think I can’t say so … The majority of the people feel that there is no replacement, a successor who to them is acceptable, as acceptable as I am,” Mugabe said.

His statement was seen as slamming the door shut in the face of his longtime aide Mnangagwa, who until recently had been touted as a front runner to succeed him.

Stung by this damning statement, Mnangagwa’s angry allies, including sacked Mashonaland Central youth leader, Godfrey Tsenengamu, came out guns blazing, warning the increasingly frail nonagenarian that he faced a big fight if he continued to thwart the Midlands godfather’s mooted presidential aspirations.

Tsenengamu also said that they would now openly campaign for Mnangagwa as Mugabe’s successor, raising the stakes high in the succession saga.

He was subsequently nabbed by detectives, a day after he held his press conference in the capital where he let rip at Mugabe and his powerful wife Grace.

Tsenengamu has since appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court where he was denied bail.

He is facing three charges: violating provisions of the draconian Public Order and Security Act (Posa) for holding his press conference without clearance, undermining the authority of the president and subverting a constitutionally-elected government.

Mnangagwa has been under the cosh in Zanu-PF for the past few months for allegedly working fervently to stampede Mugabe out of power before the nonagenarian’s current presidential term ends in 2018.

Things became worse for him when he hosted sacked Zanu-PF officials at his rural home during the festive season, with his party foes alleging that this was in fact a meeting organised to plot the immediate ouster of Mugabe from power.

Grace also recently took a veiled dig at Mnangagwa during her rally in Buhera, when she attacked Zanu-PF bigwigs angling for her husband’s job, and mocked them on their alleged lack of “leadership qualities”.

She went on to tell the gathered crowd that if Mugabe were to die, Zimbabweans would vote for his corpse.

And on the same day that Grace was lynching party bigwigs, Mugabe was being recorded for his annual birthday interview in which he said there was no one worthy of succeeding him in Zanu-PF.

While Mnangagwa’s allies have openly attacked Mugabe, he has repeatedly declared loyalty for the nonagenarian and on Tuesday heaped praises on the country’s long-ruling leader during a surprise birthday party held for Gushungo at his Munhumutapa offices.

However, insiders also say beneath the smiles between the two men lies deep mistrust despite their having been in the trenches together for so long.

Mnangagwa has served as one of Mugabe’s top aides from the days of the liberation struggle until now.

In a previous interview with the Daily News on Sunday, Gumbo has claimed that both Mugabe and Mnangagwa wanted to wipe out freedom fighters that they disagreed with, and in particular leaders of the Dare reChimurenga “so as to assume total control of Zanu-PF.”

“VaMugabe has said it before and even Mnangagwa has also said that they arrested us and threw us in dungeons, but they have not said the whole story,” he said.

Gumbo and other members of Dare clashed with Mugabe over the direction of the liberation struggle, leading to their barbaric detention in Mozambique, together with the likes of the late Henry Hamadziripi, police commissioner general Augustine Chihuri, former ZBC chief executive Happison Muchechetere and Mukudzei Mudzi. – Daily News

ZimPF candidate in the upcoming Mwenezi East by-election, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti-Chuma has likened First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe and ZimPF leader, Joice Mujuru, to the destructive Cyclone Dineo.

On his Facebook page, Bhasikiti said females who are named Dineo, Joice and Grace were like destructive spirits.

He said the cyclone had coincided with Mujuru firing top ZimPF members and the First Lady resuming her rallies.

He urged the people of Zimbabwe to pray hard for divine intervention.

“I am just pondering on why these three great feminine names caused a stir this last week going all over. One is Dineo, the other two are obvious to you doctorates. Coincidence of spirits. Pakaipa.

Namatirai nyika nhasi. I am now fasting,” Bhasikiti wrote on his Facebook page.

Asked to shade more light on the statements, he said it was food for thought and open for interpretation.

The First Lady was in Buhera last week were she took a dig at Mujuru saying she is a nonentity in politics.

She also said the people of Zimbabwe would still vote for President Mugabe’s corpse even if he were to die before the 2018 elections because no one else is suitable to assume the presidency.

THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services foiled an escape bid in which an estimated 20 inmates – among them dangerous murder, armed robbery and rape suspects – had planned with the help of an alleged rogue prison officer to break out of Mutare Remand Prison last month.

Had it not been for the department’s intelligence organs that busted the planned break-out a few days before execution, dangerous suspects could have tasted freedom.

The planned escape was allegedly masterminded by two inmates, Dhiniwe Mabaya Bande and Tinashe Ivory Tsenesa.

ZPCS Manicaland public relations officer, Principal Prison Officer Liberty Mhlanga confirmed the case.

“Yes, we are investigating a planned escape alleged to have been masterminded by two inmates, Dhiniwe Mabaya Bande and Tinashe Ivory Tsenesa at Mutare Remand Prison. The plan to escape was busted by our intelligence organs on the ground before it matured. We are expecting to conclude our investigations by March 2017,” he said.

PPO Mhlanga could not be drawn to shed more light on the case as it is still under investigations.

However, sources privy to the case revealed that the inmates who were in a cell without a concrete roof planned to escape through the roof with the assistance of a prison officer who demanded $1 000 for his services.

“For helping them escape, the prison officer demanded $1 000. He provided them with the best possible escape routes and had also organised a vehicle to ferry the inmates once they were out. That vehicle was supposed to transport the fugitives to Masvingo where they were to be dropped and go separate ways.

“The plan did not work out because information leaked before they could execute the break-out. Bande and Tsenesa who knew each other were the brains behind the escape. They roped in other inmates into the plan because it was not possible for them to escape alone,” said the source.

Bande (32) from Chimanimani who was on the run was arrested last year on allegations of committing a series of crimes after detectives tracked him down through his mobile phone.

He, together with an accomplice who is still at large, raped, robbed and attempted to murder a woman. Bande is awaiting trial at the courts. He made the headlines in 2016 following the March 7 incident in which he called a complainant on her mobile phone using his cell number.

He told the woman that he was selling some diamonds and after making several calls they agreed to meet at Kurauone Primary School in Marange.

At around 1am the following day (March 7, 2016), the complainant hired a taxi which belonged to Onismo Magigwana and upon arrival at Kurauone Primary School, they waited for Bande who later arrived in the company of one Trymore, who is still at large.

Bande and his accomplice then attacked the woman and the taxi driver. He is alleged to have fired a shot from a pistol he was holding and hit the driver, while his accomplice sprayed some pepper to the woman’s face.

They then demanded cash from the complainants and later dragged the female complainant from the vehicle. The pair allegedly took turns to rape her.

They grabbed her handbag which contained $950, a Nokia Asher cellphone, an identity card and disappeared into darkness.

Tsenesa is awaiting trial for unlawful entry charges. – Manica Post

A Masvingo man was burnt beyond recognition when a candle lit up the bed he was sleeping on during a weekend out at a small house’s place.

Police confirmed that Langton Mangena (35) was burnt to death at around 4am at his girlfriend’s place in Rujeko C. The girlfriend was only identified as Plax.

Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Peter Zhanero confirmed the development and said investigations were still underway to establish the cause of the fire.
Sadly, Mangena’s girlfriend who was only identified as Plax was away when her boyfriend died in the inferno.

Sources said the girlfriend stays in Rhodene, another suburb in Masvingo where she works from Monday to Saturday and would join his boyfriend on Sundays.
Neighbours who spoke to The Mirror said Mangena had gone to a darts tournament in Zvishavane and when he came back, he started drinking beer with his friends at Rujeko A Business Centre till late.

It was said that he came back home around 0300hrs and neighbours suspected that he could have forgotten to switch off the candle, resulting in the fire spreading throughout the house.
“His girlfriend was staying in Rhodene where she works so she usually comes on Sundays. He was alone in the room and we were woken by the noise of breaking glasses. We phoned the fire brigade and it came around past four in the morning but Mangena was already dead,” said a neighbour. Barely few weeks ago, the Mangena family lost the deceased’s brother who died in South Africa. – Mirror

President Tsvangirai today kicked off the last leg of his listening tour in Wedza in Mashonaland East where opinion leaders spoke about the endemic fear planted by Zanu PF in their communities.

Traditional leaders, particularly chiefs and headmen, said Zanu PF killed and orchestrated violence against the people in 2008 and was invoking that period to instill fear and intimidate villagers and local communities.

The opinion leaders expressed their lack of trust and faith in the BVR process, saying Zanu PF would use the fingerprints issue to intimidate villagers to say the party would use the fingerprints to see where they had put their vote.

Just as in other provinces, the traditional leaders bemoaned their paltry allowances which were seven months in arrears. They said Zanu PF claimed the allowances were party money when in fact these allowances were State money funded by the taxpayers. “It is not Zanu PF money, and Zanu PF should not misrepresent itself as the State.” President Tsvangirai told the traditional leaders.

The people’s President assured the community leaders that the people’s vote was a secret and it was a lie by Zanu PF that they would be able, through the BVR process, to see where the people had placed their vote.

Fear and intimidation are emerging to be the key issues in Mashonaland East. The community leaders cited names and incidents to explain how fear, coercion and intimidation were the major instruments used by Zanu PF to cow villagers and keep rural communities at ransom.

On alliances, the community leaders said it was important to harness all energies to ensure that Zanu PF is pastured out in 2018.

President Tsvangirai will this afternoon hold a similar meeting with community leaders in Marondera. Tomorrow, he will be in Mutoko and Murehwa, engaging ordinary people on the crisis in the country, the new governance culture post-2018 as well as strategies to ensure that the people’s will is protected.

Luke Tamborenyoka
Presidential Spokesperson and Director of Communications

A week after a Bulawayo building that housed popular fast food outlet Nando’s collapsed and killed one person, it has emerged that 35 more buildings in the city were condemned and need urgent attention to avert similar incidents.

However, it has also emerged that the collapsed building that housed Nandos was not among those that had been condemned, raising further fears that there could be more buildings facing structural defects but that have not been identified.

Bulawayo council spokesperson Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, in written responses, said the local authority has raised a red flag on 35 buildings in the city and immediately ordered occupants and owners to take remedial action on the identified defects.

Although she could not give the names of the condemned buildings she said the Nando’s building that collapsed was not on the condemned list of buildings as at 31 December 2016.

“Regular building inspections are done to all buildings in the city and should defects be noted on any of these buildings, including those with historic merit, corrective measures that ensure safety, stability and preservation of historic outlook are prescribed to the owners of such buildings. “In the event of any authority for construction works, maintenance or alterations being granted, standard building by-laws, applicable to any and all construction projects are applicable, such as the Model Building By-Laws (1977) in ensuring best design and construction standards are adhered to as well as the safety of the public.

As at the 31st December 2016, 35 buildings were condemned,” said Mrs Mpofu. Regarding the Nando’s incident, Mrs Mpofu declined to comment on council investigations on the cause of the collapse.

“The building had not been condemned. Further information should be obtained from the owners of the business who have engaged a structural engineer to produce a professional assessment on the matter,” said Mrs Mpofu. She said some by-laws which govern the state of buildings in the CBD are the Model Building By-Laws of Zimbabwe 1977, Bulawayo Buildings, Roads and Street By-Laws 1971, the Architects’ Act and the Urban Councils Act. She said whenever council noted some anomalies within buildings they issue notices to property owners advising on the course of action to be done to rectify them.-state media

TRANSPORT minister Jorum Gumbo has been accused of canvassing support for a candidate linked to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s camp in the inconclusive Zanu PF Masvingo provincial elections for the chairperson’s post where he was the presiding officer.

Gumbo was appointed interim Masvingo Zanu PF provincial chairman with the task of overseeing elections to choose a substantive chairman following months of haggling between Mnangagwa’s Team Lacoste faction and the rival G40, over control of the province.

After Thursday’s elections where some districts failed to vote following incessant rain that made most access roads inaccessible, Gumbo announced the provincial results that showed Ezra Chadzamira scoring a landslide over retired Colonel Mutero Masanganise, who is believed to be aligned to G40. Masanganise is said to be President Robert Mugabe’s uncle.

Gumbo said he would submit the election results to the Zanu PF politburo for a decision on the way forward. According to the results, Chadzamira polled over 12 393 votes against Masanganise’s 4 888, representing 64% of the vote.

But in a statement released yesterday, Masanganise and Masvingo urban MP Daniel Shumba, who is also a deputy politburo member and one of the most senior Zanu PF members in Masvingo, disputed the figures given by Gumbo, accusing him of showing bias towards Chadzamira.

They also accused Gumbo of prematurely announcing the results before other districts voted, allegedly in a bid to influence the outcome.

“We have noted with dismay the misconceptions, misrepresentations and clear bias towards a particular candidate by the presiding officer,” part of the statement read.

“The presiding officer displayed from the onset his bias towards a certain candidate and has continued to canvas the public opinion by going public about a process, which is yet to be concluded.”

Shumba and Masanganise said they wondered where Gumbo got the 63% when the whole of Mwenezi district did not vote while two thirds of Chiredzi members were not involved in the polls.
“In Gutu district, a fragmentation of few districts participated, with Gutu North constituency not having a single vote,” the duo said.

“In Masvingo district, only urban constituencies voted with an average of two districts each having voted. In the other four constituencies, Chivi South was affected by heavy rains, while there was a circus in Zaka East where the Member of Parliament was conducting the elections.”

Shumba and Masanganise said only 34,5% of the eligible voters managed to cast their vote and elections were only held in 210 out of the 435 districts in the province, constituting less than 50% against Gumbo’s alleged 63%.

The duo said most people did not vote because of heavy rains, election officers refusing to visit all voting centres, manipulation of district structures, interference by some politburo members and connivance between supervising provinces and some MPs.

Shumba and Masanganise said only 18 000 people voted out of a possible 52 000 from the whole province, representing a turnout of 34,5% vote.

“The above and other details shall be presented to Zanu PF party headquarters for onward review and determination. Accordingly, the perceptions created shall be dealt with through internal party structures, thus the public must ignore the partisan insinuations that have been created in yesterday [Friday]’s media release.

“It is not in a presiding officer’s position to pronounce and create perceptions on an election process that is still pending and awaiting review,” the two added.

Masvingo has been a battleground for Zanu PF factional wars and several interim chairpersons have been appointed and fired as factions continued to tussle for control.

The elections were called for by the politburo after the Team Lacoste faction toppled the then interim chair, Amasa Nenjana and replaced him with Chadzamira, who had been suspended for undermining first lady Grace Mugabe before he was reinstated.

The coup on Nenjana was overturned by the politburo which then ordered elections to settle the matter once and for all, but the Thursday polls showed the problems were still far from over.
Zanu PF commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday refused to comment on the matter, preferring to simply say: “We would have wished the process to be complete.”

While addressing thousands of party supporters who gathered in Matobo for the commemoration of his 93rd birthday, President Robert Mugabe castigated canvassing for support by factions for control of provinces.

He urged Zanu PF members to desist from factionalism which has continued to threaten the fabric of the ruling party. – Standard

After years of skirting around the succession issue, President Robert Mugabe finally laid out his cards and came short of declaring that his 51-year-old wife was next in line – after his death.

Mugabe told ZTV in his traditional birthday interview last week that Grace had become acceptable to the people while dismissing senior Zanu PF leaders often linked to his throne as no hoppers.

Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has of late been linked to the presidency, with some of his vocal supporters publicly declaring their frustration with Mugabe over his reluctance to pass on the baton.

University of Zimbabwe political science guru Eldred Masunungure said Mugabe was paving the way for his wife to take over power. However, he warned that the veteran ruler could have misread local politics after declaring that the volatile Grace was now more mature and popular with the people.

Masunungure said although Grace had showed a great deal of maturity since 2014 when she led the ouster of former vice-president Joice Mujuru, assuming she was popular enough to be accepted as president was overstretching one’s imagination.

“What is obvious is that Mugabe is testing the waters. He is paving way for his wife to take over,” he said. “The president is partly right on maturity. But on acceptability, if Grace is to take over, it should be during Mugabe’s time.

“If you remove the president, her power melts. She is nothing without the president.
“That is her tragedy; she will need the blessings of her husband while he is still alive. Alone, she cannot stand.”

Harare-based political analyst Alexander Rusero said it appeared Mugabe had settled for his wife as his successor, but warned that it would not be smooth sailing for the former typist.
“Zimbabwe politics is grounded on egoistic politics of personalities,” he said.
“We might disapprove of what Mugabe is saying, but what the president is simply saying is, he is the starting and end of Zanu PF and what he says goes and is telling the people to rally behind his wife,” Rusero added.

“It is clear Grace is a juvenile in Zanu PF politics, but with Mugabe around her, she has the power.
“Grace understands that and that is why she is proposing even using Mugabe’s corpse in elections. She knows where she is drawing her power from.”

Ivan Vava, a political commentator said Mugabe had already endorsed his wife, but was misguided in thinking she was now accepted.

“If anything, the people that attended her rallies are either coerced or they are there to collect goodies and freebies,” he said.

Zimbabwe People First spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire said Mugabe had found a useful tool in Grace as he tries to keep factions angling for his post at bay.

“In terms of political maturity, she is wanting, but Mugabe could be saying she has matured in being an arsenal to use against his perceived political opponents,” he said.
“When Mugabe talks about Grace’s political maturity, the temptation is to understand that in the normative sense of political maturity.

“However, what is likely is that Grace has graduated into the ideal political tool that Mugabe uses to decimate opponents, the garrulous, verbally abusive and uncouth political persona who cares very little about morality, decency and human dignity.

“That is the maturity, the thick-skin that Mugabe inculcated into his wife for her to fight his factional battles.”
Since taking over as the Zanu PF leader in 1976, Mugabe has used cunning tricks to stay at the helm of the party.

Discussion on his successor has been taboo in the national political discourse and indeed, a few who dared challenge his hegemony found themselves languishing in the political wilderness.
After decimating late vice-president Joshua Nkomo’s Zapu using the North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade under the guise of thwarting a dissident movement, Mugabe gave himself majestic executive powers and tried to force the country into a one party-state system.

But late former Zanu PF secretary-general Edgar Tekere immediately saw the dangers of Mugabe’s plans and successfully blocked him by splitting from the revolutionary party and forming the Zimbabwe Unity Movement, although it did not change Mugabe’s plan to be life president.

A decade later, Masvingo legislator Dzikamai Mavhaire shocked all and sundry in Zanu PF by openly telling Mugabe to retire while debating on presidential term limits in Parliament.
Mavhaire’s call was no doubt a confirmation of a rebellion against Mugabe that had started to gather momentum.

Although the maverick MP was sanctioned, the agenda had been set and Mugabe’s retirement remained topical on the minds of many party members, albeit silently.

The 2004 Tsholotsho Declaration, building on the power gap left by the death of Vice-President Simon Muzenda in 2003, marked a watershed period to the open defiance of the 93-year-old leader’s rule after the Mavhaire “Mugabe must go” refrain.

Since then, Zanu PF has been imploding, with factions locked in bitter power struggles as bigwigs prepare for life after Mugabe.

The most serious challenge to Mugabe’s rule took place during Zanu PF’s 2006 conference held in Goromonzi as factions led by Mnangagwa and Mujuru drew lines in the sand.

But Mugabe emerged the winner again and the now wary strongman became more combative on thwarting succession talks, making it treasonous to talk about who would take over from him. Standard

PRESIDENT ROBERT Mugabe has taken the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Lazarus Dokora to task on introducing Islam into the country’s education system.

Responding to a question on the controversies surrounding the new curriculum being implemented by the Government during his birthday interview with ZBC-TV last Tuesday night, Mugabe said Dr Dokora had said to him nothing of that sort was going to be introduced.

He added that Dr Dokora had revealed that he is a Catholic.

“Akaramba yekuti anonzi Ayatollah, akati no, beard yangu iyi ndakangobvira nayo kudhara. I cannot shave it off. Vamwe vachiti ah zvinonzi when you went to Iran ndokwawakabva wava Muslim, akati no I am not Muslim at all. I remain a Catholic.

“Ah isu tanga tanzwa kuti watova muMuslim. Saka ava kutounza chiMuslim kuti anoda some Muslim prayer, akati no he is not introducing anything like that,” Mugabe said.

No Zimbabwean was killed or injured in xenophobic skirmishes that occurred in South Africa over the last fortnight, Harare’s chief diplomat in Pretoria, Ambassador Isaac Moyo, has said.
In an interview with the state media, Ambassador Moyo said the South Africa Government had assured African diplomats that foreigners in that country will be protected.
Violence broke out during Friday’s anti-immigrant march in Pretoria and parts of Johannesburg.

Police used stun grenades, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse the protestors going by the name “Mamelodi Concerned Residents” who accused immigrants of “taking our jobs, fuelling crime and prostitution”.

The South Africa Police Service later reported that 136 people had been arrested.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma condemned the violence and encouraged peaceful co-existence on Friday.

Ambassador Moyo said, “We have not received any reports of any death or injury of a Zimbabwean as a result of the xenophobia-related incidents that occurred in Pretoria and before that, in the south of Johannesburg.

“However, we are advising Zimbabweans to be vigilant whilst maintaining calm. We are reassured by the authorities that they are doing everything needed to stabilise the situation and to deal with the legitimate grievances of the affected communities and that at all times, any xenophobic tendencies will be dealt with.”

On Friday, the “Mamelodi Concerned Residents” delivered a petition to the Home Affairs Ministry alleging that worshippers from Zimbabwean apostolic churches were “destroying our public parks”, and accused them of defecating, urinating and burning trees.

The petition also accused foreigners of being “arrogant and don’t know how to talk to people, especially Nigerians”. President Zuma, however, called for calm and understanding.

Said President Zuma: “I’ve been told people leading the march are saying it’s not an anti-foreigners march, it is anti-crime. Those involved in crime happen to be amongst them, those who come from other countries.

“Let us help to cool down the situation, make people understand, talk to the police and talk to the foreigners. That is what they should do rather than making statements that actually exacerbate the feelings of the people.

“I think we love using phrases in South Africa that, at the times, cause unnecessary perceptions about us. I think we are not (xenophobic), it’s not the first time we’re with the foreigners here.”

Outgoing Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku  is under investigation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc)  for alleged criminal abuse of office.

Chidyausiku is accused of appointed retired Justice Vernanda Ziyambi to the Supreme Court bench to hear a case in which he was an interested party, state media reported Sunday.

Chidyausiku retires this week.

According to Sunday Mail, Chidyausiku recalled  Ziyambi on February 6, 2017, though she had left the judiciary in 2016 after reaching retirement age.

Section 186 (2) of the Constitution says judges must retire at 70 years.

As such, University of Zimbabwe law student  Romeo Zibani wrote to Zacc, asking the Commission to probe Chidyausiku for “deliberately and intentionally” contravening the law in order to further a particular cause.

Before  Ziyambi’s latest appointment, the High Court had granted  Zibani’s application to suspend public interviews to select the next Chief Justice.

The Judicial Services Commission noted the ruling, went ahead with the interviews and then filed an appeal at the Supreme Court in December 2016.

Chidyausiku later appointed Ziyambi who subsequently sat on the Supreme Court panel that reversed the High Court ruling on February 13.

In his letter to Zacc dated February 24, 2017, Zibani alleges that Justice Ziyambi was brought into the picture as “the majority of judges” had refused to hear the JSC’s appeal.

Prior to this, he had filed court papers challenging the constitutionality of the Supreme Court panel that gave the JSC permission to conduct the said public interviews.

Zacc Head of Investigations Goodson Nguni last Friday confirmed that the corruption-fighting body had received the letter, but refused to disclose further details.

Zibani tells Zacc in the letter: “Justice Ziyambi had retired last year in November 2016 after having reached the age of seventy (70). The subsequent appointment of Retired Justice Ziyambi was unlawful and unconstitutional as I have indicated.

Retired Justice Ziyambi was no longer eligible for appointment having retired at the age of seventy (70).

“It is my humble submission that the Chief Justice deliberately and intentionally contravened the Section I have referred to above by appointing a retired judge who had reached the age of seventy (70) in contravention of the Constitution.

” This is a clear abuse of the Chief Justice’s office and, therefore, the Chief Justice is guilty of abuse of office. “I say so because the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) Section 174 (1) reads thus;

“174 Criminal abuse of duty as public officer  ‘If a public officer, in the exercise of his or her functions as such, intentionally,
(a) does anything that is contrary to or inconsistent with his or her duty as a public officer or
(b) omits to do anything which is his or her duty as a public officer to do; for the purpose of showing favour of disfavour to any person, he or she shall be guilty of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer and liable to a fine not exceeding level thirteen or imprisonment for a period not exceeding fifteen years or both.’

“The Chief Justice is guilty of contravening the above Section. I am requesting the (Zimbabwe) Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate this abuse of office by the Chief Justice.” – State Media

A 60-YEAR-OLD general hand at Alan Redfern Primary School in Plumtree Town has appeared in court facing allegations of fondling a Grade Five pupil at the school on Valentine’s Day.

Fanti Moyo who was staying at the school cottages reportedly fondled the 10-year-old who cannot be named for ethical reasons while she was buying a freezit from his home. He appeared on initial remand before Plumtree magistrate, Mr Joshua Mawere facing an indecent assault charge. Moyo was remanded out of custody to Tuesday after he was granted a $100 bail.

Prosecuting, Mrs Rose Sibanda said Moyo allegedly fondled the breasts of the 10-year-old girl on 14 February at about 2pm and he further told her that they now belonged to him.

“On 14 February around 2pm, the juvenile went alone to Moyo’s house during lunchtime to buy a freezit. She gave him a 10 cents bond coin and it dropped on the floor while in Moyo’s hands. Moyo ordered the girl to pick up the coin and she complied. He then started fondling the juvenile’s breasts and told her that she shouldn’t allow anyone to touch her breasts as they now belonged to him,” she said.

Mrs Sibanda said Moyo further tried to force the juvenile to enter his house but she refused. She said the girl went back to class and narrated the story to her friend. Upon arrival at home she reported the matter to her parents who in turn reported the matter to the police resulting in Moyo’s arrest. Moyo is being represented by Mr Prince Butshe of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers. In his conditions of bail Moyo was ordered to reside at his stipulated address, not to interfere with witnesses and to stay away from his workplace. – State Media

The Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Dr Christopher Mushohwe has dismissed sentiments by former Industry and International Trade minister Nkosana Moyo who was quoted attacking the Zimbabwean Government.

In a message posted on his Facebook page last week, former Industry and International Trade minister, Moyo, attacked the Zimbabwe Government, accusing it of financial indiscipline and failure to grow the economy.

In a statement last night, Minister Mushohwe said Moyo was seeking political attention as he was positioning himself to join an opposition political party.

“It is common knowledge that Nkosana Moyo is being positioned for a faction of an opposition party.  It is therefore not surprising that in a bid to improve his eventual political showing, he is weirdly seeking political attention hoping to improve his prospects. Many however, remember Nkosana Moyo as a fugitive from a ministerial appointment made by President Mugabe whom he dares to insult today. The nation is fully aware that Nkosana Moyo was given the responsibility to oversee the Industry and International Trade Ministry in 2000 but instead proved himself to be “spineless” and a quitter when he left Government in 2001 in a rush after failing to contribute anything meaningful to the development of Zimbabwe. Instead of joining hands with other patriotic Zimbabweans in the trenches, Moyo could not withstand the heat and cowardly eloped to foreign lands,” Minister Mushohwe said.

The minister added: “While it is his right to join crumbling opposition politics, Zimbabweans have a right not to expect any solution from a person who deserted them in the past and now, quisling-like, seeks to join another party. Any attempt to besmirch an iconic and principled veteran leader like President R.G. Mugabe is bound to boomerang. Having been associated with a few International Finance Institutions, Moyo should be the first one to understand the reasons why Zimbabwe is in its current economic situation.” – State Media

There is no love lost between veteran opposition politician Margret Dongo and former vice-president Joice Mujuru.
Dongo, who was fired by Mujuru from the Zimbabwe People First Party (ZimPF) in a clear out that also claimed the scalps of former senior Zanu PF leaders Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo, has spoken for the first time about the ugly fallout.

The former Zanu PF MP claimed that although Mujuru had always shown signs of being a dictator, she least expected her drastic move to fire her and other ZimPF founding members who invited her to lead the party.

“Mujuru’s decision to expel me from ZimPF is the culmination of months of self-defeating politics borrowed from Zanu PF’s playbook,” Dongo told The Standard in an interview after days of prodding.

“They are politics of insecurity and a debilitating inability to apply the principles of civility to political conflict. I only learned about my expulsion through the media,” she added.

Dongo said in 2014 she was approached by Gumbo who wanted her to persuade Mujuru to lead ZimPF.

She said on several occasions she drove to the former VP’s farm outside Harare to convince her to enter opposition politics after her dramatic expulsion from Zanu PF on allegations that she was plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.

“She was hesitant,” Dongo said. “Her heart was still with Zanu PF.

“I was forced to assure her that I would come on board and support her. I had a series of meetings with war veterans at my house.

“Later, I invited women from all the 10 provinces to meet her.

“ZimPF women should question Mujuru’s commitment to the empowerment of Zimbabwean women.

“Zimbabweans should question Mujuru’s commitment to gender equality in politics.”

Dongo said her relationship with Mujuru started to deteriorate just after Mugabe’s former protege accepted to lead ZimPF.

“At first she just ignored me. I continued to mobilise people to support her,” she said.

“Mujuru’s growing insecurity immediately morphed into conceited efforts to undermine me.

“While appointing people to positions on the national leadership, she called for elections involving women from all provinces to decide my future in the party.

“I won the elections, held on September 22 2015, forcing Mujuru to grudgingly accept me as ZimPF’s interim [women] national chairperson.

“Thereafter, Mujuru actively and repeatedly undermined my work and authority.

“She made sure that I did not receive all the resources required to implement programmes for the women I was supposed to lead and empower. I financed most of my meetings.”

The former Zimbabwe Union of Democrats leader alleged that Mujuru made it no secret during meetings that she was never comfortable sitting next to her and that she wasn’t personally interested in her contributions.

Dongo alleged that during rallies she was often barred from speaking beyond just introducing Mujuru.

“Mujuru’s strange discomfort found its greatest expression when supporters applauded and chanted ‘Dongo! Dongo! Dongo!’ After I had just introduced myself at the party’s first rally in Bulawayo, and after I had addressed the party’s rally in Mutare,” Dongo added.

“Sensing her growing discomfort I recommended that she appoints someone she would be comfortable to work with.

There was no response.”

In 2016, Dongo said women expressed their discontent with the fact that they were not adequately represented in ZimPF committees.

She said women complained about interference in their operations by individuals from the national leadership and why the party president surrounded herself with men wherever she went.

Dongo said Mujuru last had a meeting with women in September 2015 before she forced a meeting on January 27 2017 after getting concerned about a growing disconnect between her and female leaders from the provinces.

It was during that meeting, according to Dongo, that women took Mujuru to task.

“They presented stories of rampant factionalism, power struggles, meddling by members of the national leadership and frustrated members leaving the party,” she said.

“The provincial leadership from Masvingo reported serious problems, implicating Dzikamai Mavhaire.

“The women reported that the problems, which can also be blamed for the party’s loss in Bikita West, required the attention of the national leadership.

“Mujuru’s solution to these problems was to fire me and make libelous accusations.”

Dongo said she had a long-standing history of fighting for women’s rights and equal opportunities. She challenged Mujuru to show what she had done to fight for women’s cause.

In some of the minutes from the women’s wing meetings that were sent to Mujuru, the women expressed discontent over the ZimPF leader’s leadership style.

A storm was brewing behind the scenes and knives were turning against Mujuru before she pre-emptied those plotting against her by firing Dongo, it has been revealed.

“Mujuru’s insecurity undermines Zimbabwean women’s continuing struggle for genuine representation at the highest levels of the country’s political, social and economic institutions. It undermines the struggle against Robert Mugabe. It undermines Zimbabwean democracy,” Dongo said.

“To be clear, I feel betrayed. But this isn’t just about Margaret Dongo. It’s about a cancer that has ravished our politics across all party lines since independence.”

She added: “The current ZimPF leadership remains stuck in poisonous methods imported from Zanu PF, where the old guard is too hostile to youthful leadership and new ideas.”

Dongo said Mujuru was fast-becoming the female figurehead of a leadership that was isolated from the people it claimed to lead.

However, Marian Chombo, Dongo’s successor in Mujuru’s camp, hit back saying there was no truth in the allegations.
“Nothing can be far from the truth. If you look at the reason why she [Mujuru] was against Gumbo and Mutasa’s queen bee strategy, it was because of its male chauvinistic nature,” she said.

“The queen bee syndrome entails that a woman who has excelled in a male-dominated area is used to suppress other women from reaching the same heights and this is what Mujuru was against.

“Mujuru has done a lot for the women’s movement. Look at the fights she had to ensure equal opportunities for women through legislative pieces that she championed, like the Legal Age of Majority Act of 1982 which allowed women to own properties in their names and the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1985 which recognised, for the first time in the history of this country, a wife’s direct and indirect contribution to family property to be considered when distributing assets at divorce.”

She added: “These are just but a few examples of the many things that Mujuru has done for the women’s movement.”

Mujuru brushed aside charges by Mutasa and Gumbo that they are now the new ZimPF leaders and continues to meet her party’s structures. – Standard